Philadelphia Eagles: History Repeats Itself

When we get ready to watch our favorite team take the field, we think for a moment about the former greats to suit up in the green uniform. As we see Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook walk out from the tunnel, we remember the former greats to walk out from the Eagles locker room. The Eagles certainly are one of the more historical teams in the NFL. With their hard-nosed and talented players, the Eagles have proven to be contenders each and every year. But even though it’s hard to compare the Eagles of today, to the Eagles of the past, we all have done it anyway. As this is still the slowest part of the off-season, I have done some research, and tried to find comparisons between the Eagles of recent, to the Eagles off yesterday.

Donovan McNabb and Randall Cunningham

Yes, I know the first thing that you think of when you hear Randall Cunningham’s name, “scrambling quarterback”. This is very true, but there is more similarities between McNabb and Cunnigham then you may have noticed. With both men standing tall ( McNabb 6’2”/ Cunnigham 6’4” ) they have made a living picking apart defenses during their career. With McNabb in his 10th season, he has tossed 194 touchdowns, while Cunnigham had 150 touchdowns during his 11 year tenure with the Eagles. McNabb has shown to be more effective with the pass, but Cunnigham is known for his legs. With his 32 rushing touchdowns with the Eagles, he is not that far ahead of McNabb, who has 26 career rushing touchdowns. This just goes to show you how effective McNabb was with his legs, before he focused on becoming a pocket passer. Aside from the stats, both men have shown toughness that has been unmatched by former Eagles QB’s, and have energized their teams like no one else has done.

Brian Westbrook and Wilbert Montgomery

The comparison between these two halfbacks is one that has been talked about by many announcers and reporters over the years. With both men being on the shorter end ( 5’10”), they have always figured out the defenses and can never be questioned as the two best backs in Eagles history. Montgomery was named to two Pro Bowls, with Westbrook matching him his total. Both men have season highs in rushing touchdowns with 9, but Montgomery has reached 9 touchdowns twice ( ‘78,79’). The two have also given their offenses the option to pass them the ball, with Montgomery finishing with 12 receiving touchdowns, and Westbrook with 28 receiving touchdowns. Both have dominated during their years, and both have been “underrated” during their careers, with none of them receiving the attention they deserve. Montgomery had to deal with legendary backs such as Walter Payton, Tony Dorsett, and Earl Campbell. The same goes for Westbrook, who has had to outperform backs like LaDanian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson and Clinton Portis.

Tra Thomas and Bob Brown

There is a pretty big size difference between the men ( Thomas 6’7”, 349lbs / Brown 6’4”, 280lbs), but you can not say they lacked the strength, determination, and success that all lineman strive for. With Bob Brown making six Pro Bowls, and Tra Thomas currently at three Pro Bowls, the men have been recognized for their success on the field. It is hard to be dominant that long as a tackle, let alone stay healthy all of those years. Both Thomas and Brown have remained fairly injury free throughout their careers, and this is a huge reason why they have been so dominant in the respective careers. The Eagles will certainly miss Thomas’ presence this season, but though he is not an Eagle, we can never look pass his success here in Philadelphia.

Matt Ware and Herman Edwards

Ware never showed as much talent as Edwards did, but both have a unique similarity...both are known for making great miracle plays to win the game despite not having a lot of playing time. We all remember Matt Ware’s 65 yard return off of a field goal block to the end zone against the San Diego Chargers. Of course, every Eagles fan can recollect the “Miracle at the Meadowlands”, where Herm Edwards recovered the fumble and took it all the way.

Asante Samuel and Troy Vincent

The two cornerbacks, during their careers, have been in the elite class for defensive backs. With Vincent and Samuel both receiving 1st Team All Pro once, and with a combined 7 Pro Bowl appearances between them ( Vincent-5 / Samuel-2 ). The two men have been able to succeed in their careers because of the knowledge they have on the field, and their playmaking ability that they both possess. Troy Vincent has a career total of 47 picks, with Asante Samuel totaling 26 interceptions and having 4 TD’s, one more than Vincent had in his career. Once these two entered the playoffs, their game elevated beyond any others. Samuel has appeared in 13 playoff games, and Vincent played in 14 games. Samuel has set the postseason record for touchdowns off of interceptions, with 4 touchdowns in the playoffs.

After looking through the list, please do not think that I am saying that these players will have the careers that these former greats have had, I am comparing their playing styles, not their careers. We all know that Matt Ware is not going to have a career like Herm Edwards, and that is what the point of this article was, to show how the current Eagles have appeared to “model” these greats, and how they have become fan favorites of today. I hope to hear from you, the fans, about anymore possible comparisons and your thoughts on this whole idea. We would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, so leave a comment, and take a moment to remember the greats of yesterday.

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