Cooper: Mark Davis solely responsible for trade from Raiders

Wide receiver Amari Cooper defended Oakland Raiders coach Jon Gruden over his trade from the Silver and Black, placing the responsibility solely on owner Mark Davis.

"They were getting calls about a first(-round draft pick) for next year and they weren't going to do it," Cooper told the Star-Telegram's Clarence E. Hill on Thursday. "But when (Dallas Cowboys owner) Jerry Jones called about a first for this year he felt he had no choice."

Cooper was sent to the Cowboys on Oct. 22 and has thrived in Dallas, posting 40 receptions for 642 yards and six touchdowns in six games. He hauled in just 22 catches for 280 yards and one score in six contests with Oakland to begin the season.

Cooper said Gruden - contrary to popular belief - didn't know about the trade when it was made. He added that Reggie McKenzie, the general manager at the time, told him the decision was out of his hands.

Davis said Wednesday that the Raiders traded Cooper because his talents were being wasted in Gruden's West Coast offense, which emphasizes short passes over deep balls.

"He was a great, great player. We always had the fastest guy on the field no matter what," he explained at the NFL's owners meetings. "It just didn't work out in our system. In the future, we might be saying, 'Damn.'"