Cooper to be suspended

yes just like we could hand the ball off to ANY player... I'm sure Timmy B. would love to return to an NFL salary, but Stephen Davis IMO happens to be a better player...just like Cooper is one of the league's better Special Teams players... and the argument was based on how our special teams wouldn't suffer without him... take Stephen Davis out and our running game suffers... is Cooper the league's best Strong Safety? Hell no. But if you'd ask if Cooper is one of the league's best gunners there's no question... he's the reason we don't miss Michael Bates back there... if you notice on ALL of those close tips on punts near the endzone Cooper is there... not just some but ALL either he's tipping it or doing a balancing act trying to catch the ball that's been tipped back towards him and not cross the goal line... once again the question isn't did he do right to get the DUI... there's no question that was wrong and there's very little question that he's on his last chance, but if the question is "Would the Panther's special teams be as good without him?" the the OBVIOUS answer is no.

 

Good news for Cooper Haters

Panthers.com reports simply: "The NFL has suspended Carolina Panthers safety Jarrod Cooper without pay for the team's next four regular season games for violating the League's Substance Abuse Policy.
Cooper's suspension begins immediately. He is eligible to return to the Panthers active roster on Monday, December 15 following the team's December 14 game against the Arizona Cardinals."

So, that's 4 games, plus the 6 game fine - 10 games out of 17 (or is it 16 - do they do it by weeks or by games?) without pay. That's harsh by anybody's standards. He said it best himself: "I'm working for free, baby!" Do you blame him for appealing the amount of the initial 6-game fine? In any case, I'd be willing to bet that he'll miss contributing on the field more than he'll miss the checks.

I talk to the guy almost every week, and he's kept a great positive attitude through this whole thing, with no whining and no finger pointing. He's staying clean and taking responsibility for his recovery. What else can he do to satisfy you "haters" out there? Maybe cut off his foot and throw it into the stands after his shoes? Everybody on this board should have an attitude as good as Coop's.

Keep the faith Jarrod.

 

Well I guess we'll be seeing the OBVIOUS dropoff in the next few weeks. I can agree with you that Coop is a good ST player. I'm just saying the position as a whole is probably one of the easiet to fill making him more than expendable.

And I in no way implied that playing RB was easy. Don't know how you came up with that.

That's great and all but if having an attitude like Coop gets me suspended from my job without pay, I'll pass.

 

How did his attitude get him suspended? He got drunk and drove, that's what got him suspended. Nothing about attitude there, he just fucked up. The attitude comes into play in how he handled himself after the arrest.

 

But didn't he get arrested last year on a DUI charge? I might be wrong but if that's the case his attitude obviously didn't change too much the first time around so why is anyone suppose to believe it will this time around.

 

Rod Smart replaced Bates, not Coop

And comparing Davis to this is a reach, bigtime.

Just curious, but does Ricky Manning Jr play ST's? He should.

I don't know who steps in to play back-up safety or a gunner on ST's, but I'm sure this team has someone who can step up and fill those roles.

 

You might want to do some research on alcoholism if you think it's that simple.

 

I say he is gone after this year anyway.

 

Fact remains he's still just a ST player. If alcoholism is so tough to stop (I wouldn't know) then let him sit out the rest of the season and let Dyson play. Then if he recovered let him be a good ST player for someone else.

 

hmmm... blind ignorance