I honestly believe Omar Kelly made this up in order to prove his point about Jonathan Cooper.
You have great instincts. I came here to post the same thing, after reading the column.
It's a definite possibility, if not a probability.
When I read the header I thought...wow, that's a gutsy idea for a column by Omar, should be some juicy material. Then there's absolutely nothing. Nothing, other than abuse of the word "admitted."
I have a difficult time believing the interviews took place. When a writer takes the time to do that, even if the interviews are off the record, or reluctant, the writer is antsy to use some of the material. He might provide some partial quotes, even if anonymously, and hint at something, whether it's where the interviews took place, or the positions of the players, or whether they said it passionately or not, or what their second or third positions of emphasis were. Give me something to verify you didn't make it up. Believe me, making it up is a staple of lazy sportswriters.
When an actual interview takes place, you never get exactly what you expect, or what you want. There are always curve balls. Significant ones. I've used that knowledge to call out posters on some true crime sites. We'll be arguing the merits of some case and all of a sudden a poster will claim he talked to a big shot expert. And what do you know, when he provides his version of what the expert said, it's word for word identical to the opinions provided by that poster the previous weeks or months. My biggest problem is not to laugh. I don't mind calling them out on it, and not in a friendly way.