LOS ANGELES (AP) — Receiver Cooper Kupp says the Los Angeles Rams try to commerce him after eight seasons with the membership, and he doesn’t like the choice.
The Tremendous Bowl 56 MVP made the announcement on social media Monday, saying the Rams advised him they “will probably be in search of a commerce instantly and will probably be working with me and my household to seek out the correct place to proceed competing for championships.”
The 2021 AP NFL Offensive Participant of the Yr primarily bade farewell to the town the place he has spent his total profession.
“I don’t agree with the choice and at all times believed it was going to start and finish in LA,” Kupp wrote. “Nonetheless, if there’s one factor that I’ve realized over time: there are such a lot of issues which might be out of your management, however it’s the way you reply to those issues that you’ll look again on and bear in mind.”
Kupp’s future with the Rams was an apparent query mark as a result of he’s signed for the following two seasons as a part of the three-year, $80.1 million contract extension he acquired after having one of many best seasons by a receiver in NFL historical past in 2021-22. He would have taken up practically $30 million in cap area subsequent season, however the Rams might clear a big chunk of that by releasing or buying and selling him with a post-June 1 designation.
“Preparations begin now for 2025,” Kupp wrote. “Extremely motivated, as wholesome as ever, and looking out ahead to taking part in elite soccer for years to return. Love you guys… However coming for all of it.”
The Rams took calls on Kupp’s availability in October after they began the season 1-4, however they elected to maintain him. Los Angeles’ entrance workplace is just not sentimental about its stars: Common supervisor Les Snead traded or launched Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Robert Woods lately earlier than their very own huge contract extensions had even kicked in.
The Rams declined to touch upon Kupp’s social media publish.
Kupp normally has been a prolific receiver each time wholesome for the Rams, who drafted him within the third spherical out of Jap Washington just a few months after hiring Sean McVay as their head coach.
Kupp has been a centerpiece of McVay’s offensive sport plans all through his profession, catching 634 passes for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns.
“I’ve taken a lot delight in taking part in alongside my teammates for the LA neighborhood, so thanks for embracing my household and making this such a particular place for us,” Kupp wrote.
Kupp gained the triple crown of receiving three seasons in the past by main the league in catches (145), yards receiving (1,947) and TD catches (16). Within the playoffs, he capped one other dominant stretch by profitable the Tremendous Bowl MVP award and scoring the eventual profitable landing late in Los Angeles’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals.
However Kupp’s manufacturing tailed off prior to now three seasons, and he had a tough end this season after he missed 4 early video games with an ankle damage. He struggled to get the ball down the stretch for the Rams, making simply 12 catches for 162 yards within the remaining 5 video games of the common season in the course of the least productive stretch of his profession.
He then had six catches for 90 yards and no TDs in two playoff video games for the Rams.
Puka Nacua has emerged as an elite NFL receiver prior to now two seasons underneath Kupp’s tutelage and management. The previous fifth-round decide is averaging a whopping 88.4 yards per sport, one of many highest averages in league historical past.
“So I believed it was simply the NBA commerce season,” Nacua wrote on social media.
Nacua will now be the unquestioned high goal for McVay — and for whoever is the Rams’ quarterback subsequent season.
Matthew Stafford stated final month that he would take time to determine whether or not to return for a seventeenth NFL season. The veteran has a powerful friendship with each Kupp and Nacua.
Los Angeles’ passing sport is in for a big upheaval even when Stafford returns as anticipated. Together with Kupp’s departure, the Rams might lose veteran receivers Demarcus Robinson, Tutu Atwell and Tyler Johnson to free company — and move sport coordinator Nick Caley left the Rams on Monday to grow to be the Houston Texans’ offensive coordinator.
Kupp will probably be 32 years outdated subsequent season. He had three consecutive seasons with greater than 90 catches main as much as his landmark 2021-22 marketing campaign, however he hasn’t made greater than 75 catches or 812 yards receiving in a season since then.
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