FEATURE Cooper Kupp Released

[Elmgrovegnome]

No one can replace Kupp's production... I'd even argue he can't anymore.

I worded that poorly. There is no guarantee that whomever they choose to replace Kupp, can even be as good as Kupp at his worst.

 

[dang]

Keeping him for another season would be a bigger mistake than getting something in a trade.

Appreciate his time here, always be a beloved Ram but the fact is IF he really wanted to stay, he could of made that happen.

Will never root against him unless he is playing the Rams.

Exactly how could could he have made that happen?

 

[Tano]

I can not understand why anyone would want to "vacation" in any big, dirty city.
Natural beauty is where its at.
Never been to New York or Yellowstone. No desire to see NY but I sure would like to see Yellowstone.
Heck, I need to go check out Yosemite and its a lot closer than Yellowstone.

Been to both as a kid. Both are really cool but getting really crowded now.

 

[fanotodd]

I just hate that is appears to be ending acrimoniously. That is what bothers me, and we have now seen it with Gurley, Goff AND Kupp. Don't forget the last bit of Coop's goodbye message either...

"Love you guys..

But coming for it all."

Kinda sounds like someone with a score to settle.

It’s the competitor in him. He isn’t ready to call it a career.
The acrimony is fuel. It is temporary and when his career is over, he will cherish his career as a Ram. He’s gonna get nothing but love anytime he steps into SOFI. Of course, once the game starts things will be different.

I don’t see this as harsh as Gurley and Goff. Gurley started barking about $$ due and Goff had to endure some foot-in-mouth comments from his former HC. Being benched in favor of wolford for a playoff game didn’t go over well either.

 

[fanotodd]

Being Coop was from the northwest I hope he doesn’t end up in Seattle. Or especially SF. That stuff comes back to bite you every time.

It killed me to see players like Isaac Bruce and Kevin Greene in a 9er uni. Just disgusted me.

I don’t want to see Kupp in Santa Clara wearing the 9er colors.

 

[Allen2McVay]

Just an FYI, and a word-of-caution.

I frequently review OTC and Spotrac; and, I am telling you guys, these sites are not always accurate.

OTC has changed its Kupp numbers in the past two hours.
Earlier today, a pre-June 1 release meant $22,260,000 of Dead-$ and $7,520,000 in cap-savings.
At this moment, the number now read $24,760,000 of Dead-$, and a mere $5,020,000 in cap-savings

Word-of-Caution ... to MYSELF.

These cap sites can be really frustrating.

Today, OTC is right back to the previous numbers for a pre-June 1 release of Cooper Kupp ...
$22,260,000 of Dead-$ and $7,520,000 in cap-savings

 

[0311rams]

How does everyone know Kupp refused to re-structure? That is my speculation as well. But that is all it is. Speculation. Is there a source?

Re: Kupp's leadership and mentorship, and how great it was for Puka, and how Cooper's value goes beyond pure statistics - I love Whittington's game and have been on record as thinking he is ready to be not only a starter, but a high impact one. I'd go so far as to say I think he can be a strong WR2 behind Puka based on what I have seen so far. Every time he gets the ball, he looks incredible. He seems to have the size, speed, hands, brains, and intangibles. All that said, I am still optimistic on Whittington, but a bit less confident now in a rocketship-esque ascendance, with Cooper Kupp no longer in that WR room. Puka is amazing but he is still somewhat inexperienced himself. And jury is out if he is a good teacher. Not all that can do can teach. Being frank, and this is all speculative just based on what I see via social media as an outsider, I do not think Puka has the same natural tutoring and mentorship capabilities as #10...

I'm worried about injuries to those 2. Who's stepping up when either one or both go down.

 

[snackdaddy]

I don't know if they will get much if any compensation for him. Its being reported the teams that showed interest before last year's trade deadline are no longer interested. Its possible they outright cut him if they can't find a trade partner that fits their needs and his. If that is the case I hope he doesn't end up signing with a division rival. If nothing else he'd make their wide receiver group better with his knowledge.

 

[Boston Ram]

Never been to Boston. Only the airport in New York. So I don't have any personal experience there. But a co-worker of mine decided to take a vacation to the east coast and spend time in New York and Boston. He said if he ever does that trip again he won't go to New York. According to him Boston was not only a cleaner town, the people there were much nicer.

I hear that with Boston, New York. New York City is pretty cool, but it is filthy. People are much nicer too in Boston by a mile. But I do love visiting NYC for the spectacle of it all.

 

[snackdaddy]

I can not understand why anyone would want to "vacation" in any big, dirty city.
Natural beauty is where its at.
Never been to New York or Yellowstone. No desire to see NY but I sure would like to see Yellowstone.
Heck, I need to go check out Yosemite and its a lot closer than Yellowstone.

Lol, Yosemite is a 90 minute drive for me. And I haven't been there in years. Used to go almost every year when I was in my 20's and 30's. Maybe its like Disneyland. Went there so often when the kids were still living at home, I no longer have the desire to visit.

 

[Rams8821]

Boston fans suk.

Yeah they are fine now b/c the Pats and Sawks both are terrible so they have nothing to run their mouths about.

They think they are/were gods gifts to sports teams.

I went to the series in 18 in Fenway...couldnt even repeat some of the things I heard....

 

[Ballhawk]

Word-of-Caution ... to MYSELF.

These cap sites can be really frustrating.

Today, OTC is right back to the previous numbers for a pre-June 1 release of Cooper Kupp ...
$22,260,000 of Dead-$ and $7,520,000 in cap-savings

Maybe I don't understand how all of this works, but why would you release Kupp to save 7.5 Mil? Isn't he worth that much on the field?

 

[RamBradford85]

McVay is very unlikely to leave the slot production, which is key to his offense, in the hands of a midround WR who got hurt and was not available last year when Kupp went out. Won't say no chance of that happening. But it's damn near that.

And nothing against Whittington. I like how he looked later in the season. But he's a darkhorse right now for that role.

Rams will probably add a TE for Kupp's "role" which will add some size which Stafford seems to prefer. That way you can call Whittington the slot, but Rams will be in a lot of 12 sets on key downs and/or will have that pass catching TE running Kupp's routes.

If they don't get the TE early or immediately after a trade down then they are going to look at guys like Bech or Restrepo. Both of whom will likely compete with Whittington in camp for that role if they are the pick. And to be quite honest either will likely beat him out for it as well.

I just don’t see it if they draft a reciver I think it will be a explosive reciver puka and Kup basically same player I think he takes on Kupp role

 

[RamBradford85]

Well hes not going to have Kupp drawing 2-3 defenders for him anymore. Hes going to be the sole problem on the field now. WE need another MAJOR threat for Puka to keep being Puka

This pass season from what I seen puka was getting more attention and I’ve been saying they needed a threat next to puka … they need a explosive playmaker

 

[RamBradford85]

But you also never heard THE RAMS say anything negative about Woods, Cooks and Ramsey.

No one likes to be dumped, that's understandable.

What they say negative about kupp???? It was time to make a switch the offense isn’t that good to many screens and short passes

 

[Allen2McVay]

Maybe I don't understand how all of this works, but why would you release Kupp to save 7.5 Mil? Isn't he worth that much on the field?

That is EXACTLY what I posted more more than a week ago.

If the Rams can not trade Kupp, do they release him?

If so, do they designate the release as a pre or post June 1st move?

Too many fans look at the Player's Cap Hit when considering what to do with that player.
However, the Team's Cap Savings is rarely tied to the Cap Hit. It's almost never Dollar-for-Dollar.
Savings vary depending on whether it's a trade or release, and when those things occur.

Kupp hits the Rams' 2025 Salary Cap for almost $30M. That's really high.
If he is released (pre-June) the Rams' Cap Savings is only $7.5M.
Eight days ago, I posted this ...
"Personnaly, I would prefer to have Kupp, rather than No Cooper Kupp and an extra $7.5M."

 

[Flatlyner]

I can not understand why anyone would want to "vacation" in any big, dirty city.
Natural beauty is where its at.
Never been to New York or Yellowstone. No desire to see NY but I sure would like to see Yellowstone.
Heck, I need to go check out Yosemite and its a lot closer than Yellowstone.

I'm with you here. My wife and kids say they want to vacation in NY. To me, that doesn't sound like a vacation. Give me Hawaii all day over a big city.

 

[Hobgoblin]

So even being somewhat invisible this year. He was still #2 looking at his stats.

While he's being paid like a #1 (He damn well earned it). He ended up being #2 with all the other guys on WR roster on top of him missing games? Throws great blocks, mentored Puka to what he is and possibly the next gen batch of WRs we get, Still has pretty good rapport with Staff if Puka isn't available. Yeah I'd keep Kupp than no Kupp for the savings. I just dont see us getting anything trade/draft pick wise for him that would be worth it. If Staff was retiring I would say yes, let him go.

In McVay and Les we trust I guess...

 

[WestCoastRam]

I love the energy of NYC, especially Manhattan and the food? Stunning.

And…especially in summer. It smells like hot stale piss. I’m super sensitive to it because as a kid, I worked with pure ammonia and one time it got through my mask. Ever since then, I’ve been super sensitive to the smell of urine.

And the rats are bigger than cats. I saw a rat in the subway that was as big as a medium sized raccoon.

Rat that big, you start looking for big turtles with colored headbands…

Yeah summer can be rough.

Amazing city if you got the cash.

 

[WestCoastRam]

I'm with you here. My wife and kids say they want to vacation in NY. To me, that doesn't sound like a vacation. Give me Hawaii all day over a big city.

Here me out, I think the NY experience has the highest variance when it comes to money spent.

Below a certain level of money, Hawaii is the better vacation by far. And Hawaii is not cheap. But at a certain level, NY tops Hawaii easily.