With the NFL Draft two days away, what do we think the over-under is on how many times that ESPN and the NFL Network will show video from 1999 of Eagles fans who coveted Ricky Williams booing the selection of Donovan McNabb?
- MORE ON THE EAGLES
- A 'breakout season' for Jalen Mills?
- 2017 NFL Draft: The best and worst-case scenarios for Eagles, according to ESPN's Mel Kiper, Jr.
- Malcolm Jenkins acknowledges Saints trade rumors
- Eagles-only mock draft: Final edition
100? 150?
I’m not concerned with rehashing that particular episode, but it’s worth pointing out Eagles fans took over the Theater at Madison Square Garden in that moment. This week, they won’t have to work nearly as hard. NFL fans flock to the draft from all over, but the Art Museum steps and Benjamin Franklin Parkway are, you know, in Philadelphia. There will be Eagles fans, Eagles fans, and then more Eagles fans.
The NFL does its best to make the draft a fun event for all of the fans, but from a football standpoint, it’s serious business. With that in mind, I was trying to come up with the five funniest scenarios in terms of Eagles fan reaction:
1. Browns take Mitch Trubisky first overall
The Eagles and Browns have a shared history at the quarterback position. In 1999, Cleveland did Andy Reid (and all of us) a huge favor by drafting Tim Couch with McNabb still on the board. And just last season, the Browns, who are bringing The Process to the NFL with prominent Moneyball figure Paul DePodesta, said “Thanks, but no thanks” to Carson Wentz and got a haul from the Birds in return.
The conventional wisdom is that Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett is a great talent and the obvious top pick, but there were reports last week that the Ohio native Trubisky is “under serious consideration” at No. 1 for Cleveland.
I don’t pretend to be a UNC football aficionado, but Trubisky is generally not rated as high as Wentz was last year. To pass up Garrett and reach for a QB could produce some great sarcastic cheers from Eagles fans.
The jury is still very much out on Wentz and that trade from the Eagles perspective, but fans sure don’t have to act like it.
2. Eagles take an offensive lineman in the first round
The Eagles have holes that need to be shored up, but offensive line isn’t necessarily a pressing need. Combine the team-specific context with the fact that a decent portion of average fans (again, not everyone) want nothing to do with taking a lineman, and this could be funny if highly unlikely.
“With the 14th pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select Garett Bolles, tackle, Utah…”
BOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!
3. Eagles trade back in the first round
ESPN would sign up for this scenario right now. As soon as Roger Goodell announces this, he would be almost immediately drowned out by boos. Barring a five-minute intermission, Goodell probably wouldn’t be able to announce the selection made by the Eagles’ trade partner.
But looking back at the 2014 debacle, some boo birds might be at least a little understandable.
4. The Eagles draft a skill position player
This would obviously be the opposite reaction of trading back, instant universal acclaim for any skill position player. Like, literally anyone we have heard of: Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Dalvin Cook, John Ross, O.J. Howard, Mike Williams, and Corey Davis all qualify.
“Hey, I know that guy! WOOHOOOOOOO!”
And hey, Howie promised Eagles fans that they’ll love the pick.
5. Cowboys first-round pick
This isn’t even a scenario, because it will be funny. Hopefully for this poor guy’s sake, he won’t be attending the draft.
Follow Rich on Twitter: @rich_hofmann
Like the new PhillyVoice Sports page on Facebook