With The First Pick
Fansided

Amari Cooper Should Join 81 Club For Jared Cook

By Carl Cockerham

Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper (89) makes a catch prior to the game against the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 7, 2017; Houston, TX, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper (89) makes a catch prior to the game against the Houston Texans in the AFC Wild Card playoff football game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Oakland Raiders TE Jared Cook loves the No. 89. But it’s going to take some serious negotiations with WR Amari Cooper, who now has it. There is a way for Cook to get his number and for Cooper to benefit plus get a better one for him.

In free agency, players are looking for a way to be most comfortable on and off the field. The money is the obvious issue but there are a lot of other factors involved. How the player’s skill set can help the team win is an important part of the situation.

How he fits with the other players, coaches, and others in the organization are also important. Then there’s the matter of how the player and his family will fit into the community. Once you have all that taken care of, the player is ready to sign and play for you.

Then once you have the player signed, there is one more issue that’s more important than many realize. A number is a person’s identity on the football field so they want what they’re comfortable with. Players are known to buy numbers from other players, they want them so bad.

For new Oakland Raiders TE Jared Cook his issue is No. 89, currently worn by WR Amari Cooper. It looks like he’s going to have to come up with some cash to convince Cooper to give it to him. Cook talked about that during his introductory conference call.

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Per Jimmy Durkin of the San Jose Mercury News, he said:

"“I don’t know. “Me and [Cooper] are going to have to have a little conversation to see if I can get it off of him. Might have to bribe him a little bit, throw him like five bucks or something. We’ll see if I can get it off his back.”"

Cook needs to add some zeros to that five but the situation that can be easily settled. The going rate is about $50,000 so Cook should give that to Cooper or his favorite charity. Cooper seems like the type of guy that would have Cook give it to the charity.

And as far as Cooper’s next number goes, it should be No. 81 once worn by Tim Brown. Mychal Rivera was the last to wear the number last year but he’s no longer with the Raiders. The Raiders should have an 81 club like Dallas Cowboys have an 88 club.

They should never have allowed a guy like Rivera to wear a number Brown had. The Raiders and Cowboys don’t generally retire numbers, no matter how good the player was. So while Dez Bryant reps No. 88 well in Dallas, Cooper should rep No. 81 in Oakland!

Only good WRs should wear 88 in Dallas and 81 in Oakland.

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