Darius Slay Voiced Concerns About Playing The Packers In Brazil

Darius Slay Voiced Concerns About Playing The Packers In BrazilPhoto byPhiladelphia Eagles on X

For the first time in NFL history, the league will play a game in South America. The Packers and Eagles will meet up this Friday night for their Week 1 opener in Brazil. However, Eagles cornerback Darius Slay had voiced concerns about playing the Packers in Brazil. On an episode of his “Big Play Slay” podcast he said he did not want to go to Brazil:

“Week 1 I’m looking forward to it, I can’t wait,” Slay said. “But man, I do not want to go to Brazil, you want to know why? I’m here to tell you why. They already told us not to leave the hotel. They told us we can’t do too much going on because the crime rate is crazy… and like we out the country. So the first thing people think is some terror can possibly happen. I told my family do not come down there because I’m not going to be nowhere to be found. I’m going to be in the hotel room chillin’.”

His teammate A.J. Brown also had expressed similar sentiments on Aug. 28:

“We had a meeting [on Aug. 28], and there were a whole bunch of ‘Don’t Do’s,'” Brown said via CBS Sports. “So I’m just trying to go down there and win a football game, and come back home … But after hearing all this stuff, I’m probably going to be in my room.”

Darius Slay Voiced Concerns About Playing The Packers In Brazil

Head coach Nick Sirianni is only focused on one thing, winning. So he let his players know to keep that objective in mind.

“We’re going there to play and win a football game,” Sirianni said on Sunday. “That’s our goal. That’s our only goal as we go down there. And so, it’s just getting everybody in the right mindset of what you need to be when you go down there. You can control the things that you can control. Like, we’re going to Brazil to play. That’s what it is. We’re excited about that.”

Even back in June Packers running back Josh Jacobs had said the teams wouldn’t be able to wear green.

“They said that the part of Brazil we’re going to, you can’t even wear green at,” Jacobs said. “They said, I guess, something to do with the gangs and stuff.”

The NFL was quick to put that theory to rest affirming that fans and players will be allowed to wear green in Brazil. Jacobs later apologized on Instagram for his comments.

Darius Slay has also now apologized for his statements made on his podcast. Yesterday he posted it on x.com.

“I want to apologize to anyone I offended, that wasn’t my intention. I’m Looking forward to playing in your beautiful country and I’ve heard yall are very passionate just like our amazing Eagles fan. Just a few more days, can’t wait!!!!” #FlyEaglesFly

Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles Will Battle In Brazil

Concern regarding the crime rate in Brazil is nothing new. During the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, Rio de Janeiro deployed 85,000 troops and police officers to watch over the tourists and athletes who flooded into the city. Even now despite murders falling to record lows, Brazilians are deeply concerned about criminal violence. Therefore, personal safety concerns of players is valid.

However, the travel schedule may help. It’s a ten-hour flight from Philadelphia to Brazil. The Eagles will leave today on Wednesday and arrive in Sao Paulo around 10 p.m. local time the same day. Then they will fly home immediately after the game, which means the team will be in Brazil for just over 48 hours. A quick turnaround like that doesn’t allow much time for anything egregious to happen. And sports fans are going to get what they've been waiting for; they just want to see Jalen Hurts and Jordan Love do battle.

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