Paying Amari Cooper

[erod]

I hate statistical arguments because they tell so little, especially in football. A player can have a major impact without major stats, and a player can have an insignificant impact despite compiling meaningless stats.

But often times, contract talks can be based on stats, so they carry dollar value in negotiations for sure.

That said, how much leverage does Amari Cooper have based on this? I realize they traded a first for him so they have to sign him, but does he really deserve to be paid among the elite receivers?

After Oakland wanted him gone, these are his totals in in his 9 games with Dallas last year:

Game 1: 5 for 58 yards, 1 TD
Game 2: 6 for 75 yards
Game 3: 3 for 36 yards
Game 4: 8 for 180 yards, 2 TD
Game 5: 8 for 76 yards
Game 6: 10 for 217 yards, 3 TD
Game 7: 4 for 32 yards
Game 8: 4 for 20 yards
Game 9: 5 for 31 yards

So in 9 games, he managed less than 58 yards receiving in 5 of the them.

In fact, in his previous 33 games before coming to Dallas, Cooper totaled less than 66 yards in 26 of 33 games with only 13 touchdowns. Not exactly Julio, Hopkins, or Brown numbers.

I love his demeanor (so nice to finally not have a diva #1 receiver in Dallas), and I love his route running even more. Dallas is in deep doo-doo without him.

But what do you pay a guy based on that lack of consistent statistical production in the market place?

 

[lukin2006]

It's Jerry...he will overpay for all his players...

 

[ClappingCarrot]

We have no choice but to pay Amari because we saw this offense flounder before his arrival.

 

[Prime21]

Eye test says he was incredible. Crazy to see the stats show he was meh most games. I do think his presence helped the offense regardless.

 

[DCreppinBoysfan]

His presence on the field opened up the offense. Pay the guy.

 

[Direwolf63]

The stats aren't great, but Cooper has all the leverage.

The Cowboys have already invested a 1st round pick for him. And clearly Dak needs him. He was better after Cooper arrived.

And he is still young and can play out his deal.

He has the Cowboys over a barrel, and Jerry is going to have to pay big time to keep him.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

It's exactly you better keep the tag handy for next couple years.......getting his signature on an extension will be tricky. That way if he plays this season under current deal and we tag him the next two ( if we have to ) that's 3 and half years. I think we would have our investment return for the 1st round pick if he has to walk.

 

[BigD_95]

If the plan is to resign Dak then you have to resign Coop. He is too important to Dak's play on the field. Really he is more important to this offense than Zeke.

If you asked me who I would resign first. I would resign Coop before Dak or Zeke. Cooper is a better player at his position than Dak is at his position - WR is more valuable than RB even though Zeke is better at his position than Cooper. .

 

[AsthmaField]

The offense was much better with him opening things up for other guys and drawing a good bit of the opposing defenses attention.

The numbers that Cooper’s agent will focus on are: 3-4 before him and 7-2 after... although we all know that some of that improvement was a very young team with new parts, growing and learning to play together.

 

[Stash]

We have no choice but to pay Amari because we saw this offense flounder before his arrival.

Exactly right.

And we lost all negotiating leverage when we gave up a first round pick for him.

This shouldn't be news to anyone that getting a new deal done would be difficult. Heck, why do you think the Raiders made him available in the first place?

 

[JayFord]

We have to remember teams know our offense like the back of their hand so we’re already at a disadvantage

Now let’s see if Moore can mix it up and give us different looks and Cooper should be top 3 receiving all year and yes I’d pay him then

 

[ItzKelz]

We have to pay somebody.....

 

[glimmerman]

Maybe Gallup and Wilson make him look less needed. We will see how he plays this year.

 

[CouchCoach]

I hate statistical arguments because they tell so little, especially in football. A player can have a major impact without major stats, and a player can have an insignificant impact despite compiling meaningless stats.

But often times, contract talks can be based on stats, so they carry dollar value in negotiations for sure.

That said, how much leverage does Amari Cooper have based on this? I realize they traded a first for him so they have to sign him, but does he really deserve to be paid among the elite receivers?

After Oakland wanted him gone, these are his totals in in his 9 games with Dallas last year:

Game 1: 5 for 58 yards, 1 TD
Game 2: 6 for 75 yards
Game 3: 3 for 36 yards
Game 4: 8 for 180 yards, 2 TD
Game 5: 8 for 76 yards
Game 6: 10 for 217 yards, 3 TD
Game 7: 4 for 32 yards
Game 8: 4 for 20 yards
Game 9: 5 for 31 yards

So in 9 games, he managed less than 58 yards receiving in 5 of the them.

In fact, in his previous 33 games before coming to Dallas, Cooper totaled less than 66 yards in 26 of 33 games with only 13 touchdowns. Not exactly Julio, Hopkins, or Brown numbers.

I love his demeanor (so nice to finally not have a diva #1 receiver in Dallas), and I love his route running even more. Dallas is in deep doo-doo without him.

But what do you pay a guy based on that lack of consistent statistical production in the market place?

Same answer as the QB, it is not about their elite status, it is about market rate and the lack of options at the position.

They pay the QB and the WR or what? They already decided Cooper was better than any they could have gotten in the 1st round of this draft and the need for one was beyond evident. The problem for them is the agents for these two players know that as well. They have little choice.

This is poker. You bet knowing you may not have the best hand but you bet anyway in the hopes that you do.

 

[LACowboysFan1]

Exactly right.

And we lost all negotiating leverage when we gave up a first round pick for him.

This shouldn't be news to anyone that getting a new deal done would be difficult. Heck, why do you think the Raiders made him available in the first place?

Yep, if you don't sign him and he leaves, it's the same thing as a first round bust, since he cost us a first round pick.....

 

[Hawkeye0202]

We have to pay somebody.....

You get it too? First, DLaw, then Dak, Zeke and now Coop....lol

 

[Stash]

Yep, if you don't sign him and he leaves, it's the same thing as a first round bust, since he cost us a first round pick.....

And he's costing what? In excess of $14 million this year?

Yeah, the Cowboys are stuck in this deal.

 

[Bobhaze]

It's Jerry...he will overpay for all his players...

Another reason why the owner who pays the bills is not a good person to also serve as GM over personnel decisions. Jerry looks at his players like family. That’s nice...in a family. Not with an NFL roster.

I like Amari Cooper a lot. Without him, last year is a disaster. But I am pretty sure he’s going to be overpaid. But he’s also probably not going to be the toughest personnel decision this team has to make.

 

[Hawkeye0202]

Exactly right.

And we lost all negotiating leverage when we gave up a first round pick for him.

This shouldn't be news to anyone that getting a new deal done would be difficult. Heck, why do you think the Raiders made him available in the first place?

IDK......Just think of he's going to be the most difficult signing of all the ones we're trying to get done.

 

[conner01]

We have no choice but to pay Amari because we saw this offense flounder before his arrival.

And we’ve already paid too much in the pick to let him walk
The time to determine if you pay him passed when you traded a top pick for him