Unless he’s going on some kind of vacation, Darius Slay will not have to pack his bags and leave Philadelphia.
On Wednesday, the star cornerback thought he wouldn’t be returning to the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023. After qualifying for the last two Pro Bowls, Slay was an Eagles’ captain and one of the top players on their NFC title-winning team last season. The said former captaincy achievement meant a lot to him.
But as the Eagles contended with a fraught salary cap situation that already saw them lose notable contributors like Javon Hargrave and T.J. Edwards, it didn’t seem like Slay had a place moving forward.
He kept it classy in a short tweet, seemingly looking ahead to a future elsewhere:
Nothing but love Philly!! Lets see where we heading next..
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) March 15, 2023
Hold the phone.
My, my, how fast a situation can shift on a dime in free agency.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Slay’s original sentiment was in reaction to being released by the Eagles. But, after testing the market for a bit, Slay and the Eagles reached an agreement for him to return … only a few hours later.
And so, after a series of thankful tweets and well-wishes from others, Slay seemed elated to eventually announce he wasn’t leaving Philadelphia after all:
Back like I never left!!! Run it back 🦅
— Darius Slay (@bigplay24slay) March 16, 2023
Phew. I know Slay was likely breathing a huge sigh of relief once he learned he’d stay with a team he loves. I can’t lie: It’s pretty charming how he wore his heart on his sleeve through tough circumstances.
