Whatever receiver Riley Cooper did since Friday to allow himself to return to the Eagles after an absence of only four days, he won’t be sharing the details with the media.
Apart from saying that the outside assistance he received didn’t address the issue of alcohol abuse, Cooper would not elaborate in a session with reporters regarding the things he has done since Friday.
Cooper said he has been seeking out his teammates since his return, but he said he hasn’t asked for forgiveness.
“I don’t want you to forgive me, because that puts the burden on you,” Cooper told the other players on the team. (It would be naive to assume that this very effective message didn’t come directly from whoever it was who helped Cooper prepare for a successful return to the locker room.)
Given that Cooper reportedly has told friends he was so drunk on the evening of June 9 that he didn’t recall saying what he said, the issue of alcohol abuse needs to be addressed by Cooper and others in and around the NFL who often drink to excess, and beyond.