CLEVELAND– Contract negotiations remain ongoing between the Cleveland Browns and Amari Cooper, but the sides remain at odds on one crucial component.
The negotiations are ongoing but money is not the main issue. The Browns are willing to give Cooper an increased salary for this season. The sticking point is the length of the deal. The Browns have yet to offer Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper a contract extension longer than one year, a league source tells TheOBR.com.
Cooper, who turned 30 years old on Monday and is entering his last year under contract. Coming off arguably the best season of his career, Cooper is seeking a contract extension of at least two years guaranteed. The Browns, however are reluctant to offer Cooper such a contract. To this point, the Browns are offering a one-year extension, but have have been willing to include guaranteed money for the extra year.
If Cooper were to accept that offer from the Browns, he would get a small pay raise for this season, but effectively be back in the same situation next year. If he were to have a poor year or get hurt, the Browns could simply release him. And if he has a great year, he’s then looking for another renegotiation. It makes sense for Cooper to want that added security guaranteed money would give him.
The Browns are on summer break until the team reports back to Berea in late July for the start of training camp. Cooper skipped mandatory minicamp as the sides remained in negotiations. The sides have remained in contact and there is still a sense of optimism the sides agree to a deal.
Cooper had five games with at least 100 yards receiving. Two of them were with Deshaun Watson at the helm. He had 108 yards with P.J. Walker at quarterback in the Browns victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Then he had two games of at least 100 yards with Joe Flacco, including an 11-reception, 265-yard, two touchdown performance against the Houston Texans.
In his two seasons with the Browns, Cooper has 2,410 yards and 14 touchdowns. He’s established himself as the team’s best wide receiver since Josh Gordon. And the Browns were able to add him in a trade with the Dallas Cowboys for a fifth-round pick and a swap of sixth-round selections.
That gives Cooper and his agent a fair amount of leverage.
Head coach Kevin Stefanski was asked about it in his media availability after practice, unwilling to confirm that Cooper is seeking a new deal. When asked if the team was informed of Cooper’s plans, Stefanski simply said, “There’s been a dialogue.” Stefanski said on the situation as a whole, “I’ll leave all that between Amari and Amari’s agent, AB [Andrew Berry] and those type of conversations. Again, as you guys know, we focus on guys that are here, we’ll get some good work in and keep it at that.”
Along with Cooper, the Browns acquired Jerry Jeudy in the offseason. They gave him a contract extension. If they also extend Cooper, the Browns will have their wide receiver room set up for the foreseeable future. Even as the Browns would want Cooper out there, this does allow them to get more reps with players like Elijah Moore, who is entering the final year of his contract, Cedric Tillman, David Bell, Michael Woods II and the rookie Jamari Thrash among others.
Be the first to comment