After eight seasons and two Pro Bowl appearances with the Washington Redskins, tight end Chris Cooley was released on Tuesday.
Cooley announced the news himself, via an impromptu sort of news conference held at Redskins Park, Cooley’s home away from home since coming into the NFL as a third round pick out of Utah State in 2004.
“It’s been awesome,” Cooley said, via the Redskins official website. “I’ve been very, very fortunate to play for a franchise that has embraced me and a fan base that has embraced me the way they have. This organization has changed my life in every way for the better, and I appreciate it. I’ve loved every minute of playing here.”
While it’s still a little jarring to see the move in black and white, considering that Cooley was one, if if not the most popular Redskin over the better part of the last decade, the writing was certainly on the wall. Cooley broke the record for receptions by a Washington tight end last year, but he was overtaken by Fred Davis on the depth chart and eventually moved to fullback.
That said, there’s still a chance that Washington could bring the veteran tight end back at a lower salary, an idea at which Cooley himself might have hinted at at the aforementioned news conference.
“Today,” he said, “for the time being, will be my last day as a Redskin.”
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