NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
It doesn’t matter what your record is these days in the NFL or any sport. Losing sucks. But for the Philadelphia Eagles, they were playing on borrowed time anyway. While this loss will sting all offseason, now they can get down to business.
Two things must happen, and they must happen as fast as Howie Roseman can get to a phone. The first objective is to find a real Offensive Coordinator. Kevin Patullo is not the guy for this team. The offense stalled all season, much like 2023 when they promoted Brian Johnson.
Patullo may not have been over his head, but he was not the guy for the job. I can understand why they didn’t make a change during the regular season. This is a veteran-led team fresh off a Super Bowl win, and letting him go would have done more damage than good.
With the season over, the door is now open, and Roseman must kindly walk him to it and demand the playbook. Hell, on second thought, Roseman must insist Patullo takes the playbook on his way out. No one wants that s***. The defeat comes at a good time, as former coaches and OCs are now on the market.
If the Eagles had advanced, that would have prolonged the search. Now they can get the ball rolling and start scheduling interviews. Their first call should be to Mike McDaniel, who was just let go by the Miami Dolphins. If that doesn’t work out, the next call should be to Kliff Kingsbury, formerly of the Washington Commanders.
The Philadelphia Eagles must find someone who can take this offense to the next level, and Patullo is not the right person. Now, for the next order of business. Who wants AJ Brown?
After his blow-up with Nick Sirianni on the sidelines, it’s obvious that there is an issue there. All season, except for his brief 3-4 game stretch where he reached over 100 yards in each, Brown has been vocal about the Eagles’ offense, or lack thereof. He’s not happy on this team, and now Roseman must do whatever he can to get rid of him.
Yes, Brown is still a talented player, but that locker room cancer stuff is played out. You’re here to win championships. The yards may come, and they may not, but when Brown got here, we thought it was for winning.
Then, even in this game against the San Francisco 49ers in a do-or-die situation, he didn’t show up. He dropped balls and became that version of AJ that the Eagles thought they rid themselves of.
There are teams out there willing to take a flyer on him. Maybe the New England Patriots or the Pittsburgh Steelers. Someone has a spot for him, and Roseman must get what he can in return. And with that, snag another receiver in the Draft or get one through Free Agency. Either way, Brown must not play another down for the Philadelphia Eagles again. He got his ring; now he can focus on his catchers and yards.
I can’t lie, this loss hurts, but it was expected. Maybe not by the 49ers, but I did not pick the Eagles to repeat. It’s too hard to do, and something was off about this team. Another win would have masked the issues. Now they’re truly exposed.
Talk to the media, hit the exit interviews, and then hit the phones. Go get your OC and then get rid of your receiver. And let’s build this back up.
