Doug Pederson is a genius.
A clearly agitated Eagles coach sent a message to the media - and his own team - at his Sunday presser.
Pederson was ticked with an NFL Network report that indicated Nick Foles would be the Eagles starting quarterback Thursday night when the Birds kick off the NFL season in a nationally telecast game vs. the Falcons.
In other words, Carson Wentz is still not ready to go as he continues to rehab from the knee injury that ended his season last year in Los Angeles vs. the Rams.
"First of all I want to thank you for putting words in my mouth," a testy Pederson informed the media, clearly referring to the Foles report.
He then reiterated that no decision has been made and that he would not be announcing who his starting QB would be.
About the only thing he did not do is blast the report as "fake news" and castigate those assembled as the "enemy of the people," or at least the Eagles nation.
I don't doubt that Pederson was angry about the report.
But I also think he used the occasion to send a message to his team.
Last year is over, guys. Let's buckle down and get ready to defend that Super Bowl crown.
I have a simple reason when it comes to one of the most meaningless exercises in sports, the NFL preseason. At one point in those four games, you want to see your first-team offense and defense play well.
Pederson is still waiting for a sign of life from his offense. With Nick Foles behind center, the first-teamers, albeit without several other starters as well, did not score a single touchdown.
I think that was partly on Pederson's mind.
That's part of the reason this mini-meltdown Sunday did not ring true.
There were only two stories concerning the Eagles this weekend. One was the perfunctory listing of the Birds' final 53-man squad and who did not make the cut.
The other is the same story that has been circulating since Wentz's knee exploded last year. Will he be the Eagles starter vs. the Falcons.
If Pederson wanted to send a message to his team, that's one thing. But this seemed out of character. It was just a year ago when most Eagles fans were still wondering what Jeff Lurie was thinking when he turned the keys to his franchise over to a guy who many were referring to as 'Andy Reid Lite.'
Winning a Super Bowl has changed all that.
But now Pederson is tasked with defending the crown without his superstar QB, at least to start the season. Add in the uninspired play of Super Bowl MVP this preseason and suddenly Pederson was doing his best Donald Trump impersonation.
Here's a couple of things to keep in mind, Doug.
It's not the media's job to help you with your game plan against the Falcons. Remember, there is no rooting in the press box. We're not here to boost the Birds. It's our job to report the news. And the only news this week concerning the Eagles is the status of Carson Wentz.
Eventually, Pederson did confirm that his star QB has not yet been cleared for full contact.
There's no truth to the rumor that Wentz has been subpoenaed to appear before the Mueller committee.
A win over the Falcons should be just the tonic Pederson and the Eagles need to quell this overblown case of media fatigue.
But if they don't - and if Foles does not play well - look for Pederson to go full-on Captain Queeg on us.
Now where did I put those strawberries?
I prefer to think Pederson was simply taking a page out of the playbook of the commander-in-chief.
In this case the Eagles coach was playing to his base. That would be all those guys sitting in front of their lockers in the Eagles locker room. Put those Super Bowl rings away, guys. It's a new season.
Message delivered.
Comments