The Riley Cooper situation in Philly is rare, but not unprecedented. In 1997, former Panthers quarterback Kerry Collins used the same word Cooper did.
Former Panthers G.M. Bill Polian explained on ESPN’s new NFL Insiders show that “it took a while” for the Panthers to get past Collins’ drunken use of a racial slur toward receiver Muhsin Muhammad.
“It eventually cleared up,” Polian said. “But believe me it took a while.”
Polian said that, for the Eagles, the biggest question is unity and harmony. “If Riley Cooper is in that [locker] room,” Polian said, “does it divide the room?”
And for those who think it’s not a big deal, Polian would disagree.
“It stings,” Polian said. “It’s personal, it’s societal. And it’s very deep. I can’t think of anything worse that you can have happen to your team.”
So that’s the magnitude of the challenge the Eagles will face, if they decide to try to move forward with Cooper.