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NFL Hard Count: Issue #1 – Thursday games and Terry Glenn passes

By David Harrison

7 Oct 1995: Flanker Terry Glenn of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won the game 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport
7 Oct 1995: Flanker Terry Glenn of the Ohio State Buckeyes lines up during a game against the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania. Ohio State won the game 28-25. Mandatory Credit: Doug Pensinger /Allsport /
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FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots looks on during the quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)
FOXBORO, MA – OCTOBER 29: Brandin Cooks #14 of the New England Patriots looks on during the quarter of a game against the Los Angeles Chargers at Gillette Stadium on October 29, 2017 in Foxboro, Massachusetts. (Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images) /

BRANDIN COOKS A DEDICATED PATRIOT?

This week, NFL wide receiver Brandin Cooks told CBSSports.com he wanted to be a member of the Patriots for the remainder of his career.

Interesting. For two reasons. One being, he hasn’t even been in New England a full season. Second, he was traded for being jealous about a teammate. Ok, so that part is speculation. But he was upset about targets or usage, or whatever, and it just happened to coincide with the rise of Michael Thomas as Drew Brees’ favorite target in New Orleans last year.

Call it what you want, but is it a coincidence a team who relied on their passing attack to keep them in games then traded away their biggest deep threat? Remember, this trade went down before the team had Alvin Kamara, or knew what he’d become.

Now, people do change. But this comment is as short-sided as it is unlikely. For one, the Patriots aren’t known for breaking the bank for position players. And they’ve shown they don’t have to. Having Randy Moss was a great thing for Tom Brady and company, but you know what happened when he left? They were fine.

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They’ll be fine without Cooks as well. Which hurts his bargaining position. Unless of course, Bill Belichick is gone. Which means Brady is gone, or has been gone. Who’s the future at quarterback for the Patriots?

Not Jimmy Garoppolo, not Jacoby Brissett. Is it Oklahoma State’s Mason Rudolph? Maybe Malik Rosier in Miami(FL)?

We know it’s not Brady. Although, I have a feeling some in the New England states would argue the future Hall of Famer will never retire.

So, if Cooks can’t be happen being Brees’ second favorite target for less than a year with the Saints, how is he going to feel after one year of post Brady and Belichick Patriots football? Especially if they struggle. More importantly, how is he going to feel when they don’t ask him for a hometown discount, but straight up offer him the Patriots norm offer?

Maybe I’m wrong, and I hope for the sake of his maturity I am. But I don’t buy right now that less than a year removed from pouting about 78 catches for 1,173 yards and eight touchdowns, Cooks is suddenly a team guy.

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