TheOak

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.

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap100...s-riley-cooper

TheOak

homerj07

Booze & camera phones. Worst invention for (semi) famous people. Oh & their own stupidity.

WhoDat!656

Dean Wormer said it best!

SloMotion

Another Urban Meyer protege making headlines? Go figure, eh? ... my impression was not that he was being racist, but that he was just being a stupid white-boy trying to emulate behavior he's been exposed to and/or fascinated by ... you know, like junior high schoolers so often do. So, I guess either no one told him the word is offensive or he couldn't figure it out for himself?

I don't understand how these guys reach adulthood without realizing what is socially acceptable or how to conduct themselves in the public eye.

WhoDat!656

Sober, the guy would have never said that. It is when people get some alcohol in them that the trouble starts.

K Major

This was unfortunate for Riley. I just hope for his sake this 'blunder' doesn't cost him his job in Philly.

TheOak

Has anyone else seen the commercial mentioned on the bottom.... I saw it last week and had a WTF moment.

It's an attempt at humor that comes out 1/2 racist and 1/2 stupid.

TheOak

I agree with slo-mo just being stupid, but if we are going to take action against any player for using the N-word... Good luck fielding a team.

spkb25

Just want to make sure I have it right...
Murder and torture animals play for Eagles
Use a word and might lose your job
That does make sense