The veteran wide receiver has had an impact on Seattle’s offense not only by catching passes, but with his blocking for running backs.
RENTON — Perhaps it was because of his playoff beard that the veteran wide receiver Cooper Coup felt inclined to comment on how hot it was inside the meeting room of the Seattle Seahawks.
On a warm January day in the Emerald City, Cooper Coup appeared before a group of reporters in a tank top after making a witty comment, as he has often done in his first season in Seattle. But for those who know him well, it is hardly a facade he shows to the press.
It is an extension of who you are and always have been. Cooper Coup32 years old and in his ninth season in the NFL, before the National Conference Championship Game on Sunday between Seahawks and his old team, Los Angeles Rams. He is consistently optimistic.
“He’s the same person every day, and you can count on him,” said the runner-up. SeahawksCam Akers, who was also a teammate of Cooper Coup in the Rams. “You can count on him to be exactly where you need him to be at the right time every time. So, consistency, being a real leader without having to say a lot.”
However, the game Cooper Coup He spoke a lot during eight prolific seasons with the Rams. Not only was he the MVP of Super Bowl LVI, but he also won the Offensive Player of the Year award in 2021 and the receiving triple crown during that championship campaign.
Injuries affected him in his last three years in Los Angeles and that contributed to his court in the Rams last year. now in Seattlehis practice reps were limited to help him have a full season, which he nearly accomplished by appearing in 16 of 17 games and racking up the second-most receiving yards on the team with 593.
Head coach Mike Macdonald has appreciated not only the standard that Cooper Coup has established for the other recipients of the Seahawksbut also its availability.
“Is it any surprise that the guy put himself in a position to play at a high level? Not one bit,” Macdonald said. “We’ve had a plan for him. Probably, early in his career, the amount of workload he put in on a daily basis, I think that may have taken a toll on him. But he’s been really smart.”
In exchange, Cooper Coup has been integral not only to the passing game of the Seahawksbut also for their running attack that finished the season tied for 10th in yards (2,096) in the NFL. Cooper Coup He received praise from offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak and his fellow receivers for his willingness to block.
“He’s got a phenomenal Hall of Fame brain, and he’s a guy who’s made a lot of plays for us,” Kubiak said. “He gets a lot of credit for the way he blocks, and he should. But he’s made some really big plays in the passing game, and we’re going to continue to trust him there.”
Although he has been delighted with the success of the Seahawks in a season in which they had the most regular season wins (14) in franchise history, Cooper Coup He lamented having the second-fewest receiving yards of his career in a season.
“At the end of the day, I’m going to go out and execute what’s asked of me,” he said. Cooper Coup. “Like anyone, everyone wants to come here and have 1,500 yards in a year, everyone wants to score 10 touchdowns. It’s just that you want the ball in your hands.”
Even so, Cooper Coup recognizes the “incredible story” that awaits him. If the Seahawks If they want to advance to the Super Bowl, they will first have to beat their former team. Despite the lively personality he possesses Cooper Coupis not someone who seeks to draw attention to himself.
“We all have a story,” he said. Cooper Coup. “All these guys that step on the field, they’ve all had a story that’s gotten them to this point. They’ve all had this journey of what this year has been like for them, what the last few years have been like to get to this point. Mine is just one of 53.”
