ReportWire

Tag: CJ Gardner-Johnson

  • Formerly A Friend — Now A Foe – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    College•Eagles•More PHL•News•Unique Columns

    If You Didn’t think that Philly High School and College Talent Is Making An Impact Across America — Look No Farther Than the Chicago Bears.

    The Eagles have made an incredible reputation on personnel moves — but on Friday at Lincoln Financial Field — some of those decisions combined with former tri-state area talent contributed to a Bears win. A lot of familiar names helped to contribute to the Bears win over the Eagles on Black Friday at Lincoln Financial Field. And several have even had a locker at the Novacare Complex during Nick Sirianni’s tenure as Head Coach of the Eagles.

    After winning the NFC in 2022 — the Eagles had a forgettable 2023–2024 campaign where the season unraveled. Adding Safety Kevin Byard opposite fellow Middle Tennessee State alumni Reed Blankenship did not work out in Philly. Now — Kevin Byard III is part of a Bears defense that is creating turnovers almost week after week.

    And how about a college and high school connection?

    St. Joe’s Prep graduate D’Andre Swift did not return to the Eagles after 1,000 yards in 2023. His teammate and fellow St. Joe’s Prep Graduate — Olamide Zaccheaus also did not return after the 2023 campaign. The Eagles instead won the Super Bowl last year with Jahan Dotson and Johnny Wilson as the receivers behind Devonta Smith and AJ Brown.

    While the Eagles were winning a Super Bowl back in 2018 — two hours north in Ramsey, New Jersey at Don Bosco Preparatory High School — Kyle Monangai was making his presence known in the running game. At Rutgers — he would rush for over 3,200 yards before being drafted this spring by the Bears in the seventh round of last year’s Draft.

    And finally the return of an old friend. On the Eagles last possession on 3rd and 4 — CJ Gardner-Johnson popped Jalen Hurts after a short run. When the Eagles obtained CJ Gardner-Johnson in both 2022 and 2024 — they went to the Super Bowl the following season in both seasons. When the Eagles decided to turn to youth in the secondary after a Super Bowl win — Gardner-Johnson was out first to Houston and then to Baltimore and finally to Chicago.

    The Eagles weren’t just beaten by former talent. They were beaten by Philly Talent.

    Tags: CJ Gardner-Johnson DeAndre Swift Jalen Hurts Olamide Zaccheaus Rutgers Scarlet Knights Rutgers University

    Categorized: College Eagles More PHL News Unique Columns

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

    Source link

  • In Eric Allen’s Career — Quinyon Mitchell Can Find A Model of Excellence. – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    College•Eagles•More PHL•News•Unique Columns

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    Nearly 70,000 fans in South Philadelphia at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday bore witness at halftime of one of the finest cornerbacks in the 90+ years of the Eagles history who had attended the game as an honorary captain become inducted into the Eagles Ring of Excellence. That cornerback was none other than Eric Allen.

    This past summer, one of the greatest defensive backs ever to don the Kelly Green in Philadelphia was finally inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. Allen had a (thirteen-year) career, including nine seasons with the Eagles. He and Waters were part of Buddy Ryan’s Eagles’ secondary that didn’t protect against hard hits — it promoted them. On the podium , Eric Allen spoke extremely fondly of his days wearing green in Philadelphia.

    Nearly thirty-five years ago in December of 1992 — the Eagles had a week sixteen matchup across the South Philadelphia Sports’ Complex with Washington. The winner would get a berth in the NFC Wildcard Playoffs — the loser would be home for them. As Washington quarterback Mark Rypien sprinted out, avoided contact, and threw the ball toward a diving Gary Clark. Eric Allen knocked the ball away and galloped down the Veteran’s Stadium sideline in celebration.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    On the field — Eric Allen got a front row seat to the Eagles in their iconic Kelly Green and Philadelphia’s current number one cornerback. Last season — Mitchell and fellow rookie Cooper DeJean were the perfect compliment to Darius Slay and CJ Gardner-Johnson. So much so that Slay and Gardner-Johnson are now gone — and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio trusts Mitchell as isolation on the opponent’s best receiver. 

    Last season was the first time in modern NFL playoff history — that a team with two rookie starting defensive backs has reached the playoffs and, perhaps — a Super Bowl appearance. This year is also the first time in the thirty-two years of the Eagles franchise’s existence that two rookie defensive backs have been nominated for the AP Rookie of the Year in the same season.

    Last February — in the midst of a cold Super Bowl Championship Parade when Darius Slay stepped to the podium outside of the Art Museum — he didn’t talk about his decade plus NFL career. He didn’t talk about the culmination of his NFL accolades in the nearly complete defensive shutdown that was Super Bowl LIX.

    Nope. He let Philly know that they now have two young lockdown NFL cornerbacks in Mitchell and DeJean for years to come. 

    Tags: Buddy Ryan CJ Gardner-Johnson Cooper DeJean Darius Slay Eric Allen Mark Rypien Quinyon Mitchell Vic Fangio

    Categorized: College Eagles More PHL News Unique Columns

    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

    Source link