It Turns Out There Was A Genuine, Heartfelt, Selfless Reason Why Jason Kelce Didn't Wear Sleeves At His Retirement Press Conference
ICYMI: Jason Kelce retired yesterday during an emotionally charged 40+ min press conference directed at his family, teammates, coaches, franchise, and the only city he's even known professionally. It was a beautiful, well thought out speech that can really only be second to his famous Super Bowl parade tirade for the Philly masses. Even Nick Foles' gargantuan dick and Doug Pederson's massive balls got a much deserved shout out. NOBODY had an issue with Kelce doing his thing...except of course for a few of "Dave Portnoy's crackers" who took exception to #62 not wearing a full tux to his own retirement speech:
HEALHTY DEBATE!!!
First off, it's good to see Cons and Rico come together for ANY reason under the sun. This world deserves unity so if these two can change and Rocky can end the Cold War by himself - Anyone can change.
But they might want to look into the entire story before throwing sleeveless shade at one of the greatest offensive linemen to ever play the game…
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NBC - Eagles trainer Joe O’Pella wrote on social media that he had been taping Kelce’s ankles every game for years. But O’Pella but missed the final game of Kelce’s career, the playoff loss in Tampa, because he was getting chemotherapy. So Kelce asked O’Pella to be the last person to tape his ankles as an Eagle, and do it before his retirement speech. “You all know about the on-field accomplishments, and many of the off-field ones, too, but what this man has meant to me and now my family over the past decade plus is nearly indescribable,” O’Pella wrote. “In what would be his final season, when I was diagnosed with cancer and had to undergo radiation and chemo, he offered his shore house if I needed to get away, and offered to pay for meal services to help my wife and me out, and he called me randomly when I had been home, too sick to come in because of chemo, just to check on me and chat about random things. That’s who he is as a person. I taped this guy’s ankles and thumbs everyday for 13 seasons, and when he played his last game in Tampa, again I couldn’t be there due to cancer. And when he told me he would be retiring and I expressed my regret of not being the last person to ever tape him, he offered to have me tape him for his retirement press conference. That’s who he is. And I hope theses stories can add to an already unbelievable legacy."
Well ain't that some sentimental shit. War vets and old dogs see or smell something they don't like and automatically start firing or become Cujo at the drop of a hat. Gotta get the full context and establish the facts. Personally, I don't give a hoot what Jason Kelce chooses to wear to HIS OWN retirement press conference. The man has given the past 13 years to this franchise and city. He could, and maybe even should've, rolled out there buck naked except for a New Heights jockstrap with a few brews in hand and it would've been perfectly on brand for the legend. But Kelce rolling into his final presser in short sleeves and taped ankles like it's gameday because his longtime trainer/buddy Joe (who btw is a Philly/Avalon legend by himself) is suffering from cancer and couldn't be apart of the center's last game?
Yup. Sentimental shit, indeed. Bless them all and keep on fighting that good fight, Joe.