Eagles HC Nick Sirianni seems to end potential feud with radio host
Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni has seemed to pour cold water over a potential feud with host Angelo Cataldi of local sports talk radio station WIP.
"I know what I said on Saturday, and that’s in good fun too," Sirianni explained during his Monday appearance on Cataldi's program, per the Barrett Sports Media website. "I enjoy coming on this show and talking to you guys, but hey, at the end of the day too, I’m gonna stick up for my brother."
Sirianni was referencing how he called Cataldi out over the host's criticism of Eagles defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon shortly after Saturday's 38-7 thrashing of the New York Giants in the divisional round of the postseason tournament.
"Sometimes I have to hear some things about Jonathan Gannon, and I don’t know if it’s you guys," Sirianni responded to a question delivered by WIP reporter Eliot Shorr-Parks, as shared by Jordan Bondurant of Barrett Sports Media. "Might be more other people. I won’t say names — Angelo — right?"
Mike Rosenstein of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com and the Philadelphia Inquirer mentioned that Cataldi has been critical of Gannon throughout the season even though Philadelphia entered the playoffs at 14-3 and holding the conference's top playoff seed. This past Saturday, the Giants notched their only touchdown against the Eagles in the third quarter when the visitors were already trailing 28-0.
"I want some heat. I want some smoke when you’re getting on Gannon too," Sirianni told Cataldi while defending his coordinator on Monday.
According to ESPN, the Eagles allowed a league-low 179.8 passing yards per game during the regular season. They were second behind only the San Francisco 49ers (300.6 yards per game) in surrendering an average of 301.5 yards per contest.
The Eagles and 49ers will meet in this coming Sunday's NFC Championship Game held at Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field. OddsChecker noted that sportsbooks listed the Eagles as -2.5-point favorites to defeat the Niners as of Monday afternoon.
Sports Illustrated's Albert Breer wrote for his Monday column that the Houston Texans and Arizona Cardinals are among teams that could consider making Gannon a head coach this winter. Meanwhile, Cataldi is set to retire following the Eagles' playoff run, so he's likely hoping to have at least a couple more run-ins with Sirianni before the Monday that follows Super Bowl LVII.
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