Amari Cooper Describes Joe Flacco As A Faith Multiplier
Browns WR Amari Cooper talks with the media on December 21, 2023.
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00:00 So definitely it will present a challenge to us, but as long as we stay ahead of the
00:04 chains, as long as we execute, we'll be fine.
00:08 How do you see David in terms of his team right now?
00:14 I mean, David has always been the same.
00:17 You know, he, I mean, he's the kind of teammate that binds everybody together, I would say.
00:24 In terms of his ability, you know, he's always been a fast player, especially in terms of
00:31 him being a tight end.
00:33 So it's always been a mismatch for guys guarding him in that respect.
00:39 But also, you know, other than his speed, you know, he has good hands, good understanding
00:44 of the game.
00:45 And one thing about David is, you know, he's forever learning, you know, getting better
00:51 at things that he feel like he needs to get better at.
00:54 So that's, I would say that's what's most impressive about him is his willingness to
01:00 learn year in and year out.
01:01 You just mentioned he's the kind of teammate that binds people together.
01:02 I'm sure people talk about how good of a teammate he is.
01:03 What is it that he brings to the team, I guess?
01:04 Is there anything specific?
01:05 I would say his energy, you know, it's hard to explain.
01:18 I guess the best way I would explain it is we're here together every day.
01:24 Some days are good days for an individual, some days are not.
01:28 I think he can kind of pick up and sense, you know, when a guy is down, the guy maybe
01:33 going through something, and he has that ability to uplift that guy and talk to him when they
01:40 need to be talked to.
01:41 So I would say that's a thing, for sure.
01:42 You have another thousand-yard season left in your reach.
01:49 That's not unusual for you.
01:53 Do you feel like those people out there seeing you for the first time are anything about
02:00 you?
02:01 Yeah, I heard.
02:02 I heard.
02:03 Is that just something that should have happened more than 15 years ago?
02:04 Did that surprise you?
02:05 It is kind of surprising, a little bit.
02:08 But at the same time, it's not.
02:13 Things happen throughout the course of the season.
02:16 Obviously, there have been a lot of guys who have played here who definitely, without a
02:22 shadow of a doubt, have had the ability to go back-to-back thousand-yard seasons.
02:27 But you know, extenuating circumstances happen.
02:30 Guys get injured and whatnot.
02:33 So it's definitely something I don't take for granted.
02:37 To come out here every day and be able to grind, be able to be consistent for my teammates
02:44 and for the group.
02:45 We've asked a lot of quarterbacks this year, especially with K.D. coming in.
02:54 It just feels like on the outside looking in, he's added an unquantifiable element to
03:02 the locker room outside of just physical ability that he has.
03:08 Can you sense that?
03:10 Can you, I guess, articulate that as far as those intangibles?
03:15 Yeah.
03:16 He's injected into this locker room?
03:18 Yeah, 100 percent.
03:19 I think the best way to probably describe it is he's like a faith multiplier.
03:26 When he came in, guys, it's like a weight lifted off of our shoulders.
03:33 This is the guy.
03:34 We trust in him.
03:35 For whatever reason, because a lot of guys, they know of Joe, but they haven't seen him
03:41 play every game.
03:42 It's just his credentials.
03:44 Super Bowl winner, consistent quarterback, throws a great ball, has a great understanding
03:51 of the game.
03:52 I think that's what draws everybody to him.
03:56 How are you able to take that box to where the goals you want to accomplish?
04:12 Yeah, obviously, making the playoffs, that's pretty much the first goal of every team.
04:19 Just to be able to get there.
04:22 You worry about the gravy, so to speak, after you actually make the playoffs.
04:27 Yeah, it'll be a great feeling.
04:30 Then we'll just go from there.
04:33 When you talk about the back-to-back thousand-yard receipt with the Browns, you've got a black
04:38 star on your territory.
04:39 How important is that?
04:40 Is consistency key that you're doing it year-on-year?
04:44 Yeah, it's very important.
04:46 Like I said before, just to be consistent, just to be reliable, just to be available.
04:52 It means a lot to me.
04:55 Being able to play through whatever circumstance and still be able to do my job, it definitely
05:03 means a lot that I'm able to do that and help the team.
05:07 What's the biggest thing that the Browns have been able to do this year?
05:14 I would be lying if I said they didn't.
05:17 Because they throw such an easy ball to catch.
05:20 If you ask any receivers, they love a very catchable ball.
05:27 Is it the accuracy or the tight spiral?
05:30 Obviously, it's the accuracy, but it's not necessarily the tight spiral.
05:35 I would more so say velocity and trajectory of the ball.
05:43 The ball has a little less velocity, but because he's on time with the throw, it's not a late
05:48 throw.
05:49 It's still on time, but it's just easy to catch.
05:51 Receivers, even though they shouldn't, we all like to think about the yards after the
05:56 catch.
05:57 Sometimes we neglect actually the catch point.
05:59 That's how a lot of receivers drop balls.
06:02 It seems like with a quarterback like Joe, you can get away with that because you don't
06:06 really have to think about catching the ball because it's such an easy grab.
06:09 Did that touch on one come in with a lot of velocity?
06:14 No, so it might have looked like it.
06:17 That's the thing.
06:18 Even his straight line balls, they don't come in with a lot of velocity, but they're on
06:23 time.
06:24 It was an easy grab.
06:26 [INTERPOSING VOICES]