{"id":46007,"date":"2025-05-04T03:30:39","date_gmt":"2025-05-04T03:30:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=46007"},"modified":"2025-05-04T03:30:39","modified_gmt":"2025-05-04T03:30:39","slug":"breaking-cowboys-source-reacts-to-amari-cooper-rumor-with-2-words","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usatoday.azontree.com\/?p=46007","title":{"rendered":"BREAKING: Cowboys Source Reacts to Amari Cooper Rumor with 2 Words.."},"content":{"rendered":"
One name Cowboys Nation can’t stop talking about is Amari Cooper, the former Pro Bowl pass-catcher who spent four mostly-productive seasons in Dallas from 2018-2021.<\/div>\n
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FRISCO – The\u00a0Dallas Cowboys\u00a0had an unsuccessful go at it in in free agency and in the\u00a0NFL Draft\u00a0regarding their efforts to land another starting-caliber wide receiver. …<\/p>\n

An “explosive No. 2,” as COO Stephen Jones has so frankly stated it.<\/p>\n

Dallas saw little activity on the open market (but plenty of rumors), and picked zero receivers in the NFL Draft. Journeyman Parris Campbell, 27, was Dallas’ lone external free agent receiver signing at the position and will play on his fourth team in the last four years.<\/p>\n

Oh,\u00a0Dallas did sign two receivers to un-drafted free agent deals\u00a0… but those won’t move any needle (if they even make the team).<\/p>\n

So who helps\u00a0CeeDee Lamb\u00a0carry the load for the Dak Prescott-led offense?<\/p>\n

CowboysCountry.com broke the story of the\u00a0Cowboys’ puzzle-pieces interest in the likes of Pittsburgh’s George Pickens, and that sort of swap can still happen.<\/p>\n

But right now? Dallas’ collection of wideouts – Jalen Tolbert, Ryan Flournoy, Jalen Brooks, and Jonathan Mingo among them – does not dazzle.<\/p>\n

So Dallas keeps digging.<\/p>\n

George Pickens or Jameson Williams or Michael Pittman or Jalen McMillen or Courtland Sutton in trade?\u00a0Keenan Allen\u00a0or Nelson Agholor in free agency?<\/p>\n

One name Cowboys Nation can’t stop talking about is Amari Cooper, the former Pro Bowl pass-catcher who spent four mostly-productive seasons in Dallas from 2018-2021.<\/p>\n

He was ultimately trade-dumped to the\u00a0Cleveland Browns\u00a0before the 2022 season for reasons we called “shrinkage” – which is all about him failing to rise to the occasion like a $20 million player typically would and should. (By the way, that wasn’t our evalation; we broke that story of Dallas falling out of love with Cooper due to the scouting department’s unhappiness with him.)<\/p>\n

Could a Cooper reunion be in store for the Cowboys? They are as desperate as any for receiver help. It may not be\u00a0super<\/em> smart, but maybe there’s no other choice?<\/p>\n

Interestingly, he Fort Worth Star-Telegram is using the phrase “growing interest” on the part of the Cowboys.<\/p>\n

But there is a gross misunderstanding here, according to a Cowboys source, who concedes that the idea of bringing back Cooper has been discussed here inside The Star …<\/p>\n

Along with every other possible name.<\/p>\n

And along with a 2-word characterization of Cooper.<\/p>\n

“Not special,” says our source … trying to be more truthful that cruel.<\/p>\n

“Shrinkage” was the term we used when Amari was shipped out of here.<\/p>\n

But it’s all about “growing” now?<\/p>\n

We’ve heard about the idea of paying $18.9 million a year (Cooper’s calculated market value on\u00a0Spotrac). We’ve heard about paying him $8 million.<\/p>\n

That’s not going to happen for a player who is “not special.”<\/p>\n

At a budget rate, in a desperate time? This is a “Never Say Never” league, so Dallas could take a bite.<\/p>\n

But we say Cooper, the five-time Pro Bowler about to turn 31, would likely become an unhappy camper making minimum wage.<\/p>\n

And the Cowboys coaching staff would surely become unhappy, too, when Amari chose to sit out practices when things aren’t going exactly right, injury-wise and otherwise, as he is prone to do.<\/p>\n

The Cowboys gave up on him. Browns gave up on him. Cooper was dealt to the\u00a0Buffalo Bills\u00a0last season and was practically nonexistent in Buffalo’s end-of-season run. The Bills benched him in the playoffs … meaning they gave up on him.<\/p>\n

Dallas isn’t the only team that needs a receiver; why is the 12-year vet still a free agent?<\/p>\n

For Dallas fans excited who are excited about the possibility? We understand the reason for “growing interest.” But we lean toward an acknowledgment at least of “shrinkage” concerns here.<\/p>\n

The Dallas Cowboys know – “not special.”<\/p>\n

But maybe, eventually, they will decide they are too needy to care.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

One name Cowboys Nation can’t stop talking about is Amari Cooper, the former Pro Bowl pass-catcher who spent four mostly-productive seasons in Dallas from 2018-2021. 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