Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper has been able to repair his damaged reputation, thanks to Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, who also repaired a far more tattered reputation.
Unfortunately for Richie Incognito, he doesn't have the same capacity to repair his anytime soon.
USA TODAY Sports reported on Cooper's ability to get past a controversy involving his use of a racial slur at an African-American security guard over the summer that surfaced during the NFL preseason.
Vick, an African-American who came back from a 21-month suspension for his involvement in a dog-fighting ring, quickly forgave a contrite Cooper for his actions.
Cooper has 20 receptions for 462 yards and six touchdowns during his last five games after starting the season with just eight catches for 83 yards and one TD during Philadelphia's first five games.
According to USA TODAY Sports, Vick surmised that Cooper's improvement has come with the healing process that has allowed Cooper to refocus on football.
"He's playing free now and he was playing hesitant back then - he was just trying to figure the whole situation out,'' Vick said. "Now he's back to his old self."
Quarterback Nick Foles, who replaced an injured Vick in the lineup, has been just as responsible for Cooper's turnaround. Foles has thrown 15 touchdown passes in his last five games.
Several of Incognito's teammates have rallied around the suspended guard after teammate Jonathan Martin accused him of bullying, using his own racial slur and threatening Martin and his family in a voicemail.
Incognito apologized in an interview last weekend with FOX Sports reporter Jay Glazer. But because Martin has not forgiven him and he hasn't been allowed back on the field, he hasn't had a chance at redemption.
NFL Hall of Fame tight end and current CBS analyst Shannon Sharpe added that Incognito's past also hurting his ability to repair his reputation.
"The problem Richie Incognito has is his history of bad behavior,'' Sharpe said. "Here's a guy who has been kicked off Nebraska, Oregon and the St. Louis Rams. If he's not the dirtiest player in the NFL, he's the runner-up to (Detroit Lion) Ndamukong Suh.
"And Icognito is your leading locker room voice? Are we surprised we're here now?''
Because of NFL rules, Incognito can be suspended for only four games, but Forbes suggested that he should appeal the suspension to help recoup $1 of his $4 million salary that he has lost.
The move would look bad in the court of public opinion, but if Incognito can't repair his reputation anyway, why not try?
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