Amari Cooper during his introductory press conference
The day after being selected by the Oakland Raiders with the fourth overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Amari Cooper arrived at the team's Alameda, Calif., practice facility.
After meeting with his new coaches and General Manager Reggie McKenzie, the former Alabama standout was officially introduced as the newest member of the Silver and Black at a press conference.
Here's what we learned.
- He's Making New Friends
Cooper provides another offensive weapon for second-year quarterback, Derek Carr, and while he's officially been a Raider for just about 24 hours, he's already had a chance to talk to his new quarterback.
"He [Carr] called me after I got drafted last night," said Cooper. "He was just saying that we have to put in a lot of work and he's ready to go work and I agreed with him."
- He Carries Himself With a Quiet Confidence
While Cooper is rather soft spoken and comes off as very business-like, the wide receiver carries himself with a quiet confidence – and his play on the field backs that up.
"I'm just ready to go in and put in the work," Cooper said. "I think I'll be a playmaker for this team."
- He Was Excited When He Heard His Phone Ring Last Night
Being drafted Thursday night was a dream come true for the Miami-native, and the moment that he received the call from the Raiders was a moment he'll remember for a long time.
"I was elated, really happy," he said. "Just excited to be a part of the organization."
- Amari Knows His History
Cooper knows the history of the Raiders and in particular has an appreciation for the wide receivers that came before him.
"I know a little bit about the receivers that were here," Cooper said. "I know Jerry Rice was here for a little while, Tim Brown, Fred Biletnikoff. That's what I was interested in."
- He Has Been a Receiver Since He Put on Pads
If there's one thing we can take away from Cooper's introductory press conference, it's that he is a wide receiver through and through. He never had aspirations to play another position as a child, and he takes pride in his craft.
"I've been playing receiver since I first started playing football in the second or third grade," he stated. "I think that's kind of rare, because usually when you're really young, the best athletes usually play running back because you run the ball more when you're younger. I think it was an advantage to me to be playing receiver for a long time."
- Nick Saban Taught Him to Work Hard
During his career in Tuscaloosa, Cooper has the opportunity to learn from one of the best coaches in college football history, Nick Saban.
"He wanted us to work hard," Cooper said of Saban. "He wanted guys of high character. He wanted us to be diligent in our approach to watching film, taking practice really serious. He believes that if you practice well, you'll play well."
