LAWRENE MCCUTCHEON DIES AFTER PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Former Los Angeles Rams running back Lawrence McCutcheon died on 23 October, his family said in a statement shared by the team. The family said he died with relatives at his bedside after a long battle with Parkinson's disease. McCutcheon played eight seasons for the Rams from 1972 to 1979 and earned five Pro Bowl selections. The Rams said he later worked in its front office as a scout and director of player personnel. “His impact on this organisation spanned generations,” the team said.

The Rams selected McCutcheon from Colorado State in the third round of the 1972 NFL draft. From 1973 to 1977, he gained 5,523 rushing yards and 1,506 receiving yards, and the Rams won the NFC West in each of those seasons. He earned second-team All-Pro honours in 1974. A knee injury kept him out of the first five games of the 1978 regular season. In the Super Bowl following the 1979 season, McCutcheon threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Ron Smith before the Rams lost 31-19 to Pittsburgh.

McCutcheon also played for Denver and Seattle; accounts differ on whether he played for Buffalo before retiring after the 1981 season. His career totals include 6,578 rushing yards, 1,799 receiving yards and 39 touchdowns. He joined the Rams as a scout in 1982 and remained with the organisation until retiring in 2016. He received a Super Bowl ring when the St. Louis Rams won the title in 1999. His family asked people wishing to honour him to donate to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's research.