Amari Cooper Shoulders Harsh Criticism From NFL Exec
One of the first moves the Dallas Cowboys made this offseason was to secure star wide receiver Amari Cooper to a lucrative long-term deal. Since then, there have been plenty of reactions to Cooper’s contract that will keep him in Dallas for the next several seasons. That has now turned to more criticism being shoveled toward the Pro Bowl wide receiver.
Amari Cooper’s busy offseason
Throughout the 2020 season, Amari Cooper made it quite clear that he had a strong desire to remain with the Cowboys.
That all quickly came to fruition shortly after he hit the free-agent market as he inked a five-year, $100 million deal with $60 million guaranteed. Cooper’s contract could give him the biggest payout for any wide receiver in league history. His annual salary is just below the $22 million that Julio Jones receives with the Atlanta Falcons.
His guaranteed money is also on fourth in the league at his position behind the likes of Odell Beckham Jr. ($65 million), Jones ($64 million), and Michael Thomas ($60.6 million). It keeps him as a critical piece for the Cowboys for the next several seasons as their primary offensive weapon in the passing game. There had been talks that the Washington Redskins has pushed that asking price up due to their significant offer to him.
That contract has opened the door to criticism being shelled out toward Cooper with another NFL executive taking a shot at him.
Amari Cooper burned by another NFL exec
Amari Cooper’s contract with the Cowboys has received its fair share of criticism over the last few months.
That has continued to pile upon him, not holding the recognition as an elite wide receiver that has a reputation for seeing his production drop at times. According to Dallas Morning News, another NFL executive has taken that route with his comments stating that he believes Cooper isn’t wholly giving his all that played a part in the hesitation in that unnamed franchise not signing.
“‘There’s something holding him back,’ one NFL personnel man said. ‘He was the best receiver on the market and I didn’t want to sign him.‘”
That has been a criticism that he has faced throughout much of his NFL career. The talent is there as being one of the league’s most polished route-runners and big-play talents, but critics believe he shrinks in big moments. All of that puts more fuel in the tank for him to prove them wrong.
Amari Cooper has opportunity to prove he’s worth hefty deal
The criticism and doubts aside, the new contract in place for Amari Cooper has set the table for him to prove he’s earned that deal.
The Cowboys would not have committed to that massive amount if they didn’t believe he could live up to that potential. It’s fair to state that he’s had his struggles throughout his first five years in the league, but he has undoubtedly been the Cowboys’ best receiving option.
He has recorded four 1,000 receiving yard campaigns in his first five years that has earned him four Pro Bowl selections. Cooper has established himself as the go-to option for the Cowboys that should continue to see him rack up impressive numbers. Dallas may have taken promising talent in Ceedee Lamb in the first round of this year’s draft; it’s a chance for him to become an even more dangerous receiving option.
The 26-year-old is in the prime of his career that could have his best seasons ahead of him. If the Cowboys are to contend for the Super Bowl, he will have to be a big piece of the offensive puzzle to make that happen. The expectations are laid out in front of him, and it’s on him to prove that he’s worth every penny and much more.
