ST. PAUL, Minn. — Jason Peters is with Halapoulivaati Vaitai everywhere but on the field during games. Peters was standing only a few feet from his protégé Monday night, as Eagles players milled about on the floor of the Xcel Energy Center among hundreds of reporters, with thousands of fans watching from the seats at Super Bowl Opening Night.
“He played a good [NFC championship game] against [Minnesota’s Everson] Griffen, and we’re headed now into the Super Bowl, man. I’m going to be right there by his side,” Peters said, sweating profusely behind designer sunglasses.
After Nick Foles taking over for Carson Wentz, Vaitai was the biggest example of an Eagle somehow filling impossibly big shoes.