Brandon Apter (@bapter23), contributor
The Eagles are focused a game that will decide their fate on Saturday against Washington, but in the meantime, the NFL has announced the players heading to the Pro Bowl this season and three Eagles made the roster. Fletcher Cox has punched a ticket to his first Pro Bowl while Jason Peters and Darren Sproles will join him. Peters will be attending the Pro Bowl for the eighth time while Sproles goes for the second consecutive year. He had not been selected before joining the Eagles.
"When I first started off, I always came close [to earning a Pro Bowl selection]. Then after that, I never really thought about the Pro Bowl that much. Coach Dave Fipp and then my whole return team, they bust their butts for me. When we're in the game, they really go all out for me."
Sproles has returned two punts for touchdowns and leads punt returners with a 12.4 average per return and 446 yards. Additionally, Sproles became the first player in the league to notch at least two punt returns for touchdowns in back-to-back seasons since Devin Hester did so for the Bears in 2010 and 2011. Darren is the fifth player in NFL history with consecutive seasons of multiple punt return touchdowns.
Obviously, the most deserving of this trio this season is Fletcher Cox. Selected in the first round by the Philadelphia in 2012, Cox is the first Eagles defensive tackle to make the Pro Bowl since Jason Babin back in 2011. Cox has compiled 7.5 sacks this season to go along with three forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, 14.5 tackles for loss and 87 tackles through 14 games.
“It feels great. It feels really great. I told myself before the season started that I needed to be better than last year. I had to make the whole world know and not just the local people. It all paid off.”
“I asked Connor [Barwin] and Jason [Peters] ‘How is it really?’ And they said that it’s so relaxed and you just get to go out and hang out with all of the top guys in the league. They said that it’s really an honor.”
The 25-year-old out of Mississippi State has gotten recognition across the NFL, deemed as one of the best defensive tackles in the league by Patriots coach Bill Belichick. Cox has also received plenty of motivation from who teammates, who have shown confidence in him every week to do what he does best en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance.
“I heard it from a lot of guys in the locker room, and that was motivation," Cox said. "They all said that you never really make it the first year that you’re supposed to, and I told myself that I was going to give it a shot and start over next year and see what they really think. I know the guys will be proud once they hear the news.”
Pro Football Focus ranks Cox as the third best defensive end in the 3-4 defense, trailing just J.J. Watt of the Texans and Mike Daniels of the Packers. He leads NFL defensive ends with 46 quarterback hurries as well.
Meanwhile, Jason Peters is off to his eighth Pro Bowl, sixth as a Philadelphia Eagle. It's the third straight year that the veteran offensive lineman has been selected, but the game isn't really something he cares about. He is focused on a ring.
“When I first was trying to make it and the first five times [in a row], you were trying to keep it going,” he said. “But now it’s at the point like where I’d rather get a ring now. I’d rather make the playoffs.
“I honestly don’t care about the Pro Bowl. It doesn’t matter to me. If I get it, it’s nice, but at this point in my career, I want a ring. I don’t want a Pro Bowl. It’s not something I think about.” [CSNPhilly.com]
The Pro Bowl teams will be selected via live draft by captains Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin on January 21st. The game will take place at Aloha Stadium in Honolulu on January 31st.
