Cooks explains the reason for his outburst "Closed mouths don't get fed" (1 Viewer)

ELLIASJWILLIAMS

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Brandin Cooks of New Orleans Saints confirms frustration with role

I didn't share the article to spark more argument. I shared it because it fleshes out his thoughts/feelings and its not from a "source" article but directly from him. Which is what most of the arguments were about in the first place. Referred to as gossip among other things so now he explains himself which anyone with a Quarter of a brain knows he was frustrated, understands why he was frustrated, and have no qualms with it. It was the folks who swore up and down it was just made up stories that turned it into a back and forth about meaning of what he said. There were wide ranging opinions. He's selfish, he's not good enough to make things happen when double covered(that would be me), Michael Thomas is now the #1, he was used to open things up for other people, etc etc. Just a way to clear the air via him...and put it completely to bed.

Anyhow. Enjoy


"It's one of those things, as a competitor, I was frustrated. But at the same time, our offense was moving the ball and we won the game, so that was the bright side of it," Cooks said. "I'm just thinking from a competition standpoint, I always want to help, I feel like, and I necessarily didn't that game.

"I feel like from my mindset, when I touch the ball, things happen, and I just want to help my team in that way."

Cooks hinted at his frustration Monday with an Instagram post about "needing to become a businessman." And sources told ESPN that he has had a growing frustration with his role this season -- mostly the idea that he is used too often as a clear-out receiver instead of as a primary option


"I can appreciate [the idea that he drew heavy defensive coverage away to open things up for other players]," Cooks said. "But the great ones, they find a way. So for me, I want that opportunity to find a way even though I'm being double-covered

"The guys who are remembered in this game are remembered for doing more than one thing. And that's why I wake up every morning and I come in here and work the way I work, because I want to be remembered as one of those guys that is great down the road. Don't get me wrong, that's my strength [catching deep balls], but at the same time I want to continue to develop my game all around. You know, I feel like I'm young. Most guys come into the league at my age, and I still have a lot of growing to do, and I want to continue to do that."

"So that's great when you have your quarterback [encouraging you like that]. It's not like he was mad or upset about it. It's just one of those things, just get back to work," Cooks said.

"Guys have been good about it. And they know me, and it's not coming from a selfish standpoint. So that's the beautiful part about it. I feel like my teammates got to know me over the three years and they know that's coming more from the want to be great, the want to be remembered. So there's no selfish part about it, and I really feel from the guys that they know that as well."
 
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I don't have a problem with anything he said. He's a competitor and naturally wants to get a chance to shine. He'll get plenty of chances. Games sometimes just flow that way, and it's definitely not the norm, so I'm not at all worried.
 
Would be concerned if we didn't know the quality character of Cooks.

He's hungry, and that's what you want out of your play makers.

Nothing really to see here.
 
He's hungry and I think Thomas has him a bit jealous. At this point, this year, even though he's a rookie Thomas is the better receiver. His routes are perfect, he is exactly where he needs to be and there is complete trust between him and Brees. Cooks doesn't have it. I love Cooks, don't get me wrong. But Cooks seems like another athletically gifted player, massively gifted with speed, that could get by with using his speed, without really polishing the other parts of his game. Thomas, on the other hand is a great guy, and of course gifted to be in the NFL, but he doesn't have an outstanding natural talent. What he has is football smarts and a huge desire to be perfect. You can see it in his routes, his hand placement, all the little things that Cooks really doesn't do. If you listened to the interview watch Cooks how he talks about improving and when he talks about running routes. He's no fool, he knows exactly what he needs to do. As Colston proved for years, if you run the perfect route, you don't need blazing speed. Time for Cooks to take that step that Henderson and Meach never did.


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Good post EW, thank you for sharing.

I love this quote "I can appreciate [the idea that he drew heavy defensive coverage away to open things up for other players]," Cooks said. "But the great ones, they find a way. So for me, I want that opportunity to find a way even though I'm being double-covered."


I would love to see him turn into an Antonio Brown type of threat.
 
Well, I read the article and let's just say he wasn't as articulate as he should have been given the time he had to craft a good statement for the media. If your team wins in a blowout with a highly effective offense and you express frustration that you didn't get yours, that a "me attitude" not a "team attitude". Maybe its just immaturity, but he needs to quietly go about doing his job week in and week out, regardless of his stats.

The only thing that counts is winning and if he's on the field contributing to that effort by running dummy routes or blocking every play, then that's what he needs to do.
 
Great article, and thanks for sharing.

He is right in everything though. We got a win so that was great for the team. But this isn't a team game, it's a business, and with every play he is writing his resume. Guys that can draw away coverage from teammates, and block downfield get paid, but guys that catch the ball get paid more. At the end of the day we would all feel the same way. "Put me on that project! Give me that account! Give me that job!" We all want to prove ourselves at our job so that we are recognized and compensated accordingly, Cooks is no different, and I can respect him more for his blatant honesty.
 
I don't think its a big deal either, but its funny how so many people on SR were trying to pretend that his comments were about something else.
 
Contract time he will think he is better then he really is. Good player but has some limitations. I love confidence. When your upset of your role when your team mates puts up that many points. That concerns me. He would rather the ball be thrown to him in double coverage then the advantageous match up so he can get his numbers. He spinning it. But it's a pure me before the team attitude. Nothing wrong with his work ethic. But his attitude would concern me.
 
I love Cooks but he should be mad at himself not the Team. I could understand if he had an average QB throwing the ball, but Drew finds open WR's and if Cooks was open he'd have had some passes thrown his way. You want the ball, beat your man and get open!
 
He's hungry and I think Thomas has him a bit jealous. At this point, this year, even though he's a rookie Thomas is the better receiver. His routes are perfect, he is exactly where he needs to be and there is complete trust between him and Brees. Cooks doesn't have it. I love Cooks, don't get me wrong. But Cooks seems like another athletically gifted player, massively gifted with speed, that could get by with using his speed, without really polishing the other parts of his game. Thomas, on the other hand is a great guy, and of course gifted to be in the NFL, but he doesn't have an outstanding natural talent. What he has is football smarts and a huge desire to be perfect. You can see it in his routes, his hand placement, all the little things that Cooks really doesn't do. If you listened to the interview watch Cooks how he talks about improving and when he talks about running routes. He's no fool, he knows exactly what he needs to do. As Colston proved for years, if you run the perfect route, you don't need blazing speed. Time for Cooks to take that step that Henderson and Meach never did.


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From everything we have heard, Cooks is a deeply interested student of the game who spends a lot of time on film and working hard - he was described as a very high football IQ. At least that was the story on him coming into the team and I haven't heard anything different since then. You seem to be contrasting Cooks with Thomas on the precision, the football smarts, etc. - but I didn't think Cooks was deficient in any of those areas and never thought his game was simply based on speed.

Obviously Thomas has "it" and has been tremendously impressive with his routes, his hands, his game - everything. But I'm wondering if part of the contrast is about size and utilization in our system. Thomas has the perfect size, hands, and inside toughness to play that Colston role that can be so productive when Brees and Sean are working mismatches, which I think the is bread and butter of our system (forcing defenders into mismatches and exploiting them). Apart from a few designed plays, Cooks is typically on the edge as an X or Z in our system - and that spot just seems to get slightly less action for us.

But it isn't like he's having a bad season - he's 21st in the league on yards and tied for 8th in TDs. I'm glad he's looking to fine tune his game, but I don't think there's anything that he has been failing to do.
 
This is a bad look for Cooks no matter how you guys wanna spin it. It's selfish, especially in light of our best offensive performance of the season. I promise you, Sean Payton is less than pleased.
 

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