Culture and Character Matter
Posted: September 5th, 2019 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 5 Comments »Build yourself a time machine and set it to take you back to March 2019. There were reports that the Eagles were possibly interested in trading for WR Antonio Brown.
Things fairly quiet on the AB front. The two teams I continue to hear most closely linked to him are the Raiders and Eagles. Several teams who have been in the mix believe a trade with Raiders would already be done if not for contractual hold-ups between the WR and the team
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 9, 2019
Antonio Brown trade talks between the Eagles and Steelers were simply two teams doing their due diligence, and those talks never got serious, per a league source familiar with the conversations.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 10, 2019
Some Eagles fans loved the idea of adding an impact receiver. I did not. I had real concerns, because of the type of player Brown is on the field and the type of person he is off it. I don’t blame Howie Roseman for making some calls to explore the situation, but thankfully it never moved beyond that.
As we have learned this summer, Brown is a major headache. He wasn’t happy the Raiders fined him for missing time this summer and aired that grievance on Instagram. Brown then confronted GM Mike Mayock and had to be held back from going after him physically.
Nut job.
Jerk.
Headcase.
Diva.
You call him what you want, but you won’t likely be calling him a Raider for very long. A lot of people are now expecting the Raiders to part ways with Brown. As Mike Florio pointed out, they won’t have to pay him a dime.
The Raiders should never have brought Brown in. This was a Jon Gruden move. He covets talent and is flexible on character, despite what he might say publicly. Gruden is like me with doughnuts. He just can’t help himself.
Gruden bent over backwards this summer to try to accommodate Brown. Instead of the star receiver embracing this in the right way, it simply made him feel even more entitled.
Even if Gruden and the Raiders walk away from Brown, they’ve wasted months trying to make him part of the team and the key to the offense.
The Eagles have a strong locker room and team culture. They keep that in mind when making offseason moves. The Eagles are willing to take a chance on someone with a big personality, but they make sure they believe things can work out.
Michael Bennett was an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he was worth the risk and Bennett played at a high level last year. The Eagles did not want to give him more money so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has had awkward moments with each of his three teams. Again, the Eagles felt the move made sense.
The Eagles wisely have limited their investment in these players. No one gets a mega-deal that the team can’t walk away from. They aren’t using key resources to get these players.
As much as the Eagles want talent, they believe in the team first and foremost. They also don’t want to undermine the coach. This philosophy has served the team well.
Culture and character matter.
It helps that the Eagles have put actions into their words. They have spent key resources on good people. Brandon Graham is universally loved. Jason Kelce is one of the most respected players in the whole league. Same for Malcolm Jenkins. Jason Peters is a tremendous leader. Carson Wentz has a strong personality and is completely committed to winning. He’s the kind of guy you want as the face of your franchise.
We’ll see if this philosophy gets tested anytime soon. Andy Reid was desperate for a WR in 2004 so he rolled the dice on TO. That got the Eagles to a Super Bowl, but also changed the locker room forever. I’d love to talk to Big Red and find out if he felt the move was worth it in the grand scheme of things.
The Eagles have a loaded roster right now so they have the luxury of picking and choosing who they want. That won’t last forever. It maybe in a few months or in a year or a few years, but there will be a situation where the Eagles face a tough decision. I hope they have the discipline to stick to the current philosophy.
As for Brown, it will be interesting to see what happens. If he is cut, who will be desperate enough to take a chance on him? This totally feels like a Dan Snyder special. “I’ll take the meatloaf and the insane diva receiver.”
*****
The weird story of the day is Nigel Bradham missing the preseason finale.
This ties in to the point above. Bradham did something weird, but he’s not making matters worse. He’s admitted to the situation and expects to be fined.
You aren’t going to have 53 choirboys on a team and win many games. You must take some chances. The key is to get guys that you can still manage.
*****
I’m watching the season opener and this Bears defense is a lot of fun. They fly around and create havoc all game long.
I hope the Eagles defense bounces back to 2017 form. I know the group isn’t going to be Gang Green Part II, but let me see a group that can make big plays and punish QBs. Neither of those happened enough last year.
_
[…] Culture and Character Matter – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles have a strong locker room and team culture. They keep that in mind when making offseason moves. The Eagles are willing to take a chance on someone with a big personality, but they make sure they believe things can work out. Michael Bennett was an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he was worth the risk and Bennett played at a high level last year. The Eagles did not want to give him more money so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has had awkward moments with each of his three teams. Again, the Eagles felt the move made sense. The Eagles wisely have limited their investment in these players. No one gets a mega-deal that the team can’t walk away from. They aren’t using key resources to get these players. As much as the Eagles want talent, they believe in the team first and foremost. They also don’t want to undermine the coach. This philosophy has served the team well. Culture and character matter. […]
[…] Society and Character Matter – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles have a solid locker space and crew lifestyle. They retain that in brain when earning offseason moves. The Eagles are keen to get a probability on an individual with a significant persona, but they make guaranteed they believe items can work out. Michael Bennett was an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he was worth the risk and Bennett played at a superior stage last year. The Eagles did not want to give him much more dollars so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has experienced awkward times with each and every of his a few teams. All over again, the Eagles felt the move made perception. The Eagles sensibly have restricted their financial commitment in these players. No 1 receives a mega-deal that the crew just cannot stroll away from. They are not working with crucial methods to get these players. As a lot as the Eagles want expertise, they imagine in the workforce 1st and foremost. They also really do not want to undermine the mentor. This philosophy has served the crew effectively. Lifestyle and character subject. […]
[…] Culture and Character Matter – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles have a strong locker room and team culture. They keep that in mind when making offseason moves. The Eagles are willing to take a chance on someone with a big personality, but they make sure they believe things can work out. Michael Bennett was an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he was worth the risk and Bennett played at a high level last year. The Eagles did not want to give him more money so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has had awkward moments with each of his three teams. Again, the Eagles felt the move made sense. The Eagles wisely have limited their investment in these players. No one gets a mega-deal that the team can’t walk away from. They aren’t using key resources to get these players. As much as the Eagles want talent, they believe in the team first and foremost. They also don’t want to undermine the coach. This philosophy has served the team well. Culture and character matter. […]
[…] Culture and Personality Matter – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles maintain a stable locker room and crew tradition. They like that in mind when making offseason strikes. The Eagles are willing to take a chance on someone with a mammoth personality, but they salvage positive they gain things can work out. Michael Bennett became an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he became rate the threat and Bennett played at a excessive level final year. The Eagles didn’t deserve to provide him extra money so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has had awkward moments with every of his three groups. Any other time, the Eagles felt the cross made sense. The Eagles properly maintain restricted their investment in these gamers. Nobody gets a mega-deal that the crew can’t stroll a ways from. They aren’t the usage of key sources to salvage these gamers. As essential as the Eagles need skills, they gain within the crew at the beginning. They moreover don’t deserve to undermine the coach. This philosophy has served the crew smartly. Culture and persona topic. […]
[…] Society and Character Make a difference – Iggles BlitzThe Eagles have a strong locker space and staff lifestyle. They preserve that in thoughts when making offseason moves. The Eagles are keen to consider a chance on someone with a major personality, but they make positive they think things can work out. Michael Bennett was an outspoken player in Seattle. The Eagles felt he was worthy of the danger and Bennett performed at a high stage very last yr. The Eagles did not want to give him additional funds so they dealt him this offseason. DeSean Jackson has experienced uncomfortable times with just about every of his a few groups. Yet again, the Eagles felt the transfer made perception. The Eagles properly have restricted their investment decision in these gamers. No 1 receives a mega-deal that the group just can’t walk away from. They are not employing critical means to get these gamers. As substantially as the Eagles want talent, they believe in the crew initial and foremost. They also do not want to undermine the mentor. This philosophy has served the group properly. Tradition and character subject. […]