Henry's Not Surprised to See McBriar
BETHLEHEM -- When a team brings in a really good player to try to take a job away from an incumbent, very rarely does the guy who was doing the job say, "Oh my gosh, this is horrible! How could they do this to little old me?"
Henry's Not Surprised to See McBriar
Les Bowen
BETHLEHEM -- When a team brings in a really good player to try to take a job away from an incumbent, very rarely does the guy who was doing the job say, "Oh my gosh, this is horrible! How could they do this to little old me?"
It would make for better stories and more drama if they did that, but everybody knows this is just not how you react. It miust be on an early page of some secret manual they hand out at rookie orientation -- a reporter asks what it's like to get a strong hint your days are numbered, your response is to laud the benefits of competition for everyone involved.
So, Eagles punter Chas Henry was ready when your Eagletarian waylaid him yesterday to ask about the addition of Mat McBriar, the two-time Pro Bowl former Dallas Cowboy.
"I figured they'd bring in a veteran to come in and compete," Henry said. "I'm OK with that, as long as I have a chance to compete ... I think it makes everybody better. If you don't like competition, this isn't the sport for ya."
Yes, but there is the kind of competition Henry was facing in the spring, from a rookie named Ryan Tydlacka, and there is the kind of competition he's facing now, in which if McBriar proves he's back from that drop-foot problem with his plant leg from last season, he just about definitely will win Henry's job, because a healthy McBriar is one of the very best in the buisness.
"He's a good player. I can learn from him, hopefully show 'em what I can do, and stay here," Henry said.
Henry's rookie season of 2011 was OK, not great. Henry’s 42.9-yard gross ranked 25th, three spots below McBriar last season. His net – which often reflects punt coverage as much as the punter – was slightly better than McBriar’s figure, 37.5 yards (26th) to 36.7 (28th). McBriar ranked 20th in punts downed inside the 20; Henry was tied for 25th.
"When I talked with Andy [Reid] and [special teams coordinator Bobby April after the season], their whole thing was consistency -- we don't have to hit it 55, 60 yards every time. Forty-two, 43, consistent, get it where we want it. I thought I had a pretty good minicamp ... I'm just going to come in and keep working," Henry said.
What? Reporters are antagonists? Typical lazy reporting from these two.— amblereagles- what a great picture of the guy though— Snake Pliskin
- Nice to be reading about the Eagles. Thanks Les!— MikeP
- Really, they didn't have a better picture of the guy?— eagles03j
- I don't get the statement that a healthy McBriar is one of the best in the business. The numbers in the article show he's comparable to Henry, but not significantly better. I guess maybe his 2011 numbers were down due to injury?— dlscholt
- Les, since Henry holds for Alex Henery right now, can McBriar hold on field goals if he wins the punter job?— MidGreen
- that picture makes Henry look more like an Eagles fan than a player.
herp derp derp!— ekw555 - Second paragraph, second sentence, "It miust be..." No spell check?— phillysoninsydney
- At least the Eagles are attempting to improve in an area that is rarely mentioned but certainly could stand improvement. I do admit I don't recall McBriar as a two time Pro Bowler.— JamesSeitz
- Seeing that McBriar had a previous injury and is only at 90% , he gets the nod.— Geno D
