THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. -- Donning a No. 14 royal blue practice jersey, running back Sony Michel stood on the sideline Thursday watching his new team, the Los Angeles Rams, hold an intrasquad scrimmage.
Only 31 hours earlier, the New England Patriots informed Michel that he had been traded to the L.A.
"I was surprised," Michel said about being traded. "I would assume that most people, when they're traded, they're surprised a little bit."
A first-round pick (31st overall) in 2018, the Patriots declined to pick up the fifth-year option for 2022-23 on Michel's contract; he is scheduled to earn $1.