Photo Courtesy: CBSSports.com
Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper was back on the practice field today for Philadelphia after a brief period of time away from the team.
He sought out counseling in response to his racial slur heard ’round the world and it appears he will participate in Friday’s preseason contest against the New England Patriots.
However, did the Eagles and the NFL approach this situation and act out justly?
Yes… in both regards.
The Eagles and NFL didn’t and shouldn’t have suspended Cooper, nor should they have released the former University of Florida wideout.
I understand his choice of words was wrong and I am in no shape or form condoning what the 25-year-old did. However, he didn’t test positive for any illegal substances, he didn’t break any laws, he was at a concert and as a public figure in the public eye — regardless if it’s a Kenny Chesney concert in Philadelphia or not — Cooper simply has to be smarter.
It still comes as a surprise as to the way that Tim Tebow’s former roommate — during their tenures as Florida Gators teammates — would act this way and say the “N-word” with such vigor and no remorse.
Cooper apologized for his comments last week.
“I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize,” Cooper said. “I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, to Jeffrey Lurie, to Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences.”
He was fined an undisclosed amount of money for the racial slur, but the damage has been done.
Whether 6-foot-3 receiver is a racist human being or not, he will certainly be portrayed that way. No matter how many players say they accept his apology, what was said was said and cannot be taken back.
In a sport that is largely dominated by African-American athletes, the wide receiver will always be looked at in whatever locker room he sets foot in as, “the white guy who said the N-word.” Much like San Francisco 49ers cornerback Chris Culliver — who uttered the homosexual slur during media access at Super Bowl XLVII — his respective teammates and opponents will take his character and apologetic actions with a grain of salt.
The sad part is that Philadelphia needs Cooper on the field. Not only has wide receiver Jeremy Maclin been hit with a season-ending torn ACL injury, the Eagles just lost fellow receiver Arrelious Benn with the same injury. While Maclin’s injury is much more significant, the Eagles have lost two guys at the receiver position on their depth chart and they will need Cooper’s services in some way.
No matter what he contributes on the field, Riley Cooper will never be viewed as a class act by any member of the black community, white community nor the NFL community.
