Sean McVay declines to discuss Rams’ plans for Australia travel

On most topics raised during a press conference, Rams coach Sean McVay is willing to provide reporters with an answer. On the subject of his team’s travel plans to Australia for a Week 1 game against the 49ers, he is not.

Amid reports that the Rams will barnstorm in and out of Melbourne, arriving the day before the game and exiting the day after, McVay opted not to go there on Thursday.

The transcript from the team, which usually consists of a summary of each question before McVay’s full answer, included the full question-and-answer exchange as to whether the Rams have finalized their plans for Australia.

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, 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 going to do something similar or are you going to give yourself more runway?”

McVay: “Yeah, I’d rather not talk about it.”

McVay’s comment regarding not being there long enough for the fans to have curiosity seems to confirm that it will indeed be a short trip.

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.

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.