Fox asking out loud how did the Eagles fleece the Saints for Ceedy pic.twitter.com/gdz6U8BLiq
— @BourbonAndBeer (@BourbonAndBeer) January 22, 2023
A couple of former New Orleans Saints players had themselves a game during the first half of the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff game with the New York Giants on Saturday night. Safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson helped create a Daniel Jones interception by rushing the passer into an ill-advised throw off of a blitz, and he later made a couple of clean open-field tackles to force some Giants punts. Gardner-Johnson’s defense pitched a first-half shutout against Jones’ Giants.
It was enough for the FOX Sports broadcasting duo to question how the Eagles got Gardner-Johnson in the first place, reflecting on a preseason trade with the New Orleans Saints late last summer. Contract negotiations broke down between Gardner-Johnson and the Saints and led to some friction, which prompted head coach Dennis Allen to trade him out of town.
“How did the Eagles pull off a trade for Gardner-Johnson? How did the Saints let this guy go?” asked play-by-play announcer Joe Davis. Color analyst Daryl Johnston responded with a befuddled “I have no idea.”
After halftime, FOX Sports sideline reporter Pam Oliver relayed a message Gardner-Johnson delivered to his teammates in the tunnel before returning to the field, cautioning them to “Don’t let that goose egg fool you.” They quickly forced a New York three-and-out to open the second half.
Gardner-Johnson has had a career year with Philadelphia, tying for the NFL lead with 6 interceptions despite being limited to 12 games due to an abdominal injury. He’s set himself up well for a lucrative free agent contract after the Saints traded him away for a couple of late-round draft picks over the next two cycles.
But he wasn’t the only former Saints player enjoying his Saturday evening. Running back Boston Scott was drafted into the NFL by New Orleans back in 2018 as a sixth-round pick out Louisiana Tech, and he made the most of his two rushing attempts in the first half against New York. Scott’s first carry gained 10 yards, and his second run scored a touchdown from 3 yards out, extending the Eagles’ lead to 21-0. They went into halftime up 28-0. The 5-foot-6 Scott has become something of a Giants-slayer with 11 touchdowns scored in 9 games against Big Blue after the Eagles acquired him off of waivers as a rookie.