Puka Nacua has been in a lot of hot water for his behavior this week, and that didn’t end after the Los Angeles Rams’ loss. The superstar wide receiver has made some strange comments, appeared on a controversial livestream, and more this week.
In all that, he criticized NFL refs. After the stunning loss the Rams suffered in overtime, he doubled down on his sentiment.
Puka Nacua calls out refs after loss
Despite all the controversy Puka Nacua found himself in during the week, he didn’t let it stop him from performing. He might’ve had the best game of his career with 12 catches for 225 yards and two touchdowns. He even scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 41-yard strike in overtime. Later, that lead wouldn’t hold.
There was a controversial ruling on a two-point conversion that ultimately helped the Seattle Seahawks win and take control of the NFC West and the NFC as a whole.
After the game, Nacua posted, “Can you say i was wrong. Appreciate you stripes for your contribution. Lol.” This came after he said to Adin Ross and N3on on Kick that the refs are “the worst” and that he believes they make calls just to get shown on television.
When asked on Thursday, he did say he doesn’t believe that refs just want to be seen on TV, but he was clearly very frustrated on social media and didn’t back down from his anti-ref sentiments there.
He added via ESPN, “It was just a lack of awareness and just in some frustration. I know there were moments where I feel like, man, you watch the other games and you think of the calls that some guys get and you wish you could get some of those, but that’s just how football has played, and I’ll do my job in order to work my technique to make sure that there’s not an issue with the call.”
He called the tweet a “moment of frustration after a tough, intense game like that.”
Sean McVay backs star receiver
Puka Nacua’s behavior on the Adin Ross livestream caught the eye of many. He made the referee statements and claimed that concussions are not all that serious, but the thing that got him in the most trouble was the anti-Semitic dance he did and promised to do in an end-zone celebration this week.
He didn’t do the celebration, for what it’s worth. Perhaps it’s because he learned more about it.
“I know this guy’s heart,” head coach Sean McVay said. “And for anybody that was offended, terribly sorry about that. I know he feels that same exact way. He’s a young guy, that’s a great kid that’s continuing to learn about just the platform that he has. I love him, we’re going to continue to put our arm around him and help him learn and grow. But we never want to do things that ever offend anybody, and I know he feels that same way.”
The coach said that Nacua was extremely apologetic for his actions, and that he understands now the “totality” of what he did and said. Nacua said he “had no idea” about the nature of the gesture.
As for what he learned from all this, Nacua said, “Just there is a time and place for some things and there are comments that I should definitely say to the guys in the locker room and to be aware of the situation that we’re in, but then also just to stay and use every moment to prepare for the week.”
The Rams will have a few extra days to prepare for next week’s bout after a difficult loss on Thursday Night Football.
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