The clock is ticking, Eagles fans.
On April 30th, the NFL Draft will kick off from Chicago, as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announces the latest class of NFL talent. To make sure that you're all set for when the Eagles are on the clock for the first time, we're counting down each day with look at each number from 100-1 and the significance that the number holds in Eagles history.
Without further ado, let's continue the countdown …
The Eagles have made a few notable picks with the 89th overall draft selection. Linebackers Mel Tom (1966) and Frank LeMaster (1974) were both taken at that spot in the draft, and the duo went on to play a combined 16 years with the Eagles. LeMaster spent his entire nine-year career in Philadelphia, and his 129 games played is the fourth-highest total in Eagles history by a linebacker.
More recently, the Eagles selected Matt Ware with the 89th pick in the 2004 Draft. Ware played just two seasons for the Eagles as a member of the secondary, but he will always be remember for one pivotal special teams play.
Playing against San Diego in Week 7 of the 2005 season, the Eagles were just over two minutes away from dropping the game at home. The Chargers lined up for a late field goal to extend their lead when Quintin Mikell broke free and blocked the kick. A fortuitous bounce landed in Ware's arms, and he ran it back for a 65 yard touchdown to give the Eagles the improbable win.
First Eagle To Wear No. 89: E Henry Piro (1941)
Most Recent Eagle To Wear No. 89: WR B.J. Cunningham (2013)
TE CHAD LEWIS (1997-2005)
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Chad Lewis was on the receiving end of Donovan McNabb's first career touchdown in the NFL as well as arguably McNabb's most important touchdown of his career.
An undrafted tight end out of BYU, Lewis appeared in all 16 games in his rookie season, but injuries led the Eagles releasing him. Lewis was claimed off waivers by the St. Louis Rams in 1999, but he returned to the Eagles later that same year. Lewis was named to the Pro Bowl in three consecutive seasons from 2000-02, as he became a mainstay in the Eagles offense. In the 2004 NFC Championship Game against the Atlanta Falcons, the tight end caught two touchdown passes, including one to seal the Eagles victorys, sending them to their first Super Bowl appearance since 1980.
In all, he spent parts of nine seasons with the Eagles, catching 228 passes and finding the end zone 23 times.
