Or why the Rams haven’t signed him to an extension and won’t “until summer”
Puka in rehab
- Thread starter Pupped
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Or why the Rams haven’t signed him to an extension and won’t “until summer”
OntarioRam
Hall of Fame
If he needs help it is a good thing he is getting it.
Puka is my favorite Ram. And IMO the best WR in the NFL. Nobody can do it all like he can short. Short routes, intermediate routes, long routes... doesn't matter he can do it all. Strong hands. Contested catches. End arounds. Jumps balls and fades. Blocking. The dude is unreal. And the most fun player in the league to watch bar none IMO.
But I would not sign him longer-term. 2-3 years max at a time. I don't mind making him the highest paid skill position player in the league as long as the term is shorter. Because I do think he is worth it if that is the trade off for shorter term contracts. Tying yourself down long term to Puka seems very risky. His style is too physical. He is already injury prone in his youth and physical peak. It will only get worse. Injuries will become nagging. His target share is not one that will aid longevity. I would go shorter term if feasible, which was my stance before the season even started, and after seeing all the off-field stuff this year, you start to worry about immaturity (possible CTE?) too. If he will take a 3 year deal with an easy out after 2 years that is perfect IMO. No reason you can't re-sign him again if his body and mind are holding up.
Will he go for it / get offended if that is the approach the Rams take, is the question..
Puka is my favorite Ram. And IMO the best WR in the NFL. Nobody can do it all like he can short. Short routes, intermediate routes, long routes... doesn't matter he can do it all. Strong hands. Contested catches. End arounds. Jumps balls and fades. Blocking. The dude is unreal. And the most fun player in the league to watch bar none IMO.
But I would not sign him longer-term. 2-3 years max at a time. I don't mind making him the highest paid skill position player in the league as long as the term is shorter. Because I do think he is worth it if that is the trade off for shorter term contracts. Tying yourself down long term to Puka seems very risky. His style is too physical. He is already injury prone in his youth and physical peak. It will only get worse. Injuries will become nagging. His target share is not one that will aid longevity. I would go shorter term if feasible, which was my stance before the season even started, and after seeing all the off-field stuff this year, you start to worry about immaturity (possible CTE?) too. If he will take a 3 year deal with an easy out after 2 years that is perfect IMO. No reason you can't re-sign him again if his body and mind are holding up.
Will he go for it / get offended if that is the approach the Rams take, is the question..
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He probably will get offended, but, he caused this cautious approach. Not the Rams.
He's not going to rehab because he got wasted one night, lol. There's clearly some issues he needs to address, perhaps including substance abuse, and it appears he's taking the steps to do that.
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #25
He’s my favorite and I hope that this is a sincere effort and that he comes out of it an even better person.
He’s young and has done some stupid shit.. but I think he’s a good guy at his core. Fingers crossed.
He’s young and has done some stupid shit.. but I think he’s a good guy at his core. Fingers crossed.
I see some are quintupling down on the "Puka''s fine and this is nothing" stance. Weird.
I'm glad he's getting help. I really hope he is able to get past it, regardless of if he stays a Ram or not. This sucks tho...
According to this, he's been at the facility for a while and will be there for another "while". Man I wish this was an April Fools joke...holding out hope that is is.
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmqBDxku5W/?igsh=OGloY2N4YWJkcGRr
I'm glad he's getting help. I really hope he is able to get past it, regardless of if he stays a Ram or not. This sucks tho...
According to this, he's been at the facility for a while and will be there for another "while". Man I wish this was an April Fools joke...holding out hope that is is.
View: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWmqBDxku5W/?igsh=OGloY2N4YWJkcGRr
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Rehab in Malibu doesn't sound bad at all. Probably good food, nice ocean breeze. Sounds very relaxing.
McVay and Sneads interviews recently make me feel confident that this will work out and Puka will be a Ram.
That said....I've been thinking that Cooper will be the target for some time now after a trade down, and I now think his running mate will be a Ram as well.
That said....I've been thinking that Cooper will be the target for some time now after a trade down, and I now think his running mate will be a Ram as well.
He posted recently him and Coop/Higs working out... I think this is recent. He was just doing some flag football stuff last week too. So it's not like he's locked away in a facility. He's getting mental health treatment and still doing what he needs to do to stay top of his game. Nothing wrong with that.
View: https://x.com/RamsTapes/status/2039474341847679251?s=20
View: https://x.com/RamsTapes/status/2039474341847679251?s=20
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #30
I hope he’s taking the rehab part seriously. I hope it’s not performative.
Doubt it’s performative. He’s surrounded by too many good people in this Rams organization plus his boy Coop10. As @TheBunk said not isolated to this incident. Plenty of footage out there of Puka enjoying himself, sometimes too much.
He had an intervention, the result was: do the right thing, take things in moderation, stay passionate about football, and go get that money and chip young man.
This is not so much a story about a young man being in the dumps, but an opportunity for a life style adjustment and to be a shining star for others on a national platform.
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El Chapo Jr
Legend
Totally agree which is why I keep saying its overblown. He's got a good heart, but is really showing his immaturity and dumbass decisions as a result. He's most definitely has a good support system around him and is obviously trying to better himself. This world loves stories of people failing which is why the shit is plastered everywhere making it seem worse than what it is. I'm confident he's going to be ok, just needs to better develop those smarts to stay outta shit when he's away from the field.
fearsomefour
Legend
With the investment the Rams are due to make into this guy, they need some assurance incase he goes diva receiver/addict/douchbag.
Can certainly put behavior conditions in his contract.....also, they need a third receiver NOW and to replace Adams.
Yea IMO all this Puka stuff is def overblown and this rehab stint smells like the Rams attempt help public perception. The internet age where every celeb has a camera on them 24/7 in public, yet young adults aren't supposed to party and live life. Especially ones that dedicate themselves to their craft and are exceptional at it. Put a camera 24/7 in front of most people during their college years or early 20s and you'd see far worse things than getting drunk.
This isn't an April Fool's joke, this is legit news that just happened to come out today.
I'm hoping this is good news. The more that Puka can hear some mature voices, the better.
Frankly, I also think it could be part of a negotiation tactic. His agent wants Puka to demonstrate that he can be responsible and get his act together. So-- potentially good news all around.
www.nytimes.com
I'm hoping this is good news. The more that Puka can hear some mature voices, the better.
Frankly, I also think it could be part of a negotiation tactic. His agent wants Puka to demonstrate that he can be responsible and get his act together. So-- potentially good news all around.
Puka Nacua checks into rehab facility, ‘takes responsibility for his well-being’
The Rams star checked into the facility in early March and will remain there until he completes the program ahead of OTAs, his lawyer says.
www.nytimes.com
If he isn’t clean, why would we reward him with a high dollar extension?
Either way, it wouldn’t surprise me if we go WR with our 1st pick
Possibly an indicator that the Rams are gonna want more depth. Might mean they look harder at the slot types. Cooper, Lemon, Stowers all benefitting potentially.
"WTF is that kid thinking anyway. Crazy sumbish!"
~ Old bastids round here
BTW rehab in Malibu is probably gonna be full of rich, complicated and possibly fine female ass to keep him busy. Just don't get serious with 'em Puka. 
A lot has come at this young. An at once... unexpectedly... and very quickly
Glad he's making the move to Get support
Glad he's making the move to Get support
I hope this is overblown nonsense, but Puka's getting awful close to "me, not we" territory. And we all know what happens to players who put themselves ahead of the Rams. I wouldn't be dumping $42 million a year on his doorstep any time soon. And maybe it's just a bad angle but he looks like shit in this picture.
Hey, Puka and me have the same car! (Sort of, his is newer lol)
Hey, Puka and me have the same car! (Sort of, his is newer lol)