In Howie Roseman’s postseason press conference, much was made about the decision by the Eagles to trade young defensive back Eric Rowe to New England. Roseman said that after just one year, it was evident that Rowe wasn’t in the Eagles’ longterm plans, and that without any intention of giving him an extension — something Rowe would not have been due for several years — trading the former second round pick for a Patriots’ fourth-rounder (ostensibly a fifth-rounder given where New England selects each year), the deal was too good to pass up.
Rowe started seven games for the Patriots this season, and he’s one of a handful of former Eagles on current NFL playoff rosters.
With eight teams left in the postseason there are just 10 former Eagles still left with a chance for a Super Bowl ring. That’s incredibly low, especially when figuring there are 416 players on the remaining rosters this weekend.
Moreover, the talent of these players isn’t exactly All-Pro caliber. DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy aren’t on any of these teams, for example, and while the list of former Eagles would have been both bigger and better had the Dolphins or Giants won in the Wild Card round, there’s not even anyone at a Kiko Alonso-esque, Dominique Rogers-Cromartie-ish (or even Byron Maxwell-ish) level still alive this season.
There are five defensive players who were either drafted by or played for the Eagles still in the playoffs. Rowe would be joined in the defensive backfield by both Houston’s Quintin Demps and Patrick Chung, one of the least productive players to sign with Philly who was good somewhere else both before and after. Add Nate Allen to the list of former Eagles to make the postseason this year, a he is on the Raiders roster, though obviously no longer in the playoffs.
Cedric Thornton is in the defensive tackle rotation for Dallas, while David King, a defensive end drafted in the seventh round of the 2013 draft by the Eagles, is currently on the Chiefs’ practice squad.
The offensive side of the ball is telling. Jeremy Maclin is the best former Eagle still playing this season, while his former teammate in Philly and current teammate in Kansas City, Nick Foles, holds a clip board for Andy Reid and Alex Smith.
The Steelers have one former Eagle on offense, sort of. Brian Mihalik, who was drafted by the Eagles but never played a regular-season game, is on the Steelers’ roster. The Patriots have two former Eagles on offense in do-everything utility back Dion Lewis and scrappy wideout Danny Amendola, who never actually played in a game for the Philly before going on to become a highly productive receiver in the NFL. Tight end Clay Harbor, a far less productive receiver, is on the Lions roster, home this week watching the rest of the playoffs like all the current Eagles.
So that’s it. Caput. That’s the full list of former Eagles still in the playoffs. Nobody else.
What’s that…?
Ah, yes, the Sanchize. Let’s hope he gets some playoff action for Dallas this week. We all deserve that much.
[table id=52 /]
