Kenny Cooper saga finally comes to an end

Kenny Cooper's future remains in doubt, but we now know for certain he won't be wearing rave green again. The Seattle Sounders announced on Thursday they've waived the veteran forward, effectively closing the book on their part of the saga. Sounders GM Garth Lagerwey is scheduled to talk to the media later in the day.

Cooper's status has been a mystery ever since the start of the season when he was surprisingly left off the gameday roster for the season opener and then stopped training with the team. There had been rumors on Wednesday that the Sounders were trying to work out a trade with the Montreal Impact, but that never came to pass. There were also rumors that Cooper turned down an overseas transfer.

Instead, Cooper will effectively be free to find another team.

Chances are, he'll find one. Although he had just three goals and four assists in MLS play last year, he did it in less than 1,000 minutes. He added six more goals in U.S. Open Cup play and was named the Player of the Tournament.

The 30-year-old is also the rare player who is still reasonably close to his prime, constantly lauded for being a good teammate and a proven MLS goal-scorer. Cooper's 75 career goals are the 17th most in MLS history.