I'd been wondering for a while who would be considered the Eagles 2008 most valuable player. It would have to be part of the defense and yet it was such a team performance on D that it's hard to pick somebody out. Despite some dropped interceptions, Asante Samuel was as advertised. Stewart Bradley was an absolute stud in the middle, shutting down the run game in Trotter-like fashion. Dawk came on down the stretch and played like the Dawk of old, perhaps for one last time. Quintin Mikell played near a pro-bowl level and Sheldon Brown stepped up after a disappointing performance last year.
But watching this random video on nfl.com, I saw the play that convinced me that our MVP was Trent Cole:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d0fbe2
It's a narrated highlights package from NFL Films of the Thanksgiving game. At the 1:39 mark, they show a package of Trent Cole plays from that game. In one play, he rushes Warner, who throws a pick. When Cole sees it's an interception, he immediately runs and absolutely DECKS to Cardinals to the ground. Those players are Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. The next shot he's on the sideline bragging about it. I DEMAND you watch this.
Awesome. Trent Cole is a special kind of player, a guy who DOES. NOT. STOP. Ever. He rushes the passer, he chases down running backs, he fights off blockers, he even goes out of his way to deliver legal but unnecessary hits to the opponents' star players, all with such ferocity and speed that players almost can't help but be intimidated by him. And it never lets up. Not for one moment.
That play is emblematic of what makes this defense special, and Trent Cole embodies it better than anyone. MVP.
This kind of effort is something that Andy Reid looks for in his players. That kind of effort and work ethic - not giving up on a play, not letting up until the whistle sounds, these are things that translate directly into resuts on the field. And those things are products of character and discipline. We poke fun at Reid for avoiding talented problem children and drafting undersized high-character guys. But this is what you get for stressing character. What we saw on the other side of the field on Sunday is what you pay for neglecting it.
But watching this random video on nfl.com, I saw the play that convinced me that our MVP was Trent Cole:
http://www.nfl.com/videos?videoId=09000d5d80d0fbe2
It's a narrated highlights package from NFL Films of the Thanksgiving game. At the 1:39 mark, they show a package of Trent Cole plays from that game. In one play, he rushes Warner, who throws a pick. When Cole sees it's an interception, he immediately runs and absolutely DECKS to Cardinals to the ground. Those players are Kurt Warner and Larry Fitzgerald. The next shot he's on the sideline bragging about it. I DEMAND you watch this.
Awesome. Trent Cole is a special kind of player, a guy who DOES. NOT. STOP. Ever. He rushes the passer, he chases down running backs, he fights off blockers, he even goes out of his way to deliver legal but unnecessary hits to the opponents' star players, all with such ferocity and speed that players almost can't help but be intimidated by him. And it never lets up. Not for one moment.
That play is emblematic of what makes this defense special, and Trent Cole embodies it better than anyone. MVP.
This kind of effort is something that Andy Reid looks for in his players. That kind of effort and work ethic - not giving up on a play, not letting up until the whistle sounds, these are things that translate directly into resuts on the field. And those things are products of character and discipline. We poke fun at Reid for avoiding talented problem children and drafting undersized high-character guys. But this is what you get for stressing character. What we saw on the other side of the field on Sunday is what you pay for neglecting it.
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