Eagles Wake-Up Call: Eli And His Nemesis, Trent Cole
In the spirit of the LeSean McCoy-Osi Umenyiora feud, Eli Manning was asked during a conference call with the Philly media: Who is your biggest nemesis on the Eagles?
Trent Cole was his answer.
“He probably has more sacks on me than any other person there,” said Manning. “He’s a guy who has been playing a number of years and has a number of hits on me over the years.”
There is no question that Manning is Cole’s favorite quarterback to feast on. Cole has sacked Manning eight times, more than any other signal-caller he has faced. His lone career interception — which he returned 19 yards for a touchdown back in 2006 — came against Manning as well.
“I’m honored,” said Cole, upon hearing the news that Manning views him as his biggest nemesis. “Very honored. It just tells me to keep doing what I’m doing. Not just with Eli, but throughout the league. Just keep playing hard and do what I’m doing.
“He’s a great quarterback. He been to the Super Bowl. I don’t see no rings on my finger. This man’s got rings on his fingers. He’s doing something right.”
Cole is Cole-plus during Giants week. His movements are even more frenetic, the look in his eyes a little crazier.
“When we play the Giants, I think it’s the biggest game of the season,” said Cole. “It’s always fun. Looking forward to Sunday.”
His 28 tackles against New York are 10 more than he has against any other team. His eight sacks are a personal high as well. There’s just something about that blue — and that quarterback — that set him off.
WHAT YOU MISSED
Sheil takes to the All-22 tape to dissect what went wrong with the Eagles offense against the Cardinals. Tremendous work, as always.
Following a shaky performance from Michael Vick, Andy Reid said that the quarterback situation would continue to be evaluated. The coach and the quarterback talked the situation over, and Vick gave his thoughts on Reid’s comments.
Vick may get a couple weapons back, as Jeremy Maclin and Riley Cooper practiced Wednesday. A key rookie did not, however.
Kapadia rounded up the national media’s take on the Eagles after their dismal performance in Arizona. Mike Florio called them “arguably the worst 2-1 team in years.”
Reports suggest that the NFL-referee standoff might be nearing an end. Eagles players rejoice.
WHAT THEY’RE SAYING
Paul Schwartz of the New York Post, to the chagrin of Nnamdi Asomugha and Eagles fans everywhere, recounts the game that launched Victor Cruz’s career.
There is no signage or plaque marking the significance of the site but Victor Cruz knows where and when it happened. Lincoln Financial Field is the home of the Eagles but it was where Cruz was born, in an NFL sense.
He returns to his professional football birthplace for Sunday night’s showdown — it’s always a showdown when the Giants and Eagles clash — as a budding star, merely one year after entering the Linc as a kid from Paterson, N.J., lucky to be wearing an NFL uniform.
Florio has Reid ranked second on his list of top five coaches on the hot seat.
“They lose to the Giants Sunday night they go to 2-2; 2-2 projects to 8-8; 8-8 projects to Andy Reid getting fired.”
The full top 5 list:
5) Ron Rivera
4) Lovie Smith
3) Rex Ryan
2) Andy Reid
1) Pat Shurmur
A couple Eagles rookies are getting some recognition. From Dan Graziano:
Matt Williamson of Scouts, Inc. has his weekly “Rookie Watch” posted, and three of the top 10 players in it are NFC East players. It’s an Insider piece, so you have to send me a check if you want to read it, but I can tell you that this is where our division’s players rank:
2. Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington Redskins
6. Mychal Kendricks, LB, Philadelphia Eagles
9. Alfred Morris, RB, Washington Redskins
No other division has more than two in the top 10, and the NFC East also has two guys in the honorable mention list — Dallas Cowboys cornerback Morris Claiborne and Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox.
COMING UP
Preparation continues for the Giants. The coordinators address the media today. Think there might be a question or two for Marty Mornhinweg?