News Roundup: No One Likes Us, We Don’t Care
Giants’ Julian Love pans Sirianni’s coaching, Brandon Graham dismissive of comments
On NFL Network’s Good Morning Football program this morning, New York Giants Safety Julian Love appeared on Good Morning Football and spoke about the Eagles. During the interview, he commented on Head Coach Nick Sirianni’s coaching, and suggested that his biggest contribution was not getting in the way of his team.
“He has an experienced roster from top to bottom, offense, defense,” Love said.
While the show was running B-roll of Sirianni’s sideline demeanor, Love, whose team was defeated three times by the Eagles this season and twice in decisive fashion, was asked if he saw what was being aired. He responded that he wasn’t a fan.
“He’s in for a free ride right now,” Love said. “You guys can coach this team.”
During media availability Thursday, Eagles Defensive End Brandon Graham was asked about Love’s comments. Graham flatly dismissed them, noting that people were mad because of what happened during the season, and added that the comments carried no weight.
“People always got something to say when they’re at home,” he said.
Jerry Jones: Eagles “empty the bucket to get to the Super Bowl,” Cowboys think longer term
Cowboys Owner Jerry Jones spoke to the media on Thursday following the conclusion of the Cowboys’ season. Jones was asked about the Cowboys’ strategy regarding players. He answered that question by alluding to the Los Angeles Rams investing everything for a Super Bowl in the 2021-22 season, and noted that the Rams paid for it a year later, finishing 5-12 and in third place in the NFC West. Jones continued his comments by lumping the Eagles into the same boat as the Rams.
“That’s pretty impressive to have two teams in the last two years empty the bucket and get to the Super Bowl,” Jones noted. “But if you miss, it is a long go.”
The Eagles, who made a blockbuster trade for Wide Receiver AJ Brown during the 2022 NFL Draft and who made several roster moves to ensure a strong team throughout the year, including adding Ndamukong Suh to the roster, are built fundamentally differently than the Rams, which established its roster last year through trading draft picks for veterans. The Eagles, on the other hand, have acquired more draft capital. Their trade with the New Orleans Saints that allowed the Saints to move up even further in the 2022 NFL Draft to draft Wide Receiver Chris Olave gave the Eagles the Saints’ first round pick this year, which is 10th overall. This is in addition to their regular pick, which is presently 30 or 31 depending on the outcome of the Super Bowl. (There are only 31 picks in the first round this year as Miami forfeited a pick due to violations of game integrity rules.)
Jones, whose team has not made an appearance in the Super Bowl in many of its younger fans’ lives, also noted that he felt comfortable with the Cowboys’ approach and felt like the team was thinking more about the longer term.
“I like where we are right now,” he said, more in the middle.”
Eagles open 21 day practice window for Punter Arryn Siposs
Punter Arryn Siposs, who went onto the Injured Reserve after suffering an ankle injury on his kicking leg in the Week 14 victory over the New York Giants, can begin practicing again starting today. Opening the 21 day practice window allows the Eagles the opportunity to make a decision about whether Siposs is healthy enough to punt for Super Bowl LVII, and allows him to travel with the team and get some practice punts in before the Eagles have to make a decision about whether to start him or Brett Kern, his replacement, who has been inconsistent over the last seven games. Under normal circumstances, if a player is not returned to the active roster by day 21, they are permanently placed back on the injured reserve. Since the Eagles do not have a game after Super Bowl LVII, this does not matter, and allows the Eagles to make a decision at punter without that pressure.
Nick Foles to Jalen Hurts: Keep Doing What You’re Doing
Former Eagles Quarterback and Super Bowl LII MVP Nick Foles made a visit to Philadelphia today to testify in former Eagles Safety Chris Maragos’ malpractice suit against former team doctors. Currently with the Colts, Foles was asked if he had any thoughts about Jalen Hurts or the Eagles’ current run. He had a simple piece of advice for Hurts.
“I think, just do what he’s been doing,” Foles said. “He’s had an MVP–caliber year.”
Foles also spoke of the importance in blocking out distractions during this stretch. He noted that he didn’t have any marketing or other deals during the lead up to Super Bowl LII.
“You’ve just got to block out the noise,” he said. “Honestly, I only really talked to my wife during the two weeks leading up to it.”
Eagles Head Coach Nick Sirianni spoke about blocking out distractions earlier in the week in his first press conference after winning the NFC title, noting that the team talks about them regularly.
“One thing that can stop you from getting a little bit better each day … is distractions in the outside world,” he said. “So we talk about that. Everybody’s distractions look different. Everybody’s distractions aren’t the same. We all have different distractions.”
An important part of it, Sirianni noted, was recognizing that you were playing for something bigger than yourself. This, Sirianni said, makes teammates willing to sacrifice things.
“The greatest motivator is love,” he said, “and I know our guys love each other, and sacrificing things is one of the greatest indicators of love.”
Foles said he hopes to return to Philadelphia one day, and hopefully to retire as an Eagle.
“It’s the right thing to do,” he said.
Empire State Building to Light Up Green Again if Eagles Win Super Bowl LVII
When the Eagles won the NFC Championship game, the Empire State Building lit up in Eagles colors. New Yorkers were not happy.
Never mind that the odds of a local New Yorker going to the Empire State Building are similar to the odds of a Philadelphian truly believing that the best cheesesteak is at 9th and Passyunk. New York residents were not thrilled.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams told CNN that the Empire State Building management company should not have done that, but must have missed the memo.
“That got away from us.”
Meanwhile, New York City Sanitation Commissioner Jennifer Tisch, whose family co-owns the New York Giants, tweeted that upset New Yorkers can just pretend it’s a recycling promotion.
“We take out the trash every day,” she tweeted, “and next year, that’ll include the Eagles.”
According to The New York Post, Empire State Realty Trust will kindly take those opinions and file them into the garbage bin. A spokesperson told the outlet that they plan to light up the building with the colors of the winning team on February 12, continuing a five-year old practice. Even if that team is the Eagles.
Featured Photo: Jordan Love slides to avoid getting tackled by Julian Love in the NFC Divisional Round game versus the New York Giants on January 21, 2023.
