Philadelphia Eagles: It’s time to bring LeSean McCoy home
With LeSean McCoy’s tenure in Kansas City officially over, the Philadelphia Eagles should bring back their all-time leading rusher for one final run in midnight green.
After finally reaching the ultimate heights of a Super Bowl win, LeSean McCoy‘s reunion with the man who drafted him, ex-Philadelphia Eagles head coach/GM Andy Reid, is officially over.
Granted, said reunion was never meant to be last more than a one year, as McCoy only signed a one-year, $4 million contract to join the Kansas City Chiefs in 2019, but by signing DeAndre Washington – a college teammate of Patrick Mahomes at Texas Tech – it looks like Reid and company have officially moved on.
And as for McCoy? Well, for the second straight spring, it looks like the over-30 running back will be looking for a new home in the NFL.
More from Philadelphia Eagles
- 4 Eagles on the Bubble Who Have Clinched Their 53-Man Roster Spots
- Best Pennsylvania Sportsbook Promos: Win $650 GUARANTEED Bonus PLUS $100 off NFL Sunday Ticket
- 3 Punters the Eagles Must Target to Replace Arryn Siposs
- Cowboys Trey Lance Trade Proves How Screwed They Are With Dak Prescott
- Devon Allen Took Britain Covey’s Job on Eagles
How about an old one?
As you may or may not know, Howie Roseman has tried a number of times to bring McCoy back to Philly since returning to power in 2016, first in 2017 as part of the Jordan Matthews trade, and again in 2018, at the trade deadline. The Eagles even showed some interest in McCoy when he was released by the Buffalo Bills in 2019, but opted against a reunion after drafting Miles Sanders in the 2019 NFL Draft.
With the soon-to-be-32-year-old running back’s career all-but-certainly deep into its third act, this very well may be his final chance to latch on with an NFL team, let alone return to the city that made him a star.
Is McCoy’s skill set a bit redundant with that of Sander? Maybe so, but you can never have too much of a good thing, right? Like Sanders, McCoy is a wizard at getting open in a zone-blocking scheme, with an uncanny ability to stop on a dime and make would-be tacklers miss.
You don’t go with a Twitter handle like “CutonDime25” unless you are a bad, bad dude in space.
McCoy has also been one of the more effective receiving backs since entering the NFL in 2009, even if it’s not his calling card – having amassed 3,797 receiving yards on 503 catches. If the Eagles opt to finally go all-in on the screen game in 2020, McCoy could give Duce Staley – his former teammate – a third viable receiver out of the backfield to take the heat off of Sanders and Boston Scott.
Speaking of Sanders and Scott, could you think of a better elder statesman to teach them what it takes to be a running back in our fair city than McCoy? There’s a reason no player has worn the number 25 since McCoy was unceremoniously shipped out-of-town by Chip Kelly in 2014: He’s one of the most prolific running backs in Eagles history.
As things presently stand, McCoy holds the record for most rushing yards in a season at 1,607, most rushing yards in a game at 217, most touchdowns in a season at 17, and most touchdowns in a game at three. McCoy also ranks fifth in attempts in a season at 314, fourth in 100-yard games at six, and second in career rushing attempts at 1,461 – four short of Wilbert Montgomery‘s all-time record.
Oh yeah, McCoy is also the all-time leading rusher in Eagles history with 6,792 career rushing yards, how could I forget?
While McCoy could help Sanders and Scott work on the finer aspects of their game, and spell either player in their specific role, a reunion with the team that drafted him could do just as much to cement the 53rd overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft’s football legacy.
I mean think about it? Is there a better narrative in sports than a prodigal son returning home for one final season? My goodness, that would be fantastic.
Next. Darren Sproles is underappreciated. dark
In a Facebook Live interview with team insider Dave Spadaro, Howie Roseman lamented that the Philadelphia Eagles still need help at running back after the first wave of free agency. While drafting a mid-round dude with whatever skill set the team desires is the most obvious – and cost-effective – way to address this need, why not make a splash and go a different route? For how diminished his talents may be from his prime glory, signing LeSean McCoy would generate a bigger pop than any move available to the Eagles at this point in the season – and could provide fans with something to look forward to in these otherwise dreary time.