Jalen Hurts channels Nick Saban: I’m trying to stay away from rat poison

Back when Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a sophomore at Alabama, head coach Nick Saban slammed the media for praising the team.

“Everything you write about our quality and everything they hear on ESPN is like poison, you know what I mean? It’s like taking poison – like rat poison, “Saban said in October 2017.” I ask them if you’re going to listen to me or are you going to listen to these guys to say how good you are.

Apparently, it made a lasting impression on Hurts, as that’s what he referred to when asked how he maintained his focus on Wednesday.

“I try to stay away rat poisonHurts said, via a video by Rob Maaddi of The Associated Press. When asked to clarify, Hurts continued, “You have to ask Coach Saban, he knows a bit more about rat poison, too.

“These are all external factors. I talked a bit about it, the external factors that are not good for us and what we are trying to do as a team.

Hurts provided a clear spark for the Eagles, who weren’t mathematically eliminated after winning the NFC East. He pitched for 505 yards with four touchdowns and no interceptions, adding 169 yards and a rushing touchdown.

It’s hard not to wonder what could have been if head coach Doug Pederson had named Hurts the starting quarterback earlier. But that would probably have created more rat poison for Hurts to avoid.