Cobb: I want to win championships
Randall Cobb officially is back with the Green Bay Packers.
The Packers announced Monday evening that the fifth-year receiver and quarterback Scott Tolzien have re-signed with the organization. In an interview with the team website, Cobb said his decision to stay in Green Bay was simple.
"I want championships," Cobb said. "At the end of the day, I want to win championships. I feel like being in this offense and this organization was the best place for me to have the opportunity for me to win championships. That's my goal day-in and day-out to get those rings. I'm going to do everything in my power to help this team get to that position."
The details of the contract still aren't available, but the 5-foot-10, 192-pound receiver reportedly agreed to a four-year, $40 million deal with $17 million guaranteed.
Cobb, who'll turn 25 in August, came to the Packers as a second-round pick in 2011, shortly after the team's victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV. He's has caught 227 passes for 3,049 yards and 25 touchdowns over the past four seasons.
He posted career-highs in receptions (91), receiving yards (1,287) and touchdowns (12) in 2014. Afterward, he played in his first Pro Bowl as an alternate. He and fellow Jordy Nelson became the first duo in NFL history to both register 90-plus receptions, 1,200-plus receiving yards and 12-plus touchdowns in the same season.
Cobb said it had been a very stressful couple months since the Packers' season ended in a 28-22 overtime loss to Seattle in the NFC championship game, but spoke with Nelson and quarterback Aaron Rodgers throughout the process.
"They weren't trying to sell me to come back," Cobb said. "I know what I have here. I know what I have in Aaron as a quarterback, as a friend. I know what I have in Jordy as a receiver and as a friend. The way that we balance each other out and help each other in different cases. Just being able to have those guys to lean on and being able to talk to them in different situations has been a blessing."
Cobb's interest on the free-agent market was incredibly high. When the time came, he felt like it was best to continue what he started with the Packers. Coach Mike McCarthy has made the dynamic receiver a focal point of the offense over the last there seasons.
After a career year, Cobb still feels like he has his best football ahead of him.
"It's the same me, nothing has changed," Cobb said. "Obviously my price may have changed a little bit, but at the end of the day I'm the same person, I'm going to go out every day with the same intention to get better, to continue to grow as a player, and to be the best player I can be. I don't think I'm where I can get to. I feel like after a full season and being able to show what I'm capable of, just continuing to push the envelope and to be the best Randall Cobb I can be."
Here are some other highlights from his interview:
On he and Nelson topping last season:
That's the plan. That's what's next. It's going to be hard though. Whenever you've got guys like Davante Adams that's going to continue to get better and that's going to continue to rise. And you have guys like Jared Abbrederis coming back from injury. Jeff Janis that's continuing to get better, they're going to push that envelope for us. It's not going to be just me and Jordy, it's going to be those guys continuing to flourish and to create opportunities for themselves. It's going to be exciting to continue to watch them grow as well.
On taking a leadership role with the younger receivers:
I think just from a leadership standpoint, continuing to be a model for them, being able to help them, being able to learn from them. All those guys have special things about them that they bring to the table, and being able to watch them in practice and learn some of the things they do to help myself get better and vice versa. Being able to show them where I've been able to have success.
On the loss to Seattle:
I don't think I can ever get over that. It was a tough game, and for things to go the way that it went, but you have to move on. Anything in life things are going to happen, and you have to overcome those things. It left a sour taste in my mouth. I think that was another selling point for me. I know how close we were to a super bowl last year, and I want to get back there, I want to get to a super bowl and not come so close. We have unfinished business, and I think this offseason will be big for us as far as making sure we keep that hunger and remember the feeling we had in that locker room after the game.
-whodkiew@pressgazettemedia.com and follow him on Twitter @WesHod.