Rex Ryan called Amari Cooper a turd, and we’re having a hard time figuring out why
Rex Ryan flipped out and called Amari Cooper a turd for no good reason and Twitter is not happy with him.
We’re all a little stressed out right now but the folks at ESPN might think of taking the microphone away from NFL analyst Rex Ryan for a little while. The always outspoken Ryan crossed a bit of a line this morning while discussing wide receiver Amari Cooper receiving a new contract from the Cowboys on ESPN’s morning show Get Up.
Dallas signed Cooper to a five-year, $100 million deal this offseason that includes $60 million in guaranteed money.
That is a big deal.
While Cooper hasn’t necessarily lived up to the lofty expectations he brought with him when the Oakland Raiders drafted him fourth overall in the 2015 NFL Draft, he hasn’t exactly been terrible either. Cooper has been voted to four Pro Bowls and has played quite well since being traded to the Cowboys during the 2018 season.
That brings us back to Ryan. Look, his job is to comment on these types of things. It is totally fine if Ryan things Cooper isn’t worth the money the Cowboys are paying him. In the clip below, however, Ryan goes way too far. He seems to get unnecessarily worked up and animated while talking about Cooper. The venom seems to be a little over the top but whatever, its T.V., right? Unfortunately, near the end of the clip, things take a more drastic turn when Ryan makes things personal and refers to Cooper as a “turd.”
"[Amari Cooper] is the biggest disappearing act in the National Football League. ... I wouldn't have paid this turd."
— Get Up (@GetUpESPN) April 3, 2020
—Rex Ryan pic.twitter.com/A8gzRJqBnD
Get Up host Mike Greenberg tries to cut Ryan off but the former coach just keeps rambling about how the Cowboys should have paid Dak Prescott instead.
Twitter, rightfully so, jumped in to defend Cooper and shame Ryan.
What has Amari Cooper done to deserve this personal attack? He’s a hard worker, played through injuries, and is a good teammate. Rex Ryan should apologize. https://t.co/rSHzKHdP73
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 3, 2020
Yes he should. The Turd remark was off base and unfair.
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 3, 2020
I'm still trying to figure out the five Lombardi trophies behind him, Ian. Until we figure that out, Rex probably shouldn't say anything.
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) April 3, 2020
Amari Cooper is a helluva player who put up big numbers despite playing through injuries and facing a brutal CB schedule while being one of the few WRs who often drew shadow coverage. Rex Ryan can get out of here with this trash.
— Adam Best (@adamcbest) April 3, 2020
Turd?
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) April 3, 2020
Not quite sure I would have described this young man that way. Always known him to be a good guy, quiet, who goes about his business without being disruptive or problematic
— Steve Wyche (@wyche89) April 3, 2020
We’re not supposed to get personal with players, cheering for them etc., but we have some good guys that we do cover. Amari Cooper is one of those guys. For Rex Ryan to call him a turd is unprofessional and just doesn’t jive with the Cooper a lot of us have dealt with.
— Calvin Watkins (@calvinwatkins) April 3, 2020
Calvin Watkins is right. It is absolutely unprofessional for Ryan to result to name-calling because he doesn’t think a guy is good enough at football. Ryan should be on the phone with Cooper right now apologizing. As for ESPN, they might want to consider leaving Ryan in quarantine permanently.