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This offseason, the Eagles added two members of the defending champion, Baltimore Ravens. Cornerback Cary Williams and practice squad quarterback Dennis Dixon are competing for roles in Philadelphia this summer. With Williams likely to be the number one cornerback and Dixon trying to make the roster, the duo will have to miss out on one of the perks of being part of a championship team. Despite the fact that President Obama has invited the entire 2012 Ravens team to the White House, the twosome will have to RSVP "no" because of mandatory workouts this week.
Dixon and Williams are not alone when it comes to skipping the annual champions trip, as both Anquan Boldin (BOLDIN!) and Bernard Pollard will pass on the journey to Washington, D.C. Like the Eagles pair, Boldin and Pollard both joined new teams this offseason. Boldin was traded to the NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers and Pollard signed with the Tennessee Titans after being cut by Baltimore.
Obviously, the Eagles mandatory workouts are mandatory, but one would think Chip Kelly would make an exception for the once-in-a-lifetime moment. That said, Williams missed nearly a month of workouts due to his oddly-planned wedding and dental work last month and needs to learn the playbook as the likely number one cornerback. Dixon is in an interesting spot as his fate likely depends on the culmination of the starting quarterback battle between Michael Vick and Nick Foles, as one of the competitors could be traded during the preseason. A trade would open up a spot for Dixon on the roster behind the eventual starter and Matt Barkley.
Would you skip out on a trip to the White House for workouts, if given the chance to go regardless? What do you think of Williams and Dixon skipping out on the trip?