Last week ESPN reporter, Josina Anderson shared information from an anonymous Eagles player who was critical of the team’s offense and quarterback Carson Wentz.
On Monday, WIP’s Howard Eskin joined Angelo Cataldi’s morning show and stated Eagles wideout Alshon Jeffery was the anonymous source. “The thing is, here’s why he’s foolish and stupid,” Eskin said. “He knows that she’s not out to have his back. The problem is, as a reporter, I’ve seen her do this. She’ll bait a guy and then the guy gets trapped into saying things and he says them. It’s just foolish and stupid.”
Shortly after Eskin’s appearance on WIP, Anderson indirectly denied Jeffery was her anonymous source in a tweet.
The quarrel didn’t stay between Eskin, Anderson and Jeffery, as afternoon host on WIP’s rival station, Mike Missanelli of 97.5 The Fanatic chimed in on the Philadelphia sports story.
“Everybody who is in the media who works and covers the Eagles can’t stand the fact that a part-time media member and full-time water boy is on the sidelines reporting for the radio broadcast,” Missanelli said referring to Eskin. Eskin hosted afternoons on WIP for over two decades, but since 2011 his focus has been as an insider for the station. Missanelli then played audio from Doug Pederson’s news conference as the head coach addressed the situation with Eskin and Anderson.
During their Monday news conference, another reporter (Jeff McLane) asked Pederson about Jeffery being Anderson’s anonymous source. In an attempt to defer the question, Pederson referred to the story as “last week’s news.” McLane then notes since Eskin patrols the Eagles sideline and wears a Super Bowl ring, does that mean the team leaked information about Alshon Jeffery to him? Pederson again dismisses the question.
“The Super Bowl ring I can tell you,” Missanelli said as he continues his criticism of Eskin. “He didn’t get a ring, he bought it. That’s how pathetic what we’re talking about here is. Plus, he doesn’t get paid for being on the sidelines. He just likes to be there to be included. That’s the level of patheticness we’re talking about here.”
The final chapter of Monday’s strange sports media day in Philadelphia was written by Eskin as he stood by his report. Via Twitter, the WIP reporter made no mention of Missanelli’s comments on The Fanatic, but did refer to Jeff McLane. “There was a foolish/statement question at HC Doug Pererson’s News Conference Monday suggesting I was “fed” the story by Eagles. As I said on radio the team has never fed me a story. Working over 30 years in this market I break stories by showing up and working my sources. This story is now yesterday’s news as far as I’m concerned.”
Brandon Contes is a freelance writer for BSM. He can be found on Twitter @BrandonContes. To reach him by email click here.