Patriots coach Bill Belichick got a lot of time to watch members of the Saints this week during a pair of practices and Saturday’s preseason game and he was left with a positive review of one member of the New Orleans offense.
Wide receiver Brandin Cooks didn’t give Patriots defensive backs any clues about how to stop him during those practice sessions because he caught four passes for 117 yards at the Superdome. One of those catches was a 45-yard touchdown from Drew Brees and the sum total of Cooks’ work led to a handshake from Belichick on the field and some praise from the Pats coach after the contest.
“I’m glad we don’t have to play him twice a year, he’s not in our division,” Belichick said, via the New Orleans Times-Picayune. “He’s a really good player.”
Cooks had 53 catches for 550 yards and three touchdowns as a rookie, but missed the final six games of the season with a broken thumb. He caught a touchdown in the preseason opener as well and says that the injury left him hungrier heading into his second year. He ate well on Saturday and should continue to get chances to feed as long as he and Brees are healthy in 2015.