Top 5 In 2014: Breakout Performers in Philadelphia Sports (Slideshow)

Oct 26, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) celebrates with fans after a 54 yard touchdown during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports

4.) Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin – Eagles

Jeremy Maclin is another player in Philadelphia who gambled on himself and won in a big way. Sidelined by a knee injury for an entire season, Maclin opted to return to the Eagles on a one-year deal in hopes that his performance in 2014 could warrant the type of long-term deal he had his sights set on prior to his setback. Maclin was always a good enough wide receiver that one didn’t ever feel the need to complain about the fact that he was a first round pick. That said, DeSean Jackson was always front-and-center when it came to the Eagles receiving corps before the start of 2014.

While some breakout performances are a player going from unknown to good, Maclin went from good to great. He has already shattered his personal bests in the NFL and has turned into the team’s most reliable, number one receiver in quite some time. He was capable of making every catch, running every route, and showing up in the clutch for the Eagles and did so almost every week. Prior to Nick Foles going down and the Eagles’ vertical passing game with him, Maclin served as a perfectly acceptable deep threat to replace Jackson and what he did for the team. He also happened to be the recipient of what seemed to be Mark Sanchez’s only successful deep ball on his first pass of the game against the Houston Texans after Foles left the game with an injury.

Now, for the speed.

And he has a flare for comedy.

Maclin’s career year: 82 rec, 1,269 yards, 10 TD in 15 games (all at least tie personal bests) has earned him the contract that was seemingly snatched away from him before a single snap of the 2013 season. All signs point to the organization locking him up before a contract dispute becomes a distraction. Maclin is just the type of consummate professional the Eagles locker room seems so fond of and he brings with it a fierce competitiveness. For all of the punches that were pulled by various figures when explaining the Eagles meltdown, Maclin’s honesty and bluntness over the matter was a refreshing change-up from all of the coach speak. Here’s to hoping the Eagles figure out what they want to do at the quarterback position so they can best take advantage of their top outside skill player’s prime of his career.