Radio Row inside the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Convention Center is packed up. It’s time for the actual game, Super Bowl LVIII between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers.
Earlier in the week, though, on Radio Row, Britain Covey showed up and his words still echo regarding the infamous collapse of the Philadelphia Eagles.
“I definitely think we got emotionally tired from trying to figure out what the problem was and we kept trying to pinpoint it as this and pinpoint it as that,” said Covey.
Some may take issue with Covey speaking on behalf of the team, dismissing him as “just” the punt returner.
Never mind that he was one of the best at his job in the NFL this year. Covey was always in the locker room and a popular figure inside it, too. He certainly is well-qualified enough to have his finger on the pulse of what was happening on the inside.
“There was some miscommunication I think from coaches to players, there was some pointing fingers from player to player and there was kind of letting outside voices impact our love for the game and just the happiness that we had,” he said. “All that combined to really just make us spiral”
Covey is hoping for more of a role in the receiving game this season, and he has probably earned that right. A source said that quarterback Jalen Hurts even went to bat for Covey to get some receiver reps during games.
Now, with the Eagles needing to find receivers to fill the cupboard beside A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Covey should get some looks there once OTAs begin in May and training camp opens in July.
“Honestly, I think you’re going to see a team this year that is going to be like I’m not letting that same thing happen,” he said in Vegas. “And I’m not just saying on the field performance, but I’m not letting that impact me, I’m not letting this impact me, and I think you’re going to see a lot more resilient people, players because of it. I know I will be (but) you want to pinpoint a spot that goes wrong.”
Covey mentioned offensive coordinator Brian Johnson, who was fired and then hired by the Washington Commanders to be their passing game coordinator under OC Kliff Kingsbury.
“It wasn’t Brian Johnson, (but) I definitely think we needed some changes, and so we have a new coordinator (Kellen Moore) and I think it’s going to be good for us,” he said.
“I just think you need change, you need fresh eyes, but we still got the pieces. We still got the pieces this year and we have (a lot of) draft picks. It’s crazy. So, we’re gonna do something. I definitely think we overcorrected in some areas last year and under-corrected in others.”
