Amari Cooper signed a five-year, $100 million contract extension with the Cowboys last month, and former coach Rex Ryan doesn't agree with Dallas' decision.
Speaking Friday morning on ESPN's "Get Up," Ryan laid into Cooper and the Cowboys for committing big money to the receiver. Ryan was reacting to an anonymous NFL executive's quote in The Athletic that provided some criticism of the contract.
"It comes back down to, how many guys are really difference makers? That is who you pay the top of the market to," the executive said. "I'm sorry, Amari Cooper helps, but he does not tilt the field. He has not shown up consistently."
Reacting to this, Ryan ended up calling Cooper a "turd."
NFL DRAFT: 2-round mock | Top 100 prospects
"[Amari Cooper] is the biggest disappearing act in the National Football League," Ryan said. "He doesn't show up on the road. He doesn't show up against — when the competition's good, when he goes up against a top corner, this guy disappears. There's only one time I can remember in recent memory on elite receivers and disappearing acts like Amari Cooper. That was a kid the Raiders had a few years, oh that's right, that was Amari Cooper. This is who he is. And then he doesn't love football. Hell with it, he stops his routes, he does all of this. I wouldn't have paid this turd. No way in hell. No way in hell would I have paid this guy."
Ryan added the Cowboys "made a huge mistake" bringing Cooper back.
MORE: The strangest moments in NFL Draft history
These are surprisingly strong words from Ryan, especially considering the season Cooper just had. In his first full season with Dallas, Cooper finished with 79 receptions for 1,189 yards and eight touchdowns. Ryan does have a strong point in Saying Cooper "doesn't show up on the road." Cooper finished with 869 yards in home games and just 320 yards in road games this past season.
Still, calling Cooper a "turd" seems like a low blow from someone who used to coach NFL players. And many football fans and analysts feel that way as well.
UPDATE: ESPN brought Ryan back out later in the day to address his comments. He stands by his general assessment that the Cowboys shouldn't have paid Cooper as much as they did. But he did backtrack his use of the word "turd" when describing Cooper.
Rex Ryan joined @SportsCenter to clarify his earlier comments: pic.twitter.com/awB44JnETd
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 3, 2020
"But what I added at the end of that, I want to apologize to Amari," Ryan said. "And hopefully he accepts my apology."
What has Amari Cooper done to deserve this personal attack? He’s a hard worker, played through injuries, and is a good teammate. Rex Ryan should apologize.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2020
Not quite sure I would have described this young man that way. Always known him to be a good guy, quiet, who goes about his business without being disruptive or problematic
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 3, 2020
This is wrong and over the line. You can be critical. But Cooper is a class act. Played through injuries all last season. Had the two most productive years of his career in Dallas. It is wrong and classless to call him a turd. https://t.co/Y3ZM5bt1jY
— Clarence Hill Jr (@clarencehilljr) April 3, 2020
"Turd..."
— Patrik [No C] Walker (@VoiceOfTheStar) April 3, 2020
He's getting paid for this "analysis"? https://t.co/hPiTAcGotz
Rex Ryan shouldn’t be calling any player a “turd” especially on national TV. Other than that he wasn’t wrong in his Amari Cooper evaluation.
— Fallon (@FallonSmithTV) April 3, 2020
This is embarrassing on a lot of levels. https://t.co/gASE5QzuFq
— Roy White III (@RDubThree) April 3, 2020
Take note of something — the reporters who are regularly in the Cowboys locker room, and interact with Amari Cooper on the regular... are all coming to his defense.
— Mike Leslie (@MikeLeslieWFAA) April 3, 2020
Should tell you all you need to know about who Amari Cooper is as a man (and about how asinine Rex’s comment was).
Coop is easily one of the most thoughtful & respectful guys that’s come through the Cowboys’ locker room in the last decade, too. After the 4th & 9 fiasco, he stood at his locker and answered everyone who wanted to talk about it.
— David Helman (@HelmanDC) April 3, 2020
What a tool bag thing to say 🙄
Amari Cooper was professional, honest and made himself available when he hurt and healthy. He took criticism like a pro and praise like a pro.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) April 3, 2020
I really wish people could understand the kind of pain Amari Cooper played through last season.
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) April 3, 2020
Maybe then they could appreciate him so more.
