Sean McVay defends Ty Simpson pick after viral press conference moment

TL;DR

Sean McVay defended the Rams' selection of Ty Simpson as the No. 13 overall pick despite a viral press conference where he gave minimal responses. His unusual demeanor surprised reporters who are used to his energetic style.

Key points

Sean McVay defended Ty Simpson's selection as No. 13 pick.
McVay's press conference featured unusually short answers.
Reporters were surprised by McVay's lack of energy.

Mentioned in this story

Sean McVay

Ty SimpsonLos Angeles Rams

Sean McVay defends Ty Simpson pick after viral press conference moment originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Thursday night, after the Los Angeles Rams drafted Alabama quarterback Ty Simpson with the No. 13 overall pick, head coach Sean McVay sat at a podium next to a visibly enthusiastic general manager Les Snead and said close to nothing.

His answers ran under eight words most of the time. He would not commit to Simpson being the backup.

Multiple reporters in the room said they had never seen anything quite like it from a coach who built an entire career on being the most energetic person anywhere he stood.

The internet noticed immediately, and by Friday morning, the NFL world had already decided what it meant.

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McVay had a different explanation

When the Day 2 news conference opened, he walked in and asked reporters, "What do you guys think, am I angry right now?" He cracked a smile, acknowledged he had received a flood of texts about it, and admitted he "can be a little grumpy," but said the grumpiness had nothing to do with the pick.

"There was other things that had nothing to do with that, that's normal life," he said. His fuller explanation was that he was trying not to look too eager about replacing a quarterback he genuinely loves. "The demeanor would have been stoic by nature because you are excited, but it is Matthew's football team," he added.

Q&A

Why did Sean McVay's press conference go viral?

Sean McVay's press conference went viral due to his unusually short and minimal responses after the Rams drafted Ty Simpson, contrasting with his typically energetic demeanor.

What did Sean McVay say about Ty Simpson being the backup quarterback?

Sean McVay did not commit to Ty Simpson being the backup quarterback during the press conference, leaving his role uncertain.

What was the reaction of reporters to McVay's press conference?

Reporters were surprised by McVay's lack of energy and minimal responses, noting it was unlike anything they had seen from him before.