Cunningham makes SI's 'Thrill List'
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Cunningham makes SI's 'Thrill List'
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
SI.com has named its 'Thrill List' for each sport.
The list is defined as "all-time bests at quickening the pulse and evoking a visceral response from those fortunate enough to have witnessed their artistry."
The Eagles are represented at No. 4 with Randall Cunningham.
Writes Peter King:
You know what I remember most about Randall? A 93-yard punt! True story. He punted it that far against the Giants while with the Eagles, pinned in their own territory on third down. A booming punt and a long roll. And how how about the time Carl Banks had him a quarter-inch from a roll-out sack ... and Cunningham popped up and threw for a touchdown. Strange guy, amazing player.
What's your favorite Cunningham memory?
I'll always remember him escaping a safety in his own end zone against the Bills and finding Fred Barnett for a touchdown. I was first discovering my love of football when Cunningham was in his Eagles prime, and that's the play that stands out.
Below is a grainy YouTube video of the play.
In case you're wondering, Bo Jackson is also listed at No. 4 on the NFL list. The top three are Deion Sanders, Barry Sanders and Gale Sayers at No. 1
Who are the most exciting players in the game today? Adrian Peterson? Larry Fitzgerald? You tell me.
And on a sidenote, I'll be having Lasik surgery Friday afternoon so you might not get any MTC updates for a couple days. But as soon as I can see again, I'll be back on blogging.
After all, rookies report to training camp in just 16 days.
Comments (46)
Great Randall memory Sheil. I was at that game in Buffalo. Still one of the greatest plays I've ever seen. Thanks for the vid!— StopThePanic- I can watch that Buffalo play all day. Ridiculous.— aa2or
- Totally remember that play against the Bills...it was amazing. Good luck on the laser eye surgery. If you're getting the bladeless version, you'll be seeing fast. I was able to see slightly better the instant it was over and by the next morning already had 20/20 vision.— JimG
I wasn't at the game but I remember that play like it was yesterday. The punt. The TD against the Giants in the Monday night game at the Vet. Great memories. Ah, what he could have done if he had an o line...— wokmaster
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- Most of these lists are junk, but the thrill lists are fun. Brian Westbrook deserves consideration. Ed Reed makes my list. Devin Hester is a great returner, but I don't find his returns thrilling. Jerry Rice taking a slant 40 yards was fun. Butkus was worth the price of admission. Larry Fitzgerald is impressive, but I don't think of him as thrilling. Got to agree with King that Gale Sayers and Barry Sanders were the ones to watch. Jeremy Maclin was my favorite college player in 2008.— tacklinjoe
- Randall was one of THE BEST QBs the Eagles have EVER had! He was exciting to watch! If only he could've one us a Super Bowl! I still watched him when he paired with Cris Carter and Randy Moss in Minnesota.
- When will this brother ever get his due as one of the greatest atheletes ever to play the game. I don't own many jerseys of players, but RC is one I have framed on a wall. This guy made plays that Vick could have made but never did. Cunningham should be in the hall of fame. It is not his fault he never had a qb coach, a number one receiver, number one running back, and in MN a kicker whow was perfect all season miss his first fg in the NFC championship game. RC you are the man and you actually made me a fan of the NFL for life. Love you brother and God bless you.— ddstman
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- Thanks for the kind words about the Lasik, and keep sharing Randall memories. Fun to read through. No need to turn this into a Donovan vs. Randall string. We can appreciate both. And good call to tacklinjoe who mentioned Ed Reed. We often forget to include defensive players on lists like this. -- SK— skapadia
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- Great choice of Gale Sayers -- every time the guy touched the ball, it was a highlight film waiting to happen. One of the great "what-ifs" of sports: if Sayers hadn't been injured and ended his career early, what would the NFL record book look like?— J H
- Lonewolf - Randall had a better defense than Jimmy Johnson's. He needed an o line and a QB coach. Did Wilma McNabb just say you post the same boring stuff every day? Perhaps she should reread some of her posts over the last 6 months. LMAO.— wokmaster
- Loneidiot That Eagles team could have been good enough to win a super bowl but in my oppion It would have been Donovan at Qb fact is Howeird Forskin said it best YOUR NEVER GOING TO WIN A CHAMIONSHIP WITH A BROKEN PLAY OFFENCE! And that is what that team was I didn't relize it until watching the dog killer and the Falcons but he was right. And no disrespect to J.J but do even remember that defence they went #1 across the board- sacks, points allowed,etc... They had Reggie White R.I.P, Jerome Brown R.I.P, Andre Waters R.I.P, Mike Golic,Clyde Simmons just name a few. And on offence Fred Barrnet, Keith Byers,Mike Quik,and who can forget Ricky(FOR WHO FOR WHAT) Waters. Fact is Randall made the N.F.C championship because after his knee blew out he became affraid to run and stayed in the pocket.— hatchet
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- I love people all over the Cunningham bandwagon like he was the greatest player ever. He was a very good player but toward the end of his career everyone wanted him gone and he went on to another successful season in Minnesota. Sounds sort of familiar doesn't it. Don't know what you've got til it's gone.— jwood
Wiff, Randall couldn't win with the Reggie White defenses. Have you really lost your mind?— tpizza- Comment removed.
- that almost sack is a pretty sweet play, i still prefer that play on monday night vs dallas where mcnabb was dodging dallas defenders forever until freddie mitchel finally got open and mcnabb launched one to him, should have been a td, but well, it was freddie that caught the pass— Greg S
- BTW, RC never won ANY MVP award that means anything, played for a team with a superior D BY FAR than DM has and had Keith Jackson, Byers, Barnett & C. Williams and has ZERO SB rings. Your SAYING what RC would have done with whatever doesn't make it so. Maybe in your own mind but it just ain't true because you say so. The main similarity between the two is that RCs coach never gave him an O line and DMs coach hardly gave him any help at all. Stop being an RC apologist. RC will always be #2 in Philly behind DM. Live with it, Giant fan.— tpizza
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- 5, nah, Jaws was a better drop back passer but RC was a real weapon and could do things Jaws couldn't do, but it's not a point worth discussing. Either is fine with me. I might add though that RC couldn't win with Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Robert Smith so what wiff thinks he could have done with always injured Westy who disappears in the playoffs and a loco WR is beyond me.— tpizza
- Igottsabooger, the only thing you ever kept real was McBonehead's poster on your ceiling. Why not change your name back to 5isajackanape? You're not fooling anybody. Randall had heart, sould and everything else he needed in Racis-delphia! Too bad he didn't have the offense to go along with his talent!
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- "Panthro the Dumbo".....yeah Igotsnolife is DEFINITELY 5isagirlandaPunk. This is proof! What will your name be next time? McNagismyidol???
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- Which stupid name? You have many! How will you expose me, 5isacreepandaDope? Will you embarrass me by these foolish posts, Igotsdacrabz? Sorry.....that won't do it.
- The 98 season with the Vikings was just sad Cunningham didnt get that ring. Cunningham led one the best offenses in NFL history. People thought Moss, Brady and that NE offense was great in 07 but that 98 trio was better with Cunningham, Carter and Moss as a rookie. Funny how great QBs look when they have great WRs..Hmmmmmmmm— mongoS
- To Igottsdaswagga: I'm not a Donovan hater... but I agree that had Randall had Donovan's line and running back to go along with Chad Lewis although he didn't have too much of a slouch in Keith Jackson then he would have won a hell of a lot more than 1 playoff game. You saw what he did (at 38!!) with personnel around him so imagine him in the Super Bowl with that 2004 team the same age as Donovan. The difference is Randall would have run in that Super Bowl and gave the Patriots defense fits and best believe they would have scored those Red Zone touchdowns in the first half. Scoring on those oppurtunities makes that a whole different game. New England would have been down by a lot and would have been less likely to dink and dunk the way they did in the 3rd Qtr. It would have forced Brady to play catch-up something he has at times been exposed in.— eagle_zee
- I will always feel that Randall was the better all-around QB. He had a stronger arm than Donovan (could throw across his body a lot better). He was the more gifted runner. Hell he was a more "fluid" runner than even Vick. Honestly the only thing Donovan had on him was his ability to run the West Coast Offense. And maybe this more than anything is why he would have needed the "talent" around him.— eagle_zee
- mongoS, those are points that the bashers refuse to concede as if it doesn't matter. Where would Montana be without Rice, Aikman without Irvin? Not to mention all the others like Emmitt, Novachek, John Taylor, etc. What DM has done by himself is miraculous. I often ask the bashers to name ANY QB who has done as much with so little help. NEVER got an answer from any of them.— tpizza
- All these Randall lovers are the same people who hated him when he was here. When McNabb is gone and retired they will suddenly be loving him too. I always liked Randall even though he wasn't the perfect quarterback and had limitations in his QB skills. I also love McNabb and he is the best QB this franchise has ever had. I only hope when McNabb is gone all these haters (and I do believe many of them are prejudiced against a black, successful, intelligent, well spoken, quarterback)enjoy being a 5 win team until the next time we are able to draft in the top 3 picks of the 1st round.— srf466
- Srf466, you are absoulutely right!! Now go and picket outside the Huntington Valley swim club.— wokmaster
- I think the play I remember the best is Randall going 80 yards on an end around (against the Giants?). He was about to get leveled by Carl Banks when Keith Byars lays a lick on Banks sending him airborn past a running Cunningham. That may have been two distinct plays but it sounds better if they are both in the same play, so based on poetic license (just got mine renewed) that is going to be my story and favorite moment.— rockinrob
- i still got my randall jersey.that defense n randall r why im a life long eagle fan. fred barnett had the acrobatic catches calvin williams was steady,i still think we couldhv won in 91 if randall hadnt got hurt, that def. was so dominating. 10 wins for a team that used like 5 qbs that year due to injury is absolutely amazing— positive eagle
- Forget Dawkins leadership qualities....I just watched the replay of the Dallas game on NFL network. He forced two fumbles and both were returned for TD's. I also remember him forcing a fumble against Pittsburgh when we beat them ( you know, the Super Bowl Champs ) Who will force turnovers like Dawk?!— cdedrick05
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Sheil Kapadia is in his fifth season writing about the Eagles and the NFL for philly.com. His earliest
memories as a sports fan include several trips to Veterans Stadium with
his Dad. He's not a beat writer or an Insider, but is here to
discuss the NFL 365 days a year. E-mail him at skapadia@philly.com or
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