MINNEAPOLIS - The list of failed New England Patriot wide receivers is quite long.
The talented Chad Ochocinco tops a group that would also have to include Joey Galloway, Bethel Johnson and Brandon Lloyd.
Brandin Cooks is certainly happy not to be included in this ignominious list. After being traded by the New Orleans Saints to the Patriots, the team saw Cooks pairing with Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in a potent, explosive group of receivers. After [...]
MINNEAPOLIS - The list of failed New England Patriot wide receivers is quite long.
The talented Chad Ochocinco tops a group that would also have to include Joey Galloway, Bethel Johnson and Brandon Lloyd.
Brandin Cooks is certainly happy not to be included in this ignominious list. After being traded by the New Orleans Saints to the Patriots, the team saw Cooks pairing with Julian Edelman and Danny Amendola in a potent, explosive group of receivers. After Edelman blew out his knee in the preseason, Cooks’ addition became vital.
He’s gone on to fulfill the team’s hopes, leading the receivers with 65 catches and 7 touchdowns. He remains a weapon down the field and came up big in the playoffs. His six catches in eight targets for 100 yards proved vital against a tough secondary in New England’s 24-20 AFC Championship win over the Jaguars.
Cooks said he remains grateful to the Saints and coach Sean Payton and general manager Mickey Loomis for trading him to such a strong team and pairing him with a Hall of Fame quarterback.
“That’s why I say I have a ton of respect for Coach Payton and Mickey for the way they handled the trade,” he said. “They could’ve traded me anywhere but they put me in a great position to succeed with a great coach, a great quarterback and great teammates. So I’m surely thankful for that.”
Cooks said he’s happy with his first season in New England but now wants to top things off with a victory in his first Super Bowl.
“To get an opportunity like this is a blessing,” Cooks said. “We’re focused on (beating) the Eagles. We’ve put in a lot of work and want to play our best on Sunday.”
Previous Patriots wide receiver pickups often struggled grasping the team’s offensive plans and developing a synergy with Brady. That hasn’t been a problem for Cooks.
“Tom relates to everyone very well,” Cooks said. “Our bond as teammates, with everyone, is just like any other bond. That’s why you have to have a ton of respect for the guy. He’s had so much success but he treats everyone the same.”