Additional Coverage:
- 3-hour drive from Cleveland leaves Amari Cooper looking forward to joining contending Bills (newsbreak.com)
Wide receiver Amari Cooper drove to Buffalo after being traded from Cleveland to the Bills. Reflecting on his journey, Cooper described it as a “long drive to my first day of school.”
Despite the challenges of joining a new team, Cooper is excited to play with quarterback Josh Allen. He praised Allen’s phenomenal play, saying, “It’s phenomenal every time I turn on the television.”
Cooper fills a much-needed role in Buffalo’s offense. He has topped 1,000 yards in seven of his nine previous seasons and becomes the Bills’ leading receiver.
General manager Brandon Beane emphasizes that the trade is not due to the struggles of Buffalo’s receivers. He targeted Cooper for weeks and pursued him when the Raiders traded Davante Adams to the Jets.
Quarterback Allen believes Cooper’s addition will help the entire offense. “I think it’s going to help us regardless,” Allen said. “Having a guy like him, who’s done it consistently, is going to help everybody.”
The Bills rank 25th in passing yards and have not been able to consistently produce a leading receiver. Cooper’s experience and talent are expected to improve the team’s offensive performance.
Coach Sean McDermott is unsure if Cooper will play on Sunday, but he has a few extra weeks to acclimate to the team’s offense. Cooper’s familiarity with receivers coach Adam Henry, who previously worked with him in Dallas, may speed up his integration.
Cooper is focused on taking advantage of his opportunities in Buffalo. “The expectation would be to take full advantage of my opportunities,” he said.
Cooper’s former teammates in Cleveland express their appreciation for his contributions, while Cooper looks forward to his new chapter in Buffalo.