NFL insider admits to what Eagles fans have known all along about league-wide jealousy

USA Today

29-05-2025

NFL insider admits to what Eagles fans have known all along about league-wide jealousy ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently offered his take on the NFL offseason and labeled Philadelphia as the franchise "most likely to inspire jealousy in other teams.
Moments of clarity can sometimes spotlight things that should have been obvious. For instance, if you're like most, you've realized you spend too much time on your phone. It truly makes no sense, scrolling for hours in search of some Philadelphia Eagles news or an intriguing take. More often than not, irritation is easier to find than information.
Every so often, we find good fortune. Something interesting in the timeline... Finally, we can click and give the thumb muscles a rest.
Thank one of the game's most trusted insiders for this one. It's an honest and engaging read. It confirms something Eagles fans have known for a while now, something fans of other teams refuse to admit.
Bill Barnwell's Eagles superlative is a spot-on diagnosis of the current NFL climate.
Midnight and Kelly green are two of the Eagles' team colors. Green is also often associated with jealousy. Coincidence? It may not be.
Wouldn't you know it? ESPN's Bill Barnwell recently offered his take on the NFL offseason and labeled Philadelphia as the franchise "most likely to inspire jealousy in other teams." If you're interested, the Dallas Cowboys were named the team "most likely to look at their old scouting reports".
That sounds about right. But, here's a news flash... The Eagles already inspire jealousy in other teams, but for the sake of argument, here's some of what Barnwell said anyway.
"When you go 14-3, roll through the postseason and stomp all over a seemingly unbeatable (Kansas City) Chiefs team in the Super Bowl, there are going to be other teams that want what you have. The Eagles responded to a disastrous collapse in 2023 with a storybook season, and stars around the league noticed."
It's often been joked that the rest of the NFL is jealous of pro football's franchise in Philadelphia. Everyone tried not to believe it. Then came the Brotherly Shove.
For three years now, Philadelphia has been ridiculed and attacked publicly simply because it runs a legal play and does so better than anyone else. What's next? Do we ban A.J. Brown from running slant routes because he's so good at doing that?
Recently, a league-wide feud sparked discussions of a ban and eventually the Eagles' day of judgment. They won, thanks in part to the words of a franchise legend.
The 'tush push' lives to fight for another season, but don't expect the haters to go quietly. Have you seen the anti-Jalen Hurts and Nick Sirianni rhetoric?
The hate doesn't stop there. Whispers of some of the league seeing Howie Roseman as overrated have existed for a while, and if that doesn't scream 'envy' or 'misinformed', nothing will.
Oh well... Here's the bright side. Philadelphia can use this for fuel, bond together, and catapult itself toward another phenomenal season. We've seen them do this too many times to believe they're incapable of doing so.