NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Thursday that Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper will not face any league discipline on top of the fine that the Eagles levied. A video surfaced Wednesday of Cooper making a racist comment at a Kenny Chesney concert.
Cooper will pay a fine, but the Eagles have decided that Cooper will take another step as he tries to make amends.
"In meeting with Riley yesterday, we decided together that his next step will be to seek outside assistance to help him fully understand the impact of his words and actions. He needs to reflect. As an organization, we will provide the resources he needs to do so," the Eagles said in a statement.
NFL.com's Albert Breer notes that Cooper can't be fined more than one game check per the collective bargaining agreement unless Cooper also is suspended. (And he won't be suspended.) There will be some criticism that Cooper wasn't punished enough, and others will believe the story has been blown out of proportion.
I'd argue that Cooper's punishment isn't about money. It's facing his teammates and the media. It's dealing with the stigma that his comment created. Cooper will be known for his comment for a long time, perhaps for his entire career.
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