Eagles defensive lineman Darryl Tapp will not play tonight against the Saints because he has something more important to do: Attend the birth of his first child.
The Eagles announced on Monday evening that Tapp will not play tonight in New Orleans because he is at the hospital with his wife.
The subject of players missing games for the birth of their children has come up a few times this season, especially after Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb both said that they wouldn’t play if their pregnant wives went into labor on a game day. (Kolb’s wife gave birth to a baby girl in September, while Roethlisberger’s wife is due in December.) In the past, that attitude was controversial: In 1993, when Houston Oilers offensive tackle David Williams skipped a Sunday game because his wife gave birth the night before, the Oilers docked him his game check and publicly questioned his commitment to the team.
But the culture of the NFL and of American society has changed since then: The Eagles reportedly told Tapp he had their blessing to put family first.