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Buccaneers giving WR Riley Cooper a shot for Hard Knock’s ratings?

By Justin Grasso

Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (14) in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Buccaneers won 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 22, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Riley Cooper (14) in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Lincoln Financial Field. The Buccaneers won 45-17. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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After spending a season out of the NFL, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are inviting wide receiver Riley Cooper to mini-camp.

Its been a little over a year since the last time Riley Cooper stepped foot on the football field, after being cut by the Philadelphia Eagles. Drafted out of the University of Florida in the fifth round, Cooper joined the Eagles in 2010 for the beginning of the ending of his career. Once Cooper was cut after the 2015 season, it seemed as though he would most likely never find his way on to an NFL roster spot, until today. It was announced that Cooper will be joining the Tampa Bay Bucs’ rookie camp for shot to make the roster.

Could this be a publicity stunt by the organization? The Buc’s were selected to be filmed this summer for HBO’s hit show ‘Hard Knocks‘. For those who don’t know, Hard Knocks is a television show that gives football fans an inside and uncensored look at what its like to be in an NFL training camp. While the show does focus on some of the superstars, a lot of the focus is on the hopefuls trying to make the team. In past seasons some highlighted hopefuls were the Patriots Danny Amendola and former Bengal Chad Johnson. This seasons hopeful could be former Eagle Riley Cooper.

Cooper’s Controversy

Cooper has found his way into some controversy over the years. Before the 2013 season, Cooper was caught on camera at a concert threatening security guards with racial slurs. His incident stirred up some drama between his teammates. This lead him to get dismissed from the locker room for a couple weeks. Not only did Cooper remain on the team, he ended up getting a five-year contract extension after the season. Following Cooper’s underwhelming 2014 season, he was cut from the Eagles’ roster and disappeared from the NFL.

Now Cooper has the opportunity to join his former teammate DeSean Jackson in Tampa. The chances of Cooper making the roster is slim to none. This could totally be a publicity stunt by the Bucs and the guys over at HBO. Maybe if Cooper doesn’t make the active roster he could join his college teammate Tim Tebow on the baseball diamond. After all, Cooper did actually get drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2006.

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