He was adored.
He was unstoppable.
He’s getting lower?
For eight seasons the sound of “Coooop” crammed the Coliseum and SoFi Stadium, followers embracing the standard greatness of Cooper Kupp as he ascended from anonymity to turn into the brand new Rams first actual homegrown star.
On the Rams closing drive of Tremendous Bowl LVI towards the Cincinnati Bengals, he had 4 catches, ran for a primary down on fourth and one, and ultimately hauled within the profitable landing cross.
In that championship 2021 season he achieved the so-called receiving triple crown whereas changing into solely the second receiver in historical past to be named Offensive Participant of the 12 months and Tremendous Bowl MVP in the identical season.
And on Wednesday, Cooper Kupp was fired.
The Rams’ beloved star was launched just because the Rams not thought he was price it.
Take into consideration that. Take into consideration what the Rams simply did. Take into consideration what the Rams at all times do.
Simply three years after their hottest participant leads them to the best second in franchise historical past, they sigh and shrug and inform him to take a hike.
He’ll quickly be 32, and now he’s too outdated. His fearless fashion has led to quite a few accidents, and now he’s too sluggish.
You’ve bought Puka Nacua and newcomer Davante Adams and speedy Tutu Atwell and now, regardless of his landmark contributions and locker-room management, you simply don’t want Cooper Kupp anymore.
So that you simply whack him.
The Rams make me wish to scream.
In addition they make me wish to applaud.
Chopping Kupp was the good transfer, the gutsy transfer, the trademark Rams transfer.
The Rams perceive the Los Angeles market in addition to every other crew right here, and persistently act on that perception with out concern or emotion.
Rams extensive receiver Cooper Kupp catches a landing cross in entrance of Cardinals cornerback Patrick Peterson.
(Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Occasions)
They know the native followers demand a winner now, this on the spot, this season, proper now, no rebuilding, no retirement excursions, no finances complaints, no excuses.
They know they must win to outlive on this crowded sports activities panorama, they usually’ll do something to make that occur, each season, each recreation, each second.
The Dodgers did not win a full-season title for 36 years they usually nonetheless bought out. The Lakers have gone 15 seasons with one asterisk championship they usually’re nonetheless beloved.
The Rams don’t have that luxurious. They’ve actually solely been again on the town for 10 seasons and have needed to show themselves with each snap.
Los Angeles didn’t bear in mind them. Los Angeles didn’t belief them. The Rams couldn’t afford sentiment. They couldn’t simply entertain, they needed to enchant.
So that they spent $5 billion on a stadium and constructed their tradition across the brightest younger thoughts within the NFL and declared it their mission to win fast, and win large.
And no participant is greater than that mission.
Jared Goff is drafted, embraced, grows up within the group, ultimately leads them to a Tremendous Bowl, and what occurs? Two seasons later he’s overtly criticized by coach Sean McVay and traded to the Detroit Lions for Matthew Stafford.
The Rams thought they may do higher than Goff, they usually have been proper.
Todd Gurley is drafted, supported, beloved, twice leads the league in speeding touchdowns, in 2017 is called Offensive Participant of the 12 months, and what occurs? Two seasons later, his effectiveness reducing, he’s lower.
The Rams thought Gurley may not assist them win, they usually have been proper.
All of which brings this newest story of messiness again to Kupp, who you knew was in bother this fall when his identify was first talked about in commerce talks. He missed 4 early video games due to an ankle damage after lacking vital time within the earlier two seasons due to accidents. He had already misplaced his prime receiver spot to Nacua, and he wasn’t getting any higher, and you already know what that meant.
Understanding how the Rams function, you knew he was toast. The minute these autumn commerce rumors started, he was toast.
Rams extensive receiver Cooper Kupp gestures to followers as he walks off the sphere at SoFi Stadium following a win over the Saints in December 2023.
(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Occasions)
After he returned from the damage he just about disappeared — solely 9 whole targets within the final three video games involving the starters — and even 5 catches within the divisional loss to the Philadelphia Eagles couldn’t save him.
With a salary-cap variety of $28.9 million and doubtlessly owed a mid-March roster bonus of $7.5 million, he was deemed too costly for the Rams to maintain, and apparently too costly for anyone else to amass in a commerce.
So, as shortly and stunningly as he as soon as caught these Goff and Stafford passes — how did he at all times get so open? — Kupp is gone.
He’s not glad about it, as he not too long ago associated to The Occasions’ Sam Farmer in a compelling unique story.
Two weeks after the season McVay informed Kupp that the Rams have been going to commerce him, and Kupp informed Farmer he’s been hurting ever since.
“As time has gone on I’ve had to deal with all the frustration, anger, sadness, all these things that as a human you process,” he mentioned. “Having to say goodbye to people and know that that door is closed. That’s been tough to walk through as the weeks have gone by.”
The Rams are sorry however not sorry. Not like the Dodgers, who can preserve an icon like Clayton Kershaw on the roster ceaselessly, the Rams are handcuffed by a wage cap.
It appears cold-blooded, but when they wished to keep up their dedication to profitable, they needed to finish their dedication to Kupp. It feels terrible, but when they need Nacua to ultimately keep and the star Adams to return, Kupp needed to go.
“It’s about the big picture,” McVay informed reporters final week.
The image appears a bit dimmer at this time with out the bearded, smiling, swerving Cooper Kupp.
However by subsequent fall, with the well retained Stafford throwing to Nacua and Adams, the image is brighter than ever.
In reducing Kupp, the Rams made a heart-wrenching resolution.
And completely the correct one.
