OK, we are now just 40 minutes away from kickoff between the Cowboys and Eagles on a chilly Sunday night (game-time temperature is 42 degrees) here at Lincoln Financial Field.
Here’s a few last-second notes and thoughts from the press box …
Eagles captains for tonight’s game are WR DeSean Jackson, CB Nnamdi Asomugha and FB Owen Schmitt. Inactives include: RB Dion Lewis, CB Curtis Marsh, S Jarrad Page, LB Keenan Clayton, G Julian Vandervelde, T Winston Justice, DE Phillip Hunt.
Not really sure why Lewis is inactive since he wasn’t listed on the team’s injury report. Maybe the Eagles are trying to give Ronnie Brown a fair shake. With Lewis out, Brown enters as the backup running back behind LeSean McCoy and, according to the depth chart, would handle kick-return duties. Stay tuned for more on that …also, the decision to keep Justice inactive might mean he’s more hurt than anyone’s letting on — just a guess.
WELCOME HOME, ERIC ALLEN. The former Eagles cornerback (1988-94) will be inducted into the Eagles’ Honor Roll at halftime and addressed the media before kickoff. Allen waxed poetic about his time in South Philadelphia and credited Buddy Ryan for instilling the kind of attitude that made Allen and his defensive comrades modern-day heroes in the city.
“Buddy really wanted us to do that and they [Eagles fans] loved Buddy Ryan,” Allen said. “No matter how gruff he was and speaking from the hip, I think the fans really appreciated that kind of attitude that we brought.”
Allen said he wouldn’t trade his Eagles memories for anything, but he also said that he often thinks about not winning the Super Bowl.
“It still stings a little bit. Every Super Bowl Sunday, you know, you talk to Clyde [Simmons] and you talk to Seth [Joyner], you talk to some of the guys and you talk about what-ifs.”
WE’LL ALWAYS MISS JJ. Allen was joined by former Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson in the team’s Honor Roll bringing the total number enshrined to 35. Johnson’s impact and legacy are well-documented, so we won’t rehash too much of that again. However, owner Jeffrey Lurie‘s comments really captured Johnson’s essence, calling him a “motivator, a teacher and, more than anything, a friend.”
“We were just lucky to have him,” Lurie said. “You just can’t imagine the leadership and dynamism — I’ve said a few words — but just the day-to-day character of that man. It was incredibly impressive.”
