PHILADELPHIA — Following the Eagles' 20-16 home victory over the Cleveland Browns, coach Nick Sirianni was captured on camera expressing his frustration toward fans who booed during parts of the game. Despite the Eagles' talent-laden roster, the offense struggled to perform, making it difficult to pull away from the now 1-5 Browns.
With a wry smile, Sirianni downplayed the incident, stating he was simply "excited to get the win." He acknowledged the crowd's support, which contributed to a few Cleveland false-start penalties, but expressed discontent with the booing.
"We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That's all I'll say," Sirianni remarked. "We hear them when they boo. We don't necessarily like it. I don't think that's productive for anybody."
Sirianni has faced scrutiny after last season’s disappointing finish, where the Eagles, who started 10-1, ended with a 1-6 record. The offense this season has been underwhelming, especially given the high expectations with star players like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Saquon Barkley. Since scoring 34 points in their season opener against the Green Bay Packers, the Eagles have averaged just 18 points per game. Injuries to key players have also hampered the offense, as Brown has missed two games and others like Smith and tackle Lane Johnson have also been sidelined.
Although not overwhelmingly loud, pockets of the crowd directed "Fire Nick" chants toward Eagles coach Nick Sirianni during some challenging moments in the game. Sirianni was notably more animated on the sideline than in previous weeks, engaging in verbal exchanges with several Browns defensive backs, including corner Greg Newsome II, and expressing frustration with referees.
Prior to this game, Sirianni had moderated his sideline behavior, aware that excessive confrontations with officials could send a negative message to his players. Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie commented in the offseason that while Sirianni's passion is a valuable asset, it can become counterproductive if overdone, emphasizing the need for a balance.
After the game, Sirianni shared that his heightened energy was prompted by feedback from players. “I was having fun. And I kind of got some feedback from the guys, the sense of like, 'We need you back, Nick. We need your energy. We need your focus,'” he explained. “When I’m operating and having fun, I think that breeds to the rest of the football team.”
Quarterback Jalen Hurts was among those encouraging Sirianni to embrace his authentic self. “It’s a reassurance of, we trust who you are. We trust where you are as a coach, and we know we can build with you. It’s about doing it together,” Hurts said, expressing excitement for Sirianni's growth and its potential impact on the team.
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