Questions arise over Cooper's knowledge of video
Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper apparently was aware of the video in which he was shown using a racial slur before it emerged in public lsst week and informed the team that he received threatening messages through Twitter.
Cooper was fined by the team for his controversial comments at a Kenny Chesney concert in June that have angered teammates and the public. He took an indefinite leave of absense from training camp on Friday to seek counseling.
"Riley Cooper made us aware of the tweets when the video became public," the team said in a statement released Sunday. "He told us that he did not know about the video. He informed us he blocked the tweets because he did not know the person nor understand the context of what that person was threatening.
"We promptly alerted NFL Security. This information potentially speaks to a legal issue that is a matter between Riley and the authorities. Our focus has been on Riley's words and actions."
The Eagles' statement failed to make it fully clear whether Cooper knew about the contents of the footage before or after it was made public. But the statement raised the possibility of extortion if a person was seeking to collect money from Cooper in exchange for the video.
Eagles coach Chip Kelly said Friday that the team is not considering cutting Cooper.
"His status with us is not in question," Kelly said.
Kelly said a team meeting was held Friday without Cooper present and no Eagles player said he would refuse to play with Cooper.
NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said the NFL would not take further action. Cooper apologized to the team.
But Philadelphia mayor Michael A. Nutter does not think the Eagles' actions were harsh enough.
"As the Mayor of this City and an African-American man, I find the remarks made by Riley Cooper repugnant, insensitive and ignorant, and all of us, regardless of race or nationality, should be offended by these comments," Nutter said in the statement.
"I recognize that the private sector is very different than the public sector in terms of rules and procedures, but I would note that in our government, if an executive branch ‘at-will' employee, somewhat similar to Mr. Cooper's status with the Eagles, made such comments, I would insist on a suspension at a minimum and would seriously have to evaluate terminating such an individual from employment with the City."
