The news wasn't all positive for the Rams on Monday. Former Rams defensive linemen Michael Hoecht agreed to a contract with the Buffalo Bills, and Bobby Brown III signed with the Carolina Panthers. Former Rams tight-end Hunter Long followed the team's former scouting director James Gladstone to the Jacksonville Jaguars.

More often, it doesn’t. More often, an ending is a hard thing. A one-sided thing, as Los Angeles Rams longtime star receiver Cooper Kupp has made clear over the last several weeks as the team worked with his representatives to first trade him, then ultimately released him Wednesday as the new league year began.

LOS ANGELES — The Rams parted ways with Cooper Kupp, releasing the veteran wide receiver Wednesday. The release ends an eight-season run for Kupp, a 2017 third-round draft pick who became a pillar of coach Sean McVay’s offense and earned honors such as 2021 NFL offensive player of the year and Super Bowl LVI most valuable player.