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Ex-Gator Cooper apologizes for racial slur

 
Riley Cooper
Riley Cooper
Published Aug. 1, 2013

PHILADELPHIA — Saying he was "ashamed and disgusted," Eagles receiver Riley Cooper apologized for yelling a racial slur during a Kenny Chesney concert in June.

A video of Cooper, a star at Clearwater Central Catholic and the University of Florida, saying the n-word surfaced on the Internet on Wednesday.

"This is the lowest of lows," said Cooper, who said he was drinking when he directed the slur at a black security guard. "This is not the type of person I want to be portrayed as. This isn't the type of person I am. I'm extremely sorry. I was raised better than that. I have a great mom and dad, and they're disgusted with my actions."

Cooper said he didn't know about the video until a team representative informed him Wednesday. He said he was fined a "good amount of money" by the Eagles but had not heard from the NFL, which called the comments "wrong, offensive and unacceptable."

In the video, Cooper appears to get into an altercation, saying he "would fight every (n-word) here."

"There was a confrontation with me and one of the other security guards," Cooper said. "I'm not going to get into what happened."

Cooper said he was at the concert by himself. But several Eagles, including coach Chip Kelly, were there. Some, including Cooper, were brought onstage by Chesney.

Cooper also apologized to teammates.

"We all make mistakes in life," QB Michael Vick said. "As a teammate, I forgave him. As a team, we forgave him. … I know him as a man. … Hard to understand the situation, but easy to forgive him."