Las Vegas Raiders

Raiders' Carr on WR Cooper: 'His work ethic is second to none'

Published Jun. 30, 2015 11:59 p.m. ET

foxsports

Amari Cooper is a football junkie in every sense of the term.

The No. 4 overall pick constantly has the game on his mind. He's always in between texts with his teammates. And he only lasted a few days after Raiders minicamp before he needed to get his fix.

Derek Carr, the quarterback who receives most of Cooper's texts, couldn't be more impressed.

“His work ethic is second to none,” Carr told the team's official website. “I was throwing with him as soon as mini-camp was over so we can get more reps in, and our plan was to throw a couple more times, but he texted me that night. He said, ‘hey, let’s throw at least three more times. I need to get this one route right.’ Just him telling me that kind of stuff, it blew my mind.”

Let that sink in for a moment or two. Carr became a team leader for the Raiders in just 16 games last year, but even he can't fathom the depths Cooper would go to improve.

Carr notices an improvement in his new top target with each throwing session. He's never had a such a talented receiver at his disposal before.

“(Cooper) is ridiculous in and out of his breaks,” said Carr. “His style of play is perfect for this league. He’s good at getting on toes and creating separation. He’s good at when the ball is in his hands making those fast-twitch movements to make a guy go one way so he can take it to the house."

Touchdowns will surely come for the Carr-to-Cooper connection. They require hard work, which is why Carr's been a diligent worker himself this offseason.

He has an equal in his huddle now. Cooper works just as hard, and the results will soon be evident.

“I think the sky’s the limit for him, obviously,” Carr said. “Hopefully I just get the ball into his hands so he can make the plays.”

(h/t Oakland Raiders)