Philadelphia Eagles: Shareef Miller’s boundless confidence is infectious

Shareef Miller’s confidence is infectious, Philadelphia Eagles fans.

Being a sports blogger is one of the more unique ways for one to spend their time.

Sometimes you are reporting the news, sometimes you’re digging deep into a particularly interesting statistic, and sometimes still you spend an afternoon scouring the internet for something, anything to write about four months removed from live sports during the middle of a global pandemic. But other times, ever so often, you actually make the news for reporting on the news, creating a perfectly bizarre feedback loop that can only call the internet home.

It doesn’t happen often, my most recent run-in with the phenomenon came back in February when I suggested the Philadelphia 76ers trade Al Horford for Buddy Hield and actual Buddy Hield started advocating for it on social media, but when it does boy howdy can things get interesting.

More from Section 215

• 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
• Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
• 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
• Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
• Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles

And for better or worse, that happened to yours truly when I decided to ask a simple question: What role will Shareef Miller have with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2020?

Now for those who don’t know, Shareef Miller only appeared in one game for his hometown team last fall – logging two special teams snaps against the Buffalo Bills in Week 8 – despite being drafted above the likes of Hunter Renfrow, Darius Slayton, and Gardner Minshew. With Vinny Curry gone and only Cadey Toohill selected in the seventh round of the 2020 NFL Draft to replace him, one could understandably assume that Miller would be in line to receive an uptick in production almost by default. But then again, the Eagles have been connected to a number of veteran defensive lineman for a reason this offseason and the addition of a player like Everson Griffen – or Jadeveon Clowney – could keep Miller sidelined once more.

Was it the most comprehensive breakdown imaginable? I’ll be honest, no, frankly, all the speculation in the world means nothing until we actually see the team take the field later this Summer, but as far as being a thought experiment was concerned, I found it interesting.

I tweeted a link to the post and thought nothing of it… until Shareef decided to comment on my work.

Now to be fair, his worlds aren’t a scathing review, they actually don’t really even comment on the contents of the piece, but after the initial shock wore off, the idea that Miller 1. found an article that in no way @’d him and 2. (persumably) took my words as inspiration to continue to work on his craft is honestly inspiring.

Shareef Miller, consider this Philadelphia Eagles fan a, well, fan.

The post quickly racked up a tidy sum of likes, most of which on Miller’s reply and to my surprise, pretty much every other comment was positive, encouraging even. No one called Miller a bum, complained that he didn’t play a defensive snap, or lord Howie Roseman’s decision to trade for Genard Avery over his head. No, the Eagles’ fanbase, a fanbase I assume Miller was once a member of – unless he, like Will Parks, grew up a Cowboys fan – seems to genuinely want him to succeed,  a sort of unconditional support I haven’t seen since Markelle Fultz returned to the court in the latter portion of the 2018-19 NBA season.

And you know what? I genuinely hope he gets the shot he clearly craves to prove any doubters wrong. Despite his average speed for the position, Miller’s abilities as a 4-3 base bull rusher are tailor-made for the scheme Jim Schwartz likes to run – a scheme that has made similarly built ends like Brandom Graham and Derek Barnett household names. Assuming he’s used the offseason to get in tip-top shape and brush up on the Birds’ playbook, there’s no reason to assume Miller won’t come to camp as the best version of himself, a player Roseman deemed worthy of being drafted 138th overall.

Who knows, maybe Miller will even beat out Josh Sweat as the Eagles’ first end off the bench, a fantastic hypothetical outcome, as Miller has an additional year on his rookie contract before being eligible for a payday.

Could Miller one day supplant Graham as the Birds’ top end? I’m not sure if I’d go that far just yet but as the old adage goes, ‘when there’s a will, there’s a way’.

So Shareef Miller, thank you for making me a little part of the news cycle, and good luck with your sophomore season with your hometown Philadelphia Eagles. I hope to write about it early and often over the forthcoming months.