After his rookie season, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and avid outdoorsman Carson Wentz gave his entire offensive line personalized Beretta Silver Pigeon over-under shotguns. The antis — both hunting and guns — went crazy! Critics lit up the team’s social media sites with less than supportive comments.
CeaseFirePA sent gun locks to Pigeon-toting (not toed) Eagles players. The sporting press pressed the “issue” again and again — as if there was something wrong with Carson’s and like-minded teammates’ firearms familiarity and hunting prowess.
In March, Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox went on the offensive (no pun intended). Cox collaborated with SilencerCo. and LG Outfitters to make a video diary of his recent nilgai hunt in Texas. “Comparing shooting a nilgai at 380 yards versus coming out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field,” Cox said in the video. “Your adrenaline is pumping. You know that you’ve game planned for your opponent in football and you’ve game planned for that animal you’re going to kill.”
If that wasn’t enough to get the anti-hunting brigade riled up, in May, QB Wentz took his team out for some serious trigger time, posting a pic on his Instagram account. Eagle-eyed readers criticized one player for holding a shotgun in a potentially unsafe direction while peering at his smart phone. Dumb move!
The “controversy” over the Eagles’ hunting (not hunting eagles) refuses to die. On Friday, anti-hunting birds fans flocked to Twitter to take the team members to task for their love of hunting. Wide Receiver Torrey Smith fired back, defending the pursuit. A few of his teammates, including Wentz backed him up.
I don’t know what the prospects are for your upcoming gridiron season boys, but your hunting game is on point. We need more athletes speaking out about the positive aspects of hunting and being in the great outdoors, and less of them kneeling through the national anthem.