National Football League

Cardinals' Jonathan Cooper hopes to quiet the doubters in 2015

Published May. 20, 2015 6:42 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper has said he has heard it all about his desire for the game of football.

"People questioned it, 'he doesn't want it.' 'He's complacent.' 'He doesn't care,' " Cooper told the Arizona Republic.

Cooper says none of that is true and is ready to prove anyone who believed that wrong in 2015.

Cooper was injured his rookie season in 2013 and still felt the affects of the injury last year. When he wasn't playing, it started to take a toll on him.

"At the beginning of last season and kind of midway through when it's like, I'm supposed to be healthy and I'm supposed to be playing and I'm not and people are like 'What's happening? Are you going to play or are you not?' "

Cooper has learned to not let what people say get in his head, but it wasn't always easy especially with the way social media is today.

"It definitely can be difficult with social media," he said. "It's so accessible to everybody, and everybody has their opinions and they feel they're a coach and they can tell you what you're doing wrong and how bad you are. That's when you lean on the people that know you and know how hard you work."

Now that Cooper is leaning on the right people, he is ready to go out and prove it on the field this season.

(h/t AZ Central)