Editor's note: With the Eagles on a bye this week and a new decade less than two months away, 94WIP.com will reflect back on the Philadelphia Eagles' all-decade teams of recent history. First up is Glen Macnow's All-1980's Eagles team. Coming up this week, we'll have Joe DeCamara's All-1990's team, Ike Reese's All-2000's team, Eliot Shorr-Parks' All-2010's team, and Ray Didinger updated and brand new All-Time Eagles' team.
Macnow has been covering the Eagles since Ron Jaworski played quarterback, and has been a WIP host since 1993. Glen and WIP’s Big Daddy Graham just released “The Great Book of Philadelphia Sports Lists,” which you can order here.
The 1980s began with a Super Bowl appearance by Dick Vermeil’s Eagles and ended with Buddy Ryan’s swagger and two straight first-round playoff losses. In between, it was a forgettable era for the Birds and their fans.
So in putting together a team of the decade, you’ll pardon me if I don’t include a lot of guys who played for Marion Campbell. The middle of the ‘80s was a bad time for Eagles fans, as the team went 33-53 from 1983-87.
Trivia question: Can you name the assistant who went 1-0 after taking over when Campbell got axed before the last game of 1985? Answer at end of column.
One note: In choosing players for this story, I only considered their contributions to the Eagles from 1980 to 1989. Not anything they did for other teams (sorry, Cris Carter), or in other decades (see you on the ‘90s all-Eagles team, Eric Allen).
Anyway, if we’re compiling a team of the decade we’ve got to start with the defense which, let’s face it, far outperformed the Eagles offense over this period:
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END: Well, let’s open with perhaps the greatest player in franchise history, Reggie White, who arrived in 1985 and had 81 sacks in 73 games during the 1980s. Phenomenal. I, for one, will never forgive the skinflint Norman Braman for allowing Reggie to leave. Dennis Harrison, a key part of Vermeil’s Super Bowl defense gets the other starting spot. Honorable mention: Clyde Simmons, Carl Hairston.
TACKLE: Jerome Brown was the soul of Ryan’s Gang Green Defense and, over five seasons, established himself as a fan favorite. And Charlie Johnson made three Pro Bowls with the Birds, two in the 1980s. As my friend and co-author Big Daddy Graham points out, he’s the top Johnson in Philly sports history (although Lane might have a legitimate argument). Honorable mention: Ken Clarke, Mike Pitts.
MIDDLE LINEBACKER: Byron Evans wasn’t a starter until 1989, so we’ll go with Frank LeMaster, who made the Pro Bowl in 1981. The Eagles played a 3-4 defense most of those years under Vermeil and Campbell. The other inside linebacker during that era, Jerry Robinson, gets our honorable mention.
OUTSIDE LINEBACKER: Seth Joyner arrived as an eighth-round pick in 1986 and quickly became a terrific playmaker and leader. He was intimidating in his play and his facial expression. John Bunting is the guy who put the huge hit on Dallas’s Ron Springs to start the 1980 NFC Championship Game, so he gets on our team just for that. Honorable mention: Reggie Wilkes.
CORNERBACK: It was an excellent decade for Eagles cornerbacks, and the best of the bunch (at least during those years) was Roynell Young. Mike Quick, who went against Young in practice back then, told me that Young “had great cover skills, was great with his hands and was mean as a snake.” Herm Edwards will always be remembered for “The Miracle at the Meadowlands,” but he was a more-than-solid starter for nine seasons through 1985. Honorable mention: I hate relegating Eric Allen (one of my personal all-time favorites) to second-string on any team, but he came along too late to start on this squad. Joe DeCamera will have the pleasure of writing about him for his 1990s squad.
SAFETY: Let’s start with Wes Hopkins, one of the most-feared hitters in football during his era. Speaking of which, we’ll again pair him with Andre Waters, a fan favorite for obvious reasons. Remember the “House of Pain” game against the Oilers? That was those two guys at their scariest. And please raise a glass to those two great players, both of whom passed far too young. Honorable mention: Randy Logan, Brenard Wilson.
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CENTER: Guy Morris started 90 straight games for the Birds up through 1983 and played in 158 overall, which gives him this spot in a runaway. Honorable mention: David Alexander.
GUARD: Let’s face it, until recent years, the Eagles were typically horrible at finding guards. Did you know the franchise went from 1956 (Buck Lansford) to 2002 (Jermane Mayberry), without landing a single guard in the Pro Bowl? Anyway, the best of this era were Steve Kenny and Ron Baker. Other than telling you that Baker was a solid locker room interview back in the day, I don’t have much more to say about them. Honorable mention: Nobody.
TACKLE. Ron Solt. Just kidding. Really, ever notice how the Eagles tend to get great tackles in pairs? In recent seasons it was Jason Peters and Lane Johnson. Under Andy Reid, it was Jon Runyan and Tra Thomas. And under Vermeil, it was Jerry Sisemore and Stan Walters. Sisemore was a big, silent powerhouse from Texas. Walters was the garrulous, huge-footed Jersey guy who went on to work as Merrill Reese’s sidekick for many years. Honorable mention: Ron Heller.
TIGHT END: John Spagnola has the most seasons (eight) and receptions (256) at the position. But Keith Jackson came in as a rookie in 1988 and set a franchise record with 81 catches, so I'm giving him the nod. He was another great player who Bottom-Line Braman let slip away. I will admit, however, there’s a part of me that will never forgive him for dropping a sure touchdown in the Fog Bowl against Chicago.
WIDE RECEIVER: The surest bet on this squad, other than Reggie White, is the great Mike Quick, the first-round pick in 1982. You may not know this, but the Eagles had their hearts set on Clemson’s Perry Tuttle in that draft, until the Bills traded up to grab him with the 19th overall pick. Quick was the consolation prize. Final career stats: Tuttle, 25 receptions, 3 TDs; Quick, 363 receptions, 61 TDs. Harold Carmichael’s best years were in the 1970s, but he still had 182 catches from 1980-83, averaging 15.9 yards per catch. Honorable mention: Cris Carter, Kenny Jackson.
RUNNING BACK: Wilbert Montgomery had 5,363 rushing and receiving yards and36 TDs from 1980-84. Besides that, his 42-yard TD sprint against Dallas in the 1980 NFL title game is probably the landmark play in franchise history this side of the “Philly Special.” Honorable mention: There’s absolutely no one worth giving a second spot to at this position. Anthony Toney? Michael Haddix? Nah, we’ll pass.
FULLBACK: Remember when Buddy Ryan said he’d never draft Keith Byars because a foot injury made the Ohio State great into “a medical reject?” Ahh, Buddy was just bluffing us. Glad he was, because Byars was a terrific all-purpose player who could block, run on occasion and always catch the ball. He was best at the last part, garnering 371 receptions over a seven-year career with the Eagles.
QUARTERBACK: Ron Jaworski opened the decade as the NFL Player of the Year in 1980, and remained the starter all the way through 1986. He had some great seasons and a few tough ones because of hideous offensive lines. Just during the 1980s, he threw for 19,624 yards and 123 TDs in Kelly green. Still, there’s a part of me that always loved watching Randall Cunningham, and wants to see him on this all-decade team. Tell you what, since Randall was such a dangerous threat scampering with the ball, how about we just give him that second running back spot?
Oh, and the answer to that trivia question: Fred Bruney, of course.
