“Don’t Hate The Player Hate The Tweets” – Evan Mathis Exclusive

When Jeff Lurie came out this past week and told the media Andy Reid will be back for a 14^th season, like many fans I was upset. According to his twitter account Eagles Guard, Evan Mathis believes fans like me, were idiots for wanting Andy Reid gone.  Sure, it is bad PR to call fans idiots, but as a fan I think it is cool that he at least responds to us, he interacts with us directly he eliminates the middle man (the media). I was able to contact and interview Mathis about his Twitter interactions with the fans to find out if he really was at war with us, or is he just a dude having his fun with the fans.

“I definitely have fun with it, I’m not going to get offended by anything anybody says, I wouldn’t call anything a war though. If they want to really talk about their problems that caused such super sensitivity by being called an idiot then I’m always willing to lend a shoulder to cry on.” Mathis told me. “For those that do want to argue, they need to understand how much [crap]-talking experience I got in middle school. What started with Yo Mama jokes proceeded to get real.”

As one can imagine provoking the Philly Sports fan may not be a good idea, we do not take well on receiving criticism from national media members, and especially from our players, as a result we get pretty venomous. Mathis has returned fire at individual fans this past week by directly going to their twitter page for his ammo.  He pointed out to one Tweeter that the man looked like Sloth from the movie Goonies, and to another fan how the man leads just a pathetic life. Mathis has engaged the fans with a “if you are going to mess with the bull deal with the horns mentality.”

There are some fans who respect Mathis for his approach, other fans not so much. “There’s not many that don’t take it well getting insulted in return.  A lot of them respect getting outwitted and some respect the fact that a player is communicating with them. There’s some that keep taking shots but then I read their timeline for some psychoanalysis and they are just angry souls overall” claimed Mathis. Not all of the hundreds of fans to Tweet Mathis fell victim to his insults some were able to “out-twit” him, and Mathis gladly admits it.

“Somebody told me I sounded like I had balls in my mouth in a radio interview.  I’m a bit of a mumbler and usually get a bit nervous on radio and TV so I know I can sound really ogreish at times.” Mathis admitted On the surface it may appear that Mathis is a punk who picks on fans that are less fortune it than he is, and based on what has come out in the media and on his Twitter account in the past week one could see how people draw that conclusion.

However, prior to his Andy Reid tweet Mathis rarely posted anything serious to his twitter account. His Tweets consisted of his dream of marrying Katy Perry, and various random thoughts. “Kobe’s wife leaves him and he tears a ligament in his wrist. That joke tells itself.” Mathis Tweeted on December 21^st. Mathis doesn’t hate the Eagles fans, he was quick to point out that they are far more passionate than the fans he dealt with as a Colt.

He also seemed like a guy who does not want to leave Philadelphia anytime soon. “I aim to be the very best at what I do.  Having me on this OL will do nothing but increase our chances of securing the Lombardi Trophy.  I would also expect [the fans] to expect me to support the man leading us.  Would you want a team full of guys who didn’t respect their coach? Would you cheer for that? Jump on board with all of us, full speed ahead, it’s ride or die time.

In my opinion from talking to Mathis he seemed a lot more gracious towards the fans than he did on Twitter, but then again, that is the danger of posting your thoughts when you only have 140 characters to do so. “Understand that I have nothing against the fans, I’m abrasive in my tone at times and I can also express myself like a raging caveman at time” Mathis said.“That’s the mentality that makes me an offensive lineman, I have an undying passion for this game and it bleeds into the real world.”

The last question I asked to Mathis, I believe was the most important question to be asked to Mathis during the past week, Has Andy Reid commented on your tweets, if so, did he ask you to do a better job? “No, I haven’t talked to him about my tweets.  Do you think I need to do a better job? I’m always open to constructive criticism” Mathis responded.