CT’s Top 3: The Greatest Jalen Hurts-isms

Yesterday, the Philadelphia Eagles opened training camp with a bang, not only holding their first practice but also holding multiple press conferences. Nick Sirianni, Howie Roseman, Jalen Hurts, and others took their turns to field questions from the media, some centered around football, some around relationships. Arguably the most anticipated answer of the day was what Jalen Hurts would have to say about the reports that his and Sirianni's relationship was on the rocks, and while Hurts did his best to show his trust in his head coach with a couple of answers, there was another interesting theme that threaded through Hurts' answers.

The Eagles QB, known for his strange Hurts-isms, actually seemed to respond with genuine answers that felt distinctly less canned than previous years. Maybe this is a sign of growth, or maybe this is a one-off, but either way, we talked on Kincade And Salciunas about how refreshing of a change it was.

So, if this is indeed the end of the Hurts-isms era, (it's not) I figured it was a good time to take a look back at my favorite Hurts sayings of all time! (Also, I'm going from 3 to 1 today since this is a ranking)

This one is vintage Hurts. It's got no frills, it's functional, and it implies no emotion. A great Hurts-ism. Playing well? The standard is the standard, we have to keep playing to the standard. Playing poorly? It's not just about winning or losing, it's about playing to our standard. It's a catch-all phrase to talk about the expectations for himself and the team, and it's a great fit for the way Hurts approaches his work.

I love this one, mainly because I totally understand what it conveys, but it's factually inaccurate unless your landlord absolutely STINKS.

Yes, in these instances, Hurts is talking about how you need to put in the work every day in order to reach the level you need to be to be a successful NFL player. But objectively rent is NOT due every day. I pay rent once a month, and even that feels excessive. Jalen Hurts is going to be the first man in history to accidentally pay off a 30-year mortgage in less than a year. Hey, better to be ahead of schedule than behind I guess!

Ok, this one is just sick. I don't know if it's a Hurts original, I don't know if he heard it or read it somewhere, but what I do know is that when he dropped this one in a Super Bowl press conference, I was sure the Eagles were winning it all.

Some of these might be overly repetitive, or bland, but certainly not this Hurts-ism. These are the types of lines that elite-level movie QBs drop before dominating the bad guys in the championship. Hopefully, we'll get another great one-liner or two from Hurts throughout this season.

Camp is here! The Philadelphia Eagles begin their journey through the 2024 NFL season this week as training camp begins. After a miserable end to last season, it seems like 90% of Eagles fans have put everything behind them and are ready to focus on the new year. As you should. Don’t let some miserable radio host bring you down with concerns that may carry over from the previous season. 

It is a bit harder for me when I have to talk about the team every day and find different topics to discuss. I can’t just come on the radio every single day thinking about the good and ignoring the bad. Face it, the Eagles had a historic collapse last season. How can I not bring up the reasons why during the show? But some days, you just can’t do it anymore. Some days you just want to celebrate, look forward, and have some damn fun. This season should be nothing but fun. 

Related: As Much as Sirianni Denies It, Howie Roseman Picked The Coordinators

Today on the air, and in this article, I want to focus on the positives. Despite everything that happened last season, this team is built for success. The offense is stacked and is finally being run by a bright offensive mind in Kellen Moore. The defense, on paper, seems to have improved and the addition of Vic Fangio as the team's defensive coordinator should be taken into account.  

There are many things to look forward to when it comes to the 2024 regular season for the Eagles, but it all starts now. The journey to New Orleans starts with a good training camp. As much as I am excited to watch Saquon Barkley carve up defenses, I want to focus on what is in front of us. 

The running joke continues. I am the oldest 30-year-old you ever met. There are some things in the new era of sports that I agree with, there are some that I can't disagree more about. I want to see my players work during training camp. I want to see them play during the preseason games. Do you know why? I am tired of hearing how the first four weeks of the season are just an extension of the preseason.

Wins aren't easy in the NFL. Why make it harder? Why allow yourself to maybe lose a game you shouldn't because you weren't fully prepared because you took it easy during camp? Nick Sirianni agreed to a more "old school" approach thanks to Vic Fangio. No, I don't want Oklahoma drills. I just want a prepared football team.

As excited as I am to see Saquon Barkley, how much are you really going to get from camp with a running back? They may as well wear the red jersey like the quarterbacks do during 7 on 7 drills. Do you know who actually has to go one on one? Wide receivers and cornerbacks. I know what I am getting out of AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith. I can't wait to see how rookie Quinyon Mitchell matches up with them. One-on-one drills will show us how close he may be to winning a starting job.

I loved the Jurgens selection 3 years ago. I love that he was given the opportunity to play last year. I am excited to see how he takes the reigns following the Jason Kelce era. Remember the video that went viral 3 years ago when Jordan Davis pushed him 50 yards back? I am excited to see how he has gotten stronger, quicker, and more ready to be the starting center of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Thanks to Vic Fangio, the Eagles will have more of an "old school" training camp. Thanks to Vic Fangio, I actually have faith in the defense. I can't wait to see where players are lining up during workouts. Is James Bradberry a corner or a safety? Same with Avonte Maddox. I am excited to see where Fangio moves his players around. The same goes with Kellen Moore. Nick Sirianni scoffed at the idea of motion last season. Be prepared to see a lot of that this season. The offense last year got stale and predictable, don't expect that this year. We will get glimpses of that during camp.

There is no way this continues. Expectations are too high. Standards are too high. I feel like I am typing this as if I am Jalen Hurts. They know what has been said about them and what people are saying about this team. A ton of talent that fell apart last year. Will that happen this season? I don't think so, and I think it starts with them.