Ex-Saints WR Cooks ready for return to New Orleans with new team

FOXBOROUGH — You won’t hear Brandin Cooks utter a bad word about his time with the Saints.

The wide receiver, who was dealt to the Patriots this past offseason for a first-round pick, holds no ill will toward his old team, who he’ll face this weekend in New Orleans.

“I feel like we left off on a great note. I love the fans,” Cooks said after practice Wednesday afternoon. “(I’m) more excited just to play ball, especially after that nasty one last week. Just excited to get back. Working with the guys. Go in here and do what we have to do and play a great game.”

In three seasons with the Saints, Cooks had 215 catches for 2,861 yards and 20 touchdowns. On a conference call Wednesday afternoon, New Orleans coach Sean Payton called Cooks “a great competitor” who only has one gear.

“He comes to work every day with that intensity," Payton said. "Each rep, there's not really an off-speed rep for him. The way he prepares, I know he's a good teammate and well respected."

Cooks has the same level of respect for Payton. Asked about the circumstances surrounding the trade, Cooks said Payton handled the situation in a “respectful” manner.

“I have a ton of respect for coach Payton, still. We ended off on a great note,” Cooks said of the New Orleans coach. “I love him. He’s a great coach, and he did me well when I was there. There’s no bad blood at all.”

Payton also dropped a nugget that will send folks headed back to look at some old Saints film: the Patriots are utilizing Cooks in a different fashion than he did in New Orleans.

“I think he’s playing more X (receiver),” said Payton. “He played more Z in New Orleans. “(But) he’s playing in the same spots he played here and that would be the only thing.

“You see him getting down the field, you see him stretching the defense. Obviously, he’s someone you have to really pay attention to where he is at and stay on top of. He can run extremely well.”

Asked about Payton’s remarks, as well as the transition to New England, Cooks smiled.

“Now we’re getting into logistics. I can’t tell you all about that,” he said with a laugh when quizzed about the X as opposed to the Z receiver. “It’s football. I don’t think it’s a hard transition at all. As long as you study and focus on what you have to do, I think the transition was easy.”

Cooks also heard that Saints quarterback Drew Brees has let New Orleans fans know what sort of reaction they should give Cooks.

“That’s my guy right there. That’s family. No bad blood there either,” Cooks said of Brees. “If Drew says it’ll be a good reception, it’ll be a good one. That’s the king over there.”

“I loved Brandin, loved playing with him for three years,” Brees said Wednesday. “I felt like we had some great years together. I felt like he had a lot of success in this offense. I wish him nothing but the best. We’re still good friends off the field.”

Ultimately, while Cooks will spend some time after the game catching up with some of his old mates, the bottom line is that he and the Patriots are looking to avoid the first 0-2 start in franchise history since 2001. He said there’s already a palpable sense of urgency in the building.

“(We have to come) with a sense of urgency and play with energy, and everything else will take care of itself,” he said. “I’m just looking forward to Week Two, and playing some football.”