On Monday, Nick Sirianni did the easy part.
He apologized for being somewhat heated and confrontational with Philadelphia fans during Sunday's 20-16 victory over Cleveland.
Cameras caught the fourth-year Eagles coach shouting and gesticulating to fans behind the team's bench in Philadelphia late in the fourth quarter. This includes putting his hand to his ear as if he couldn't hear their taunts. Fans spent at least part of the game booing the Eagles' offense and even occasionally chanting “Fire Nick.”
“Yesterday I tried to bring energy and enthusiasm, but I'm sad and disappointed with how my energy was directed at the end of the match,” Sirianni explained on Monday. “My energy should be focused on training, motivating and celebrating with our guys. I also need to be more wise and discerning when to use this energy, and this wasn't the right time.
At least he noticed the mistake. Fighting with fans never works. They will outlive you, especially when you get to the Super Bowl in season two and have to outlast the hapless Browns (and then cry about it).
Philly is 3-2 but hasn't scored a single point in the first quarter and is averaging just 18.0 points per game over the last four contests. This doesn't look like a very good team.
And this is where the hardest part comes from Sirianni. It's nothing new for the 43-year-old to be called out for a noticeable lack of focus and maturity on the bench. He got into conflict with referees, players of opposing teams and seemingly played in front of television cameras.
There is no need to exaggerate with proportions. Fan banter isn't a sign of impending decline – it can even be quirky and endearing.
It works when everything works.
But ultimately, things don't work out in the NFL.
Sirianni's job is to get the Eagles playing again.
A specific issue is crime. Yes, they lost future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce, but point guard Jalen Hurts is still there, wide receiver AJ Brown is still there, and the team spent big to bring in point guard Saquon Barkley.
And yet, even though they had a bye while they worked out some kinks, it took a 45-yard fourth-quarter pass from Hurts to DeVonta Smith to break a one-win tie for Cleveland.
“If there was something magical, we would do it,” Sirianni said of the team's slow start. We have to put the guys in positions that will allow them to be successful. We have to be ready and the guys have to go out on the pitch and give their all. It will always be like this. We just have to keep trying new formulas.
“It's not necessarily the same formula against every team,” he continued. “It depends on the defense you're playing and the opponent you're playing.”
The good news is that it was a victory. The bad news for Sirianni is that all eyes are on him. Philly has talent, but can't get out of his way.
Last year, the Eagles started 10-1, with everyone dreaming of returning to the Super Bowl and a rematch with Kansas City. Then the bottom hit out and they lost five of their last six games, blowing out the NFC East and limply heading into the playoffs.
There, Philly didn't look ready or willing to compete with Tampa Bay, which was humiliated 32-9.
“We didn't play well enough,” Sirianni said that day. “And it will always start with me.”
Sirianni kept his job – to the chagrin of more than one person who talked to Philadelphia sports talk radio – but expectations for something different were obvious. At just 39 years old, he was hired as Indianapolis' offensive coordinator, tasked with replacing Super Bowl winner Doug Pederson in a football-crazy city.
The good will and patience that had accompanied him during his good start were gone. Only questions remain about how it solves problems. Any distraction from this – including barking at fans for any reason – does not inspire confidence.
The next three weeks offer a chance. At the New York Giants, in Cincinnati and at home in Jacksonville – three opponents and five wins in total. Like the Browns, the Eagles shouldn't be in top shape to win.
But for Sirianni's sake, he needs them to start looking their best before it's too late.
When you give oxygen to fans chanting “Fire Nick”, they won't calm down. Apologizing and promising to refocus is the easy part.
Our job is to make it count.
