Cowboys players, coaches and fans were praising Amari Cooper after his big game in a 31-23 win against the Redskins on Thanksgiving.
And team owner Jerry Jones was loving it, too. The Cowboys acquired Cooper from the Raiders last month to provide the vertical threat the team has been missing this year, and the 24-year-old wide receiver broke out against Washington. He caught eight passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, including a spectacular 90-yard score that electrified the home crowd.
Afterward, Jones told reporters, "Amari looks like he's making a bid for his cash."
More than a reference to Cooper's 2019 salary ($13.9 million), Jones seemed to be alluding to the prospect of a long-term extension for the wide receiver. Quarterback Dak Prescott and running back Ezekiel Elliott were definitely happy with Cooper's contributions against the Redskins.
"It takes a lot of attention off me. And I love it," Elliott said. "It's definitely going to loosen up that box. Hey, I'm happy we got him."
The Cowboys' big offensive showing by Prescott, Elliott and Cooper drew an inevitable comparison to the Cowboys' "Triplets," QB Troy Aikman, running back Emmitt Smith and wide receiver Michael Irvin, from the 1990s Super Bowl championship teams.
Jones did not discourage that talk when asked about it.
"They've got it going," Jones said (via the Dallas News). "They have a good rapport. I think that can happen here, yes, and I think Amari can be a big part of this for a long time to come. He's found his home."