Philadelphia Eagles calendar uses Riley Cooper for Black History Month, team unaware

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 13 (UPI) -- The Philadelphia Eagles say they are unaware how a picture of controversial wide receiver Riley Cooper was chosen as the image for Black History Month on the team calendar.

Cooper was a mostly-unknown slot receiver in 2013 when he found himself on the front pages of sports sections around the country after he was recorded using racially charged language while intoxicated at a Kenny Chesney concert.

"I will fight every [expletive] here," a visibly angered Cooper said in 2013 to a black security guard who wouldn't let him back stage. The wide receiver repeatedly publicly apologized for the incident and has largely kept himself out of the spotlight since.

But past controversy has reemerged after it was discovered Cooper is the featured player for February on the Eagles official team calendar.

When asked about the decision to use a player with a history of racial controversy for Black History Month, Eagles public relations rep Brett Stronsacker told TMZ Sports, "If anything, it was an honest mistake."

Shortly after speaking with TMZ, the Eagles released an official statement, saying, "We do not oversee the production of the annual team calendar."

"We do not provide any input about the players who are featured or where those pictures appear in the calendar. The NFL licenses the production of that calendar to a third party and we do not have an opportunity to review the material."

@JoshInnesRadio The Eagles made Riley Cooper the player featured for black history month. Probably not greatest idea pic.twitter.com/Vhcq9OC3An

— Brian McLaughlin (@BriMcL17) February 12, 2015