Call this one a rookie mistake.
Or maybe a sign of the times. At least when it comes to the Eagles.
As you might recall, a few fans earlier this week decided to make it abundantly clear to Eagles head coach Andy Reid exactly what they thought of the Birds’ stumbling 1-4 start.
So Monday, as Reid was getting to meet the media outside the Nova Care Center, they strung a banner across the street in a local park.
They even took a jab at Reid’s usual press conference annoucement of “Times’ yours.”
Their sign declared: “Andy the Times …. To Go.”
Clever.
But Eagles rookie center Jason Kelce didn’t see it that way. He and his linemate Evan Mathis stopped and had a little conversation with the folks who had put up the sign. Just what was said is still being debated, but Kelce made it clear he didn’t much care for the sentiment being expressed on the sign. He apparently asked the fans to take it down. What else was said is a matter of conjecture.
Throw the flag on this minor infraction.
Kelce and the Eagles have their hands full on the field. They don’t really need to be creating problems off the field as well.
Now Kelce finds himself at the center of a media and talk radio firestorm.
He should have known better. Or someone with a little more experience maybe should have counseled him.
You don’t try to muzzle the fans. Not in this town. Expressing our feelings – either by booing or by rolling out a sign, or even flying a plane over the stadium -–is a long-held right.
I’m not going to get on a soapbox and talk about the First Amendment or freedom of speech. This is the kind of story with a short shelf life. It will pass. Kelce will count it as a lesson learned. His heart was in the right place, but his mouth was not.
This is easy enough to fix. Win a few games, starting Sunday in Washington. Reverse that shocking 1-4 record. Protect Michael Vick.
Fail to do that, and prepare yourself for the wrath of the fans.
Don’t believe me? Ask Santa.
Or maybe a sign of the times. At least when it comes to the Eagles.
As you might recall, a few fans earlier this week decided to make it abundantly clear to Eagles head coach Andy Reid exactly what they thought of the Birds’ stumbling 1-4 start.
So Monday, as Reid was getting to meet the media outside the Nova Care Center, they strung a banner across the street in a local park.
They even took a jab at Reid’s usual press conference annoucement of “Times’ yours.”
Their sign declared: “Andy the Times …. To Go.”
Clever.
But Eagles rookie center Jason Kelce didn’t see it that way. He and his linemate Evan Mathis stopped and had a little conversation with the folks who had put up the sign. Just what was said is still being debated, but Kelce made it clear he didn’t much care for the sentiment being expressed on the sign. He apparently asked the fans to take it down. What else was said is a matter of conjecture.
Throw the flag on this minor infraction.
Kelce and the Eagles have their hands full on the field. They don’t really need to be creating problems off the field as well.
Now Kelce finds himself at the center of a media and talk radio firestorm.
He should have known better. Or someone with a little more experience maybe should have counseled him.
You don’t try to muzzle the fans. Not in this town. Expressing our feelings – either by booing or by rolling out a sign, or even flying a plane over the stadium -–is a long-held right.
I’m not going to get on a soapbox and talk about the First Amendment or freedom of speech. This is the kind of story with a short shelf life. It will pass. Kelce will count it as a lesson learned. His heart was in the right place, but his mouth was not.
This is easy enough to fix. Win a few games, starting Sunday in Washington. Reverse that shocking 1-4 record. Protect Michael Vick.
Fail to do that, and prepare yourself for the wrath of the fans.
Don’t believe me? Ask Santa.
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