Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio alluded to Dr. Anthony Fauci's testimony before a Senate committee, jokingly stating he would "Fauci" reporters' questions during a press conference.
Fangio, who was addressing reporters during a regularly scheduled news conference, quipped about invoking the Fifth Amendment, mirroring Dr. Fauci's actions during a recent Senate hearing. "I'm going to be like Fauci and just take the Fifth Amendment on your question," Fangio said, adding, "Did you guys see that? Oh, my God."
Dr. Fauci, former Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 100 times during a hearing. He was subpoenaed by Senate Homeland Security Committee Chairman Rand Paul, who has alleged Fauci should face contempt charges for his handling of information regarding the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reports indicate that Fauci refused to answer even basic questions during the hearing, leading to the invocation of the Fifth Amendment. Fangio later used the term "Fauci-ed" when a reporter asked if a general manager had "ducked" a question, implying the GM had avoided answering in a manner similar to Fauci's testimony.
The NFL season, like many aspects of American life, was significantly impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, a context that Fangio, like many others, is likely aware of as he seeks answers about the pandemic's origins.
