“No comment.” Two words that speak volumes. When Philadelphia Eagles star receiver DeVonta Smith dropped this verbal bombshell about the upcoming game in Brazil, it set off alarm bells louder than a five-alarm fire in Sao Paulo’s scorched outskirts.

Smith, typically as chatty as a play-by-play announcer, clammed tighter than a Philly cheesesteak when asked about the Eagles’ season opener against the Green Bay Packers in Sao Paulo on September 6. His uncharacteristic silence raises eyebrows and questions about player concerns surrounding the NFL’s South American debut – and it’s not just about the football.

This isn’t just any road trip. The Eagles and Packers are set to clash at Arena Corinthians, 4,754 miles from the City of Brotherly Love. It’s a journey stirring up more than jet lag worries. Packers running back Josh Jacobs initially fanned the flames of concern, suggesting on the “Green Light with Chris Long” podcast that the team would need armored escorts and that wearing green could be dangerous.

Jacobs later backpedaled faster than a cornerback, posting on Instagram: “Damn I was misinformed sorry Brazil see you soon.” But the seed of doubt had been planted. The NFL was quick to reassure, with spokesperson Tim Schlittner telling USA TODAY that the usual ban on wearing green at the stadium (due to soccer rivalries) wouldn’t apply to players and fans during the Eagles-Packers showdown.

To add to the dilemma, the city is grappling with another storm of challenges. Sao Paulo state is battling record-breaking wildfires, with the Brazilian Space Research Institute (INPE) reporting a staggering 5,281 fires since they started collecting data in 1998. The blazes have devoured 20,000 hectares of land, including vast sugarcane fields, and suspicions of gang involvement have led to four arrests.

The environmental crisis has spawned a health nightmare. Hospitals are swamped with 20 times their usual patient load, treating a surge of pneumonia, rhinitis, asthma attacks, and conjunctivitis cases. Environment Minister Marina Silva didn’t mince words, declaring, “Brazil is at war against fire and crime.”

Against this backdrop, player safety concerns have taken center stage. Eagles wide receiver AJ Brown spilled the beans on team meetings outlining do’s and don’ts for the Brazil trip. One eyebrow-raising guideline? Be careful when using your phone on the street. Brown’s reaction? “After hearing all that stuff, I’m probably gonna be in my room.”

NFL’s Brazilian gambit

The NFL’s push into Brazil isn’t just about bringing American football to the land of soccer. It’s a calculated play to expand the league’s global footprint, with dollar signs in its eyes. According to NFL.com, growing the league globally is a “strategic priority.”

Managing Director and Head of NFL International Gerrit Meier gushed about the potential, citing “over 35 million passionate fans in Brazil.” But passion doesn’t always translate to a smooth game day experience, especially when you’re asking players to suit up in a city that’s got more people than New York and a reputation that’s got some players spooked.

The NFL’s no rookie when it comes to international games. They’ve been globe-trotting since the 1950s, with stops in Canada, Mexico, and across the pond in England. The Eagles have a bit of international experience under their belts, having played five games abroad – four exhibitions and one regular-season matchup. Their last overseas venture? A 24-18 victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars in London back in 2018.

But Brazil? That’s a whole new ball game. São Paulo’s got a reputation that’s as mixed as a caipirinha cocktail. Local voices are pushing back against the fear. Marcus Rovere, who runs the Packers Brazil fan account, didn’t mince words as per USA Today: “Stop thinking that we are living in a jungle with wild people with animal behaviors.” He’s got stats to back him up, with São Paulo boasting a lower murder rate than cities like Milwaukee. Yet, with wildfires raging and gang violence making headlines, those reassurances might ring hollow for some players.

Felipe Reis Aceti, a Brazilian writer for Cheesehead TV, chimed in with more reassurances: “São Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil, offers all essential services, including law enforcement, hospitals, and transportation, operating around the clock. This won’t be the city’s first time handling such large-scale events.” He’s not wrong – the city successfully hosted Olympic soccer matches in 2016 and World Cup games in 2014.

But stats and reassurances might not be enough to quiet the whispers in the locker room. As the NFL charges ahead with its international ambitions, it’s clear that not everyone’s reading from the same playbook. For players like DeVonta Smith, who racked up 81 catches for 1,066 yards and seven touchdowns last season, the price of global expansion might be a bit steeper than they bargained for. And sometimes, silence says more than a thousand words ever could – especially when that silence is punctuated by the crackle of wildfires and the whispers of safety concerns.