Amari Cooper is typically mild-mannered.
So it was curious to hear the Cleveland Browns star wide receiver take aim at the local media during his press availability on Thursday.
Cooper’s comment came in response to a question from Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, who asked the Pro Bowl wideout about a play from the Browns’ 21-15 loss to the New York Giants on Sunday in which quarterback Deshaun Watson appeared to miss a wide-open Jordan Akins on a critical fourth-and-1.
Cabot’s question wasn’t confrontational—it was about how screenshots don’t necessarily tell the entire story about a particular play. But it elicited a response that was seemingly out of character for the former Alabama star.
“It’s football, at the end of the day. Some plays you’re going to make, some plays you aren’t going to make. I assume that’s what they’re getting at,” Cooper said. “It’s just like anybody else who has a job. Some of y’all don’t ask the best questions. But hey, you don’t hear me criticizing. But it’s just the nature of the business. Obviously, we get scrutinized more than you guys do. I think maybe y’all should start asking questions in front of the camera so they can see y’alls faces.”
Amari Cooper (who usually doesn’t say much) just said what a lot of #Browns fans have been thinking about our local media for years. pic.twitter.com/d0txXf8dIr
— Shawn (@ShawnIyer) September 26, 2024
Cooper’s comment initially appeared to be a good-natured comparison to illustrate the microscope that football players face, but it somehow evolved into a false equivalency. Lest the 30-year-old think that the local media in Cleveland doesn’t get criticized, he needn’t look any further than the outpouring of support he’s already received on social media from Browns fans for his jab.
Cooper is certainly right that NFL players find themselves subjected to more scrutiny than most occupations—including the media—but to quote Don Draper, that’s what the money’s for. Rather than trying to make sense of the forced comparison, perhaps the biggest takeaway from all of this is that it’s not even October, and we already appear to be reaching the “blame the media” portion of Brown’s 2024 season.
About Ben Axelrod
Ben Axelrod is a veteran of the sports media landscape, having most recently worked for NBC's Cleveland affiliate, WKYC. Prior to his time in Cleveland, he covered Ohio State football and the Big Ten for outlets including Cox Media Group, Bleacher Report, Scout and Rivals.