NAPA – Raiders rookie receiver Amari Cooper doesn’t get nervous before football games. He’s played on some big stages at the University of Alabama, including a BCS national championship game. He stayed cool then, and can certainly manage an exhibition game where the result doesn’t count.
The stakes aren’t high, but Friday’s preseason opener is a milestone of sorts. It’s the first time this year’s No. 4 overall draft pick suits up in an NFL uniform. It won’t shake his focus.
“I’ve always been all business,” Cooper said after Wednesday’s practice. “Of course I want to go out there and play an excellent game.