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Jerry Rice just set an extremely high bar for Amari Cooper

By Jonathan Bass

May 26, 2015; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper (89) at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
May 26, 2015; Alameda, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders receiver Amari Cooper (89) at organized team activities at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jerry Rice heaped effusive praise on rookie Raiders wideout Amari Cooper.

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In case expectations in Oakland weren’t already sky-high for Amari Cooper, Jerry Rice just upped the ante. With Oakland kicking off training camp this week, Rice weighed in on the explosive rookie wideout, comparing him favorably to former Raider great Tim Brown.

"“They have their new Tim Brown. I think with Cooper, I think he’s very much like Tim Brown. Very explosive, got speed to burn and really gonna strike the fear into the opposing team.”"

Brown, the 1987 Heisman Trophy winner, was drafted No. 6 overall by the Raiders in 1988 out of Notre Dame. The sure-handed receiver who, even after they became popular, never wore gloves would become the face of the franchise for 16 seasons. From Jeff Hostetler to Jeff George to Rich Gannon, Brown played with a revolving cavalcade of quarterbacks, yet proceeded to put up video game numbers – he was the third wideout in league history to reach 1,000 career receptions. However, much of his career was overshadowed by the game’s all-time great Rice, who played just across the Bay, as well as flashier receivers such as Cris Carter, Michael Irvin and Andre Rison, among others.

Rice’s comparison of Cooper to Brown might not seem all that far-fetched (and if correct, bully for Oakland). Both men stand similar heights, have similar game weights, are explosive in the open field, and carry a yeoman’s attitude to getting the job done (Just win, baby). Cooper owns every significant receiving record at the University of Alabama and, should he pan out, Oakland looks to have a formidable young QB/WR tandem between him and Derek Carr.

Perhaps not coincidentally, this isn’t the first time Cooper has been compared to one of the greats to don Silver and Black. Prior to the NFL Draft, Mel Kiper likened him to none other than Jerry Rice.

If nothing else, Cooper being mentioned in the same company as Brown and Rice will undoubtedly have Raiders fans giddily remembering the offensive fireworks from the late-1990s and early 2000s – the team’s last prolonged run of success.

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