<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4LxMaA_0w2wfVei00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4LxMaA_0w2wfVei00" width="1280" height="853" ><figcaption>Fans have called Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Darius Slay a poor leader. But his teammates explain why that's not true. AP</figcaption></figure>PHILADELPHIA — <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/">Eagles</a> cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/05/why-eagles-darius-slays-most-important-role-could-be-off-the-field.html?outputType=amp">Darius Slay</a> is not concerned that he made some fans angry this past week.Following <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-defense-returns-to-reality-after-bad-loss-vs-buccaneers-we-arent-producing-good-results.html?outputType=amp">the Eagles’ 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4,</a> Slay was criticized for <a href="https://x.com/CrossingBroad/status/1840509471434416268?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1840509471434416268%7Ctwgr%5Ef79ee95ee19239af01d1568a3cbc19772f54554e%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https://www.crossingbroad.com/2024/09/i-knew-the-darius-slay-tweet-was-coming-and-it-was-still-worse-than-i-ever-couldve-imagined.html">tweeting his career accolades</a> an hour after the game. Then, he made things worse when he appeared on Cowboys edge rusher <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2023/05/cowboys-star-micah-parsons-caught-wearing-philadelphia-jersey-explains-why.html?outputType=amp">Micah Parsons’</a> podcast the next day and laughed about Eagles safety <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-cj-gardner-johnson-hit-hardest-in-the-pocket-book-despite-claims-of-saints-dirty-play.html?outputType=amp">C.J. Gardner-Johnson</a> giving up a touchdown. Some fans speculated the interaction upset Gardner-Johnson because <a href="https://x.com/BirdGang4L/status/1841135774294511655?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1841135774294511655%7Ctwgr%5E05cb136d0bd6a6e2610507580b01647650fb56bd%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fftw.usatoday.com%2F2024%2F10%2Feagles-darius-slay-micah-parsons-cj-gardner-johnson-podcast-video-reaction">he posted an Instagram Story with the caption: “Damn.”</a>BUY EAGLES TICKETS: <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.stubhub.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets%2Fperformer%2F761%2F">STUBHUB</a>, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.vividseats.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets--sports-nfl-football%2Fperformer%2F669">VIVID SEATS</a>, <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ticketmaster.com%2Fphiladelphia-eagles-tickets%2Fartist%2F805999">TICKETMASTER</a>Many people have criticized Slay on social media, including calling him a bad captain, because they’re mad that he did a podcast with a rival player after a loss and joked around with him.Slay told reporters on Thursday that his relationship with Gardner-Johnson is “all good,” and he was surprised by the harsh reaction. Additionally, Slay said that he will go on Parsons’ podcast again because he is close friends with him.Despite the criticism, Slay believes he is a good captain, and he doesn’t want to change his personality to appease others.“These guys ain’t vote me for captain for no reason,” Slay said. “I’m a very happy-go-lucky guy, an energy guy, a guy who is rooting for everybody in this building. I try my best to give everybody the best kind of concepts to help them be great at what they do.“I’m always here to help Chauncey (Gardner-Johnson) be the best he can be. I’m here to help Q (Eagles rookie cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/04/nfl-draft-2024-why-eagles-knew-quinyon-mitchell-was-special-after-senior-bowl.html">Quinyon Mitchell</a>), everybody in this building honestly. That’s what my role is. ... I’m not one of those hard guys that be yelling, fussing, yapping and cussing at folks like that because that’s not how I was raised and that’s not how I plan to be.”Slay’s teammates appreciate his leadership style.When his teammates are having a bad day, Slay cracks witty jokes that make them laugh. He also checks in with each position group to make sure everyone is doing well.“He’ll come in and be like, ‘Hey, man, how are you feeling? Y’all doing good, baby?’“ Eagles offensive tackle <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2023/02/eagles-tackle-jordan-mailata-was-molded-into-a-mona-lisa-by-his-legendary-line-coach.html">Jordan Mailata</a> said.Mailata and other Eagles players saw the negative tweets about Slay, but it didn’t bother them. They have seen Slay make a positive impact throughout the years, including off the field.When Eagles cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/05/eagles-isaiah-rodgers-learned-this-harsh-lesson-during-suspension.html">Isaiah Rodgers</a> joined the team last August, he texted Slay, ‘Yo, I can’t wait to learn from you, whether it’s on or off the field. You as a father. Everything.”Rodgers said Slay told stories about how he was a young dad once. He has taken a few of the lessons Slay shared with him and added them to his “rule book” to help him raise his two young kids.Slay is one of the kindest players in the NFL, Mailata said. He cares about how his teammates’ families and friends are doing.“He’s always checking up on me and my brother (Tampa Bay Buccaneers cornerback <a href="https://go.skimresources.com/?id=126006X1587338&amp;xs=1&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.espn.com%2Fnfl%2Fplayer%2F_%2Fid%2F4250392%2Fzyon-mccollum">Zyon McCollum</a>), which I find cool,” Eagles safety <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2023/09/eagles-safetys-injury-leads-to-player-getting-nfl-first-action-vs-commanders.html">Tristin McCollum</a> said. “He’s just a stand-up dude. It just makes me want to come into the building every day with a positive mindset myself. He makes sure everyone is feeling like one big family.”During his 12-year career, Slay has played against a lot of offenses and covered some of the league’s best wide receivers, so he’s able to share his wisdom with Philadelphia’s young cornerbacks.“I think you see (his leadership) every day,” Eagles rookie cornerback <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/04/nfl-draft-2024-eagles-add-another-db-what-do-the-scouting-reports-say-about-cooper-dejean.html">Cooper DeJean</a> said. “In the film room, he’s a teacher. Out on the field after practice, he helps us with our techniques and things like that.”Eagles fans embrace players who hate the Cowboys and other NFC East teams just as much as they do.They loved safety <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2022/03/why-eagles-great-chess-piece-brian-dawkins.html">Brian Dawkins</a> and linebacker <a href="https://www.nj.com/eagles/2024/09/eagles-great-disheartened-by-what-he-sees-a-wasted-pick-and-two-guys-who-arent-nfl-players.html">Seth Joyner</a> because they talked smack to their opponents and played with great enthusiasm. During their careers, they didn’t go on a show with a rival player and make jokes with them, but times have changed. Nowadays, a lot of opposing NFL players are friends with each other because of social media and business opportunities.Slay, who has his own podcast, is friendly with other NFL players, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a good leader.“He’s that Mr. Positive,” Mailata said. “He’s not the rah-rah hype guy. He’s not the one, like B-Dawk, to talk (expletive) and be out there. That’s not him. We understood that from the day he got here. He picks up the mood when people are down and makes everyone laugh. He makes sure everyone is not depressed.“Some people are energy vampires and some people aren’t. He’s not an energy vampire. He’s like a battery. He’s (expletive) battery recharging.”After the 2025 season, Slay will be a free agent. He could retire or leave the Eagles, which means someone else would have to step up into a leadership role. Before the younger defensive backs get that opportunity, he wants to show them that there are different ways to lead.“I think a lot of people don’t take yelling the right way. I’m not a yeller,” Slay said. “Some people don’t like to be approached that way. I think I have a great way of getting around people and kind of delivering a message in a better way.”Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust.Cayden Steele may be reached at <a href="mailto:CSteele@njadvancemedia.com">CSteele@njadvancemedia.com</a></div></body>

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Unpopular Eagles veteran has big presence with teammates: ‘He makes sure everyone is not depressed’

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles cornerback Darius Slay is not concerned that he made some fans angry this past week. Following the Eagles’ 33-16 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 4, Slay was criticized for tweeting his career accolades an hour after the game. Then, he made things worse when he appeared on Cowboys edge rusher Micah Parsons’ podcast the next day and laughed about Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson giving up a touchdown. Some fans speculated the interaction upset Gardner-Johnson because he posted an Instagram Story with the caption: “Damn.”

Unpopular Eagles veteran has big presence with teammates: ‘He makes sure everyone is not depressed’

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