Philadelphia Eagles starter makes bold proclamation about 2021

Every Philadelphia Eagles fan has so many fond memories of a night that led to the Birds’ first Super Bowl win ever. No one will ever forget Alshon Jeffery’s pirouette in the end zone for the game’s first touchdown, the Philly Special, Zach Ertz diving into the end zone to put the Birds up for good, or Brandon Graham’s strip-sack, perhaps the most famous strip-sack in NFL history.

One of the underrated plays of that game came on defense early in the second quarter when Rodney McLeod helped stall a drive when he delivering a powerbomb to Brandin Cooks that would have made Kevin Nash or The Undertaker proud.

That one halted some New England Patriots momentum at the time and helped keep Philly’s lead at six points as Stephen Gostkowski would miss a field goal on the next play. Those three points proved to be invaluable for Philadelphia.

Expect more big plays from the Philadelphia Eagles safety in 2021.

‘Up and down’ might be the only way that we can describe Rodney Mcleod’s career since he’s been in the City of Brotherly Love. Once the Philadelphia Eagles completed their Super Bowl run, he’s finished two of the past three seasons on the team’s IR (their injured reserve).

He’s missed 18 games during that span, including the Eagles’ two playoff games that followed the 2018 regular season. He’s coming off of a torn ACL that he suffered last December. Oh, and this is also the final year of a two-year deal he signed on March 25th of 2020.

Some of you might be worried, but Mr. McLeod isn’t. On the day that the NFL officially released its 2021 schedule and Birds fans learned that Philly’s first game would be in Atlanta versus the Falcons and a former prospect, 23 dropped a bomb of his own. He took to social media to announce that he’s just as focused in year ten as he’s ever been.

Check that one out as soon as you have a moment. In the meantime, here’s a quote:

"People don’t think I’m going to be ready for this season or they have a date in mind (for me to make my return). I’m saying otherwise. Week 1, I’m ready. I’m going to be out there, I’m here to win, and I’m here to stay."

Finally! Some good news if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan. There isn’t much that needs to be said about that other than this.

In 66 games as a member of the Birds, McLeod has added 306 total tackles, 31 pass breakups, four forced fumbles, four fumble recoveries, two sacks, and nine interceptions to his NFL resume. That’s if you include four playoff games of course. He’s appeared in 66 games and started every single one of them.

Some of you might be asking yourselves a couple of questions. What is Rodney McLeod isn’t the guy that he used to be? What then? Perhaps, you should be asking yourselves something else. What if he is that guy? If there was ever a time for him to flip the switch, this would be that time.