<This is such a bad faith argument.>
It really isn't. I appreciate your enthusiasm, but you must also appreciate my reality. Let's look further.
<The Cowboys need to clear cap space. They aren't moving on from Cooper or Collins because they're bad players. They're moving on because they're high paid. Cooper was an obvious cut because they've invested significantly in the wide receiver position with Gallup, Lamb and Cedrick Wilson.>
So, you agree with me, but simply don't realize it. On one hand you maintain that Cooper was released because of a money shortage, and then in the next acknowledge that Dallas has invested heavily in other Wide Receivers. The logical question is, if Amari Cooper is so good why did the Cowboys invest in others?
This is not rocket science, and if I was an owner, I would be asking those simple questions. Why did Dallas choose to invest in other directions? You guys say he is in his prime, he is prolific, etc., so why did Dallas tie up cap funds in other recievers? The logical answer is because they have as good or better for less money.
Now, if my goal as an owner is to win a championship, I am going to be more interested in the type of the 3 guys you mentioned who Dallas has invested in and kept. You can slice this any way you want, but the Browns are never going to get to the next level signing players that are not critical to the success of the teams they are acquired from.
<They are not a better team without Cooper, but cap constraints create difficult decisions.>
Was not difficult for Dallas for as you say, they have invested heavily elsewhere. They feel they can replace him in FA or the draft for less money. As a businessman and investor, I am not going to be happy about acquiring an asset that the seller is going to turn around, replace, and pocket some extra money.
In any common sense analysis, the Cowboys got the best of the Browns.
<The reason he cost so little in draft picks is because he's locked in to his contract for the next three years. You should know that, it's NFL trades 101 and pretending the picks represent his value is just dumbing yourself down to make an argument everyone here is too smart to fall for.>
You are inhabiting the world of paper and contracts. I am inhabiting the real world. Your points are all valid and I take no exception to them, from the balance sheet perspective. But you don't realize what you are doing. All you are doing is making the case for why this was good for Dallas. And I agree with you, this was a good deal for Dallas. Most of the comments I have read call this an A- move for the Cowboys and a C move for the Browns.
<It speaks volumes your only argument directly against Cooper is size (6'1" isn't small and he's a beast on the contested catch) and production (They had three receivers with over 800 yards, another over 600 and another over 400 - they just spread the ball around and Cooper was still second in yards and tied first in touchdowns).>
*It speaks volumes that he only had 1 catch for more than 40 yards.
*It speaks volumes that a big part of the reason he was open a lot was because of the other weapons drawing coverage. He will not likely have that luxury in Cleveland.
*It speaks volumes that Dallas scored 64 TDs in 2021 while the Browns scored only 21. Even I would have more touchdowns playing for Dallas than most of the Browns receivers
* It speaks volumes that he is going to have the same issues OBJ had with a QB who is grossly inaccurate and largely blind to the field of play.
Will Cooper be productive in Cleveland? Sure. He is essentially a replacement for Landry, and even caliber switch. Good acquisition? Sure, but this isn't a blockbuster. It isn't a game changer. Cooper is not going to bring the Browns any closer to a SB than the guys we already had. He certainly is not going to the HOF, and he certainly isn't going to do for us what guys like Swann, Rice, and Warfield did for their teams.
Sorry bro, but I am too old for this "same old shit every year/pacify the fans" nonsense. The Browns continue to be vacant in successful negotiations for the very top eschalon players. Cooper's talent level is certainly above pedestrian, but it is also not novel and rare. I want to see the Browns win a championship, and I am not ShitMyPantski happy about tying up money in a guy like this when we still aren't even in sniffing distance of a game changing receiver.
"So MInny, who would you acquire?" - Dudes, I am not paid millions to research and call other teams to know this. That what the fuck the FO is supposed to do.
Job #1 should have been to find a BIG, Fast target first. Then choose your side dish. Steak first, then fries.
6 - 11 looks more and more likely to me.