Despite Philadelphia being almost 1,200 miles away from his hometown of Yazoo City, Mississippi, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is eager to start training camp next month. With his contract signed, sealed, and delivered, Cox is ready to become an integral part of Jim Washburn’s defensive line.
“My mindset is going in and just doing what I’m coached to do, what coach Washburn wants me to do, and that’s play hard and be relentless,” Cox said during a conference call Monday.
The Eagles traded up three spots in order to draft Cox at No. 12 overall. After recording 56 tackles and 5 sacks, which earned him a spot on the All-SEC first team, the former Mississippi State star is anxious to compete for a starting spot on the Eagles’ defensive line.
“That’s basically what football is all about, competing, and I’m always up for competition,” Cox said.
Although Cox is ecstatic about becoming a Philadelphia Eagle, the death of his cousin and close friend in a car accident last week has definitely made this moment bittersweet.
“Dealing with the death in my family was a really bad time for me, and I kind of struggled a little bit,” Cox said. “To get the contract signed is just a blessing. Melvin is in a better place right now and he’ll be watching down on me on Sundays and every day, even during practice, he’ll be looking down on me. He would’ve wanted nothing but the best.”
In the midst of such a difficult family tragedy, Cox is glad that negotiating his contract was so easy. “With the new CBA, it makes a lot of stuff easy and helps us get this out the way. I know my agent did a great job of negotiating. I think he did a good job in getting it out of the way so I can play football.”
With the signing of Fletcher Cox on Monday, Philadelphia has successfully signed all nine of their draft picks. I’m very confident in the rookie defensive tackle, and his willingness to sign a contract instead of pulling a Danny Watkins makes me even more optimistic about his potential contribution to this team. Just another piece in place that could help the Eagles reach the Promised Land.
I have liked many many many of the eagles draft picks, and many of them have not amounted to much. But I like this kid a lot, and I’m not sure why… I also get the same feeling from Curry, and I like what I’ve read and seen of Kendricks… it may be the hopeless homer in me, but I think they have 3 legitimate players on their hands with this class.
@ zoltek….I have the same feelings past and present, and I do think it has to do with your “hopeless homer” theory.
My “hopeless homer” belief is that the difference this year compared to alot of draft picks in the past is that with Cox and Curry we are having them coached by a top notch professional teacher in Washburn, whereas when we moved up to draft Graham a couple of years ago we then delivered him to Rory Seagrist…in my view that is a HUGE difference.
I also look for big things from all of our defensive linemen, including Graham, this year.
GreenFan, I think you hit the nail on the head with Washburn especially if they were targeting guys that he liked. These were productive players in college that were targeted by a great D-line coach. I look for big things out of them as well as Dixon this year to add to Babin, Cole and Jenkins. Dline has some real potential.
Yup Bugsy…I agree that with a healthy Dixon in the mix, our depth on the D-line is crazy. With starters Babin, Cole, Jenkns and Dixon and backups of Cox, Cullen, Graham and Tapp this is a really strong group.
This will be a great group to watch during training camp, the competition should be strong.
This guy has NO bust potential at all. Dudes a straight up beast. He will be the best at his position in 3 years. Bet on it.
Hello ES…..I agree, the kid seems to get it. Look forward to watching him on the field this year….maybe sacking Eli???….LOL, just jabbing you ES.
I guess you were right earlier in the year….your Mets are ahead of this disaster of a Phillies team. I will admit when I am wrong, but still holding out for a turnaround in the Phils.
LOL sacking Eli. It will be fun watching both the Eagles and Giants defense playing against each other this year. Is it possible to be a Giants and Eagles fan or do I have to choose one? lol
Oh and F the Mets I always hated them and always will.
MY ENTIRE TEAM SUCKS (M-E-T-S)
I don’t know about that ES…seems pretty tough to be a fan of both, although probably easier in June than in October!! I agree that the games this year are going to be full of alot of strong defenses…can’t wait!!
I think 1 thing of note is that their first 3 picks are 2 DLs, and an LB. They have ryans, they have babin, they have cole, they have jenkins, they have depth. These guys werent really drafted to fill big time needs, they will be excellent pros (hopefully), but they arent coming in here having to be the guy that fixes the defense… and that is a good position to walk into as top draft picks.
but what do I know.
Everyone of you guys above me made great posts; good stuff guys.
WTF? with the screen name you have, you questioning being an Eagles fan? Come on, son! Have a little respect for your squad and the rivalry! Wow! Well let me answer that question for all of Philly and South Jerz, hell nah son, no bandwagoners allowed on this ride…And this is after your team just won the SB? WTF? LOL aint this some hmm…
Also ES, since when do two opposing defenses play against each other?
RealTalk it was a joke….
OK dont joke like that…with a screen name like you have, I am already seeing red!
Don’t forget about Boykins fellas he will be a contributor this year too, I believe
EaglesSuck, WE DON’T want you! Don’t be a fraud, like JH, stick with your team. Real, very well stated.
Now Dcar is gonna whine to the other gcobb posters haha poor guy. Don’t be upset because Bron Bron proved you wrong ya hater. You are a witness! Bron Bron shocked the world!
That’s right j hart, he shocked the world by winning a championship we never thought he could
Jon, STFU & GET LOST, YOU FRONT RUNNING, FRAUDULANT, LOSER! What exactly did I witness? I COULDN’T GIVE A F^#@, ABOUT YOU, OR YOUR BUTT BUDDY, BRON-BRON! YOU’RE A FOOLISH @$$PUPPET!!! I CARE ABOUT MY 4 HOME TEAMS. NOT JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON, TO THE NEXT BEST THING! YOU AIN’T NO SIXER FAN, SO DON’T EVER, COMMENT ABOUT THEM AGAIN, FRAUD!!!! THEY SHOCKED NOBODY! THEY WERE FAVORITES FROM PRE-SEASON.
That’s all you got today dcar homo references, name calling, you have nothing else and its hilarious. Bron Bron is still the King and is a champion. Something you and many others on here said he would not be, said he would choke. You should take a page out of paul and birdos book and just shut it down after your proven wrong, the more you talk and give rebuttals the more silly you sound. Especially on this day
jon Hart – thank you for the most humerous thing anyone has every said “Paul shuts it down after he’s proven wrong”…..that will surely carry me through the next 10 bad days I experience.