Brandon Graham defends Nick Sirianni after Julian Love’s “free ride” comment

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Nick Sirianni rubbed some opponents the wrong way in his two seasons in Philadelphia, but Eagles players and fans love him even more for it.

Enter Giants safety Julian Love, who during an interview with NFL Media on Thursday first tried to avoid controversy before getting into it.

Love first paid Sirianni a compliment, noting that the coach “doesn’t get in the way of his team”. But it hit a nerve when Love was asked about Sirianni’s posture for the camera during the Eagles’ rout of the Giants in the divisional round.

” I do not like it. I don’t like it at all,” Love said on Good Morning Football. “He’s gone for a free ride right now. You can train this team.

Love’s comment brings back memories of Cowboys owner Jerry Jones saying any of the 500 coaches could have won the team’s championships in 1992 and 1993, a shot at Jimmy Johnson that was the last straw. water in their relationship. Johnson is now in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, as is Jones.

Sirianni is expected to be Coach of the Year nominee but is not among the three finalists for an award that was voted on before the playoffs began.

Nevertheless, the Eagles heard Love’s silly talk, and defensive end Brandon Graham wasn’t too happy Thursday afternoon.

“People always have something to say when they’re home,” Graham said. “I just know that Coach Sirianni – no matter – what he did last year, with a team that no one thought would do much, he ended up getting us to the playoffs. Then , in its second year, that’s what you’re supposed to do – you’re supposed to improve, get players to do exactly what you need them to do and we did that.

“A lot of people are angry about what happened this season and I understand. It definitely didn’t matter because the coach proved himself every day and if you’re not here you wouldn’t really know. Those are just empty words.

The Eagles have swept all three games against the Giants this season, and Sirianni is 23-11 in his two seasons as head coach.