[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Anyone see the Cooper Kupp story on the Athletic? JFC...

After the 2024 season, rather than trying to negotiate a salary reduction with the former All-Pro, the Rams had unceremoniously cut ties, urging him to retire. As Kupp approached free agency, sources say, he 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. “When it ended with the Rams,” Kupp told me earlier this month, “we weren’t in a good place.”

When the Seahawks and Rams met in Week 16 at Lumen Field, Kupp had a costly fumble after he caught a pass and worked his way inside the red zone in the final minute of the first half, ending Seattle’s chances of getting points before the break. As Rams and Seahawks assistants headed to a shared elevator to go to their respective locker rooms at halftime, a witness said Rams coaches were discussing the fumble, per Silver. When one Rams coach asked what Seahawks player was responsible, another said Kupp, and the coach who asked the question snickered. That reportedly led to a fiery response from Seahawks outside linebacker coach Chris Patridge, who was then yelled at by Rams pass rush coordinator Drew Wilkens. Seahawks coaches had to hold Partridge back to avoid a potential fracas.

Word of that altercation reportedly got back to the Seahawks’ locker room and served as a motivating factor for Seattle as it stormed back from down 16 points in the fourth quarter to pull out a 38-37 overtime win.