Aaron Donald is walking a high-wire with a Rams reunion far from guaranteed success

With each passing day providing another clue about Aaron Donald’s intentions, it’s becoming more and more apparent that it’s no longer a question of if one of the greatest defensive players in NFL history will come out of retirement to join the Rams’ pursuit of another Super Bowl.It’s a matter of when.And there are plenty of reasons to believe this could be the week Donald finally makes it official.The Rams have returned to their Woodland Hills facility after spending the first two weeks of training camp at Loyola Marymount.They open the preseason Saturday night against the Chiefs in Kansas City.

And with just 31 days remaining before they kick off the season against the hated 49ers in Melbourne, Australia, the time has come for Donald and the Rams to begin the process of reintroducing themselves to each other.So, yeah, this feels like the week it all goes down.It’s exciting.It’s tantalizing.

For Rams fans, it probably feels like Christmas in August.So why do I have a pit in the bottom of my stomach?Why can’t I shake the feeling that Donald is about to step onto a high wire, with everything from a triumphant walk to the other side to a painful fall waiting at the end?And why am I worried that if this doesn’t work out the way we hope it will – maybe even believe it will – it could leave an unfortunate final image attached to the otherwise pristine legacy Donald built over an illustrious 10-year career?And maybe, just maybe, that is part of what Donald is wrestling with right now as he closes in on a final decision.Maybe that helps explain why, for all the signs pointing toward his return, there remains at least some small chance he ultimately passes on the opportunity.Because Donald has to understand there is risk involved here, too.Not to what he has accomplished.Nothing can take that away from him.But to the final image we are left with.Sports history is filled with cautionary tales of legends who stayed too long or came back one time too m...