Amari Cooper criticized by former Jaguars receiver for being “lazy”

Former NFL wide receiver Jimmy Smith is not pleased with Amari Cooper’s regression since his mega-deal with the Dallas Cowboys 

The ultimate goal for any player in the NFL is to receive a second contract. After that, each contract can lead to larger deals and more money for a player’s retirement fund. Nine times out of 10, the first deal following the rookie contract is the most lucrative.

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper has cashed in since being drafted out of Alabama in 2016.

Last season, the Cowboys and Cooper agreed to a five-year, $100 million extension to keep him at “The Star” through the 2024 season. Since being traded from then-Oakland and paired with Dak Prescott, the two have created one of the better tandems in the NFL.

One former NFL wide receiver isn’t sold that Cooper is deserving on the mega-deal.

Former Jacksonville Jaguars star Jimmy Smith told FanSided’s Matt Lombardo that while he might have earned the big bucks, Cooper’s carefree demeanor affected the Cowboys in 2020.

“I Just wish there was a little more effort on Amari Cooper’s part,” Smith told Lombardo on The Matt Lombardo Show podcast.

Is Cooper’s attitude a problem for the Cowboys?

Dallas lost all momentum following Week 5 against the New York Giants. Prescott left with an a season-ending ankle injury and the team was forced to rely on veteran Andy Dalton, Garrett Gilbert and rookie Ben DiNucci. The team finished 6-10 and third in the division, missing the postseason for the second-straight year.

Smith thinks down the stretch, Cooper gave up and played a pivotal role in Dallas missing the postseason.

“[Cooper] is a guy who is so talented, but the lack of effort really, really gets under my skin,” Smith said. “Especially for what he’s getting paid.”

One could call 2020 a mulligan season for all of Dallas’ offense following Prescott’s injury. Somehow, Cooper still was productive as the go-to target in Big D. He grabbed a career-best 92 catches for 1,114 yards and five touchdowns.

Record-setting numbers seems far from lazy.

The Cowboys do have an opt-out in Cooper’s contract following this year. If the team could find a way to keep Michael Gallup on a more affordable deal, Jerry Jones could look to trade the 26-year-old receiver to a team looking for a top-caliber wideout if he regresses.

Smith believes that second-year target CeeDee Lamb will be the new No. 1 following the upcoming season.

“He’s going to be one of the top receivers in this league,” Smith says of Lamb. “He has a passion for the game, had a good feel for positioning in the slot, as a rookie, and he’s going to get better.”

Two is better than none, but if Cooper is being “lazy”, Dallas has an out. If he continues to put up similar numbers and the Cowboys can win, Cooper and Lamb might just become the league’s most dangerous duo for the next decade.