Eagles re-sign King Dunlap
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Eagles re-sign King Dunlap
Jonathan Tamari and Jeff McLane
The Eagles re-signed tackle King Dunlap to a one-year contract, the team announced.
Dunlap has played in 38 games over the past three seasons, with seven starts, and has developed into a versatile backup they can depend on when one of their top linemen is injured. He has started at both tackle spots and even filled in one game at guard in 2011.
The 6-foot-9 Dunlap also blocked a field goal against the 49ers last season.
Dunlap, an unrestricted free agent, said he received a few offers from other teams, but that he ultimately wanted to stay in Philadelphia.
"It wasn't too hard of a decision," Dunlap said by phone.
After parting ways with Winston Justice and Jamaal Jackson, bringing back Dunlap gives the Eagles some depth behind their starters.
Selected in the seventh round of the 2008 draft, the 6-foot-9 Dunlap spent his first season on injured reserve and played primarily on special teams during his second season. But he earned his first career start at left tackle in 2010 in place of Jason Peters and would log starts at right tackle and left guard over the next two seasons.
"When I first came into the league Juan Castillo told me that the more positions I knew how to play the more chance I had of staying on a roster," Dunlap said.
When Howard Mudd replaced Castillo as offensive line coach last year Dunlap's chances of making the team appeared to be in jeopardy. Mudd's blocking techniques sometimes favor smaller players and Dunlap, like several other linemen, struggled to adapt early on.
"There were a couple of us that really had trouble adjusting because we had been doing it Juan's way for so long," Dunlap said. "But I think I really started to get it down sometime during the season."
Even though the Eagles starting line -- tackles Jason Peters and Todd Herremans, guards Evan Mathis and Danny Watkins and center Jason Kelce -- is signed at least through 2014, Dunlap said that all it takes is one injury to play.
"Everybody wants a crack at starting," Dunlap said. "But injuries happen, and as the sixth man, I have to be ready."
When's the parade start? Finally, the missing piece to the superbowl puzzle.— jimmymack- I am a little surprized he could find a better gig than one year with us.— CDR Little
- he couldn't find another gig because the rest of the NFL knows he can't play.
— coloradoeagle - Well it does add depth which is good.— urbnasty
- Hes a backup.every guy cant be a pro bowler.u guys will complain about ANYTHING!!— Sean s.
- I think it's great. Some of you people don't understand football. Dunlap can play solidly at both tackle spots. He can even play guard. He's a very valuable reserve player to have. It's not so easy to develop competent O-linemen. Awesome move.— soulman386
- actually, if you watched him play last year he looked really good. I was suprised he played well the game he started at guard. He started out slow and admitetly has looked bad at times but he can play 4 o-line positions and has improved a lot. Good depth move— 09
- I'm good with this. With Justice gone we needed someone to step in at tackle in case of injury, and Dunlap has done alright. We need to develop some more young guys asides from Vandervelde.— PHLtoLAX
- If anybody can coach him up it's Mudd.— Paul SoTX
- Long live the KING!— RealizticFan
- Key is that he has consistently improved with coaching and playing time...now a perfectly serviceable back-up who has the potential to break out based on his measurables. Decent move.— jmk1512
- a non talent for a body count...who cares...it does not get us any closer to the playoffs...— nuggett
- 09 has it right. Dunlap is a guard, not a tackle. He is too big & slow to play tackle.— march951
- So what happen to Jamal Jackson? Some Eagles fans swore the Eagles line could not survive with out Jamal.
— Dexter - Dunlap should be a solid backup for multiple positions. This is a good move.— billtfla
