Eagles News: Philadelphia’s best value draft pick from the last 15 years

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Best value NFL draft picks for all 32 teams since 2006: Dak Prescott, Tyreek Hill, George Kittle and more - PFF
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: C Jason Kelce, Cincinnati (191st overall in 2011). Seventh-round tackle Jordan Mailata may be coming for Kelce’s crown here very soon, but Kelce still firmly holds it at this point in time. He was PFF’s highest-graded center every year from 2017 through 2019.

Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins tackling next challenge: Students’ mental health - The Athletic
“Certain pitfalls or certain things I would not have probably gotten myself into had I had the coping mechanisms that I know how to do now, the breathing techniques that I know how to do, the reframing situations,” Dawkins said. “My perspective is the main perspective for me to have in any situation. … It’s not what people say about me that matters. It’s what I say about me that matters. So understanding these things now (helps me).” Dawkins said he adheres to a checklist that includes morning prayer and keeping a journal, along with other daily tasks “to keep me in a good place” mentally, spiritually and physically. This was developed after seeking help following his personal struggles as a rookie. He realized he needed “to do something different.” When he speaks to groups, he discusses the importance of not suppressing emotions. He maintains a personal “blessed pack of individuals” with whom he speaks openly and honestly.

A collection of hate mail from our dumpster fire series - PhillyVoice
Eagles fans: There was almost no blowback whatsoever from Eagles fans, which surprised me, even though you guys know me better than fans of the other three teams. Still, for that, I’m proud of you. I only got one negative email from an Eagles fan, and even on Twitter, which is basically a cesspool of hatred and awfulness, there was nary an argument to be found.

Eagles history: The 10 most versatile players in franchise history - NBCSP
Chuck Bednarik was the last of the two-way players, a Hall of Fame-caliber talent as both a middle linebacker and a center. Concrete Charlie, a decorated B-24 Army waist gunner during World War II, spent most of the 1949 through 1957 seasons playing both ways before focusing on center starting in 1958 to slow down the wear and tear on his body. A month into the 1960 season, linebacker Bob Pelligrini broke his leg, and coach Buck Shaw asked the 35-year-old Bednarik if he’d consider playing both ways again. Of course he agreed and wound up leading the Eagles to the NFL Championship at Franklin Field over Vince Lombardi’s Packers.

Biggest X-factors on defense for each of the NFC East teams - Blogging The Boys
Philadelphia Eagles - Anthony Harris. The Eagles have been known to have a strong defensive front that has wreaked havoc but last season that defensive front just didn’t seem to get the job done. That exposed the secondary even with the addition of Darius Slay. The main reason looked to be their play at the safety position after letting Malcolm Jenkins go back to the New Orleans Saints. To fix those problems the Eagles have signed an effective free safety in Anthony Harris to help solidify the back end of their defense. Harris will need to hit the ground running while learning a new defensive scheme if he wants to be able to help turn around the secondary. The Eagles got a good player here with the potential to do big things.

‘Things I think’ about the Combine, the Giants’ OL, more - Big Blue View
“It’s really apparent that we have a little more confidence in our offensive linemen than you guys do,” Giants GM Dave Gettleman told the media after the draft. Yes, it is apparent the Giants have more faith in their young offensive linemen than many in the media or the fan base do. Turner was drafted by Gettleman in Carolina. He is still only 28 years old. He plays the same position as Kevin Zeitler, the veteran guard the Giants cut in a salary cap move. If the Giants aren’t going to make a play for Turner they probably aren’t making a big play for any veteran offensive lineman. Instead of looking outside for answers the Giants are trusting their own talent evaluation and their revamped offensive line coaching group to make it work. I have said this many times, but I think — no, I know — I’m OK with that.

2021 NFL season: Nine players who are guaranteed to play better - NFL.com
3) Carson Wentz - Reuniting with Colts head coach Frank Reich, who served as Wentz’s offensive coordinator in Philadelphia during one of the best seasons of Wentz’s NFL career (2017), should help Wentz get things back on track after the ignominious end to his tenure with the Eagles, as should a supporting cast that ranks among the best in the NFL. Wentz will have the kinds of assets at running back (Jonathan Taylor, Nyheim Hines, Marlon Mack) and receiver (Michael Pittman, T.Y. Hilton) that he missed badly in his final three seasons with the Eagles. But what I’m most excited about for Wentz is the opportunity to play behind one of the league’s top offensive lines. In 2020, Wentz was taken down for an NFL-high 50 sacks, despite being benched for four games — his confidence should be much higher in Indy, where the offensive line was credited with just 12 sacks allowed last season, per Pro Football Focus, seventh-least in the NFL. Bonus: The Colts’ defense is much better than the Eagles’ was, too.

I’m a gay ex-NFL player. I can’t wait until players like Carl Nassib don’t need to “come out.” - Vox
Nassib is not the first high-profile football player to come out — that would be Wade Davis in 2012. However, Davis did not play in a regular season game, and he came out after retiring. On the eve of the 2014 NFL draft, another player, Michael Sam, came out. Sam was eventually drafted by the St. Louis Rams, but was cut by the team before the season began. After a short stint with the Montreal Alouettes in Canada, Sam retired. While Sam has avoided the spotlight since retiring, Davis has become an activist and public speaker. In the aftermath of Nassib’s announcement, Davis spoke with Vox on what goes through an athlete’s mind when they play while closeted, and what steps he thinks both the NFL and society need to take to foster a culture of acceptance. The following, in Wade Davis’s words, has been condensed and edited.

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