Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Saints Coach Sean Payton told Sirius XM Radio Tuesday that he “absolutely” expects wide receiver Brandin Cooks to be back with the team in 2017.

“If you really want to cut down to the chase, he’s a magnificent kid,” Payton said, per the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “[He’s] a worker. He’s not a kid anymore. He’s a tremendous player. He practices 100 miles per hour. You have to slow him down some. He’s got a great rapport with Drew [Brees].”

There had been some speculation that the Saints could look to move Cooks in order to help fix their leaky defense. That seems to have stemmed from comments Cooks made after he went without a touch in a blowout win late last season over the Rams.

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Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Media story.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

I really thought cooks was a different type of player but after that Rams game and his comments... I really don't care for him anymore.... he was more worried about his stats than a team win...

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

his quote:

“It’s one of those things, as a competitor, I was frustrated. But at the same time, our offense was moving the ball and we won the game, so that was the bright side of it,” Cooks said, via ESPN.com. “I’m just thinking from a competition standpoint, I always want to help, I feel like, and I necessarily didn’t that game. I feel like from my mindset, when I touch the ball, things happen, and I just want to help my team in that way.”

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

SP trading a player he target and packed picks to move up and get? that is not his MO.

His MO is thinking one chess piece alone will solve a problem. Drops the ball by not getting the other pieces to make it work.

SP plays a lot of checkers with personnel not chess

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Cooks put a bad taste in my mouth too, but when it comes down to it there is no reason to break up the best WR combo in the NFL at this point, even if it is to improve the defense.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Or you can say he doesn't have to go anywhere for the D to improve.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

One game and a comment from Cooks.

Some blew this way out of proportion.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Don't forget that they brought in Colston to talk to him and after that pep talk from the veteran in private, Cooks has been pretty close to "Quiet Storm 2.0" ever since.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

and what he said wasn't even that inflammatory

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

It wasn't what he said that bothered me, it's the fact that he said it after we won by 28 points.

I'd understand if we lost the game and Cooks believed he could help, but after a 28 point win you should be happy. Yet he sat there wondering about his lack of stats.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Doesn't mention stats or looks, doesn't badmouth Brees or SP, doesn't say me-me-me

“It’s one of those things, as a competitor, I was frustrated. But at the same time, our offense was moving the ball and we won the game, so that was the bright side of it,” Cooks said, via ESPN.com. “I’m just thinking from a competition standpoint, I always want to help, I feel like, and I necessarily didn’t that game. I feel like from my mindset, when I touch the ball, things happen, and I just want to help my team in that way.”

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

This ^^^.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

That was blown WAY out of proportion. You rely far too much on the hack media who get paid to spin everything to create controversy. It wasn't Cooks you were tasting ... it was those foul media hacks.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Exactly!

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Actually, the Saints didn't bring Colston in to talk to Cooks. That was another falsehood spread by a media *****. Colston and Cooks were close the whole time and they had talked weekly since Colston left. Once again, don't believe the crap you read unless you do a little research first.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

That wasn't what he said at all. He basically said he was frustrated because he wasn't able to personally help the team win. There was no mention of stats. It was totally innocent.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Super! You posted it! See?

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

It feels like to me after that game now it was mandatory to get cooks his touches so he doesn't feel like he isn't helping he team...

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

twice, actually

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

I agree with you. I think it was blown up a little, but it bothered me too. And after the media started digging into it, he changed his tune and said he just was upset because he didn't "personally help the team." That's a farce. It's BS and it still sounds selfish. "The team kicked a lot of ass and did awesome, but I'm mad cause I didn't get to help the team by making some catches."

It bothered me at the time, but he hasn't said or done anything since so I'm over it.

Did it get blown out of proportion? Yes.

But was he acting like a selfish teammate? In my opinion, yes.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Well we don't want his feelings to get hurt do we? I mean he gets to play, but he didn't get any catches. Wonder how the many other players feel when they have to sit on the sidelines the entire game without even playing.

Cooks was playing the entire game. That's my point. I'm sure other players would like to contribute more to the team while they sit on their ass the entire game. He got to play. He just didn't get the ball.

Anyway, water under the bridge.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

It's seems fairly simple to me. Cooks is a competitor and wants the ball every time.

Being a decoy isn't very exciting and can be a frustration.............

Here's another thought. Payton obviously forced the Ball to Cooks next game and defenses took any opportunities away. I love him and want him for another decade. Thomas is the future #1 jersey seller and I always feel the need for Snead.

Also we have Curtis Johnson back on staff.....if Cooks were to leave Johnson would still give us a quality product on the field with a little work.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

You're comparing NON starters to the saints Starting WR? Barring injury non of the bench players expect to get major PT somebody who is on the field 85% of time is a different story. It wasn't selfish, I guess we really wouldn't understand because we're not in his shoes.

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Cooks comments didn't bother me as they seemed more of the nature of frustration and wanting to contribute and be a part of something bigger...

Feel like the negative slant, spin came from other kids reporters from other teams that would like him playing for one of the "preferred markets"...

If it was all the time and in various context, the I'd say you have a problem child - which Cooks is not, just a great receiver who needs the ball more...

Re: Payton addresses speculation, expects Cooks back with Saints
 

Cooks was dealing with a better corner. If Brees threw his way, there's a good chance the rams score more than 21 points.