Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Jalen Carter popped off at unsympathetic fans who criticized him for crying during Sunday’s blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
The rematch of last season’s NFC Championship game fizzled out quickly when the Niners, after spotting the Eagles six first-quarter points before settling in, cruised to a 42-19 victory.
Carter has had a solid rookie season and is currently at the forefront of the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, but had a relatively non-descript day putting up two solo tackles and three overall in the loss.
Well, it was non-descript … until the wheels fell off.
Carter got slapped with a personal foul penalty for taking a swing at an opposing lineman on an extra point attempt late in the game.
Shortly thereafter he was seen crying on the sideline as coach Nick Sirianni tried to talk to him.
Jalen Carter Hit With Criticism From Fans, Doesn’t Respond Well
Listen, I don’t mind seeing emotion coming from players in the heat of a contest.
As a Dallas Cowboys fan, I can tell you one of the most infuriating moments I have ever seen was watching Tony Romo essentially shrug his shoulders at a playoff loss with the quote: “If this is the worst thing that ever happens to me, then I’ve led a pretty good life.”
Sure, it’s true, but when fans sometimes live and die with their teams, it isn’t something anybody wants to hear immediately following a loss.
So with that said, a certain level of props for Carter for showing emotion, showing that he cares. However, the problem comes in the fact that he’s crying after trying to take a cheap shot at an opposing player.
It also comes one day after he ran his mouth about the 49ers offensive line.
“They got a lot of weapons out there on the outside but I’m on the inside, I’m in the trenches, I ain’t heard nothing about the o-line,” he said before the game.
I bet he’s heard a little about them now.
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Carter Mocks Poor Fans
Making matters infinitely worse was Jalen Carter’s response after the game in which he took a jab at poor fans. You know, the ones who pay hard-earned money (especially in this economy) to cheer or boo their team’s performance.
The fans apparently gave him a hard time for the crying bit. And Jalen didn’t like it one bit.
“I’ll rather cry for losing a game than cry that I’m still broke y’all get y’all life together,” he said.
Yea, nothing endears you to fans more than spitting on them and mocking their personal financial struggles. Especially in a blue-collar city like Philadelphia.
That should go over well in a city that once pelted Santa Claus with snowballs just because they could.
Maybe it’s Carter who needs to get his life together.
Jalen Carter’s comments are reminiscent of the time LeBron James mocked fans after an NBA Finals loss in 2011.
“All the people that were rooting on me to fail, at the end of the day, they have to wake up tomorrow and have the same life that they had before they woke up today,” James said at the time. “They have the same personal problems they had today.”
The ol’ ‘my life is better than yours’ card rarely works.
James would later walk back those comments. Will Carter be humble enough to do the same?
The Philadelphia Eagles take on the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in a battle of the top two teams in the NFC East.
Even after the loss to the 49ers, the Eagles currently hold a one-game lead for the overall best record in the NFC.
