The logistics of how the NFL is going to execute playing a regular season game in Australia have been a significant storyline this offseason. But it’s not one that Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay wants to discuss.
McVay’s Rams will face the San Francisco 49ers in Melbourne for their Week 1 matchup on Thursday, September 10. ESPN’s Dan Graziano reported the team plans to fly to Australia the day before the game and then fly back to the United States the day afterwards.
On Thursday, though, McVay declined to confirm that report.
“Yeah, but I’d rather just keep it in-house,” said McVay.
Sean McVay Declines to Talk about Rams Travel Plans to Australia
GettyLos Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay declined to answer questions about the team’s travel plans to Australia for Week 1.
McVay received several follow-up questions on the Week 1 travel schedule, as the reporter tried to get something from the coach on the record. But McVay continued to decline comment.
Here’s the full transcript from that part of McVay’s Thursday press conference.
McVay: “Yeah, but I’d rather just keep it in-house.”
Reporter: “Why?”
McVay: “What’s the reason to talk about it, you know? Honestly, I would respectfully just say we have [finalized our travel plans], but I’d prefer not to talk about it.”
Reporter: “Is it a strategic thing?”
McVay: “I just don’t want to talk about it. What does it matter?”
Reporter: “Well, fans, I think, are curious.”
McVay: “We won’t be there long enough for the fans to really have any curiosity about it.”
Reporter: “You guys have taken different ways of doing it compared to a lot of NFL teams. Last year, you went to London, very short turnaround, played very well against the Jaguars. This is a longer trip, and are you doing to do something similar or are you going to give yourself more runway?”
McVay: “Yeah, I’d rather not talk about it.”
Why Did McVay Decline Talking About Australia Travel?
GettySean McVay is entering his 10th NFL season with the Los Angeles Rams.
It’s not exactly clear why McVay declined comment.
There’s no clear strategical advantage to him withholding the team’s travel plans. While he’s right that it’s not exactly the most groundbreaking piece of news for a journalist to ask, it’s newsworthy. Some teams have navigated overseas travel a lot better than others.
Ironically, as the reporter pointed out, the Rams appeared to ace their travel plans to London last season. They defeated the Jacksonville Jaguars, who eventually finished the campaign 13-4, by four touchdowns — 35-7.
It’s odd that the team’s travel plans to Australia would be a sensitive topic for McVay. It’s even more odd given that McVay appeared to hint that the Rams will indeed be in Australia for a very short time.
On Thursday, Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio tried to speculate why McVay didn’t want to address the team’s Australia travel plans.
“Surely, McVay has a reason for not elaborating. Maybe he hasn’t had a chance to fully explain it to the players. Maybe some of them are grumbling about it, and he needs to get them to buy in before he takes it public,” wrote Florio.
“Regardless, McVay likely didn’t decide randomly to not address one specific subject. And it’s not as if the Rams will be able to conceal their ultimate itinerary. Everyone will know when they fly to Australia, and everyone will know when they return to L.A.”
Ultimately, what McVay is doing is making a bigger story out of his team’s travel plans than it needs to be. If he answers questions on the matter ahead of time and his team plays well in Week 1, no one will be discussing the team’s flight itinerary after September 10.
They probably will be, now, though, if the Rams have a dud in Week 1.
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