We've reached the midway point of this week, which means the Eagles are just four days away from their game against the Bills. Get caught up on all the latest Eagles content in the December 9th edition of the Read-Option ...
RB Mathews "Optimistic" About Sunday - Dave Spadaro
"Running back Ryan Mathews was a full participant in training on Tuesday and said he was "optimistic" about playing on Sunday against visiting Buffalo. Mathews has missed the last three games after suffering a concussion in the 20-19 loss to Miami.
'I felt good. I was happy to be back out there with my teammates. My legs were a little rusty, but I was happy,' Mathews said. 'I'm feeling good, I'm feeling good. I just have to take it day by day and just do what I can. I'm really optimistic about it and whatever the coaches and the training staff have planned for me, that's it.'
Mathews has 427 rushing yards on 75 carries this season and is averaging a lusty 5.7 yards per carry with five touchdowns. He's also caught 14 passes for 119 yards and a touchdown.
'I want to get back out there and inspire all of my teammates,' Mathews said. 'It's all about having fun. I've got to take it slow. I haven't played and ran and done stuff in a few weeks. I've got to break it in.'
Mathews said he was patient with the team's athletic training staff during his recovery, which turned out to be longer than many concussions. Now that he is cleared to take part in training, Mathews wants to make sure the rest of his body is ready to go for Buffalo.
'It's amazing how the speed can change and how fast it is,' Mathews said. 'You take a few days off, a week off, a couple of weeks off and come back and it's fast. You've got to get the timing down and really just get your legs back under you.'"
Tweets Of The Day
Jimmy Fallon gave the Eagles a shoutout after their win over New England ...
Malcolm Jenkins was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week ...
The Best Of Fletcher Cox
The Eagles and DT Fletcher Cox have agreed to terms on a six-year extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through 2022...
DE Fletcher Cox was drafted by the Eagles in 2012 out of Mississippi State
In 2012, Cox had 5.5 sacks which tied for the team lead
Cox led all Eagles defensive lineman with 65 tackles in 2012
In 2013, Cox led the team with 21 QB pressures and finished the season with 66 tackles (44 solo)
Cox earned second-team All-Pro by The Associated Press and All-NFC honors from the PFWA in 2014
Cox notched career highs in 2015 with 104 tackles, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles
In 2015, Cox earned his first Pro Bowl selection
Cox became the first Eagle eveer and first NFL player since 2007 to record three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in a game in 2015
In 2015, Cox also received the Ed Block Courage Award, which is named after Ed Block, long-time head trainer for the Baltimore Colts
Ed Block Courage Award recipients are often players who have overcome devastating injuries or tragedies and have returned to top-level competition in the NFL
Ed Block Courage Award: Fletcher Cox - Alex Smith
"On Wednesday morning, the Eagles announced defensive end Fletcher Cox as the recipient of their 2015 Ed Block Courage Award, as voted by the players inside the Eagles' locker room.
The Ed Block Courage Award is named after Ed Block, a long-time head trainer for the Baltimore Colts and a respected humanitarian dedicated to helping children. Recipients are often players who have overcome devastating injuries or tragedies in their personal lives to return to top-level competition in the NFL.
Cox is having the best year of his career in a season that he's dedicated to his late brother, Shaddrick, who passed away in January at the age of 34, the man that Cox considers his father figure. No big decision was made in Fletcher's life without counsel from his older brother. In honor of his brother, Cox devoted his 2015 season to him and the family he left behind.
Cox had a remarkable 2014 season, earning second-team All-Pro honors, but he's followed that up with an even better 2015 campaign. Through 12 games, Cox leads the team with 24 quarterback pressures, is tied for the team lead with three forced fumbles and ranks tied for second on the team with 5.5 sacks. Additionally, Cox was named NFC Defensive Player of the Week following a Week 5 win vs. New Orleans after collaring a career-high three sacks of Saints QB Drew Brees. In the contest, he also became the first NFL player since 2007 to record three sacks, two forced fumbles and one fumble recovery in one game.
A mechanic, Shaddrick imparted on Fletcher his passion for automobiles. 'Losing my brother had to be one of the hardest things that I've faced as a young man,' said Cox, who now tries to serve as a father figure to his 7-year old nephew, T.J."
NFC East Up For Grabs
Other Views
McCoy On Life After The Eagles - Jeff McLane, Philadelphia Inquirer
"'I don't know how it will go Sunday but I got all respect for them,' McCoy said of Eagles fans. 'My years I was there, they were real loyal to me. I've got nothing but love for them. But we'll see how it happens.'
Eagles fans have serenaded former players, such as Brian Dawkins and Donovan McNabb, who have returned wearing different uniforms. But when the game starts, all bets were off. Stopping McCoy, who might be the hottest running back in the NFL, will be paramount for the 5-7 Eagles. ...
McCoy said he comes back to Philly often. He still has a home here and, of course, friends. He still has fans, too.
'I see how the fans are in Philadelphia. I like them. They're true fans. They may like players, but they're so loyal to the franchise and that's how it should be,' McCoy said. 'I'm used to them yelling, screaming, hollering, but maybe booing here and there. But I know how they are as true fans.'"
When Culture Pays Off - Josh Paunil, Birds 24/7
"Chris Maragos started laughing, leaving the reporter before him baffled. The Eagles had just come off of a shocking win over the Patriots, and a horde of reporters left the man who blocked a punt alone in front of his locker.
A new reporter stepped in, and asked the question that would elicit laughter: How did you beat one of the best teams in the NFL, after being blown out by the Lions and Buccaneers?
'I know it's like a code word now,' Maragos said, now calm in his words, 'but we really have a great culture. Guys care for each other. The coaches care for the players; the players care for the coaches. And we kept trusting the process. I think we have a really resilient group.'
Maragos isn't wrong, of course; at least about how "culture" has taken on a life of its own. Since Chip Kelly said 'culture will beat scheme every day' last season, the phrase has become an unofficial slogan in Philadelphia.
According to players, however, you're now seeing the pay off of Kelly's culture emphasis and the changes he made to the roster.
'Absolutely,' Brandon Bair said. 'That's the goal of any team: you want to come together when things get tough. If you're coming apart when things get tough, then what kind of a team is that?'"
