New Oakland Raiders wide receiver and recent first-round pick Amari Cooper has a message for fans of the silver and black: get ready for a new era of Raiders football.
"My message to the fans is just, 'Be ready to just win, baby,'" Cooper said recently , via NFL.com.
Cooper, the fourth-overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, was highly-heralded as the best and most NFL-ready receiver in the entire draft. While he's only had an early taste of professional life with his new franchise, Cooper has already been creating a buzz amongst teammates and coaches alike. He also sounds like a guy who has been impressed by the collection of talent Oakland has put together under GM Reggie McKenzie and head coach Jack Del Rio.
"What I like most about my new team is how competitive these guys are in practice," said Cooper. "Everybody is storming to the ball on defense, on offense we're trying to be great, everything is going cohesive right now, we're all trying to learn the plays and I think we really have a great chance of winning. I really do."
That's got to be refreshing for fans of the Raiders too-often forced to accept the futility of a season before it's ever really begun. Prior to McKenzie and Del Rio's arrival, the Raiders hadn't made the playoffs since the team lost to Jon Gruden's Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the 2002 Super Bowl.
The franchise also hasn't finished with a winning record since then as well - the closest they've come is back-to-back 8-8 finishes in 2010 and 2011.
Now that Cooper and quarterback Derek Carr headline a base of promising young talent in Oakland, hopes in Raider-ville are again soaring.
For Cooper, despite his confidence that Oakland can compete next season, he said he won't be placing any extra pressure on himself beyond coming in and working hard every day and trying to be the best teammate he can.
"I just want to prove that I'm going to be a player who is going to bring it every day. I'm going to work hard and try to be the best, try to hone my craft, sharpen my blade every day - I'm going to bring it every day. I want to be a great teammate and I want what is best for each of my teammates so we all can come together and have a great season."
