{"id":864216,"date":"2026-04-11T20:15:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-11T20:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/864216\/"},"modified":"2026-04-11T20:15:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-11T20:15:00","slug":"rams-jared-verse-stirs-pot-as-nfl-weighs-in-on-49ers-game","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/864216\/","title":{"rendered":"Rams\u2019 Jared Verse Stirs Pot as NFL Weighs In on 49ers Game"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\"Jared\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tGetty\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n

Jared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before the game against the San Francisco 49ers.<\/p>\n

The \u201cbeef\u201d between the Los Angeles Rams<\/a> and San Francisco 49ers<\/a> is about to turn up to another level this coming season, with the two teams set to play the NFL\u2019s first-ever game in Australia, and Jared Verse<\/a> is all for it.<\/p>\n

Verse has additional incentive to get the victory, but believes the historic setting offers even more motivation for both sides.<\/p>\n

He shared a clear message to that effect.<\/p>\n

Jared Verse Sends Clear Message About 49ers Game in Australia\"Jared<\/p>\n

GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before the game against the Chicago Bears<\/a> in the NFC Divisional Playoffs.<\/p>\n

Like some of his Rams teammates, namely Puka Nacua<\/a>, Verse has a competitive hatred<\/a> for the 49ers, one of LA\u2019s NFC West rivals. Verse was clear that he has \u201crespect\u201d for the Niners, but he also looks forward to the matchups because of his ties to their team.<\/p>\n

\u201cI respect the team that they have, I respect the O-linemen, I respect the scheme that they run, the people that they have on their roster,\u201d Verse told Jim Rome on \u201cThe Jim Rome Show<\/a>\u201d on April 10. \u201cBut I hate San Francisco at the same time because of this: Two of my teammates from Florida State\u2013Tatum Bethune<\/a> and Renardo Green<\/a>\u2013both play defense for them.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe take things really serious. So, whenever we play them, it\u2019s like the biggest beef. We don\u2019t say, \u2018Hi\u2019 to each other pre-game. We\u2019re talking trash to each other. There\u2019s no dap-ups, there\u2019s no high-fives, there\u2019s nothing like that. They walk by me, I walk by them. So, now we gotta go all the way to Australia to do this, it\u2019s gonna be even a higher level. Because now, when we beat them, I can say, \u2018I\u2019m beating your A outside the country, too. It don\u2019t even gotta just be in LA, in San Francisco; I can beat you anywhere we go.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verse, the 19th overall pick of the 2024 draft\u2013a two-time Pro Bowler and a former Defensive Rookie of the Year\u2013is 3-1 against the 49ers<\/a> and his former Seminole teammates.<\/p>\n

He lost against them for the first time this past season in overtime in Week 5<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Nacua\u2019s take was more direct. The Pro Bowler acknowledged that he does not \u201clike the color red either,\u201d but that he does \u201clike Fred Warner<\/a>\u201d in an interview with \u201cThe Arena: Gridiron<\/a>\u201d in February.<\/p>\n

Roger Goodell Responds to 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan Over Rams Game Remarks\"Kyle<\/p>\n

GettySan Francisco 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan looks on after a loss against the Los Angeles Rams.<\/p>\n

Nacua and Verse are not the only ones adding intrigue well ahead of the Rams\u2019 season-opening contest against the 49ers. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell<\/a> pushed back on 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan<\/a>\u2019s remarks about the time consequences of traveling to Australia.<\/p>\n

During an interview with \u201cPro Football Talk<\/a>\u201d in March, Shanahan said, \u201cDon\u2019t get me started.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think I\u2019m gonna take a 19-hour nap on the plane ride out there. And I think when you get there, I\u2019m like two days older. When we come back, I think it\u2019s like going in a time machine.\u201d<\/p>\n

Goodell chuckled when asked about Shanahan\u2019s comments, telling reporters<\/a> on the ground in Australia on April 10 [April 11 locally],\u00a0 \u201cThe coaches have a focus on winning. That\u2019s their No. 1 job. And so, Coach Shanahan is enthusiastic and a great football coach, but also someone who truly understands the importance of expanding our game globally. But his job is to win. His job is to play. And I always say, coaches like to play at 1 o\u2019clock and 4 o\u2019clock, and don\u2019t get in the way of that.<\/p>\n

\u201cI have an app for him, which I\u2019m going to send to him,\u201d Goodell said. \u201cMy wife hooked me up with an app, and I gotta tell you, I feel great. I have not felt any jetlag at all. We\u2019ve been here since Tuesday morning, and I felt it was a relatively easy trip.\u201d<\/p>\n

NFL Focused on \u2018Great Experience\u2019 in Australia\"Jared<\/p>\n

GettyJared Verse #8 of the Los Angeles Rams looks on before facing the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Shanahan notably shaded his counterpart, Sean McVay<\/a>, and the Rams, arguing that they requested this matchup to avoid losing home-field advantage as a part of his gripe.<\/p>\n

In unrelated but still-fitting remarks, Goodell said they \u201chave focused on making it a great experience for everyone in the team, including when they go back. They got to make sure that they\u2019re able to continue the competitiveness.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis game is real, this counts, and they\u2019ll go on to Week 2 as soon as they leave here.\u201d<\/p>\n

Verse sounds as though he and the Rams are ready to do their part in making the most of the experience against the 49ers in Australia.<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tJosh Buckhalter<\/a> covers the NBA and NFL for Heavy.com. He has covered both leagues since 2016, including bylines at FanSided, Last Word on Sports and Clocker Sports. He’s based in Villa Park, Illinois. Follow Josh on Twitter and Instagram: @JoshGBuck More about Josh Buckhalter<\/a>\t\t<\/p>\n

\n\t\t\tMore Heavy on Rams\n\t\t<\/p>\n

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