The circumstantial evidence is piling up.
When you piece it together with the stories about Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni’s past, he’s a lot like one of the fans sitting in the seats. He has that gift of going from zero to rage in – excuse the example, offended tennis guy wearing the Giants’ hat – a New York Minute. More on that later.
Sirianni’s temper is something to monitor, just as our own are.
Before we get into the Jersey drama, let’s rewind to the Eagles’ first preseason game of the summer against the New York Jets.
The invective Sirianni directed across the field at Jets head coach Robert Saleh after linebacker Quincy Williams delivered a high and hard out of bounds hit on Birds quarterback Jalen Hurts was for mature audiences only. It almost certainly would have made lip readers blush. Saleh himself called the hit “egregiously awful.”
Sirianni needed more than just a few moments to let the anger go.
The good news is Hurts bounced right up, and later said he was OK and isn’t “tripping” over it because stuff happens. Then he proved it with a nifty touchdown pass to Dallas Goedert. In the post-game Sirianni issued an apology of sorts.
“I was mad at the situation,” Sirianni said. “I was more mad at the player than Coach Saleh. Coach Saleh is a great guy. I have so much respect for him. It was just emotions of the game. I was just sticking up for Jalen. I’ll never apologize for sticking up for my players. I should have handled it a little bit better than I did.”
The coaches spoke after the game and all is well, by both their accounts.
Let’s rewind to the 2021 season, Sirianni’s first as a head coach. A bouquet of flowers was thrown at him as he walked off Lincoln Financial Field after a 27-24 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers. It was an obvious reference to the story – well received, I’ve been told – about the Eagles as a whole being a flower that doesn’t look like much when it’s being nurtured but is stunning when it blooms.
The players loved it. It just came off a bit differently when Sirianni tried to explain it to reporters. Talk show hosts had a field day with it as the Eagles were mired in a 2-5 start.
Nobody with common sense appreciates strangers throwing anything at them, even if it was unclear whether it was an act of taunting, compassion or the thrower simply liked the flower story. But Sirianni did not like it. It stopped him in his tracks. His security chief turned him back toward the exit.
There also was a story that an Eagles jersey was thrown at Sirianni as he exited the field following a disappointing road loss to the Las Vegas Raiders. That could have been someone asking for an autograph.
Let’s fast forward to the second day of joint practices between the Eagles and the Cleveland Browns in Berea, Ohio. Jacoby Brissett, the bridge quarterback for the Browns while Deshaun Watson serves his 10-game suspension, was asked about his relationship with Sirianni when the duo worked for the Indianapolis Colts. Brissett’s fondest memory?
“It is so many,” Brissett said. “Remember he was trying to fight fans one time they were booing us. A lot of good memories. A great friend. A great coach obviously. I am extremely happy for him and the opportunity that he has been presented. I think he did a great job last year. Excited to see where he goes. I am a big of him.”
Asked specifically when Sirianni wanted to take on the booing fans, Brissett replied “Every game.”
Sirianni downplayed Brissett’s remarks, but not the close friendship they have. Sirianni launched into a story about how he used to stick up for his older brothers when they were criticized, and that he’s wired to do so for his teammates and as a head coach, his players.
“I know these guys are the biggest, strongest men in the world and they can protect themselves, but I love these guys,” Sirianni said. “That’s just an instinct that you have. That’s how I was raised, and I was like, this is our family, and I just have that protective instinct to defend them, and that’s been like that with every team I’ve ever coached. I’m flattered that Jacoby said that.”
Then there is that story about Sirianni allegedly bullying some guy wearing a New York Giants hat while playing tennis on a South Jersey court. The guy went on WFAN radio but the bottom line is there was no scuffle, just a “he said, sources said he didn’t” response.
Passionate, caring and ready to fight for his family on and off the field, that’s Nick Sirianni. He’s a fiery guy under intense scrutiny and pressure this year because the expectations are sky-high for the Eagles following the acquisitions of A.J. Brown, Haason Reddick, James Bradberry and Jordan Davis.
No one can question Sirianni’s will to win. Learning to channel the frustration like the good coaches do is a work in progress.