Eagles coach Nick Sirianni fuels critics after a sloppy win with his sideline antics

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Nick Sirianni had the most effective safety in Philadelphia since Lane Johnson, Jason Kelce and Jason Peters anchored the Eagles’ offensive line within the 2017 Tremendous Bowl season.

His children.

Making an attempt his finest to deflect consideration from his headline-grabbing taunting of Eagles followers within the waning moments of Sunday’s slim win over Cleveland, Sirianni’s three younger kids tagged together with dad on the postgame information convention.

They squirmed and laughed when Sirianni dropped delicate profanity and had been largely used as an excuse for the fourth-year coach to spend the majority of his time speaking about household reasonably than soccer.

The trash speak? The boos that tailed the Eagles into halftime? The “ Hearth Nick!” chants that permeated pockets at Lincoln Monetary Discipline?

Sirianni made it clear: He can pop off when he’s sad, however Eagles followers have to pipe down after they’re ticked off.

“We thrive off the gang after they cheer for us. That’s all I’ll say,” Sirianni stated. “When our crowd cheers for us, we thrive off of them. We hear them after they boo. We don’t essentially prefer it. I don’t suppose that’s productive for anyone. Once they cheer for us and we’ve acquired them rolling, we adore it.”

With time to mirror on his shenanigans and take in public criticism, Sirianni apologized Monday for his conduct.

“I’m sorry and disillusioned at how my vitality was directed on the finish of the sport,” he stated. “My vitality needs to be all in on teaching, motivating and celebrating with our guys. I’ve to have higher knowledge and discernment of when to make use of that vitality and that wasn’t the time.”

Sirianni — a routine trash-talker — put a finger to his proper ear and chirped at followers within the first rows on the Linc on Sunday. He took the shine off his staff and as an alternative offered extra social media and tabloid fodder for a coach whose job safety is up for every day debate and who — even in victory — gained’t win any reputation contests in Philadelphia.

Certain sufficient, Sirianni took a beating Monday for jawing on the followers (and ignited a debate over when it’s applicable for coaches and athletes to use their children as props in knowledgeable setting).

Retired NFL participant and ESPN analyst Damien Woody known as Sirianni’s antics “ clown conduct. This dude is a clown.” Speak present host Joe Giglio stated on WIP radio that staff proprietor Jeffrey Lurie wanted to inform Sirianni “you apologize to the fan base otherwise you pack your workplace up and go away.” Philadelphia Inquirer columnist Mike Sielski wrote that Sirianni’s downside was that “each outburst like Sunday’s damages the picture he’s speculated to venture and the respect he’s speculated to encourage.”

Sure, this was after an Eagles’ victory.

Jalen Hurts was high-quality, the protection was higher, the receivers had been wholesome.

However how far can they go together with Sirianni calling the photographs — all whereas unwilling to take them from a temperamental fan base?

What’s working

Protection. The protection hasn’t actually clicked this season beneath new coordinator Vic Fangio, however the Eagles did maintain the Browns to only 16 factors. The Browns, for his or her half, haven’t scored 20 factors in a sport this season. … Jalen Carter, the ninth choose of the 2023 draft, quickly moved off the bust line and scored his first sack of the season. The Eagles sacked Deshaun Watson 5 instances and the protection held the Browns to three of 12 in third-down conditions. The ten QB hits had been essentially the most in additional than a yr.

What wants assist

Particular groups. Exterior of the largely dependable Jake Elliott, the Eagles have struggled on particular groups. They’d a punt blocked towards New Orleans and muffed a punt towards Tampa Bay.

The worst offense got here Sunday when the Eagles appeared poised to nurse a small lead headed into halftime as Elliott lined up for a 57-yard try. All-Pro Myles Garrett acquired his hand on the ball when he jumped over Tyler Steen — a pleasant effort for a 6-foot-4, 272-pounder — for the block. Former Eagles security Rodney McLeod scooped the unfastened ball and ran 50 yards for the rating, topped with a somersault into the top zone, to tie it 10-all with 14 seconds left within the half.

Top off

A.J. Brown. Brown simply is perhaps essentially the most beneficial piece of the Eagles’ offense, and his manufacturing was missed through the three video games he was out with a hamstring damage. Brown had six receptions in his return for 116 yards (19.3 avg.) and one landing. He has 100-plus receiving yards in 9 of his final 17 video games performed, together with each video games this season. Since Week 3 of 2023, Brown is tied for essentially the most 100-yard receiving video games (9) within the NFL.

Inventory down

Saquon Barkley. It’s probably not his fault the Eagles saved the star working again out of the offense. He completed with simply 18 carries for 47 yards. Don’t count on his restricted manufacturing to be a lot of a difficulty when he makes an anticipated return this week towards the New York Giants, the staff that permit him go in free company.

Accidents

The Eagles misplaced some key gamers to damage on Sunday, together with TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring), CB Darius Slay (knee) and OT Jordan Mailata (hamstring). Sirianni stated Monday that Mailata can be out no less than two weeks.

Key quantity

200 — Defensive finish Brandon Graham prolonged his staff file when he performed in his two hundredth profession sport with the franchise. Graham, the thirteenth total choose within the 2010 draft, is having one among his higher seasons and has anchored a protection that has didn’t get a lot manufacturing out of their youthful, newest draft picks. The 36-year-old Graham additionally holds the file for many seasons performed with the Eagles — and he hasn’t misplaced any of his spark. Past the numbers, Graham was caught yelling (which no Eagles fan appeared to thoughts) at a number of Browns gamers, particularly offensive deal with Dawand Jones throughout heated pregame warmups.

Subsequent steps

Maybe Sirianni can chirp some extra if the Eagles don’t blow out opponents on their upcoming tender schedule. The Eagles go to the Giants (2-4) on Sunday. They observe with one other street sport at Cincinnati (2-4) and return dwelling in November for a sport towards Jacksonville (1-5). The Eagles needs to be favored to win all these video games — and Sirianni will probably be beneath fireplace in the event that they don’t.

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