RAMS GIVE KUPP $75M EXTENSION
The Rams and recordsetting receiver Cooper Kupp on Wednesday agreed to terms on a three-year, $75 million extension, a person with knowledge of the situation said.
Kupp has two years remaining on an extension he signed in 2020, making the total value of the five-year deal worth $110 million, said the person, who requested anonymity because the contract has not been signed.
Kupp, the NFL’s offensive player of the year in 2021, led the league with 145 receptions, 1,949 yards receiving and 16 touchdown catches, becoming the first player since 2005 to win the so-called triple crown.
Kupp caught eight passes, two for touchdowns, in the Rams’ victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium.
Kupp, who turns 29 next Wednesday, had two years remaining on the $48 million extension he signed before the 2020 season. He was due to carry a salary-cap number of $18.7 million this season, according to overthecap.com.
As an apparent precursor to the deal, the Rams on Wednesday waived inside linebacker Travin Howard, who was due to carry a salary-cap number of $2.5 million, according to overthecap.com.
Stafford will be ready
He surveyed the defense at the line of scrimmage hundreds of times. Took countless snaps. Dropped back, planted his feet and shifted his hips as if preparing to throw a pass.
And despite completing two months of offseason workouts without throwing the ball once, Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford said Wednesday he would be ready when the defending Super Bowl champions report for training camp in July.
“I still have a lot of work to do physically just to get ready to go, and feel like I’m entering camp in peak position to go out there and play at a high level,” Stafford said.
Shortly after leading the Rams to a Super Bowl victory over the Cincinnati Bengals, Stafford received an injection to address right-elbow soreness that plagued him throughout the season.
The rehabilitation program that discouraged Stafford from throwing passes — coupled with an abbreviated offseason because of the Super Bowl run — were factors in coach Sean McVay’s decision to conduct what were essentially jog-throughs during offseason workouts and a minicamp that will end today with a team meeting.
During 12 seasons with the Detroit Lions, Stafford went through periods of inactivity because of injuries. Mental reps are valuable, he said, but apparently not enough for a quarterback who has passed for nearly 50,000 career yards during the regular season.
“There’s plenty to be gained,” he said of mental reps. “It’s just less fun for me when I don’t get to do the one thing that I like to do, which is throw the ball.”
Notable
The Browns said that QB
Baker Mayfield, who lost his job when the Browns traded for and signed Deshaun Watson in March to a $230 million contract, has been excused from next week’s mandatory minicamp.
“Obviously that was a decision made between our organization, Baker and Baker’s team,” coach Kevin Stefanski said following an organized team activities practice. “Felt like that was the best decision for both sides.”
• Chicago Bears coach
Matt Eberf lus says the team had to cancel an offseason workout this week because they violated NFL rules by having live contact in a session last month.