Robert Saleh Will Deserve All The Credit For The Monster Jalen Hurts Is Going To Turn Into After Saying The Jets Embarrassed Him
It's easy for Robert Saleh to get up there after the game and talk about embarrassing Jalen Hurts. He'll probably never have to coach against him again. The Jets won't play the Eagles for another 4 years, and with the amount of turnover in the NFL it's hard to imagine Saleh will still be the coach then. He was talking about giving Jalen Hurts "11 kisses" before the game, and then gets to talk his shit as he's driving away.
That quote isn't going to come back around to bite Robert Saleh in the ass, because there will just never be the opportunity. But for the other 10-12 coaches coming up on the Eagles' schedule for the rest of the season? Well they're going to hate the shit out of Robert Saleh. Because while he's factually accurate in his assessment that the Jets embarrassed Jalen Hurts, there's also a strong chance he just created a monster. A monster who is absolutely going to hear that quote, and process it down into high octane fuel to go on a warpath the rest of this season.
Jalen Hurts' primary source of motivation comes from within. That's important to keep in mind here. But much like some of the greatest athletes of all time, he also thrives when he gets some secondary motivation from outside. Whether it's an actual slight against him or just a perceived slight, it's that extra edge of taking it personally that drives the the best to want to be killers. Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, just recently with Bryce Harper. The moment someone gives them that extra motivation, all bets are off.
Don't get me wrong--the Jets defense was lights out yesterday after being down so many guys. I'll give them credit for 2 of those interceptions on Jalen (the one that bounced out of Goedert's hands was a fluke play). They definitely benefitted from a few uncharacteristic drops from guys like DeVonta Smith and a route that AJ Brown cut out on too early. But they did their job and got Jalen Hurts to throw the worst pick of his career with the game on the line in the final 2 minutes. Robert Saleh could have just been happy with that and left it alone. But now he done messed around.
P.S. -- Might need to give Brian Johnson the next few weeks off and just let Jalen get this offense together himself.