National Football League

Players around NFL react to Cooper

Published Aug. 1, 2013 1:00 a.m. ET

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While Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper deals with the harsh reality of his offensive comments, other players have reacted. Here are some of the best quotes from around the league:

Mike Pouncey, C, Dolphins (Cooper’s Florida teammate from 2007-09)

“I think Riley is a great guy. I think obviously he made a mistake. I just feel bad for him because he’s a good friend. … When the time’s right, I will (reach out to him). But right now I know he’s going through a tough time and I just hope for nothing but the best for him. … (I) never (saw anything like that from him before).’’

Nate Burleson, WR, Lions

“I don’t know him personally. I’m a forgiving guy, so if a guy’s sincere in his apology, I’m good with it. I’m pretty sure we have all said things that we would take back if the camera was there. I’m not going to get on my high horse and act like I have a clean mouth. It’s just tough. We’re in a time where you can’t say the wrong thing because there’s always a cell phone around. (Eagles quarterback Michael) Vick said it best. He said, ‘He apologized to the team, and I’m OK with it.’ I’m a good friend of Vick’s, and if Vick’s good with it, I’m good with it."

Johnathan Franklin, RB, Packers

“Using that word? In my opinion, it’s definitely a derogatory word, regardless of who may use it. You have to understand, we all make mistakes. There’s nobody out there perfect. The best way you can do that is just talk to him. He said his apology; you can’t harp on it no more. You make a mistake, and you learn from it and you grow from it. As teammates and as a family and team, as a coach, whatever position you may be in, you just speak to him and talk to him and you go on right away. … (It makes me mad), but there’s no difference between him saying the word and me saying the word. Regardless, you can’t stress over someone of his race saying it and then if someone of my nationality says it, it’s fine. It goes both ways. You can’t just approach him on it; you’ve got to approach everybody on it.”

Mike Gillislee, RB, Dolphins (Cooper’s Florida teammate in 2009)

“I don’t really think nothing of it. I don’t know if it was a joke or he said it. But I don’t think it’s a big deal. … No, (I never saw anything like that from him). He’s a great person. He doesn’t have a bad character.’’

Dashon Goldson, S, Buccaneers

"I heard some of the guys chirping about it, but I really haven't seen too much about it. I have no comment."

Brent Grimes, CB, Dolphins

“People make mistakes, and he said what he said. … He made a mistake. It looked like he was kind of drunk or whatever. So he made a mistake. He apologized for it. That’s all you can really ask. It’s up to whoever if they want to forgive him. Me, I would. But people make mistakes. … If they fine him. Whatever the team, the Eagles, the league decides, that’s what they want to do, it’s cool. As long as his teammates can accept his apology and be cool with him and he does what he has to to get back in their good graces, that’s all he can do.’’

Davin Joseph, G, Buccaneers

"I don't know the time, situation and all that stuff what provoked him to say whatever he said. But everybody makes mistakes. I think sometimes people take things out of context, and think one word can make you a bad person. I believe that he (wouldn't be) playing in the NFL for so long if he was a bad person. But everybody makes mistakes."

Dekoda Watson, LB, Buccaneers

"No comment. No comment at all. He's still a good kid. I don't care what anybody says."

--FOX Sports Florida’s Andrew Astleford and Chris Tomasson, FOX Sports Detroit’s Dave Dye and FOX Sports Wisconsin’s Paul Imig contributed to this report.