I wish I had time to dig out some of my football cards to share with you. If I started that at this hour, I would never get this writing taken care of. But I’d dig out my Eagles and my Chiefs.
If you of a certain vintage, you’ll know these names. You kids who haven’t been here since lunch won’t know them. Just like I didn’t know a soul during the twenty-three minutes I viewed The Grammys on TV last Sunday.
These are my Top Ten Eagles!
Ron Jaworski Quarterback. He wore #7 and came over to the Eagles from the Rams. Backup to James Harris who had a handle on the Rams QB job from 73 to 76, the Polish Rifle was a great fit for the Eagles. Led them to Super Bowl XV in… wait for New Orleans! Yes, the sight of this year’s Super Bowl. It was the second time the Superdome hosted the Super Bowl. Super Bowl XII was the first one to be played in the Superdome. That was a Dalla Cowboys victory over the Denver Broncos. The Eagles lost Super Bowl XV to the Oakland Raiders. Linebacker Rod Martin intercepted three of Jaws’ passes.
Harold Carmichael Wide Receiver. He wore #17, all 6-8 of him. Roger Wehrli, a DB for the St. Louis Cardinals was the only guy I ever saw hold his own defending # 17. Harold caught 590 passes during his Hall of Fame career. Tallest WR in NFL history.
Keith Krepfle Tight End. He wore #84. Krepfle caught 152 passes in his 8-year NFL career. 7 of those seasons were with the Eagles from 1975-1981.
Bill Bergey Middle Linebacker. Bill wore #66. He started his career with the Cincinnati Bengals in 1969. The five-time Pro Bowler played for the Eagles from 1974-1980. Talk about a different time. When Bergey was an NFL player, he was also a member of the lieutenant in the Army Reserves. Bergey passed away this past Christmas Day.
Charlie Smith Wide Receiver. Charlie wore #85. An undrafted free agent, Smith played for the Eagles from 1974-1981. He caught 218 passes in his NFL career. When they doubled up on Harold Carmichael, Charlie Smith had sure hands.
Wilbert Montgomery Running Back. Wilbert wore #31. Montgomery was a hard runner. Toting the mail for the Eagles from 1977-1984. In 1979, he was fourth NFL in rushing with more than 1500 yards. In front of him? Try Earl Campbell, Walter Payton, and Ottis Anderson.
David Akers Kicker. Akers wore #2. David Akers kicked for the Louisville Cardinals when Howard Schellenberger was coaching the team and for Ron Cooper the two years after Howard took his pipe and left town because he would not be on the sideline for a team in Conference USA. David Akers scored 1712 points in his NFL career.
Horst Muhlmann Kicker. Horst wore # 16. German born kicker who looked more like an appliance salesman than a kicker. Really, I worked with a guy at Sears who looked like Horst. Truth is I just liked the guy’s football cards. He looked like he was having a good time. Horst kicked for the Bengals longer than he did for Eagles (75-77). I like the name Horst.
Reggie White Defensive Tackle. Reggie wore #92. An All-American at Tennessee, Reggie was All-World for the Eagles. A sack master, Reggie White was just fun to watch. He chased quarterbacks while wearing an Eagles jersey from 1985 to 1992. Sack master I tell you!
Spike Jones Punter. Spike wore #6. He punted for the Oilers, Bills, and Eagles. Three of those years, 75-76-77, were for the Birds. I still take pride in knowing my punting average as a senior in high school was higher than Spike’s in 1976 and 1977. He averaged a paltry 36.6 yards in 1976 and 37.2 yards in 1977. Be sure to know that both of those seasons he placed more than 20 punts inside the 20. That’s pretty good.
Honorable Mention goes to Herman Edwards.
For me all I need to know about the Philadelphia Eagles are within these curtains. These curtains were in my bedroom in our house in Brownstown until we moved from there in 1979. The were hung in my new bedroom in Ramsey that summer. I took this picture today. My old curtains are still there.
Here is where the story gets good. When my little brother, Darrell, was just a toddler, he and I were looking at these curtains one day. I asked him which team was his favorite. He said, “I like the Eagles!”
I looked at him and slapped my hand to my forehead and yelled, “Eagles!” I then feigned a fainting spell, and he just sat there and laughed like only a three-year old can. I sat back up. He looked at me and said, “I like the Eagles!” He looked to see if I was going to faint again. I put on again. He laughed with even more vigor.
My brother Darrell is now 41 years-old and his favorite NFL team has, since that day, been the Philadelphia Eagles. So, you know darn well who I am for.
Fly Eagles Fly!
Speaking the rights…
Danny Johnson