Spreading Their Wings - The Philadelphia Eagles
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Can Justice Carry Good Play into Preseason?
Can Justice Carry Good Play into Preseason?
- Chris McPherson | philadelphiaeagles.com -
In the locker room after the Eagles lost to the Giants back on Sept. 30, 2007, Winston Justice stood in the visitors locker room at Giants Stadium and owned up to his mistakes. Osi Umenyiora had six sacks and the Giants had 12 as an entire team as Justice started at left tackle for an injured Tra Thomas. He didn't hide from the media. He accepted blame for his mistakes that night.
Exactly three months later, Justice played most of the game at right tackle in a season-ending win over the Bills. And he played pretty well. However, most fans didn't notice since the Eagles were out of the playoff hunt.
When Justice was drafted in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft, he was tabbed as the future for when Tra Thomas would either sign with another team or retire. But when Thomas signed with Jacksonville in the off-season, the Eagles traded for a two-time Pro Bowl left tackle in Jason Peters. The right tackle spot was expected to be filled by Shawn Andrews. But with Andrews sidelined for the entirety of training camp, Justice has been provided an opportunity to jump-start his career. He's taken almost all of the first-team reps at right tackle. So far, Justice has been up to the task. He's much more imposing physically. He's added thickness and power in his arms. His base is much stronger.
The change is Justice's performance started with realizing what it took play in the NFL. The 6-6, 320-pound Justice won a national championship at USC and blocked for three Heisman Trophy winners. USC was simply on a different level compared to most teams. That's not the case in the NFL.
"I think I grew up a lot mentally. I came out early and I was playing in the NFL when I was 20. I needed to grow up physically and mentally," Justice said. "I didn't know the actual demands, what it takes to be an NFL lineman. I think I'm getting that now and just need to take more strides and God willing I'll get to show that on the field."
Justice spent this off-season in Philadelphia training with Juan Castillo instead of going back home to Florida and California. He's also been shaped in the past few years by his marriage to his wife, Dania, and the birth of his son, Selah.
"That helped me grow up too," Justice said. "There are a lot of things required of being a husband as much as being a father. When you have kids, you have to be selfless."
Now, Justice has to take what he's done in training camp and carry it over to the preseason. If Shawn Andrews can't go in the season opener because of his back injury, can the Eagles trust Justice to be the starter? Justice isn't about to think that far ahead.
"The thing I focus on is improving every day," Justice said. "The only thing I listen to is my coaches and Juan. Juan's not going to give you too much praise. He's always going to give you something to work on. That's how I approach it, with a sense of urgency."
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Projected Starting Lineups for Eagles-Patriots Pre-Season Game
Projected Starting Lineups for Eagles-Patriots Pre-Season Game
Offense:
QB Donovan McNabb
RB LeSean McCoy
FB Leonard Weaver
WR Kevin Curtis
LT Jason Peters
LG Nick Cole
C Jamaal Jackson
RG Max Jean-Gilles
RT Winston Justice
TE Brent Celek
WR DeSean Jackson
Defense:
DE Juqua Parker
DT Mike Patterson
DT Brodrick Bunkley
DE Darren Howard
LB Akeem Jordan
MLB Omar Gaither
LB Chris Gocong
CB Asante Samuel
SS Quintin Mikell
FS Quintin Demps
CB Sheldon Brown
Offense:
QB Tom Brady
RB Sammy Morris
WR Randy Moss
WR Wes Welker
TE Ben Watson
WR Joey Galloway
LT Matt Light
LG Logan Mankins
C Dan Koppen
RG Stephen Neal
RT Nick Kaczur
Defense:
DE Ty Warren
NT Vince Wilfork
DE Richard Seymour
LOLB Pierre Woods
LB Jerod Mayo
LB Tedy Bruschi
ROLB Adalius Thomas
CB Shawn Springs
SS Brandon Meriweather
FS James Sanders
CB Leigh Bodden
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Eagles Sign QB Vick to One-Year Deal
Eagles Sign QB Vick to One-Year Deal
- philadelphiaeagles.com -
The Eagles announced on Thursday night that have signed QB Michael Vick to a one-year contract.
Drafted with the first overall selection in the 2001 draft by Atlanta, Vick spent six seasons with the Falcons and last played on 12/31/06 at Philadelphia. A three-time Pro Bowler, the 29-year-old Vick rushed for 1,039 yards in 2006, the most by a quarterback in a single season in NFL history. His 8.45 yards per carry average that year also is an NFL record.
A multi-dimensional threat at quarterback in both the pass and run game, Vick became the first quarterback in NFL annals to pass for over 250 yards (252) and rush for over 100 yards (115) in the same game (10/31/04 at Denver). His eight career 100-yard rushing games are the most by a quarterback in NFL history and his 3,859 career rushing yards ranks third all time behind Randall Cunningham (4,928) and Steve Young (4,239).
Vick was named to the Pro Bowl in his first season as a full-time starter in 2002, after amassing 3,713 total yards (2,936 passing, 777 rushing) and 24 total touchdowns (16 passing, 8 rushing). He led the Falcons to a 27-7 upset victory over the Green Bay Packers in the NFC Wild Card game that season, ending the Packers undefeated playoff record at Lambeau Field.
For his career, Vick appeared in 74 regular season games (67 starts) from 2001-06, completing 930 of 1,730 passes for 11,505 yards and 71 touchdowns, while rushing for 3,859 yards and 21 touchdowns. He is 2-2 as a starter in the playoffs with both losses coming at the hands of the Eagles.
A two-year letterman at Virginia Tech, Vick led the NCAA in passing efficiency with a 180.9 rating as a freshman in 1999. He finished third in the Heisman Trophy voting that year behind Ron Dayne and Joe Hamilton.
The Newport News, VA, native attended Warwick High School, passing for 4,846 yards and 43 touchdowns, while also adding 1,048 yards and 18 touchdowns on the ground.
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Eagles Pre-Season Recap
Eagles Pre-Season Recap
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