Gone are the days of prima-donna star players and big egos that are in constant need of attention. Gone are the leaks of star players alienating themselves from the team and refusing to put in the extra work needed to be better. The new norm for the Philadelphia Eagles is being built right under our noses.
Who would’ve thought that in just two years that the Eagles would go from a drama-filled team to one full of selfless players that want to see their teammates succeed? After the Eagles traded Carson Wentz and cut DeSean Jackson as well as Alshon Jeffery, the Eagles found themselves in a position where they haven’t been in quite some time.
Decades ago they were trying to put out a fire between their star wide receiver and franchise QB after the loss to the Patriots in the 2005 Super Bowl. After moving on from Owens due to the tension between Owens and McNabb, the Eagles found themselves in a more odd situation when Chip Kelly decided to release DeSean Jackson and trade way, LeSean McCoy.
Even in the later years, the Eagles had their timely dose of drama as the Wentz rumors started to spread, causing unnecessary friction within the team. To Wentz’s decision to request a trade after getting benched in favor of Jalen Hurts.
The team has entered a haven due to the culture that Nick Sirianni has established within the organization. There are no more leaks of plates fueling but instead, there’s praise coming from players for other players on the team. Hurts is at the forefront of this wave of selfless leaders who put the needs of the team above their own.
The entire locker room praised Jalen for his self-awareness and accountability in moments where he failed to put the team in a better position to win. Nick Sirianni also admitted his faults during tense moments throughout the season.
Howie Roseman and Jeffery Lurie have embraced this new culture of selfless, high-character guys who have links to the Eagles upon their arrival, which has flipped the culture upside down. When was the last time an Eagles player had a Nigel Bradham-like Umbrella incident? Or ended up holding out for a new contract?
The Eagles GM built his offense around his QB but in a way that’s rarely seen. DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson were both former teammates of Hurts, and newly acquired star wideout, A.J. Brown, is his best friend. By building such strong chemistry, the Eagles are positioning themself to build a strong foundation.
Roseman has ridden the team-first mentality and has applied it to the way he’s built the team. From bringing in Haason Reddick to drafting players like Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean and even bringing in a player like A.J. Brown, who just wants to help his best friend reach that next level and win a championship.
Who knows how long this new culture will last and how else it can impact that team and their fans. One thing is for sure though, with the amount of talent that this team has, their will to be better and stay humble should instill fear into the hearts of their opponents. Talent without hard work is just potential, but hard work mixed with talent makes history.
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire
