Cole: Birds 'inches away from being great'
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagles Blog
Cole: Birds 'inches away from being great'
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
HARRISBURG -- It sure seemed like an inordinate number of Giants fans were filing past today, as Eagles defensive end Trent Cole signed T-shirts for charity and promoted his hunting enterprises in the Lancaster Archery booth at the Eastern Sports and Outdoors Show, the largest such event in North America.
Considering their team had won the Super Bowl less than 48 hours earlier, and the NFC East rival Eagles didn't make the playoffs, the blue-clad New York followers weren't too obnoxious. Then again, they were addressing a 270-pound, two-time Pro Bowl pass rusher separated from them only by a folding table, not some dumpy fellow fan in midnight green.
"They didn't stop. They finished strong, and that's what it's all about," Cole said, when asked his thoughts on the Giants winning Super Bowl XLVII. "We finished strong as well, but it didn't work out (to make the playoffs)."
Cole acknowledged he was pulling for the Patriots on Sunday, that a New England victory wouldn't have stung quite as much as seeing the Lombardi Trophy go to a team from the division, a team the Eagles beat at MetLife Stadium back on Nov. 21, six days before the Birds were crushed at the Linc by the Pats.
"We had a bad year. We just couldn't pull it off at the last minute," Cole said. "We were right there, inches away from being great, being a dominant team. I think some teams are going to be worried about playing us" in 2012.
Cole, an Eagle since 2005, said he is glad to see Eagles coach Andy Reid back for a 14th season, glad to see defensive coordinator Juan Castillo get a second chance, glad defensive line coach Jim Washburn and the "Wide 9" didn't get swept away in a tidal wave of disappointment over missing the playoffs.
"I think it's a great choice," he said, when asked about Castillo. "Numbers don't lie, and we put up some great numbers.
"If you can feed into (Washburn's) teachings, you'll do well. You've got to believe in what he teaches. Come off hard, fast. When you come off your stance, be an eruption."
Almost as many people filing past the booth wanted to discuss hunting as were interested in football. Cole, who grew up as a hunter in rural Xenia, Ohio, has a TV show available on DIRECTV, in which, he says, "ordinary, everyday working people" go hunting, mostly for whitetail deer. He is selling DVDs at the show, but also is selling for charity autographed T-shirts emblazoned with his "Blitz TV" logo, at $10 a pop. Cole is at the booth through tomorrow afternoon.
Hunting, Cole said, is "a calm place where all the BS stops."
He said he pursues all types of hunting but prefers bowhunting because it's more challenging than pulling the trigger of a gun.
"You've got an intricate machine in your hand, with a lot of bells and whistles," he said. "When that moment of truth comes and that game comes up on you, everything's got to be right. You've got to really focus. ... It's just like football, it's all repetition."
"Teams are going to be worried about us....." Trent with all due respect for you, you've got be kidding.— olddog- You see, that's why the Tonner dislikes this team so much. They flap their gums like they've won something when all they've done is bought into their own hype. Give the Tonner a break. Put Bobby Abreu, Scott Rolen and Mike Lieberthal on this team and the Tonner would swear it's the no-heart-having early 2000 Phillies. What a bunch of overpaid mongrels.
- How can this guy use the term "great" so often? Lurie spent millions to build a killer defense, one that was supposed to play its best with a lead. Instead, they lost 5 4th quarter leads. Unless Cole was referring to them as great losers, he has me totally confused.
- The Eagles weren't inches away from being dominant. They came close to going 10-6 and getting in the playoffs, where they probably would have not won three in a row.
Teams will pay less attention to the Eagles next year, and that will work in our favor.— armchairGM - I wish you were right, but with the odd makers in Vegas saying that the eagles have a 6-1 chance on winning the superbowl. I don't think they will fall under the radar.
— radicaleaglesfan - Your team should be proud. Clearly, they're better than the Giants, and the Giants won the Super Bowl. Ergo, your team is the best in the league. Why isn't this obvious to everybody?— COskier
- No offense Trent, your a great DE and all, but your clearly on drugs, this team blows with Reid as coach, as evidenced by 13 years of not winning a SB.— jamarder
- "We were right there, inches away from being great, being a dominant team. I think some teams are going to be worried about playing us"
The Eagles entire medical staff should be fired. It is quite obvious that Trent Cole has an undiagnosed severe concussion.— riles1875 - Trent is about 80 points in IQ away from being rational.— jimmymack
- "We were right there, inches away from being great, being a dominant team". I think the inches that Mr. Cole is referring to, is the 60 inch waistline of Jabba the Reid!
— younged - haha...eagles and greatness don't mix...inches away?...haha...i've been buying this line of b.s. for 45 years...get out while you can people...it's good to see there are only nine comments...maybe people are finally wising up around here— 1stamendment
- Verge of greatness my arse - Cole is one of the few 'players' on this team and i thank him for his efforts - BUT STOP with the propaganda! They are running in place!
Jeffrey Lurie, please sell the team to someone who will fire Reid and bring in football people to run the FO.
Sincerely,
An educated and tired Eagle Fan (who doesn't boo or start fights with opposing fans).— sore richard - Since the decision has been made to bring back Reid and Castillo, I think that it is better for him to be a yes man and try to go into the OTA's with cohesion and optimism. He could have said otherwise if he had felt so but it would not have been smart.— nceagle
- Actions— Sean s.
