Letters to the Editor | Feb. 15, 2023

Yes, a needless penalty call in the last two minutes cost the Eagles their last chance to win the game. But there are other reasons they lost, especially with the team’s tremendous talent on both sides of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon designed a strategy where his two outstanding defensive cornerbacks would follow a man in motion to the middle and leave their entire area wide open when the motion man would double back. Who does this? The Chiefs scored two touchdowns with this play, one to the right and one to the left. In addition, Gannon hardly ever blitzed, allowing our outstanding pass rusher, Haason Reddick, to be double-teamed most of the time. As a result, the Eagles had no sacks.

Although the Eagles’ offense scored 35 points, the main reason was the huge heart and determined legs of Jalen Hurts. Unfortunately, offensive coordinator Shane Steichen could have been more successful in keeping pass rushers from pressuring Hurts and shutting down much of the running game. In the second half, the Eagles seemed content with their offensive and defensive strategies, while the Chiefs made significant adjustments. It’s called better coaching.

After watching all of Andy Reid’s years coaching the Eagles and sometimes misusing the clock and being late sending plays in, I never thought I would say he did a masterful job — but he did.

Dave “Fizzy” Weinraub, Cherry Hill, dweinraub1@comcast.net

As reported in The Inquirer, new guidelines for treating childhood obesity, which currently afflicts 14.4 million American children, have been released. The causes of this worsening problem are multifactorial. Omitted from contributing factors is the mass marketing of foods that are high in fat, calories, and sugar — especially on television. These ads encourage our children and their parents to consume numerous unhealthy foods. Ads should be mandated to contain information about the calorie content of these foods and the health risks associated with obesity. In addition, a surtax should be imposed upon high-calorie foods (like those imposed on tobacco products), which could be used to address “food deserts” in poor communities as well as provide funding for education and the treatment of both childhood and adult obesity.

Irving M. Herling, MD, Haverford

The picture in Sunday’s Inquirer of Philadelphia Police Officer Raul Pinto, in full uniform (minus his hat), baffles me. Is greasing a pole a police function? I think not. Is redeploying a police officer from patrol duties to perform this type of job a sound tactical decision? I think not. Greasing poles should have been done by another department in our city government.

Gun violence and carjackings are out of control. Why, then, are we using police officers to grease poles? Isn’t anyone else outraged by this flagrant misuse of police personnel? I’m not faulting the officer. I’m sure he was ordered to grease that pole. As a matter of fact, that’s what most police officers do. They do the jobs they are ordered to do. Effective leadership from the very top of the Police Department is necessary to combat the multitude of crime problems facing our city. I’d like to hear what the candidates running for mayor have to say about this issue.

William D. Markert Jr., retired, Philadelphia police captain, Philadelphia

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