Nick Foles doesn’t mind ‘ruffling feathers’ as media. He minds the Eagles listening: ‘We’re talking to the fans.’
“If you let the media in your head, you’re done in Philly. The media is too strong in Philly. And this is a compliment,” Foles said on Brandon Graham’s podcast.
Former Eagles quarterback Nick Foles made headlines last week when he said “culture things” were playing a key role in the team’s losing streak that has now reached six games. The following morning, Nick Sirianni said his team needed to ignore “that crap” during an interview on 94 WIP.
On Wednesday — just over a week after his initial assessment — Foles collaborated with former teammate Brandon Graham, who is now a podcaster, too, following his retirement earlier this year, on Brandon Graham Unblocked.
Graham and the Super Bowl LII MVP discussed Foles’ new role in the media, how he’s already ruffling feathers in Philly, and why he thinks that’s a problem for Sirianni’s team. They also discussed Jalen Hurts’ future with the Birds and more. Here’s what you missed:
‘Block us out’
As we approach the halfway point of the season, both former players already have stirred the pot — from Graham’s comments on Lane Johnson’s absence to Foles’ opinion on the Eagles’ culture.
The Super Bowl champs discussed balancing the relationships they’ve made in the locker room with their new media roles. But they believe that experience is part of what makes their opinions matter.
“When we say something, this is more for the fans,” Foles said. “This is more for us talking because we love the game of football and we want to talk about what we see and say it in an insightful way. But there is truth to what we say. There is. Because we’ve been there, we’ve seen it.”
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And while Foles wants fans to heed his warnings, he doesn’t expect the players and coaches to. In fact, he doesn’t want them listening at all.
“The fact that we’re ruffling feathers on people that are at the top bothers me a little bit. The fact that they’re getting emotional based on what we say, block it out. Like, block us out. Do not listen. We’re talking to the fans,” Foles said. “The fact that you’re getting frustrated about what Brandon Graham and Nick Foles are saying. We care so much about the Eagles. We’re not on Philadelphia to be like, ‘Oh, we’re going to talk bad about the Eagles.’ BG and I want to talk really good about the Eagles. … The fact that they’re getting frustrated is a problem in there.”
Foles ended by saying that he thinks if the Eagles can stop focusing on the outside noise, they have a chance to turn things around.
Graham added: “I’m still hopeful for the team. I just got to call it like I see it. Because if I want people to know that I’m credible, I got to be honest and open. And some stuff probably doesn’t need to be said, and that’s OK. I’m learning as I continue to grow, too.”
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Instead of focusing on what was being said, especially following Carson Wentz’s season-ending injury, Graham and Foles said they tuned it the media chatter out — which, they believe is necessary when it comes to being an athlete.
“The only way [players] should hear about the media, the things that we say, is when media relations goes up to the coaches or players and says, ‘Hey, this is what’s being talked about,’ so it’s not a curveball. Just navigate it,’” Foles said. “The only time you should really turn it on is when you have to do media and then shut it off and block everything out.
“That’s how you play in Philadelphia. If you let the media in, you’re done. If you let the media in your head, you’re done in Philly. The media is too strong in Philly. And this is a compliment. Like, they care. A lot of people, they really care, and they’re going to try to dive in and find the nitty-gritty of every single thing in Philadelphia.”
‘Everything is up in the air’
There has been a lot of concern about the team this season, and one of the biggest questions is regarding Jalen Hurts’ future in Philly, after the quarterback likely was lost for the season because of blood clots in his lungs.
“This is tough because he’s been such a successful quarterback there,” Foles said. “I’d say this, next year, it would be hard press for him not to be there. But then after that, I think everything is up in the air just because I know how it is. Like, you got to continue to have success. … But with everything that’s gone on this season, I don’t know why you would sort of turn away from him in the offseason.
“Especially this last year and a half, you can say coordinators here and coordinators there, he’s shown you that he can succeed, he’s shown you that he can take you to the Super Bowl. … I see him being the quarterback next season. But, as it is in the NFL, you just never know.
“But after that, I think everything is up in the air. I think there’s a lot of things up in the air in Philly right now. There’s a lot of decisions to make. And history shows that anytime there’s a down year, [Eagles owner Jeffrey] Lurie doesn’t shy away from making tough decisions.”
The Eagles have problems. Eight games into the season, that much is sure. But which ones are symptomatic, versus the ones that are systemic? From the head coach to the personnel, from coordinators to the front office, The Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and David Murphy scrutinize the micro issues that point to some of the larger dilemmas the Eagles now face: should they start to pack it in, and who will be held accountable for the team’s shortcomings? Listen here.
Listen to all episodes here or wherever you get your podcasts.
