Wile_E_Coyote
11-03-2004, 10:32 PM
ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) -- All of Jarrod Cooper's off-field trouble became too much for the Carolina Panthers, and they let him go last week.
Cooper quickly landed with the Oakland Raiders - the team known for giving second chances - and, suddenly, the special teams standout is headed right back to Charlotte to face his former team this weekend.
"I have nothing negative about the Carolina Panthers," Cooper said Wednesday, when the Raiders' practice was cut short because of lightning. "I love everyone there, they've done so much for me. It was just time to go and I went. I have much love for everyone in that organization - maybe not Sunday, but for the most part."
Cooper was waived Thursday after police issued an arrest warrant Oct. 25 alleging he gave false information to an officer three days earlier. Cooper has also been charged twice in the past three years with driving while impaired.
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He was suspended for four games and docked six weeks pay by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy following his second DWI arrest on Sept. 16, 2003. He's also been cited for speeding, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and having an expired vehicle registration.
"When a guy gets another opportunity, sometimes it has a major effect," Raiders coach Norv Turner said.
Cooper played in kick coverage during the Raiders' 42-14 loss at San Diego last Sunday and probably will be limited to special teams again this week. He was a backup safety for the Panthers, playing in six games and ranking second in special teams tackles with four, three solo.
Many of his Carolina teammates were furious at the Panthers' choice to cut the popular Cooper. They didn't exactly buy into coach John Fox's explanation that it was a football decision.
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"I wish the best for him," Fox said Wednesday. "He's a good kid. He's high energy. It's always hard. You spend that much time, he was part of the reason we went to the Super Bowl a year ago. So he had his contributions. ... My hopes are all the best for Coop, except this week."
Cooper appreciated the peer support, but is trying to move on in a hurry. He claims the team didn't get the full story of what happened and held some of his past problems against him.
What exactly did happen in his latest run-in with the law?
"I'm not even worried about it anymore," he said. "That's old stuff. I'm done with that. It's all taken care of. It's just unfortunate it happened the way it did. ... (The Raiders) just said, 'The ball is in your court. You're here, you've got a new fresh start. You mess it up, you're out.' End of story."
Cooper quickly landed with the Oakland Raiders - the team known for giving second chances - and, suddenly, the special teams standout is headed right back to Charlotte to face his former team this weekend.
"I have nothing negative about the Carolina Panthers," Cooper said Wednesday, when the Raiders' practice was cut short because of lightning. "I love everyone there, they've done so much for me. It was just time to go and I went. I have much love for everyone in that organization - maybe not Sunday, but for the most part."
Cooper was waived Thursday after police issued an arrest warrant Oct. 25 alleging he gave false information to an officer three days earlier. Cooper has also been charged twice in the past three years with driving while impaired.
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He was suspended for four games and docked six weeks pay by the NFL for violating the league's substance abuse policy following his second DWI arrest on Sept. 16, 2003. He's also been cited for speeding, possession of a controlled substance, driving with a suspended license and having an expired vehicle registration.
"When a guy gets another opportunity, sometimes it has a major effect," Raiders coach Norv Turner said.
Cooper played in kick coverage during the Raiders' 42-14 loss at San Diego last Sunday and probably will be limited to special teams again this week. He was a backup safety for the Panthers, playing in six games and ranking second in special teams tackles with four, three solo.
Many of his Carolina teammates were furious at the Panthers' choice to cut the popular Cooper. They didn't exactly buy into coach John Fox's explanation that it was a football decision.
http://hosted.ap.org/icons/spacer.gifhttp://hosted.ap.org/icons/spacer.gif http://hosted.ap.org/icons/spacer.gifhttp://hosted.ap.org/icons/spacer.gif
"I wish the best for him," Fox said Wednesday. "He's a good kid. He's high energy. It's always hard. You spend that much time, he was part of the reason we went to the Super Bowl a year ago. So he had his contributions. ... My hopes are all the best for Coop, except this week."
Cooper appreciated the peer support, but is trying to move on in a hurry. He claims the team didn't get the full story of what happened and held some of his past problems against him.
What exactly did happen in his latest run-in with the law?
"I'm not even worried about it anymore," he said. "That's old stuff. I'm done with that. It's all taken care of. It's just unfortunate it happened the way it did. ... (The Raiders) just said, 'The ball is in your court. You're here, you've got a new fresh start. You mess it up, you're out.' End of story."