Luckily for the Philadelphia Eagles rookies entering the NFL, there are plenty of positive influences on the team who can help them navigate this interesting time in their lives, and the veterans already seem to be having a positive impact.
Eagles' seventh-round pick Uar Bernard is going through more than the usual rookie transition, as he is learning to play football while also adjusting to American culture after living in Nigeria. Bernard already sounds mature as he shares what he does outside of football, with a response that will remind fans of what quarterback Jalen Hurts says.
“I hardly go out,” Bernard said via The Philadelphia Inquirer's Ryan Novozinsky. “I just focus on my playbook and my teammates, so coming into the building is fun for me, and I love it here. I want to grow every day, so I keep my focus in the building and keep the main thing the main thing.”
Uar Bernard already sounds like an Eagle after the Jalen Hurts reference
It's not clear if Bernard knew what he was saying, but "keep the main thing the main thing" is a staple Hurts quote that he loves to use. It's his way of keeping the focus on playing football and winning the game, with nothing else that matters.
Bernard is showing that, for one, he is making the right calls off the field as he focuses on improving as a player and learning the sport. At the same time, the veterans on the team are stepping up and helping him out.
On the defensive line alone, Jordan Davis is the leader and has been an immense influence on the unit and the defense as a whole. Others, like Jalen Carter and Moro Ojomo, can also help mentor Bernard as he works through this period.
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Bernard has all the physical tools to be one of the best players in the NFL if he takes his time, learns the sport, and follows in his teammates' footsteps. He appears to be on the right path to getting there, which is exciting for Eagles fans, but let's hope he keeps that Hurts quote in the back of his mind.
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