‘Mad Dog’ Chris Russo has been a key figure in sports radio for many years now and alongside hosting ‘High Heat’ still finds a way to bring fire to the airwaves. This morning was no exception, with Russo taking to ESPN to unleash on the news that the Philadelphia Eagles will kick off the 2024 season in Brazil.
‘Mad Dog’ fuming over Eagles playing in Brazil to start the season
It was announced last night that the Eagles will play the first game of the 2024 NFL regular season. That part was well-received. But the fact it’s being hosted in São Paulo, Brazil, created a little more discourse, especially with it being a Philly home game.
Russo is known for his hot takes and unfiltered rants and this morning’s outburst was no exception. The radio veteran fired shots at the NFL and defended Philadelphia and its fans, who he believe deserve better than having to watch their beloved Birds start the season on a Friday night in Brazil.
’This international series in Football I CAN’T STAND IT.’ He said via ESPN. ‘Hamburg, Frankfurt, Berlin. London. Before you know it they’re gonna play a game in Antarctica. This is the Eagles. They’re a huge franchise. They have 8-9 home games. You think the Philadelphia sports fan is happy today waiting seven months to see their team play again. And they play a Friday night on Labour Day weekend in Brazil against the Carolina Panthers?!
Why doesn’t the NFL give us Dallas and take the Cowboy game away from the Linc and put the game in São Paulo. Nobody cares about these stupid games except the owners who want to make a fortune.‘
Should the Eagles be playing in Brazil?
He has a point. The NFL has been insistent on growing the game globally for close to a decade now, and while it’s clearly working, shoving random games without much meaning into random countries doesn’t feel overly productive.
If the São Paulo showdown ends up being between the Eagles and Cowboys, or even Giants/Commanders, then it would at least make the game somewhat significant. Hosting a Super Bowl in London, or a Pro Bowl in Hamburg would make way more sense than what often feel like glorified exhibition games.
However, Eagles fans always travel well. They took over London when Philly beat the Jags in 2018, and always seem to make road games feel like home ones. I have no doubt that Philadelphia fans will flock to Brazil in their masses, but should they have to?
What are your opinions on the location of the opening game of 2024?
AP Photo/Derik Hamilton
