D.A. asked to turn slur into 'teachable moment'

Saying he and the Eagles "hope to make this a teachable moment," Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams said Thursday that the team had asked him to suggest charities and community-service programs that could benefit from wide receiver Riley Cooper's time or money.

Eagles management announced that Cooper, 25, would be fined after this week's release of a video showing him using a racial epithet after arguing with a black security guard at a Kenny Chesney concert in June at Lincoln Financial Field.

Williams told reporters at his Center City office that he spoke to Eagles officials Wednesday and Thursday about coming up with a list of charities and community-service groups. Williams said he would also contact other city officials to work with the Eagles to do "what they can do to help him and to use this as a teachable moment, not only for him, but maybe for the city as a whole to deal with racism and insensitive language.

"Often, in my line of work," Williams added, "those are fighting words, and a lot happens when people use insensitive words in volatile situations."

The district attorney called Cooper's comments "ignorant, repulsive behavior." He also said he believed Cooper had made a sincere apology in a news conference. Cooper, who said he had been drinking when captured on video, told reporters Wednesday: "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."

Williams suggested that Cooper might follow the example of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick after his conviction on dogfighting charges. Vick spoke many times to groups condemning his own past behavior, and worked with animal-cruelty groups.

"I think it's very important for him to learn and for him to talk to other people about what he's learned," Williams said of Cooper.

Williams is an Eagles fan. His spokeswoman, Tasha Jamerson, said he has a close relationship with the team, conducting seminars with rookie players from other states about how not to run afoul of Philadelphia's gun laws and other legal issues.