The best part about being a universally-beloved Hall of Fame player is that your interview hyperbole rarely gets checked. People are just happy to be speaking with you.
And while we're not sure what the future holds for Raiders rookie wide receiver Amari Cooper, it might just be a little too soon for this, courtesy of legendary wideout Jerry Rice.
"They have their new Tim Brown," Rice told the Raiders' web site, via CSN California.
He added: "I think with Cooper, he's very much like Tim Brown. Very explosive, got speed to burn."
Although the speed of the game has certainly come a long way since Brown's first NFL season back in 1988, Brown's speed was revolutionary to the position. He also played in 17 NFL seasons and finished sixth on the NFL's all-time receiving yards list.
Rookie expectations have never been higher, which often contributes to an unwarranted "bust" label when said players can't reach the elusive standards set for them in the media.
At this point, I think everyone is comfortable saying what Brown himself said about Cooper: Strong contributor from Day 1. Or even Raiders quarterback Derek Carr, who feels like the sky is the limit for Cooper.
In 17 years, we might very well be talking about Cooper and where he ranks all time among Raider greats. But let's allow him the chance to catch a pass in training camp first.
*The latest Around The NFL Podcast discusses which coaches are on the hot seat heading into 2015. *
