That, however, did not prevent the team’s longtime GM from exuding confidence about his roster heading into this unprecedented year.
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When asked on the WIP Morning Show if this Eagles squad is a playoff team, Roseman responded, “We don’t build the team to sit home in January.”
He acknowledged, of course, they’ll have to be resilient, build chemistry, overcome injuries, and prove themselves, but he believes they’re capable of making the postseason, after going 9-7 in a bad NFC East in 2019, before getting knocked out in the wild card round.
When WIP morning host Angelo Cataldi asked Doug Pederson the same question, the head coach was much more reserved.
“I’m not gonna go out on that limb,” Pederson answered hesitantly. “I know you’re baiting me to go out on that limb right now, but I know this: We’ve got to continue to put in the hard work. I like where our team is at this particular time.”
Whether it was raving about the “juice” and “leadership” that Jalen Mills will bring to safety after switching from cornerback, or comparing wide receiver J.J. Arcega-Whiteside’s jump-ball ability to that of Sixers All-Star center Joel Embiid, Roseman sounded enamored with the roster he and the front office constructed.
“I couldn’t be more excited about our secondary. I’m really excited about it,” he said. “We’re faster, we’re more explosive (on offense).”
Although it’s still very early in the season, we’ll get our first sense of the validity of Roseman’s excitement Sunday afternoon against the Washington Football Team. While Roseman’s words are highly encouraging, everything is decided on the field.
Quarterback Carson Wentz echoed Roseman’s sentiments: Every year, the expectation is to play past December, but the general manager’s comments, in particular, stood out to him.
“I know Sunday might feel weird with no fans and all that, but we completely feel like we’re in game week,” Wentz said on the WIP Morning Show. “This is normal football mode, and hopefully fans can feel that a little bit watching on Sunday and get back to a little sense of normalcy.”
Roseman will be watching from FedEx Field in Maryland, hoping to radiate the same zeal he brought to the WIP Morning Show.
“I promise to represent our fans on the road and at home with the same passion and energy that they have,” he added.