Rowe’s far from Philly
Pats CB’s season turns into real winner following trade
‘That would be the last thing on my mind. . . . Now I’m on the biggest stage of, god, probably like all of sports. So it would have been the last thing I expected.’ — PATS CB ERIC ROWE On Super Bowl expectations at start of year with Eagles
FOXBORO — When he was buried on the Philadelphia Eagles depth chart at the end of training camp, playing in a Super Bowl didn’t feel like a real possibility for Eric Rowe.
“That would be the last thing on my mind, especially this past summer, kind of being with the Eagles and just kind of focusing on trying to like, win a game, and focusing on my craft,” Rowe said. “Now I’m on the biggest stage of, god, probably like all of sports. So it would have been the last thing I expected.”
At the time that Patriots coach Bill Belichick dealt a conditional fourth-round draft pick for Rowe in early September, there were five Eagles cornerbacks that would have seen the field before him. Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman reiterated that belief this past week.
Five months later, Rowe could be tasked with covering Julio Jones on Super Bowl Sunday. The 2015 second-round pick has found a home in the Pats secondary, and he worked his way into the game plan week after week.
It’s been a whirlwind of a season, and Rowe has made sure to relish the spot that he’s in now.
“I kind of already took a step back and thought of what I’ve been through this past year. Definitely not taking it for granted,” he said. “But at the same time I have a job to do still. One more game. I’ve just got to get my mind right and focused.”
No matter what Rowe’s job is next Sunday, he’s going to have his hands full. The Atlanta Falcons hung an NFL-best 540 points on defenses this year. When asked what he’s seen from Atlanta’s offense, the corner didn’t know where to begin.
“Oh god, you pick,” Rowe said. “They’ve got Julio, best receiver in the league. But not just him. They’ve got (Taylor) Gabriel, speedy guy we have to slow down. They’ve got (Mohamed) Sanu, big dude in the slot. They’ve got two running backs that are just a great tandem, and then obviously the quarterback Matt Ryan, you know.”
Jones averaged over 100 receiving yards per game this year and earned his second straight All-Pro nod. Perhaps more impressive than the numbers is the fashion that Jones puts them up in — he has all of the tools to make defensive backs look foolish, and often does.
“Dude is fast, big, strong, great hands, great route running skills,” Rowe said. “I’ve seen him shake some DBs out of their shoes.”
That said, Rowe would leap at the chance to go toeto-toe with Jones.
“That’s the challenge you want to take on, to show the coaches and your team that you can play up to that level,” Rowe said. “Going against this great receiving corps, if you have a good game against them you get a lot of respect.”
And Rowe wouldn’t have it any other way. You don’t got to the Super Bowl to play the Cleveland Browns.
“This is the biggest challenge we’re going to have yet,” Rowe said. “It’s on the biggest stage. It’s not supposed to be easy.”
While the task at hand is monumental, Rowe’s veteran teammates advised him to savor the moment as well.
“They told me have that boundary of OK, when to enjoy the experience, but not too much where you forget to prepare for the game,” Rowe said. “But don’t be all uptight about the game and not enjoy the experience because it’s once in a lifetime.”
A lifetime ago in Philadelphia, Rowe wasn’t even dreaming of this experience.