“Money Came First…”: NFL Pro Bowler Questions the Validity of $255 Million Jalen Hurts’ Latest Comment

The ongoing NFL offseason has given way to many ongoing narratives and storylines. However, potentially the biggest story came out of Philadelphia as the Eagles extended Jalen Hurts to a five-year $255 Million contract with around $179 million guaranteed. While the recent contract makes Hurts the highest-paid NFL professional, he is still hungry for a Super Bowl ring. However, an NFL Pro Bowler doesn’t seem to agree with the words of the QB.

Despite losing out to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs, Jalen Hurts and the Eagles showed glimpses of their future. Even the Eagles’ front office showcased their confidence in Hurts, rewarding him for a noteworthy season. But what means more to Jalen Hurts, the financial stability or the championships? A certain NFL veteran had these exact questions and offered his unique take on the matter.

Is Jalen Hurts being truthful?

During a recent press conference, Jalen Hurts appeared along with the Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie. Needless to say, people wanted Hurts’ account of receiving a historic deal to which the young superstar replied in typical Jalen Hurts fashion, “Money is nice. Championships are better.”

Throughout the conference, Hurts repeatedly reiterated his desire to get back on the big stage and emerge as the victor. While the whole NFL community took Hurts’ comments as a sign for the future, NFL veteran Marcellus Wiley did not agree.

Wiley felt that Jalen Hurts was not being completely honest with his response, and rather questioned Hurts’ priority list.

“But then it made me think like, what came first championship or money for Jalen Hurts? Obviously, it’s the money now. Money came first and money’s the reason why we’re even having this press conference. But he said this is great. This is nice. The championships are better.”

Wiley continued by bringing forward another age-old what-if for athletes, “So would you rather be an underpaid champion or overpaid non-champion?”

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While Wiley personally clarified that we would choose the money any day, it did not exactly justify his calling out Hurts. Additionally, Marcellus Wiley felt that Hurts was not exactly spewing lies, he was just not being completely honest.

Crime to be self-serving?

With Marcellus Wiley questioning the mere legitimacy of Jalen Hurts’ comments, he did allude to the situation most professional athletes often find themselves in. According to Wiley, athletes often have to take a diplomatic approach as fans tend to be extremely observant, nit-picking at every minute detail. Wiley’s comments were not particularly about the style of play, but the manner in which these athletes carry themselves.

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Just look at the Lamar Jackson situation, Jackson has clearly been hoping for a massive extension but at the time is being ostracized by the Ravens’ fanbase. Wiley believes that Jalen Hurts wanted to avoid drawing much attention to his humongous contract and the negotiations that followed, hence the evasive response. Most fanbases get rubbed the wrong way if the players try to serve their own personal goals, and maybe Hurts just wanted to avoid getting on Philly’s bad books.