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Sometimes, breaking news hits different. Some stories carry a little more weight. Philadelphia Eagles fans are never in the dark about their Birds, and news travels quickly when announced.
Take, for instance, the latest Lane Johnson update. We've learned that he will indeed return for a 14th NFL season. This time, however, the voice in the meeting room will belong to someone unfamiliar.
Jeff Stoutland is gone, and in his place, Philadelphia has hired Chris Kuper as its new offensive line coach. That irritated most of the Eagles contingent. Some even thought it would help influence Johnson to call it a career.
This was the only positional coach he had ever known, but fear not. Eagles Hall of Famer LeSean McCoy expressed publicly without hesitation that Johnson would return, and by the looks of things, one of our old friends may have also put a bug in the future Hall of Famer's ear.
Those of you who are a little younger may only recognize Brian Baldinger as one of our great game's wise old men. Those who are older remember all 11 seasons of his playing days as an offensive lineman.
Ask your aunts and uncles, and maybe your grandmothers and grandfathers. Eagles fans remember him for two reasons. First, they despised him, thanks to a five-year run with the Dallas Cowboys (1982-87).
Eventually, they learned to love him. Four years in Indianapolis (1988-1991) preceded his final two in Philadelphia (1992-93). Birds fans may not agree on everything or every player, but we have yet to find anyone who will tell you they have an issue with the man affectionately referred to as 'Baldy'.
When Baldinger talks, we tend to listen. He's pretty plugged in and has been for a while, so how could we not pay attention to what he said during a recent chat with Anthony Gargano, one mentioning the great Lane Johnson?
He's right, you know? No one wants their last memory of Lane Johnson to be seeing him carted off the field or trying to will himself back on the field for a team practice. He's been a great Eagle, and he deserves the opportunity to go out on his terms.
In the end, no single conversation determines whether a player of Lane Johnson's stature returns for another season. Decisions like that come from months of reflection, conversations with family, teammates, and coaches, and an honest evaluation of the body and the mind.
Still, hearing affirmation from someone like Brian Baldinger, a former lineman who understands exactly what the grind feels like, probably didn't hurt. Sometimes elite players need a reminder of what they already know deep down: the tank isn't empty yet.
Regardless of what happened or how it happened, Johnson's decision now changes everything. Yes, the transition from longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland will take some adjustment. Still, Johnson's return keeps the heartbeat of the offensive front intact and preserves leadership inside one of the league's most respected position rooms.
More importantly, it keeps a championship window open because as long as No. 65 is still locking down the right edge at an elite level, the Eagles aren't rebuilding. They're still chasing another parade. That has been proven time and time again. Think about it. How cool would it be to send him off with a third Super Bowl ring?
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Brian Baldinger may have helped influenced Lane Johnson’s decision
Continue reading...
Take, for instance, the latest Lane Johnson update. We've learned that he will indeed return for a 14th NFL season. This time, however, the voice in the meeting room will belong to someone unfamiliar.
Jeff Stoutland is gone, and in his place, Philadelphia has hired Chris Kuper as its new offensive line coach. That irritated most of the Eagles contingent. Some even thought it would help influence Johnson to call it a career.
This was the only positional coach he had ever known, but fear not. Eagles Hall of Famer LeSean McCoy expressed publicly without hesitation that Johnson would return, and by the looks of things, one of our old friends may have also put a bug in the future Hall of Famer's ear.
Brian Baldinger shares a conversation he had with Lane Johnson.
Those of you who are a little younger may only recognize Brian Baldinger as one of our great game's wise old men. Those who are older remember all 11 seasons of his playing days as an offensive lineman.
Ask your aunts and uncles, and maybe your grandmothers and grandfathers. Eagles fans remember him for two reasons. First, they despised him, thanks to a five-year run with the Dallas Cowboys (1982-87).
Eventually, they learned to love him. Four years in Indianapolis (1988-1991) preceded his final two in Philadelphia (1992-93). Birds fans may not agree on everything or every player, but we have yet to find anyone who will tell you they have an issue with the man affectionately referred to as 'Baldy'.
When Baldinger talks, we tend to listen. He's pretty plugged in and has been for a while, so how could we not pay attention to what he said during a recent chat with Anthony Gargano, one mentioning the great Lane Johnson?
He's right, you know? No one wants their last memory of Lane Johnson to be seeing him carted off the field or trying to will himself back on the field for a team practice. He's been a great Eagle, and he deserves the opportunity to go out on his terms.
In the end, no single conversation determines whether a player of Lane Johnson's stature returns for another season. Decisions like that come from months of reflection, conversations with family, teammates, and coaches, and an honest evaluation of the body and the mind.
Still, hearing affirmation from someone like Brian Baldinger, a former lineman who understands exactly what the grind feels like, probably didn't hurt. Sometimes elite players need a reminder of what they already know deep down: the tank isn't empty yet.
Regardless of what happened or how it happened, Johnson's decision now changes everything. Yes, the transition from longtime offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland will take some adjustment. Still, Johnson's return keeps the heartbeat of the offensive front intact and preserves leadership inside one of the league's most respected position rooms.
More importantly, it keeps a championship window open because as long as No. 65 is still locking down the right edge at an elite level, the Eagles aren't rebuilding. They're still chasing another parade. That has been proven time and time again. Think about it. How cool would it be to send him off with a third Super Bowl ring?
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: Brian Baldinger may have helped influenced Lane Johnson’s decision
Continue reading...
