Already under fire for the team’s 2-2 start, Sirianni jawed with two Cleveland Browns players and then turned his attention to fans yelling “Fire Nick” chants from behind the Eagles bench.
Nick Sirianni apologized for getting into it with #Eagles fans yesterday: “I was trying to bring energy and enthusiasm yesterday, and I’m sorry for how my energy was directed at the end of the game. My energy should be all in on coaching, motivating, and celebrating with our… pic.twitter.com/0g4TqerrvK
The criticism then grew when Sirianni took postgame press conference questions with his three children—Jacob, Taylor, and Miles—in tow. Experts and pundits took shots at the head coach for allegedly using his kids to shield himself from criticism.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win. Thanks so much for rocking with us today. We appreciate you giving us a bit of your time.
Folks, I hate to say it, but I think the conversation on Nick Sirianni has officially jumped the shark.
The coach finds himself under fire from the public again, but this time, it’s after a win. It’s not because his team didn’t play well (which they absolutely didn’t despite the win, btw!) or because of the weird decisions he made during the game (which there were plenty of!).
It’s because he brought his kids to his press conference after the game, which has somehow turned into this unconscionable “bush league” move. His kids are human shields from questioning now, I guess?
People seem to be arguing that Sirianni did this to ease tensions from the end of the game, when he was seen very obviously arguing with Eagles fans on the sidelines.
First of all, I must say, this has got to be the first time I’ve seen people defending the behavior of Eagles fans! Usually, everyone loves bringing up the whole Santa Claus thing from the 1960s that every Eagles fan must be held accountable for the rest of eternity. Those are the rules. But this is a new day, people. Eagles fans are finally in the right.
Anyway, I digress. Back to Sirianni.
Look, I don’t doubt that Sirianni thought bringing his kids in might make things a bit easier at the podium for him. The game against the Browns was unusually contentious both on and off the field. When that happens, we’ve seen athletes and coaches bring their kids to pressers before. Usually, people love this sort of thing. Sirianni himself has done it before.
It’s not the big deal people want to make it out to be. The kids don’t stop anyone from doing their jobs. They didn’t stop anyone from asking Sirianni any questions they wanted to ask. He was still questioned about the incident with the fans. He was still asked about the Eagles’ broken offense and the role he played in it. He still had to answer those questions like he normally would. Those kids didn’t interfere at all.
The kids were a non-story until the talking heads decided to make it one. Now, we’re talking about this instead of how badly the Eagles looked against the Browns. So, if that’s what Sirianni wanted, then it worked?
Ultimately, Nick Sirianni’s problem isn’t that his kids made an appearance at a press conference. It’s that his team has been pretty bad for the last calendar year, and he doesn’t have any good answers to why.
When we’re all ready to talk about that, we can finally have a reasonable conversation about the Eagles’ head coach in good faith.
None of us are in a position to tell Tagovailoa what he should be doing and how he should be living his life. Football is his livelihood. His decision to continue to play is one for him and his family to make alone. What we think doesn’t really matter.
But I can’t help but feel like we’ve entered into some pretty dangerous territory when it comes to Tagovailoa’s long-term health. He’ll play this season, obviously. And we have to wish him the best.
But, man, I hope he thinks long and hard this offseason about what his future might look like with football or otherwise.
Donte DiVincenzo is bringing spice to NYC
Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
Usually, when big names are traded in sports it quite literally requires a lot of moving pieces. Donte DiVincenzo was one of those moving pieces in the Karl-Anthony Towns trade.
He was shipped to Minnesota along with Julius Randle and as a salary casualty in the deal. The money wouldn’t have worked otherwise. It’s a great trade on the Knicks side, but it also robbed us of the Nova Knicks that we were promised when the Mikal Bridges deal went through.
Nobody seems more miffed by that than DiVincenzo himself, who had a lot to say to the Knicks in the Timberwolves’ preseason game against New York. Here’s Bryan Kalbrosky with more:
“After the preseason game, DiVincenzo got into a heated exchange with Knicks assistant coach Rick Brunson. The coach is also the father of New York’s point guard Jalen Brunson, who attended college with DiVincenzo. The pair actually won two collegiate national championships playing alongside each other.
While we may never learn exactly what happened during the argument between DiVincenzo and his former assistant coach, there were some preceding incidents that perhaps led to the tension. For example, he also had a back-and-forth with his former head coach Tom Thibodeau.”
This is big New York energy from Donte. The Knicks are going to miss this. The Timberwolves are going to love it.
Quick hits: Things we learned from Week 6 … Caleb Williams is doing the thing … and more
— The Lions are plagiarizing … the Lions. And it’s still working really well, Christian D’Andrea writes in his latest recap column for Week 6 of the NFL season.
But Sirianni’s general on-field antics stick out most like a sore thumb in relation to the middling Eagles’ struggles.
After the Eagles just barely eked out an unimpressive 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Sirianni was seen seemingly picking a fight with frustrated Eagles fans in Philadelphia.
Judging by the way he did the “I can’t hear you” gesture, it’s abundantly clear the man has the self-awareness of a two-by-four.
Eagles HC Nick Sirianni appears to have some words towards the crowd as the clocked ticked down in the Philly victory. pic.twitter.com/XILkMvVamD
Let it be known that Eagles fans have had Sirianni’s back through thick and thin over the last few years. When the team didn’t yet have championship expectations, Philly sports fans were Sirianni’s champion. This sort of brash act only really works when your team is a juggernaut. You should keep your head down when your squad’s barely skating by.
So, I wouldn’t advise Sirianni to turn on likely the last few people who believe in him. He may as well be telegramming his own exit.
This is the first time in Eagles history they haven’t scored any points in the first quarter through their first 5 games.
The Eagles have one of the NFL’s most explosive offensive units, but unlike the 2022 squad that reached the Super Bowl, this team struggles to generate any offense or points in the first quarter.
Sunday against Cleveland marked the fifth-straight game in which the Birds went scoreless in the first quarter, a new franchise record.
First time in Eagles history they haven’t scored any points in the first quarter through their first 5 games.
The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2024 season with Super Bowl expectations. Instead, through a month of play, the Eagles have looked as uneven as it gets. A nonexistent pass rush has hung the Philadelphia secondary out to dry, Jalen Hurts looks like a shell of himself as a passer, and Nick Sirianni seems as if he’s at his wit’s end.
But … the Eagles are still just 2-2 coming out of their bye week. There’s still plenty of time for them to turn it around. All they have to do is change the vibes.
What a rote, cliche way of explaining how you and your players are apparently new men now. I already thought this a while ago, but it seems pretty clear that Sirianni is all out of ideas if shaving his head to shift the energy is one of the cards in his hand.
Nick Sirianni shaved his head ahead of Eagles matchup vs. Browns
Nick Sirianni is focused on the task at hand, and nothing shows the true dedication of a coach or athlete like a clean shave. Hoping for a restart and a positive finish to this 13-game jaunt towards the playoffs, the Eagles head coach debut a freshly shaven, bald head during pregame warmups at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday.
Nick Sirianni shaved his head, ready to come out of the bye
“I know we’ve done the right things to put ourselves in position this week. We’ll keep tinkering with different things to try to put our guys in position. We did different drills. We had a couple different things with… pic.twitter.com/TKfLL6L3WE
Sirianni will be evaluated by the media, GM Howie Roseman, and owner Jeffrey Lurie over the next few weeks. The schedule provides an opportunity for a winning streak before the first of two matchups with the Dallas Cowboys.
Philadelphia will face the Cleveland Browns (1-4), New York Giants (2-3), Cincinnati Bengals (1-4), and Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4), and a bad loss or losing streak could signal the end of things for the Eagles head coach.
Jalen Hurts shared great moments with Nick Sirianni during bye week that could elevate Eagles down the stretch run
Jalen Hurts, and Nick Sirianni’s relationship has been at the forefront of Eagles-related conversations since the 32-9 debacle of a loss to the Buccaneers in the NFC wild-card game last January.
The melodrama constantly heats up anytime Hurts gives an intriguing sound bite, but on Wednesday, Hurts talked a different tune. Philadelphia is 2-2 and needs to enter the matchup against Cleveland with a sense of urgency. During his media session, Hurts admitted sharing “great moments” with Sirianni during the bye week, studying film, and growing their relationship.
Jalen Hurts’ bye week included “having great moments with Nick.”
“This is probably one of the most efficient bye weeks I’ve been a part of it, share those moments, talk through some things,” Hurts said. “Some great moments.”
Hurts went into the bye week on a down note after going 18 of 30 for 158 yards with a touchdown and a fumble in the loss.
Overall this season, Hurts has completed 68.2 percent of his passes for 930 yards, four touchdowns, and four interceptions, with an 85.7 quarterback rating while playing three games without his top weapon. More concerning, Hurts has now committed at least one turnover in nine consecutive games.
Hopefully, a positive week for two embattled figures can elevate the Eagles to another playoff run.
Adam Schefter reported that defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich will be the interim head coach.
With the move, only Sirianni and the Lions’ Dan Campbell remain as coaching hires from four years ago.
Robert Saleh’s firing marks the first time in owner Woody Johnson’s 25-year tenure that he has fired a coach during the season. pic.twitter.com/ze4Uop4nEd
According to ESPN Research, Saleh is now the third head coach fired after losing a game in London. The Raiders fired coach Dennis Allen in 2014 the day after they lost 38-14 to the Miami Dolphins at Wembley Stadium, while the Dolphins fired coach Joe Philbin in 2015 the day after they lost 27-14 to the Jets at Wembley. Saleh’s firing comes two days after the Jets lost 23-17 to the Minnesota Vikings at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Saleh was 20-36 in parts of three seasons as the Jets head coach, including 2-3 in 2024.
Sirianni is 36-19 as Eagles head coach. The team has made three straight playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl loss to the Chiefs in 2022.
Campbell has amassed an even 27-27-1 record in Detroit despite starting 4-19-1 through his first 24 games. He’s delivered the team’s first division title in 30 years and two playoff wins—double the number the franchise had had in the previous 60 years.
We’re looking at the best photos from the Philadelphia Eagles 15-13 win over the New Orleans Saints in Week 3
Saquon Barkley logged 17 carries for 147 yards (8.6 avg) and one touchdown, and the Eagles defense held the Saints to 219 total yards on 55 offensive plays, as Philadelphia moved to 2-1 on the season without several key starters.
Philadelphia will head to Tampa Bay in Week Four for an intriguing matchup against the 2-1 Buccaneers before the Week 5 bye. With the game now final, here are the top photos from the win.
Good morning, Winners! Welcome back to the Morning Win! Thanks so much for reading today.
If you know an Eagles fan, hug an Eagles fan today. Coincidentally, I am an Eagles fan. Please hug me.
In all seriousness, what a game last night. As a neutral observer, I’m sure it was absolutely delightful for most of you all to watch. And, Falcons fans, I’m sure you’re over the moon about it all. What a final drive from Kirk Cousins.
Usually, it’s the Falcons who are on the other end of the most embarrassing moments in NFL history. I don’t even need to explain that — it’s already understood. 28-3. You know the vibes. You know the history.
Plus, with Kirk’s “I hate Monday Night Football” Cousins on their side, nobody could blame you for thinking that the game was over after the two-minute warning. All it took was some shrewd playcalling and solid clock management to seal things away.
Fortunately for the Falcons, Nick Sirianni decided to out-Falcons them on Monday.
It only took the Falcons 65 seconds to drive 70 yards up the field to win the game in Philadelphia, 22-21. Atlanta only had a 0.7 percent chance of winning, per ESPN’s Stats and Info, with just under two minutes left. Watching it was unreal.
Cousins would drop back and stand there like a statue until someone got open, taking chunk after chunk after chunk out of the defense. It looked like they were running 7-on-7 drills out there.
I know the Eagles supposedly shook off the late-season demons that plagued the team last year, but it seems like they’ve latched themselves onto something and stuck around.
This is the sort of game that makes you wonder if that something is the coach.
Poor Bryce Young
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
I can’t fathom what Bryce Young is going through today. Getting benched less than 24 hours after your head coach seemingly gave you a vote of confidence has to be a gut punch. It’s got to be a shock.
“The biggest problem for Young, though, was how little he possessed in his toolbag. At worst, an above-average NFL starting quarterback must be a problem solver. Not every play will be run to perfection as it was drawn up. News flash: the other side of the ball gets paid, too. Quarterbacks have to be ready to improvise, and they have to possess enough talent and adaptability to run something else if their comfortable bread and butter isn’t working.
When asked to improvise or stray out of his comfort zone, Young looked like a helpless deer in headlights. His diminutive 5-foot-10, 204-pound frame meant he often couldn’t see directly over the line of scrimmage, limiting him to a shotgun-based offense that became rote. He didn’t have a strong arm, making it easier to take away lay-up reads and progressions that would’ve helped him establish a healthy rhythm. He wasn’t a terrific athlete, meaning the Panthers couldn’t shift their offensive philosophy to implementing more RPOs that utilized Young’s legs. That’s not his game, and it never will be. Young was a pocket passer and a tiny creator to a fault.”
Andy Dalton isn’t good, but he gives them their best shot at winning. Young was too rigid and rigid doesn’t work at quarterback in the NFL these days. (Unless you’re playing the Eagles, who won’t touch you). (Sorry).
But, as it turns out, it may not be as serious as it sounds. Lindor could be back in the lineup within the next few days, he told reporters.
“I still have a little bit of pain, but we had good news. Everything seems like it’s good. It could be three to five days, or it could be two to three. It depends on how my back reacts,” he said.
He’ll have to manage his pain, but the star shortstop should be ready to play soon.
That’s fantastic news for the Mets. There are only two weeks left in the season and New York has to do everything it can to hold on to that final Wild Card slot with Atlanta breathing down its necks.
The hunt for October is still on in New York.
Quick hits: NFL Power Rankings … CFB Winners and Losers … and more
