Dec 23, 2012; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (14) during the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field. The Redskins defeated the Eagles 27-20. Mandatory Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper has been absent from the team the past couple of days while he deals with the aftermath of his insensitive actions that saw him use a racial slur on camera during a Kenny Chesney concert.
After the brief hiatus, Cooper is set to return to Eagles training camp Tuesday according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport:
Eagles: Riley Cooper is back from his excused absence this morning and will practice with the team today. Plans to talk to media later
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) August 6, 2013
As part of his punishment for his actions, the Eagles asked Cooper to under go sensitivity training, or counseling. It’s quite a shock the counseling was completed so quickly.
The problem is the Eagles would have probably let Cooper go right away rather than put up with this media relations mess if Jeremy Maclin had not tore his ACL earlier in camp.
Cooper isn’t anything special on the field. He’s never recorded more than 315 yards and three scores in a season. Granted he was never even the No. 2 option, but simply is not worth keeping around after the video went viral. Many of Cooper’s team mates have come out to show support, but there are several who have spoken against him publicly.
A locker room divide could be brewing in Philadelphia. One has to wonder why the Eagles are so willing to take that risk. Most smart franchises would have cut ties with Cooper right away.
But not the Eagles.
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