By Sam Bush
The Eagles 2014 season may have crashed and burned since Thanksgiving, making this Sunday’s game at the Giants meaningless, but five Birds will taste the postseason in Phoenix on Jan. 25
Left tackle Jason Peters will go to his seventh Pro Bowl, and fifth as an Eagle; running back LeSean McCoy will go to his third; and linebacker Connor Barwin (photo above), center Jason Kelce and return man Darren Sproles will all go to their first.
The Pro Bowl will be played Jan. 25, 2015 at University of Phoenix Stadium, one week before the Super Bowl.
Peters becomes the 13th Eagle and first tackle in team history to earn five Pro Bowl selections. His seven overall Pro Bowls, two with Buffalo, could have Hall of Fame considerations when he is finished playing.
“I take it year by year,” Peters said. “I’m going to work and try to be the best player I can be every year. I just show up and play.”
McCoy, who is fifth in the league in rushing, tied Timmy Brown and Bill Barnes, as three-time Eagles Pro Bowl running backs.
“It means a lot,” McCoy said. “It means a lot for my fellow teammates and guys helping me out getting back in the Pro Bowl. You know, it’s a blessing that some people might take for granted.
Barwin, who is fourth in the NFL in sacks with 14 1/2, is the first Eagles linebacker to go to a Pro Bowl since Jeremiah Trotter in 2005.
“I think it’s a huge honor,” Barwin said. “It’s special because of the recognition from your peers, the coaches and the fans.”
Kelce becomes the first Eagles’ center since Jim Ringo went in 1967. He wasn’t as happy as his teammates.
“It’s obviously a tremendous honor to be voted into the Pro Bowl,” Kelce, who missed four games with a sports hernia said. “It doesn’t change things, it doesn’t change the fact that the season is very frustrating and for me personally I don’t put too much of a huge deal onto this. I think these individual accolades really, in the grand scheme of things, don’t mean too much.”
Sproles, the NFL’s punt return leader with a 13.7-yard average is the third Eagles retiurnman to go to a Pro Bowl following DeSean Jackson (2010) and Wally Henry (1980).
“It means a lot,” Sproles said. “It doesn’t mean as much as going to the Super Bowl, but it is an honor. This is an honor that should go to the guys up front, too. They did a great job for me.”
