Those who are a little older probably heard your father or an uncle tell you that game recognizes game. It makes sense if you think about it. We all have our opinions about the newer New York Jets, but sometimes, opinions are only as valuable as one’s knowledge of a particular subject.
A comparison like this this involving Jets receiver Omar Cooper Jr. was made after the first round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
A potential future Pro Football Hall of Fame inductee, Steve Smith Sr.,recently shared his thoughts on Cooper. Guess who Smith thinks about when he dissects Cooper’s skill set?
The Dallas Cowboys call it the ’88 Club.’ No wide receiver can don the Number 88 jersey unless he’s special. Just look at the guys who have done so before: Drew Pearson, Michael Irvin, Dez Bryant, CeeDee Lamb.
Pearson and Irvin are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. For now, he’s an NFL analyst best known for his work on NFL Network, and he recently compared Cooper to Dez Bryant:
See? Game does indeed ‘recognize game.’ That’s not a comparison anyone tosses around lightly, and it isn’t rooted in hype. It’s rooted in recognition.
If Smith sees shades of Bryant in Cooper, then the Jets may have landed more than just another receiver. Maybe the Jets have found a tone-setter with star potential.
Maybe, by adding him as one of three first-rounders, the Jets added someone with a mindset that can change a locker room’s tone. It’s too early to tell, but fingers are crossed. One thing is certain. If Smith sees those traits in Cooper, we’d be wise to listen and trust what he’s saying.
This article originally appeared on Jets Wire: Future Hall of Famer gives Omar Cooper an interesting NFL comparison
Reporting by Geoffrey A Knox, Jets Wire / Jets Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
