I agree, but there's three things that let me see the Eagles POV,
- They didn't ask to be flexed to primetime, that was the NFL's decision. If this happened at 10am slot maybe no one cares
- Why should the Eagles have to risk their players safety for a game that doesn't mean anything to them? What if Hurts tears his achilles and isn't ready for opening day next season?
- It's not the Eagles job to get us or the Giants into the playoffs. If we wanted to get in, we should have won an extra game
The way it happened is unprofessional, but I find it hard to be as mad as I was when I was watching the game.
Thanks for replying.
In this case i don't think the time mattered, if they pull the same stunt at ten o'clock it's still bad.
They don't have to risk all their players but they sat a lot of them, certainly more than necessary which is fine, but the Hurts achilles issue could be said for any player. Why is the team asking any of their players to risk injury, Graham, Kelce etc.. were all playing and trying, why? Personal pride and a sense of that being the right thing to do.
Getting the Giants into the playoffs with a poor record isn't the point. Why don't teams wanting a loss late into the season just deliberately miss extra points or throw the ball onto the ground all the time or simply punt on 1st down? If we accept not trying with the team we've fielded, why bother playing?
Again, you just have to look at various player comments to see that this is an unusual situation that is seldom if ever seen and pro players don't like it.
You didn't hear complaints from teams that needed a Cleveland loss against the Steelers for holding back players, but you damn sure would if Pittsburgh intentionally tried to lose while playing those players.