Any football fan has to appreciate what
the Philadelphia Eagles did to win Super Bowl VII. They had several
injuries to key players but just kept on winning. There were no
stand out superstars that distracted from the team purpose. I do
believe Doug Pederson's statement that this winning is a new norm for
the team. As long as they continue to keep humble and stay focused
as a team, I don't see why they could not continue. We'll have to
see if the play style of Carson Wentz will be able to keep him
healthy for an entire season.
The team became likable and it seems
that the city could overcome the bad events of the past like throwing
snowballs at Santa Claus and cheering when Michael Irvin was hit so
hard he was not moving on the field. Just when you thought that
could be turned around, you get Jason Kelce's parade celebration
speech which was completely out of line especially when he used
profanity in front of a crowd full of families. Then on top of that,
the crowd is cheering him on and later writing that his speech was
spectacular. Really? I may be the only one that did not like his
speech at all.
Doesn't Kelce know that by winning the
super bowl, you silence all of the critics? You no longer have to
moan and complain how the media made it so hard for you to succeed
because it was the exact opposite. Instead of “F-em!” and
“F-you!” why not take the high road and say “To all the
critics, Thank you, because it gave us even more incentive to prove
everyone wrong”? You just won a championship. Act like you are a
champion and not some drunken buffoon. Instead, here he was, dressed up in full Mummer
costume and made himself stand out from all the other teammates. He
wanted all of the spotlight and was so unlike the character of this
Eagles team. Lead by quiet selfless players like Carson Wentz, Nick
Foles, Brandon Graham, the team is group of players that pull for
each other without the superstar diva special treatment that plagues
so many teams now. Even very outspoken players like Malcom Jenkins
gave a short speech, then retreated back behind the curtain of the
team. Kelce was the only one that had to make a spectacle of
himself. I am sure the team and the NFL had to cringe at his foul
language but kept smiles on their faces because there was nothing
they could do.
Just because it was a super bowl
championship celebration and he had a platform did not excuse it. I
am hopeful that after the euphoria of the championship wears down
some that people will rethink his speech and demand from the NFL, the
team and owners that we don't hear that kind of thing again.
If Kelce is not fined and reprimanded
for not following the rules then speeches like this will become the
“new norm” and that is sad. In an NFL season that was full of
controversy, the Eagles helped to save the season by authoring an
epic “Underdog” story that every fan can relate to and hope for.
Yet Kelce ruined it for many NFL fans in 5 minutes and added to the
poor image of the Philadelphia fan base. This is an opportunity for
the NFL to step in and put a stop to this kind of thing that does
nothing to uplift the image that so many good players work hard to
maintain.
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