Freak Out

As expected, the Eagles cut ties with DE Jevon Kearse.

 

Kearse was probably the second highest profile free agent ever signed by the Eagles, and is a strong rebuttal to those who complain that the Eagles don’t pursue big-name players, spend lots of their cap money on free agents, or seek what they believe to be the final pieces of a super bowl pie. In inimitable Philadelphia fashion, fans are ripping the Eagles and Kearse for being a bust. The same ones who demanded they make a run at him four years ago, and no doubt the same fans clamoring for an “impact” player signing now.

 

By the stats, Kearse’s Eagles career will go down as a disappointment. But what won’t be easily discernible is his impact on the Eagles defense. Kearse was one of the most versatile defenders in the league. He was a fearsome speed pass rusher, had the size of a linebacker, and the speed of a defensive back. The “Freak” nickname was well-deserved. Most tellingly, he played the “Joker” position (i.e., the jack of all trades) in Jim Johnson’s defense and was one of the few players that the team didn’t even dress in the last meaningless games during the 2004 super bowl season, which is the most tangible evidence of the importance the coaches put on his play.

 

What also won’t be recognized is that Kearse’s career was cut short because of Andy Reid’s boneheaded play calling against the Giants in game 2 of the 2006 season. In the first two games, Kearse looked really, really good. But the Eagles couldn’t hold their big lead against the Giants – cause Reid didn’t believe in running the clock or the capability to call a successful 3^rd and short play - and the game went into overtime where Kearse suffered the devastating knee injury that lead directly to today’s personnel move.

 

ACL’s are often a two year recovery. Kearse suffered an ACL tear, along with ripping two other knee ligaments. Even with that limited mobility, Kearse played a major role in the goal line stand versus the Redskins last year that kept the game close and allowed the Eagles to steal at the end. Here’s hoping that he catches on with an AFC team and returns to a competitive level. Even half a Jevon Kearse is better than a majority of defensive ends in the game right now.

 

The Freak indeed.