NFL News Eagles’ Jeffrey Lurie on ‘managing noise,’ plus other tidbits from owners at the Fall League Meeting
Hurts, in particular, thrives amidst noise.
Lurie said, “That’s one of the reasons we build the roster the way we do with guys like Jalen. You have to have that flexibility and understanding, especially in today’s world. If you can’t block out most of the noise, you’re not going to perform as well. And Jalen is one of those players where the more noise there is, the better he performs.”
These issues haven’t magically been resolved before Sunday’s rematch with the Giants. Brown was ruled out on Friday with a hamstring injury. Issues still exist among key players, whether it’s questions about how efficient the offense is, whether there are enough targets, and everything in between.
Still, knowing that the Philly media and fan base are going to be loud creates a special preparation that has worked well for the team.
“If you know there’s going to be a lot of noise every season, you prepare in advance for how to deal with it,” Lurie explained last week. “Players hear the noise. But they’re players who are fully prepared for the noise. That’s fine. We’re going to be as successful as we can be, and we hope to play our best ball at the best times. But there will be some things along the way.”
One of coach Nick Sirianni’s superpowers is pushing the right buttons in the locker room. He values culture and fosters a strong culture. So, when things don’t go right, the foundation can handle it.
This will be crucial for Philly this season as they look to repeat as Super Bowl champions.
“Culture takes care of things that provide both resilience and a support system and minimizes the noise,” Lurie said. “And that’s a big deal in today’s sports world. It’s a long season. There’s bound to be quiet and noise. And if you know there’s going to be a lot of noise every season, you prepare for that noise in advance.”
And if Lurie and his other executives know one thing, it’s that fans have the highest expectations.
Lurie said, “We’ve had these same expectations for 25 years. No one has higher expectations than us. We’re very self-critical and disciplined, and we hope that leads to success.”