Philadelphia Eagles announce captains for 2017 season

In a post made on the team’s social media pages, the Philadelphia Eagles announced who will handle the captain duties for the 2017 NFL regular season.

The Philadelphia Eagles have had a wide variety of captains. Legends like Brian Dawkins and Donovan McNabb have donned the captain’s patch on their jerseys. It exemplifies the kind of leadership the team expects from its players.

Here’s the official post from the team’s twitter:

This season, the Eagles have five captains. They have two offensive captains, two defensive captains, and one special teams captain. This is as evenly distributed as one could get for an NFL team. Of the captains this season, we have veterans Jason Peters, Malcolm Jenkins, Brandon Graham, and Chris Maragos. The final captain is second-year quarterback Carson Wentz.

These four were givens. Jason Peters has been with the Philadelphia Eagles for eight seasons, holding down the blind side for seven of them. One of my personal favorite moments from him was the time he defended Nick Foles after a cheap shot from former Washington Redskins defensive lineman Chris Baker. It highlighted how loyal Peters is to the Birds.

Breakdown

Next, Malcolm Jenkins has been with the team for three seasons and has solidified himself as a leader both on and off the field. Interestingly enough, he’s one of the more vocal players in the NFL on key social issues. Truly, Jenkins is a leader of men.

Third, Brandon Graham’s six years with the team have been interesting, to say the least. Originally noted as a bust, Graham turned his career around and has now become a force on the defensive line. His leadership on the line has made him one of the best in the game.

Fourth, we have safety Chris Maragos, who has been with the team for three years. While not an every-down player on defense, Maragos has made a name for himself in a different way. On special teams, no one can touch Maragos. Vocally and physically, he’s untouchable.

Finally, we have quarterback Carson Wentz. Of all the players on this list, Wentz jumps off the page the most. Obviously, he will be the backbone of this team’s offense for years to come. Clearly, for a sophomore to earn a captain’s patch means that he has a voice. Interestingly enough, players seem to gravitate towards the guy. Obviously, a quarterback needs to command attention, or else no one will take him seriously. As a result, Wentz earned himself the patch.

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So, the Philadelphia Eagles have five players listed as captains. Obviously, these players highlight what it means to lead in the NFL. For a team like the Eagles, leadership is the key to success. In a vacuum, these picks make sense. Each player provides his own unique perspective on the team. Hopefully, all five players find a way to light a fire under this team.