NFL analyst blasts Eagles Nick Sirianni for ‘clown behavior’ following win over Browns

Ryan OLeary

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NFL analyst blasts Eagles Nick Sirianni for ‘clown behavior’ following win over Browns image

During their team’s bye week, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts urged head coach Nick Sirianni to be himself and show more emotion on the sideline during games. 

What transpired in the final minute of the Eagles’ 20-16 win over the Cleveland Browns Sunday at the Linc was not exactly what Hurts had in mind.

Sirianni was captured walking toward the crowd while pointing at his ear. The angle of the video makes it nearly impossible to make out what Sirianni said, but the coach implied it was in response to home fans booing the team during Sunday’s ugly win.

After the game, Sirianni sat at the postgame podium with his kids. When asked about the exchange with fans, Sirianni responded with: “We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us, that’s all I’ll say. When our crowd cheers for us, we thrive off them. And we hear them when they boo. We don’t necessarily like it. I don’t think that’s productive for anybody. But when they cheer for us, and we’ve got them rolling, we love it.”

Sirianni’s actions — and comments — rubbed some people the wrong way, to put it lightly. 

Among the most outspoken on the topic Monday morning was former NFL lineman Damien Woody, who unleashed a rant at Sirianni’s expense on ESPN's Get Up! show, blasting him for “clown behavior.”

“This dude’s a clown,” said Woody, not holding back. “You’re going to seriously talk trash to the fans — your own fans? Listen, people come out here and pay big money to come out and watch you put a product out on the field. When you don’t perform well, they have every right to boo you. And you’re going to get all up in your feelings because fans are booing you, because your team stinks? Bro, c’mon.”

Woody wasn’t finished there. He also ripped Sirianni for inviting his kids to to podium.

“Then you’re going to bring your kids into the postgame to kind of soften the blow from what reporters might ask you?” Woody questioned. “This dude is a straight clown, bro. Like I just don’t have any respect for what this man is doing. You barely beat the God awful Cleveland Browns, and then you want to talk trash to the fans? Get the hell out of here.”

From there, the conversation shifted to Philadelphia’s underwhelming play this season, despite a loaded roster that includes Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, to name a few.

“They’ve got all this talent, and they're out here looking mediocre,” Woody said. “Who does that go to? That’s the coach. That goes to this clown coach that’s out here trying to clown the fans, and beating his chest, over beating the sorry Cleveland Browns by four points at home.”

That was an all-timer from Woody, whose words should hit home as a former NFL veteran of 12 years. It will be interesting to see if Sirianni has a response this week.

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Ryan OLeary

Ryan OLeary Photo

Ryan O'Leary has spent his entire professional career in sports multimedia, working as journalist, editor, podcaster, and in live events as a content manager and show emcee. His career highlights include working as a podcast host and audio editor for USA TODAY Sports Media Group, where he led a series of NFL podcasts for the company’s top-performing NFL sites. A born and raised New Englander, Ryan’s career kicked-off in newspapers after graduating from the University of New Hampshire with a degree in journalism. He developed an affinity for small-town youth, high school and college sports, while also realizing his childhood dream of covering the Patriots in multiple AFC Championship Games. Ryan enjoys kicking it with family and friends, beating his dad and brother in chess, and arguing with anyone crazy enough to insist that Tom Brady isn’t the GOAT.