The Philadelphia Eagles Super Bowl LVII loss to the Kansas City Chiefs is one that has been tough to get over for the fan base of the team.
Turning the page is necessary for the players involved, however. Even embattled punter Aaryn Siposs, whose 38-yard misdirected punt in the fourth quarter of the big game gave Kadarius Toney a chance and the Chiefs’ speedster nearly took it to the house, racing 65 yards to the Eagles’ five-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes and company cashed in on the ultra-short field, and for all the angst about Jonathan Gannon and his failure to make “adjustments” in the second half, Siposs’ hiccup was "the play" when it came to tilting what was a 38-35 win toward Kansas City.
“I have to own that. And I do,” Siposs said after practice on Sunday. “That’s something that I have to live with for the rest of my life. But if I don’t grow from that, then I’m not going to be in the position that I am right now.”
"Complete devastation," is how Siposs described his post-Super Bowl mood.
The position Siposs is in now, however, is the same one he exited Glendale, Ariz. with. He’s the Eagles’ punter, something further cemented when the team waived undrafted rookie Ty Zentner after a less-than-inspiring performance in an 18-18 preseason tie with Cleveland on Thursday night.
Nothing is ever guaranteed in the NFL, though, and if Siposs rests on his laurels of out-punting Zentner, the next competitor is only a phone call away.
"It's the way the league works. You have to prepare for anything," Siposs said. "There are plenty of other guys on a list right now working their butts off to get an opportunity. That's just the way I see it. Whether someone is here or not, you've still got to go out there and deliver and perform and that's what I plan on doing."
For the Aussie, it’s never about the other name whether it was Zentner this year or Pro Bowl punter Jack Fox in Detroit when Siposs was trying to break through with the Lions.
“I had to continue to get better and improve on my game,” Siposs said. “That’s what I just needed to focus on. It wasn’t about any external things. It was just all about me trying to have that drive and deliver.”
The first step to that was getting his mindset in order.
"Tough. If I'm going to be honest, tough," Siposs said of his reaction to the Super Bowl loss and his part in it. "I don't think there is any other way to describe it. It was a special moment for me and my family and I didn't deliver, so that's all there is to it.”
Tough times breed tough people.
“I continue to grow from that and get better,” said Siposs. “Everybody goes through some extremely tough times. We all did as a whole team in the end and we're all out here continuing to get better and make amends for what happened."
The goal is to get to Las Vegas this February and perhaps pin a returner down in a big spot.
“I’ll play and I’ll go out there like I do every other time and just want to go out there and be the best,” Siposs said. “That’s all there is to it. I worked a lot on the physical side of things and the mental side of things. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity to go out there and play.”
It looks like Siposs will be getting that opportunity.
“Overall, I thought I made great improvements,” Siposs said. “And that’s what I continue to continue to go off. And that’s what drives me. We’ve got a good group here and the coaches believe in me, and that’s what we go with.”
-
More must-reads: