Dallas trades for Oakland DT -- Chris Cooper

[Midswat]

http://www.raiders.com/team/transactions.jsp

Don't know anything about the guy, or anything about the trade.

I'm just reporting what I think I believe may be true. Not sure though.

[Midswat]

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235040

[Midswat]

PRO: Versatile defensive lineman who has played every position along defensive line...Has played in 43 league games with 11 starts in three pro seasons...
2003: Suited up for all 16 league games with a total of nine starts, eight at DT and one at DE...Finished the season with 49 tackles and 2.5 sacks, both career highs...Also had a career-high three fumble recoveries while posting one forced fumble and three passes defensed...

COLLEGE: Division II All-American in his senior year...Four-year starter at Nebraska-Omaha who had a strong performance at East-West Shrine game...As a senior, was first on team in sacks with 11 for 75 yards in losses...Ranked fourth on team in tackles with 44 and had 20 tackles for 75 yards in losses...Added five passes defensed, four fumble recoveries and two forced fumbles...

PERSONAL: All-State performer at Southeast High School in his hometown of Lincoln, Nebraska as two-way lineman...Also lettered two years in basketball as forward and center.

[Midswat]

He's listed as injured and doubtful for this weekends game . . .

http://nfl.com/injuries

[laythewood28]

so we have to drop two players right?

[Midswat]

so we have to drop two players right?


If this is legit, we have to cut one player today, and one on Monday when Leo comes back.

[The Fonz]

Can he play tomorrow?

[laythewood28]

Can he play tomorrow?

I doubt it for two reasons:
1.he's injured (calf)
2. doesn't know the defense.

[Wimbo]

OurLads lists him as 2nd srting RDE for Oakland.
http://www.ourlads.com/secure/depthchart.cfm?index1=oak

[cowboyfan4life_mark]

What did we give up?

[Wimbo]

CBS Sportsline draft profile for him from 2001:
http://cbs.sportsline.com/u/football/nfl/2001/draft/profiles/chriscooper.htm

Chris Cooper, Nebraska-Omaha
Defensive Tackle, 6-6, 270
Speed: 5.3, Rating: 56

Combine Numbers
Height Weight Bench 40 (Hand) 40 (Electronic) Vertical Jump Long Jump Shuttle
6-5 1/4 272 24 4.94 4.95 35 1/2" 9'6" 4.21


Has an NFL-type body to play defensive end, but doesn’t have the great upfield speed needed for the position.

Has the growth potential to get bigger and will settle in as a defensive tackle.

Made nice improvement throughout his career, but wasn’t a dominant player at the Division II level, but was selected to play in the Cactus Bowl (Division II all-star game).

Could really benefit from a year of development on the practice squad where he could develop his technique and strength.

[The Fonz]

What did we give up?


we gave up some future consideration which translate to (peanuts)

[blindzebra]

OurLads lists him as 2nd srting RDE for Oakland.
http://www.ourlads.com/secure/depthchart.cfm?index1=oak

Okay, we moved Ellis back to the left side and Wiley to the RE. If this guy is in fact a DT/RE I'm guessing we are moving Coleman to DT behind Glover, and using this guy at RE with Ogbogu and rotating Wiley in at LE.

When Carson gets back, Stewart becomes odd man out.

[jterrell]

OurLads lists him as 2nd srting RDE for Oakland.
http://www.ourlads.com/secure/depthchart.cfm?index1=oak
Ourlad sisnt any more up to date it seems than the other sites. They list us starting Jamar Martin and Woody.

[Hostile]

Ourlad sisnt any more up to date it seems than the other sites. They list us starting Jamar Martin and Woody.
Oh how I wish they were right.

[blindzebra]

Ourlad sisnt any more up to date it seems than the other sites. They list us starting Jamar Martin and Woody.


NFL.com had him at 4th string RE, but it is an old depth chart.

[speedkilz88]

He is a guy I noticed with the Raiders a couple years ago, he is a pretty active but undersized(weight wise 6-5 275)defensive tackle. He isn't a good enough pass rusher to play end. Most likely would have to play behind Glover, I don't think he has the bulk for the nose unless he has gotten bigger and stronger than listed. Looks like Daleroy is in deep trouble. I would like to see what Parcells can do with him in the offseason considering what he did with Coleman.

I don't think they will have to make room for him until Monday since he probably doesn't take a physical until then.

[Duane]

He is a guy I noticed with the Raiders a couple years ago, he is a pretty active but undersized(weight wise 6-5 275)defensive tackle. He isn't a good enough pass rusher to play end. Most likely would have to play behind Glover, I don't think he has the bulk for the nose unless he has gotten bigger and stronger than listed. Looks like Daleroy is in deep trouble. I would like to see what Parcells can do with him in the offseason considering what he did with Coleman.

I don't think they will have to make room for him until Monday since he probably doesn't take a physical until then.
Thanks for the info Speed. I wonder what the deal with us and the Raiders is. The last couple of years we've traded low draft choices for their players.

[speedkilz88]

Thanks for the info Speed. I wonder what the deal with us and the Raiders is. The last couple of years we've traded low draft choices for their players.In the early nineties we traded for offensive linemen Dale Hellestrae and John Gesek from the Raiders. History is just repeating itself, so another dynasty must be on its way.:D

[MichaelWinicki]

Okay, we moved Ellis back to the left side and Wiley to the RE. If this guy is in fact a DT/RE I'm guessing we are moving Coleman to DT behind Glover, and using this guy at RE with Ogbogu and rotating Wiley in at LE.

When Carson gets back, Stewart becomes odd man out.


That's probably the correct scenario.

[MichaelWinicki]

Thanks for the info Speed. I wonder what the deal with us and the Raiders is. The last couple of years we've traded low draft choices for their players.


That's a good question.

Some sort of weird fascination with the Raiders.

[Hostile]

That's probably the correct scenario.
Has Coleman played DT? I'd almost rather waive Ogbogu.

[dallasfaniac]

Jones and Davis go to the same plastic surgeon. I'll say it before Nors does, this guy was brought in to be a hybrid player. You just watch, he'll be a 3-4 linebacker by week 3. :D

[AsthmaField]

The first thing I thought was 3-4 DE.

Too slow for DE in 4-3... To light for DT in 4-3. To me that says 3-4 DE.

I thought of Nors immediately

[Duane]

The first thing I thought was 3-4 DE.

Too slow for DE in 4-3... To light for DT in 4-3. To me that says 3-4 DE.

I thought of Nors immediately
He's about the same size as Glover. So maybe he comes in and backs Glover up?

[blindzebra]

Has Coleman played DT? I'd almost rather waive Ogbogu.

Thay talked about it in TC, and I think he got reps there. I'd cut Wiley before Ogbogu.

[Unforgiven]

This guy did pretty good last year in Oakland for a non-starter.

Stewart might be gone.


Cooper (http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235040)

[Unforgiven]

The first thing I thought was 3-4 DE.

Too slow for DE in 4-3... To light for DT in 4-3. To me that says 3-4 DE.

I thought of Nors immediately


How do we know he is too slow now?

[dallasfaniac]

The first thing I thought was 3-4 DE.

Too slow for DE in 4-3... To light for DT in 4-3. To me that says 3-4 DE.

I thought of Nors immediately

Don't discount him because of his 40 time. Michael Strahan, Marcelous Wiley, Ray Lewis, Anquan Boldin and Terrell Suggs all had 40 times in the 4.8+ at one point or another. Now if you want to discount him as a DE cause he's a nobody, that's fine.

[AsthmaField]

How do we know he is too slow now?

We don't. I read somewhere today in a draft profile someone posted (here or another board... can't remember) that he was a little slow for an NFL DE, so that's what I was basing it off of.

He certainly could be now for all I know.

I was only saying what I thought when I read we had traded for him. Too slow for DE, too small for DT... so I thought 3-4 DE. That's what went through my mind.

I actually wouldn't be too surprised if we put him at DE... DT... or LB. Who knows where BP wants to play him?

[AsthmaField]

Don't discount him because of his 40 time. Michael Strahan, Marcelous Wiley, Ray Lewis, Anquan Boldin and Terrell Suggs all had 40 times in the 4.8+ at one point or another. Now if you want to discount him as a DE cause he's a nobody, that's fine.


I wasn't discounting him period.

I merely stated that I thought 3-4 DE when I read that he was a little slow for 4-3 DE.

I don't know enough about the guy to do anything but speculate... which is what I was doing.

He may turn out to be great.

[RatisBeast]

I hope this guy is at least serviceable. If he can be like Coleman i'll be satisfied. Good to see us getting depth at the line.

[Eskimo]

Our DT/DE depth is actually adequate IMO. Stewart can play and looked like he was coming on towards the end of preseason. Glover, Eaton, Carson and Stewart are an okay group. Ellis, Wiley, Ogbogu and Coleman are a decent group. What we need is another impact player on the line.

OTOH, depth is paper thin in the secondary.

So what do we do? We add another marginal DT and release our #3CB.

Bizarre!

[keithshepherd]

Everyone is getting hype about this but I dont see any back-up to this story.

[Unforgiven]

This shows it official (http://www.raiders.com/team/transactions.jsp)

Go to Raiders website and enter transactions. I'll post a link.

[dbair1967]

In the early nineties we traded for offensive linemen Dale Hellestrae and John Gesek from the Raiders. History is just repeating itself, so another dynasty must be on its way.:D

and Steve Buerlien...w/o him we might not have made the 91 playoffs when Aikman got hurt

David

[ABQCOWBOY]

Somewhere, Nors is sitting back and laughing........

[sad_otter]

If he can work on that 40 time, he'd have great size to be a physical CB...

[DLK150]

Some Cooper stuff.



News bit dated 8/3 said he tore his right calf muscle, and was expected to miss three weeks.

_________________________________________________



He was drafted as a DE in the 6th by Oakland in 2001, 12 spots after Daleroy Stewart, 184th overall.

__________________________________________________


A draft profile for him:

Chris Cooper, Nebraska-Omaha
Defensive Tackle, 6-6, 270
Speed: 5.3, Rating: 56

Combine Numbers


Height: 6'5.25"

Weight: 272

Bench: 24 reps

40 (Hand): 4.94

40 (Electronic): 4.95

Vertical Jump: 35.5"

Long Jump: 9' 6"

Shuttle: 4.21

6-5 1/4 272 24 4.94 4.95 35 1/2" 9'6" 4.21




Has an NFL-type body to play defensive end, but doesn’t have the great up

field speed needed for the position.

Has the growth potential to get bigger and will settle in as a defensive tackle.

Made nice improvement throughout his career, but wasn’t a dominant player at the Division II level, but was selected to play in the Cactus Bowl (Division II all-star game). Could really benefit from a year of development on the practice squad where he could develop his technique and strength.

_________________________________________________



Last year had 40 tackles, 9 assists, 3 sacks last year. 7 STF, 16 STFY.

__________________________________________________ ________


Some, uh, 'interesting" articles mentioning him:


Thursday, November 20, 2003

Punishment averted for pre-Oct. 6 positives

Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. -- NFL players who used the steroid THG before the league began testing for it will avoid possible suspensions until next season.

However, players who now test positive for the previously undetectable drug will face immediate discipline, including four-game suspensions, commissioner Paul Tagliabue said Thursday in a memo to NFL clubs.

No players have tested positive for THG since random testing began Oct. 6, the league and union said. About 1,000 samples have been tested.

Players who tested positive for THG in samples collected before Oct. 6 still could be fined this season, league spokesman Greg Aiello said.

Tagliabue wrote that there was "uncertainty whether suspensions based upon pre-October 6 tests could be imposed during the 2003 season with the requisite competitive fairness for all 32 teams."

Last Sunday, CBS reported that four members of the Oakland Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak) -- center Barret Robbins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3201), linebacker Bill Romanowski (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=1787) and defensive linemen Dana Stubblefield (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2376) and Chris Cooper (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5632) -- had tested positive for THG. The NFL hasn't commented specifically on the Raiders, and the report didn't indicate when the samples were taken.

"Everything that has transpired with these rumored reports is purely and strictly speculation," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said. "It just appears to me that whatever has occurred has been strictly confidential and remains confidential."

The league and the union still are negotiating over how to punish players for a positive test from a sample obtained before Oct. 6.

Usually, the penalty for a positive test is a four-game suspension, and just six weeks remain in the regular season. The league rarely issues a suspension stretching across two seasons.

In addition, more tests must be conducted after a positive test to ensure accuracy. Most importantly, any player testing positive could appeal a suspension -- a process that could take several more weeks.

"This is not about winning," said Gene Upshaw, the union's executive director. "This is strictly about the process."

Such suspensions would mark the first time THG has been linked directly to any sport outside track and field, which already has had at least five athletes test positive for the steroid.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1666877 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1666877)


_________________________________________________

(http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1666877)

Wednesday, July 14, 2004

Two, Cooper placed on 'reasonable-cause testing'

Associated Press


NEW YORK -- Chris Cooper (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=5632) and Barret Robbins (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3201) of the Oakland Raiders (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/clubhouse?team=oak) and free agent Dana Stubblefield (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=2376) have been fined three game checks by the NFL for testing positive for the steroid THG.

They also were placed on "reasonable-cause testing" for the rest of their careers, and will be suspended for eight games if they test positive for any steroid again.

The action was the result of an agreement announced Wednesday by the NFL and the players' union that has been pending since last October. Cooper and Stubblefield are defensive lineman, and Robbins is a center.

A fourth player, linebacker Bill Romanowski (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=1787), also tested positive, although the league didn't identify him by name. He announced his retirement after last season, and his case is still pending.

Robbins' fine totals $234,375, based on his 2004 salary of $1.25 million. Cooper's fine is $187,500, based on a salary of $1 million. Stubblefield's fine will be determined by his salary when or if he signs.

All four players were with the Raiders at the time they were tested and when THG was identified.

Stubblefield and Cooper, along with teammates Tyrone Wheatley (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3124), a running back, and Chris Hetherington (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/players/profile?statsId=3853), a fullback, all appeared before a grand jury investigating a nutritional supplements lab -- the Bay Area Laboratory Co-Operative -- which has been at the center of a steroids controversy in several sports.

The league said they were the only positive samples in 1,700 retests of every sample taken before last Oct. 6. The league also said there were no positive samples in more than 4,000 tests since that date.

Normal league policy mandates a four-game suspension for players who test positive for steroids the first time.

That differs from the league policy for most other drugs, in which a player isn't suspended until a second violation. The reasoning behind that is that steroids provide the player using them with a competitive advantage.

In this case, however, the fines were agreed upon as a compromise after negotiations between the league and the NFL Players' Association. The union had challenged the NFL's authority to retest specimens deemed to be negative after an initial screening.

"This case presented a unique set of facts not addressed by the parties when the policy was written," Harold Henderson, the NFL's vice president for labor relations, said in a statement. "Resolving the dispute required compromise by both sides, but the most important point is that our policy is now stronger."

Henderson said in the future, users of any newly discovered steroid "will be caught and disciplined in the same manner as those who test positive for known substances."

Gene Upshaw, the union's executive director, said the organization appealed what originally were four-game suspensions because of the precedent involved.

"We felt from the start that there was nothing in our agreed policy to allow for going back to test old samples long after they were found to be negative," Upshaw said. "This is an unusual case."


http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1839895 (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=1839895)

[PJCOWBOYS]

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/teams/transactions/OAK

[Outlaw Heroes]

This was posted in the Cowboys forum by a Raider fan at KFFL:

Best of luck to Cooper.

He was a favorite in Oaktown due to his awesome motor.

He may surprise a few of you by week 8 or so, and will get more PT than some of you may think

[lkelly]

I thought he was great in American Beauty.

Cooper (http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177933/)

[p1_]

http://www.nfl.com/players/playerpage/235040