THERE 3 are simple rules to making this list:
1) You have to have played between 1989 and 2014
2) You have to have been a starter for at least 3 years as an Eagle
3) You must be underrated by either the Fans, the Media or Both.
Today we’ll start with the OFFENSE.
QB: DONOVAN McNABB Underrated by: The Fans
Ask the average fan about Randall Cunningham, Jim McMahon, or Ty Detmer and you’ll hear some criticism, but also an acknowledgement of and respect for their contributions. Yet many fans are reluctant to show much respect for the best QB in our franchise’s history. This by the way does nothing to help our national reputation.
RB1: RICKY WATTERS Underrated by: The Fans
Making the rounds I see fans still talk about Brian Westbrook, Herschel Walker and even Wilbert Montgomery. One name I almost never hear or read is Ricky Watters. Despite his “For who? For what?” moment, Watters went on to handle business week in and week out for each of the three years he was here. He provided us with a 1,000 yard rusher for three years straight for the first time in franchise history; and FYI, since Watters, that feat has never been repeated. Not even by LeSean McCoy. Watters also put together 31 rushing TD’s over that span. Yet another feat so far never repeated.
RB2: DUCE STALEY Underrated by: The Media
We fans love Duce. With his bull in a china shop running style, it wasn’t hard to endear himself to us. It seemed to take an entire defense to tackle him. He simply wouldn’t go down. He could also run, catch and block. Though he was a complete RB who didn’t have to leave the field on 3rd down, he has all but been forgotten by everyone except Eagles fans.
WR1: CALVIN WILLIAMS Underrated by: Both
Williams is the original Maclin. Overshadowed by a speedster, Williams was the one who moved the chains and caught the TD’s. It was often his ability to uncover and work back to the QB that gave Cunningham somewhere to go with the ball off of a scramble.
WR2: JEREMY MACLIN Underrated by: The Media
Fan’s seem to get Maclin’s value as a chain mover. (In fact there are a number of fans who expect his WR2 numbers to move up to WR1 type numbers. That’s doubtful to happen due to the Eagles system, but…) He averages 66 catches, 860 yards and 6 TD’s a year, yet if you live outside of Philly, you likely have no idea who he is.
TE: CHAD LEWIS Underrated by: The Fans
Lewis was McNabb’s security blanket when he didn’t have a decent WR. Lewis wasn’t the most gifted athlete, but he played within his game, and his work inside opened up the outside for the screen passes that made this team so dangerous, back when deep playoff runs were our routine.
LT: BARRETT BROOKS Underrated by: Both
Over the last two decades LT to an Eagles fan has looked like Tra Thomas or Jason Peters. Richard “Turnstile” Cooper was NOT getting on this list, and neither was Ron Heller. With Brooks being a high Draft pick, calling him underrated may seem silly, but really there was no one else to add, as he was the best of a pretty “meh” bunch.
LG: JOHN WELBOURN: Underrated by: Both
Guess who was the starting LG back when we kept going to those NFC Championship games.
C: HANK FRALEY: Underrated by: Both
Guess who else helped anchor the interior, during that run of NFC Championship games.
RG: JERMANE MAYBERRY Underrated by: Both
Remember the NFC Championship run of games? Guess who played RG.
RT: ANTONE DAVIS Underrated by: Both
Another high pick, who wasn’t as dominant as everyone expected him to be. Still, he provided 5 years of consistent starts, on what was a generally winning team.
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