Eagles give Riley Cooper a timeout

On Day 3, Riley Cooper left the Eagles to seek counseling somewhere. The team isn't saying where, or what kind of counseling he's getting.

But the players met yesterday, after Cooper 's departure from NovaCare, so Cooper's teammates could discuss the storm that has engulfed them since a video went viral Wednesday showing Cooper shouting the "n-word" at a security guard during a June 8 Kenny Chesney concert.

"We had an opportunity to talk through it, we gained understanding on it, and we'll move past it," quarterback Michael Vick said.

"I think it's the beginning of the healing process for some guys on this team," head coach Chip Kelly said.

It was apparent divergent opinions remain. Wideout DeSean Jackson, asked if he could still play with Cooper, said "that's my job, brother. I'm here. Gotta work," which did not resonate as a heartfelt endorsement. Corner Cary Williams suggested it would be nice if Cooper could address the team again, because Williams, who arrived in the offseason and doesn't know Cooper, couldn't really hear his apology, delivered on the field at the team's indoor facility Wednesday night.

"Some guys need to hear it. That may be the difference … There is an elephant in the room, that needs to be addressed," Williams said.

Tight end Clay Harbor and wideout Jason Avant said they still consider themselves close friends of Cooper, a fourth-year wideout from Florida.

"The year before, I was right there with him at the Kenny Chesney concert … I've hung out with Coop plenty of times to know that he's not like that," said Harbor, a fourth-round pick in 2010, the year Cooper arrived in the fifth round. "Obviously, he made a huge mistake in what he said. He's offended a bunch of people … Riley had a little too much to drink, and said some stuff that he shouldn't have said.

"People that know him tried to paint the picture of Riley" for newcomers during the meeting, Harbor said. "He's kind of a different type of guy. One of those swamp studs out there in Florida."

Avant said: "Every time we go out to practice, I say, 'I love you, brother (to Cooper). That's how we feel about each other. I'm not going to let some isolated incident – I'm not downplaying what he said – but what I am saying is that I have a body of work from him over the years, and I'm not going to take one little thing and put it on top of that body of work."

It was surprising to learn yesterday that Cooper was leaving the team indefinitely, given that he practiced with the Eagles Thursday, the day after the video controversy erupted. Kelly said yesterday this was the plan all along, from the Wednesday afternoon meeting held among Cooper, team chairman Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman and Kelly. Kelly said it took a while to make arrangements, and that he felt it was important for Cooper to not be alone Thursday. He said it was a mutual decision among all parties that Cooper would go away for counseling.

Kelly reiterated that Cooper will rejoin the team, whenever his treatment is complete. "There has never been any question of cutting Riley," Kelly said, and Vick said plans are under way to welcome back Cooper – which suggests he won't be gone long. Cooper apparently will be missing this coming week, when New England and national media flock to NovaCare for two days of joint practices between the Patriots and the Eagles.

When a reporter's question to Vick included the observation that "it's been a little tight around here the last couple of days," Vick said: "We all understand why this has been tight, but we're going to continue to work through it."

Jackson said Cooper had reached out to him, though Jackson didn't seem especially moved.

"He's still our teammate. He hasn't been released or he hasn't been dismissed from our team. Whatever he has to handle, he has to handle as a man; as far as this team, we have big things we want to accomplish this year. We don't want that to be a burden on our season," Jackson said.

Asked if the video would change how he interacted with Cooper, Jackson said: "That's neither here nor there. He's still my teammate. It doesn't really matter about that."

Asked if the meeting helped, Jackson said: "It it did, it did. If it didn't, it didn't. We got jobs to do … that's the only thing that matters."

Does Jackson feel good about the way Kelly and the organization have handled the Cooper matter?

'That's what they decided to do. I don't think it's really going to change the fact, if I did feel good or I didn't feel good about it. It's not my business," he said.

Contrast that with Avant: "Can I play with him? I was hoping he didn't have to go anywhere. People make mistakes. We have people nowadays where as soon as someone says something, 'stone him!' … That's God's job to judge. I'm here to be his teammate. I'm going to treat him the same way as always, and treat him with love."

Kelly said he doesn't have "an exact timetable" for Cooper's return. With Jeremy Maclin – perhaps Cooper's closest friend on the Eagles, who spoke on Cooper's behalf at yesterday's meeting – out for the season, Cooper could be an Eagles starter. Asked about the affect of Cooper's absence on his ability to compete for a job, Kelly said repeatedly that the Cooper matter "is not a football decision."

"This is a life deal, so let's make sure we can assist Riley in any manner we can, and go from there," Kelly said. "We still care about Riley … He was wrong in what he did, but that doesn't mean we're just going to kick him to the street."

The team released a statement from Cooper yesterday: "The last few days have been incredibly difficult for me. My actions were inexcusable. The more I think about what I did, the more disgusted I get. I keep trying to figure out how I could have said something so repulsive, and what I can do to make things better.

"Right now, I think it's important for me to take some time to reflect on this situation. The organization and my teammates have been extremely supportive, but I also realize that there are people who will have a tough time forgiving me for what I've done. The best thing for me, and for the team, is to step away for a period of time.

"During this time I'm going to be speaking with a variety of professionals to help me better understand how I could have done something that was so offensive, and how I can start the healing process for everyone. As long as it takes, and whatever I have to do, I'm going to try to make this right."