Chris Cooley says he’s excited to be back with the Redskins and ready to go.
“I’m ready to play, I think I can play this week,” he told reporters on a conference call. “I have no doubt about that and I think I will continue to get better as the season goes on.”
Cooley drew some laughter when he talked about his workout routine since he was released by the Redskins in late August.
“I’ve maintained the strength I’ve had,” he said. “It’s been only six weeks since I was in training camp. I wasn’t at home doing squats and power cleans and listening to Rocky music but at the same time I’m in good shape and I’ll step right back in and fit in and play.”
Cooley, who lives in Leesburg, said that he did get offers from other teams, with some of them offering him a starting job. But the 30-year-old former Pro Bowl performer was willing to risk not playing at all this year if the Redskins didn’t need him. “I thought a lot about playing other places but just didn’t like the idea of moving and making that change at this point in my life,” he said.
He was driving and listening to the game on his radio when he heard about the injury to Davis. He had an odd way of knowing that Davis would be out for the season.
“When [Redskins radio sideline reporter] Doc Walker said [Davis] took his gloves off, from the two times that I’ve been done for the year, those were the only two times I took my gloves off.” Cooley said. “So, I thought this is probably going to happen today.”
As Cooley mentioned, he has had two seasons shortened by injury. In 2009 he suffered a broken ankle in the seventh game of the year against the Eagles and last year his season ended when he suffered a broken finger in the fifth game.
Cooley is not sure what his role on the field will be. “I’m just here to do what they ask me to do,” he said. “Obviously I want it to be a large role but if it isn’t in Week 1 I’m not going to be unhappy.”
Cooley said that he was glad that things worked out the way they did. “It’s fortunate for both of us, I think,” he said. “It’s fortunate for me that I get a chance to play where I want to play. It’s fortunate for them that I sat here and waited.”
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