We’re finding out exactly what the White House meant when it said the Eagles were prepared to send “a tiny handful” of team representatives on Tuesday afternoon.
Eventually, the president canceled the event and instead held a “Celebration of America,” while the Eagles used the day to get in a lighter OTA practice.
But what constituted “a tiny handful” of representatives?
Well, according to a report by NFL Network, possibly just two players — one was Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles — were going to be on the South Lawn if the White House went through with the ceremony.
That report fits with Politico’s Annie Karni’s report earlier in the day. Karni was told by a White House official that two or three players, along with owner Jeff Lurie and Swoop — yeah, the mascot — would be the group in attendance.
Twenty minutes before President Donald Trump gathered some folks (they didn’t seem like Eagles fans) on the South Lawn, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said this was a “political stunt” by the Eagles.
The Eagles still have practice on Wednesday and Thursday this week; both sessions are open to reporters. Head coach Doug Pederson is scheduled to speak with reporters at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning.