Cowboys’ Amari Cooper ‘more focused’ on earning respect than a contract extension

The Dallas Cowboys are heading through an offseason with plenty of questions concerning the long-term future of several key pieces to the puzzle.

Among those is Pro Bowl wide receiver Amari Cooper, who is currently heading into the fifth-year option of his rookie deal that will pay him $13.9 million for the 2019 campaign. With that in mind, Cooper has voiced that hasn’t delved too much into the situation as his focus lies with his play on the field, according to Jon Machota of the Dallas Morning News.

“It’s kind of weird situation, just being that I’ve never been in this situation before, talking about a contract,” Cooper said Saturday while attending 105.3 The Fan’s Mudbug Bash in Arlington. “But also, I’m under a fifth-year option, so I’m not too familiar with it. I really don’t ask my agent many questions. I’m not really worried about it that much.

“I’m more focused on actually playing and really earning the respect and then the contract.”

Although Cooper is choosing to stay away from the conversation, the Cowboys have made it clear that he remains at the top of the list of getting a new deal done. He has quickly proven to be a major factor on the field in his brief time with the franchise.

In nine games played in the regular season last year, he tallied 53 receptions for 725 receiving yards and six touchdowns that helped him earn his third career Pro Bowl nod. In two games played in the playoffs, Cooper had 13 catches on 18 targets for 171 receiving yards and a touchdown.

This may simply be a matter of time before the two sides can work out a deal this offseason that will keep him in Dallas for the next several years.