Rams try to put Cooper Kupp's toothpaste back in the tube

Before the Rams won two games in five days to secure a three-way tie for second place in the NFC West, they tried to trade aging and expensive receiver Cooper Kupp.

After going from 1-4 to 3-4, the Rams apparently decided not to do what they were trying to do. And to act like they never tried. And to call out those who reported trying to do what they wanted to achieve.

“I'll tell you this: The teams tried hard,” coach Sean McVay said after the 30-20 loss to the Vikings. “Some of the things I saw out there – They are simply not true. We discussed this with these people. Teams called about him and we told him what the conversation was about. And then there are a lot of things out there where there isn't a lot of accountability for the reports. And that’s unfortunate.”

If the Rams have addressed the reports that the Rams were actually calling teams about a trade for Kupp, we haven't seen any retractions yet. We doubt we will.

Again, a team attempting to trade a player has no reason to believe that multiple teams are talking to the team the player plays for. Reports like these can only complicate the deal as other teams come to the table and compete for the player.

Remember when the Rams tried to trade for Matthew Stafford? The Rams didn’t say “squat.” The Lions didn’t say “squat.” If someone had, other teams would have tried to compete for Stafford — and the price would have gone up.

It's possible that McVay doesn't know the truth about the Kupp conversations. A source with knowledge of the dynamics of trade talks and trade talk reporting said of the Kupp reports: “This has all the hallmarks of a (Les) Snead/(Kevin) Demoff production.”

Look, we understand why the Rams would change their mind about trading Kupp. And we understand why they don't want Kupp to think they'll drop him and his salary without a second thought. But there is no need to call people out on reports that are “simply not true” and talk about a perceived lack of “accountability” when there is nothing to be held accountable for.

There is no reason to doubt the accuracy of the reporting that the Rams have called teams about a trade for Kupp or that the Rams are willing to pay a portion of Kupp's salary. None. And in a credibility battle between people who make their living covering the NFL and the Rams, we won't pick a winner.

We'll just ask St. Louis.