As one poster mentioned it's kind of odd that blacks can use the N word and it's fine, but if a white uses the term it means he's a racist bastard. Even if the white uses the term in an endearing fashion (as blacks often do with each other), it is considered ok if they two know each other, but may or may not be considered ok if they don't, all depending on how the person hearing it chooses to interpret the meaning behind it.
Since the word itself has many meanings and must be understood in context, it seems ridiculous to suggest a player should be cut from their team for uttering it (if he did, which frankly no one knows). This is a non-issue.