NFL Network analyst Michael Robinson should genuinely considering extending an apology to Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts this weekend.
On Thursday, the Eagles ruled out Hurts for Week 6 due to a superficial blood clot. They learned of his condition prior to last weekend’s game against the Jacksonville Jaguars. It wasn’t until this week that his imaging showed movement in the blood clot. According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Eagles will sit Hurts until his medical situation is resolved.
While on “NFL Gameday Kickoff” this week, Robinson offered his thoughts on Hurts’ injury. He suggested that Hurts is taking himself off the field so he can’t receive blame for the team’s three-game losing streak. No, we’re not kidding.
“It looked like they were trying to pin the outcome of this season on Jalen Hurts just so that they could have an excuse later on to move on from Jalen Hurts. And, again, I’m not saying I know nothing, guys,” Robinson said. “But if I’m just playing devil’s advocate here, and I’m thinking that way, if I’m Jalen Hurts — or anybody in Jalen Hurts’ camp — I’m saying, ‘Well if everybody’s hurt, I’m hurt, too.’ To me, it looked like Jalen is kind of getting himself out of the fray so that this lost season … he’s pulling himself out so that this doesn’t look like it’s on me.”
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
As you’d imagine, Robinson’s theory about Hurts immediately received backlash online.
“Yeah I don’t need to ever watch @nflnetwork again after seeing this,” one fan replied. “This is a disgusting take. I’m not a medical expert either, but Michael Robinson might be an idiot.”
“Michael Robinson should be fired before the weekend is over,” a second fan declared.
“Did he just say Jalen Hurts is faking a blood clot to avoid criticism?” another fan wrote on X. “I really hope this is AI, b/c if not this guy should be fired.”
“People act like you’re supposed to be above the criticism and let people disrespect you as they please,” sports writer Scott Kacsmar said. “But if I was Jalen Hurts, I’d send Michael Robinson the ultrasound of my blood clot.”
Who is Michael Robinson?
Prior to becoming an analyst for NFL Network, Robinson was a quarterback and wide receiver at Penn State. He was named the MVP of the Big Ten in 2005 after throwing for 2,350 yards and rushing for 806 yards.
Robinson was then selected by the San Francisco 49ers with the 100th pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. He was in the Bay Area until 2009 before joining the Seattle Seahawks. He won a Super Bowl title during the 2013 season and then called it a career.
“Robinson is the founder of the Excel to Excellence Foundation, to encourage kids to excel in academics and society,” his bio for NFL Network states. “Each year the organization holds a Michael Robinson Youth Football Camp and Community Day, to interact with children receive coaching from professional athletes. Inside Excel to Excellent Foundation is TEAM EXCEL, which Robinson constructed positively motivate students to increase their grade point averages, improve attendance at school, and decrease behavioral problems.”
As of this Saturday, an apology has not been issued by Robinson.
