Brandin Cooks does have Randy Moss potential
In 2007, Randy Moss had set out to start a new chapter of his career with Tom Brady and the New England Patriots. A team just two seasons removed from their 3rd Lombardi Trophy, it was the perfect fit for Moss and New England. The Pats’ had just been bounced from the AFC Championship the year before in Indianapolis. Who could forget leading receivers Reche Caldwell and Chad Jackson? Not exactly a dynamic duo. The Pats’ needed help. Those receivers were both soon replaced by Wes Welker and of course Randy Moss.
23 touchdowns, 18 wins, and a helmet catch later; the historic season for Randy Moss ended without a Super Bowl ring. Since his departure in 2010, New England has won 2 Super Bowls and continue to succeed in a league where sustained success should not exist. But as much as the ‘next man up’ mentality is great, a receiver talent like Moss hasn’t presented itself in Foxboro since that 2007 season. But New England might have found one that will get pretty close.
It’s never safe to buy a Patriots jersey if the player is not named Tom Brady. Nobody has the “untouchable” label by Bill Belichick unless you are the great Tom Brady. And just like in 2014, it was shaping up to be another mass exodus of players following a Super Bowl win.
…But it was the exact opposite.
Not only did the Pats’ re-sign star linebacker Dont’a Hightower; but the additions of Stephon Gilmore, Kony Ealy, and the trade for Brandin Cooks along with Dwayne Allen have me bowing down to Belichick once again. The man did nothing in the month of March for 15 years but now he buys out the entire free agent market? Fine with me.
What was his motive here? Is he setting up one final run because he senses this is the end for Brady? Does he want revenge on the Giants? Is he still riding the high from the greatest game ever played back in February like me? Who knows an who cares, I was not expecting this. Now say it with me.. No days off. No days off! NO DAYS OFF!!!
So back to the Randy Moss stuff. The Pats’ stole traded for Saints wide receiver Brandin Cooks in exchange for a first and third-round draft pick. At age 23, he’s already played 3 seasons down in New Orleans with Drew Brees. Averaging over 13 yards per catch and collecting 20 touchdowns, he’s looked at as one of the more promising talents in the NFL. But why would I compare him to the great Randy Moss?
First off, it’s worth noting that the Patriots have a ton of valuable depth on offense. Brady finds ways to use a different guy as his primary target every week. He always has. What I’m trying to get at here is that this offense is fine without Cooks. As if you didn’t already know that after the Pats’ won the Super Bowl. Teams already had trouble with an offense missing arguably it’s best receiving target Rob Gronkowski for most of the year. So good luck with those defensive schemes.
With the fear factor of everyone around him plaguing the defense itself, it really could set up Cooks for a historic season. Most importantly, he is the perfect monster for this offense. Quick like Edelman, deep threat like Hogan, aggressive like Gronkowski to a degree. This trade was absolutely worth the first-round pick.
Most of the Patriot legends took years to present their talent and value to the organization. Few have come into that locker room with the proven talent and athleticism that Cooks has shown. Obviously, with the amount of talent New England has combined with the age of Brady, this could turn into an average season. But in my mind, this was the biggest free agency move for any team this offseason.
And probably offseasons to come.
-Jim Bulger
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