Give Jordan Mailata credit.<\/p>\n
The Eagles\u2019 6-foot-8, 365-pound star left tackle is known for his affinity to block things. These days in South Philadelphia, that job description has expanded from the physical realm to an existential one.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Mailata is the Eagles\u2019 de facto spokesman these days so the now-weekly angst over a perceived underachieving offense always ends up in the big man\u2019s lap.<\/p>\n
\u201cBeen here a long time, not surprised,\u201d Mailata said when asked about the latest claims surrounding quarterback Jalen Hurts, wide receiver A.J. Brown and a star-studded supporting cast that Netflix might consider greenlighting for its next potential hit drama.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the life we live here in Philly, in the NFL,\u201d Mailata explained.\u00a0<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Eagles LT Jordan Mailata \/ John McMullen\/Eagles SI<\/p>\n
Yet, through all the \u201che said, he said\u201d the Eagles stand at an NFC-best 8-2 heading into North Texas with an opportunity to put the Cowboys\u2019 playoff hopes on life support.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s Dallas week! Let\u2019s focus on that,\u201d Mailata implored.<\/p>\n
But this isn\u2019t Tom Landry, Jimmy Johnson or Larry Hagman\u2019s Dallas, it\u2019s more like the Temu version of \u201cThe Star.\u201d Think Chan Gailey, Dave Campo or heck, Brian Schottenheimer.<\/p>\n
So even the hated Cowboys can\u2019t take the steely glaze off the sexier drama many have conjured up in their minds with the Eagles.<\/p>\n
Mailata believes the locker room is built to withstand the whispers.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI know we have the right people so when we have the right people, we can continue pushing the message that we\u2019ve got a game to prepare for this week,\u201d Mailata said. \u201cWe know we haven\u2019t been playing to our best [offensively]. But that\u2019s what we\u2019re going to put our focus in \u2014 not whatever stories are leaking out from very prestigious media people.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThat, we can\u2019t control. What we can control is what we give to the game and what the game will give back to us.\u201d<\/p>\n
Distractions are nothing new in Philadelphia.<\/p>\n
\u201cI feel like we\u2019ve been here before. Kind of similar last year,\u201d the big man said. \u201cI\u2019ve been telling guys, let\u2019s just move on. We got a game to play. \u2026 Let\u2019s focus on that.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve got a great opportunity. Because one, it\u2019s the next game, and we\u2019ve got to get back for the way the offense has been playing. That\u2019s what we\u2019re focused on. \u2026 We\u2019re focused on getting the offense [going] on the road. That\u2019s our No. 1\u00a0 priority.\u201d <\/p>\n