Los Angeles Rams outside linebacker Jared Verse expects a cold reception when he plays in Philadelphia on Sunday after expressing his dislike of Eagles fans.
Verse stood by his comments made on Friday, when he told the Los Angeles Times that he “hates Eagles fans.” He attended high school in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, about 100 miles northwest of Philadelphia.
It wasn’t a surprise when Verse woke up to find his phone flooded with messages ahead of the NFC divisional round game.
“I check my phone and my Twitter blowing up out of nowhere,” Verse said. “I’m like, ‘What happened?’ First thing I see, ‘I hate Eagles fans.’ I’m like, ‘Oh, yeah, I’m done.’”
When asked if he wanted to take back what he said, Verse replied, “I just want to move on. What was said was said. That was the past. We got a game to handle.”
Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who spent six years with the New York Giants and played games in Philadelphia, thinks Verse made a mistake by sharing his thoughts so openly.
“Probably not the smartest thing to say when you’re coming to Philadelphia,” Barkley said. “I’m pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rocking, so it’s just only going to add to it.”
Verse, who was selected to the Pro Bowl, has had a standout season and is a strong contender for the AP Defensive Rookie of the Year award. He’s impressed many by recording 77 pressures and 4 1/2 sacks. During the Rams’ Week 12 game against the Eagles, he had seven tackles but didn’t register a sack or tackle for loss in the Eagles’ 37-20 win.
