Matthew Stafford is apparently having trouble connecting with his young teammates on the Los Angeles Rams. Now the quarterback may be resorting to an unusual method.

Matthew Stafford is an old hand in the league. The Los Angeles Rams’ rookie quarterback is now 35 years old.

As the playmaker enters his 15th NFL season, Stafford has faced one or two teammates as well as opponents on the field over the years with the Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Rams.

Stafford has been in Los Angeles since 2021 – despite that, he says he’s struggling to connect with his young teammates. The Rams are expected to enter the season with one of the lowest age averages.

For this reason, the signal caller has apparently had the equipment staff print out a book with all the faces and names of his teammates. This way Stafford wants to learn the names of his (new) teammates and get to know them better.

Lucky for him: the big roster cuts are still taking place until 29 August. After that, Stafford will have fewer names to remember. Click here for the live ticker.

“I don’t know how to lead people I have no relationship with,” Stafford lamented regarding the issue. “I have to somehow find a way to connect with them.”

This is where the book comes in. Originally, the issue came to light because Stafford’s wife Kelly spoke about her husband as part of her podcast, The Morning After With Kelly Stafford.

“It’s kind of crazy. Matthew’s been in the league a long time. He says, ‘The locker room has changed so much,'” Kelly explained. “They have a lot of rookies on their team and he says he feels like he can’t connect. They used to come out of practice, shower, and play cards together or talk. But now they come out of practice and out of training camp meetings and get on their mobile phones,” Kelly said.

Stafford: “Am I taking their phones away? “

“Nobody looks up from their phones. Matthew says, ‘I don’t know…. Am I the father? Do I take their phones away? What am I supposed to do here?’ He says, ‘I don’t want them to see me as a coach,'” wife Kelly further explains.

This is not the only thing the couple denounces. Matthew himself probably doesn’t see himself at all in the role he is put in by his young teammates.

“They say ‘sir’ to him and stuff,” Kelly says. “He says, ‘No, we’re on the same level here, we both play in the league. Let me get to know you.'”

Rams: Only five players older than 30

Before the roster cuts, there are 22 undrafted free agents on the Rams’ roster. Add to that the 14 picks from this year’s draft.

Besides Stafford, only four other players on the Rams roster are older than 30. Star defensive tackle Aaron Donald (32), Rob Havenstein (31), star receiver Cooper Kupp (30) and Tyler Higbee (30).