The NFL Has An Integrity Issue

The Eagles coaching staff talked big going into week 17, swearing that they were going to put out max effort to prevent the Redskins Football Team from winning a playoff spot in Philadelphia.

Trailing 17-14 early in the fourth quarter, Eagles Head Coach Doug Pederson put Nate Sudefeld, his third string QB into the game. Sudfeld threw a pick and fumbled on his first two possessions.

The Eagles lost by six, thereby ensuring Football Team’s playoff berth- and eliminating the Giants, who were understandably angry:

I think the eagles just hate us more than washington. That’s only thing that could make sense right?

— Golden Tate (@ShowtimeTate) January 4, 2021

Not that Eagles players were happy with the decision:

#Eagles RB Miles Sanders to @SportsRadioWIP on what happened Sunday Night: “If I’m being honest, nobody liked the decision. Nobody. That’s all I can say. I don’t know who was the main person behind that decision. All I know is that a lot of people on the team was confused.”

— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) January 5, 2021

Mike Florio and Chris Simms discussed the incident’s impact on the integrity of the game on PFT Live:

Pederson may or may not have made this decision on his own, though he took the fall for it. One thing about the NFL you always want to keep in mind is how narrative driven the league is: the NFL is in the entertainment business, not the sports business. No promises about an honest game are included in the ticket license: only the promise that a ticket holder has the right to attend an NFL game.

Just something to keep in mind.