PHILADELPHIA — There used to be backlash when Mekhi Becton was asked about MetLife Stadium. The Philadelphia Eagles, forming the right safety, played in that stadium for the first five years of his career with the Brandnew York Jets. He doesn’t have many fond memories.
“I don’t want to play in that shitty stadium,” Becton said Wednesday. “It’s bad. Everything is bad in that stadium. I really don’t like it. I’m glad I only get to do it once a year. I just have to go in there, do my 1-11 and go home.”
Becton had a series of injuries throughout his week with the Jets, but never on the turf of MetLife Stadium, which is reviled throughout the NFL. His knee trauma occurred in North Carolina, but he still didn’t have certain things to mention on the MetLife turf.
“You can tell the difference like you’re on that lawn and (then) you go to a different lawn,” Becton said. “You can tell. It’s a night and day difference on the grass. It just feels lifted. There’s a lot of things that don’t feel right on that grass.”
MetLife Stadium actually modified the grass floor throughout the center during Becton’s tenure. As Becton said, “it made no difference.” In fact, the stadium is eager to be located on a meadow for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, as New York will host the overall.
“They never told me why. I just don’t understand why if you have an outdoor stadium, why not just have grass,” Becton mentioned about why MetLife didn’t move to grass sooner. “Just for anyone. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
After all, the Eagles aren’t enjoying the Jets right now, yet the alternative franchise in Brandnew York has enough problems as it is. From the 2-4 start to Robert Saleh’s firing and Davante Adams’ deal, all Becton could do was smile when the Jets were introduced.
“No comment. That’s what I’ll say about it,” Becton said. “I’m fine and happy here. No comments.”
Returning to MetLife Stadium is a reunion for both Becton and Saquon Barkley. The most is getting all the attention right now since the Eagles play the New York Giants, but this is a notable moment for both.
“I know he’s excited,” Becton said of Barkley. “We both know what New York meant to us and we both know how New York made us. I’ll just let him be his little space and be in my little space. Towards game day, we both do that.”
There is additional motivation for Becton to also play games with the Giants, even if he never played for the franchise. The Jets were the second to waste time in their home stadium, which didn’t sit well with them.
“It’s like a completely different side,” Becton mentioned. “The way I put it when I was there, we were like their little brothers. On their side, they had all their trophies and Super Bowls and, on their side, we were the New York Jets.”
