Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper has been excused from team activities after it became clear that his presence would be a divisive one in the wake of a racially insensitive comment he made at a Kenny Chesney concert.

Miami Dolphins center Mike Pouncey is now coming to the defense of his former Florida Gators teammate.

"I spent three years in college with him. I feel bad for him. That's not Riley Cooper," Pouncey told NFL.com's Jeff Darlington on Friday. "I know him. I know his family. I wasn't offended by it because I know him. It's just an ugly situation, and I really feel bad for him. I'll reach out to him eventually -- but I want things to die down. I don't want to be one of those guys trying to give him advice."

Pouncey can sympathize with Cooper after the controversy ignited by the "Free Hernandez" hats that he and his twin brother, Maurkice, donned in support of another troubled former Florida teammate.

"I know what he's going through right now. ... One mistake can really hurt," Pouncey explained. "I know he's disgusted with himself -- and I just hope he gets through it. It feels like the lowest point of your career. You're thinking, 'I can't believe I'm that guy who made that mistake.' You don't want to be that guy."

The support from Pouncey, former teammate Cullen Jenkins and current Eagles teammates Michael Vick and Jason Avant suggests the larger problem with Cooper might be shattering the intoxication barrier as opposed to outright bigotry.

Good thing his former team mate feels bad for him, because Cooper's grandma doesn't!!

Not even Riley Cooper's grandma is sympathizing with him - NFL News | FOX Sports on MSN

White America needs to realize that there will never, ever, ever, ever, ever be a time when it is ok for a white person to say the 'N' word!!

If blacks want to call each other that, more power to them.

My wife is black and she uses that word more than me. I can't even remember the last time I said that word.

Friday Smokey Meets Janet Jackson - YouTube

Your wife is a loser.

Let me tell you flat out- if a black person used that word at work I would have them fired for it because I would be offended. If he wasn't I would sue in heart beat. I would teach anyone in this country that they will be held to an equal standard, period. Guess what- he would lose his job as fast as a white person

And I don't believe for a second you'd be offended. That's just you being a dick and trying to teach a group of people a lesson about something that if it was just respected, wouldn't be a problem.

We know amongst each other not to say it at work, mainly because of people who take up that type of attitude. Don't call that mans wife a loser. That's disrespectful and unnecessary. I see why you have trouble grasping the concept.

Mike Pouncey doesn't really come across as a very bright guy. First the Hernandez hoopla and now this.