Yakima’s Cooper Kupp – Played Like And Now Paid Like The Best

Don't you love it when good people, who have talent but are humble, hone that talent with hard work and then have it pay off with recognition and reward?

It's a great American story and it belongs to Yakima's own favorite football son, Cooper Kupp of the Los Angeles Rams by way of Yakima's AC Davis High School!

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Super Cooper Kupp

By now just about everybody knows how Cooper Kupp had a season for the ages last year enroute to numerous records and the Most Valuable Player award in Super Bowl 56 in which the Rams beat the Cincinnati Bengals 23 to 20.  It was a typical kind of Cooper Kupp Day with eight receptions for 92 yards and two touchdowns.  The second TD was the game winner coming in the final two minutes with the rams trailing by 4 points.  Story book stuff.

Why not, it was a story book year for Kupp.  Kupp put together one of the best statistical seasons in NFL history when he racked up 145 receptions for 1,947 yards and 16 touchdowns.

Rewarding The Champions

You have to hand it to the Rams who haven't been shy about handing out the cash rewards to keep the band together. Earlier this year Quarterback Matthew Stafford signed a four-year, $160 million extension.  On Monday the Rams Aaron Donald worked out a raise for for all-world defensive lineman that pays $65 million over the next two years, making him the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.

And today (6/9) the cash register is ringing for Kupp.   According to a report from ESPN's Adam Schefter, Kupp signed a three-year, $80 million contract extension which includes $75 million guaranteed and is worth $110 million over the five years of the deal.

Always Classy Cooper

Kupp's reaction as reported by The Spun:

The Los Angeles Rams made a childhood vision a reality when they showed their belief in me on draft day...and today they showed continued faith. For that, I want to thank the Kroenke family, the front office, and Coach McVay...My family, Anna, June, Cypress. Thank you for your willingness to allow me to play the game I love to the utmost. More than anyone else you understand the sacrifices to compete at the highest level and you choose to join me in it as well.

According to published reports, Kupp's $110 million deal ranks third among wide receivers only behind Miami's Tyreek Hill and Las Vegas' Davante Adams.  Story book stuff indeed and the final chapter is far from written.