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Tim McManus, ESPN Staff Writer
PHILADELPHIA — Eagles coach Nick Sirianni apologized for his interaction with a group of fans at the end of Sunday’s home game against the Cleveland Browns.
“I was trying to bring energy and enthusiasm yesterday, and I’m sorry and disappointed at how my energy was directed at the end of the game,” he said during his videoconference with reporters Monday. “My energy should be all-in on coaching, motivating and celebrating with our guys. And I’ve got to have better wisdom and discernment of when to use that energy and that wasn’t the time.”
As the Eagles secured a 20-16 win over Cleveland, Sirianni was seen on camera yelling and gesturing toward fans in the section behind the team’s sideline. At one point he put his finger up to his ear, seeming to suggest he had silenced their chirping with a victory.
Boos rained down for parts of the game as the offense sputtered at times and the talent-rich Eagles struggled to separate from the now 1-5 Browns. Though not overwhelming, there were some sections of the crowd that started “Fire Nick” chants during a couple of down moments for Philadelphia.
Sirianni, wearing a wry smile and offering a wink, said he was “just excited to get the win” in explaining his interaction with the fans postgame. He praised the crowd for being loud and inducing a couple of Cleveland false-start penalties.
But when asked about the jeering the Eagles received in their home stadium, Sirianni acknowledged they could do without the negativity.
“We thrive off the crowd when they cheer for us. That’s all I’ll say,” Sirianni said Sunday. “We hear them when they boo. We don’t necessarily like it. I don’t think that’s productive for anybody. But when they cheer for us and when we’ve got them rolling, we love it.”
Sirianni has been a subject of criticism after last season’s collapse, when an Eagles team that started 10-1 skidded to a 1-6 finish.
The on-field product this season has left something to be desired. The offense has been a point of frustration given the level of talent — the group boasts one of the best offensive lines in football and features A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith and Saquon Barkley at the skill positions — versus the results to this point. Since scoring 34 points in the opener against the Green Bay Packersthe Eagles have averaged 18 points in the four games since.
Sirianni was by far the most demonstrative he has been on the sideline this season. He jawed with multiple Browns defensive backs, including corner Greg Newsome IIand grew animated with referees on multiple occasions.
Before Sunday, he had toned down his behavior, cognizant that going after the officials, in particular, can send the wrong message to his players.
Sirianni revealed that the return of his fiery demeanor was at the behest of some of his players, including quarterback Jalen Hurtswho encouraged Sirianni to be himself.
Asked about finding the happy medium, Sirianni said “you want to be passionate and have that energy” but it needs to be channeled in the right way and at the right time. Directing it toward the home fans after a win clearly didn’t meet the mark, Sirianni said.
“We have the best fans in the world,” he said Monday. “There’s no place like this.”
