The Philadelphia Inquirer calling one of the heroes of Sunday's Eagles win over the Rams a "disgraced gambler" today was an, uh... interesting choice.
Disgraced gambler Isaiah Rodgers helped save the Eagles’ season | Marcus Hayes https://t.co/v2MnQ8FMBN
— Philadelphia Inquirer Sports (@phillysport) January 22, 2025
The article was written by Marcus Hayes, who already made news recently over hostile interactions with one of the city's premiere athletes. It was not immediately clear whether the headline was written by Hayes himself or another Inquirer employee. But *somebody* at the paper green-lit the decision to run with the headline.
Rodgers was quick to react.
You corny Af @phillysport 💯 https://t.co/aM28KkCTuC
Want to interview me, talk about football . I was open to speaking on the past and where I was last year but from here on out I wont be speaking on nothing but where my feet are NOW !
Have a good day !
The most charitable view of the Inquirer's headline is that it was tongue-in-cheek. For those unfamiliar with the backstory, Rodgers was suspended over $25-$50 bets. Those bets were unwise, but "disgraced gambler" has to be a joke, right? We watched Jalen Carter discuss a $77,000 bet with Jared Verse and nobody batted an eye.
Unfortunately, it's now looking like that was not the case.
Hayes writes a number of flattering things about Rodgers in the piece ($), but he does say that "[t]his time last year, Isaiah Rodgers wore the scarlet 'G'" and that no team other than the Eagles wanted Rodgers because he was "spoiled goods."
And in response to immediate social media criticism over the headline, Hayes tweeted the following:
When he was suspended for gambling Isaiah Rodgers spent more than $3000 on a Jugs machine (which he later donated to a school ❤️) and $3000 more on footballs to stay ready. Now, he’s helped the #Eagles reach the NFC championship game.https://t.co/nT5vpugT2T
The headline of the column did not change. And while we can't say for sure whether Hayes' tweet was genuine or some kind of sarcastic jab, it feels very much like the latter unless/until Hayes clears things up.
On Pattison has reached out to Hayes for comment.
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