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  • 📽️ Lost in Philly with ‘Alice-Heart’ | Morning Newsletter

    📽️ Lost in Philly with ‘Alice-Heart’ | Morning Newsletter

    Happy Saturday.

    Today, I’m talking about a “Filmadelphia” movie that captures feeling lost in life, love, and youth in the city.

    But first, read on for details on the FBI and Philly police raids on an alleged Kensington drug gang, a Philadelphia-based company helping pay for President Donald Trump’s controversial ballroom, and our weekly report card on this week in news.

    — Paola Pérez (morningnewsletter@inquirer.com)

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    What you should know today

    My Filmadelphia pick

    Every Saturday, we’ll talk about something happening around Philly that’s stuck in our minds. This time, it’s “Alice-Heart,” a movie directed by Mike Macera and starring Lissa Carandang-Sweeney, Tony McCall, and Adam McAlonie.

    Sunday marks the conclusion of the 34th Philadelphia Film Festival, and I’m still thinking about one I saw last weekend: Alice-Heart, a gem of a movie showcased under the Filmadelphia program. These are films that are made for Philly, by Philly.

    The city, seen through monochromatic lens all throughout, may as well have had acting credits. With the Schuylkill River Trail, the Broad Street Line, and food favorites like Crown Fried Chicken as the backdrop, the titular 20-something tries to find meaning and figure herself out in this quaint city full of possibilities.

    Watching Alice-Heart was like watching a train wreck of the chaotic college student life, from the messy to the vulnerable and earnest. It was a sincere portrait of young, passionate people who find themselves trapped in a mess of their own making. The film also felt authentic to itself. I could tell that the people making it love Philly, and that they had fun telling this story. As for myself and the audience, if our collective reactions throughout were any indication, we certainly had fun watching it.

    (Psst: You can catch it one last time Saturday at 2 p.m. at Film Society East.)

    In other Film Fest news: West Philly native Colman Domingo will be honored on Sunday for his contributions to cinema and the city.

    One viewpoint

    In 2013, Philadelphia City Council created the Land Bank to help the city acquire and sell vacant, blighted, and tax-delinquent properties. Despite its goal, the agency has been bogged down by dysfunction.

    In the latest edition of Shackamaxon, Inquirer columnist Daniel Pearson unpacks how a shake-up by Mayor Cherelle L. Parker could lead to more affordable housing.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Somewhere in Philly, you can find the grave of Benjamin Franklin, marking the Founding Father’s final resting place (unless you believe rumors of his ghost still lurking around).

    Where is it?

    A) Penn’s Landing

    B) Franklin Institute

    C) City Hall

    D) Old City

    Think you know? Our new (weekly!) Citywide Quest game puts your knowledge of Philly’s streets to the test. Check your answer.

    🧩 Unscramble the anagram

    Hint: Nobel Peace Prize winner

    AYALA FAMOUS LIZA

    Email us if you know the answer. We’ll select a reader at random to shout out here.

    Cheers to Kathleen Wersinger who correctly guessed Friday’s answer: Carousel House. The West Philly rec center will be Philly’s “flagship.” But people with disabilities will have to wait until 2028 to reunite.

    🪩 We were there

    Seniors — both senior citizens and high school seniors — let their youthful spirits flow on the dance floor at the 12th annual Golden Age Prom in Cherry Hill on Thursday. Denali Sagner and staff photographer Yong Kim bring us this dispatch from the party.

    Somewhere on the internet in Philly

    A post on X declared: “the prettiest girl you know is probably an Eagles fan.” Naturally, a Philadelphian obliged, immediately proving the point.

    The parking situation in South Philadelphia is tight. Nothing new … but this is one wild maneuver.

    A Redditor recently shared blissful views from a fall morning walk at Pennypack Park.

    And over on Facebook, people are reminiscing in the comments about a 1960s-era photo of the Dupont Street steps in Manayunk. One nicknamed the climb “The Alps of Philadelphia.”

    👋🏽 Thanks for stopping by. Let’s do this again tomorrow morning.

    By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

  • Cherry Hill teacher and former student enjoy Eagles football rivalry that began in class 16 years ago

    Cherry Hill teacher and former student enjoy Eagles football rivalry that began in class 16 years ago

    When special education teacher Mike Surrency decided to use football to connect with sophomore Dave Siegel, there was only one problem.

    Surrency is a big-time Philadelphia Eagles fan. Siegel is a die-hard New York Giants fan.

    Despite cheering for rival teams, the two forged a friendship that began in 2009 in history class at Cherry Hill High School East and has expanded beyond school and football.

    “I can’t get him to start liking the Eagles. I tried,” Surrency said. “He loves the Giants.”

    Senior class yearbook photo of Cherry Hill High School East Class of 2010 student and New York Giants fan David Siegel (right) next to page with teacher and Eagles fan Mike Surrency. The two developed a special bond while supporting rival football teams and began attending games together when the NFC teams played in Philadelphia. They will be at the Linc Sunday for the second game between the Eagles and Giants.

    A former high school football player and coach, Surrency has been an Eagles season ticket holder since 1990. Siegel took notice when Surrency wore an Eagles jersey to school on Fridays during football season.

    Surrency thought football would help him bond with his students. As the inclusion teacher, Surrency helped ensure all students were integrated into the classroom.

    “By far, the best teacher I ever had,” Siegel said.

    One day, Siegel, then 15, asked his teacher to take him to an Eagles-Giants game at Lincoln Financial Field. (The Eagles won, 40-17.) That began a tradition that continued long after Siegel graduated in 2011.

    “It’s been history ever since,” Surrency said.

    When the NFC East rivals meet for a second time this season Sunday in Philadelphia, Surrency and Siegel will be there. The Giants upset the Eagles, 34-17, in their Oct. 9 matchup in North Jersey.

    Cherry Hill High School East class of 2010 graduate and New York Giants fan David Siegel visits teacher and Eagles fan Mike Surrency at the school this week. The two developed a special bond while supporting rival football teams and began attending games together when the NFC teams played in Philadelphia.

    ‘He’ll protect me’

    There will be plenty of traditions and trash-talking before Sunday’s game. The two plan to stop for hoagies on the way to the stadium.

    Surrency plans to wear his favorite Eagles jersey. Siegel, 33, usually doesn’t wear Giants fan gear to a game, and especially not this time.

    “As a Giants fan, I’m predicting an Eagles blowout,” Siegel said matter-of-factly. “The Eagles are at home and they want revenge.” (The Giants last won in Philadelphia in October 2013, 15-7).

    Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Rounding up experts’ picks for a Week 8 NFC East rematch

    Surrency said his fellow Eagles fans in Section 228 have welcomed Siegel. At games leading up to the Giants showdown, they often ask if Siegel will be attending the big contest against their rival team.

    “Of course he’s coming. This is his seat,” Surrency responds.

    Siegel said he has no worries about possible backlash from zealous Eagles fans. He plans to wear a 76ers jersey — a favorite team for both him and Surrency.

    “I’m not afraid of the fans,” Siegel said. “I know I have Surrency. He’ll protect me.”

    Cherry Hill High School East Class of 2010 student and New York Giants fan David Siegel quickly removes his jersey after posing for a photo with teacher and Eagles fan Mike Surrency during a visit at the school Monday. Seigel says he “never wears the apparel after they lose,” which they did the day before to the Denver Broncos.

    Siegel can easily rattle off statistics about the Eagles-Giants rivalry. He has attended 14 games with Surrency; the Eagles won 12 of those.

    The two occasionally travel up the New Jersey Turnpike to attend Eagles-Giants games at MetLife stadium in East Rutherford. They also attend baseball and basketball games.

    Giants prepare Jaxson Dart for playing in Philly: ‘He’s about to get introduced to all [of his haters]’

    Cathleen Lynch, a counselor at East, began sharing their story when she learned recently about the special bond between Surrency and his former student.

    “It gave me goose bumps,” Lynch said. “It’s amazing that they’re still doing this every year.”

    During a recent visit at East, Siegel and Surrency traded jabs about their teams. Surrency wore a custom-made Eagles jersey with his last name and No. 44 — from his high school football-playing days. Siegel wore former Giants defensive end Michael Strahan’s No. 92.

    “I always tell people that Surrency is my mentor. I don’t see him as a teacher.”

    “This thing we have is definitely bigger than football,” said David Siegel of his former Cherry Hill High School East teacher Mike Surrency. “It’s a blessing to have someone like him in my life.”

    ‘Bigger than football’

    No matter the outcome of an Eagles-Giants game, Siegel and Surrency have a rule that they follow religiously on the ride home afterward: no trash-talking about who won.

    “This thing we have is definitely bigger than football,” Siegel said. “It’s a blessing to have someone like him in my life.”

    Siegel met Surrency in 2007 while taking summer classes. The two became close, talking about sports. They have opposing baseball teams, too. Siegel is a Mets fan, Surrency a Phillies fan.

    Two years later, Siegel was pleasantly surprised to land in Surrency’s U.S. history I class. Surrency took notes provided to all students that helped him pass all four marking periods with two A’s and two B’s and a final grade of a B, Siegel said.

    A former Sony sales rep, Surrency, 62, became a teacher when the company downsized. He has been at East for his entire 22-year teaching career.

    “It was the best thing to happen,” Surrency said.

    Surrency, the father of an adult daughter and a grandfather, said he has invited other students to Eagles games. Siegel, by far, has attended the most games with him.

    Over the years, their relationship has changed from teacher-student, he said. Siegel, a recreation therapist at a nursing home, often calls Surrency for advice.

    “I just want to make sure he’s fine in the outside world. I’m there if he needs me, no matter what,” Surrency said.

    Added Siegel: “He’s always been there for me.”

  • The OY/YO statue is coming back

    The OY/YO statue is coming back

    I recently visited my favorite piece of Philly public art, at my favorite New Jersey sculpture garden.

    No longer at its home outside the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History on the corner of Fifth and Market Streets, the bright “Lamborghini yellow” sculpture that then-curator Josh Perelman called “an ongoing love letter to the city,” had gone away for some R & R — removal and refurbishment.

    The “Y” waits to be refurbished at the Johnson Atelier in September.

    Installed in 2022, the work by Brooklyn, N.Y.-based artist Deborah Kass quickly became one of our city’s most selfied spots — right up there with that bell just across Independence Mall.

    It was only supposed to be here a year, but it stayed around (although the museum is hopeful, it’s still not officially permanent).

    Students from Hillwood Middle School in Ft. Worth, Texas visit in 2022.

    After years on the busy corner (and all those field-tripping middle-schoolers climbing on it) the museum scheduled a removal in May of the eight foot tall Y and O letters for freshening up, planned to coincide with the continuing construction along Market Street through Old City.

    Knowing my feelings for their sculpture, the folks at the museum invited me to photograph the refurbishment.

    The letters did not require extensive work, and the aluminum was treated not unlike body work on a car: removing dents, priming, painting and leaving a durable finish.

    At the Johnson Atelier, a facility established by Seward Johnson in 1974 to give artists greater involvement in the production of their work, I was not allowed to photograph from any angle that showed any other art works in the background. And there were plenty (sigh), like an eight-foot tall metal hand sitting on the floor, right across from the “Y” (I had to sign an NDA).

    Looking over the fence from a public area at Grounds for Sculpture in 2019. A collection of trompe-l’œil painted sculptures by Seward Johnson in the yard at the adjacent Johnson Atelier.

    Adding to the lack of visual variety, the letters went into the painting booth one at a time, so I couldn’t make a picture of them in the same frame. And I could only see the workers in the booth from outside – through a couple of windows. But that is exactly the kind of photographic challenge I most enjoy.

    Now, after a few months the two giant letters are both as good as new and are scheduled to be reinstalled this Saturday.

    Weitzman president and CEO Dan Tadmor, looking forward to its return to their corner heading into the nation’s 250th says, “Deborah Kass’s OY/YO celebrates the spirit of a city that’s always spoken in its own voice: bold, funny, and full of heart.”

    Since 1998 a black-and-white photo has appeared every Monday in staff photographer Tom Gralish’s “Scene Through the Lens” photo column in the print editions of The Inquirer’s local news section. Here are the most recent, in color:

    October 20, 2025:The yellow shipping container next to City Hall attracted a line of over 300 people that stretched around a corner of Dilworth Park. Bystanders wondered as they watched devotees reaching the front take their selfies inside a retro Philly diner-esque booth tableau. Followers on social media had been invited to “Climb on to immerse yourself in the worlds of Pleasing Fragrance, Big Lip, and exclusive treasures,” including a spin of the “Freebie Wheel,” for products of the unisex lifestyle brand Pleasing, created by former One Direction singer Harry Styles.
    October 11, 2025: Can you find the Phillie Phanatic, as he leaves a “Rally for Red October Bus Tour” stop in downtown Westmont, N.J. just before the start of the NLDS? There’s always next year and he’ll be back. The 2026 Spring Training schedule has yet to be announced by Major League Baseball, but Phillies pitchers and catchers generally first report to Clearwater, Florida in mid-February.
    October 6. 2025: Fluorescent orange safety cone, 28 in, Poly Ethylene. Right: Paint Torch (detail) Claes Oldenburg, 2011, Steel, Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic, Gelcoat and Polyurethane. (Gob of paint, 6 ft. Main sculpture, 51 ft.). Lenfest Plaza at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts on North Broad Street, across from the Convention Center.
    September 29, 2025: A concerned resident who follows Bucks County politics, Kevin Puls records the scene before a campaign rally for State Treasurer Stacy Garrity, the GOP candidate for governor. His T-shirt is “personal clickbait” with a url to direct people to the website for The Travis Manion Foundation created to empower veterans and families of fallen heroes. The image on the shirts is of Greg Stocker, one of the hosts of Kayal and Company, “A fun and entertaining conservative spin on Politics, News, and Sports,” mornings on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.
    September 22, 2025: A shadow is cast by “The Cock’s Comb,” created by Alexander “Sandy” Calder in 1960, is the first work seen by visitors arriving at Calder Gardens, the new sanctuary on the Ben Franklin Parkway. The indoor and outdoor spaces feature the mobiles, stabiles, and paintings of Calder, who was born in Philadelphia in 1898, the third generation of the family’s artistic legacy in the city.
    September 15, 2025: Department of Streets Director of Operations Thomas Buck leaves City Hall following a news conference marking the activation of Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) cameras on the Broad Street corridor – one the city’s busiest and most dangerous roads. The speed limit on the street, also named PA Route 611, is 25 mph.
    September 8, 2025: Middle schoolers carry a boat to the water during their first outing in a learn-to-row program with the Cooper Junior Rowing Club, at the Camden County Boathouse on the Cooper River in Pennsauken.
    September 1, 2025: Trumpet player Rome Leone busks at City Hall’s Easr Portal. The Philadelphia native plays many instruments, including violin and piano, which he started playing when he was 3 years old. He tells those who stop to talk that his grandfather played with Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Nina Simone, and Dizzy Gillespie.
    August 25, 2025: Bicycling along on East Market Street.
    August 18, 2025: Just passing through Center City; another extraterrestrial among us.
    August 11, 2025: Chris Brown stows away Tongue, the mascot for a new hard iced tea brand, after wearing the lemon costume on a marketing stroll through the Historic District. Trenton-based Crooked Tea is a zero-sugar alcoholic tea brand founded by the creator of Bai, the antioxidant-infused coconut-flavored water, and launched in April with former Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham as a partner.
    August 4,2025: Shanna Chandler and her daughters figure out their plans for a morning spent in Independence National Historical Park on the map in the Independence Visitor Center. The women (from left) Lora, 20; Shanna; Lenna, 17; and Indigo, 29, were stopping on their way home to Richmond, Virginia after vacationing in Maine. The last time they were all in Philadelphia Shanna was pregnant with Lenna.
    July 28, 2025: Louis-Amaury Beauchet, a professional bridge player from Brittany, France, takes a break between game sessions in an empty ballroom during the North American Bridge Championships at the Center City Marriott with some 4000 people in town over week of the tournament. The American Contract Bridge League is hosting the week of meetings and tournaments with bridge players from all over the world. The ACBL is the largest bridge organization in North America, with over 120,000 members (down from around 165,000 before COVID). Bridge draws players of all ages and walks of life – fictional characters James Bond and Snoopy both played as do billionaires Bill Gates and Warren Buffett (who sometimes play as partners).
    July 21, 2015: Signage for the Kustard Korner in Egg Harbor City, on the way to the Jersey Shore. President Ronald Reagan designated July as National Ice Cream Month and the third Sunday of the month.
    July 14, 2025: Fans watch a game at the Maple Shade Babe Ruth Field, part of the 20th Annual Franny Friel Summer Classic, on a cool(er) night with a refreshing breeze, the weekend before the MLB All-Star Game (with Kyle Schwarber the lone Phillies representative).

    Âť SEE MORE: Archived columns and Twenty years of a photo column.

  • How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to Superintendent Tony Watlington

    How to have a Perfect Philly Day, according to Superintendent Tony Watlington

    Tony B. Watlington Sr. took some razzing when he arrived in Philadelphia for a high-stakes job: superintendent of the city’s public school system.

    Who was this outsider hired to run the nation’s eighth-largest school system?

    Watlington was born in New Jersey — Fort Dix, to be exact — but spent most of his life and all of his career in North Carolina, with the lilting Southern accent to prove it.

    Philadelphia School District Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Sr. at round table discussion at Murrell Dobbins Career & Technical Education High School Sept. 2, 2025.

    But since 2022, Watlington has been a Philadelphian — a distinction he’s now proud to claim. (He’s staying around, too — the school board just extended Watlington’s contract through 2030.)

    While most Philadelphians describe their perfect day away from work, Watlington couldn’t help himself.

    5:45 a.m.

    I’m up early, and I’m either out early getting a run on the Schuylkill or doing an indoor CrossFit workout. I work out for one hour — and I make sure to spend plenty of time stretching.

    8 a.m.

    I walk into my office, and it is clutter-free. All my emails are responded to from the evening before — though some come in overnight. All of my phone calls are returned from the previous day, so I get to hit the ground running, ahead and not behind. That is really important to me.

    After I get a cup of coffee and look at that nice email inbox, I meet with the chief financial officer [Mike Herbstman] if it’s a Monday. He’s the first person I meet with every single week — we talk about district finances.

    Philadelphia School District superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. (left) stops to talk with Marie Williams, the grandparent of a Building 21 High School student as he leaves a meeting with families, students and staff of the school at Strawberry Mansion High School Sunday Mar. 5, 2023.

    Then I’m ready to gear up and hit the trail with district spokesperson Monique Braxton, or Deputy Chief [of Government and Community Relations Edwin] Santana, and we’re out and about. My perfect day would be to spend more than 50% of the day in schools, with teachers, principals, and students.

    Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr. eats lunch with students at Hunter Elementary in North Philadelphia: pizza, carrots and green beans, fruit cup. Watlington also drank chocolate milk and chatted with kids about the first day of school of the 2025-26 school year.

    When I’m not in schools, during that 50% of the day that I’m out of the office, I’m engaging with other external stakeholders — everything from grassroots organizations, elected officials at the city and state level, and with our federally elected officials, and also with members of the philanthropic community. I believe strongly in this notion of “nothing for us without us.”

    I want to see how well things are going, and get some real-time feedback. One thing I love about Philadelphia: you don’t have to guess what people think. We are a frank city.

    Philadelphia Eagles’ Jason Kelce shares a laugh with School District of Philadelphia Superintendent Dr. Tony Watlington on Tuesday, Dec. 10, 2024, during Operation Snowball Media Day at Shipmates in Philadelphia, Pa.The team is giving gifts to Philly school children with the money raised from the Eagles holiday album A Philly Specials Christmas Party.

    3-5:30 p.m.

    On Mondays, myself, the deputy, and associate superintendents spend the latter part of the day into the evening in a cabinet meeting. I never get home in time for the 6:30 p.m. news, which I used to like to see as a teacher sometimes.

    Evening

    I try to eat a healthy dinner, get a good night’s sleep, and drink plenty of water.

    Even though I’m an empty nester at this point, that’s the time to either get a quick phone call or check in with my family, including my three sons Tony Jr., Aaron, and Caleb, who love coming to Philadelphia.

    By the time I get to the end of the week or the weekend, I’m ready for more of the robust things in Philadelphia, like cheesesteaks.

    Superintendent Tony B. Watlington, Ed.D, during State-of-the-schools address, High School of the Future, Philadelphia, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. .

    I have found so many places in Philadelphia for good food. Today, I had a chicken gyro from the Reading Terminal Market.

    The other day, I went back to the first restaurant where my predecessor in Philly [William R. Hite Jr.] first took me to lunch, Talula’s Garden.

    Dr. William Hite (foreground) listens to Tony Watlington Sr., the Philadelphia Public School districts new superintendent. Photograph taken on the morning of his announcement at the School District Headquarters at 440 N. Broad Street in Philadelphia on Friday morning April 1, 2022.

    Now I’ve learned here in year four to just kind of wander around the city and so I’ve got a two-page list of restaurants. Everywhere I go, I’m always adding something new.

    If there’s time, I try to be very intentional about being able to get out and cheer for the teams here. I am a frequent visitor to the stadiums, to see the Eagles, the Phillies, and the 76ers. The only team I’ve not actually been to a sporting event for yet is the Flyers. That’s on my list for year four.

    Dr. Tony Watlington Sr. Ed.D, Superintendent of Philadelphia schools helps kick off the Ring the Bell PHL campaign at Citizens Bank Park on Tuesday, August 13, 2024. This kick off starts the community thinking about upcoming school year.
  • Villanova’s Pat McQuaide and Luke Colella have formed instant chemistry on a tight-knit team

    Villanova’s Pat McQuaide and Luke Colella have formed instant chemistry on a tight-knit team

    After Luke Colella officially transferred to Villanova this offseason, someone stopped by his hometown outside of Pittsburgh for a visit.

    It was Pat McQuaide, Villanova’s quarterback.

    McQuaide was on his way home to the Cleveland area, but decided to make a pit stop in Wexford, Pa., to meet his new wide receiver and throw to him.

    “I think that’s kind of where the chemistry started,” Colella said.

    Fast forward seven games into the 2025 season, Colella has become McQuaide’s top target within Villanova’s offense. Colella leads the Wildcats with 41 receptions — 23 more than any other receiver — 630 receiving yards, and three touchdowns. Of McQuaide’s 115 completions this season, 35% of them have gone to Colella.

    Villanova extends its winning streak to four games in 56-14 rout over Hampton

    Two weeks ago, McQuaide found Colella on back-to-back drives for touchdowns against Elon. The connection keyed a 26 -point second half for the Wildcats, who rallied from 11 down at the break to defeat the Phoenix, 29-21. Colella finished the game with a career-high 10 receptions and racked up 125 receiving yards to go along with the two touchdowns, while McQuaide threw for 255 yards and the pair of scores.

    During last weekend’s dismantling of Hampton, when the Wildcats led 49-0 at halftime, McQuaide again turned to his go-to guy Colella, hitting the receiver for a 34-yard touchdown before Villanova’s starters were pulled in the second half.

    The two graduate students will look to continue their success Saturday when No. 11/12 Villanova hosts Albany (3:30 p.m., NBCSP+) on homecoming weekend. The 5-2 Wildcats are seeking their fifth consecutive win and 20th straight victory at Villanova Stadium dating back to 2022.

    Acing chemistry

    McQuaide and Colella’s chemistry extends beyond just quarterback and receiver. They have become close friends.

    “Luke’s great,” McQuaide said. “First of all, he’s a great kid. He doesn’t technically live with me, but he pretty much lives with me. He lives across the hall. He’s in my room all the time. And I think that’s probably one of the reasons why it has been so big for us this year in the passing game.”

    Villanova’s offensive coordinator Chris Boden has taken notice of the bond McQuaide and Colella have quickly cultivated.

    “They’re very tight off the field,” Boden said. “They have a great relationship. I mean, it’s just nonstop back and forth, busting each other. They’ve just been on the same page. Personality-wise, they mesh really well. They’re high energy.”

    McQuaide’s infectious energy seemingly doesn’t have an off switch. Every time he hits a receiver for a touchdown, the quarterback can be seen zipping down the field to celebrate with his teammates.

    Villanova quarterback Pat McQuaide has thrown 10 touchdowns compared to one interception this season.

    Boden, a former Villanova quarterback himself, has nicknamed McQuaide the “juice captain” of the team.

    “It’s a big part of my game, just trying to bring energy,” McQuaide said after the win against Hampton. “I just try to be a source of positive energy and try to remind everybody that we’re playing a game, and games are supposed to be fun. I think that positive energy is contagious.”

    Boden echoed that statement when asked about McQuaide’s personality.

    “He just has a very contagious personality,” Boden said. “He’s high tempo. He’ll bark at the guys, and he’s always talking. He breaks down the team. He breaks down the offense. He does it on the field as well. He’s got nonstop chatter on the field. And I’ve never had a quarterback that led with that much energy.”

    Acaden Lewis looks like ‘the real deal’ in Villanova’s debut, an exhibition win against VCU

    ‘What it means to be a Wildcat’

    Despite starting their college careers in different programs, McQuaide and Colella’s journeys have some similarities as graduate transfers. McQuaide, a Nicholls State transfer, and Colella, a transfer from Princeton, arrived on the Main Line this year with one final season of collegiate eligibility.

    Both players also harped that the culture of the program was a big reason why they chose Villanova.

    “A lot of people use the word culture, and I think that it’s really, really good here,” Colella said. “And I think that’s a testament to what the coaches bring to the table here. I think it’s just a really close group that gives us that feeling as soon as you walk in here, where it feels like I’ve known [McQuaide] for 10 years.”

    McQuaide credits coaches who were once former Wildcats, like Boden, for helping foster that special culture.

    Mark Ferrante has built a strong family culture at Villanova and has the Wildcats eyeing a fifth FCS playoff appearance in his nine seasons at the helm.

    “I think it’s great when you have coaches that come back,” McQuaide said. “We talk all the time about protecting the brand, the ‘V’, it’s a sacred thing for us, and people hate the ‘V’ outside of here. It’s bigger than just the guys that we have on this team and on this staff. I think having guys like Coach [Mark] Ferrante, who spent his whole career [here] for the most part, and Coach Boden and Coach [Forrest] Rhyne. All of those guys that played here, you can’t put a price on that.”

    For McQuaide and Colella, this season’s accomplishments are not just for them; they are for the Wildcats who played before them and the ones who will come after them. After just a few months spent on the Main Line, the two already feel the significance of what culture and family mean to Villanova as the Wildcats chase a Coastal Athletic Association title and third consecutive playoff appearance.

    “The tightness of the group is obviously set by the coaches,” Colella said. “Like, you look to our left and all the coaches are running stairs together. I’ve never seen that before. I’m sure Pat hasn’t either. They’re together right now, doing their thing. I think it’s really reflective of what it means to be a Wildcat.”

  • King of Prussia Mall is getting a real-life gaming venue with a bar-restaurant

    King of Prussia Mall is getting a real-life gaming venue with a bar-restaurant

    Another experiential retail concept is coming to the region. This time it’s a live social-gaming venue at the King of Prussia Mall.

    Massachusetts-based Level99 announced this week that it plans to bring its next “sprawling adult playground” to the Montgomery County shopping destination in 2027. The move marks the company’s first foray into the Philadelphia market.

    The 46,000-square-foot venue will include 50 “life-size mini games” geared toward adults, according to a news release, and a full-service restaurant and bar serving local craft beer.

    “Level99 goes beyond your conventional entertainment venue — it’s a place to play, explore, and actively connect,” Matthew DuPlessie, founder and CEO of Level99, said in a statement.

    The venue is moving into the ground floor of the former JCPenney, which closed in 2017.

    It will be across the mall from the 100,000-square-foot Netflix House. The immersive experience for fans of the streaming service’s shows is set to open Nov. 12 in the former Lord & Taylor department store.

    Level99 customers race through the venue’s signature “Axe Run” game, one of 50 mini-challenges set to be part of King of Prussia’s location when it opens in 2027.

    “We’re thrilled to welcome Level99 to King of Prussia, further elevating our commitment to delivering dynamic, experience-driven destinations,” Mark Silvestri, president of development for mall owner Simon Property Group, said in a statement. ”This innovative concept brings a new layer of interactive entertainment to King of Prussia and is a perfect complement to our growing lineup of immersive offerings.”

    As more consumers shop online, experiential retail has transformed malls nationwide, helping complexes fill empty spaces and attract new customers.

    In the Philadelphia region, Cherry Hill Mall is set to open a Dick’s House of Sport next year. The 120,000-square-foot space will include a climbing wall, golf simulators, a running track, and batting and soccer cages.

    Cherry Hill Mall is getting a Dick’s House of Sport

    At the Moorestown Mall, an empty department store is set to be filled by a massive entertainment center with axe-throwing and go-karts.

    In Center City, the Fashion District’s owners are considering adding more experiential retail after the success of nearby spots like Puttshack mini golf and F1 Arcade.

    And along with the forthcoming Netflix House, the King of Prussia Mall recently opened the Philadelphia area’s first Eataly, a 21,000-square-food Italian-centric marketplace and wine shop.

    At Level99 venues, customers can choose from 50 mini-games that test mental and physical skills.

    Level99 has been riding this experiential retail wave, opening its flagship location in 2021 at the Natick Mall in suburban Boston. The company opened another location in Providence, R.I., in January 2024, then added a third this summer in the Washington suburb of Tysons, Va. It has projects under construction in Hartford, Conn., and at Disney Springs in Orlando.

    At existing Level99 locations, pricing starts at $29.99 per person for two hours of play, according to its website. Prices increase on weekends and holidays, and if a customer wants more time.

    Level99 is supported by Act III Holdings, a $1.5 billion private-equity investment firm led by Panera Bread cofounder and Cava chairman Ron Shaich. Last month, Act III executives announced a $50 million commitment to the chain’s expansion into new markets, including Philadelphia.

    Unlike some other Philly-area malls, King of Prussia is thriving, with more than 450 stores occupying 2.9 million square feet of retail space.

  • Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Giants in Week 8: What you need to know and a prediction

    Jeff McLane’s keys to Eagles vs. Giants in Week 8: What you need to know and a prediction

    The Eagles host the New York Giants in a Week 8 matchup at Lincoln Financial Field at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Here’s what you need to know about the game:

    When the Eagles have the ball

    Wide receiver A.J. Brown is out with a hamstring injury. His presence is of obvious importance. DeVonta Smith has had more of the hot hand recently, but the attention his counterpart receives from defenses has helped Smith catch 21 of 26 targets for 346 yards over the last three games.

    Jalen Hurts’ bounce-back performance against the Vikings will mean only so much if momentum is stalled a week later. And no Brown, despite whatever may be bothering him off the field, will make it that much harder on the quarterback. Receiver Jahan Dotson’s workload will increase. John Metchie, Xavier Gipson, and possibly Darius Cooper (shoulder) are next on the receiver depth chart. Tight end Dallas Goedert figures to be Hurts’ second option.

    Eagles vs. Giants predictions: Our writers pick a winner for Week 8

    Can the Giants make it as hard on Hurts in the rematch? They play more man coverage than almost any other defense, and normally, that’s a recipe for passing success for the Eagles. But Hurts had his worst game of the season in the initial meeting. He saw blitzes only a quarter of the time, but he was sacked twice and tossed an interception when defensive coordinator Shane Bowen sent extra rushers.

    The Giants’ strength remains their front four. Brian Burns, Dexter Lawrence, Abdul Carter, and Kayvon Thibodeaux pressured Hurts a combined 11 times. The Eagles’ offensive line will be without center Cam Jurgens (knee). Brett Toth, his likely replacement, may be a marked man.

    Brett Toth likely will fill in at center for the injured Cam Jurgens against the Giants on Sunday.

    The Eagles still were unable to run the ball in Minnesota, but the increased use of under-center runs led to success off play-action. It’s a wonder it took Nick Sirianni and Kevin Patullo so long to get to it. But the hope is that the four passes for 121 yards and a touchdown that came after Hurts was under center will force the Giants to respect the pass.

    Saquon Barkley has been facing six-man fronts and stacked boxes at an increased rate this season, and the only way to slow it is for Hurts to make defenses pay with his arm. The Giants, who ranked third-to-last in the NFL in expected points added per rush, offer another opportunity to get Barkley off the schneid. He would like nothing better than to do so against his former employer.

    The Eagles were without star defensive tackle Jalen Carter in their first game against the Giants, a 34-17 loss in Week 6.

    When the Giants have the ball

    The Eagles found out 90 minutes before the last game vs. the Giants that they would be without defensive tackle Jalen Carter. They then lost cornerback Quinyon Mitchell in the early going. The absence of two of their best defensive players wasn’t a fitting excuse for how Vic Fangio’s unit performed at the Meadowlands, but it helped explain a season-worst outing.

    Carter (heel/shoulder) returned the following week and had arguably his best performance with two hurries that led to interceptions. He hasn’t quite looked like the game wrecker he was most of last season, but it was a step in the right direction.

    Jalen Carter, Landon Dickerson, Nakobe Dean among five reasons Eagles will win the rematch vs. Giants

    Mitchell, meanwhile, had a lot to do with keeping Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson in check on Sunday. The other cornerback spot is a question mark with Adoree’ Jackson out with a concussion. Kelee Ringo has toggled back and forth at the spot and likely will start again with Jakorian Bennett (pectoral) still out.

    One possible way to avoid the return of Ringo would be to move Cooper DeJean outside in all packages and play Parry Nickerson in the slot in nickel personnel.

    The Giants may have Darius Slayton (hamstring) back, but their receiver group isn’t the same without Malik Nabers, even though the Eagles made them look superior in the first meeting. Safety has been an under-the-radar issue. Rookie Drew Mukuba has been out of position at times, which has stressed Reed Blankenship, who hasn’t been as impactful.

    Giants rookie running back Cam Skattebo rushed for 98 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-17 victory over the Eagles in Week 6.

    Tackling was an issue the first time around. The Eagles missed 11 and got bowled over by Giants running back Cam Skattebo (19 carries for 98 yards and three touchdowns). They also had trouble getting rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart to the ground. He escaped several would-be sacks and scrambled five times for 42 yards — he rushed for 58 yards overall.

    The Eagles are down another edge rusher with Azeez Ojulari (hamstring) sidelined. Brandon Graham came out of retirement this week, but he’s still ramping up. That leaves just Jalyx Hunt, Joshua Uche, and Patrick Johnson at outside linebacker. Inside linebacker Jihaad Campbell helped on the edge the last game, but mostly on base downs and had only three pass-rush attempts. He may get more on Sunday.

    Eagles Week 8 film preview: Key for big day for Jalen Hurts, stopping Giants rookie duo, and more

    Extra point

    The Eagles enter about as banged up as they’ve been all season with three starters sidelined. They’re already without outside linebacker Nolan Smith. Middle linebacker Nakobe Dean’s return helped settle the run defense last week, and he could do the same against the Giants. But Brown and Jurgens are key guys, and missing Jackson and Ojulari will test the team’s depth.

    Still, it’s hard to win twice within the division, especially within a 17-day span. The Giants may be reeling from an epic choke against the Denver Broncos. It’s not like they have much to fall back on. Dart and Skattebo have brought energy to a floundering franchise, but I like the odds that Fangio won’t have another hiccup against an inferior opponent.

    Prediction: Eagles 26, Giants 19

  • Brandon Graham’s return to the Eagles, a can’t-miss podcast about a Philly sports villain, and other thoughts

    Brandon Graham’s return to the Eagles, a can’t-miss podcast about a Philly sports villain, and other thoughts

    First and final thoughts, rapid-fire style …

    The Philadelphia region, at least the healthy portion of the population that cares deeply about the Eagles, went gaga this week over the news that Brandon Graham was coming out of retirement and re-signing with the team. That reaction was, of course, expected and understandable.

    Graham was a terrific player, a favorite of the fans who rooted for him and the media who covered him. He made the most significant defensive play in franchise history. And he was now authoring a new chapter to his story — that of the old, beloved hero, riding back into town to save the day.

    Brandon Graham says he didn’t want to retire — and this isn’t the first time the Eagles tried to bring him back

    But those syrupy-sweet sentiments didn’t change the reality that the Eagles’ defense needed some saving. Ahead of Sunday’s matchup against the Giants, the Eagles rank 25th in the NFL in sacks, 22nd in pressure percentage, and 24th in rushing yards allowed per attempt. Yes, they’ve been missing Nolan Smith, and his eventual return should help, but even with him active, their defense would be thin up front.

    Look at it this way, from a colder, more clinical perspective: This week, the Eagles acquired a 37-year-old defensive end who retired after last season — a season in which he tore his triceps, sat out nine weeks, returned to play in the Super Bowl, then re-tore his triceps despite lining up for just 13 snaps in that game.

    If this player’s name weren’t Brandon Graham, we’d be focused a lot more on how desperate this team was to improve its lousy pass rush and find a defensive end who can set the edge.

    Sixers start with a win

    The 76ers’ season-opening victory over the Celtics on Wednesday in Boston was significant not just because VJ Edgecombe announced his presence with 34 points or because Tyrese Maxey dropped 40, but also because it felt like a transitional moment for the franchise and its future.

    Rookie guard VJ Edgecombe had a sensational debut in Boston with 34 points.

    Joel Embiid did not play at all over the game’s final 9 minutes, 18 seconds, and when he did play, he spent most of his time on the perimeter, running two-man action with Maxey and heaving long three-pointers. Perhaps he simply needs more time and more games to get back into playing shape, but for at least that night, the Sixers were better — freer, younger, more athletic — when he wasn’t on the floor.

    Recommended listening

    The latest episode of the podcast Pablo Torre Finds Out, in which the host and one of his correspondents, author and reporter Dave Fleming, dive into the (often-exaggerated and self-aggrandized) background and football expertise of Mike Lombardi.

    A former NFL executive and longtime acolyte of Bill Belichick, Lombardi is now the general manager of the University of North Carolina’s football program and is one of the sources of the controversy and ridicule that now surround the Tar Heels.

    Jalen Hurts has never been better in saving the Eagles against the Vikings

    Around here, though, Lombardi probably is best known for his regular appearances on WIP during Doug Pederson’s tenure as the Eagles’ coach — and for saying, less than a year before Super Bowl LII, that Pederson was “was less qualified to coach a team than anyone I’ve ever seen.”

    The episode is devastating for the way Fleming and Torre marshal facts and insights to demonstrate what some of us who have followed the Eagles for a long time have known for a long time: that Mike Lombardi is pretty much full of it.

    Bits and pieces

    A.J. Brown will not play Sunday. Which means somebody had better keep an eye on Jahan Dotson’s Instagram page. … Maybe, for all those years, Ben Simmons just had the under on himself. …

    Over his first seven games this season, Sean Couturier led the Flyers in points (eight) and, among their forwards, ice time (19:42 per game). It sure seems that he still has whatever John Tortorella thought he didn’t. … The only way the last four weeks could have gone worse for James Franklin is if a ground ball back to the mound had caromed off his ankle.

    The Eagles will be without A.J. Brown this week because of his hamstring injury.

    I don’t want to talk about it

    The Toronto Blue Jays are in the World Series for the first time in 32 years. The last time they were there, on Oct. 23, 1993, a group of friends and I were attending a Flyers game when we abruptly left in the middle of the third period, sprinted to my tuna-can ’85 Chevy Cavalier parked outside the Spectrum, piled in, and raced back to St. Katharine’s Hall at La Salle University … all to catch the final three innings of Game 6.

    The rest of my memories of that night are hazy and not worth mentioning.

    Bernie Parent was the best of the Flyers and the best of Philadelphia. RIP.

  • The fight between AI companies and the websites that hate them

    A lawsuit by online message board Reddit gives you a glimpse at the knockdown boxing match behind chatbot conversations.

    In one corner are artificial intelligence services that gobble information from across the internet to help you plan a vacation or create silly videos. In the other corner are companies that are sometimes unwilling or overwhelmed sources of that data.

    In its lawsuit, similar to ones against AI companies by news organizations, Hollywood studios, book authors, and others, Reddit alleges that the start-up Perplexity benefited from improperly using its website as AI fuel.

    The claims are an example of warnings from Reddit, Wikipedia, and others that say if the boxing match continues as is, AI services may kill the websites and other source material that we love.

    Dating back at least to the death of Napster a quarter-century ago, there have been constant fights over technology upstarts that remix media and information or deliver it in new ways. AI could be the most intractable fight of all.

    AI ‘bank robbers’ vs. Reddit

    The 20 years of our Reddit debates about the best Welsh restaurants and quiet air conditioners are gold for AI services. They typically need truckloads of online information like that to “train” their computers and serve up responses to your AI queries.

    Reddit knows how valuable it is and laid out ground rules for AI companies that wanted to profit from siphoning Reddit message boards in bulk: AI companies needed a paid contract with Reddit and to respect its guardrails.

    Some companies, including Google and ChatGPT parent company OpenAI, agreed to Reddit’s terms. For AI companies that didn’t agree, Reddit put up digital walls to block AI companies’ spiderlike software that crawls over websites to harvest their information.

    According to Reddit, Perplexity’s CEO promised Reddit’s top lawyer more than a year ago to respect Reddit’s digital walls. Perplexity, which makes what it calls an AI “answer” engine and an AI-specialized web browser, instead found another way to siphon Reddit pages, the company says.

    (The Washington Post has partnerships with Perplexity and OpenAI.)

    Reddit’s lawsuit, filed Wednesday in a New York federal court, said that Perplexity hired at least one data-siphoning middleman to grab many billions of pages of Reddit material indirectly, from Google search results.

    Those middlemen allegedly used technically sophisticated tactics to get around Google’s digital defenses against unwanted siphoning by bots. Reddit said that it obtained this information from a subpoena to Google in a different, secret lawsuit.

    Reddit’s lawsuit compared what Perplexity and the bot-for-hire middlemen did to “bank robbers” who know they can’t get into the bank vault and “break into the armored truck carrying the cash instead.”

    In a post on Reddit, Perplexity said that Reddit is after money. The lawsuit is a “sad example of what happens when public data becomes a big part of a public company’s business model,” Perplexity said.

    Google said that it has “strong technical measures to prevent this type of malicious abuse, because it undermines the choices websites make about who can access their content.”

    What this means for you

    Experts have said that the law generally protects technology companies that take copyrighted materials like news articles, books, and movies and put them to a new, creative use. Many AI companies say that their products meet that legal standard.

    Blake Reid, an associate professor at the University of Colorado Law School, said that Reddit’s case adds an extra wrinkle: The company doesn’t hold the copyright to Reddit posts. The people who created those posts do. Reid said that helps make the lawsuit’s outcome unpredictable.

    Regardless, AI keeps running into a paradox: To be useful, new forms of AI rely on ingesting vast swaths of the past, present, and future internet. But doing so can increase costs and divert users from websites, which imperils the internet we use.

    We’ve heard similar complaints before. Entertainment companies sued YouTube for giving you free access to their creations. Music companies have howled over TikTok letting you create dance videos to Taylor Swift tunes. News organizations have groused that Google and Facebook let you browse the news without buying newspapers or visiting news websites.

    The content companies have typically found ways to grudgingly live with, and even profit from, the technology upstarts. AI is different, said Toshit Panigrahi, CEO of TollBit, which helps websites get paid for AI data collection.

    AI services grab information at warp speed and at industrial scale from so many places, including news and entertainment sites, cruise operators, and furniture sellers. Panigrahi said that the old pattern — technology changes are good for us and the owners of digital creations — may no longer apply.

    “This is changing how the internet works fundamentally,” he said.

  • Eagles vs. Giants: Everything you need to know about Sunday’s rematch at the Linc

    Eagles vs. Giants: Everything you need to know about Sunday’s rematch at the Linc

    Two weeks ago, the Eagles went into MetLife Stadium and suffered their worst loss of the season at the hands of rookies Jaxson Dart and Cam Skattebo.

    On Sunday, the Eagles have their opportunity for revenge at the Linc, with an improved passing game that showed its full potential against Minnesota. But they’ll have to do it without receiver A.J. Brown, who is out with a hamstring injury.

    Here’s our viewer’s guide to get you ready for kickoff, with everything you need to know about the team’s Week 8 matchup …

    How to watch Eagles vs. Giants

    The Eagles vs. Giants game will air live on Fox at 1 p.m. Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady will call the game from the booth, with Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi on the sideline.

    If you’d rather listen to Merrill Reese and Mike Quick call the game, the radio broadcast can be found on 94.1 WIP, and if you’re not heading to the Linc, but want to watch the game with your fellow Birds fans, here are a few spots to check out.

    Final injury report

    Wide receiver A.J. Brown (hamstring) is one of three starters who have been ruled out for Sunday.

    OUT

    • CB Jakorian Bennett (pectoral)
    • Brown (hamstring)
    • DE Brandon Graham (not injury related)
    • CB Adoree’ Jackson (concussion)
    • C Cam Jurgens (knee)
    • OLB Azeez Ojulari (hamstring)

    QUESTIONABLE

    • WR Darius Cooper (shoulder)

    Eagles-Giants odds

    As of Friday afternoon, the Eagles are 7.5-point favorites on FanDuel and DraftKings. The projected point total for Sunday is 43.5 for both sportsbooks.

    Check out passing yard prop bets for Jalen Hurts and Jaxson Dart, and more here.

    Story lines to watch

    Brandon Graham goes through his first practice Wednesday after coming out of retirement to rejoin the Eagles.

    Brandon Graham is officially back with the Birds, after initially deciding to retire in the offseason following the Super Bowl LIX victory. Is he ready to play Sunday’s game?

    “We’re going to see, man,” Graham said. “I’m going to let coach do that. Honestly, I’m just here to continue to keep affirming everybody with what they are and their ability.”

    But whether the Eagles’ longtime veteran edge rusher gets on the field this week or not, he’s already improving the team’s energy from the sidelines.

    Here’s more from Graham’s return:

    One number to know

    206 — Graham’s franchise record number of games played in an Eagles uniform. With his return, he retakes the mantle of longest-tenured Philly athlete from Flyers captain Sean Couturier.

    Our Eagles-Giants predictions

    Here are our writers’ predictions for Sunday:

    Jeff McLane: It’s hard to win twice within the division, especially within a 17-day span. The Giants may be reeling from an epic choke against the Broncos. It’s not like they have much to fall back on. Dart and Skattebo have brought energy to a floundering franchise, but I like the odds that Fangio won’t have another hiccup against an inferior opponent. Eagles 26, Giants 19

    Jeff Neiburg: What we know is that the Giants have been a much different offense since they handed the reins to Dart and Skattebo. The Eagles struggle with scrambling quarterbacks, and few this season have had as much success as Dart has when he’s on the move. Contain those players, which is easier said than done, and you’ll likely win the game. Eagles 30, Giants 18

    Olivia Reiner: It seems unlikely that the Eagles will lose to the Giants twice. While their offensive issues are by no means fixed after one game, the Eagles showed some encouraging signs of evolution against the Vikings with their uptick in under-center runs and the play-action passes that were set up off them. Eagles 31, Giants 24

    Matt Breen: The Giants limited Barkley two weeks ago to 58 rushing yards, but it’s hard to see them doing it again. The Eagles finally figured out their passing attack last week. This week is a chance to get their running game right. A big game for Barkley would be the perfect way to enter the bye week. Eagles 31, Giants 21

    National media predictions

    What we’re saying about the Eagles

    Here’s a look at what our columnists are saying about the Eagles, starting with Marcus Hayes, who thinks the Eagles never managed to properly replace what Graham brought to the Birds, on or off the field …

    Hayes: “Graham was a playmaker who loved to play, loved the game, and loved Philly. That guy does not exist today in the Eagles locker room. That guy will exist [again] in the Eagles locker room, in his cubicle stuffed with shoes and bobbleheads and an outrageous number of colognes. For the next 12 weeks and beyond, he will fill the void he left.” Read more.

    Hayes: “Maybe the Giants weren’t so bad, and, clearly, the Eagles weren’t as deep as they needed to be. A lot has changed in two weeks. That should make all the difference come Sunday afternoon.” Read more.

    What the Giants are saying

    Rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart led the Giants to a 34-17 victory over the Eagles in Week 6.

    The Giants haven’t won a game on the road in 2025, and Sunday will be rookie quarterback Jaxson Dart’s first time facing the same opponent more than once in his NFL career.

    The environment should be raucous.

    “It’s going to be intense, for sure,” said Dart, a first-round pick out of Ole Miss. “I can’t wait to go out there and compete and feel the hostility in the air and the rivalry between the two organizations. I kind of compare it to an SEC rivalry.”

    Here’s what else they’re saying …

    Darius Slayton on the environment: “I mean, if [Dart] didn’t have any haters, he’ll find out where they all live. He’s about to get introduced to all of them.”

    Daniel Bellinger on his advice for Dart: “You’ve got to stick close to your brothers in the locker room, just stay tight as one group, because that team and that fan base, they’re going to get a little gritty on the sidelines. I would tell him, ‘Listen, focus on you, focus on the team and stick together and not worry about the outside noise.’”

    Brian Daboll on playing the Eagles again so soon: “I just know that [Vic Fangio is] a challenging coordinator to game plan against. Again, Jaxson’s played a good amount of football in his career. These last four weeks, he’s got a routine down, and we do everything we can do to get him ready to play.”

    What the national media is saying

    Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown had four catches for 121 yards and two touchdowns against the Vikings in Week 7. He’s been ruled out for Sunday with a hamstring injury.

    Even a perfect passing day from Jalen Hurts wasn’t enough to silence the A.J. Brown trade speculation, this time from ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky, after Brown posted on his Instagram with the caption ‘using me but not using me.’

    “I believe A.J. Brown prefers to be traded,” Orlovsky said. ”There’s been this consistent disconnect, whether it’s the lack of production, they don’t throw the ball enough, or they go on the road, he has [four catches for 121 yards], the game-sealer, and he’s still tweeting that out. I’m not trying to read too much into it, this is a Super Bowl-contending team, but for that to continuously happen, I do think there’s parts of A.J. Brown that would prefer to be traded.”

    Here’s what else the national media is saying …

    Mina Kimes on DeVonta Smith: “Because of all the attention on A.J. Brown, because of the drama, DeVonta’s kind of being overlooked as top-ten receiver in the NFL. I think he’s capable of that.”

    Orlovsky on the run game: “This team can’t win a Super Bowl the way they’re running the football. They can win games, they can beat good teams, but they can’t run the football. My question is, is what we saw offensively last week going to be who you’re going to be for the rest of the season?”

    Manti Te’o on the Giants recovering from their collapse: “When I see a team fall off like that, that’s just situational. Let’s be honest, I don’t think the Giants even anticipated they would be up that much. There’s a way to play the game, and there’s so much youth there that it may have slipped by them. I am buying that they will respond and build off it.”

    What we’re reading

    🚇 What’s the fastest way out of the Linc? Our reporters tried Uber, SEPTA, a car, and a bike to see who could get out of the sports complex the fastest after an Eagles game.

    🏈 Grieving Roman Catholic coach Rick Prete and his family find solace in their football community.

    📊 Here are the numbers that matter for the Eagles-Giants Week 8 rematch.

    🎬 Eagles Week 8 film preview: Key to a big day for Jalen Hurts, stopping Giants’ rookie duo, and more.