Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio couldn’t help but laugh when he brought up controversial scientist, Dr. Anthony Fauci, who repeatedly invoked the Fifth Amendment in a Senate committee hearing on Wednesday.
At the beginning of his Thursday press conference, Fangio joked that he was going to channel Fauci when a reporter asked about the team’s plan at the safety position — and whether it is Marcus Epps’s job to lose.
“I’m gonna be like Fauci and just take the Fifth Amendment on all questions,” Fangio quipped as some reporters laughed.
“Did you guys see that? Oh My God.”
The scientist invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times for questions on COVID-19 and the government’s pandemic response at a contentious Senate hearing on Captiol Hill.
“On the advice of council I respectfully decline to answer based upon my rights under the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution,” Fauci repeatedly said, even when asked trivial questions, such as the color of his tie and the day of the week.
Fangio eventually got back to the game and explained that there is competition in his defensive scheme.
“We’re running Marcus there with the first group, with the nickel group,” Fangio said. “Cooper [DeJean] with the base group. But [Jalen] Carter is doing fine too. It’s competition.”
Fangio cracked another joke at the expense of Fauci when a reporter asked if there have been discussions on bringing edge rusher Brandon Graham back due to newly signed Jonathan Greenard’s pec injury.
“You guys had [Eagles GM and president] Howie [Roseman] up here yesterday, you should’ve asked him that,” Fangio said, to which a reporter said they did.
“And what did he say? He ducked you? He Fauci’d you?” Fangio said, laughing.
Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who has long argued that Fauci should be criminally investigated, said the committee will vote next week on whether to hold Fauci in contempt for declining to answer questions, according to The Associated Press.
