Macho Harris starting at free safety
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Macho Harris starting at free safety
Bob Brookover
A week ago, rookie Victor "Macho" Harris said he didn't even know he was in the competition for the starting free safety job.
Today, he's the starting free safety.
Quintin Demps, the guy who lost the job to Harris, revealed that news after practice.
"No," Demps said when asked if he was running with the first-team defense. "Macho was."
Demps, in his second season, had been considered the heavy favorite to win the job vacated when Brian Dawkins signed with Denver as a free agent. Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott made it clear last week that the fight for the job was still on and Harris claimed it with a strong performance against the New York Jets in the final preseason game.
"I'm disappointed in myself," Demps said. "I just have to come out and be ready to play my role. I'm on special teams and we're still competing. I'm going to come in and compete every day."
Even though Demps is on special teams, he will not be the primary kick returner, a role he held all of last season. That job now belongs to reserve cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who finished second in the NFL last season when he was playing with New England. Hobbs averaged 28.5 yards per kickoff return.
Demps expressed disappointed about not being named the starter before the Eagles' game against the Jets, but he was much more subdued this afternoon.
"I have to help Macho out as much as I can and be humble about it," Demps said. "It's the National Football League. I had an opportunity, I didn't take advantage of it and I have to take it for what it is."
Let us hope the D back there....actually keeps us with all those WR's that seemed to slip by them in the exhibitions!— KGKoons- Demps sucked. A safety should know how to tackle. Macho on the other hand, knows how to hit.— Eagles Phan in LI
- OH MY! A draft pick named a starter? It's a conspiracy!— vafan
- I am glad demps got put in his place. I did not want to see this position handed to him.— ChampAnderson
Comment removed.- More than half of the team's starters were our draft picks or undrafted rookie free-agent signees.— JimG
- Why did we sign Sean Jones then?— MattKnife
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- Why sign Sean Jones? because nobody at the novacare complex has a crystal ball you idiot, nor knew that Macho was going to win the position. Depth and competition create better players on your team, and having those four safeties in camp pressed the best one to win the job. Most of you Monday morning qb's have no idea how the NFL or college ball is practiced, you only see gametime.— Bleue
- Harris comes from the VT Hokie defense which of course has a great history. I've watched him a lot and think he really is something special!— SpottyBalls
- Wow - this defense is really going to suck. Harris was a corner in college for his first 3 years and then a hybrid corner / safety for his final season. And now he's going to be a starting FS in the NFL as a rookie 5th round draft choice? He may end up being good down the road (I hope he is), but the Eagles might be re-thinking their arrogant decision not to give Dawk the extra $3M. This could be a bottom 5 defense in the NFL this season.— Dean1
- Dean1, Just curious, but are you a Cowboys fan?— don julio
- good job from mcdermot not sticking with demps who showed nothing late last season and this preseason. the way demps whinned this summer he should be traded to the washington deadskins. the champion whinners of the NFL.— JACK V
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