Matthews: Linc Fans Harassed Family
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Matthews: Linc Fans Harassed Family
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Eagles linebacker Casey Matthews, mainly a special teams player in recent weeks, confirmed after practice that he will work in the nickel this week at Miami, along with Keenan Clayton.
Matthews, a fourth-round rookie, said he was eager to get another chance after losing starting roles in the middle and on the weakside. Toward the end of the interview, he was asked about winning over Eagles fans, who reacted with vitriol to his early struggles.
"I'm trying to," Matthews said. "It's hard. One of the earlier games, they harassed my family and made my fiancee cry. It's tough. It's frustrating. That's just how they are here. If you win they love you, so I guess we've just got to turn things around and just start winning again."
Matthews said his fiancee was wearing his jersey, making her easily identifiable. He said she was with "my aunt and my little cousin."
Matthews is the latest straw cluched at by the defensive coaches, who literally have tried every linebacker on the roster in a starting or nickel role, except for Greg Lloyd, promoted recently from the practice squad.
Matthews said he was able to "sit back and get an actual grasp of the defense" after Brian Rolle took his weakside job. Matthews was named the starting middle linebacker in training camp, wiothout ever having taken a snap.
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Two surgery updates from the Eagles: Sfety Colt Anderson underwent an ACL reconstruction and partial meniscectomies in his left knee by Eagles orthopedist Peter DeLuca, of the Rothman Institute.
Linebacker Moise Fokou underwent a repair of his high right ankle sprain by Dr. Steven Raikin, of the Rothman Institute. Fokou’s surgery was performed at Jefferson at the Navy Yard.
Anderson was injured at Seattle on Dec. 1, while Fokou suffered his injury vs. New England on Nov. 27. Both players are currently on the Injured Reserve list.
A few things : Busting on a few chicks and a little kid is NOT cool. Matthews stinks. And Fat Andy is a dunce.— techdiver- he stinks and should not be in the nfl. should have left the family at home to count the undeserved money or at least had the common sense to tell them not to wear the jersey of one of the worst eagles linebackers ever.— psualum
- We were a few feet down from Casey Matthews' family at the Patriot game. His father, the former NFL linebacker, was there. No one bothered them at the game, they seemed to have a good time, and that's the way it should go down. All of you creeps that are supporting their maltreatment are low life a-holes.— Bob1
- Worst thing about the Eagles are the hillbilly skinhead fans at the Linc. Maybe good football knowledge (though probably not) but otherwise dumber than the proverbial bag of hammers.— kierenmcd
- Hey jamarder, I'm going to hit your boyfriend with a purse next time he comes floating out of Dillards.— Sackbutt
- these scum fans ruin it for the rest of us .... disgusting— anthemra
- Way to stay classy Philly. Give the kid a fighting chance!— blueye7
- I don't believe him for a minute. "Matthews said his fiancee was wearing his jersey, making her easily identifiable." GET REAL. What are the chances that the fans would know that she was his fiancee because she had his Jersey on. If that's the cause I was married to Brian Dawkins for 8 years and never knew it. I should at least be getting alimony.— John663
- I never believed he was an NFL caliber Linebacker. I hold no animosity towards him, I do for the coaches and the F.O. that constantly trots out these dodge neons and tell us they are BMWs. That being said, it is truly classless to harass his family and fiancé. He has every right to complain if that is true. Show your disdainby not going to the games or buying he merchandise
- for crying out loud dude! shut the f up, and quit crying. no one wants to hear what you have to say. moron
— Old German - we don't love you if you win. we love you if you play hard and are passionate. regardless of winning. see: buddy ryan, brian dawkins, jeremiah trotter, reggie white, etc....— Ryan
- You know I believe it. People are small there and they just don't get it. It's a game. If the Eagles fans had any nuts, when Casey Matthews comes out they should give him a standing O.— Phillyexp
- Wow. White-trash drunks at an Eagles game spewing hatred and displaying their embarassingly overboard obsession with the local sports team . Shocker!!! Stay classy youz guyz!!!— Sewellmatt
- Don't judge an entire fan base because some drunken Neanderthals act stupid.— mindstorms
