Top 5 Wide Receivers

Here is the 11th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the first 10. Ray was posting these on CSNPhilly in the weeks leading up to training camp and we at DW covered some but not all. Here is the Hall of Famer's list followed by DW's list during our lifetime. Comments encouraged.

1. Tommy McDonald (1957-63) - A spectacular playmaker, McDonald was the most lethal receiver of his era. In the years from 1958 through ’62, led the league with 4,540 receiving yards and averaged a dazzling 19.2 yards per catch. He scored 56 touchdowns in those five seasons. Only one player, Jim Brown of Cleveland, scored more.

When McDonald retired following the 1968 season, his 84 touchdown receptions ranked second only to Green Bay’s Don Hutson in NFL history. He still holds the Eagles record for most receiving yards in a game (237 against the Giants in 1961). He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1998.

2. Pete Pihos (1947-55) - When people talk about great players in Eagles history, they often overlook Pihos which is unfortunate. “The Golden Greek” as he was known, was overshadowed by teammates Steve Van Buren and Chuck Bednarik, yet he is right there beside them in the Pro Football Hall of Fame (Class of 1970) and he was instrumental in the team winning its back-to-back NFL championships in 1948 and ’49.

3. Harold Carmichael (1971-83) - At 6-8 and 225 pounds, Carmichael was the stretch limo of wide receivers. He could beat double coverage simply by reaching over it. The Eagles stole him in the seventh round of the draft because no one could believe a receiver with such a long, lean frame could survive in the NFL.

Carmichael lasted 13 seasons with the Eagles, appearing in more games (180), catching more passes (589) and scoring more touchdowns (79) than any other player in team history. He set an NFL record by catching at least one pass in 127 consecutive games.

4. Mike Quick (1982-90) - A first round pick in 1982, Quick played nine seasons with the Eagles and was voted into five consecutive Pro Bowls (1984-88). In those five seasons, Quick led all NFL players in touchdown catches (53) and he was third in receiving yards (5,437) behind only future Hall of Famers James Lofton and Steve Largent.

Eagles coach Buddy Ryan said, “I wouldn’t trade Quick for any of those guys. For my money, he is the best receiver in football.”

Quick was on a Hall of Fame pace himself when he suffered a series of injuries that brought a premature end to his career: a broken leg in 1988, a knee injury in ’89 and another knee injury the following year. He retired as the fourth leading receiver in team history with 363 catches. He was the first Eagles player to have more than 1,000 yards receiving in three consecutive seasons.

5. Terrell Owens (2004-05) - know we’re only talking about one season (2004) but what an amazing season it was. Owens set the club record with 14 touchdown catches and he had seven games with more than 100 yards receiving (also a club record). He had 77 catches for 1,200 yards in just 14 regular season games. And the Eagles were 13-1 in those games.

It was an amazing run capped off by a memorable performance in Super Bowl XXXIX where he came back from a high ankle sprain and fibula fracture in his right leg to catch nine passes for 122 yards in the loss to New England.


That is a strong 5 for the birds at WR. Here is how the list would look like for DW:

1. Quick
2. Irving Fryar: Averaged 87 grabs during his first 2 season with the birds even though it was twilight of his career.
3. Owens: Depressing thinking about what the eagles could have been with some more years like '04.
4. Fred Barnett - Arkansas Fred had 5300 yards and 28 TD's as a Bird
5. Dietrich Jells - The Eagles robbed him from Ne and he started 3 games over 2 years catching 12 balls with 2 key Td's


(CSNPHILLY)
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Top 5 Tight Ends

Here is the 10th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the first 9. Ray was posting these on CSNPhilly in the weeks leading up to training camp and we at DW covered some but not all.



1. Pete Retzlaff (1956-66) – In 1965, he caught 66 passes for 1,190 yards and scored 10 touchdowns. He was named NFL Player of the Year by the Maxwell Football Club and the Washington Touchdown Club.
At 6-1 and 215 pounds, Retzlaff wasn’t as big as other tight ends, but he was powerfully built. He had great hands and outstanding moves. He could turn even All-Pro defenders inside-out. He earned five trips to the Pro Bowl and helped the Eagles to their last world championship in 1960.

When Retzlaff retired, he held virtually every Eagles receiving record, including most catches (452) and most yards (7,412). The team honored him by retiring his No. 44 jersey.

2. Keith Jackson (1988-91) – An All-American at Oklahoma, Jackson wasted no time making his mark in Philadelphia. As a rookie, he caught 81 passes, a team record, and was voted into the Pro Bowl.

While Jackson’s total of 81 catches has been surpassed by Brian Westbrook and Irving Fryar, it still stands as a record for Eagles tight ends and while he only played here for four years, he ranks 15th on the club’s all-time receiving list. He had 242 catches in just 60 regular season games.

At 6-2 and 250 pounds, Jackson wasn’t much of a blocker, but he wasn’t asked to do it very often. Most of the time, he was rumbling down the field and catching the football. His best game was the 42-37 comeback win in Washington in 1989. He had 12 catches and three touchdowns, including the game-winner in the closing seconds.

3. Bobby Walston (1951-62) – In the 1960 championship season, Walston averaged 19 yards per reception, a stunning figure for a tight end. And despite his lack of size, he was a ferocious blocker. He threw a key block on fullback Ted Dean’s game-winning touchdown run in the ’60 championship game against Green Bay

4. John Spagnola (1979-87) – consistent performer for eight seasons, Spagnola ranks 14th on the team’s all-time reception list with 256 catches for 2,833 yards. His 12 catches in one game against New Orleans in 1985 were just two short of the club record shared by Westbrook and Don Looney (1940).

5. Chad Lewis (1997-2005) – Lewis was Donovan McNabb’s first “go-to” receiver. He caught McNabb’s first NFL touchdown pass, a six-yard score against Indianapolis, and over the next six seasons, McNabb completed more passes to Lewis (196) for more touchdowns (18) than any other receiver. In the 2000 season, Lewis led all NFL tight ends with 69 catches for 735 yards.

DW's lifetime list would have to look like this:
1. Keith Jackson
2. Chad Lewis- Went out on a high note. 2 TD's against Atlanta in the NFC Title Game
3. Mark Bavaro- Only 2 years as an Eagle but productive
4. LJ Smith - Ugh. Almost gave it to Bartrum or Touchdown Thomason
5. Brent Celek - Well on his way of moving up

Post comments below!

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Top 5 Offensive Tackles

Here is the 9th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the first 8

1. Bob Brown (1964-68) – Brown played 10 seasons in the NFL, five with the Eagles, two with the Los Angeles Rams and three with Oakland. His size, strength and mean streak made him one of the most feared linemen in the game. Brown was the Eagles first-round draft pick in 1964 (second pick overall) after an All-America career at the University of Nebraska.He was voted into three Pro Bowls in five seasons with the Eagles. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

2. Al Wistert (1943-51) – This will give you some idea of how much pro football has changed: When Wistert was earning All-Pro honors with the Eagles in the 1940s, his nickname was “Big Ox” and he was all of 6-1 and 215 pounds – or roughly the size of Jason Avant. Wistert was a superb technician who excelled at the trap block, opening holes for Steve Van Buren on the championship teams of 1948 and ’49. He earned All-Pro honors eight times in his nine-year career, while playing 60 minutes every game as both an offensive and defensive tackle.

3. Jerry Sisemore (1973-84) –At 6-4 and 260 pounds, Sisemore was not a massive tackle in the mold of a Bob Brown, but he had great strength and exceptional balance. He was rarely off his feet and had surprising speed which allowed him to make downfield blocks that other tackles could only dream about.

4. Jon Runyan (2000-08) – When the Eagles signed Runyan to a six-year, $30 million contract, some people thought they overpaid for the free agent tackle. As it turned out, Runyan was a bargain. He played nine seasons in Philadelphia and ran his streak of consecutive starts to 192. Runyan is one of the toughest players ever to wear an Eagles uniform. He played last season with a knee injury that would have put most guys on IR. He played most of the 2007 season with a tailbone contusion that made it impossible for him to sit during the team meetings, yet he never missed a game.

At 6-7 and 330 pounds, Runyan is a classic mauler who was ideally suited to the power running game of the Tennessee Titans, but he had to adapt to the West Coast offense in Philadelphia. He had to become more of a pass blocker than a run blocker and while he made no secret of the fact he wished coach Andy Reid ran the ball more, he developed into a dependable pass blocker.

His one-on-one battles with Giants defensive end Michael Strahan were classics. They squared off 18 times, including twice in the postseason. Strahan had the advantage early, but Runyan won most of the later match-ups, which shows how much he improved in the area of pass protection.

Runyan’s aggressiveness which – OK – sometimes extended beyond the whistle, rubbed off on the rest of the O-line and gave it a personality, an edge that really helped.

5. Tra Thomas (1998-2008) – always felt Thomas was underrated by Eagles fans. They knew he was good, but he was so consistent for so long he was taken for granted. Of course, when he wasn’t able to play that one game against the Giants in 2007 and Osi Umenyiora beat Winston Justice for six sacks, it was a reminder of just how valuable Thomas was.

At 6-7 and 350 pounds, with long arms (36-and-a-half-inch sleeves) and quick feet, Thomas was a very good pass blocker. He proved it in the fourth game of his rookie year when he started against Kansas City’s Derrick Thomas and held the future Hall of Famer without a tackle or a sack.

An All-American at Florida State, Tre was the Eagles’ first pick in the 1998 draft. Ray Rhodes passed up Randy Moss to take Thomas with the 11th overall selection. The fans weren’t happy, but it’s hard to argue with a guy who anchored the left tackle position for more than a decade and was voted into three Pro Bowls.

In Dirty Wudders lifetime the list would look like this:
1. Runyan
2. Thomas
3. Stan Walters (DW admits we do not remember him but he played during our lifetime)
4. Ron Heller
5. Richard Cooper

Cooper may be a stretch but DW refused to put Antone Davis on this list.

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Top 5 Guards

Here is the 8th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the first 7.

1. Frank (Bucko) Kilroy (1943-55)- He was voted onto various All-Pro teams every season from 1948 through 1954. He was named to the NFL’s All-Decade team in the 40's.

2. Ed Blaine (1963-66)- He was a second-round draft pick by Green Bay in 1962, but he was stuck behind two All-Pro guards in Jerry Kramer and Fuzzy Thurston. The Eagles traded for him the next year and he stepped immediately into the starting lineup. He quickly established himself as one of the better offensive linemen in the league.

3. Shawn Andrews (2004-current)- In just three full seasons at guard, Andrews established himself as one of the top players at that position. He was named to the Pro Bowl squad in 2006 and ’07 and he was an alternate in 2005. When he is healthy, the 6-foot-4 and 335-pound Andrews is a physically dominant player who can stop a pass rusher in his tracks by simply extending his arms. Andrews combines that power with surprising speed and agility.

4. Jermane Mayberry (1996-2005) - When Mayberry was voted into the Pro Bowl for the 2002 season he was the first Eagles guard to earn that honor since Walter Barnes in 1951. Hard to believe that half a century could pass without a franchise producing at least one Pro Bowler at that position, but that’s how poorly the Eagles offensive line performed for generations.

5. Walter Barnes (1948-51) – His full name was Walter Lee Barnes, but he was better known as “Piggy.” He had a round face, a stubby 6-foot, 245-pound body and usually the dirtiest uniform on the field. He signed with the Eagles and was a starting guard on the championship teams of 1948 and ’49.

DW doesn't like ranking the offensive lineman as much as other positions. Growing up, the Eagles always had a good/great defense and a bad/pathetic O-line. Oh well, here is DW's List:
1. Andrews - was damn good when healthy.
2. Mayberry
3. Welbourne
4. Herremans
5. Lester Holmes

Lester Holmes can send us a thank you card. How about George Hegamin? Remember him pushing the sled? Bum. Could Artis Hicks be on this list? Ian Beckles..How about Joe Panos..wow

dw
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Top 5 Centers

Here is the 7th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. click here for the first 6.

1. Chuck Bednarik (1949-62) – Our No. 1 middle linebacker is also our No. 1 center, and there really can be no debate. Bednarik was an All-Pro at both positions and he will always be remembered as the last of the 60-minute men. In his book Pro Football’s 100 Greatest Players, Hall of Fame coach George Allen said, “Bednarik was not only the best linebacker I ever saw, he also was the best center of the last 30 years and he ranked right up there with Mel Hein and Bulldog Turner all-time. He was the surest, strongest snapper I’ve ever seen and an absolutely brutal and unbeatable blocker.”


2. Jim Ringo (1964-67) – Ringo was a superb technician who played the angles inside and cut off rushers before they could hit the gap. He also was agile enough to get downfield and block for sweeps and screens. When he retired following the 1967 season, he had the longest consecutive game streak of any active player, 182 games.

3. Guy Morriss (1973-83) – He ranks sixth on the club’s all-time list for games played with 157. He was a tough guy and a hard worker who spent long hours in the weight room pumping up his 6-foot-4, 255-pound body. Morriss never played center before joining the Eagles. He was a tight end in high school and played both tackle and guard at TCU.

4. Vic Lindskog (1944-51) – An All-American at Stanford, Lindskog was a key figure on the Eagles’ championship teams in 1948 and ’49. He was the starting center and a favorite of coach Greasy Neale.

5. Mike Bartrum (2000-06) – This might seem like a frivolous selection, taking a long-snapper over a true center. But in my opinion, Bartrum was that good and that valuable. When he was snapping the ball, David Akers was almost automatic on field goal tries. Bartrum’s ability to put the ball on the money every time was a key to that success.

Ok, DirtyWudders can only comment on 1 of these guys and he wasn't even a starter at the position. We would have loved to have seen Chuck Bednarik play as there is nobody who plays the game today as he once did.

Wow this is going to be a struggle. Here is DW's list

1. Raleigh McKenzie - Starter in 95 and 96. Ricky Watters had 2 big years.
2. David Alexander - Starting Center for 6+ years. Will look for the help of some older readers if he should be moved down or off the list.
3. Hank Fraley - Undersized center was serviceable for 4.5 years. Unfortunately I will remember him being totally exposed in the Super Bowl by Bill Belichick's blitzes up the middle.
4. Steve Everitt - I remember his being a big name free agent from Cleveland who turned out to be pretty bad.
5. Jamaal Jackson - Bigger than Fraley though I would like to see them upgrade. Was effective when Andrews was healthy and playing beside him.

Need to hear some comments and criticisn on this list as I don't even really like it.

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Top 5 DT's

Here is the 6th installments of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. click here for the first 5.

1. Jerome Brown (1987-91) – Jerome had his best season in 1991, when he led all NFL tackles in solo stops (88) and quarterback sacks (nine). He made the Pro Bowl for the second time that year and was widely acknowledged as the most formidable run stuffer in the game.

Bill Parcells said the 6-2, 300-pound Brown was the most disruptive player on the Eagles defense. That’s high praise from a notoriously tough critic.

2. Charlie Johnson (1977-81) – It was a tough call, deciding between Brown and Johnson for the top spot. Johnson was the more consistent of the two and he played a vital role as the nose tackle in the Eagles 3-4 defense. He occupied two blockers on every play, which allowed inside linebackers Bill Bergey and Frank LeMaster to flow to the ball.

3. Floyd Peters (1964-69) – The Eagles were a losing team for most of the decade, but Peters was respected by the players around the league. He was twice voted into the Pro Bowl and he earned Most Valuable Player honors in the 1967 game, a rare feat for a defensive tackle. Peters later went into coaching and become one of the NFL’s most respected defensive coordinators

4. Vic Sears (1941-53) – Sears played 13 seasons for the Eagles, and since he played both ways at tackle for most of his 131 regular season games, it is believed he logged more actual minutes on the field than any other player in franchise history.

5. Andy Harmon (1991-97) – Harmon has the most sacks of any defensive tackle in team history (40) and he really worked to make himself into a productive player. He was originally drafted as a defensive end, a sixth-round pick from Kent State who looked like a long shot to make the team, given the veteran talent (notably Reggie White and Clyde Simmons) already in place.

Harmon’s best season was 1993, when despite playing with a pulled hamstring and a sore Achilles tendon, he recorded 11 and a half sacks, breaking Brown’s club record for sacks by a defensive tackle.


Again Dirty Wudders cannot comment on 3 of the 5 players on this list and is starting to think Ray Didinger is a show off.



Here is the Top 5 of DirtyWudders' lifetime:

1. Jerome
2. Andy Harmon - From what I remember, #91 was always hurt but played through. 38.5 sacks in a 4 year stretch is pretty amazing for a DT.
3. Corey Simon -'03 Pro Bowler was a bit overrated but had a couple of decent seasons.
4. Hollis Thomas - Perfect situational fat guy to clog the holes.
5. Mike Patterson - run stuffing tackle, enters his 4th year as starter for the Eagles.
.
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Top 5 DE's

Here is the 5th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the 1st 4 installments. Unlike Linebacker, Defensive End has been a strength for the Eagles more often than not over the past 25 or so years. Here are Ray's top 5:

1. Reggie White (1985-92) – The greatest defensive lineman ever to wear an Eagles uniform. He set the club record with 124 career sacks, he never missed a game in eight years with the team and he was voted into seven consecutive Pro Bowls, the longest such streak in Eagles history.


He was 6-5 and played most of his career at 300 pounds, yet he had the quickness and agility of a much smaller man. He was almost impossible to block one on one. When he left the team following the 1992 season, he was the only player in the NFL to have more sacks than games played (121). He had 21 sacks in just 12 games in the strike-shortened 1987 season.

White took pride in being a complete player. Unlike some other defensive ends who only cared about rushing the quarterback and piling up sacks, White was a solid run defender who averaged more than 100 tackles per season with the Eagles. He was voted NFL Defensive Player of the Year twice, 1987 and 1991.

2. Hugh Douglas (1998-2002, 2004) – The Eagles acquired Douglas from the New York Jets in 1998 in exchange for a second- and a fifth-round draft choice. It was one of the best deals in club history, as Douglas was voted into three Pro Bowls in his first five seasons as an Eagle.

It was a difficult choice trying to decide between Douglas and Clyde Simmons as the No. 2 defensive end. Clearly, both players were very good. I leaned towards Douglas because Simmons had the advantage of having Reggie White on the opposite side drawing double teams for most of his career. Douglas was the team’s best pass rusher, which means he got the tougher matchups week after week.

At 6-2 and 280 pounds, he gave away 30 or more pounds to most of the offensive tackles he lined up against, but he was so quick and strong he was able to get under the blocker’s pads, turn the corner and get to the quarterback. He tied a team record with 4½ sacks in a 1998 game against San Diego. He ranks third on the Eagles list for career sacks with 54½.

3. Clyde Simmons (1986-93) – Simmons broke into the starting lineup as a 275-pound terror at right end in 1987 and helped the Eagles forge the NFL’s No. 1 defense.

In eight seasons with the Eagles, Simmons had 76½ sacks, second only to White on the team’s all-time list. Simmons led the league with 19 sacks in 1992. He set a team record (later tied by Douglas) with 4½ sacks of Troy Aikman in a 24-0 rout of the Cowboys in 1991.

A very fluid athlete – he once covered Michael Jordan in a high school basketball tournament in his native North Carolina – Simmons used speed and moves as well as power to defeat blockers.

4. William Fuller (1994-96) – He played only three seasons with the Eagles so sometimes he is overlooked, but Fuller belongs on this list. He made the Pro Bowl all three seasons and ranked among the league leaders in sacks.

Fuller was similar to Douglas in terms of size. At 6-3 and 280 pounds, he was built low to the ground and he used that power in his lower body to jack up taller blockers and anchor against the run. He had 9½ sacks in 1994 and 13 sacks each of the next two seasons.

Nicknamed “The Fuller Rush Man,” he set an Eagles record by recording at least one sack in seven consecutive games in 1994. He had two sacks of Steve Young, including one for a safety, in a 40-8 rout of San Francisco, the worst loss the 49ers ever suffered at Candlestick Park.

5. Norm Willey (1950-57) –In 1952, Willey had 17 sacks in one game against the New York Giants. I know it is hard to believe, but here is a published account from the Philadelphia Bulletin:

Willey awed inhabitants of the Polo Grounds by dumping Giants quarterback Charlie Conerly 17 times while he was attempting to pass, causing New York scribes to remark, “‘He’s the greatest defensive end we’ve ever seen and probably the greatest we’ll ever see.’”


Dirty Wudders enjoys this list because we have seen 80% of the top 5 play. We never saw Wiley play but his description makes him seem like a worthy choice. DW actually disagrees with Ray's order:

1. Reggie - The Minister of Defense; no doubt about it. Arguably the best DE ever, and clearly the best DW has ever seen.
2. Simmons - Maybe teams double teamed Reggie to free up Clyde but 76.5 sacks speak for itself.
3. Douglas
4. Fuller - 35.5 sacks in 3 seasons
5. Trent Cole - 34.5 sacks in first 4 seasons, Cole has a chance to move up this very tough list.
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Top 5 MLB's

Here is the 4th installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for Safeties, Corners and OLB's.

1. Chuck Bednarik (1949-62)- A native of Bethlehem, Bednarik earned All-America honors at the University of Pennsylvania and played a record 14 seasons with the Eagles. His eight Pro Bowl appearances are a team record. For much of his career, Bednarik played both ways: center on offense, linebacker on defense. In 1960, at age 35, he played almost 60 minutes a game as the Eagles won the NFL championship. In his book Pro Football’s 100 Greatest Players, Hall of Fame coach George Allen ranked Bednarik as his No. 1 linebacker ahead of Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke. Jim Brown, the great Cleveland fullback who butted heads with Bednarik dozens of times, said: “Chuck was as great as any linebacker who ever played.”


2. Bill Bergey (1974-80) - Bergey was 6-2 and played around 245 pounds for most of his career. It was unfortunate that he spent his peak years playing on a defense that wasn’t very good. From 1974 through ’77, he played behind a line that was either pancaked or pushed back into his lap on almost every play. Still, he fought through the rubble and made the tackle.

3. Jeremiah Trotter (1998-2001, 2004-06)- At 6-1 and 262 pounds, Trotter was a powerful force in the middle who blossomed when defensive coordinator Jim Johnson started using him as a run blitzer. Trotter would shoot the gap between the center and guard and blow up the middle of the line. He was one of the few linebackers strong enough to jack up a 320-pound offensive lineman and he did it all the time. Trotter was a fierce competitor who, along with safety Brian Dawkins, provided the emotional leadership for the Eagles defense.

4. Byron Evans (1987-94) - Ryan’s defense called for a middle linebacker who could cover a lot of ground. Because Ryan blitzed outside linebackers and safeties so often, the middle linebacker was forced to drop into the deep middle as a pass defender.

He led the team in tackles (184) in his first full season as a starter, 1989. He had three games that season in which he had 20 or more tackles, including a career high 22 in a Monday night game against the Bears. Like Bergey and Trotter, Evans’ career was ended by a knee injury. He was only 29 when he played his last game in 1994.

5. Dave Lloyd (1963-70)- Lloyd is one of the more underrated players in Eagles history. The Eagles put him at middle linebacker and he found a home for eight seasons. Lloyd was an unusually big linebacker for that time at 6-3 and 245-pounds. He was selected to the Pro Bowl following the 1969 season.



DirtyWudders can speak of the top 4 but only saw 3 and 4 play. Here is Dirty Wudders list of MLB's during our time..

1. Trotter
2. B&E
3. James Willis - Though not a great MLB - DW remembers him for solidifying the win against Dallas in which he intercepted a Troy Aikman pass and pitched it to Troy Vincent for a 104 yard TD.
4. Stewert Bradley (2007 - )
5. Kurt Gouveia (1995)- Slim pickens. He led the Birds in tackles in his one season.

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Top 5 OLB's

Here is the 3rd installment of Ray Didinger's Top 5's. Click here for the safeties and corners.

1. Seth Joyner (1986-93) – The Eagles had the NFL’s most intimidating defense in the late ‘80s, and while Reggie White was their best player, Joyner may have been the most valuable. He was called “the glue that holds the Philly defense together” by Paul (Dr. Z) Zimmerman of Sports Illustrated, who picked Joyner as NFL Player of the Year in 1991.

2. Maxie Baughan (1960-65) – He was the only rookie to start every game for the 1960 Eagles championship team. It was a veteran team and players like Chuck Bednarik and Norm Van Brocklin viewed most young players with suspicion, but Baughan won their respect with his toughness and football intelligence.

3. Alex Wojciechowicz (1946-50) – He was a legend long before he played a game in the NFL. “Wojie” was an All-American center and linebacker at Fordham, one of the famed “Seven Blocks of Granite” playing alongside a guy named Vince Lombardi.

4. Jerry Robinson (1979-84) – Robinson played for Dick Vermeil at UCLA, so when Vermeil had the opportunity to draft him in 1979, he jumped at the chance. “As much as there can be a sure thing, Jerry Robinson is a sure thing,” Vermeil said.

5. William Thomas (1991-99) – Best known as “Willie T,” he played weakside linebacker for the Eagles for nine seasons. He was recruited by Texas A&M as a defensive back, but he grew into a 6-2 and 225 pound linebacker. As a senior, he had 13 sacks and was named Defensive Player of the Year in the Southwest Conference


Once again Ray Didinger badly outclassed us as we cannot comment on a couple of these names. OLB has definitely not been a high priority position for the Eagles during the Andy Reid era

My Top 5:

1. Seth Joyner
2. Willie T
3. Carlos Emmons (2000-2003) – 4 yr starter for the birds, had 3.5 sacks in ‘03
4. Bill Romanowski (1994-95) –- 2 yr starter for the Kotite Eagles, had 3.5 sacks and 4 INT’s. A bit of a letdown after his SanFran days.
5. G Cobb (1985-87) – Bit of a stretch for DirtyWudders memory bank but looks like he had decent numbers. Can be talked out of G.

Not a strong list. What is your's?
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Top 5 Cornerbacks

Last week I posted Ray Didinger’s top safeties on DirtyWudders. This week on CSNPhilly, Ray posted his top 5 cornerbacks in franchise history. Here they are with an abbreviated description. To read the full article, click here.

l. Eric Allen (1988-94) – He played 14 seasons in the NFL, seven with the Eagles, and tied the club record with 34 pass interceptions. He returned five interceptions for touchdowns, four in one season (1993). One of Allen’s touchdowns was a spectacular 94-yard return against the New York Jets, a twisting, weaving run that was selected for the NFL Films video “The 100 Greatest Touchdowns of All-Time.”

2. Troy Vincent (1996-2003) – He earned five consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl (2000-04). Vincent was the total package at cornerback. Vincent ranks seventh on the Eagles all-time interception list (28) and shares the record for the longest interception return with James Willis for their 104-yard interception and lateral touchdown against Dallas in 1996.

3.Tom Brookshier (1953, 1956-61) – There is a whole generation – maybe two – that knows Brookshier only as a broadcaster. But once upon a time, he was a star cornerback for the Eagles. He intercepted eight passes as a rookie in 1953 and after missing two full seasons due to military service, he returned to help the Eagles win the NFL title in 1960.

4.Herman Edwards (1977-85) – Edwards started every game for nine seasons at cornerback for the Eagles. His streak of 135 consecutive starts ranks sixth in team history. He intercepted 33 passes, one short of the team record. And of course, in 1978 he scooped up the fumble that became “The Miracle of the Meadowlands.” A rich history, indeed.

5.Irv Cross (1961-65, 1969) –He was voted into the Pro Bowl twice (1965-66), and he did not miss a game in his final five seasons with the Eagles.

Dirty Wudders cannot claim to have seem Brookshier, Herm or Cross in action so I will have to offer my own top 5.

1. Eric Allen
2. Troy Vincent
3. Bobby Taylor –Big DB who was brought in to defend Michael Irvin. Notre Dame’r was not much of a tackler but was a good cover corner.
4. Lito Sheppherd – Always had his best games against Dallas.
5. Mark McMillan - Little guy, 5’7”, made plays

I know there are opinions about this. Lets hear some

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Top 5 Safeties

Each week from now until the start of the regular season, Hall of Famer Ray Didinger is giving his Top 5 players, position by position in Eagles history. If you were to tell me that Ray Didinger invented the game of football I would believe you. He also carries Ed Rendell on Post Game live. I will hold off on that rant for another time. Here is his list of top safeties.

#1 Brian Dawkins (1996-08):

Dawkins played in more games than anyone in Eagles history (183) and tied the club record for interceptions (34). He had 23 sacks and forced 41 fumbles, including the postseason.

#2 Bill Bradley (1969-76)

Bradley shares the Eagles’ record for career interceptions (34) with Dawkins and Eric Allen. He still holds the team record for interception return yards in a season (248 in 1971) and a career (536). He was selected to the Pro Bowl three times

#3 Don Burroughs (1960-64)

The Blade was one of the key contributors to the Eagles 1960 world championship. He led the team with nine interceptions (in a 12-game regular season) and 124 return yards. His last interception came in the closing minutes of a 20-6 win in St. Louis that clinched the Eastern Conference title

#4 Wes Hopkins (1983-93)

Hopkins ranks fifth on the Eagles all-time list, with 30 interceptions, but it’s not the picks that the fans remember, it’s the hits. At 6-foot-1 and 212 pounds, Hopkins was an intimidating force who had opponents hearing footsteps every time they came across the middle.

#5 Randy Logan (1973-83)

Logan had 23 interceptions to rank among the team’s all-time leaders, and as a 6-foot-1, 195-pound strong safety, he was a very good tackler.

A couple of these name are before DirtyWudders time so we may ask some old timers to help us out. DirtyWudders is also a little bit upset that Andre Waters was not included.

Here is a list during my lifetime:

20: B Dawkins - My favorite all-time Eagle. Nobody played the game with the passion he did. Future Hall of Famer.

20: Andre Waters - Inspiration for this website. Struck fear into RB's. Great feud with Emmitt.

48: Wes Hopkins - Another great hitter who picked off 5 balls or more 5 times.

36: Mike Zorditch - Penn Stater only missed 1 game in 4 seasons.

47: Greg Jackson - 7 picks in 2 years. Jacson also scored 2 TD'.s

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