Philly Phile | Eagles need to do what they feel is best for them

Show some cojones ... Make a decision, your own decision, stand by it and stick with it. Others be damned, if need be, including me.

Wouldn’t do it.

Couldn’t do it.

But that’s me.

Not saying it should be the Eagles.

During this fun time of the NFL year, as rumors run rampant, teams wheel and deal, and former stars who have faded seek renewed life elsewhere, it’s easy to get caught up in the latest, greatest and even most outlandish of propositions.
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The current idea of the Eagles moving up in next month’s NFL Draft in order to select North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz may not quite be that, but, if my two cents carried any cachet within the team’s front office, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson and Co. wouldn’t even consider it.

No way. No how.

Not for a largely unknown commodity whose dominance at a lower level of college football actually doesn’t measure up to that displayed by others in the same position at the highest level.

Frankly, am more comfy with thoughts of Sam Bradford, aka Capt. If Only (Insert Your Excuse of Choice), running the Birds’ offense this year, next year and even beyond than the team going out on this foreseeable future-altering limb.

For some reason, Thursday’s inevitable union of Cleveland and injury-prone Robert Griffin III has fanned the flames of this hot take, of the Eagles further muddying their QB waters all for the sake of … what, we’re not really sure.

Perhaps to burn a little more of that tangible entity that owner Jeffrey Lurie doesn’t seem to value all that much: Time.

Not for nothing, but if the organization really has its heart and mind set on winning a championship, it needs to set a course of action and follow it instead of this ping-ponging back and forth with indecision, unable to truly commit to something because, gee, the newest trend or computer printout or opinion claims with unprecedented certainty that something better exists – you know, until it doesn’t.

Thing is, it shouldn’t matter to members of the Eagles’ braintrust what others may think, or prescribe or suggest they ought to do. If they want Wentz, if they’re sold on him and what they think he can be, then they need to do everything in their power to get him – even after reality hits that the Browns actually want to keep their slot at No. 2 … and regardless of the preferences and fears belonging to me, you or anyone else.

Already this offseason, they’ve been talked into re-signing Bradford and rethinking plans of drafting Memphis QB Paxton Lynch, one of the aforementioned highest-level guys whose college production dwarfs that belonging to lower-level Wentz.

The lack of confidence and conviction in, first and foremost, themselves needs to stop.

Show some cojones, Eagles.

​Make a decision, your own decision, stand by it and stick with it. Others be damned, if need be, including me.

Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

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MAY HE REST IN PEACE

He wasn’t an Eagle for very long.

​Nor did he post the type of obscene numbers that can leave a lifelong impression on people.

But Kevin Turner was a good player, apparently a very good teammate and seemingly a great guy who did leave his mark with the Philly NFL franchise’s fan base … and now he will be forever missed.

The former fullback died Thursday at his home in Vestavia Hills, Ala., at the age of 46 as a result of ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), a disease he was diagnosed as having back in 2010. Concussions incurred during his playing days are believed to have contributed to him developing ALS. Linked to that, he had served for years as one of the primary examples of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) being related to playing football, and how the NFL needed to get involved in the battle against it.

Turner, an Alabama native, played for the University of Alabama and, despite serving as a blocking back, managed to register 1,018 rushing yards on a 4.7 per carry clip and haul in 95 passes during his Crimson Tide career. Undersized coming out of college, he still managed to get selected by New England in the third round of the 1992 draft and eventually packed 231 pounds on his 6-1 frame while maintaining some surprising shiftiness.

The Eagles picked him up in 1995 only to have him miss 14 games due to a knee injury. But Turner came back the next season and performed admirably at Ricky Watters’ lead blocker as the latter ran his way to the NFL rushing title. His best season with the Birds was 1997 when he made 48 receptions and set a career high with 5.3 yards per carry. His final season was 1999.

Turner, a divorcee, leaves behind three children. May he rest in peace.