While Philadelphia Eagle fans face national scrutiny after a video of… One verbally assaulted Woman and star Saquon Barkley came to their defense.
As the Eagles prepare to face the Los Angeles Rams in a divisional playoff game on Sunday, Rams player Jared verse He expressed his hatred for Eagles fans in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. Verse's comments came days after Eagles fan Ryan Caldwell was fired from his job when a video of him insulting a female Green Bay Packers fan at a playoff game last Sunday went viral.
“I hate Eagles fans,” Fiers said. “They're so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”
Reporters asked Barkley about Fiers' comments before the game, and he noted that the Rams rookie's decision to say those things “wasn't smart.”
“That's probably not the smartest thing to say if you're coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley told reporters on Friday.
Barkley cited his previous experience coming to play in Philadelphia as a contender when he was with the New York Giants from 2018-23.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26 years old) walks from the tunnel for a game against the Dallas Cowboys at Lincoln Financial Field. (Photos by Bill Streicher-Imagine)
“I've been on the other side, and I felt a certain way,” Barkley said. “I probably won't give them any extra fuel.”
Barkley expects Vers to receive a particularly rude greeting when he takes the field on Sunday.
“I'm sure Philly fans saw that comment. It was already loud and shaken, so he'll add to it,” Barkley said.
Eagles defensive back Darius Slay also commented on Fiers' comments and warned that snow in the forecast could lead to fans throwing snowballs.
“He's not the first person to hate Eagles fans,” Sly told reporters Faridat. “There are a lot of people who don't like Eagles fans. There are some people who played for the Eagles who don't like Eagles fans.” “That just comes with the sport.
“I think Eagles fans are excited regardless. (They don't) have to say another word. And if there's snow out there, I wouldn't be surprised if snowballs are thrown on the sideline.”
Verse is just one of Eagles fans' harsh critics in the wake of the viral footage of Caldwell. Fiers said that even though the game was in Los Angeles, he heard heckling from Eagles fans, despite wearing headphones.
“I didn't even do anything to them. It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans,” Fiers said.
The Eagles won that game 37-20, and Barkley ran wild, accumulating 302 scrimmage yards, including 255 yards with two touchdowns.
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Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) is thrown out of bounds by Los Angeles Rams quarterback Jared Fiers (right) during the first half at SoFi Stadium. (Photos by Alex Gallardo-Imagine)
Meanwhile, Caldwell was fired from his job as a project manager at BCT Partners after a video of him surfaced Insults spread. He has apologized but also defended himself by insisting that his actions “were not without provocation” and that the widely circulated video “does not show the full context” of what happened.
“While attending an NFL game last Sunday to support my favorite team, the Philadelphia Eagles, an incident occurred that I deeply regret,” Caldwell said in a statement.
“What started as a joke with two Packers fans sitting near me, evolved into something more serious, and I said unacceptable things. In the heat of the moment, I chose unmerciful words to address one of the fans, Ms. Allie Keller.
“I want to sincerely apologize to Ms. Keller for these words, and to my wife, family, friends, former employer, co-workers, Packer fans, Eagle fans, the Philadelphia Eagles, the city of Philadelphia, and all who were offended.” However, there are two sides to every story.
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Ryan Caldwell has been identified as the fan who taunted a Packers fan. (X/@basaraski)
“The video circulating online does not reflect the full context of what happened, and my actions were not without provocation. I will live with this experience, and I will certainly pay a personal price. For those who do not know me, this incident does not reflect my values or the respect I have for others and is not indicative of my character.” .
The viral video was filmed by Keller's fiancé, Alexander Basara, and quickly spread across the Internet in the days following the Eagles' 22-10 win.
Caldwell's apology and news of his dismissal sparked a wave of celebration and ridicule from sports fans on social media.
Eagles fans have a long history of unruly behavior.
The franchise's former home, Veterans Stadium, had an on-site courthouse and jail cells to handle fans in conflict with the law.
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