Eagles draft doesn’t show any lessons learned
The city that needed a fictitious Rocky Balboa when the real deal Smokin’ Joe Frazier existed engages in fraud speak about tonight’s National Football League draft.
With a stage set up near those famous steps adjacent to the Art Museum where Rocky climbed and looked back toward the Philly skyline, collegiate footballers hope for selection and an opportunity for professional stardom.
Philadelphia Eagles owner Jeff Lurie and his subordinates, plus, radio talk show hosts like Chris Carlin and Mike Missanelli, and a long list of call-in guests have promoted finding a player with good character.
Each and every instance character rises as part of the ad nauseous conversation, my mind trips back to former Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper apparently drunk but certainly ignorant and indecently exposed as a bigot extraordinaire.
In June 2013, Cooper attended a Kenny Chesney concert then delivered his pissed off infamous, “I will jump that fence and fight every nigger here, bro,” after a black security guard held his ground and denied the Eagle access to a restricted portion of Lincoln Financial Field.
Cooper’s female Caucasian companion chimed, “Awww, he said nig-ger.”
Cooper apologized although once the (Negro) genie escapes from a bottle or person’s heart and mouth, resolution seems impossible.
“Back in the bottle, (Negro) Genie!” “Nope. I’m out.” Cooper apologized with this Twitter post.
“I am so ashamed and disgusted with myself. I want to apologize. I have been offensive. I have apologized to my coach, Jeffrey Lurie, and Howie Roseman and to my teammates. I owe an apology to the fans and to this community. I am so ashamed, but there are no excuses. What I did was wrong and I will accept the consequences,” he wrote.
Lurie followed with this released statement.
“We are shocked and appalled by Riley Cooper’s words. This sort of behavior or attitude from anyone has no role in a civil society. He has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He has been fined for this incident.”
Cooper returned to the Eagles training camp several days later, apparently cured from his disease.
And when Eagles corner Cary Williams engaged Cooper with a face mask grab and helmet slap during practice, accompanied by, “I’m not the nigger you (F**k) with,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly responded by cutting Williams.
While people croon that a video showing former Baltimore running back Ray Rice punching his girlfriend and potential draft pick cornerback Joe Mixon busting a girl’s jaw matters, it’s a rarity to hear the same conclusion about Cooper’s video.
The Eagles organization compounded the Cooper conundrum by releasing receiver DeSean Jackson in 2014.
Cooper received a 5-year, $22.5 million contract for his nigger troubles, confirmation that a person’s character had minimal importance for team Philly.
The Eagles walked Cooper back into a locker room packed with black athletes who had to act like house help as front office honchos pushed an agenda about forgive and forget. Plus, no doubt some white players disagreed with Cooper’s return.
Lurie had the opportunity to build a real team and to let Philadelphia residents know that he could never accept racism, bigotry, gender phobia, etc. Instead, Lurie and Roseman allowed this potentially unifying moment to slip away.
Now, hypocritical Eagles brass voice an audacious dissertation about character even after Lurie and Howie Roseman showed not even a modicum of that substance during the Cooper affair.
In New Orleans, officials have set about removing Confederate statues that pay homage to that failed campaign.
Obliteration of concrete monuments does not change history nor did the Eagles release of Cooper untether the grand mistake of keeping him.
While NFL teams employ the Wonderlic examination as part of deciphering a player’s mental aptitude, especially for quarterbacks, the lone test for character and racist behavior displays in real-life situations.
Lurie, his green-clad charlatan subordinates and legions of Eagles fans failed on both issues.
And with the 14th pick, the Philadelphia Eagles select Christian McCaffrey.
Did anybody ask him if he’s ever used the N-word?
Big finish. Cue Bill Conti’s “Fly Now.”
Gonna fly now. Flyin’ high now ......