There was business to discuss as the Philadelphia Eagles opened their sixth training camp under coach Nick Sirianni. They have a new offensive coordinator — yes, another one — and players in new roles and ones playing on hefty new contracts.
So Jordan Davis, one of the biggest offseason beneficiaries of a contract extension, cut to the chase Wednesday and got straight to the topic of the day.
“I will be asking the questions,” Davis said with laugh as he took his seat for a news conference.
“How we feeling about LeBron being in town?”
(Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
Yes, in a sports city that each time this summer turns as green in team colors as the cash spent on Davis and fellow defensive tackle Jalen Carter, the Eagles have been overshadowed by the arrival of the most famous active American athlete in LeBron James.
An image of the NBA’s career leading scorer could be seen on the video board outside the Philadelphia 76ers‘ arena across the street from the Eagles’ practice facility. The newest Sixers superstar had no immediate plans to travel to Philadelphia, but if he does, the Eagles will roll out the red carpet on the green grass for James.
“He can come out to practice any time he wants,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said.
(Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Fanatics)
The Eagles welcomed him to Philly with arms as wide open as they are for James’ pregame chalk toss.
Super Bowl MVP-winning quarterback Jalen Hurts and 2,000-yard rusher Saquon Barkley both rank somewhere on the short list of most accomplished and most famous Philadelphia athletes. Even they turned into wide-eyed fans much like the rest of Philadelphia when they found out the 41-year-old James had indeed signed a two-year contract with the Sixers.
“I think for what he represents in sports and sports culture,” Hurts said, “it’s huge. And I think it’s huge for the city of Philadelphia. It’ll be exciting to have a figure like that in the city. What’s he done. One of the greatest to ever do it. I’m excited to be a part of that.”
James could do worse than duplicate Barkley’s free-agent results when he left the New York Giants after six seasons and signed with the Eagles ahead of the 2024 season. He rushed for a franchise-record 2,005 yards and won a Super Bowl in his first try with the Eagles.
Barkley pitched James at his youth football camp earlier this month on the appeal of playing in Philadelphia.
“If you want to go out with a bang,” Barkley said, “I feel like a great spot would be in Philly, and bringing a championship to Philadelphia, you’d be remembered forever.”
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James already had the “remembered forever” stamp in sports thank to his peerless resume in the NBA.
Barkley — who played golf with former President Barack Obama and also invited James on social media to ” tee it up ” — demurred when pressed on his influence in James signing with the Sixers.
Playing with All-Stars Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Jaylen Brown surely swayed James more than Barkley. The running back didn’t care much how exactly James made his Philly decision, or if James was even aware of his endorsement. He’s just thrilled James has joined Philly’s star-studded athlete roster.
“I think the city of Philadelphia is a super cool place to be for sports, with how involved the fans are,” Barkley said at training camp. “Having LeBron here is just great for the culture.”
Barkley, Hurts and other Eagles players still on the roster from two seasons ago are among the relatively few in Philadelphia sports history with championship rings. The Eagles won their only two Super Bowls in the last 10 years. The Flyers haven’t won the Stanley Cup since 1975 and the Phillies since 2008.
James joins a 76ers franchise that has not won an NBA title since 1983.
He’s not here for second place.
The Eagles say, go get ’em.
“Looks like the Sixers are trying to go win one,” said Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, a Boston Celtics fan. “Can’t be mad at that.”
Reporting by The Associated Press.
