Latest news with #GamesWithNames
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Puka Nacua predicts 49ers' Super Bowl 'window closes' with Brock Purdy extension
Puka Nacua predicts 49ers' Super Bowl 'window closes' with Brock Purdy extension Show Caption Hide Caption Niners John Lynch provides update on negotiations with quarterback Brock Purdy 49ers general manager John Lynch reveals at NFL Combine that the team is in negotiations with Purdy's folks to secure him as their quarterback for the future. The San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams are bitter, in-state and intradivisional rivals, but that didn't stop one Rams player from giving the 49ers an unsolicited piece of advice. San Francisco quarterback Brock Purdy is set to receive a significant pay raise from his team, and Los Angeles wide receiver Puka Nacua had some strong opinions on what the value of the contract should look like. Nacua joined former NFL wide receiver Julian Edelman on the latter's podcast, "Games With Names," and shared his thoughts on what the value of Purdy's upcoming contract should be: somewhere around $45 million per year, and definitely less than $50 million average annual value. OPINION: Aaron Rodgers, in full grievance mode, clearly enjoys holding the NFL hostage If Purdy were to agree to a contract extension below his market value – 12 quarterbacks make more than $45 million per year on their current deals, many of whom haven't played in a Super Bowl – the 49ers would have enough cap space to invest elsewhere in their roster. But if Purdy were to sign a higher value contract, Nacua believes it could doom the 49ers long-term. "I think he seems like a smart guy," Nacua said of Purdy. "They (the 49ers) have a chance to still be in their (Super Bowl-contending) window. And I think if he goes for a 5 [$50 million-plus per year], then the window closes." 2025 NFL DRAFT SLEEPERS: Which players could be gems after early rounds? Purdy, who was the final pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, has been playing on a salary of fewer than $1 million for each of his first three seasons. After Year 3, he's finally allowed to negotiate with his team on a contract extension, and given his success, Purdy is in a good position to get a massive one. In his first three seasons with the 49ers, Purdy has compiled a 27-15 record as a starter – including a 4-2 record in the postseason. His career completion percentage sits at 67.5%, and he has 9,518 passing yards, 64 touchdowns and 27 interceptions in 40 career games. San Francisco went 6-11 in 2024 as an injury bug swept through their roster and held back some of their biggest stars. The 49ers hold the No. 11 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, which starts next Thursday.
USA Today
09-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Puka Nacua knows what he wants to do when he retires: Play basketball overseas
Puka Nacua knows what he wants to do when he retires: Play basketball overseas Puka Nacua probably didn't expect to have his name connected to the word 'retirement' so often this season but that's what happens when you talk about retiring at the age of 30. Nacua surprised everyone when he made those comments to suggest he'll only play another seven or eight seasons, and not everyone was a fan of him saying it publicly. Julian Edelman had to ask Nacua about it on his show 'Games With Names', wondering why Nacua would reveal his retirement plans when it could hurt his negotiating leverage down the road. 'One player to another. This is between you and I. No one's listening to this,' Edelman said. 'Don't ever tell the other side any edge. We're talking negotiations. I'll get you a couple more shekels. If it's there, it's there. You don't say it.' Nacua responded by saying he doesn't think about retirement much and he was just answering a question that was asked of him, but it's obvious he's got a plan for his post-playing days. He told Edelman that he wants to buy a basketball team overseas, be the coach and also play, putting up 25 shots a game. So yeah, he's got big aspirations for when he's done scoring touchdowns. 'I don't really think about it,' Nacua said. 'They asked the question but I want to go play overseas basketball. I want to play football, take that money – LaMelo Ball went to Lithuania. Like, I'm sure I could go to another country that only 25% of the world's ever heard before, get ownership in the team and go do the Michael Jordan route. I'm gonna get 25 shots up a night,' Nacua said. 'I'm gonna be the coach, I'm gonna sub my own minutes in, and then I'm gonna make sure that we're getting ticket sales at the end of it. Try to work some actual business. Do it the right way.' Nacua said hopefully after he wins a Super Bowl, he'll get that extension with the Rams that will keep him in Los Angeles for good. 'After we win that Super Bowl, hopefully it'll be a done deal,' he said. 'There's no question about it. Like, they want me to stay here and hopefully make L.A. my home and we'll take over.' Nacua isn't lacking confidence on the football field or the hardwood, often saying he could make it in the NBA if given the time to do so. That's debatable, but he can absolutely hoop. He played in the NBA All-Star Game two years ago and looked good, so he probably could make a living playing basketball overseas. Until then, he'll stick to catching passes from Matthew Stafford.
NBC Sports
09-04-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Puka Nacua jokes about playing overseas basketball after retiring
Rams receiver Puka Nacua recently said he plans to retire from pro football at the age of 30. He more recently discussed his post-football plans. With all due respect to the agro-bots who want this to become a thing, it sure looks and sounds like Puka was joking when he unveiled his next chapter, while appearing on Julian Edelman's Games With Names podcast. 'I wanna go play overseas basketball,' Nacua said. 'Like, I'm sure I could go to another country that only 25 percent of the world's ever heard [of] before, get ownership in the team and I'm gonna get 25 shots up a night. I'm gonna be the coach. I'm gonna sub my own minutes in, and then I'm gonna make sure that we're getting ticket sales at the end of it, like trying to work some actual business.' Click the link and watch for yourself. He's kidding about playing overseas basketball. Puka doesn't seem to be kidding about retiring at 30. Whether he feels the same way as his 30th birthday approaches remains to be seen.
