It has been a weird couple of weeks for the Philadelphia Eagles. The team kicked off training camp with three ACL tears and a controversy surrounding wide receiver Riley Cooper. After a video emerged of Cooper using a racial slur at a concert, the media has been hounding Eagles' players with their reactions. After returning from a leave of absence, quarterback Michael Vick says he is happy the team is back to normal.
In an interview with NFL.com, Vick said that everything is back to normal and the team has moved on from the Cooper issue. The wide receiver was excused from team activities to seek outside counseling after the racial slur video went viral. Reports swirled that many teammates wanted Cooper released. The Eagles' owner came out saying he was disgusted by the comments from Cooper. However, Vick believes that things have calmed down and everyone has moved on.
"I'm so proud of my teammates because of their resolve," Vick told Albert Breer of NFL.com. "In tough situations and tough times, you have to be able to persevere and kind of become bigger than the situation, so to speak ... I respect these guys because they understand the bigger picture."
Vick said he understands the severity of the situation and the public's opinion on the matter, but he believes it is important for everyone to move on and forgive. Head coach Chip Kelly admitted that the locker room was divided at first over Cooper's comments and the actions to take, but it appears players have resolved their issues.
In his first practice back with the team, Cooper caught three long passes from Eagles' quarterbacks, two going for touchdowns. Players quickly celebrated Cooper's scores, proving everyone is on the mend. The wide receiver admits that this has been a tough right for him, but since returning he has met with every one of his teammates.
"I told them, 'I don't want you to forgive me because that puts the burden on you,' " Cooper said via the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I want it all on me. I told them that, and I told them I apologize. They could tell it's from the heart. They know I'm not that type of person."
The Eagles will not be able to ignore this issue. It will likely come up every time Cooper does something on the field and will constantly circle him in the media. Kelly has insisted that Cooper's roster spot is safe and he intends for the wide receiver to play a large part in this year's offense.