These players have to make a quick and solid impression in mini-camp and OTA’s to survive… but for right now, they are Eagles… And if you don’t think it’s possible to go from Undrafted Free Agent rookie to NFL professional with full pension benefits, then I want you to meet former Eagles center Jamaal Jackson…
Chris Polk is probably the biggest name in the UDFA class of the Eagles in 2012… RB, 5-11, 220, Washington, he gained over 1600 yards overall last year…but was completely overlooked by 32 teams in the NFL Draft.
The Eagles on Sunday announced the signing of 13 free agents who were not selected in the recently completed NFL Draft.
They are WR Elvis Akpla (Montana State), LS Matt Camilli (Texas El Paso), TE Chase Ford (Miami), CB Cliff Harris (Oregon), FB Emil Igwenagu (Massachusetts), WR McKay Jacobson (Brigham Young), WR Damaris Johnson (Tulsa), WR Aaron Pflugrad (Arizona State), RB Chris Polk (Washington), FB Jeremy Stewart (Stanford), FS Phillip Thomas (Syracuse), P Ryan Tydlacka (Kentucky) and WR Darnell Williams (Louisiana College).
General manager Howie Roseman will meet with the media Monday (today) to discuss the state of the Eagles’ roster. The team will hold a three-day mini-camp for rookies beginning May 12. It will represent the first in a series of organized team activities leading up to training camp this summer at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
I see the possibility of at least three of these guys making the final roster or PS8 for 2012:
Polk (5-11, 220) was rated by most scouting experts to have a second- or third-round grade, but his name was never called during the draft, despite rushing for the second most yards (4,049) in school history. He is a powerful between-the-tackles runner who could provide a great change of pace from Shady McCoy or handle McCoy’s load in case of injury. However, Polk’s injury history apparently caused everyone to back away. He has had a dislocated shoulder and torn labrum to go with a knee injury in college. That led to a rumor of a degenerative hip condition, which Polk denies.
“I will just have to go out there and show them I have a lot of great football left in me,” Polk told NFLDraftScout.com. “I know teams are concerned about my shoulder, but I also heard somebody say something about a degenerative hip, and there is just no truth to that. I had labrum surgery on the shoulder a year ago and it didn’t slow me down last season.”
WR Damaris Johnson (5-8, 170) incredibly became the NCAA’s all-time leader in all-purpose yardage (7,796) and kickoff return yardage (3,417) by the end of his junior season. He’s one of many the Eagles will audition for primary kickoff return duty — a job that’s wide open.
FB Jeremy Stewart (6-1, 220) has a good chance to make the team simply because there is only one other fullback (Stanley Havili) on the roster.
Safety Phillip Thomas (5-11, 200) is an intriguing prospect because of his tremendous productivity at Syracuse, where he led the Orange in tackles (82) and interceptions (six) in 2011.
Punter RyanTydlacka will provide some much-needed competition for Chas Henry, who had an inconsistent rookie season following a training camp in which the team invited no other punters.
The most interesting name among them is Polk, whose numbers are eye-popping – 4,049 rushing yards in his three-year career, second-most in school history. He ran for 1,341 yards last season and caught 29 passes for 324 yards. He had 15 touchdowns.
Some draft analysts had Polk going as high as the second round and no lower than the fourth, but injury concerns had teams shy away from him. According to the Seattle Times, Polk dislocated his left shoulder two games into the 2008 season and then had season-ending surgery. He had a torn left labrum in 2009, having surgery after the season. He’d also had arthroscopic knee surgery shortly before the 2011 season. There also was a report of a hip injury.
“I will just have to go out there and show them I have a lot of great football left in me,” Polk told NFLDraftScout.com. “I know teams are concerned about my shoulder, but I also heard somebody say something about a degenerative hip, and there is just no truth to that. I had labrum surgery on the shoulder a year ago and it didn’t slow me down last season.”
Polk chose the Eagles over the Redskins.
He could have returned for another year at Washington, but decided to enter the draft after his junior season. According to reports, his performance at the Senior Bowl causes some questions among draft analysts, but he rebounded at the school’s Pro Day.
“Of course I would have preferred to be drafted and drafted high,” Polk told NFLDraftScout. “But the main thing now is that I am with a great offensive team and I will get my opportunity to show what I can do in the NFL …
That rates a Sonbutts-certified “hmmmmmmm”….
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