The Philadelphia Eagles excused receiver Riley Cooper from all team activities to attend counseling. As the fallout from his racial slur video continues, Cooper's tenure as an Eagle appears to be coming to an end.
The Eagles announced on Friday that Cooper would be absent from all team activities in order to undergo counseling.
"As we have said, Riley Cooper will be seeking counseling and we have excused him from all team activities," the Eagles said in a statement, via NY Daily News. "This is all new territory and we are going to evaluate this timetable every step of the way.
"He will meet with professionals provided by the Eagles during this period of time to better help him understand how his words have hurt so many, including his teammates."
A video surfaced online of Riley at a Kenny Chesney concert saying, "I will fight every n----- here, bro."
Riley apologized for his comments, and he agreed taking time away from training camp was in his best interest.
"The last few days have been incredibly difficult for me," Cooper said, via The News. "My actions were inexcusable. The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. I keep trying to figure out how I could have said something so repulsive, and what I can do to make things better.
"Right now, I think it's important for me to take some time to reflect on this situation. The organization and my teammates have been extremely supportive, but I also realize that there are people who will have a tough time forgiving me for what I've done. The best thing for me, and for the team, is to step away for a period of time.
"During this time I'm going to be speaking with a variety of professionals to help me better understand how I could have done something that was so offensive, and how I can start the healing process for everyone. As long as it takes, and whatever I have to do, I'm going to try to make this right."
He received the support of quarterback Michael Vick, but teammate LeSean McCoy intimated he could no longer be friends with Cooper.
"I forgive him. We've been friends for a long time," McCoy said on Thursday, via The News. "But in a situation like this, you really find out about someone. Just on a friendship level, I can't respect someone like that.
"He's still a teammate. I'm still going to block for him. I'm still gonna show great effort. Just on a friendship level, and as a person, I can't really respect somebody like that. I think as a team, we need to move past it. There are some things that are going to be hard to work with, to be honest."
Cooper's absence from training camp could be the prelude to his eventual dismissal. Coach Chip Kelly enters his first season as the team's new head coach, and he certainly could do without the distraction of Cooper.
More importantly, Kelly needs a united locker room - if many on the team share McCoy's sentiments, Kelly could be better off nipping any dissent in the bud by releasing Cooper.
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