SEATTLE — Puka Nacua promised that he would learn from his mistakes, but his promise turned out to be unconvincing.
His speech was hasty. What he said hardly made any sense.
And this is what happened: on Thursday evening, two days after criticize judges liveNacua posted a sarcastic message about officials after The Rams lost 38–37 in overtime. Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field.
“Can you say I was wrong,” he wrote on X. “Thank you stripes for your input. Lol.”
The post was quickly deleted. Questions remain about Nacua's decision.
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua criticized the officials immediately after the Rams' overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Thursday night before deleting the post on X.
Nacua, 24, could receive a monster contract extension this coming offseason. Rams consider their record-breaking receiver a cornerstone. But here he essentially repeated the mistake he made just two days earlier, and that's not what any team wants from their most popular player.
Are the Rams really going to trust him with the responsibility of showcasing his worth?
Ironically, the most controversial aspect of his recent live appearance may be the most justified. Hours before the Rams played the Seahawks, Nacua offered an explanation for the anti-Semitic gesture he made on Adin Ross and N3on's show.
“At the time,” Nacua wrote on Instagram, “I had no idea that this act was anti-Semitic and perpetuated harmful stereotypes about Jewish people.”
The story was believable. The offensive arm movements were part of the touchdown celebration. Ross challenged Nacua to play if he scored against the Seahawks.
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Gary Klein breaks down what went wrong for the Rams in their 38-37 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Lumen Field on Thursday night.
Ross is Jewish. Earlier in the live broadcast, he wished his viewers a happy Hanukkah, prompting Nacua to reveal that he accepted a friend's invitation to attend Shabbat last week.
When Nacua was informed of the implications of the celebration he practiced with Ross, he apologized. He reached the end zone twice Thursday and didn't do the dance once.
“I know this guy's heart and I'm sorry to anyone who was offended,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “I know he feels the same.”
It is assumed that he will never repeat this gesture again.
What's less certain is whether Nacua can continue to grow his personal brand without distracting his team.
The Rams should be concerned.
After a short week, the Rams were forced to ban Ross and N3on from their building.
Later that day, their most visible player joined the streamers in their car and drove to the club, where he said the referees were deliberately making blatant calls because they needed TV airtime.
It's a brave new world for athletes and the teams that employ them. Younger audiences want their heroes to be outgoing, whether they are athletes or artists. For stars like Nacua, the challenge is finding a balance between being available and protecting their teams.
Nacua couldn't do that this week.
“Coach (McVay) just reiterated that he's always been a constant supporter of me, frustrated with some of the moves that are just distracting my teammates and that's something I know I'll learn from and I don't want to be distracted any week, especially a short week, so we talked about it and he's right behind me,” Nacua said.
However, on Thursday, Nacua again expressed his dissatisfaction with the officials, posting a message 10 minutes after the Seahawks won the game with a two-point conversion in overtime.
According to Nacua, the inspiration for the message was “just a moment of frustration after such a hard, intense game, where I was just thinking about the possibilities that I could do better to take it out of their hands.”
Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua (right) celebrates next to teammate Jordan Whittington after catching a touchdown in the fourth quarter against the Seahawks on Thursday.
(Subum Im/Getty Images)
Whatever that means.
McVay declined to comment on Nacua's report, saying he first became aware of its existence when he was asked about it at a postgame press conference.
“I need to get more information before I answer any of these questions,” McVeigh said.
However, McVay said of Nacua's comments about the judges on air: “Yeah, we don't want to do that.”
When McVay was asked about the uncomfortable topic after the crushing defeat, he became angry. Asked if the fallout from the live broadcast distracted Nacua, McVay responded: “Do you think his performance showed he was distracted?”
Nacua caught 12 passes for 225 yards.
But McVeigh came to his senses and apologized.
“I love this team,” he said. “And man, when you work as hard as our group did and you care so much about something and you fail, it’s incredibly disappointing.”
That kind of presence of mind explains why McVay is the voice of the Rams. No matter how competitive he is, no matter how intense he is, he knows how to keep his impulses from compromising his team's long-term goals.
Nacua must figure out how to do this. By next season, he won't be the underpaid star on his original rookie contract. His contract will reflect his status as a player, and with it, his responsibilities. Recent days have raised questions about whether he is capable.
