Defensive tackle Aaron Donald didn't hide his feelings or mince words after being asked about the Los Angeles Rams' division rivals, the San Francisco 49ers.
"I dislike the Niners. Everybody knows that. I don't like the Niners at all," Donald told NFL Network last week. "They don't like us. It's just the rivals. Every time we play, it's a dog fight, and that's how it is. No love at all towards them guys. I really dislike them, and we'll see them twice this year."
Donald's feelings are understandable. After all, the Niners have gotten the best of his Rams in six consecutive regular-season matchups. However, Los Angeles finally snapped the losing streak, beating San Francisco in the NFC Championship Game and winning the Super Bowl.
Wide receiver Deebo Samuel is no stranger to the 49ers-Rams rivalry. He and Donald throwing shade on one another was a storyline that went viral in 2020. The three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year was asked about Samuel following the Rams' third consecutive loss to the Niners, to which Donald responded, "Who? Who's that?"
Samuel shot back after the comments and then tweeted out the following after the 49ers' fourth consecutive victory.
— Deebo (@19problemz) November 30, 2020
What does Samuel think about Donald's latest comments about the 49ers?
"Our team don't really feed into all the junk talking," Samuel told Tom Pelissero and Maurice Jones-Drew on NFL Network. "We put the pads on. We go out there and do what we do, even though we fell short one game (last season). But it is what it is. We're not a team to go out in the media and be like, 'Who is this person? What this person do?' We just put the pads on and go to work."
The 49ers and Rams face each other at Levi's Stadium during Week 4 on Monday Night Football and again during Week 8 in Los Angeles.
"It's a big rivalry," Samuel admitted. "That's one of them physical games you know you got to get ready for."
Catching up with Deebo Samuel today at #49ers camp about the contract, Trey Lance and more on @nflnetwork @MJD pic.twitter.com/8yqryVmanv
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 7, 2022