Essentially, letting Cooper go allowed us to resign Gallup and keep Shultz in the passing game. And although Jerry got fleeced on the trade we did pick up a 5th and we can say they used it well drafting Bland.
So who are you taking? Gallup, Shultz and Bland or Cooper?
And lets remember that had Cooper stayed he would be the #2 here with Lamb going into full #1 role feature mode.
I agree on the Gallup and Schultz comment. And if there is a way to do some kind of math on the production those two guys bring to what Cooper was offering at the end of his time here, I think the "numbers" would be seriously in favor of Gallup and Schultz.
Your position on Lambs becoming a grown arse man is a point well taken. I guess where I might see things a bit different than your assessment of Lamb and Cooper is this.
I can't help but think the team would see Lamb as nothing more than a slot receiver if Cooper stayed. And I have to wonder if Cooper's being number one would have severely underdeveloped Lamb?
Roy, I know you have seen the comments here where fans say things like, "We need to see what the young guys can do," and, "Player A is preventing progress because player B can't get on the field." I mostly see those as laughable statements because so much of what they entail is hope, and pet cats.
But in the instance of Lamb, I don't know if Moore would have been drawing up some of the plays that have been successful for Lamb in recent weeks. Especially putting Lamb in motion to pick the defender who will cover him. I have to think they might have used Cooper in those plays. I can never say for sure, but in this case, and what we are seeing right now from Lamb, I might have to say Cooper was preventing the growing maturation of Lamb in this offense. Frankly, I think that is clear. I don't know that Lamb would ever have been seen as #1. And if that is the case, would the brain trust here - and I use the term brain more in jest - have moved Lamb along for production reasons if Cooper was staying.
Last point. I was thrilled with Cooper coming here. But his production and lack of interest soured me on this player.
All in all, Dallas may have paid a bit much, but Dallas still prospered a great amount in all this ordeal.
