Nov. 13, 2026
Marcel Marceau died in 2007 at age 84, but his unwavering preference for silence lives on in every gutless sports figure who chooses saying nothing rather than communicating with the fans who pay his salary.
Howie Roseman has become a mime in his own right these days, even after providing a rare highlight in this season of despair. The Eagles GM stole a first-round draft pick in 2027 and a second-rounder in 2029 from Jacksonville last week for the enigma that is DT Jordan Davis.
Not so long ago – maybe 20 years – Roseman would have called a news conference to discuss his latest coup, followed by an hour of conversation with the fans on his weekly WIP radio show.
Now . . . . crickets.
That’s right. Two weeks after Eagles owner Jeff Lurie refused to hold a news conference when he was inducted in the team’s Hall of Fame, Howie is ducking any and all public pronouncements, too.
What’s going on here? What are the big bosses on the Eagles afraid of?
Oh, I don’t need a news conference to answer that question. They are worried – petrified, probably – about what to say regarding franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts, whose season is over and whose career is in jeopardy because the Eagles bungled the handling of his blood-clot crisis last month.
When Jeff McLane of The Inquirer – the only journalist left in Philadelphia who is still reporting aggressively and objectively on the Eagles – wrote that Howie would break tradition and not discuss the Davis trade, it was the media’s responsibility to force the issue, to scream from the mountaintops that inaccessibility by sports figures is not an option in our passionate sports city.
Instead. . . . more crickets.
Is there any media outlet left on our city that serves the interests of the fans rather than themselves? If so, please point me in their direction. Nowadays, all of our sports organizations feel silence is a smart strategy, especially in difficult times.
In fact, I’m starting to think the NFL has a new playbook on how to handle the media. Instead of making themselves available during times of controversy, sports figures rely either on official statements or total silence to stay out of trouble. These same voices will be heard, loud and clear, the next time any of their teams are looking for money, of course.
A few days ago, the Cincinnati Bengals pulled out of a trade with the Eagles for DE Arnold Ebiketie because they were unaware that the deal would cost them a sixth-round pick to the Birds, plus a third-round compensatory draft choice. It was an embarrassing a moment for the Cincy front office. The people there literally didn’t know the rules.
Instead of facing the inquisition, Bengals GM Duke Tobin remained in hiding and pushed Zac Taylor out into the spotlight, even though the head coach had very little to do with the snafu.
“Duke was very explicit with me when he came and spoke to me about how he wanted this portrayed,” Taylor said. “I’m not comfortable doing it, but I’m going to do what he asked.”
The coach then explained that Tobin took full responsibility for the blunder that derailed the trade. The GM was “very apologetic” about the mistake — just not apologetic enough to say the words himself publicly.
Taylor had no choice but to face the heat. His job security depends on Tobin. But that reality doesn’t address the basic question: Why is a coach responsible for questions about trades? Why can’t the person directly involved in the transaction answer questions himself? Why is Tobin mute?
I don’t think I have to remind you that the exact same situation arose last month after Hurts was ruled out for the season. In that case, again it was Roseman dodging his basic duty to communicate with the fans. Instead, that master of elocution, Nick Sirianni, had to deal with it, in his usual ham-fisted style.
Is it asking too much these days for a sports figure to talk publicly about the issues that are important to fans?
Apparently, it is.
But why?
Because they think they can get away with it. The media that once provided a check and balance between the fans and the teams have different priorities now. They are more interested in currying the favor of the teams they cover, and sometimes preserving a business relationship, than in doing their jobs.
If I were on the air today, I would try to organize a march on the Eagles practice facility to smoke Roseman out from hiding. I would brandish a bullhorn and howl into it: “Howie, we know you’re in there! Come out and talk to us!” In the past, a stunt like this required very little effort; fans love this stuff. The goal is simple: Shame the team into doing the right thing.
Would it work? Maybe not. First of all, the Eagles would have more power now to shut down the protest before it began, calling my bosses and citing their business arrangement with WIP. And second, the public shaming would require widespread press coverage – something far less likely in an era where the Eagles often bully outlets into submission.
Hey, I realize many of these blog posts harp on the lousy, often spineless coverage of our teams, but I feel a responsibility to say something to stop this madness.
If not a dinosaur like me, then who?
Here’s the bottom line:
- Jeff Lurie has a responsibility to the fans to explain what happened with Jalen Hurts.
- Howie Roseman has a duty to answer questions about the Jordan Davis trade and the Hurts mess.
- Jalen Hurts should be made available to discuss the medical crisis that endangers his career.
Every executive who depends on fan money to support their sport has an obligation to speak in a public setting. When they don’t, they are disrespecting the very same people who are giving them the ridiculously lucrative lives they live.
Sports figures are in hiding right now as a way to control the message. But the only message they are actually conveying is how gutless they all are.
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More bye-week thoughts. . . .
- Joel Embiid limped off the court early in the Sixers’ win over Toronto on Thursday. Uh, oh. Since we know he would never overdramatize an injury, it looked bad. Then an apparent medical miracle. He returned a few minutes later, ready to play again. Still, I fully expect that the big center will miss some time with this new knee issue. He leads the NBA in excuses not to play. Hey, a part-time job paying $58 mill a year is awesome, if you can find one.
- Has it occurred to Phillies GM Dave Dombrowski that Alec Bohm was the most reliable RBI person in the lineup last season other than Kyle Schwarber? That’s right, Bohm had more RBIs (88) than Bryce Harper (87). And now the third/first baseman is a free agent, with the Phils showing scant interest in bringing him back. This is a mistake. A big mistake.
- I’ve got to break this habit of writing about baseball, a sport that is about to insult its fans again with yet another lockout. My job at WIP was to discuss the sports that fans care most about. Soon, I suspect, that list will not include MLB. How many times can a sport test the loyalty of the fans by shutting down? I guess we’re about to find out if this stoppage is another good reason not to care about our most fan-unfriendly sport. If it is, the greedy ingrates on both sides of the labor fight deserve it.
- A few years ago, I was part of a training camp media session that included Danny Briere. I preached about the importance of accessibility, and the value of honesty and openness. Obviously, the Flyers GM was not listening. He is part of the new fad in sports of GMs speaking very rarely, if at all. I hate when people ignore good advice. When did accessibility and honesty become optional for sports figures?
- And on those rare occasions when Briere does speak, his words are hollow. The other day he disputed a report that his budding superstar, Matvei Michkov, wanted “a new start” elsewhere. Briere’s denial would have been much more believable if he were accessible often enough to develop a trust with the fans. He is not. Hey, I tried my best, You can’t force a big-shot sports executive to listen.