Latest news with #APNFLOffensivePlayeroftheYear
CBS News
14-03-2025
- Sport
- CBS News
Rams release Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp
The Los Angles Rams cut Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp after being unable to find a trade partner for their former No. 1 wide receiver. The Rams officially moved on from the 2021 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year at the start of the league year on Wednesday. Kupp announced last month that the Rams were trying to trade him despite his desire to remain with the team. But with him being owed $20 million this season, no other team was willing to make a trade. Kupp thanked Rams fans in a social media post and said he will savor the memories of his eight seasons with the team, but added that the "best is yet to come." "We talked often about the Rams being back in LA and how we would grow to be something special here," he wrote. "And there was frustration early on around getting the buy-in from the people of LA. But we knew at the end of the day, it's about providing moments. Shared experiences. The things that parents and their children will talk about and remember forever. That is what makes the ending of these last eight years so difficult. It's the ending of something we have enjoyed building with you." The Rams will take on $22.3 million in dead cap money with $14.8 million coming this year and the rest in 2026 based on the three-year, $80.1 million extension he signed following his transcendent 2021 season. Kupp won the receiving triple crown and Super Bowl MVP in the 2021 season when he caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kupp added 33 catches for 478 yards and six TDs in the postseason, including the game-winning touchdown in a Super Bowl win over Cincinnati on the Rams homefield. But Kupp's production tailed off in the past three seasons when he hadn't played more than 12 games in any season because of injuries and hasn't had 900 yards receiving in any season. He had a rough finish this season after he missed four early games with an ankle injury. He struggled to get the ball down the stretch for the Rams, making just 12 catches for 162 yards in the final five games of the regular season during the least productive stretch of his career. Kupp's role has been diminished as Puka Nacua has emerged as an elite NFL receiver in the past two seasons. The 2023 fifth-round pick is averaging a whopping 88.4 yards per game, one of the highest averages in league history, and has credited Kupp's tutelage and leadership for his success. Los Angeles has also added Davante Adams so far this offseason, signing the three-time All-Pro to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $46 million. Kupp was drafted in the third round in 2017 out of Eastern Washington in coach Sean McVay's first draft class. He has been a centerpiece of McVay's offensive game plans throughout his career, catching 634 passes for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns. The Rams have shown a willingness to move on from star players. General manager Les Snead traded or released Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Robert Woods in recent years before their own massive contract extensions had even kicked in.
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Cooper Kupp hits open market and Aaron Rodgers could follow soon as NFL kicks off league year
The NFL league year kicked off Wednesday with one former Super Bowl MVP hitting the open market and another could soon be on the way. The Los Angeles Rams cut receiver Cooper Kupp just days after signing Davante Adams to be his replacement and the New York Jets are expected to be moving on soon from quarterback Aaron Rodgers following a failed two-year stint. The Rams cut Kupp after being unable to find a trade partner for the 2021 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year. Kupp announced last month that the Rams were trying to trade him despite his desire to remain with the team. But with him being owed $20 million this upcoming season, no other team was willing to make a trade. Kupp. won the receiving triple crown and Super Bowl MVP in the 2021 season when he caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kupp added 33 catches for 478 yards and six TDs in the postseason, including the game-winning touchdown in a Super Bowl win over Cincinnati on the Rams homefield. But Kupp's production tailed off in the past three seasons when he hadn't played more than 12 games in any season because of injuries and hasn't had 900 yards receiving in any season. The Jets told Rodgers last month that they are going in a different direction at quarterback for 2025 and agreed to a deal with Justin Fields earlier in the week. They hadn't formally released the four-time MVP as of late Wednesday afternoon but a move is expected soon. There are a handful of teams that could still be in search of a starting quarterback, including the New York Giants, Pittsburgh and possibly Minnesota if the Vikings aren't ready to turn the offense over to 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy. The Jets acquired Rodgers in a trade from Green Bay in April 2023 in hopes of winning a Super Bowl for the first time since after the 1968 season. Rodgers' first season in New York ended just four snaps into his debut because of a torn left Achilles tendon that sank the Jets' Super Bowl hopes that were stirred by the QB's arrival. He worked his way back to the field to start every game this past season, but he and the offense struggled with consistency and results as New York finished 5-12. Rodgers threw for 28 touchdown passes and 3,897 yards last season but lacked some mobility in his return from the injury. Other deals — Safety Damar Hamlin is returning to Buffalo, and the Bills also continued restocking their defensive front by agreeing to sign tackle Larry Ogunjobi. The Bills announced reaching an agreement to sign Hamlin to a one-year contract. A person with knowledge of the deal, meantime, confirmed Ogunjobi agreed to a one-year contract that includes $8 million in guaranteed money. The person spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity because the agreement hadn't been signed. — Six-time Pro Bowl cornerback Darius Slay is heading to the other side of Pennsylvania. The veteran cornerback, who won a Super Bowl with Philadelphia last month, is signing a one-year deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers a person with knowledge of the agreement said on condition of anonymity because the agreement was not made public. — Seattle filled two big holes by agreeing to a one-deal worth up to $5.5 million with speedy receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling and a three-year, $42 million contract with former Dallas pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence. The Seahawks were in dire need of adding receivers after releasing Tyler Lockett in a cost-cutting move last week and agreeing to a trade to send D.K. Metcalf to Pittsburgh. The Seahawks also needed help on the defensive front after releasing Dre'Mont Jones and Roy Robertson-Harris last week. — The Minnesota Vikings made another major move on interior redesign, agreeing to terms with two-time Pro Bowl defensive lineman Javon Hargrave on a two-year, $30 million contract with $19 million guaranteed, according to agent Drew Rosenhaus. The agreement followed Hargrave's release by the San Francisco 49ers. He played in only three games for them in 2024 before suffering a torn triceps muscle that required surgery. — Cleveland and defensive tackle Maliek Collins agreed on a two-year, $20 million contract that includes $13 million fully guaranteed, Rosenhaus told the AP. Collins started 17 games for the San Francisco 49ers after spending his first eight seasons with Dallas, Houston and Las Vegas. Collins, who turns 30 next month, has 30 1/2 sacks, including five last season. — Tight end Evan Engram and the Denver Broncos have agreed on a two-year, $23 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team hadn't announced the move. Engram's deal includes $16.5 million guaranteed. — Guard Kevin Zeitler and Tennessee agreed on a one-year, $9 million contract, a person with knowledge of the deal said on condition of anonymity because the team hasn't announced the move. — Detroit and run-stuffing defensive tackle Roy Lopez have agreed to a $4.65 million, one-year contract, according to a person familiar with the deal said on condition of anonymity because the agreement had not been announced. Lopez gives Detroit's defense another tackle with four years of experience, joining veterans Alim McNeill and DJ Reader, to bolster a line that was hit hard by injuries last season. — Washington retained veteran quarterback Marcus Mariota to back up Jayden Daniels. The Commanders agreed to re-sign Mariota on Wednesday, just before the start of the new league year, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been signed. Trading places The Cowboys made two trades on Wednesday. Dallas acquired linebacker Kenneth Murray Jr. in a trade with Tennessee, a person with knowledge of the deal said on condition of anonymity because the deal was still being finalized. The Cowboys are also getting a seventh-round draft pick this year while sending a sixth-rounder to the Titans. The Cowboys also acquired cornerback Kaiir Elam from Buffalo, adding depth to a position with some questions as the Bills decided to move on from their 2022 first-round draft pick. The Bills acquired two draft picks — a 2025 fifth-round selection and a 2026 seventh-rounder — while giving up a 2025 sixth-round choice to the Cowboys. ___ ___
Associated Press
12-03-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Rams release Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp
The Los Angles Rams cut Super Bowl 56 MVP Cooper Kupp after being unable to find a trade partner for their former No. 1 wide receiver. The Rams officially moved on from the 2021 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year at the start of the league year on Wednesday. Kupp announced last month that the Rams were trying to trade him despite his desire to remain with the team. But with him being owed $20 million this season, no other team was willing to make a trade. The Rams will take on $22.3 million in dead cap money with $14.8 million coming this year and the rest in 2026 based on the three-year, $80.1 million extension he signed following his transcendent 2021 season. Kupp. won the receiving triple crown and Super Bowl MVP in the 2021 season when he caught 145 passes for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns. Kupp added 33 catches for 478 yards and six TDs in the postseason, including the game-winning touchdown in a Super Bowl win over Cincinnati on the Rams homefield. But Kupp's production tailed off in the past three seasons when he hadn't played more than 12 games in any season because of injuries and hasn't had 900 yards receiving in any season. He had a rough finish this season after he missed four early games with an ankle injury. He struggled to get the ball down the stretch for the Rams, making just 12 catches for 162 yards in the final five games of the regular season during the least productive stretch of his career. Kupp's role has been diminished as Puka Nacua has emerged as an elite NFL receiver in the past two seasons. The 2023 fifth-round pick is averaging a whopping 88.4 yards per game, one of the highest averages in league history, and has credited Kupp's tutelage and leadership for his success. Los Angeles has also added Davante Adams so far this offseason, signing the three-time All-Pro to a two-year deal that could be worth up to $46 million. Kupp was drafted in the third round in 2017 out of Eastern Washington in coach Sean McVay's first draft class. He has been a centerpiece of McVay's offensive game plans throughout his career, catching 634 passes for 7,776 yards and 57 touchdowns. The Rams have shown a willingness to move on from star players. General manager Les Snead traded or released Jared Goff, Todd Gurley and Robert Woods in recent years before their own massive contract extensions had even kicked in. ___
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley sets the NFL's season rushing record, including the playoffs
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Saquon Barkley set an NFL single-season rushing record in the Super Bowl, held his young daughter as a torrent of confetti fluttered around them and flashed a smile as he held a Philadelphia newspaper with 'CHAMPS!' stamped above his photo. The Eagles running back then grasped what he really wanted to kiss and hold on this night in the Superdome — what he could only hope was ahead following his tumultuous end in New York that diverted his career down the turnpike to Philadelphia. The 2,000-yard rusher earned his turn with the Lombardi Trophy. 'She looked prettier in person, I'll tell you that," Barkley said. 'Something that you dream of. I'm just happy to hold it, be able to give it a kiss.' Barkley finished with a modest 57 yards rushing in Eagles' 40-22 win over Kansas City in the Super Bowl — a paltry number for an elite back who posted seven touchdown runs of 60-plus yards this season — but the total was enough to set the NFL single-season rushing record, postseason included, topping the mark of 2,476 yards set by Terrell Davis. He ended perhaps the greatest debut season of any free agent in Philadelphia sports history on perhaps the greatest championship team the city has ever seen with 2,504 total yards rushing and 18 rushing touchdowns. 'Hell of a year, right? I couldn't do it without the big boys up front, everyone on this team. I just appreciate them – the whole Eagles organization," Barkley said. "Of me being a newcomer, welcoming me in with open arms and helping build confidence back in me too. That was definitely helpful. "It was a hell of a year, but all of the numbers and stats or records are cool, but the best thing is to be able to hold that Lombardi Trophy.' Barkley, the AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, needed only 30 yards to top Davis' total set in 1998 when he helped the Denver Broncos win the Super Bowl. Also that season, Davis was the last running back to win Super Bowl MVP. Barkley ran the ball on the first offensive play of the Super Bowl and finally got the mark after a slow first half on a 2-yard run on the last play of the half. Barkley had 12 carries for 31 yards for a measly 2.6 yards per carry. He averaged 5.8 yards in the regular season. The Eagles were fine without Barkley's usually spectacular production. Thanks to two interceptions by the defense and two total touchdowns from Jalen Hurts, the Eagles led the Chiefs 24-0 at halftime. Barkley had reason to feel festive Sunday, not only setting the record and playing in his first Super Bowl in his first season with the Eagles, he also turned 28. His 2,005 yards rushing in the regular season made Barkley the ninth running back in NFL history to top 2,000 yards and he entered the Super Bowl with 2,447 total rushing yards. Barkley's seven touchdowns of 60-plus yards (that includes the postseason) were a record and he joined Davis as one of only two players in NFL history with at least 400 yards rushing and five touchdowns in a single postseason. Long reluctant to spend major money on running backs, the Eagles have reaped the rewards and a rewriting of the franchise record book on their $26 million guaranteed leap of faith on Barkley. He has flashed the kind of did-you-see-that plays that fans say are ripped straight from a video game; including a mind-bending backward hurdle that was so foreign to the sport Madden had to release an update to make it possible in its game. There was nothing virtual about this Lombardi Trophy. 'It's better in person than it is in Madden, I'll tell you that playing as a kid,' Barkley said. "It's everything you dream of. I'm just happy to be able to hold it, give it a kiss and be world champs.' All this after his departure in free agency was chronicled by the documentary series 'Hard Knocks.' In the crucial scene, Giants general manager Joe Schoen told Barkley New York would not make him an offer or stick the franchise tag on him. Rather, the Giants let Barkley test the free-agent market, a move that sent him to an NFC East rival. 'I'll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philadelphia, I'll tell you that,' team owner John Mara said to Schoen in the series. 'As I've told you, just being around enough players, he's the most popular player we have, by far.' Mara might have a tough night getting winks after this Super Bowl. Stuck at just two career playoff games in six seasons with the Giants, Barkley had arguably the greatest first season of any player in Eagles history. His 2,005 yards rushing (an Eagles record, eighth-most in NFL history) left him only 101 shy of breaking Eric Dickerson's season record of 2,105. The Eagles rested Barkley in the regular-season finale, denying him the shot to pass Dickerson. There's no sitting out in the Super Bowl — and now, there's no running back who rushed for more yards in a wire-to-wire season. ___ AP NFL: Dan Gelston, The Associated Press
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles deny the Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat with dominant defense in a 40-22 rout
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Cooper DeJean, Josh Sweat and the Philadelphia Eagles' ferocious defense denied Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs a Super Bowl three-peat. It wasn't even close. DeJean got a pick-6 on his 22nd birthday, Sweat tormented Mahomes and the Eagles routed the Chiefs 40-22 on Sunday to secure the franchise's second Super Bowl championship. Jalen Hurts threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score on a tush push to earn Super Bowl MVP honors, and Vic Fangio's defense was so dominant that the Eagles didn't need much from Saquon Barkley. The game-changing running back finished with 57 yards, breaking Terrell Davis' record for yards rushing in a season, playoffs included. Hurts threw for 221 yards. 'This is the ultimate team game. You can't be great without the greatness of others. Great performance by everybody — offense, defense, special teams,' coach Nick Sirianni said. 'We didn't really ever care what anyone thought about how we won, or their opinions. All we want to do is win.' With Donald Trump becoming the first president in office to attend a Super Bowl, the Eagles outplayed Kansas City in every facet, delighting a raucous pro-Philly crowd that celebrated each score with a familiar rendition of 'Fly! Eagles! Fly!' Even Taylor Swift's presence couldn't help the Chiefs. They lost for the first time in 10 games this season with the pop superstar in a suite watching boyfriend Travis Kelce, who didn't catch a pass until late in the third quarter. Not in Kansas City's worst nightmares could its fans have imagined such a lackluster performance. The Chiefs had won three of the previous five Super Bowls, losing 31-9 to Tom Brady and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers four years ago. Mahomes was 8-0 against Fangio's defenses before the longtime coordinator and former Broncos head coach outcoached Andy Reid, capping his first season with his hometown team. Reid fell to 3-3 in Super Bowls, including a loss with the Eagles. The Eagles sacked Mahomes six times, the most of his career, including 2 1/2 by Sweat. And they did it without Fangio calling a single blitz. 'Defense wins championships,' Hurts said. 'We saw how they played today. We saw the difference they made in the game. They gave us opportunities, gave us short fields. And we're able to do what we do.' Barkley, the 2024 AP NFL Offensive Player of the Year, only had 31 yards rushing in the first half when Philly built a 24-0 lead. The Chiefs were aiming to become the third team in NFL history to win three straight championships and the first to three-peat in the Super Bowl era. Hurts nearly led the Eagles to victory against the Chiefs two years ago in Arizona, but Mahomes led a comeback and Harrison Butker kicked the game-winning field goal in the final minute for a 38-35 victory. Mahomes rallied Kansas City to an overtime victory over San Francisco last year for the Chiefs' second straight title. 'That's a great football team and we had to come out and play our best, and we did,' Sirianni said. This time, a revamped Philly defense featuring eight new starters from the 2022 team made sure Mahomes had no chance to pull off his magic. 'Today was a rough day all around. Nothing went right. I didn't coach well. Proud of our guys for fighting. We will learn from this,' Reid said. 'Too many turnovers, too many penalties. Against a good football team, can't do that.' Sirianni, who mocked fans chanting 'Fire Nick!' during a victory over Cleveland in October and was called a 'clown' on national television, should finally silence critics by adding a championship ring to a resume that includes the fifth-best winning percentage in league history. Sirianni was showered with Gatorade with nearly three minutes left in the game while backup QB Kenny Pickett took snaps in mop-up duty. Barkley helped push Hurts into the end zone from the 1 to give Philadelphia a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Up 10-0 after Jake Elliott's 48-yard field goal, Sweat and Jalyx Hunt sacked Mahomes on consecutive plays. Mahomes then rolled out and made an errant throw that was picked by DeJean, who returned it 38 yards for a 17-0 lead. It was Mahomes' first pick-6 in 21 career playoff games and ended a streak of 297 straight passes without an interception. 'We didn't start how we wanted to. The turnovers hurt. I take all the blame for that,' Mahomes said. 'I didn't play to my standard.' All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun picked Mahomes again late in the second quarter, and Hurts connected with A.J. Brown on a 12-yard TD pass for a 24-0 lead. Hurts threw a perfect 46-yard TD pass to DeVonta Smith to make it 34-0 late in the third. Mahomes fired a 24-yard TD pass to Xavier Worthy to avoid the shutout, but the 2-point conversion failed. He threw two late, mostly meaningless TD passes, one to DeAndre Hopkins and another to Worthy. After two weeks of discussions about questionable calls that led to public perception that officials favor the Chiefs — a theory NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell called 'ridiculous' — the first penalty of the game only fueled critics. A 32-yard pass from Hurts to Brown to the Chiefs 18 on fourth-and-2 was negated by a penalty for offensive pass interference. Brady, now a Fox analyst, and officiating analyst Mike Pereira both disagreed with the call, although Brown shoved Trent McDuffie's facemask. On the next possession, the Eagles benefited from an unnecessary roughness penalty on McDuffie against Dallas Goedert following an incomplete pass on third-and-5. Hurts then connected with Jahan Dotson on a 27-yard pass to the 1 and scored on the next play. Hurts' streak of 217 passes without a pick ended in the first half when he was intercepted deep in Kansas City territory, but the Chiefs didn't capitalize. The Green Bay Packers are the only NFL team to win three championships in a row, doing it from 1929-31 and 1965-67. The NBA's Los Angeles Lakers from 2000-02, led by Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neill, are the last team in the major American professional leagues to win three straight titles. ___ AP NFL: Rob Maaddi, The Associated Press
