September 01, 2015
Michael Perez/AP
"Along with Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan, Barwin will help form what is, on paper, one of the more disruptive D-lines in the NFL." Wait, what? Cedric Thornton is going to be mad.
Four Eagles made ESPN's "Top 100 players" list, and frankly, their rankings are comically low. The four Eagles players listed are DeMarco Murray (38th overall), Jason Peters (47th overall), Fletcher Cox (95th overall), and Connor Barwin (96th overall).
The voting panel was made up of more than 70 voters, including "NFL analysts, reporters and statisticians -- both from ESPN and outside ESPN -- including former players and NFL front-office members."
These people apparently haven't watched game film of Fletcher Cox.
ESPN's take on each guy:
In his first season of full health, Murray led all NFL rushers in carries (392, or 436 if you count the playoffs), yards (1,845) and rushing TDs (13). That odometer spike was the reason most assumed Dallas would let him go to a division rival. "Going from a great O-line in Dallas to a good one in Philly shouldn't hurt too badly," said one voter. "But can he stay healthy?"
#JimmyNote: The Cowboys didn't "let him go" to a division rival. The Eagles made him a good offer, and the Cowboys had cap constraints. You can be 1000 percent sure they'd rather have DeMarco Murray over Darren McFadden, because...
When an offensive tackle pops his Achilles for the second time in his career at age 30, pessimism isn't exactly unfair. But since Peters lost the entire 2012 season with that injury, all he has done is play in 32 straight regular-season games with a Pro Bowl nod in both seasons. "The guy is just rare," said one voter. Um, yeah. Peters, a former tight end at Arkansas, is now 33 and a seven-time Pro Bowler, with no decline in sight.
"The Fletcher Cox show is about to begin," said one voter. The voting bloc of over 70 NFL analysts, reporters, former coaches, scouts, and front-office members is clearly on board. Cox hasn't been to a Pro Bowl yet, but the potential is obvious. "He's dominant against the run, and only J.J. Watt had more hurries last season among 3-4 defensive ends," said another. The former No. 12 overall pick can no longer be called overlooked.
#JimmyNote: The "Fletcher Cox show" began last year.
Question: How many NFL players had more sacks than Connor Barwin last season? Answer: Two (Justin Houston and J.J. Watt). Surprised? Well, Barwin isn't a dominant run defender, but when you cut him loose, he has the pass-rushing skills to match his coiffure. Along with Fletcher Cox and Bennie Logan, Barwin will help form what is, on paper, one of the more disruptive D-lines in the NFL.
#JimmyNote: Uh... Barwin doesn't play on the defensive line, ESPN.
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