{
  "id": 15258587,
  "title": "The Rams are putting their season's hopes in a Grupe",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/17/the-rams-are-putting-their-seasons-hopes-in-a-grupe",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-17T18:47:26.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/rams-putting-seasons-hopes-grupe-184726681.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Los Angeles Rams abruptly terminated their kicker Harrison Mevis from their practice facility after he missed two field goals and an extra point in a game against the New Orleans Saints. Mevis, known as \"The Thiccer Kicker\" for his six playoff field goals last January, had a perfect 6 of 6 on field goals and 9 of 9 on extra points during a run to the NFC Championship. However, he dropped his accuracy to 5 of 9 in this season, leading to the team's loss. The Rams' coach Sean McVay deemed the field-goal and extra-point units' performance as insufficient, stating it as the reason they lost the game. McVay has fired special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn for performance issues and introduced Bubba Ventrone as the new coordinator. Grupe, signed from the New Jersey Jets, boasts a 81.9% conversion rate for field goals and 96 of 98 on extra points over his career. His appointment raises questions about the underlying issues within the Rams' special teams unit, such as speed and depth, which the franchise has struggled with for years.",
  "summary": "Harrison Mevis went from playoff perfection to blocked from the building in 10 months. The Rams have now changed kickers, coordinators and returners — and the real problem is still wearing a headset and standing on the sideline. Five games. One phase. Zero excuses.",
  "key_points": [
    "Los Angeles Rams fired kicker Harrison Mevis for missed field goals.",
    "Special teams coordinator Chase Blackburn dismissed for performance issues.",
    "Bubba Ventrone, with 81.9% FG conversion rate, joins Rams special teams."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}