How and why Chris Long made ridiculous Super Bowl tattoo bet

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BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — Meet Ken Flajole. He's been the Eagles' linebackers coach for the past two seasons. His name is pronounced FLAY-juhl. He's the oldest member of the Eagles' coaching staff. 

And his bald head and face might be tattooed on Chris Long's body pretty soon. 

In an interview with NFL Network during media night on Monday, Long revealed that he had a bet with Flajole. If the Eagles win the Super Bowl, he'd get the 63-year-old's face tattooed somewhere on his body. 

According to Flajole, that's 100 percent accurate. 

Long and Flajole worked together in Philadelphia this season but their relationship goes back several years. While Long was still playing in St. Louis, Flajole was his defensive coordinator from 2009-11. They reunited this year when Long joined the Eagles as a free agent. 

On Wednesday, Flajole said the bet came about from a simple conversation the two had way back in training camp. According to the coach, here's how that conversation went: 

Flajole: "Chris, there wouldn't be anything greater for me than to be able to hoist that Lombardi Trophy with you." 

Long: "Flaj, I'll tell you what, if we win the Super Bowl, I'll put a tattoo of your face on my body."

Flajole: "OK. Be careful about making bets because if this comes to fruition I'm going to hold you to it."

And here we are. 

Flajole has gotten the most out of his linebackers this season, even after the devastating loss of middle linebacker Jordan Hicks. He has Nigel Bradham and Mychal Kendricks playing the best ball of their careers. And he's been able to coach around the revolving door at the middle linebacker position, from Hicks to Joe Walker to Najee Goode to newcomer Dannell Ellerbe. 

Meanwhile, Long has had a resurgent season with the Eagles. After winning a Super Bowl with the Patriots last year, Long wanted to join a defense that he thought would take advantage of his strengths. The 32-year-old has been a big part of the defense's success and this run to the Super Bowl. 

So this possible victory would mean a lot to both men. It means enough to end up in ink. Flajole said Long is a "man of his word" even though he might try to buy his way out of the bet or try to broker a deal. 

Will Long actually get the tattoo? 

"Oh, he'll do it," Flajole said without hesitation. "He'll do it."

Flajole isn't exactly sure where Long's new ink will go if the Birds win the Super Bowl. 

But he has an idea. 

"I'm sure it's going to be someplace that's concealed very easily," Flajole said laughing. "I said, 'Chris, you don't want to be my age, with people looking at something and saying who's that guy?"

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