There’s a big overlap between professional sports and the world of horse racing. Many in the world of basketball know of Nikola Jokić’s deep and unbending love of horse racing. There’s Tom Brady who is known to have flown his entire team out to the Kentucky Derby. Michael Jordan bought his own racehorse. And then there is…Frosty?
Maybe not as famous—yet—is the Green Bay Packers rookie Edgerrin Cooper, nicknamed “Frosty”. Now nicknames in sports are pretty much mandatory—and they aren’t always clever. But the history of how Edgerrin got his name is both entertaining and very horse-dependent. Let’s get into it.
Professional Athletes, Extravagant Purchases
To begin with, there is a long history of sports stars making big purchases with their first checks. Patrick Mahomes signed a half-billion dollar deal and shortly thereafter bought the Kansas City Royals. Yes. A baseball team. He used his football money to buy another sport. The purchase shocked many fans. Some stories aren’t quite so extravagant.
LeBron James, somewhat adorably, spent $2000 taking his friends to amusement parks. The day was filled with laughter and rides. Shaq went directly to a Mercedes dealership and wound up buying three luxury cars. One for his mother. Two for himself. The salespeople couldn’t believe their luck that day.
Often, once players make their big purchases, they settle down a little bit experiencing firsthand, perhaps, the old adage: Money can buy plenty of German automobiles, but it can’t buy happiness. This realization hits suddenly for many athletes.
It’s perhaps this natural wisdom that led Joe Flacco to make his first sports star transaction at a McDonald’s drive-through. He could have afforded to buy the restaurant after his $20 million payday. The franchise would have been within his budget.
He settled for a Big Mac. “Everything I need I already had, and everything I want, if I really want it, I can go get it. But there’s nothing I really want,” he said. “I don’t need a $110,000 car or anything like that. I mean, I like that four-door Porsche. I like to say I’m going to go buy that. But do I really need it? A year ago I said, ‘If I ever sign a big deal I’m going to get that Porsche.’ … but I didn’t.”
It’s within this world of big purchases and bigger money that we meet Edgerrin Cooper.
Meet Edgerrin Cooper
Cooper was picked in the second round of the 2024 draft—45th overall. Like many in his position, he did not rise to immediate fame. In fact, he got very little playtime at the beginning of the season. His patience was tested early on. However, as the season progressed and he found his way into games, Cooper quietly developed an enviable record, including almost sixty tackles throughout the season.
His technique improved with each game and he slowly became a staple of Green Bay’s lineup. Reporters quickly observed that teammates and coaching staff would refer to Edgerrin Cooper as “Frosty”.
Because he has ice in his veins? No, not quite. His teammates, perhaps out of loyalty, were hesitant to reveal the source of his nickname. Eventually, however, the origin came out.
Like most professional athletes, Cooper is being well paid for his time with the Packers. No, he didn’t sign a half-billion-dollar deal. The contract was more modest by NFL standards.
However, even as a 45th overall pick, he is enjoying a guaranteed $2 million annual salary. The sum represents security few 23-year-olds experience. He has spent some of that money on…horses? That’s right. Two, at the time of writing, but they are not involved in horse betting.
Cooper describes them as his pets and they are named Cinco and Frosty. The animals live on a small property outside Green Bay.
Get in on the Action
It’s funny seeing what athletes do with their money. Edgerrin Cooper, by the lofty standards of professional sports, actually showed some restraint. At least compared to Mahomes’ purchase of a baseball team.
You don’t need a seven-figure salary to love horses. The passion crosses economic boundaries. Visiting a stable for a day of riding is relatively affordable. Many local stables offer reasonable hourly rates.
Watching horses on television is even cheaper. The coverage has improved dramatically in recent years. Mirror Cooper’s enthusiasm by paying a little extra attention to the sport this year. The racing calendar is filled with exciting events. Seek out events beyond the Triple Crown.
