“We’ve talked quite a bit, joked around a lot, we were friends there, thought he was always real cool with me,’’ Jenkins said Friday before practice at Giants training camp.
Riley is at the center of a raging controversy ever since a video surfaced of him angrily shouting a racial epithet – using the “N’ word to describe African Americans - at a Kenny Chesney concert. The incident caused reverberations within the Eagles locker room and on Friday the Eagles announced Cooper is seeking counseling and “”We have excused him from all team activities. This is all new territory and we are going to evaluate this timetable every step of the way. He will meet with professionals provided by the Eagles during this period of time to better help him understand how his words have hurt so many, including his teammates.’’
As a former teammate, Jenkins said he could forgive Cooper.
“He made some unfortunate comments, I know he wishes he could have ‘em back but everybody makes mistakes,’’ Jenkins said. “We were friends, we’d still be friends after it, he made an unfortunate mistake, he’s apologizing about it and you move on.’’
Jenkins was asked if the fallout could divide the Eagles.
“Depends on the mindset of the team,’’ said Jenkins, who signed in the off-season with the Giants. “If you have guys understand that it was just a mistake or it was just something that was unfortunate you can get past it pretty easy. But if you turn it into a problem, especially with the media they will keep it going if you give ‘em something to keep on.’’
