What a joke. Another lame move by one of the most pathetic teams in football http://espn.go.com/nfl/trainingcamp...er-philadelphia-eagles-leaves-team-counseling
He'll be back. Cooper can play and his teammates & coaches know it! Cooper & Hernandez played together for 3 years 2007-2009
together at Florida. Cooper caught 14 TD's & had 1404 receiving yards, Hernandez in that same period caught 12 TD's & had 1382
receiving yards. Hernandez's absence will devastate the Pats & though Aaron had more importance to the Pats than Riley has had for the Eagles, with Kelly as the coach & injuries at the wideout position Riley was expected to have a bigger role this year. His teammates
eventually will welcome him back, wait & see.
http://www.thereporteronline.com/sports/20131110/cooper-finding-redemption-on-football-field
[h=3]Cooper finding redemption on football field[/h]
By JACK McCAFFERY, jmccaffery@21st-century
Sunday, November 10, 2013
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Phillies chose an outfielder in the 15th round of the 2006 draft, for his speed, for his agility, for the way he could track down and catch a falling ball in the wind and in other challenging conditions.
He could do that then. And, that same Riley Cooper proved Sunday in Lambeau Field, he can do it years later in even more difficult circumstances.
On a day of weather-related challenges, with the winds swirling and the shadows lengthening, Cooper caught two touchdown passes in the Eagles’ 27-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The first was a 45-yard pass from Nick Foles that descended near the goal line, requiring Cooper to line it up, catch it, and then almost roll into the end zone.
“A few players actually came up to me and told me it looked like a baseball play,” Cooper said. “But I think that helped, catching those fly balls in the outfield, the sun in your face. But the difference is, you have a glove that you can protect the sun. This, you can’t.
“But I think the experience helped a little bit. I just had to come back and get it.”
Cooper is catching plenty this season, five touchdown passes in the last two games, six in the last six. That includes a 32-yard catch with 10 seconds left in the third quarter Sunday that gave the Birds a 17-point lead, too much for the Packers to overcome on a day when they were down to their third quarterback.
At 5-5, and on a two-game winning streak, the Eagles are in some measure of contention as Week 11 arrives. The development — if not the recent dominance — of the 6-3 Cooper is high among the reasons.
“He alleviates a lot of pressure off of DeSean Jackson and, even more so, off of Nick Foles,” Jason Avant said. “Nick can throw one down the field and Riley is coming down with them. So he’s playing lights-out.”
Cooper, the fourth-year pro who’d passed on his baseball opportunities, almost didn’t have a football career, either. That’s because he was filmed at a Linc concert using a racial slur, causing him potential strife in the Birds’ clubhouse and requiring him to take a brief leave of absence in training camp.
But his teammates accepted his apologies, offering a second chance. And Cooper has reciprocated with useful nd borderline star-quality production at wide receiver.
“I am so proud of him,” Avant said. “Because only he and I know some of the conversations and some of the things that transpired that could have had him down. But he’s definitely overcome a lot of things and has totally bought into the system.”
Cooper’s development was necessary this season, with the Birds forced to play without Jeremy Maclin, who tore his knee and wound up on injured reserve.
“It helps, honestly,” Jackson said. “Because defensive guys are not able to just key in on me and LeSean McCoy and things like that. So he’s doing a good job of taking his plays and getting the best opportunities — and not only of making big plays, but making touchdowns, too.
“So that is a good addition to have.”
Cooper caught only three passes Sunday, but they were good for a combined 102 yards, his second consecutive triple-figure receiving game, his third in the last six.
“I am having a blast,” Cooper said. “I love football, but it feels so good when you are contributing to the team and winning games.
“I am having a blast. That’s what I love.”
Even in the toughest of conditions.
[h=3]Cooper finding redemption on football field[/h]
By JACK McCAFFERY, jmccaffery@21st-century
Sunday, November 10, 2013
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Phillies chose an outfielder in the 15th round of the 2006 draft, for his speed, for his agility, for the way he could track down and catch a falling ball in the wind and in other challenging conditions.
He could do that then. And, that same Riley Cooper proved Sunday in Lambeau Field, he can do it years later in even more difficult circumstances.
On a day of weather-related challenges, with the winds swirling and the shadows lengthening, Cooper caught two touchdown passes in the Eagles’ 27-13 victory over the Green Bay Packers.
The first was a 45-yard pass from Nick Foles that descended near the goal line, requiring Cooper to line it up, catch it, and then almost roll into the end zone.
“A few players actually came up to me and told me it looked like a baseball play,” Cooper said. “But I think that helped, catching those fly balls in the outfield, the sun in your face. But the difference is, you have a glove that you can protect the sun. This, you can’t.
“But I think the experience helped a little bit. I just had to come back and get it.”
Cooper is catching plenty this season, five touchdown passes in the last two games, six in the last six. That includes a 32-yard catch with 10 seconds left in the third quarter Sunday that gave the Birds a 17-point lead, too much for the Packers to overcome on a day when they were down to their third quarterback.
At 5-5, and on a two-game winning streak, the Eagles are in some measure of contention as Week 11 arrives. The development — if not the recent dominance — of the 6-3 Cooper is high among the reasons.
“He alleviates a lot of pressure off of DeSean Jackson and, even more so, off of Nick Foles,” Jason Avant said. “Nick can throw one down the field and Riley is coming down with them. So he’s playing lights-out.”
Cooper, the fourth-year pro who’d passed on his baseball opportunities, almost didn’t have a football career, either. That’s because he was filmed at a Linc concert using a racial slur, causing him potential strife in the Birds’ clubhouse and requiring him to take a brief leave of absence in training camp.
But his teammates accepted his apologies, offering a second chance. And Cooper has reciprocated with useful nd borderline star-quality production at wide receiver.
“I am so proud of him,” Avant said. “Because only he and I know some of the conversations and some of the things that transpired that could have had him down. But he’s definitely overcome a lot of things and has totally bought into the system.”
Cooper’s development was necessary this season, with the Birds forced to play without Jeremy Maclin, who tore his knee and wound up on injured reserve.
“It helps, honestly,” Jackson said. “Because defensive guys are not able to just key in on me and LeSean McCoy and things like that. So he’s doing a good job of taking his plays and getting the best opportunities — and not only of making big plays, but making touchdowns, too.
“So that is a good addition to have.”
Cooper caught only three passes Sunday, but they were good for a combined 102 yards, his second consecutive triple-figure receiving game, his third in the last six.
“I am having a blast,” Cooper said. “I love football, but it feels so good when you are contributing to the team and winning games.
“I am having a blast. That’s what I love.”
Even in the toughest of conditions.
