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NFL DISCIPLINARY ACTION: PUKA NACUA PENALIZED FOLLOWING CONTROVERSIAL COMMENTS ON THURSDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL

Puka Nacua faces a $25,000 NFL fine after labeling referees as "lawyers" and "the worst" during a viral Week 16 livestream.

NFL Disciplinary Action: Puka Nacua Penalized Following Controversial Comments On Thursday Night Football
NFL Hits Puka Nacua With Massive Fine

The NFL wasted no time fining Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua after he kept criticizing the league's refs, both before and after the Thursday Night Football game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Nacua talked about his comments after the game, and so did Rams head coach Sean McVay and quarterback Matthew Stafford.

Usually, the league announces player fines for the week on Saturday. Not this time.

Puka Nacua Gets Fined After Rams Game

NFL Network's Mike Garafolo reported on X on December 19: The NFL has fined #Rams WR Puka Nacua $25,000 for his comments about officiating, a source says. Nacua had compared officials to lawyers and said they make calls to be on TV.

Nacua 100% agreed with Ross's question of whether the refs are b***********.

The Rams player even said the refs are the worst.

“These guys are lawyers, and they want to be on TV, too, bro.” “You don’t think he’s texting his friends in the group chat like, ‘Yo, you guys just saw me on “Sunday Night Football”? That wasn’t PI, but I called it.’

Ross even offered to pay any fines Nacua might get for saying those things. Nacua replied that he 100% could earn fines for such comments.

Puka Nacua Sticks to His Guns on Officiating

After the game, Nacua didn't back down from his criticisms. He even posted something on social media, but he took it down later.

“Can you say I was wrong?” Nacua asked right after the Rams lost to the Seahawks on December 18 before deleting it fast. “Appreciate your stripes for your contribution.”

Nacua later downplayed his comments but still showed some annoyance with some calls.

“No, I don’t [really believe what he said]. It’s just a lack of awareness,” Nacua told reporters after the game, just some annoyance.

“There are moments where I feel like, ‘Man, you watch 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 is played, and I’ll do my job to work on my technique to make sure that there’s not an issue with the call.”

Sean McVay Talks to Puka Nacua About His Referee Comments

Nacua mentioned that McVay spoke with him about the comments. He said his coach echoed that he’s always in continuous support of me.

“[McVay was] disappointed in some of the actions, just distracting my teammates,” Nacua said. “Some I know I’ll learn from, and some I don’t want to be a distraction in any week, and especially in a short week. So I—we had talked about that, and he’s right there behind me.”

Nacua talked about his passion for football and how hard he works to get ready, but he said he wasn't trying to be a distraction.

McVay also didn't think that Nacua was a distraction; he mentioned his 12 catches, 225 yards, and 2 touchdowns as proof. Even so, he was disappointed.

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 be aware of the situation that we're in, Nacua said about what he learned, also saying he wanted to show that to the whole team.

Then also, just to stay [focused] and use every moment to prepare for the week.

Stafford said that he didn't even know about Nacua's comments. The Rams QB relied on Nacua, since Davante Adams was out with a hamstring injury.

MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES TRADE JAREN JACKSON JR. TO UTAH JAZZ IN 8-PLAYER BLOCKBUSTER

The Memphis Grizzlies have traded Jaren Jackson Jr. to the Utah Jazz, creating a record $28.8 million trade exception for 2026.

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Grizzlies finalise Jaren Jackson Jr. deal

The Memphis Grizzlies turned heads on Tuesday, pulling off a blockbuster trade that sent two-time All-Star and former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr to the Utah Jazz. Along with Jackson, the Grizzlies shipped out Vince Williams Jr, John Konchar, and Jock Landale. Coming back their way: Walter Clayton Jr, Kyle Anderson, Georges Niang, and, maybe the most important part, three future first-round picks.

And honestly, it feels like Memphis isn’t done stirring the pot. Inside the organisation, they see Zach Edey and Cedric Coward as the future. Both went late in the lottery in the past two drafts, and the Grizzlies landed some value in the second round this year, too, grabbing Jaylen Wells and Cam Spencer.

All this movement means Ja Morant’s future in Memphis suddenly looks shaky. He’s been the face of the franchise since they took him No. 2 overall back in 2019. When he’s healthy, he’s electric—no question. But injuries and off-court drama have slowed him down, and now, with the trade deadline closing in, the Grizzlies are openly shopping him. Teams around the league are watching.

There’s another wrinkle here: by dealing Jackson, Memphis created a massive trade exception—$28.8 million, the biggest in NBA history, according to ESPN’s Bobby Marks and Shams Charania. It’s a huge chess piece. With that exception, the Grizzlies can absorb big, ugly contracts from other teams in exchange for more draft picks. Think of what the Thunder did a few years back—stockpiling picks by taking on bad deals until they rebuilt into a contender.

Now, you’ve probably heard Giannis Antetokounmpo’s name floating around in trade rumours. He hasn’t officially asked out of Milwaukee, but everyone in the league expects something to happen soon. Teams like the Timberwolves and Knicks are circling. The Grizzlies? They’re not likely to chase Giannis directly. But with that trade exception, they could play a big role as a third team—taking on salary dumps or unwanted contracts, collecting more picks, and helping another franchise pull off the Giannis blockbuster. Memphis just put itself squarely in the middle of the NBA’s hottest rumour.

KLINT KUBIAK SNUBS NFL RIVALS TO LEAD RAIDERS’ NEW ERA UNDER TOM BRADY

The Las Vegas Raiders are zeroing in on Seahawks OC Klint Kubiak as their next head coach, with Tom Brady leading the search.

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Klint Kubiak is set for the Raiders as Seahawks coach faces the New England Patriots

The Las Vegas Raiders are in the middle of a huge shakeup right now. Klint Kubiak, the offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, is set to become their new head coach—and honestly, he’s nothing like Pete Carroll.

Kubiak’s still in his 30s, calling plays on offence, while Carroll just wrapped up last season as the NFL’s oldest head coach. The Raiders had their eyes on Ben Johnson previous year, but when he decided to take the Bears job, they turned to Carroll instead.

This time, Las Vegas seemed to have that same level of interest in Kubiak, but they had to wait things out because Seattle was still in the playoffs. Tom Brady, who’s a minority owner with the Raiders, clearly played a big part in picking the new coach.

Since nothing’s official until after the Super Bowl, Brady can’t come right out and talk about Kubiak joining the team. Still, he didn’t hold back when it came to sharing what he liked about the guy.

“Klint’s played to his team’s strengths. Last week, he did a ton of good things against a really strong Rams defence,” Brady said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “That’s what it took for them to win. The Rams are a tough team. That game in Seattle could’ve gone either way... Seattle really had to play a complete game in all three phases to pull it out, and they’ll need to do the same this weekend in Santa Clara.”

Brady also talked about Fernando Mendoza.

Another big reason the Raiders’ coaching job is so appealing? They’ve got the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Everyone expects them to grab Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

Brady doesn’t have to be secretive about it—nobody’s jumping ahead of them in the draft. He was pretty open about how much he likes Mendoza.

“What do I value most? When I see him, he’s always talking up his teammates. He wins the Heisman, and he’s giving credit to everyone else,” Brady said. “That’s the kind of attitude you want in a leader.”

Kubiak focused on the Super Bowl, not the job switch.

Kubiak’s career is about to take off, but right now, he’s locked in on trying to win his first Super Bowl. So, he isn’t ready to talk about the Raiders just yet.

“I’m coaching the Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and that’s all I’m thinking about,” Kubiak told reporters on Monday. “I’m just excited for this week and this game.”

Not everyone in Seattle is thrilled to see Kubiak go. Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold had nothing but praise after working with him this year.

“He was unbelievable,” Darnold said Monday. “The stuff I picked up from Klint—just with schemes, and then learning from him as a coach and a person—the grit. He’s up before the sun, gets to the facility at 4 or 4:30, and leaves later than anyone. The guy just grinds. He loves football, and he’s always straight with his players. I know I really appreciated that, and so did the rest of the guys.”

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