Eagles Quarterbacks Don't Discuss Starting With Each Other
By Spike Eskin
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – There has been a lot of discussion about who will be the Eagles starting quarterback this year. From the media, from the fans, from everyone, it's only June, and it seems like the topic is in the daily top three of 'most discussed' in Philadelphia sports.
Most discussed that is, for everyone except for the quarterbacks themselves.
"We don't talk about it. Honestly, we don't talk about it," Nick Foles told 94WIP's Michael Barkann and Ike Reese on Monday. Foles is usually considered the co-favorite along with Michael Vick, along with some rumblings about rookie Matt Barkley. "We work everyday. all the quarterbacks, we have a great quarterback room, and we push each other every single day throughout the drills. We're working to make each other better, and that's what the greatest thing about it."
Part of me hoped that the Eagles quarterbacks were like contestants in the Food Network show Chopped. That after practice they'd all gather in a room and discuss who might be eliminated.
"There's no talk about starting or whatever, anybody knows the starting quarterback is going to be the guy that gives the team the best opportunity to win, so right now when we're in practice we're just working hard and trying to execute the plays and the coaches are watching, but you can't put that kind of pressure on you. When you're playing, and you're out there practice, you got to treat it like the game and you got to execute the plays. There's not any talk about that," Foles said.
The biggest question for Foles within Chip Kelly's offense is regarding his speed. Foles is the slowest afoot of the five quarterbacks, and Kelly's QBs have often-times been more mobile. Foles doesn't see it as a problem.
"I believe in my athletic ability. I know what I am capable of doing. I was a basketball player growing up, and I may not necessarily has the 4.3 breakaway speed, but I'm able to avoid tackles and make plays and I feel confident in myself. Anytime there's a new coach coming in with a new offense, it's a challenge and I knew it was going to be a challenge, but at the same time I welcomed it." Foles had the slowest 40 time, in fact, of any quarterback at the 2012 NFL Draft Combine.
"When you get on the field, you got to play. You got to feel the game, you have to understand the game, you have to prepare for the game. I really like this offense and you just have to make plays, it's like anything else. You just execute the play, move the ball down the field, make the guys around you better and you're going to be successful," he said.
