The Dallas Cowboys need a No. 2 receiver, and for most, the thought was that it would come via the draft. It didn't.
Time to pivot.
An "explosive No. 2 receiver'' is what Dallas wanted, and CowboysCountry.com has covered the idea of Pittsburgh Steelers' George Pickens as a potential option for two weeks.
Now, a reunion with former Cowboy Amari Cooper is being talked about, and Dallas has internal interest in Cooper (at some level, anyway.)
So let's dissect this.
We know about Amari's "shrinkage," which as we were first to report three years ago resulted in him being trade-dumped to the Cleveland Browns before the 2022 season, with Cooper not showing up as a standout consistently in road games, and cold-weather games, and when he had a nagging bump or bruise.
When the going got tough - in the opinion of Cowboys bosses - he would "shrink" ... and it is that which has some turned off on the idea of a reunion.
Plus, he's coming off an underwhelming stint with the Buffalo Bills, with injury playing a role in his poor showing and eventually "benching'' in the playoffs.
So why would fans want that in Dallas?
Well, it is here where we offer a thread to pull on the Amari return, and it is all centered around new coach/play-caller Brian Schottenheimer.
Now, we know the type of player Schottenheimer wants in the building.
A tough, physical, gritty football player who "loves" football.
By reputation? Those aren't Cooper traits.
However, while Schottenheimer is known for what he wants his players to be, he also values relationship building, and it's here where a Cooper reunion could materialize.
With Cooper, we get the sense that he is more of an "arm around and talk" type of player, instead of one who responds to the more vocal coaching - that is right in Schottenheimer's wheelhouse.
Brian values relationships, almost above everything else, and if Cooper is feeling the Schottenheimer love, then maybe that is key to getting the best out of the former Pro Bowler.
We saw it in spurts last season, Cooper still has the wheels, and the hands to be a valuable receiver, and with the jury out on what he could offer in 2025 as a soon-to-be 31-year-old, maybe it is the family-orientated Schottenheimer who can bring the 2019/2020 version of Cooper back to an NFL field.
Granted, it's only a theory and some might say outlandish, but if there is one coach who could get Cooper back playing with a small resemblance of fire, it might just be Schottenheimer.
Our Mike Fisher says that "if you took a vote of the football people inside The Star, it'd be a 'no' on Amari.'' Maybe so. But we say 1 guy's vote should count the most. ... and that it's up to the coach to answer the question ...
Can "Schotty'' fix Amari?
