Philadelphia’s mayor on Friday praised fans for their largely peaceful revelry at the Eagles’ Super Bowl parade Authentic Jorge De La Rosa Jersey , noting only a few ”small hiccups” during a celebration that included two stabbings, a toppled Jumbotron and the assault of an officer.
Police reported two arrests as hundreds of thousands of people wearing green, many of them overcome with equal parts joy and relief after the Eagles’ first Super Bowl victory, crowded the city for a party nearly 60 years in the making.
”I don’t think many people would argue when I say this week has been one of the greatest weeks in Philadelphia history,” said Mayor Jim Kenney, adding that the event mostly ”went off without a hitch.”
Any foul play during the parade was minor, said Police Commissioner Richard Ross, who tallied damage such as four police cars dented by fans climbing on them, two stabbing victims who are expected to survive, an officer who was assaulted by a woman trying to get onto the parade route and two arrests for assault. People attempting to scale a Jumbotron knocked over the huge video screen.
Maintenance crews worked overnight, picking up trash left behind by fans who watched the team travel in open-top double decker buses from their stadium to the art museum steps made famous in the ”Rocky” movies. Coach Doug Pederson walked part of the 5-mile route while carrying the Lombardi Trophy, allowing fans to touch the gleaming hardware. Center Jason Kelce, wearing what looked like a genie outfit, gave voice to every frustrated Philly fan with an impassioned and profane speech.
”We were a bunch of underdogs,” shouted Kelce, channeling Rocky. ”Bottom line is we wanted it more!”
Thursday’s parade was tame in comparison to impromptu celebration that broke out Sunday after the Eagles’ defeated the New England Patriots 41-33. In the hours after the Super Bowl victory Dallas Goedert Jersey Eagles , fans overturned a car, shattered storefront windows, ate horse feces, collapsed a hotel’s awning and hit the police commissioner in the head with a bottle.
Parade organizers prepared for as many as 2 million people.
Crowd safety experts commissioned by The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News put the number at about 700,000, based on an examination of photos of the parade route. But city Emergency Operators Director Dan Bradley said he felt the number was higher than that.
The parade cost is still being calculated, the mayor said.
The celebration apparently let down at least a few fans who took to social media to fume about how an double-length bus stopped directly in front of a section of the crowd just as the parade cruised by. One person wrote that she had waited in the cold for six hours for nothing.
”We’re absolutely sorry that it happened,” says a message posted on the city’s official Twitter account, adding that the bus was carrying police officers. ”A parade of this magnitude is obviously an extremely fluid situation and our first concern is always public safety.”
Rookie receivers Courtland Sutton and DaeSean Hamilton are the Denver Broncos' new safety valves, applying the pressure but also relieving the burden on veterans Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders .
"Those two guys, they came in like pros, they're taking care of their business, they're on time to everything, they're making plays," Thomas said Friday. "So, they're pushing us. And that's good for us. We need it. We want to push each other and make each other better."
While Sutton has made a splash at training camp so far with daily highlight-reel catches and Hamilton has drawn his share of applause Authentic Saquon Barkley Jersey , Thomas and Sanders are quietly having very good camps themselves.
Thomas' stats have steadily declined every season since his peak in 2014, and his streak of five consecutive 1,000-yard seasons ended last year when he finished 51 yards shy.
Sanders dealt with injuries and his two TD catches were his fewest since 2012.
Part of the problem in 2017 was that the Broncos had nobody around them 鈥?a third receiver, a tight end, a running back 鈥?who could really force teams to quit bracketing Thomas and Sanders.
That's no longer the case .
In addition to Sutton and Hamilton, the Broncos added rookie running backs Royce Freeman, David Williams and Philip Lindsay (undrafted) along with another Big Ten tight end in Troy Fumagalli to go with Jake Butt, who missed his rookie season last year while recovering from knee surgery.
Sutton, Hamilton and Fumagalli are members of general manager John Elway's already-celebrated draft class of 2018 that featured experience 鈥?all 10 players spent four years in school 鈥?and leadership 鈥?most were captains in college.
Safety Justin Simmons said he's just like all the fans whooping and hollering at practice 鈥?he's energized by and excited about the Broncos' rookies.
"Oh, for sure. Especially Chubb," Simmons said of first-round pick Bradley Chubb, whose ability to chase down quarterbacks "makes my job 50 times easier."
Sutton's making his job harder.
"Oh yeah, Sutton's been great. He's been out here making plays," Simmons said. "He's just another guy that's just humble and hungry, coming in here ready to work."
That's been the theme of this year's draft class, which also includes cornerback Isaac Yiadom Derrius Guice Color Rush Jersey , inside linebackers Keishan Bierria, Josey Jewell (who practiced Friday for the first time after pulling a hamstring in June) and guard Sam Jones.
Last season, several veterans took the 2017 draft class, which was filled with raw athleticism and projects, to task for their work ethic, complaining that too many of them came off as entitled.
This year's class drew quick praise from the veterans.
"There's no complaining," defensive end Derek Wolfe said. "That's the one thing that you notice from an immature draft class, is that they complain a lot, whine and cry a lot. There's none of that coming from this group."
Humble. Hungry.
"It's a mature class," coach Vance Joseph said. "It's been seven or eight guys that have shown they can help us win."
Sutton's doing it with spectacular plays every day, and Hamilton's sprinkling in his share, too.
"I'll tell you what, we've got some good rookies," Sanders said. "I was just over there with my family and Courtland just runs over to say, 'Hey, I'm going to take your helmet.' And that's what we need."
Players willing to pay their dues but eager to make their mark.
Also turning heads is Chubb Falcons Deadrin Senat Jersey , the fifth overall pick in the draft who reminds defensive tackle Domata Peko Sr. of superstar Von Miller .
"He's quick, he's strong and he can get to the passer. He's disruptive and he's willing to learn," Peko said after getting his first glimpse of the 2018 class. "He's always talking to Von and asking, 'Hey, what can I do?' That's good to see out of a rookie."
Peko also singled out Sutton and Jewell as players he's thrilled to play alongside.
"These guys are going to make a difference for us," Peko said. "They're only going to help our team. I love our new guys."
Notes: Simmons said the league's new helmet rule was going to be the main topic when players meet with NFL officials visiting the Broncos to go over the new rule changes. ... On the sixth day of training camp, QB Case Keenum was finally intercepted, by S Will Parks. "He's human," Joseph said. ... The Broncos signed WR Bryce Bobo, a rookie from Colorado, and designated WR Kenny Bell as waived/injured.