The Eagles grabbed two young playmakers, Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy,
who are mature beyond their years, partly because they have overcome career threatening challenges and have known for years that their talents are special.
These guys have yet to reach their physical peaks. This is going to help both of them break tackles and endure the pounding of the NFL in the future.
Meeting them this weekend made me think of the first time I met Kobe Bryant and LaBron James.
I met Kobe at Lower Merion High School where he was announcing that he was going straight to the pro's.
I met LaBron in Trenton at a high school tournament, where had brought in a sell out crowd to see him play.
Both of them were in high school but they conducted interviews like they had been in the pro's for five years.
It was much that way when I sat and listened to Maclin and McCoy on Sunday at the Nova Care complex.
Maclin was born May 11, 1988 and McCoy June 12, 1988. Like DeSean Jackson last year, Maclin and McCoy have been elite athletes for quite a while and they know what comes with that.
Jeremy will be 21 next month and LeSean will be 21 in June. Only 21, which means they'll get stronger and bigger. It will be
He played only two years in college but is older than his years. He went through a number of challenges as a younger because he grew up in a troubled family. He barely knows his Dad and his Mom is an alcoholic.
Maclin also suffered a horrendous knee injury as a freshman at University of Missouri. He thought his career was over. He values it a great deal because of that experience.
McCoy grew up in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania and was the son of an Army man. I met his Dad, Ron McCoy this weekend. Believe me LeSean is not going to come up short on hard work and toughness.
My Dad put that Army training, work ethic and toughness in all myself and my brothers and sisters. It's a good thing.
McCoy suffered a career-threatening ankle injury in high school which was a compound fracture.
He thought his career was over. The youngster says it makes him value and appreciate it all much more now.
They both know why they have been brought here.
Both of them are glad to be Eagles but disappointed they were drafted as late as they were. They've got something to prove.
