FRISCO - It's a weird thing to note about a guy who has been to the Pro Bowl five times, but the track record says it's true: The acquisitions of Amari Cooper, every time, never quite work out very well.
The Amari move of 2019? Nope, it didn't work out the way the Dallas Cowboys envisioned. Close, but no cigar.
His time in Cleveland, where Dallas trade-dumped him? Nope, because the Browns eventually turned around and did the same with him in moving him to Buffalo.
And that 2024 midseason Amari trade? That didn't work out the way the Bills has envisioned it, either, with the big-name never really taking off in Joe Brady's offense.
Granted, Cooper came in midseason and then had an injury, which isn't ideal when you are coming to a new team, as Amari was playing catch-up the entire time.
So he's a free agent. And has been for months.
Teams that might've had an interest - including the teams that know him best - have gone in the other direction.
The Cowboys had a need at wideout and so they traded for George Pickens.
The Bills had a need at wideout and so they signed Joshua Palmer. ... and then they signed Elijah Moore, who used to play third fiddle to Amari in Cleveland.
USA Today has been among the outlets not understanding what's happening here, recently writing, "He offers a veteran presence and consistency for a team searching for a proven player to add to their receiving room."
That's what some in the media and some NFL fans think.
But as Amari turns 31 this month, the NFL is telling you - and him - their truth.
Consider this telling review from one of his own former coaches.
"Amari is done. That's not me talking," NFL insider Matthew Berry of NBC Sports posted on X. "That's from an offensive coach of a former team of his I spoke to at the combine."
Dallas is aware of what we at the time called "shrinkage,'' when Amari simply didn't come up big enough in big moments.
Buffalo had to think about the production that Amari gave them last year as Cooper totaled just 297 yards and two touchdowns from 20 receptions in eight regular-season games and had six games for 41 yards in three playoff outings. ... in a postseason during which he was essentially benched.
When we add this fact, that in six of his Bills games, while playing with MVP QB Josh Allen, he had 12 or fewer yards?
We're not saying Amari Cooper is done. But pending some team maybe calling him as a training camp move due to roster injury?
The NFL is sort of saying Amari Cooper is done.