It’s clear that Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson is not a fan of the New England Patriots. Aside from celebrating his team’s Super Bowl all throughout the offseason, Johnson has also spent time publicly expressing his hatred for the Patriots, particularly for New England’s perceived arrogance. Despite Johnson’s loathing for the Pats getting quite the media mileage, New England head coach Bill Belichick barely had anything to say when asked about it, via Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. “We’re focused on what we’re doing,” Belichick said. “We need to have a good practice today and try to improve our team today. That’s what we’re going to do.” If you think you have heard this response from Bill Belichick before, it’s because it’s almost the same exact words he uttered a few months ago when reporters tried to get a quote from him with regards to Johnson’s shots. True to his unwavering commitment to a system, Belichick does seem to also follow the same narrative when trying to shield himself from tireless reporters who continue to shoot their shots in inducing quotes from him. This has been Belichick’s way for decades, and it’s unlikely to change anytime soon. Belichick has always made his disinterest to talk about topics which are inconsequential to the goal of his team clear, and Johnson’s comments seem to be one for the multi-titled mentor. Nevertheless, the Patriots’ showdown with the Eagles in Foxboro this coming Thursday will be as much of a must-watch preseason game as there is.<doc-sep>AP Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson has thrown salt into the Patriots’ Super Bowl wound since the offseason began, repeatedly criticizing the Patriot Way and Bill Belichick. Johnson apparently isn’t approaching Thursday’s game at Gillette Stadium as a meaningless preseason game. “I’m ready,” Johnson told KYW Newsradio, via Ryan Hannable of WEEI. “I’ve been waiting on this ever since the Super Bowl was over with. It’s time.” Belichick was asked about Johnson’s repeated shots at what the Eagles player has called a “fear-based organization.” Of course, the Patriots coach had little to say. “We’re focused on what we’re doing,” Belichick said. “We need to have a good practice today and try to improve our team today. That’s what we’re going to do.” For months this offseason, Johnson took shots at the Patriots.<doc-sep>Chris Szagola/Associated Press Philadelphia Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson isn't afraid of the hostile New England Patriots fans he will surely face in Thursday's preseason rematch of Super Bowl LII. "Oh yeah. I hope so. I hope they raise hell," Johnson said Tuesday when discussing the reaction he expects, per Tim McManus of ESPN.com. "They can cuss me; they can say whatever they want. At the end of the day, I'm not blocking them; I'm blocking guys on the edge, so it really doesn't matter what they say." He continued, saying: "I know that I'm not going to be well-liked, this team is not going to be well-liked going there, so it's going to basically bring out our best." McManus noted Johnson has not shied away from criticizing the Patriots in the past and suggested they are a "fear-based organization" with players who "act like f--king robots." The right tackle defended his previous comments and said they received so much attention because they were coming from a place of truth. "People can discredit it all they want. I think it's why I get so much recognition is because a lot of it is true, and they don't want to accept it. At the end of the day, man, I'm over it," Johnson said. "We are who we were last year. It's a totally different year." Johnson often lets his play do the talking, though, and was a 2017 Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro member and a primary reason the Eagles offensive live helped the team win the title. Video Play Button Videos you might like While he will draw attention during Thursday's preseason game given his past comments, NFL fans may get the opportunity to see him talk about New England at another Super Bowl media day if Las Vegas is to be believed. OddsShark had the Patriots and Eagles as the two favorites to win the championship in the 2018 season, meaning a rematch could be in store. Tom Brady reaching his fourth Super Bowl in five years and Carson Wentz bouncing back from last season's injury to play for the Lombardi Trophy would draw plenty of headlines, but Johnson would figure to be right in the middle of things again with a rematch. He already is for Thursday’s preseason contest.<doc-sep>
Lane Johnson, like Marshawn Lynch, is about that action, so it is no surprise that the Eagles star right tackle isn’t shying away from statements he made about the New England Patriots. With the Super Bowl champions set to arrive in Foxborough for a hyped preseason matchup on Thursday, Johnson is hoping Patriots fans are hostile when the visiting team arrives. “Oh yeah. I hope so. I hope they raise hell,” Johnson said Tuesday when discussing the reaction he expects, per Tim McManus of ESPN.com. “They can cuss me; they can say whatever they want. At the end of the day, I’m not blocking them; I’m blocking guys on the edge, so it really doesn’t matter what they say. “I know that I’m not going to be well-liked, this team is not going to be well-liked going there, so it’s going to basically bring out our best.” Johnson has been in the crosshairs of Patriots fans after he said the team acted “like [expletive] robots” and called it a “fear-based” organization. Most of Johnson’s agitation stems from the Patriots’ lack of respect for the Eagles, who were underdogs when the teams met a little over six months ago in Super Bowl LII. “I just felt like we weren’t even given a chance going into the game,” Johnson said. “I felt like we were disrespected, and we were by them. I made plenty of comments about why I said what I said. It’s not like I was coming out of the blue just to talk. It’s because I felt like I’ve been disrespected and the team’s been disrespected. It’s not like I’m coming out here running my mouth because I want to. No other teams really came out and ran their mouth.” Johnson is one of the most outspoken Eagles, and his play on the field — he was a 2017 Pro Bowler and first-team All-Pro selection — backs it up.