Cooper Down; No Move Right Away, GM Says
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Cooper Down; No Move Right Away, GM Says
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM -- It didn't seem to have much to do with hitting, but the Eagles lost a player, probably for several weeks, in their first practice in pads this year at Lehigh.
Third-year wideout Riley Cooper went down awkwardly on an attempted long catch and defender Curtis Marsh fell on him. Cooper stayed down, then left practice. Afterward the Eagles announced he had suffered a broken left collarbone.
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman noted the team has 13 WRs on the roster and said no move would be made right away. But he also said he hoped to have a better idea of the severity of the injury after the daily "medical meeting" tonight.
It's hard to say how long Cooper will be sidelined; we don't know details of the fracture. But it's rare for a football player to return from a broken collarbone in less than a month. Six or eight weeks is more typical.
Former Giants receiver Plaxico Burress has been tirelessly campaigning for a job with the Eagles (or any other team). Nobody in the NFL has showed much interest, certainly not the Birds.
But even though Burress turns 35 Aug. 12, he remains as tall as he was in his prime -- 6-5. And he is an old Tidewater Virginia friend of Michael Vick. The Eagles have what looks like a talented group of wideouts in camp this summer, but they don't have great size. Iowa rookie Marvin McNutt, 6-2, 216, expected to battle Cooper for a roster spot, looked slow in the spring, though McNutt had a very good day Saturday scrimmaging, and could be one of those guys who plays faster than he practices. It could also be that he was hesitant early, beign new to the offense.
Cooper, 6-3, 222, had a very good spring. He is a 2010 fifth-round pick who caught 16 passes last season for 315 yards and one touchdown.
"He'll recover from it. He's had a very good offseason," Roseman said of Cooper.
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An NFL source said former Eagles president Joe Banner is indeed part of a group led by Tennessee businessman Jimmy Haslam, which is negotiating to buy the Cleveland Browns. Banner set forth a goal along those lines when he announced he was moving into an advisory role with the Eagles last month.
The sale could be complete by the time the Eagles visit the Browns in the 2012 opener.
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Saturday's other injuries were a right calf strain for DE Jason Babin and cramps for DT Antonio Dixon.
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Among the standouts Saturday was corner Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, who used his closing speed to good effect several times when he seemed beaten. Defensive end Brandon Graham also looked good. There was a lot of energy.
This will give McNutt a shot at being a red zone factor.— Paul SoTX- Plaxico!!!!— DaHurricane
- Give Plaxico a shot; he and Vick would star in the jailbreak formation.— mccloudmj
- He will not be missed. Plenty of candidates to do what he does.— jicook
- McNutt didn't look slow or out of step this afternoon. There is obviously some talent there. He wasn't intimidated by the speed in practice in drills and scrimmages.
It's going to be tough to keep Brandon Graham on the sidelines if he continues to play at the level and pace he showed this afternoon. Today Brandon looked like that Michigan disruptive force again. He looks healed, fit and ready to deliver.
Curry, the Rookie looked solid in drills today. DRC isn't allowing anything to get pass him. He's capable of running down Desean with little to no problem.— Dexter - Should have picked up Randy Moss, now Plaxico is the only option for a proven red zone target. He's got a lot to prove and you can't teach size/height...just keep him away from all guns and bars.— sedale
- Nutty is a solid, humble guy who will work and work until he succeeds. Total team guy. The type to pray for Riley Cooper's quick recovery. You may not know it yet, but you have a jewel of a man in #83 and one helluva receiver with SpiderMan hands.— Deacon Bleu
- Oh no! Now who will drop passes in the corner of the end zone!?— ej610
- dexter: thanks for the report. isnt a reporter gonna report on todays hitting? im dying to know what happened today— johnGiam
- Graham is a great practice player!— Sam 52
- Why am I getting reports on what happened in "live" practice from you guys (thank you Dexter) instead of ANY reporter ?? Vant info,, Need info !!— phillyroni
- Sam 52, don't be a tool my friend. Graham didn't look this good at ALL last year, and seldom during his rookie season. Kid has EVERYTHING to lose this season, and very little to gain except some respect. Has an almost impossible chance to take Babin's and Cole's job away from either of them, but can quickly find his self out of the NFL if he doesn't produce and in a dramatic way. Watch for him as well as DRC to be the breakout stars of the team this year. Just watch the practices if you get a chance and you'll understand the praise. Both guys seem to have a seriousness about this offseason that McCoy showed last off-season. As well, watch out for Dion Lewis. Kid gashed the first team defense I believe 2 out of 3 attempts.— papabear702
- Just remember, Graham was one good player at Michigan .. Will make his mark this season!— bill poore
