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."
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Zeru77: That plantation stuff is very insulting. I would like to hear Daddy McNabb's opinion of your opinion. I bet he would call it a black on black crime.
Dean1, how dare you! Actually making sense, writing grammatical sentences, and making logical conclusions. This is not how we do things on philly.com. We need to follow the tradition of people who don't know the difference between "your" and "you're," use ad hominem attacks for no reason, and blindly ooh and ahh when GM Joe Banner (that's GOD MASTER JOE BANNER) gives the word. Don't you realize we are the gold standard in the NFL? We have the best roster in the NFL? After all, Joe Banner has done polling to show these facts. And seriously man, DEFENSE? Everybody knows that DEFENSE has never won a Super Bowl in the NFL. Like, DUH!— Phillyrussian7- this team is a JOKE.— MichaelZoe
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- Last season had it's ups and downs, no doubt. Both of the teams in the Super Bowl were beaten by the Eagles in the regular season, as well as the previous season's champion. How can you conclude that can't compete with upper echelon teams when they beat the best teams last season?
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- They are not a consistent upper echelon team. Can they beat very good teams in a one-game situation - absolutely. The top 50% of teams in the NFL can do so. But facts are facts. In '05 and '07, the Eagles were a below average team. In '06, they were a below average team until Garcia went on his run. Upper echelon teams don't lose to the 'Skins twice, tie the Bengals, and lose to the Bears. Upper echelon teams don't miss the playoffs twice in four years with losing records (don't give me the whole 8-8 business in '07). Upper echelon teams aren't consistently outcoached and, more importantly, outadjusted at halftime. In 2004, the Eagles were one of the best teams I've ever seen play in the NFL while TO was healthy. They were awesome, and it was phenomenal to go down there every Sunday to see who the next victim was going to be. Unfortunately, 5 choked in the SB - no other way to slice it. But now (2009), you don't know which team is going to show up from week to week. That's inconsistency, not excellence. Are they better than average? Probably. Are they elite? Not even close.— Dean1
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- the over is looking gud for sunday....the eagles d looks like swiss cheese!— iloveprimerib!
- Hey Dean1, I'll bet you a cheese steak against one of those $12 hotdogs they sell in Dallas that the Birds D is top 10 this year. I'm sure McDermot learned a little something watching JJ and they'll be alright.— JVS
