[h1]Riley Cooper: Michael Vick shows supports, Cary Williams thinks there is "an elephant in the room"[/h1]
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Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper meets with the media at NFL football training camp on Wednesday, July 31, 2013, in Philadelphia. Cooper has been fined by the team for making a racial slur at a Kenny Chesney concert that was caught on video, leading him to say he's "ashamed and disgusted" with himself.
(Associated Press Photo)
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Rob Edwards/South Jersey Times By
Rob Edwards/South Jersey Times
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on August 02, 2013 at 6:48 PM, updated August 02, 2013 at 7:01 PM
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PHILADELPHIA — Eagles head coach Chip Kelly has said that the organization’s intent is to not release wide receiver Riley Cooper.
Interesting.
He said that’s it’s not a football move, explaining he was more concerned about Cooper’s well-being and the incident being more a “life deal” rather than a “football deal.”
It’s easy to understand what Kelly and the organization are saying. It’s just not easy to see how it’s not a football move.
They want Cooper to rebound from this, they want the young man to recover from an incident for which Cooper has since shown sincere regret.
It’s hard not to think there is a little football behind this. Wideout Jeremy Maclin tore his ACL just a week ago. Cooper, who has been no more than a fourth or fifth WR on the team since his rookie season, was needed desperately to fill depth.
The Eagles could’ve released Cooper two days ago and washed their hands of the bad press almost immediately. They wouldn’t have needed to have discussions with the team about implementing a plan to bring Cooper back into the fold.
But they have, for better or worse, decided to stick by Cooper. The real challenge will be convincing members of the team, at least half of whom are African-American, that keeping Cooper is the right move.
Players held meetings both Thursday and Friday to speak about it. Running back LeSean McCoy has already come out and said he can no longer respect a guy like that.
Michael Vick spoke Friday after practice, showing support for Cooper.
“The tone of (Friday’s meeting) was the way it was supposed to be,” Vick said, noting he did not speak in the meeting. “We had an opportunity to talk through it again and understand and work past it. We’re moving on, we’re not even talking about it anymore. The locker room is ready to move on.
“I think (Riley) is a great player. He has the potential to be better than he has shown through this point in his career. Hopefully, when he comes back, he comes back with a different mindset.”
Vick admitted the team has looked tight in practice the past two days. It was evident Friday that the same energy the Eagles had shown just last week wasn’t there.
Cornerback Cary Williams addressed the issue head-on Friday.
Asked if he had ever heard the n-word used in a negative way, he simply responded, “Yes.”
Asked if he’d ever had it directed toward him? “Yes I have.”
That’s the problem the Eagles are dealing with. Does the amount of players willing to forgive Cooper outnumber those who aren’t? If even one player can’t work past Cooper’s actions, is it worth having the wideout on the team?
“(Coach) told us we are all far from perfect and all have things to work on,” Williams said. “The issue to me is that there is an elephant in the room that needs to be addressed. It’s an unfortunate situation for the team to go through this.”
Williams added suggestions on what he thought the team needed to do in continuing to address the situation. More meetings, with Cooper present — he was not Friday — and possible one-on-ones with Cooper.
“When he addressed us, he did it in the bubble (The NovaCare Complex indoor practice center) and I didn’t hear what he said,” said Williams. “I could tell by the tears on his face that he was sincere, but some guys need to hear it. We have great leaders like Mike Vick and Jason Avant and DeMeco Ryans. They’re willing to forgive and we want to follow our leadership.
“We could try to sweep this under the rug and worry about the season, but to me this supersedes the season and you have to address it straight up. We had meetings, but things still need to be addressed.”
Williams went on to explain that his grandmother had told him stories about racism that was directed toward her when she was growing up. He also said the word shouldn’t be used in any circumstance.
“Nobody,” Williams said. “Black, white, green, purple, blue. It’s used so loosely in the locker room, in life in general. Sometimes we desensitize the word, but you have to look back at our ancestors who worked so hard to rid us of that name.”
Cooper used the word. Drunk or taken out of context or in a time of weakness, he used it.
Kelly’s right. It’s not just about football, it’s about life.
And the decision to keep Cooper, if the Eagles choose to, needs to go beyond football.
Contact Rob Edwards at 856-845-9478 or at
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NFL AM with an uncomfortable segment on twerking
I saw that.. NFL Network has some absolutely AWFUL programming. I know they have to come up with 24/7 content but still. There is very little talent on that station compared to ESPN's football hosts. 
