April 24, 2017
With the NFL Draft two days away, what do we think the over-under is on how many times that ESPN and the NFL Network will show video from 1999 of Eagles fans who coveted Ricky Williams booing the selection of Donovan McNabb?
100? 150?
I’m not concerned with rehashing that particular episode, but it’s worth pointing out Eagles fans took over the Theater at Madison Square Garden in that moment. This week, they won’t have to work nearly as hard. NFL fans flock to the draft from all over, but the Art Museum steps and Benjamin Franklin Parkway are, you know, in Philadelphia. There will be Eagles fans, Eagles fans, and then more Eagles fans.
The NFL does its best to make the draft a fun event for all of the fans, but from a football standpoint, it’s serious business. With that in mind, I was trying to come up with the five funniest scenarios in terms of Eagles fan reaction:
The Eagles and Browns have a shared history at the quarterback position. In 1999, Cleveland did Andy Reid (and all of us) a huge favor by drafting Tim Couch with McNabb still on the board. And just last season, the Browns, who are bringing The Process to the NFL with prominent Moneyball figure Paul DePodesta, said “Thanks, but no thanks” to Carson Wentz and got a haul from the Birds in return.
The conventional wisdom is that Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is a great talent and the obvious top pick, but there were reports last week that the Ohio native Trubisky is “under serious consideration” at No. 1 for Cleveland.
I don’t pretend to be a UNC football aficionado, but Trubisky is generally not rated as high as Wentz was last year. To pass up Garrett and reach for a QB could produce some great sarcastic cheers from Eagles fans.
The jury is still very much out on Wentz and that trade from the Eagles perspective, but fans sure don’t have to act like it.
The Eagles have holes that need to be shored up, but offensive line isn’t necessarily a pressing need. Combine the team-specific context with the fact that a decent portion of average fans (again, not everyone) want nothing to do with taking a lineman, and this could be funny if highly unlikely.
“With the 14th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Garett Bolles, tackle, Utah…”
BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
ESPN would sign up for this scenario right now. As soon as Roger Goodell announces this, he would be almost immediately drowned out by boos. Barring a five-minute intermission, Goodell probably wouldn’t be able to announce the selection made by the Eagles’ trade partner.
But looking back at the 2014 debacle, some boo birds might be at least a little understandable.
This would obviously be the opposite reaction of trading back, instant universal acclaim for any skill position player. Like, literally anyone we have heard of: Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, John Ross, O.J. Howard, Mike Williams, and Corey Davis all qualify.
“Hey, I know that guy! WOOHOOOOOOO!”
And hey, Howie promised Eagles fans that they’ll love the pick.
“I think [Eagles] fans are going to be really excited who we draft in the first round.” - Howie Roseman
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) January 23, 2017
This isn’t even a scenario, because it will be funny. Hopefully for this poor guy’s sake, he won’t be attending the draft.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
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