In an off-season pockmarked by player arrests and violations of NFL drug policies, one of the most distasteful episodes involved neither. The Philadelphia receiver Riley Cooper was filmed angrily directing a racial epithet toward an African-American security guard at a concert.
The clip, which surfaced on social media during training camp, resulted in Cooper taking leave for a few days, supposedly to receive sensitivity instruction. Observers postulated that Cooper, who is white, would never be fully welcomed back to the Eagles’ locker room. Or any other.
Cooper might have forfeited any shot at being voted most popular teammate, but his contributions seem universally appreciated. Last Sunday, he converted five receptions into 139 yards and three touchdowns, the last of which enabled quarterback Nick Foles to match a league record of seven touchdown passes.
“So happy for him,” said Foles, who is white. “After what he’s been through and how hard he’s worked, this is great.
“I love Riley to death. He had that thing, but he’s really grown up as a person.”
Cooper’s re-assimilation as a productive player was hardly smooth. All he had to show through the opening five weeks was eight receptions, none for more than 16 yards. In the past four: 17 for 360. Only Calvin Johnson and AJ Green have amassed more yardage in that time frame.
“That’s the Coop I know,” said Chip Kelly, the coach. “Some people wanted to throw him under the bus after the first couple of games because he hadn’t caught as many balls as people wanted him to.”
Other people might have metaphorically tossed him beneath the eight-wheeler for a different reason. In a league where about two of every three players is black, his display of bigotry was not well received. Fitting in again was no given.
In any sport, successful teams move rapidly beyond crises, lest they become rattled by the aftershocks. The running back LeSean McCoy, an early sceptic regarding Cooper’s return to status quo, said early this season, “When the whole situation happened, guys were different to him and really didn’t speak to him. They really didn’t know how to take it. But now, it seems like normal again.”
Fences were mended partly because Cooper was quick to apologise. He acknowledged that forgiveness would not be instantly granted.
“I was raised way better than that,” he said. “I have a great mom and dad at home, and they are disgusted with my actions.”
Cooper’s remorse stands in contrast to the latest cringe-worthy matter centred on Miami’s Richie Incognito’s harsh hazing of fellow Dolphin Jonathan Martin, which was low-lighted by a nasty written message infected with ethnic slurs.
While the case is more complex than Cooper’s, Incognito has adopted a defensive stance, rather than regretful, thus prolonging the controversy.
He might consider giving Cooper a call.
sports@thenational.ae
Follow us on twitter at @SprtNationalUAE