Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts presumably learned a lot about football from Nick Saban during his time at Alabama.

He also picked up another crucial tip that is already helping him out at the next level: don't listen to the noise. Or, as Saban calls it, the “rat poison.”

The 2020 second-round pick is in the middle of a QB “controversy” in Philadelphia that has placed the rookie at the center of social media discourse. When asked Wednesday how he avoids the chatter, Hurts cited Saban's philosophy.

“I try and stay away from the rat poison,” Eagles QB Jalen Hurts said.

Asked what he meant, Hurts referred to the Alabama coach.

“You got to ask Saban,” Hurts said. “He knows a little bit about rat poison, too. It’s all external factors. I’ve talked about that a little bit. External factors – no good for us and what we’re trying to do as a team.”

Hurts is recalling the comments Saban made after a Crimson Tide victory over Texas A&M in Oct. 2017.

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“I’m trying to get our players to listen to me instead of listening to you guys,” Saban said in his postgame remarks. “All that stuff you write about how good we are and all that stuff they hear on ESPN, it’s like poison. You know what I mean? It’s like taking poison. Like rat poison, so all right, I’m asking them: Are you going to listen to me or are you going to listen to these guys about how good you are?”

You can watch Hurts' comments below, via the team's YouTube channel.

Hurts will make his third career start for Eagles on Sunday after usurping the struggling Carson Wentz in the second half of Week 13.

Through two-plus games, Hurts has completed 53.5% of his passes for 614 yards and a 90.9 passer rating. He's scored six touchdowns (one rushing) and tossed one interception. The Eagles are 1-1 with Jalen Hurts as the starter.

Philadelphia will face the Dallas Cowboys at AT&T Stadium.