The NFL is known as the “ultimate team sport. On every play, the 11 players on the field must perform at their peak, because with so many repetitions per game-all of which are instantly recorded-the opposing team will find a way to exploit whoever isn’t doing their job well, whether on offense or defense. Of course, some players have more responsibility and value during each play, depending on the nature of the play, which is why some earn more than others, not even taking into account their marketing potential. For example, quarterbacks on offense and overall are by far the highest paid, but a QB couldn’t do his job without a solid offensive line, just as a running back couldn’t be successful without the OL opening holes for him.
Christmas Presents for the Unsung Heroes of Football
In this season of giving, quarterbacks and running backs often show their appreciation to their offensive lines with gifts to thank them for their work. They’re the unsung heroes. For those who love and understand football, it’s clear that offensive lines are key to the success of offensive plays. Teams with the best offensive lines tend to go the furthest in a season. This is the case with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have had a strong OL for years, and this season was no exception. According to PFF, they rank among the best in the league. In recognition of their work, Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley gave their offensive line personalized golf carts, complete with their names and numbers, for Christmas.
The gift is well-deserved, as big part of the Eagles’ success this season is clearly rooted in their OL. Thanks to them and Barkley’s extraordinary talent, he leads the league with 1,838 rushing yards. With 100 yards in his next game against the Cowboys, he’ll enter the top 10 for most rushing yards in a single season. Barkley needs 268 yards in his next two games to break Eric Dickerson’s all-time rushing record of 2105 set in 1984. It’s worth noting, however, that Dickerson set his record in 16 games, while Barkley would need 17 – unless he surpasses his personal and Eagles franchise record of 255 yards, which he set in Week 12 on this first season in Philadelphia against the Rams.
If we combine what Barkley ($12.5M) and Hurts ($40M) will earn this year, their total surpasses $50 million, but it really is a nice gesture from both and in the video you can see they give around 15 golf cars. However, the Eagles have made the playoffs for four consecutive seasons because they pay their linemen well. They have two offensive linemen in the top 10 highest paid this season: left tackle Jordan Mailata ($21.8M), who ranks sixth, and guard Landon Dickerson ($21.1M), who ranks eighth. In total, three Eagles OL make more than Saquon when you add in veteran right tackle Lane Johnson ($20M). This just goes to show that the success of an NFL team relies heavily on its offensive linemen, as I mentioned earlier – the unsung heroes.
The Last Push for the Eagles
The Eagles need a win this week at home against the Cowboys, who will be without CeeDee Lamb in what has been a disastrous year for the world’s most valuable sports franchise. The Eagles will most likely finish as the second seed in the NFC, behind either the Lions or the Vikings, depending on who wins the NFC North. If they win this week, they will likely rest their starters for the final game against the Giants, the worst team in the league, so they can recover and feel ready for the playoffs. The Eagles are an experienced team with arguably the most complete roster in the NFL, making them strong contenders to reach the Super Bowl for the second time in three years.The best part of the season is upon us, ladies and gentlemen.
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