Patrick Causey, on Twitter @PhillySportsJD
Do you hear that? That's the sound of some good old-fashioned smack talk between the Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys.
It started a few weeks back when Cowboys running back Joseph Randle said new Eagles running back DeMarco Murray left some meat on the bone in the run game in Dallas last year.
Kelly fired back a week later, saying that Randle must have meant that Murray's "not a big eater."
Now Jason Peters has entered the fray. Peters is not a vocal guy. He prefers to let his play on the field do most of the talking. And indeed, his play is fantastic. Last year, Peters was the number one rated tackle in all of football, per ProFootballFocus.com. He made his second straight pro bowl last year, seventh overall in his Hall of Fame worthy career.
So when Peters talks, people listen. Peters was asked what it meant to have the 2014 rushing champ on the Eagles. Needless to say, he did not lack confidence. Per PE.com:
"It's a big weight on our shoulders. He was the rushing champ last year. He almost broke the record. For him to come here and not duplicate that, that would discredit us a little bit with the Dallas offensive line. We've got to make sure he gets his yards," Peters said. "That's a big challenge. The Dallas offensive line is good. We're just better. We're going to make sure he gets his yards."
The Eagles had arguably the best offensive line in all of football in 2013. Peters was joined by All-Pro Evan Mathis, Jason Kelce, Todd Herramens, and Lane Johnson. Not one player missed a single snap all season, and the Eagles had the top ranked rushing attack in the league as a result.
But 2014 was markedly different. Each of the offensive lineman missed time due to injury or suspension. The Eagles offensive line took a step back as a result, and the running game struggled accordingly.
The Cowboys offensive line took the reigns from the Eagles in 2014 as the league's best unit. They became even stronger this offseason after landing first round talent La'el Collins as an undrafted free agent.
But Peters is obviously not impressed. I admire the confidence. And if Mathis comes back and the rest of the line can stay healthy, Peters might have a point.
But the Eagles have the oldest offensive line in football. Mathis is holding out. Herramens left. And the Eagles did not bring in any players through free agency or the draft to solidify the position.
So it remains to be seen whether the Eagles can return to 2013 form. If they can stay healthy, they might just prove Peters right.
