Brandin Cooks' return to New Orleans is one of many revenge-filled matchups scheduled for Week 2.
Yet, though the receiver was traded from the Saints to the New England Patriots in the offseason, Cooks insists he holds no ill will toward his former team or former coach Sean Payton.
"We ended on a great note. I love him. He did me well when I was there. There's no bad blood at all," Cooks said Wednesday, Mike Reiss of ESPN reports.
"I loved every bit of playing there. They gave me an opportunity, first team coming into the NFL. You have to respect that and respect the owners, (general manager) Mickey (Loomis), Sean for believing in me, and there's a lot of great memories made."
Cooks spent three seasons in New Orleans. He had a career-high 84 receptions and nine touchdowns in 2015 and a personal-best 1,173 receiving yards last season. Nonetheless, the Saints traded him after months of speculation for a package of draft picks.
The 23-year-old said he's not gearing himself up for a return trip to the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in enemy colors.
"When you start to get hyped up too much, you psyche yourself out," he said.
