Payton 'absolutely' expects Cooks to be with Saints next season

It was reported in December that Brandin Cooks could be on the trading block after the wide receiver expressed his frustration with his dwindling role in the New Orleans Saints' offense.

The talks have died down since then, and head coach Sean Payton said Tuesday on Sirius XM Radio that he expects Cooks to be with the team to start the 2017 season.

"Absolutely I do," Payton said, according to Josh Katzenstein of The Times-Picayune. "And, really, if you really want to cut down to the chase, he's a magnificent kid - a worker, he's not a kid anymore. He's a tremendous player. He practices 100 miles per hour. You have to slow him down some. He's got a great rapport with Drew (Brees)."

The issues arose after Cooks didn't receive a single touch in a blowout victory over the Los Angeles Rams. An initial report stated that he was unhappy, and the receiver confirmed the report, saying: "closed mouths don't get fed."

A few days later, reports of a potential trade this offseason arose, but Payton was quick to shut those down.

"It was unusual; sometimes that happens," Payton said. "And generally those things are an agent-driven complaint. And he's too sharp of a guy, and he understands it all. He and I have met several times, and I think what's most important is these guys come in the start of the week and they see their name stamped on plays.

"We're up till 2 in the morning thinking about ways to get him open, get him on the right matchup. And when the players know that, I think they know they're getting a real good script. Now, whether it plays out that way on a given Sunday, sometimes it doesn't. But, more often than not, a guy like him, you have to get the ball to, and he's explosive. But, I see him playing here."