Oh who doesn’t love to see old friends? Whether it's Forrest Gump finally seeing Jenny or Kay Adams laying eyes with Michael Corleone after he returned from Italy, people love to see an old acquaintance—even with the Eagles. So I compiled a list of ten Eagles who everyone loved to see in Midnight Green for a second time around.
Why not start with the most recent? I hate to sound like every Philadelphia radio personality, but if you can’t tell, the season isn’t going so hot. How did I figure this out? Reno Mahe essentially got a standing ovation from the Linc Fans because he CAUGHT a punt. Really as long as he keeps fair catching and holding on to footballs, his return should be considered a success. (Quick side note: anyone notice how Mahe switched his number from 34 to 25? I guess he didn’t have to guts to request the number from Jason Davis, the fullback on the practice squad who is currently issued the number. I’m sure the one person who owns a Reno Mahe jersey is a little bummed. But now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure that person is his mom, so I think she’ll be all right.)
If you really need more evidence that the 2005 season was one of the worst seasons ever, at one point, Sean Landeta returning to the Eagles was one of the highest points of the season. Landeta is famously known for being the only player in the NFL to still wear the one-bar helmet, which he gets to wear from special request from the NFL.
A.J. Feely’s story was one of the best stories in sports in 2002. He quickly shot up the depth chart, and into the hearts of Eagles fans. He left to seek starting jobs in Miami and then a back-up job in San Diego before returning to the Birds. I’m sure with all the trouble with McNabb right now, I give it maybe…3 more hours until we start hearing “A.J.” chants from the crowd.
Let’s be honest here, I really could just label Koy Detmer as “holder” instead of “quarterback”. He was always the Cletus the Slack-Jawed Yokel of the Eagles, but when Dirk Johnson wasn’t cutting it as a holder (how that is even possible, I have no idea) we called Detmer for help. It was then that we all got to learn about the science of Koy Detmer’s holding style. (He likes to make an imprint of the ground with his index finger to give the ball a more of a groove to kick out of.) Now if only he could learn the science of basic hygiene, he’d be back in business.
Oh what a story. After 10 years as a NFL tight end, Jeff Thomason retired in 2002 and started a job in construction. That ended when the Eagles called him for Super Bowl XXIX to replace the injured Chad Lewis. After asking his foreman if he could get off of work, he was back on the team. (I’m not making that up.) Unfortunately, Thomason had 0 catches in Jacksonville, and the Eagles lost the game. It had the entire making for an Invincible-like story, but unfortunately it turned out like The Garbage Picking Field Goal Kicking Philadelphia Phenomenon.
What a better segueway from an Invincible reference than Mr. Invincible himself. If you don’t know his story, just watch Invincible. But many people forget he didn’t make the team at the beginning of the 1979, and everyone thought that “Rocky” was down for the count. Be he was later called back after one game in the ’79 campaign to return to the special teams unit. Who know what, I’m going to watch Invincible right now. Be right back.
(105 minutes later)
I’ll get to Trotter’s current situation a little later. It was one thing when Trotter decided to test the free agent market. It was another when he decided to sign with the rival Redskins. It would be like Optimus Prime driving around with the Decepticons. It’s just not right.
Oh how great was the 10/8/06 game when Owens came back to the Linc, well I didn’t even have to look up the date of the game. What was sweeter: the fact that Owens failed at committing suicide a week before the game, or the fact that we dominated the Cowboys like Sonny beating up Carlo in the street?
Unlike the Axeman, Hugh Douglas never admitted that the reason he signed with another team was for the money. Apparently he just wanted to play on the same defense as such powerhouses as Marlon McCree and Blue Adams. (You’re my boy blue!) (Sorry, couldn’t help myself.)
Hey, remember the thirty minutes of bliss when J.R. Reed was back as out kick returner? Well that’s all over, and I’m sure this kick return “specialist” turned fence-jumper will most likely be in the dog house of Philly sports for all eternity. Unless he like, clubs T.O.’s knees out one night…not that I’m suggesting that.
EXTRA POINTS
THREE EAGLES WE WANT TO COME BACK
Can someone explain to me how the Eagles Organization thought that Stallworth and Reggie Brown didn’t work well together? Well know we’ll currently stuck with one receiving touchdown (owned by Jason Avant) and Stallworth is stuck on a team that has become synonymous with spy cameras. I think a reunion is in everyone's best interest.
I understand he was getting a little old and coming off of a bad season, but HONESTLY! I could go on a Dr.Cox-like rant about Trotter being cut, but I think it came be summed up with one word, “Why.”
Remember when Donovan McNabb could hit receivers for 50-yard gains at a time? Or scramble out of the pocket and rush for a 15-yard touchdown? Well you should remember it. IT WAS LAST SEASON! Now I understand that he’s coming off of a serious knee injury, but that shouldn’t stop him from hitting Kevin Curtis wide open in the end zone. And despite what McNabb may think, I’m not saying that he’s playing bad because he’s black.
THREE EAGLES WE NEVER WANT TO SEE COME BACK
Freddie Mitchell accumulated so many nicknames during his tenure has an Eagle. “Fred Ex”, “Hollywood”, “First Down Freddie”, “Draft Bust”, “Annoyance to Eagles Fans”. I don’t think we need to be worried about him coming back to the Eagles. There’s a better chance of him playing for the Soul over the Eagles.
Never was always something about Dhani Jones that never quite sat well with me. It may have been how he was so easily burnt in short coverage. It could have been how he’d celebrate like The Todd after he’d make a tackle after a 3-yard gain. It could have simply been how he referred to himself as “Double-0-55.” Jones is currently signed with the Bengals, so there’s a very small chance he’d ever come back to the Birds.
Pinkston, who was apparently our “deep threat” for 5 years. But unfortunately, he was afraid to go down the middle and would often “lose balls in the lights”. He tried out for the Redskins earlier this year, but he failed to make the roster. The Redskins are of coarse where Eagles players go to retire / stop producing (James Thrash, Jeremiah Trotter, Todd Pinkston, Troy Vincent.) still managed to beat us this week, so I can’t really make fun of them. Eh, why not: REDSKINS SUCK!!!