Philadelphia, Pa. - Eagles receiver Riley Cooper appeared on the field for his team 91 percent of the time during Philadelphia's first five games, but has seen game time only 76 percent of the time in their last six outings. And he saw only 67 percent of last week's victory over the Titans.
Cooper has caught only 39 receptions this season for 425 yards and a touchdown.
Facing reporters at his locker about that decrease, Cooper offered a sarcastic theory. With rookies Jordan Matthews and Josh Huff likely to receive increasing time as the season wears on, the 5th-year man from Florida turned his attention elsewhere, and an attempt at humor.
"Maclin's trying to get a contract, so he's probably not going to try and come out of the game," Cooper said jokingly.
Maclin signed a one-year deal in the offseason worth up to $6 million a few days after Cooper inked his 5-year, $25 million extension.
Reporters being interested in reporting, took those words to Maclin, the Eagles' leading receiver this season with 980 yards and 9 touchdowns.
"That was not a very smart thing for Coop to say," Maclin said. His reply to if the theory was true was surgical: "No."
Cooper admitted again publicly that he was joking and said Maclin was the better receiver.
"I'm supposed to sub every four or five plays, and that's what I do," Cooper said. "Maclin, I guess, he's a lot better player than me, so he doesn't have to sub."
The off-hand remarks from Cooper, a man of whom off-hand remarks is already well known, have caused a slight distraction for the Eagles, who travel to the Cowboys Thanksgiving Day as both teams share an 8-3 record and battle for the first-place spot in the NFC East.
Ask if he spoke with Maclin about his remarks, Cooper shook his head, "No."
"The reason I regret saying it is because y'all made it such a big deal," Cooper said.
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