Phil Sheridan, ESPN Staff Writer 10y

Eagles set standard to follow with Johnson

PHILADELPHIA -- The arrest of Philadelphia Eagles safety Keelan Johnson in Arizona on Saturday creates a bigger problem for the team off the field than on it.

Johnson, who appeared in two games for the Eagles last year after being signed off their practice squad, allegedly pushed a policeman during an incident outside a bar early Friday morning. He could face assault charges.

On the field, Johnson had a chance to make the Eagles as a special teamer. With the addition of Malcolm Jenkins and the return of a healthy Earl Wolff, there isn’t much room for Johnson at safety. Still, the 24-year-old Arizona State product had a chance to catch the coaches’ eyes during training camp.

Does he still? That’s where the bigger problem lies for the Eagles.

Last summer, a video surfaced of an apparently intoxicated Riley Cooper shouting a racial slur after a concert held at Lincoln Financial Field. Cooper was not arrested, but the racial nature of the incident, and the visceral impact of watching the video, made it the first test for new head coach Chip Kelly.

Cooper left camp for a few days, but he was not otherwise disciplined. When he returned, he met with each of his teammates to apologize and ask for their understanding. Some African-American players found it harder to accept than others. Cornerback Cary Williams shouted the same racial epithet at Cooper when the two scuffled during a practice late in training camp.

Cooper wound up earning the starting wide receiver spot left open by Jeremy Maclin's knee injury. After the season, the Eagles signed Cooper to a new five-year, $22.5 million contract.

It’s safe to say that players will be watching closely to see how Kelly handles the situation with Johnson. It will be important to apply the same level of empathy and understanding, while accounting for the reality of the police being involved.

The easiest thing for the Eagles would be to release Johnson and eliminate a possible distraction as training camp opens. But that would have been true last year with Cooper, too. The Eagles gave Cooper another opportunity, and they’re probably going to have to do the same for Johnson now.

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