If you are a true (yeah I bolded true) Eagles fan - I mean you found yourself crying when you saw NFL Countdown break in with the story that Reggie White had passed, you remember where you were when Jerome Brown was killed, you remember (and still feel a sting) what was going on when Randall's season was ended with a vicious shot to the knee and effectively ended a promising season, you've yelled at the tv in vain hoping that a running play would be called or you've stared blankly at the tv after the first round pick was announced - a real NestEgg, you probably have a list of your all-time favorite Eagles; either because they were great at how they played or you felt bad that they didn't win the big one here. Well, today I am presenting my all-time Eagles starters. Now this is based on putting the best football team on the field; without considering favorites.
And without further ado:
OFFENSE
QB: Donovan McNabb - This one seems obvious. I don't remember Jaws on the field, but even if I would have seen him play more I doubt that he would trump DMac. It's a shame that he carried this team for half of his career with very little offensive help. If he could have gotten talent around him during his prime who knows. But he will retire, as an Eagle or not, as the best quarterback in team history. The Eagles didn't learn the lesson of wasting talent as was the case with the QB of honorable mention.
Honorable Mention - Randall Cunningham
RB: Brian Westbrook - What can you not ask this guy to do? Block, catch, run, return punts, return kicks - Go Score!!! He is the big cog spinning the other offensive mini-cogs on the Eagles right now. As he goes, so goes the offense; although a certain rookie receiver is starting to spin some on his own too. BWest is the most explosive back since a little lightening bolt named Charlie Garner. It seems like he's beginning to wear down from all the use the Eagles are getting out of him. He in the first player I remember making teams fear the screen.
Honorable Mention - Duce Staley
FB: Keith Byars - I still remember this beast lifting Pepper Johnson off his feet and sending him flying 5 yards through the air, seven months after being Pepper's best man in his wedding, leading the way for Randall who was coming around the corner. Then the Eagles called timeout to watch the replay several times on the scoreboard. Keith was one of those players who did everything before BWest wore the mean green. He'd throw a pass, make a crushing block, turn a bad pass into a first down and flat out ran over people. He was also one of my favorite players because you knew he never, ever gave up on a game.
Honorable Mention - Cecil Martin
WR: Terrel (TO) Owens - As controversal as this Eagle was, I'd have him back in as long as it takes to sign my name. Even today he commands double teams, or at least rolled coverage. Without him, the Birds don't get to the SuperBowl; if you doubt that you've either got an agenda or you don't know football. TO has me issues, granted. But you can't deny the skill TO has.
WR: Fred Barnett - Not many people will remember Freddy, or his 95-yard TD catch from Randall Cunningham his rookie season (after Randall danced in the endzone, made Bruce Smith loose his jock strap and fired a rocket 60 yards in the air) or his sure hands and clutch play. He was Randall's safetly valve; his big play target and was a great professional. He had high hopes and 3 (2 and 1 50 yards short) 1000 yard seasons before injuries did him in.
Honorable Mention - Mike Quick, Calvin Williams, Donte Stallworth
TE: Chad Lewis - When DMac had nothing early in his career, he had Chad to look to. Chad was a tough blocking, sure catching, hard nosed tight end who - because what other options were there - drew double coverage and still abused defenses when the game play allowed it. It can be argued that if he didn't get hurt in the NFC Championship game, and LJ Blah didn't have to play, our offense would have been much different.
Honorable Mention - Keith Jackson
Offensive Tackles: Jon Runyan & Tra Thomas - Mean, hardhitting tackles.
Offensive Guards: Jermaine Mayberry & John Welbourn - Physical tough guys.
Center: Raleigh McKenzie - A beast back in Randall's day.
DEFENSE
DE: Reggie White - Is there a need to elaborate on this one. Reggie was and it still the best defensive end to ever bless an Eagles jersey. Letting him leave was a travestry then and is still to this day. His club move destroyed linemen.
DE: Clyde Simmons - Mr. Consistent. Clyde would seal a play back to the linebackers or crush 3rd down hope with a timely sack. Granted, he benefitted from the pressure caused from the other side, but he was still a beast.
DT: Jerome Brown - His loss to the Eagles was devastating. He was the heart and soul of that Gang Green defense. The middle was a scary area for offenses to run when he roamed the area. No bigger loss was felt to that team than his death in the off-season.
DT: Darwin Walker - This may suprise many. But I think he was underrated on bad Eagles teams. You rarely found him in a bad spot and he came up with timely play after timely play.
Honorable Mention - Mike Golic
LB: Byron Evans - Ohh this was a mean mother-shut my mouth. He might have been the hardest hitting linebacker on the gang green defense. On top of his hitting, he could cover with the best of them.
LB: Jeremiah Trotter - Here's another one that should have stayed with the Eagles. Free Agency sent this man temporarily packing to Washington where his best assets weren't used. He's a big hitter, not a cover guy. But he smashed many a running back.
LB: Seth Joyner - The silent leader, smashing heads and taking names. He was a run stuffing, tight end locking down linebacker. He was a smart player who you rarely found lost in space.
Honorable Mention - William Thomas
CB: Eric Allen - In my opinion the best corner I've ever seen play in an Eagles uniform. He is the reason I wanted to play corner; because he embodied what a skilled player who studied his opponent looks like playing the game.
CB: Troy Vincent - Classy and crafty. Troy could come up and take out a running back trying to get the edge or smack a receiver that though he had a routine catch; causing an incompletion. He was from the Eric Allen mold of corners who you could depend on to shut down half of the field.
SS: Andre Waters - You want to make a receiver nervous about coming across the field? You want to make a quarterback think twice about leaving the comforts of his pocket and scrambling? You just want someone who doesn't give to craps about his body? Andre was the man. He hit harder than anybody I have ever seen his size and at his position. I remember when he took on Craig "Ironhead" Heyward in the hole and planted him. Sick hitter. Sick!
FS: Brian Dawkins - My all-time favorite Eagle. He bleeds green, burns from the passion of Philly and , oh yeah, plays some serious football. I can rattle off hundreds of plays that BDawk has made in his career, but it goes without saying that he is the best ever to play that position as a Bird. I had hoped that somehow the Eagles would have gotten him a ring, but it wasn't the case.
Honorable Mention - Bobby Taylor
SPECIAL TEAMS
P: Jeff Feagles - Who did it better. Great leg and is one of the best at the coffin corner kick.
K: David Akers - The most accurate and beloved kicker in Eagles history.
KR/PR: Brian Mitchell - Was a solid threat everytime he touched the ball.
My list is based on my Philadelphia Eagles viewing timeframe; basically from 1988 on.
Feedback is welcome but these are my birds so you better be coming correct!!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!
And without further ado:
OFFENSE
QB: Donovan McNabb - This one seems obvious. I don't remember Jaws on the field, but even if I would have seen him play more I doubt that he would trump DMac. It's a shame that he carried this team for half of his career with very little offensive help. If he could have gotten talent around him during his prime who knows. But he will retire, as an Eagle or not, as the best quarterback in team history. The Eagles didn't learn the lesson of wasting talent as was the case with the QB of honorable mention.
Honorable Mention - Randall Cunningham
RB: Brian Westbrook - What can you not ask this guy to do? Block, catch, run, return punts, return kicks - Go Score!!! He is the big cog spinning the other offensive mini-cogs on the Eagles right now. As he goes, so goes the offense; although a certain rookie receiver is starting to spin some on his own too. BWest is the most explosive back since a little lightening bolt named Charlie Garner. It seems like he's beginning to wear down from all the use the Eagles are getting out of him. He in the first player I remember making teams fear the screen.
Honorable Mention - Duce Staley
FB: Keith Byars - I still remember this beast lifting Pepper Johnson off his feet and sending him flying 5 yards through the air, seven months after being Pepper's best man in his wedding, leading the way for Randall who was coming around the corner. Then the Eagles called timeout to watch the replay several times on the scoreboard. Keith was one of those players who did everything before BWest wore the mean green. He'd throw a pass, make a crushing block, turn a bad pass into a first down and flat out ran over people. He was also one of my favorite players because you knew he never, ever gave up on a game.
Honorable Mention - Cecil Martin
WR: Terrel (TO) Owens - As controversal as this Eagle was, I'd have him back in as long as it takes to sign my name. Even today he commands double teams, or at least rolled coverage. Without him, the Birds don't get to the SuperBowl; if you doubt that you've either got an agenda or you don't know football. TO has me issues, granted. But you can't deny the skill TO has.
WR: Fred Barnett - Not many people will remember Freddy, or his 95-yard TD catch from Randall Cunningham his rookie season (after Randall danced in the endzone, made Bruce Smith loose his jock strap and fired a rocket 60 yards in the air) or his sure hands and clutch play. He was Randall's safetly valve; his big play target and was a great professional. He had high hopes and 3 (2 and 1 50 yards short) 1000 yard seasons before injuries did him in.
Honorable Mention - Mike Quick, Calvin Williams, Donte Stallworth
TE: Chad Lewis - When DMac had nothing early in his career, he had Chad to look to. Chad was a tough blocking, sure catching, hard nosed tight end who - because what other options were there - drew double coverage and still abused defenses when the game play allowed it. It can be argued that if he didn't get hurt in the NFC Championship game, and LJ Blah didn't have to play, our offense would have been much different.
Honorable Mention - Keith Jackson
Offensive Tackles: Jon Runyan & Tra Thomas - Mean, hardhitting tackles.
Offensive Guards: Jermaine Mayberry & John Welbourn - Physical tough guys.
Center: Raleigh McKenzie - A beast back in Randall's day.
DEFENSE
DE: Reggie White - Is there a need to elaborate on this one. Reggie was and it still the best defensive end to ever bless an Eagles jersey. Letting him leave was a travestry then and is still to this day. His club move destroyed linemen.
DE: Clyde Simmons - Mr. Consistent. Clyde would seal a play back to the linebackers or crush 3rd down hope with a timely sack. Granted, he benefitted from the pressure caused from the other side, but he was still a beast.
DT: Jerome Brown - His loss to the Eagles was devastating. He was the heart and soul of that Gang Green defense. The middle was a scary area for offenses to run when he roamed the area. No bigger loss was felt to that team than his death in the off-season.
DT: Darwin Walker - This may suprise many. But I think he was underrated on bad Eagles teams. You rarely found him in a bad spot and he came up with timely play after timely play.
Honorable Mention - Mike Golic
LB: Byron Evans - Ohh this was a mean mother-shut my mouth. He might have been the hardest hitting linebacker on the gang green defense. On top of his hitting, he could cover with the best of them.
LB: Jeremiah Trotter - Here's another one that should have stayed with the Eagles. Free Agency sent this man temporarily packing to Washington where his best assets weren't used. He's a big hitter, not a cover guy. But he smashed many a running back.
LB: Seth Joyner - The silent leader, smashing heads and taking names. He was a run stuffing, tight end locking down linebacker. He was a smart player who you rarely found lost in space.
Honorable Mention - William Thomas
CB: Eric Allen - In my opinion the best corner I've ever seen play in an Eagles uniform. He is the reason I wanted to play corner; because he embodied what a skilled player who studied his opponent looks like playing the game.
CB: Troy Vincent - Classy and crafty. Troy could come up and take out a running back trying to get the edge or smack a receiver that though he had a routine catch; causing an incompletion. He was from the Eric Allen mold of corners who you could depend on to shut down half of the field.
SS: Andre Waters - You want to make a receiver nervous about coming across the field? You want to make a quarterback think twice about leaving the comforts of his pocket and scrambling? You just want someone who doesn't give to craps about his body? Andre was the man. He hit harder than anybody I have ever seen his size and at his position. I remember when he took on Craig "Ironhead" Heyward in the hole and planted him. Sick hitter. Sick!
FS: Brian Dawkins - My all-time favorite Eagle. He bleeds green, burns from the passion of Philly and , oh yeah, plays some serious football. I can rattle off hundreds of plays that BDawk has made in his career, but it goes without saying that he is the best ever to play that position as a Bird. I had hoped that somehow the Eagles would have gotten him a ring, but it wasn't the case.
Honorable Mention - Bobby Taylor
SPECIAL TEAMS
P: Jeff Feagles - Who did it better. Great leg and is one of the best at the coffin corner kick.
K: David Akers - The most accurate and beloved kicker in Eagles history.
KR/PR: Brian Mitchell - Was a solid threat everytime he touched the ball.
My list is based on my Philadelphia Eagles viewing timeframe; basically from 1988 on.
Feedback is welcome but these are my birds so you better be coming correct!!
E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!!!
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