Nick Piccone
Byron Maxwell is likely to be matched up against Brandon Marshall this weekend, and if Maxwell’s game isn’t improved, it could make for a long Sunday afternoon for the Eagles. It would also entail nothing good for us.
Anticipating another stellar performance by Maxwell, the NY Daily News’ Manish Mehta asked Maxwell how he’s dealing with the criticism from Eagles fans so far this season, because Mehta’s clearly not entertained enough by those New York fans yet this season.
“I feel it. They’re cold on me,” Maxwell told the Daily News. “That’s fine. Everybody’s got their opinion.”
The City of Brotherly Love is a harsh place when things go bad. Maxwell, from South Carolina, is undeterred. He’s seen worse.
“Everything’s in your face in the South,” Maxwell said. “That’s how it is in the South. They got Confederate flags running around … I’m just saying. You’re used to s—. You grow up with a thick skin in the South.”
I mean, it’s great when you can ignore something or disable your inner tunage [you’re welcome, you may use that term now], so Maxwell being able to deal with the criticism he’s received so far is a good thing. I’m sure he understands why he’s being criticized as much as he is, but there was not one instant in Mehta’s article that mentioned or alluded to the biggest reason Maxwell’s receiving that criticism: Nnamdi Asomugha. As a fan base, we’ve been burned time and time again over the last few years by terrible cornerbacks, and Maxwell’s been the best one we’ve had since Asante Samuel, probably [I loved his playmaking ability].
Mehta’s parting shot at Eagles fans is all too ironic – he covers the Jets.
Maxwell has the right attitude. He’s working to get better. It’s not life or death. It’s just football.
Surely, the well-adjusted Philadelphia fans will see it the same way.
Reminder: Manish Mehta covers the New York Football Jets. Maybe he should worry about the fanbase he represents rather than throwing shots at others.
Then again, I wouldn’t expect any less from him.