Eagles Notebook: Samuel picks a good time for Eagles highlight
By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected]
Asante Samuel seemed to continue an Eagles "Monday Night Football" tradition at the end of his 50-yard interception return last night.
The tradition, started by DeSean Jackson at Dallas, involves inexplicably flipping the ball just short of the goal line, but unlike Jackson, at least Samuel flipped the ball ahead, then ran over to it and grabbed it to give the Eagles a 17-3 second-quarter lead.
"I was kind of thinking about the celebration too much," Samuel said. "I don't even think I was paying attention, just being nonchalant, kind of let it go. Quick thinking, picked it up.
"DJack was like, 'You almost did a DJack, man.' "
Samuel, brought in for $57 million to be a playmaker, hadn't picked off a pass since the Atlanta game, back on Oct. 26. He has played well, but his lack of highlight-reel moments such as last night's might keep him off the NFC Pro Bowl roster when it is announced today.
"I was definitely overdue," Samuel said. "I've dropped a couple that I wish I would have caught. It was my turn to catch one."
His big play last night wiped out the bad taste from a silly squandering of points by the Eagles, when Jackson threw an interception in the end zone from the "Wildcat" formation, on third-and-goal from the 7. It was just six plays later that Samuel reeled in Ken Dorsey's pass and took off for the end zone.
Samuel's teams are now 20-1 in games in which he intercepts a pass.
"Asante had a nice pick," coach Andy Reid said. "But again, obviously you have to cross the goal line."
I'm sure this was mentioned in the game thread, but I though it deserves it's own spot. I guess I'm too old and too removed from the culture to get this early celebration thing. But I find this inexplicable.
By LES BOWEN
Philadelphia Daily News
[email protected]
Asante Samuel seemed to continue an Eagles "Monday Night Football" tradition at the end of his 50-yard interception return last night.
The tradition, started by DeSean Jackson at Dallas, involves inexplicably flipping the ball just short of the goal line, but unlike Jackson, at least Samuel flipped the ball ahead, then ran over to it and grabbed it to give the Eagles a 17-3 second-quarter lead.
"I was kind of thinking about the celebration too much," Samuel said. "I don't even think I was paying attention, just being nonchalant, kind of let it go. Quick thinking, picked it up.
"DJack was like, 'You almost did a DJack, man.' "
Samuel, brought in for $57 million to be a playmaker, hadn't picked off a pass since the Atlanta game, back on Oct. 26. He has played well, but his lack of highlight-reel moments such as last night's might keep him off the NFC Pro Bowl roster when it is announced today.
"I was definitely overdue," Samuel said. "I've dropped a couple that I wish I would have caught. It was my turn to catch one."
His big play last night wiped out the bad taste from a silly squandering of points by the Eagles, when Jackson threw an interception in the end zone from the "Wildcat" formation, on third-and-goal from the 7. It was just six plays later that Samuel reeled in Ken Dorsey's pass and took off for the end zone.
Samuel's teams are now 20-1 in games in which he intercepts a pass.
"Asante had a nice pick," coach Andy Reid said. "But again, obviously you have to cross the goal line."
I'm sure this was mentioned in the game thread, but I though it deserves it's own spot. I guess I'm too old and too removed from the culture to get this early celebration thing. But I find this inexplicable.
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