As big as his two interceptions were last week against the Browns, safety Kurt Coleman earned a lot of respect in the locker room for his toughness after bouncing back from the hit doled out by running back Trent Richardson.
"I think this was powerful. I went up to Kurt and I told him, 'Kurt, I respect you so much.' To get hit like that and the guy doesn't come out it's unbelievable. I just went up to him and I said, 'I respect you so much for the way you handle (yourself).' He says, 'Juan, I have a daughter to support. I have a family to support.' You know what, that says a lot. That tells you right now what he's all about (and) what he's thinking about," defensive coordinator Juan Castillo said.
Typically, Coleman's college resume would have been worthy of an early-round draft pick. He was a three-year starter at Ohio State. He earned first-team Big 10 honors and was a team captain as a senior. Some publications named him an All-American.
However, teams had a hard time looking past his 5-11, 195-pound frame. The Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 2010 NFL Draft. He took over for an injured Nate Allen as a starter late in the season and was one of the starters for the playoff game against Green Bay. In 2011, the Eagles drafted Jaiquawn Jarrett in the second round with the intent to brush Coleman aside. Didn't happen. Coleman had his struggles, but started 13 games and earned NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors for his three-interception game against Washington.
Coleman's perseverance was rewarded with Sunday's outstanding performance. The second of his two picks sealed the win for the Eagles.
"Kurt's a strong man of his faith. He just pushed everybody aside who has doubted him and has used it as motivation," said Allen. "He works hard. He does all the right things on and off the field and it shows."
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