Amari Cooper comments on Cowboys departure, new beginning with Browns
Amari Cooper has broken his silence regarding his departure from the Cowboys. In what seems like centuries ago, the former Alabama star wide receiver was sent to the Cleveland Browns as Dallas attempted to clear money off their books.
While Cooper wasn’t expecting to be traded, he stated there’s no hard feelings with the Cowboys.
“I wouldn’t say I just wanted to leave, but at the same time, it’s never personal. It’s just business and that’s part of the business of being in this league,” Cooper told reporters Wednesday, via USA Today. “Things like that happen all the time, players get cut, players get traded.
“There’s no player in the league who’s still in the league from 30 years ago. It all comes to an end at some point. With that said, I am excited about this new chapter, and I embrace it. I look forward to the future here.”
It’s not the first time Cooper has been traded, as Dallas originally acquired the former Alabama star from the Oakland Raiders via trade. Back while he was playing with the Raiders, Cooper had a coach who put the trade market in perspective for him.
“It’s not like back in the day. I had a coach when I was in Oakland who played wide receiver for 10 years, Rob Moore, he got traded. He didn’t even know about it because there was no social media. So guys were interviewing him and asking him questions and that’s how he found out,” Cooper said. “But it’s always something looming when you’re about to get traded or something like that, so you kind of know. So I wasn’t really surprised at all.”
Evidently, Cooper recognizes the business side of the NFL. The former Crimson Tide star was happy in Dallas, but he’s ready for his new beginning in Cleveland.
“My friends called me right away. I woke up, just saw a whole bunch of text messages and stuff like that. Guys were like, ‘Man, you’re lucky,'” Cooper said. “Some of my former teammates. I was like, ‘What?’ Then I checked social media, the news and found out that information.
“I was happy. I was elated.”
Amari Cooper was tremendous over his time with the Cowboys, but Dallas believed he was expendable due to their immense talent at wide receiver. Both sides are moving on amicably, and Cooper is excited to get going with the Browns.
“Obviously when you come into a new environment, it feels like getting drafted all over again or feels like the first day of summer workouts in college,” Cooper said. “I’ve been in this situation before. It’s cool getting to know new people, being in a new environment, getting to explore a different part of the country that I’ve never been to.”