Eagles fans stirred as Jalen Hurts consults ex-Giants DC amid HC drama: "We should have canned Siranni"
Before the 2023-2024 postseason, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts took an unusual approach to help improve his game. With the Eagles having a late-season collapse, he reached out to former New York Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale to seek advice on how to prepare for opposing defenses.
Per ESPN's Jeremy Fowler and Tim McManus, Martindale said that it was the first time in his coaching career that an opposing player called him looking for advice on how to better his game.
"With the playoffs approaching and the hunt for improvement unending, Hurts made an unusual move. He called former Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale, who had parted ways with New York following Week 18."
"The phone call lasted about half an hour," Martindale told ESPN. "They discussed weaknesses in Philadelphia's protection and how New York tried to game-plan him," McManus and Fowler wrote.
Eagles supporters took to the comments section to voice their opinions. Many fans criticized the coaching staff of the Eagles, specifically head coach Nick Sirianni.
"Huge disrespect and distrust of his own coaching staff. Plus, that’s like cheating and cutting corners. How bout you get in the film room and figure things out yourself or with your team, like every other qb does. TT would never," one fan said.
"Siriani is not a great head coach," one fan said.
"How has nick lasted this long?" one fan questioned.
On the other hand, some fans think Hurts reaching out to Martindale has nothing to do with Sirianni and the Eagles' coaching staff. Some thought it was an unusual approach that could be beneficial.
Others said that this was a professional act by Hurts and that more players should follow this concept.
"i know it’s a relatively unique circumstance, but i’m shocked more players don’t do this. why wouldn’t you want to get inside the mind of your enemies?" one fan asked.
"Awesome to see and goes into an underrated story coming into the season—Hurts will have more pass pro call responsibility than ever under Moore," one person said.
"Love it. Hurts is a pro’s pro," one person said.
Is Nick Sirianni's job on the line this season?
Although the Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the best teams in the NFL in the last five years, changes could be made before the end of the season.
The Eagles made it to the Super Bowl two years ago where they fell to the Kansas City Chiefs, 38-35. Last year, they were one of the best teams in football until the last quarter of the season when they lost five of their last six games.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Eagles suffered an embarrassing 32-9 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. As a result of their underperforming season, the team fired defensive coordinator Sean Desai.