I am extremely sensitive to the name slur calling, but this entire Riley Cooper situation is out of hand in my opinion. The fact that these GROWN MEN and professional athletes are divided amongst each other in the locker room over one incident of an immature drunk act is being taken to the extreme.
I do NOT condone what Riley did at all, he was way wrong, but for all this to go to "sensitivity" training to me is just a bunch of hog wash. Sure have him talk to the team psychiatrists and have the head coach and owner sit him down and read him the riot act, then the head coach bring him into the locker room and basically squash this like a bug now versus all, this ohhh Riley said the "N" word and my feelings are hurt and now I don't know if I can play with this guy, blah....blah...blah...
The idea of racism "unfortunately" is out there everyday and can come from all races at any given time. It was a huge blunder on Cooper's part, but my hope is that people learn to forgive and forget (assuming Cooper is sincere).
What is even more disheartening to me was watching Daren Sharper on the NFL Network basically say that the Eagles should cut him on the spot and Cooper does not belong in the NFL and that if he were on his team he would have gone to the owner and Head Coach and said, I am not playing on this team with this guy and basically with an ultimatum of who stays or who goes. Yeah right is what I say to all that.
At least Michael Irvin was the opposite of Sharper and his response was more realistic to me plus he even pointed out how much that word is blurted out in society (Not to make that right, but just a fact) and how we just need to get along and coexist around all that.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-training- ... eos_IrvineIn summary, did Riley Cooper do an immature drunken stupid act, absolutely, no question he was offensive in what he said, but should he now be banished from his NFL career? Be considered a problem child that cannot get along playing and hanging out with others? IMO, no.
I don't know the guy from Adam, but my guess is his world is now turned upside down and he has certainly learned a very valuable life lesson. He made a terrible choice, but if his apologies are sincere and he clears the air with his bosses and teammates then I think others should do the same. Hopefully, in a similar concept to Michael Vick having to regain face from his Dog Days, Cooper can do the same.