There’s a rumor (or rumors) out there to just that affect. That Green Bay Packers receiver Randall Cobb has been slacking off since signing his big-money deal following the 2014 season.
After putting up career numbers — 91 catches, 1,287 yards, 12 touchdowns — in 2014, Cobb has produced decreasing returns in each of the following two seasons. Cobb had 60 catches for 610 yards and four touchdowns in 2016.
We know injuries have played a role in Cobb’s decreased production, but here’s that other potential reason from Evan Silva.
A shell of his old self since signing a four-year, $40 million contract in March of 2015, Randall Cobb has averaged a mere 6.76 yards per target with a minuscule 4.7% touchdown rate (TDs/targets) over the past two seasons after posting career averages of 9.87 and 8.1%, respectively, before signing the deal. Chronic ankle woes are partly to blame, but there have been whispers Cobb’s conditioning tailed off after striking it rich.
This is the first we’ve heard anything about Cobb’s conditioning or lack thereof.
The results on the field obviously show decreasing production. We’ve said it many times, Cobb isn’t living up to his contract. We’ve also pointed out that the Packers may soon have to make a decision between Cobb, Jordy Nelson and Davante Adams.
That said, we’d have a hard time believing Cobb doesn’t show up in shape. With all that’s gone on with Eddie Lacy, the logjam at the receiver position and the fact that Aaron Rodgers surely wouldn’t accept that, it just seems unlikely.
Cobb has had a busy offseason this year, however. He had his bachelor party in the Dominican Republic, got married in New York and spent some time in Africa.
So we’ll see what happens when the season rolls around.
7 Comments
Obviously i will never know for sure but that doesn’t seem like randy to me. Injuries. Jordy gone for a year and rodgers slingin it adams more seem to be better reasoning
Cobb was just never a very good player. I said it before the contract and I’ll say it now: his production was completely inflated by Rodgers being a god among men. He’s a hard worker with good hands, but he has no top speed, can’t separate, and has a lousy catch radius. You replace him with a guy like Pierre Garcon, who got way less money but is a far superior receiver, and we’d be unstoppable.
He wouldn’t be anywhere near a star if he didn’t play with Rodgers. Same with Davante Adams. I’d prefer to trade both and roll with Nelson/Montgomery/Janis/Allison/Yancey
Doesn’t seem like that kind of guy, but let’s be real, something has been off, and that could be it.
My recollection is that Cobb was having shoulder issues in 2015. Cobb was also seeing a few plays every week in the backfield when healthy. Not sure what game it was early in 2016, but Cobb caught a pass near the end zone, turned it up between two defenders and forced his way into the end zone. After the game Rodgers indicated Cobb had bulked up (upper body) in the off season, and would have probably not made the TD if he hadn’t added upper body strength. I think Cobb had added 5 to 7 LBS. my guess is the added weight was so he could be prepared for those few running plays out of the back field.
Adding weight, even if it is good weight can cause more stress on the legs and ankles, or it could just be one wrong hit or twist. Cobb did have hamstring and ankle problems last year. To say Cobb has chronic ankle woes appears extreme.
Except for maybe Rodgers, Woodson, Nelson, it seems underperforming after signing a huge contract is standard procedure now in TitleTown, maybe an epidemic or a disease. I’m not saying that will be the case will Nick Perry…..but, your next Nick, lets see what you got.
Yes, many players get injured in the NFL, even play injured. I guess we could use injuries as an excuse for everyone, i think it started after Tramon Williams big contract.
I’m fairly certain injuries are to blame, it couldn’t Cobb doesn’t get open much anymore. Rodgers looks to throw to players who will, and can produce. Seems to me if i remember correctly, Nelson came off ACL surgery and had a fantastic productive season. Of course, i can’t remember Jordy Nelson ever needing an “excuse.”
The very best is when McCarthy says he never uses injuries as an excuse….then proceeds to talk about the injuries the Packers deal with.
I love this current regime, can we please have 1 or 2 more seasons of the same? YAY!!………
Oh SNAP!!…I’m sorry…this is a time for off-season optimism…my bad.
Super Bowl LII, ready or not, here we come baby!!!!!
Contractitis. Happened to Williams, Cobb, Shields, FinMe,
I got mine, bitches!!!
Except maybe the Bears, no defense in the league fears Randall Cobb. Basically he’s a second or third receiver who had one really good year and signed a starting caliber contract because of it.
I was hoping the Packers would have signed a receiver with a second or third round pick. I think they are going to be short on top receivers again this year like they were in 2015 when cast off James Jones was the leading receiver. Cobb’s performance has declined and Nelson is 32.