National Football League

Jonathan Cooper: 'There seems to be a little more spring in my step'

Published Jun. 22, 2015 2:53 p.m. ET

foxsports

Arizona Cardinals guard Jonathan Cooper knows he needs to stay healthy and make an impact on the Cardinals offensive line. Cooper has been plagued by injuries his first two years in the NFL.

Cooper was on the Doug and Wolf show on Arizona Sports 98.7 FM when he opened up about his health and how this is the year he will finally live up to his seventh overall draft selection.

"(My) body feels really good," he said, via Revenge of the Birds. "Even coming in to the first days of OTAs, the coaches were noticing that maybe there's not a limp, or there seems to be a little more spring in my step."

Cooper knew he felt better physically, but got a big boost when coaches and teammates told him how good he looked.

"...now I'm getting confirmation from coaches and outsiders, so that's really boosted my confidence."

Cooper attributes his health to staying in Arizona the whole offseason. He knew he had to change form his normal routine if he ever wanted to feel like his old-self again.

"The whole offseason I stayed here," Cooper explained. "I was out in Chandler working with LaCharles Bentley O-line Performance.

"He just did a number with me, changed the way I ate, had me coming in to work the entire offseason. I trained with our weightlifting coach Buddy (Morris). He had a separate regiment for me, so just a little extra work. It kind of paid off."

Cooper is eager to shed the bust label from his reputation in his third NFL season. He knows to do that, he will have to stay on the field.

(h/t Revenge of the Birds)