Heading into their Week 5 bye the Eagles were 2-2 and the team was a mess. I wanted Nick Sirianni fired. My bad.

I’m not going to apologize for all the reasons I wanted Nick Sirianni fired. Many were valid. The Eagle roster was supremely talented and Sirianni was 3-9 over his last 12 games. There was no improvement. The franchise quarterback was regressing. It was a mess. Eight weeks later and the Eagles have a stranglehold on the NFC East and a top two seed in the playoffs. Without further ado, my apology…

I’m sorry, Nick, for thinking you lost the team. That was clearly never the case. You can see this team loves your energy. They enjoy playing for you. You obviously care about them as well. When news of Brandon Graham’s injury started circulating during the 4th quarter Sunday night I couldn’t help but notice it impacted you. As the final seconds ticked off the clock you were not your usual bombastic self on the heels of victory. You were subdued, maybe even sad. You hurt when your players hurt. It’s not all about you. That connects you to them. Too many coaches at all level of sports are not like that.

I’m sorry, Nick, for thinking you were too prideful and stubborn to change or adapt. When your three best offensive linemen came to you over the bye week and pleaded to make the running game the backbone of the offense, you didn’t question their loyalty or blow them off. You listened. You valued their opinion. Most importantly, you acted. Since that time your offense has been destroying opposing defenses on the ground. Sure, you needed a push in the right direction, but you decided the offense would live and die with Saquon Barkley and your offensive line. The change also displayed how much this team respects you. The receivers could have mutinied given the fewer opportunities and change in philosophy, but they didn’t. They bought in. If the team’s record since was 2-5 instead of 7-0 would their tune of changed? Sure! But we can pretend otherwise.

I’m sorry, Nick, for thinking your idiotic coaching decisions were wrong. Oh wait, I still think that 78% of the time, but I do think you’re evolving. I actually liked that you kicked the field goal early in the 1st quarter against the Rams. The red zone offense is struggling. You took the points. I liked that you didn’t take the timeout after the 2nd down sack just before the half. That Rams offense can be potent. You just scored and were getting the ball out of the half. I thought it was a conservative move and also the right one.

I’m sorry, Nick, for doubting you were the right guy to develop Jalen Hurts. I don’t think anyone can develop that guy. He may just be an above average NFL quarterback and that’s all. The Super Bowl was a flash, never to be witnessed again. I shouldn’t have blamed you for the disappointment.

I’m sorry, Nick, for being worried that our red zone offense is a big problem and must be addressed over the final six weeks. I know you know what the issue is and fixing it won’t be easy. I know Hurts can’t throw the football down in the deep red and so do you. There’s a reason every pass down there goes to the outside. Hurts doesn’t want to throw over the middle down there. There’s too much traffic. He can’t read the defense. He’s over-reading and thus too slow to react. That’s why DeVonta Smith and Barkley were hanging out alone in the end zone against Washington and Hurts couldn’t get them the ball. It’s why the only deep red passes you threw Sunday night were outside breaking routes or a shovel pass. When all 22 players get sandwiched inside limited real estate your quarterback can’t function. I’m sorry you have to fix that.

I’m sorry, Nick, that I was raised on the airwaves of WIP pulsating through my brain and that anything less then a strong finish and a conference championship game appearance will likely result in me demanding your firing again. I can’t help it.