Rams' Jared Verse primed for playoffs in City of Brotherly Love: 'I hate Eagles fans'
Jared Verse spent three years of high school in Pennsylvania.
So the Rams rookie edge rusher knows all about the Philadelphia Eagles, his team’s opponent Sunday in an NFC divisional-round playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field.
Was Verse an Eagles fan?
“I hate Eagles fans,” Verse told The Times on Thursday. “They’re so annoying. I hate Eagles fans.”
Verse repeated the phrase multiple times. And the front-runner for defensive rookie of the year did so with the same passion evident in his pass rushing.
“When I see that green and white I hate it. I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”
Rams linebacker Jared Verse, on how he hates the Philadelphia Eagles
Verse noted that when the Rams played the Eagles in November at SoFi Stadium, Eagles fans gave him an earful of obscenities that he could make out despite wearing headphones.
“I didn’t even do nothing to ’em,” he said. “It was my first time playing. Oh, I hate Eagles fans.”
Apparently the Eagles’ colors also are triggering.
“When I see that green and white I hate it,” he said. “I actually get upset. Like I actually genuinely get hot.”
After practice on Friday, coach Sean McVay was asked how he handled Verse’s comments.
“He told his truth,” McVay said. “I’m riding with the Rams.”
In the locker room, Verse told reporters that he awoke Friday at 4 a.m. to a social media barrage.
“First thing I see, ‘I hate Eagles fans,’ I’m like ‘Oh, yeah I’m done,’” Verse said, laughing. “I’m like ‘Oh no.’... So they seemed pretty upset by it, but you got to move on from it.”
Read more: Rams to have 'sense of urgency' in slowing Saquon Barkley, Eagles
Did Verse stand by his comments? Or want to adjust them?
“I just want to move on from it,” he said. “What was said, was said. That was the past. We’ve got a game to handle.”
So do the Eagles.
“Probably not the smartest thing to say when you’re coming to Philadelphia,” said Eagles running back Saquon Barkley, who played six seasons for the New York Giants. “I’ve been on the other side, and even if I felt some type of way, probably wouldn’t give ‘em any extra fuel.
“Pretty sure Philly fans have seen that comment. It was already going to be loud and rockin’, so just only going to add to it.”
Verse intends to be disciplined Sunday, stay on his assignments and contribute to a defense that must control Barkley if the Rams are to avenge their 37-20 defeat to the Eagles and advance to the NFC championship game.
In November, Barkley amassed 302 total yards against the Rams, including 255 rushing, and scored on runs of 72 and 70 yards. The Rams were out of position to make tackles and also missed Barkley multiple times.
Verse acknowledged his role in the debacle. Several times, he said, opportunities to limit Barkley to a short gain went awry and resulted in long runs because he tried to do too much.
“I just didn’t take advantage of them,” Verse said. “I left my feet.”
In the seven games since, Verse said he has improved in that regard. In last Monday’s 27-9 wild-card victory over the Minnesota Vikings, the 6-foot-4, 260-pound Verse showed how fleet he is on his feet.
The former high school sprinter scooped a fumble by quarterback Sam Darnold and dashed 57 yards for a touchdown. NFL’s Next Gen Stats clocked Verse at 19.88 mph
“I’ve been trying to show coach McVay that I can play wide receiver or running back — whatever he needs me to do,” Verse said.
Verse, the 19th player chosen in last year's draft, said whenever he recovered a fumble in college, an opposing player tackled him before he could run.
Against the Vikings, Verse had a clear path to the end zone.
“I was like, if I got five yards, then nobody is catching me, I’m like gone,” he said. “So once I got my five in, like it’s over with. So I was just trying to see how fast I could get.”
Verse is one of the top players for a young Rams defensive front that is excelling in the post-Aaron Donald era. Against the Vikings, the Rams tied an NFL postseason record with nine sacks.
Verse has 4½ sacks and was among the league leaders in quarterback pressures. On Sunday, he once again goes up against an Eagles line that features two-time All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson and left tackle Jordan Mailata.
Read more: Rams unsung heroes made difference again against Vikings with Eagles the next target
In the first game, Verse created a viral moment when he ran over the 6-8, 366-pound Mailata.
“I remember when I got flat-backed,” Mailata told Philadelphia reporters this week. “It was a good rush by him.
“The guy plays with a high motor. I think he plays well, he plays hard. He’s got some great moves. ... To be fair, I got a couple on him too. Good on good.”
Verse continues to bull rush and remains exceptionally quick at the snap, Johnson said.
“He plays hard, really has come along in the run game too,” Johnson told Philadelphia reporters. “He’s just one of those players that’s obviously really talented. The more experience he gets, the better he’s going to become.”
Verse, the only Ram selected to the Pro Bowl Games, is expected to be among the postseason award finalists in New Orleans during Super Bowl week.
Read more: NFL divisional playoff picks: Rams among road teams seeking upsets, except Ravens favored
But he aims to be playing in the big game.
“I’ve never been focused on the results of anything,” he said when asked about awards talk. “If I do what I’m supposed to do, everything else will come with it.
“This year, I might be in the conversation of winning that prestigious award — and I’m happy to be in that conversation.
“Next year, it’s trying to be in a bigger conversation. But that comes with work.”
Progress toward that goal continues Sunday when Verse plays against the Eagles — and in front of their fans — in their home stadium.
“I’m going to go crazy,” he said, adding that he would play within his role. “It’s going to be something.”
This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
