Covers the Philadelphia Eagles for PHLY.
Prev.: The Athletic, Inquirer, Star-Ledger, Wash. Post
Author of UNDERDOGS.
Adjunct at Colo. State.
zach
@allphly
.com
Eagles traded N. Foles to Rams for S. Bradford. Foles lost his job in St. Louis, C. Keenum takes over. Eagles draft C. Wentz and trade Bradford to Minn. Vikings sign Keenum, who replaces injured Bradford. Foles returns to Philly, replaces injured Wentz. Now, Foles vs. Keenum.
Jason Kelce is in Orlando for the Pro Bowl for the first time since the event changed formats: "I don't even know what you do in the Pro Bowl anymore. But it's down in Orlando so I get to take my kids to Walt Disney World. Not off-the-Super Bowl Walt Disney World, but as long as…
Malcolm Jenkins played 1,034 of 1,034 defensive snaps this season.
It's the second consecutive season he hasn't missed a defensive snap.
Since he's come to Philadelphia, here are his snap percentages:
2014: 99%
2015: 99%
2016: 99%
2017: 92%
2018: 100%
2019: 100%
“To disrespect the game by going out there and not competing for 60 minutes and doing everything you can to help those players win, we will never do that as long as I’m the head coach of the Giants."
This is Greg Ward's fourth summer with the Eagles.
He was waived on cutdown day each of the past three years. He was signed the next day to the practice squad each year.
For the first time in his NFL career, Ward made the 53-man roster.
G. Minshew said he wouldn't be in NFL w/o Mike Leach: "I'd be coaching right now, getting my ass ripped by Nick Saban probably twice a day. I couldn't be more indebted to him and the impact he's had on my life, my family's life. ...Can't put into words how grateful I am for him."
Year 10, Malcolm Jenkins still practices like he’s trying to make the team. Doesn’t take days off, doesn’t take drills off. And appears into every snap. Jenkins and Darren Sproles are two of the most impressive practice players Eagles have had here in past decade.
Jalen Hurts is donating $200,000 to the Philadelphia School District to install new air conditioners in 10 schools.
He's at Edward Gideon Elementary School in North Philly right now for the announcement.
The Eagles spent five draft picks to acquire Carson Wentz in 2016. They gave him a $128M contract 20 months ago.
They're now taking on a cap hit in excess $33M to essentially get out of the contract and get a 2021 3rd-round pick and a 2022 2nd or 1st-rd pick.
Howie Roseman went to Georgia's practice last year.
He came back and Nick Sirianni asked him who he liked.
"I don't know, like, the whole defense," Roseman answered.
When the Eagles demoted Sean Desai, I thought they scapegoated him and it would hurt Desai's career.
Turns out, Desai's fitness as a DC might never look better. The best they played was under Desai, who oversaw the effort to keep Miami and KC scoreless in the second half.
Jason Kelce: "There's a lot of people who say it's a hard place to play. I think it's pretty fucking easy to be honest with you. You go out there and play hard. Want to be loved in this city as a baseball player? Run to first base. They're going to fucking loving you."
Dallas Goedert and Avonte Maddox live together in a 4-bdrm, 5500-sqft home. So they bought nerf guns, set boundaries, blasted the Halloween music over the speakers and played real-life Fortnite.
More on the friendship of ascending second-year Eagles:
DeVonta Smith: "I'm not satisfied right now. ...We're not playing good as an offense."
"I have all the confidence in the world that we can fix it. ...But we're running out of time. We got two weeks. We got two weeks to put it together."
"Just going out there and playing…
Some good history between these two: If Alshon Jeffery doesn't get his feet in bounds in time against the Giants to set up the 61-yard FG in 2017, the Jake Elliott story might never have taken shape.
Here's my A.J. Brown take:
In his two years in Philadelphia, he has the two highest totals for single-season receiving yards in franchise history. His first five years put him on a HOF trajectory. He was the best player on the team last year.
Look at the Eagles' offense before…
Sirianni: "I never want to come out of a game where D'Andre Swift has two touches."
He said D. Goedert's lack of targets remind him of last year when DeVonta Smith didn't have a catch in the season opener. "We can't go a game without getting him the football," he said.
When was the last time D'Andre Swift had a game like this? "Probably high school," he said.
Which game? "Everytime we played La Salle," he said with a laugh.
From April 2016 to June 2017, Philly's teams had five athletes drafted Nos. 1 and 2 in their respective drafts:
Carson Wentz (No. 2, 2016)
Mickey Moniak (No. 1, 2016)
Ben Simmons (No. 1, 2016)
Markelle Fultz (No. 1, 2017)
Nolan Patrick (No. 2, 2017)
All five are now gone.
Don’t think the Eagles’ QB situation must be viewed as Foles vs. Wentz. It’s possible to appreciate what Foles is doing without it being an indictment of Wentz. It’s possible to understand Wentz is the long-term QB without it being a slight against Foles.
Jordan Mailata's parents are visiting Philadelphia for the first time. They arrived this weekend and couldn't believe how big Philadelphia is. They went to the grocery store and saw fans shout cheers toward Jordan.
Still getting used to the cold weather — they went to KoP today.
Ertz: "Carson played out of his mind. ...The third-down throw to Mack is just unbelievable. I don't know how he even gets that off. I'd say 90% of QBs just go down, don't even try. And he's over there putting his body on the line trying to win the game."
It's 12:31 a.m., game ended an hour ago. Jason Kelce is hanging on the sideline with a few members of the organization, including team security chief Dom DiSandro.
Jalen Hurts: “I can’t imagine my little cousins not coming home from school, my little sister not coming home from school, my dad not coming home for work. …We need to make true change.”
Hurts to the students: "When I come to this school and come visit you guys at Gideon, I see so much potential. ...I see kids with big dreams. Everybody has a dream and they deserve to reach those dreams with the proper resources."
He said he saw the issue with air conditioners…
Jalen Hurts is donating $200,000 to the Philadelphia School District to install new air conditioners in 10 schools.
He's at Edward Gideon Elementary School in North Philly right now for the announcement.
Mailata: "I really thought I cost us the game. To be honest, when we gave up that sack, (I thought) the game was over. I was like 'fuuuuuck.' We gotta have it, and you do stupid shit like that? But the defense pulled one out for us. And I knew if I'd get another chance, I'd tie…
Jalen Hurts on Minkah Fitzpatrick: "I remember a lot of nights, where it's a Saturday night, Friday night, and I think I'm the only one going to weight room, to the field to do extra work. And Minkah would be out there, too. He's a defensive back, but he'd run routes for me."
From the week...
"Being in Philadelphia changed my entire life.”
Fletcher Cox moved from Yazoo City, Miss. to Philly at age 21 and became one of the best players in Eagles history. On Sunday, "Playoff Fletch" might play in Philly for the final time:
Jason Peters: "They embarrassed us (in the last game). We weren't going to let that happen today. Not in front of our fans. They deserved this win as much as we do. We really wanted the fans to get behind us and rally. We wanted to get them a win for Christmas."
Haason Reddick on 3 consecutive double-digit sack season: "I'm not crying or begging for respect, but it's got to be there. Three different teams, three different schemes, three different head coaches, three different DCs. I mean, what would that tell you?...
Reed Blankenship on his dance: "I guess I did it last year down during the playoffs in the locker room. And Slay said, 'next time you get a pick, you gotta do the Reed!' I don't know what you can call that. You can call it 'The Reed'."
Jeffery brings a swagger to Eagles locker room. Brent Celek shared a story when he retired about sitting with Jeffery in cafeteria a month after Jeffery signed.
“Can you imagine how this city would act if we won the Super Bowl?” Celek asked.
“If?" Jeffery said. "You mean when?"
Some individual milestones at play:
- A.J. Brown needs 9 yards to set the Eagles' single-season receiving record
- DeVonta Smith needs 1 catch to set the Eagles' single-season reception record by a WR
- Javon Hargrove needs 1 sack to set Eagles' single-season sack record by a DT
The Eagles needed a Cowboys loss. They got a Cowboys loss. So Eagles' surest path to playoffs is easy to follow:
They must beat four 2-win teams and Dallas at home. They might be favored in all five.
It's a challenge, but navigable. But are they good enough to win 5 in a row?
Fletcher Cox might have been the best player on the field last night. Won at the point of attack -- one sack, two quarterback hits, two tackles for a loss. Played 90 percent of the snaps. He's the highest-paid player on the team and lived up to his billing.
D’Andre Swift, Philly native and perhaps the best RB in the draft, likes his cheesesteaks from Dallesandro’s and Ishkabibble’s. That’s a plus on the scouting report.
In a few years, there are going to be about 15 features on coaches/GMs in NBA who explain that they wanted Tyrese Maxey all along, but were overruled by someone else in the draft room.
Shareef Miller at the combine: " I grew up on the Eagles. Me and my grandpop watched the Eagles games every day. When the Eagles won the super bowl, we cried when the Eagles won the Super Bowl.
So ... if I get drafted to the Eagles that would be a dream come true."
Nick Sirianni, former college WR and long-time WRs coach, inherited a depth chart with Travis Fulgham and Greg Ward as his top WRs (based on production).
He now has A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith.
The Eagles were granted international rights in Australia, New Zealand, and Ghana. They are the first NFL team to enter a market in Africa. They're allowed to market and hold engagement/commercialization efforts in those countries.
Hasson Reddick: "We lost to (Washington) the 2nd time. We played the Cowboys and lost to them the 2nd time. ...It’s hard to beat the same team twice, which is why I said we’re going to need laser focus and guys to lay it on the line. ...This is the biggest game of the year.”
Josh Sweat on the kelly green jerseys: "They need to be our permanent. We can wear the black as an alternate. But the kelly green needs to be the main."
One day after directing NFL-best fifth comeback victory this season, Eagles QB Jalen Hurts acknowledges fans while sitting courtside, attending the Sixers game against the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
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Haason Reddick, who reached double-digit sacks in 4 consecutive seasons, dropped into coverage more yesterday than any time since joining the Eagles.
He had his lowest percentage of snaps as a pass rusher since joining the Eagles.
A confounding adjustment for a team that needs…
Inside the Eagles' worst loss in a decade, including:
- What went wrong with the defense?
- What was with the play-calling in the 4th quarter?
- DeVonta Smith's injury
- What this means for the playoff picture
- The big picture ramifications
The Eagles signed WR Devon Allen, a two-time Olympian and three-time national champion hurdler.
Allen, 27, hasn't played football since 2016. He was a WR at Oregon.
Lane Johnson on his reaction to Julio Jones' TD: "Even though he's been in the league long like me, I'm still just a huge fan. I remember the play in Atlanta when he scored on a fucking jailbreak screen and took off. Any time you get a Hall of Famer-caliber player like him, when…
Malik Jackson is a good, smart signing for Eagles. Fits their defense. He's 29 three years removed from a six-year, $80M+ contract with Jacksonville. Has been a Pro Bowler, won a Super Bowl. Now lines up next to Fletcher Cox.
Re: A.J. Brown and Haason Reddick — these are blue-chip players, two of the best in the league. I'd go into every game figuring out how to maximize them.
If you lose a game in which they're not maximized, I would worry less about the player's reaction and more about the…
Gardner Minshew on Trevor Lawrence: "First, just great dude. Super humble. He's been told how good he is his whole life, he doesn't carry that around with him. Just a good dude to be around. ...Talent-wise, he's got everything you could ask for."
DeVonta Smith asked Brown if he told reporters what Smith told him.
"Read it to them!" Brown said.
Smith: "Do not judge others and you will not be judged. For you will be treated as you treated others. The standard you use in judgment is the standard by which you are judged."
Fletcher Cox about liking a Tweet that C. Wentz should be the starter: "My tweet is my tweet and I stand with it."
Cox: "Carson, he's my best friend, he's my guy. I've always had his back since Day 1. Jalen, he's my teammate also. You've got to support whoever's in there."
Landon Dickerson signed as quickly as he could. He said he wanted to stay in Philly and has heard stories about players who left and regretted the decision, so he wanted to show his commitment rather than wait for the market to continue to rise.
He’s made the Philly area his…
Jason Kelce spent three days in LA learning about broadcasting/media, practicing as a game analyst/studio analyst, and meeting with network execs as part of his preparation for life after football.
@TheAthleticNFL
shadowed him there. Go behind the scenes:
Carson Wentz started saying "we've got to be better," then stopped himself mid-sentence and pointed to his chest.
"I have to be better," Wentz said with emphasis. "I have to lead this team better. I have to protect the football better. ...It starts with me. And I'm frustrated."
C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Jake Elliott, and Matt Hennessy are all in the building to sign their new deals.
None of them require directions to get to the team facility.
And if this is the end for Cox in Philly, it's an unceremonious exit to one of the best players in franchise history. Six Pro Bowls, part of the NFL's all-decades team, and an elite player on the only Eagles team that won a Super Bowl.