The New Orleans Saints have made their separation from Brandin Cooks official. The veteran wide receiver requested to be released from the team. Cooks signed a two-year, $13 million deal that allowed him to return to the Saints in March. Now, just months later, this decision is likely to be reversed. The 32-year-old receiver, drafted in the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, has had a storied career, including stints with the Saints, New England Patriots, and other teams.
Unfortunately Cook’s impact this season with the Saints turned out to be less than expected. He ended the first half of the season with 19 receptions for 165 yards. Despite trying, he only managed to score zero touchdowns, finishing fifth in receptions on the team. The Saints’ coaching staff recognized that Cooks had not been a major factor in the team’s offensive strategy this season.
Kellen Moore, the Saints’ head coach, released a statement of mutual parting between Dunn and the organization. He added that it took several days to finalize the release.
“He asked to be released and obviously it took a few days just to kind of go through that process just to make sure it worked for both parties and so his contract was kind of adjusted just to make it something that benefited both parties. He was awesome about it,” – Kellen Moore
Cooks’ departure marks him as the second wide receiver to leave the Saints this season, following Rashid Shaheed’s recent trade to the Seattle Seahawks at the trade deadline. Moore thanked Cooks for what he’s done for the team and noted that Cooks’ professionalism throughout this transition has been impressive.
“Obviously, this is a personal thing and he’s been great for us … the way he’s handled himself, the way he’s helped our team and so those are challenging things, but I appreciate everything he’s done for us and so I feel like it’s in the best interest of the team moving forward,” – Kellen Moore
During that time, Cooks has proven an incredibly productive player, with 729 receptions for 9,697 yards and 60 touchdowns in his 12-season career so far. It was his rare experience and skills that helped make him such a singular asset during his tenure. After recent performances, both sides reached an agreement that change was needed.
Brandin Cooks reads questions about his time with the Saints. As a talented receiver, he has left a legacy of on-field accomplishments for each of the teams he has greatly contributed to throughout the league during his membership. The decision to release him reflects both his desire for a new opportunity and the Saints’ need to adjust their roster for future success.
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