Kalu: Ryans and Philly Fans Good Fit
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Kalu: Ryans and Philly Fans Good Fit
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Former Eagles and Houston Texans defensive end N.D. Kalu has a sports radio talk show in Houston now, on KILT. Like many Houstonians, Kalu was surprised by the departure of middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans to the Eagles; unlike most Houstonians, Kalu still pulls passionately for the Birds, so he isn't too grief-stricken.
Your Eagletarian thought it might be fun to catch up with N.D. and get his impressions not only of Ryans, his friend and former Texans teammate, but of the differences Ryans will encounter between being a Texans focal point and assuming that role here.
"It's all about football here, but it's about football at all levels," Kalu said. "In Philadelphia, there's no place like it, when you talk about how passionate the fans are, the city is, for the Eagles. I think he's already noticed that just from the one or two days he's been there."
Talk radio in Houston, Kalu said, "is very different. The fans in Philadelphia are very knowledgeable ... there's no filter on the Philadelphia fans. Here, things are a little bit more laid-back. If they're upset with the team, upset with the coaches, it's not quite as intense. They still want to protect the team. Even when the Texans were bad, if you had a host that would continue to berate the Texans, people would call in and say, 'hey, give 'em another chance, we haven't had football since the Oilers left.' ... People in Philly are going to let you know right away when they're not happy with you."
Kalu, a staunch supporter of Eagles coach Andy Reid, said "it blows my mind" that Reid might be facing a make-or-break year. Texans fans, who finally saw their team win a playoff game last season "would trade places with Philadelphia (organizationally) in a heartbeat," he said.
Kalu said the salary-cap dictated Texans moves this offseason, moves that include the departures of defensive end Mario Williams, offensive tackle Eric Winston and Ryans, have engendered "a lot of panic here with the fans."
Kalu called Ryans 'the heartbeat of the defense," and added: "This is a guy, when he was a rookie, and I was in the huddle with him, it just felt like he was older than I was. I almost wanted to call him 'sir,' and I was 10 years his senior. That really hurt, seeing that guy leave, even when people understood that he didn't fit Wade Phillips' system -- there was no reason why he only played (58) percent of the plays last year ... He's still a great middle linebacker. I think that really hurt the town more (than Williams and Winston) leaving, because he was not only a great football player but a great person."
From the outside, one would think losing Willliams to the Bills in free agency would be a much bigger deal. But Kalu said that Williams, a great player, was a less-beloved figure, that fans never quite felt he lived up to his No. 1 overall draft status. (Maybe they aren't so different from us, after all.)
Kalu said he feels Ryans is just fine in the wake of the Achilles' tendon injury, looked like himself by the end of the 2011 season. Kalu recalled that ex-Eagles teammate Derrick Burgess had the best years of his career after coming back from such a tear, in 2003. Burgess later appeared in two Pro Bowls for the Raiders.
Kalu also had a rationale for why the price -- a fourth-round pick and an exchange of thirds -- seemed so reasonable.
"The main reason for that trade was, they didn't want to trade him in the division," Kalu said. "Jacksonville, Tennessee, Indianapolis -- they'd love to have DeMeco Ryans, and they probably would have given up more to give him, but they didn't want him in the division, and they wanted to make sure he went to a place he would fit in. I think they were trying to look out for him, because they have that much respect for him."
Kalu said when he heard of the deal, he texted Ryans: "YES!!!!" Kalu hasn't played for the Birds since 2005, but "whenever the Eagles play, if they lose, it just ruins my whole day. If they win, I feel good all day ... That only happens with the Philadelphia Eagles" although Kalu also played for the Redskins and Texans.
Poll: Will Ryans make a huge difference as an Eagles LB?
hey jb99 have you ever won anything?— dwilly- I'm just upset there's no more Evan Mathis stories...— rolo 9
- We just replaced Juan C.!!!!— SkipinWV
- If Ryans gets back to form, he will mean more to the Eagles than Manning will to the Broncos.— banned
- jb99. go root for the cowboys or the redskins. jerk.— coachbarnes10
- I don't know where the idea that Andy Reid is in a make or break year is comining from. It's ridiculous. Getting rid of Reid now would be beyond dumb. He know has the players and coaching staff to make this work. This is the first time that all of the pieces will be there and the Eagles will be a favorite to win the Super Bowl. Yeah, now is the time to dump Reid, bring in a new coach who will want "his staff" and "his type of players" for a new scheme. It would be an all time Philly bonehead move. Tripping over the finish line. Reid will be here for years to come if he chooses to be.— MikeP
- Man there are always haters on here.— urbnasty
- Man, I love watching defensive plays. I know offense is fun, but DEFENSE is another monster altogether. I can't wait to see the Eagles, especially my man Psycho Jason Babin
teeing off on opposing teams. LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLet's Get Ready to Rumbllllllllllllllle!— WantToKnow - Oh man, I really like Juan Castillo, too. I am glad the Eagles stuck with him. He is a beast! You put a club in his hands as the Eagles seem to have finally done, and then see what this man can do. It is going to back to basic hard nosed Eagles defense. You can trust me. I am an Eagles fan.— WantToKnow
- Honestly i see progress with reid. I think he would admit he doesnt have the best track record with draft picks. That might be his biggest downfall. Thats why i say if you want a receiver go round 1 or round 2. Im not saying you cant find someone in lower rounds but reid isnt that good in that area. We have a great team, and its been that way for a really long time. But you cant short change key positions. WR, QB, MLB. These positions reid didnt really address like he should and thats why we still have not won a superbowl. We run the ball more now so thats a start. But we def could run the ball more. Our QB needs shorter passes that allow him to get the ball out quicker. We need another physical receiver. Someone with the potential of being our number1 receiver down the line. I dont see Desean or Maclin being our number 1 receivers. You cant short change key positions.— Yes_General
- Reid has the worst 1-3 round draft record in the past 4 years? Wasn’t Jackson drafted in 2008 and McCoy and Maclin in 2009? The last playoff win was in January 2009 not 2008, sounds like your mind is dismissing facts jb99— MichaelMore
- Two questions and one point why i can think this team can seriously contend for a SB. 1. Up until last year, has Juan Castillo ever lead a defense at any level? It was dumbest appointment ever in pro football next to Kotite being HC. And now it is being compounded by the fact he is still here. If he was fired, do you think he would ever be considered for DC job anywhere at any level? 2. Has Pee Wee Roseman ever played football, EVER, at any level? He probably never played in his back yard growing up, yet he is the GM and top talent evaluator, INSANE! 3. Because Reid is an egomaniac, control freak, he choose NOT to have a head of player personnel, probably because he is better at that job than anyone else in this universe. Hence i sell 3/4 of my season tickets every year.
GoBirds!— gobirds17 - why i cant— gobirds17
