Photo Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Credit: Howard Smith-USA TODAY Sports

While former stars are out there saying Chip Kelly doesn’t appreciate them, a former Phillie is standing up for Philly fans. Shane Victorino, a lifelong Cowboy fan and confessed bandwagon jumper, said after a spanking of the Phillies yesterday that he reached out to DeMarco Murray to tell him how great Eagles fans are:

“I tell athletes all the time … (and) I texted DeMarco when he signed here. I said, ‘If there’s a city that you want to win in and understand how important as an athlete it is to win in a city like this with them falling in love with you as an athlete … this is one of the best.’ I’m very appreciative.

When you talk about winning in a city like (Philadelphia) and to be loved as an athlete, that’s what it’s all about. It’s fun. I said, ‘DeMarco, go do what you do, and you’ll be fine.’ I mean, he’s going to be loved here (in Philadelphia).”

And Shane even wants the Eagles to get Mariota, because we haven’t heard that from enough people yet. “Hopefully, that kid in Oregon (Marcus Mariota) gets an opportunity to slip down (in the NFL Draft),” Victorino said. “I’d love to see him in an Eagles uniform as much as it would kill me and haunt me being a fan of … that team.”

Hopefully DeMarco didn’t notice that fans gave Shane Victorino a standing ovation while booing current Phillie Jonathan Papelbon during introductions.