Rams Kupp decision back fires as wide receiver helps Seattle to NFC Championship over Los Angeles 

There is something so sweet about karma when the person who was originally wronged gets a chance to avenge those who wronged them. Most of us don’t get a chance to have karma play out in front of the entire world, but Cooper Kupp got his chance and made the Los Angeles Rams pay.

Kupp’s bitter end in LA

After eight years in Los Angeles, Cooper Kupp and the Rams decided to cut ties following their Divisional Round loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in last year’s playoffs. Kupp stated his desire to finish what he started in LA, wanting to end his career with the team that drafted him out of Eastern Washington University back in 2017.

Kupp became one of the best receivers in the NFL in his time in LA, winning a triple crown, a Super Bowl and a Super Bowl MVP with the Rams. He was Matthew Stafford’s top target until Puka Nacua came in, and with both of those receivers at his disposal the Rams offense became one of the most potent in the NFL.

That, however wasn’t enough to keep Kupp around despite his desire to stay in Los Angeles. Kupp went to his social media accounts to tell Rams fans that he wanted to stay at Sofi Stadium while reports were surfacing that the team was trying to trade him. “I don’t agree with the decision and always believed it was going to begin and end in L.A.” said Kupp. The team ultimately ended up releasing him in March, but there appears to be a bit more underneath the surface of just a simple release of the Pro Bowl receiver.

Rams “urged Kupp to retire”

The Athletic’s Michael Silver has revealed a bit more details behind the negotiations, and they don’t exactly paint the Rams in the greatest light. Instead of trying to come to an agreement for a restructured deal, or trying to negotiate a salary reduction with the former All-Pro, the Rams had unceremoniously cut ties, urging him to retire."

The then 31 year old receiver declined the Rams “suggestion” and hit the free agent marker after he was released. That wasn’t the end of it. According to Silver, Kupp thought that LA was dealing in the back round trying to influence his market price. Silver reports that Kupp “came to believe that some L.A. officials had cautioned potential suitors against paying him anything more than the veteran minimum, suggesting that age and an accumulation of injuries had provoked a steep decline.”

Now, ten months after those talks, and an eventual deal with the Seahawks, it’s Seattle heading to the Super Bowl after beating the Los Angeles Rams. Cooper Kupp was instrumental in the win, catching what would end up being the game winning touchdown that put Seattle up 31-20 and then caught a massive 3rd down pass that essentiality buried LA late in the fourth quarter.

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