THIS IS NOT A HATE AMARI COOPER THREAD. I like Cooper. But I also think it was a smart move for the Cowboys, both for obvious cap reasons and the fact that he was overrated here.
Now that I have that out of the way, let us count the reasons why Cooper’s release could be a good thing:
- Amari Cooper is a very good receiver. He’s an excellent route runner. BUT- he is not a great 3rd down receiver (when you need a 3rd down conversion)
- In 2021, Cooper was 26th in the league in 3rd down receptions for a first down. For $20 mil a season, that’s not great. (Btw- Cedee Lamb was 16th)
- He’s not as much of a big play guy as he used to be- In YAC yardage, Cooper was way below avg- GET THIS- Dalton Schultz, Cedric Wilson and Tony Pollard all had better YAC numbers than Coop in 2021.
- Cooper has never been that great in YAC numbers in his career. He’s really more of a possession receiver which makes both his price tag and his lack of big 3rd down plays a problem.
- His last two seasons, he’s only averaging about 12 yards per reception. Again, more of a possession receiver than a big play receiver.
- He has tended to disappear in the bigger games when your big play receiver is MOST needed. Not all big games. He did have some big games. But not enough to make him a star. Here are some examples:
- In both playoff losses Cooper played in, (2018, 2021) he averaged less than 70 yards per game.
- In 2019’s most critical game that decided the NFC East vs Filly, Cooper had 4 receptions for 24 yds and famously stood on the sidelines in the last drive.
- Another critical game in 2019, vs NE on the road, Coop got shut out with zero catches. (Randall Cobb and Gallup had 86 and 55 yds that day)
- In that terrible loss against Arizona last year that cost us the #2 seed, Coop had 3 catches for 18 yds, despite 8 targets and two drops.
I’m not here to bash Amari Cooper. He’s a very good receiver. But Cowboys fans, let’s be honest. Is he a top 20 receiver in this league? NO. Not in receptions, YAC, 3rd down conversions…etc, etc. We cannot pay a WR $20 mil a season with that kind of return.
Will we miss Cooper? Maybe some. But the cap savings could provide more help at other positions without losing much on offense.
In my book letting him go is the right move.
What was the Jonesboys record in 2018 before Cooper? How did they finish the 2018 season with Cooper? Did Cooper catch 92 passes for +1100 yds with no Dak Prescott at QB and a COVID 19 injured Zeke Elliott in 2020? What was Cooper's stat line when Dak did not play against the Vikings this year? Who was the leading WR in this year's playoff lost and who scored the TD? Who scored a TD and was the leading WR in the playoffs in 2018? Who had 19 receptions for 235 yards, and 2 TDs in 2 playoff appearances with the Jonesboys? Cooper missed the whole 2021 preseason and caught 13 receptions for 139 yds and 2 TDs against Tampa in the opener. This was after Jerry Jones had the Jonesboys believing CeeDee Lamb was the star of training camp and was going to destroy the NFL in 2021.
Jerry Jones can fool all Jonesboys fans all of the time. But Jerry Dumbo GM Jones can not fool me about football at no time. Cooper was put out the country club to stop the silence of the Lamb.
Cooper is aloof (however, teammates love him) and he is a baller when allowed to get the ball. He is not a Jerry Jones brown nose lover. He comes in does his work and performs. He did nothing to get cut or traded in 2021 but he did tell the truth..
Cooper, who has never been an prima donna WR asking for the ball spoke these true frustrations about 2021... "I gotta be honest, it actually does," Cooper said when asked if he's bothered even during a win streak. "Because, yeah, we're winning, but the defense is playing a huge part in that. We're not really as explosive as we should be. We're not converting a lot of their turnovers into touchdowns. A lot of them are field goals. And I feel like I could be a huge part of that, so that's what frustrates me ... I think I can do more in the red zone if I get some targets. I can do more on third down if I get the targets. To help the offense be what we need to be, I think I can definitely help change that."...““We have a whole bunch of playmakers on offense. There’s only 1 ball. I think it’s more that than the
defense. I’m not getting double-teamed or something like that. I’m just staying ready for when my opportunity comes because it will come.”
Cut him and hope he never plays the Arlington Jonesboys again or its going to be a Randy Moss replay.
*Amari Cooper, DS #1 WR, Alabama
Selected: Round 1, Pick 4, Overall Pick 4 by Raiders
Name: *Amari Cooper
College:
Alabama Number: 9
Height: 6-1 Weight: 211
Position:
WR Pos2:
Class/Draft Year:
Jr/2015
Combine Results
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6007
Weight: 211
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
40 Yard Dash (ET): 4.42
40 Yard Dash (HH): 4.31
20 Yard (ET): 2.63
20 Yard (HH): 2.51
10 Yard (ET): 1.61
10 Yard (HH): 1.56
225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 33
Broad Jump: 10'00"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 3.98
3-Cone Drill: 6.71
No Bench-Shoulder
Pro Day Results
Dates: 03/11/15
Hand: 10 Arm: 31 1/2
Wingspan: 76 1/4
Height: 6007
Weight: 211
40 Yrd Dash:
20 Yrd Dash:
10 Yrd Dash: 225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump: 34
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:
Pos Drills Only.