Packers Wide Receiver Randall Cobb Doesn’t Care What The Doubters Have To Say

SportsMoney Packers Wide Receiver Randall Cobb Doesn’t Care What The Doubters Have To Say Rob Reischel Contributor Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own. I report on the Green Bay Packers. May 26, 2022, 09:05am EDT | Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Share to Linkedin Green Bay Packers wide receiver Randall Cobb says “I really don’t care” what the critics are saying.

ASSOCIATED PRESS Randall Cobb has heard the critics. Really, how couldn’t he? Ever since Green Bay traded All-Pro wideout Davante Adams in March, the doubters and naysayers have been piling on the Packers’ wide receiver group. Cobb, about to begin his 12 th NFL season, has just one retort.

“I really don’t care,” Cobb said during Green Bay’s voluntary organized team activities this week. “I’ve been (doubted) my whole life. You think I care? “I don’t care what anybody got to say.

I’m going to go out and do what I’m supposed to do and have fun doing it, put a smile on my face and try to win some games. ” The prevailing thought in most NFL circles is it will be much tougher for the Packers to continue their winning ways without Adams. Green Bay has won 13 games in three straight seasons, becoming the first team in NFL history to accomplish that feat.

And Adams was a huge reason for that success. Adams finished third in the NFL in receiving yards (1,553) and fifth in receiving touchdowns (11) in 2021. He also set a franchise record with 123 receptions last season, which was nearly 2 ½ times more catches than Green Bay’s second-leading pass catcher (Aaron Jones, 52).

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“I talked to the guys,” Packers wide receivers coach Jason Vrable said. “I said, ‘Look at all the balls that went to ‘Tae. ’ I talked to them, I said, ‘Look at the opportunity that is ahead of you.

12’s a Hall of Famer. He’s throwing the ball to somebody. Who’s going to take that No.

1 spot that we were just talking about?’ We play three guys a lot of times and I’m like, ‘There’s three No. 1 spots, so who’s going to take it?’ ” That will be one of the most fascinating things to watch between now and Green Bay’s season-opener on Sept. 11.

Allen Lazard, who caught 40 passes for 513 yards (12. 8) and eight touchdowns last season, is the top returnee in the group. Lazard has prototypical size (6-5, 227) and is extremely physical, but his lack of speed has always been a major hurdle.

Veteran wideout Sammy Watkins, the fourth overall pick in the 2014 draft, was signed in free agency. But Watkins is coming career lows in receptions (27), yards (394) and touchdowns (one) last season in Baltimore. Cobb himself had the fewest receptions (28) and yards (375) since his rookie season of 2011 last year.

In addition, the 31-year-old Cobb has missed 19 games in the last four seasons due to injury and hasn’t played a full season since 2015. Rookie second-round wideout Christian Watson is a blazer (4. 36) with immense potential.

But Watson averaged just 2. 0 receptions per game at North Dakota State and remains green as grass. Fellow rookies Romeo Dubbs (fourth round) and Samori Toure (seventh round) will get opportunities, but are raw.

And Amari Rodgers, a third-round pick in 2021, is coming off a dreadful rookie season and has a ton to prove. For now, though, Cobb and the rest of the wide receiver room are putting on a brave face, insisting they’ll be fine without Adams. Of course, only time will.

“For the most part, when we study in the offseason, we always try to stay ahead of the curve and get better,” Vrable said. “In the end, football is football. It’s winning a one-on-one.

“Can Christian win a one-on-one Week 1 when we’re going up to play Minnesota vs. Patrick Peterson? That’s on him and me to get better. We’ve got to install the confidence, we’ve got to get the job done at a high level and hold the standard of our room and let’s go find a way to get that Lombardi at the end.

” Now that would certainly quiet the critics. Follow me on Twitter . Rob Reischel Editorial Standards Print Reprints & Permissions.