Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Patrick Robinson is football’s Rodney Dangerfield

For the most part, Patrick Robinson has played well so far this season for the Philadelphia Eagles.

To understate the matter, Philadelphia Eagles fans and observers weren’t exactly wild about the notion of going into this season with Patrick Robinson at cornerback. Dave Zangaro wrote on March 28, for example: “Robinson, now 29, was the 32nd overall pick in 2010 out of Florida State, but has never had more than four interceptions in a season.”

There was zero discussion among my fellow Iggles fans about Robinson.

On Aug. 1, Matt Lombardo wrote, “If the first week of training camp is any indication, Robinson doesn’t appear to be much of an upgrade over the likes of Leodis McKelvin and Nolan Carroll….”

Later in August, when the Eagles traded for Ronald Darby and Robinson was unceremoniously moved into his current slot coverage position, Aaron Kasinitz opined: “Robinson entered training camp fighting to extend his career, and the battle to cling onto his NFL life grew more tricky last week.”

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As the season began, local fans I know steadfastly continued to rank Robinson below crickets, but just above street repairs as an interest.

Then, a funny thing happened on the way to the best record in football, which the Eagles grabbed a little before midnight in the East on Oct. 19 with some help from the Oakland Raiders. Robinson became the second highest rated cornerback in football, according to Pro Football Focus. He trailed only the Cleveland Browns’ Jason McCourty (92.0 to 91.5) and was also the ninth best-rated among all defensive team leaders.

Even there, however, PFF seemed to have a different opinion on Robinson, noting that he had played “phenomenally well,” but that his level of play was “unsustainable.” His status as Philadelphia’s best cornerback was “due to injury” to others. One assumes this means PFF somehow knows Darby would have had better numbers than Robinson if he had played six games. For the record, Robinson’s figures now are six passes defended, two interceptions, and 22 tackles (three assisted).

Next: 3 questions for Eagles Week 7 matchup against Redskins

This should remind you of Rodney “It Ain’t Easy Bein’ Me” Dangerfield.

However, who’s to say the Eagles moving Robinson to slot corner won’t elevate his game permanently? Maybe that Philadelphia expert at Pro Football Focus, like Dangerfield, will have to eventually admit he looked up his family tree and found out he’s the sap.