Honestly, Chris Cooley should NOT have been misunderstood.
Cooley had declared on the Wednesday edition of the “Kevin Sheehan Show” podcast that he would not be attending this weekend’s Washington Commanders Alumni/Homecoming to be honored as one of the franchise’s 90 greatest players.
Yet, there were fans on Twitter and other social media criticizing Cooley’s decision not to attend. Some went as far as saying he didn’t appreciate the fans voting for him the honor of being one of the 90 best players.
Yet, if fans were simply better listeners, they would have understood much better what Cooley had actually said… and didn’t say. We here at Commanders Wire quoted him accurately and in the proper context of Wednesday’s dialog between Cooley and Sheehan.
But Friday, there was Cooley, making another good effort for those fans who frankly have not yet developed the ability to listen or read well. He is to be commended for his efforts and patience.
Here is what Cooley told Sheehan on Friday’s podcast.
“Funny, because I have had a couple of people call me that are close to me, and everybody knows exactly what I meant specifically, and that seems to be enough.”
Sheehan simply agreed, “Right.”
Cooley reiterated and elaborated a bit on his Wednesday statement, not contradicting himself in the least.
“But, to be very clear, this does NOT have to do with the name change. Although I did say when it immediately happened (with you) that it does feel like a different team with the name change. That is not the reason at all. But it’s easy for me in that sense to say, ‘I played for this team, and now they are that team.'”
“I am very thankful to everyone, again, who voted, to the fans, to everybody that was a part of my career, really incredibly thankful. It was an unbelievable ride. I was proud to be part of one organization my whole career; it meant the world to me.”
“I don’t want this to come off as dismissive or unappreciative. That is not what this is about. I am not trying to be the bad guy, and I am just not going to. I am not going to try to be that.”
“I don’t want to talk about why or what. I want to end with; I’m just not interested in being a part of the Washington Commanders right now. I talk about them with you (Sheehan), but I am not interested in being a part of them at this point.
“And I don’t really have anything else to say. I am not blaming anybody. This is where we are today.”
Sheehan (in my opinion) wisely chose not to even respond or to attempt to get Chris to empty any more of his heart. He simply permitted Cooley to speak for himself and left it that, concluding that segment of the podcast.
