PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles outdid themselves with their hype video for the playoffs, featuring 36-year-old veteran center Jason Kelce.
The video begins with Kelce in uniform coming out of the smoke-filled tunnel on game day waving his arms. Amid the backdrop, the narrative begins with Kelce saying sternly, “The fans are frustrated.”
“We’re frustrated,” Kelce continues. “The playoffs are here and we’re not where we want to be yet. This is when you’re most tested as a team.”
The video features inspirational snippets from gamedays over fan shots and highlights. But Kelce is the central figure whose passion resonates on an “Any Given Sunday” level. Visualize Kelce playing the role of coach Tony D’Amato, portrayed by Al Pacino, giving the fictional Miami Sharks an epic pep talk before their playoff game.
“We believe in every player in this locker room,” Kelce said. “And our will and our hearts will push through and do anything for this team and this city. It’s time for the playoffs. Now, is when we come together. It’s about who wants it most. And I know … we effing want this.”
Risqué, for sure, but with an emotional appeal guaranteed to stir the passion of Eagles fans. At the same time, it’s just talk. One might ask where the this passion was the last six games, five of them losses?
Kelce’s heart has never been in question. If his teammates show up Monday, the favored Eagles should reach the divisional round. Anything short of that and it could well be the last game for Kelce, in his 13th season with the Eagles.
“My dad told me this from the moment I started playing football,” Kelce said. “You step off the curb one day and that could be the end of your career. So, you try to approach every game with that mindset. But obviously the closer and the older you get to that being a realization, puts it out in front maybe a little bit more. Obviously, that’s not the main thing. The main thing is going out there and battling with each of the guys in this locker room. No matter how many more years I play or any of us play, this team right now only has one game left and that’s what we’re really focused on.”
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Sitting out another day of practice Friday were Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee) and safety Reed Blankenship (groin).
With Sydney Jones out for the season with a torn ACL, the Eagles have little choice but to elevate safety Tristan McCollum from the practice squad and likely give rookie cornerback Kelee Ringo snaps there.
Punt returner/wide receiver Britain Covey (groin) was limited.
Wearing a glove over the dislocated middle finger of his throwing hand, quarterback Jalen Hurts showed no ill effects during the portion of practice open to media.
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Brown apparently shut down his X account, which has been a source of angst for him amid recent criticism.
Last week Brown dug himself a little deeper into controversy when he said head coach Nick Sirianni took the bullets for him and Hurts when they freelanced on a deep ball late in the loss in Seattle that was intercepted. That was not the play called, and it ended any chance of working the ball into field goal range to force overtime.
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Tampa quarterback Baker Mayfield (ankle/ribs) returned to practice with left tackle Tristan Wirfs (illness), both on a limited basis.
Wide receiver Chris Godwin (knee) was given the day off to rest.
Source: Berkshire mont
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