Clement knows what run means to fans

PHILADELPHIA » Eagles rookie running back Corey Clement grew up in Glassboro, N.J., a quick drive from the Linc. Yet recently he let it slip that he once was a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.

“Shhhh,” he said the other day, index finger to his lips, smiling. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

Since Clement has also been quoted as saying he was an Eagles fan, he knows what a Super Bowl championship would mean to the Philadelphia area.

“I feel like it will be New Year’s times two,” he said. “It will be bringing them something they deserve. I want to be a part of the team that does it, because everybody will be talking about it for the rest of their life. So why not give it our last go, that last stretch of energy, and really put our best to it?”

That much, Clement has done since signing with the Birds as an undrafted free agent out of Wisconsin and winning a job in training camp.

“It’s been awesome,” Clement said. “It’s been one season to remember. Seven months ago, I didn’t know where I would be. And now I am in this spot, just thankful for every single moment. I could have given up. But I chose to keep going. You have a choice every day you wake up.

“Training camp was tough and grueling. And there was the mental aspect: What would I do next? But I didn’t let that weigh on my conscience. I just played fast and physical and tried to make a statement.”

Clement made no starts, but he rushed for 741 yards and four touchdowns on 74 attempts, and he caught 123 yards worth of passes, including two touchdowns.

On a team of over-achievers, that made him popular with his home-area fans, no matter how quiet he wants his one-time football-rooting preferences to be kept.

“I wish we could have had the Super Bowl here in Philadelphia,” Clement said. “That would have been awesome. But at the same time, we want to bring that same excitement, the same vibe, the same energy, the same juice right down to Minnesota.”

*** The Eagles flew Sunday to Minneapolis, where they will spend the week preparing for Tom Brady and the Patriots.

Brady is in his 18th NFL season. He’s 40. So there are few remaining secrets. So what’s the Eagles’ plan? “You have to cover the whole field,” second-year cornerback Jalen Mills shared. “I mean, he’s going to attack every inch of grass on that field, regardless of wherever it is. He doesn’t have one single target that he just goes to over and over again. He’s passing the ball around. So we have to make sure to cover the whole field.”

Linebacker Nigel Bradham knows that will be a challenge.

“We just have to take away the quick throws and cover their backs really well,” he said. “Obviously we have to play tight coverage on (Rob) Gronkowski. And we need tight coverage, of course.”

*** Bradham was reminded that the Super Bowl is being characterized in some places as “Dynasty vs. Dogs.” The Birds’ linebacker laughed. “Well, if that’s what they want to call it, they can,” he said. “But it’s the Super Bowl to me. That’s what I take it as. A Super Bowl. And we have to compete and be ready to play.”

Bradham does recognize that the Patriots’ 10 Super Bowl appearances is worthy of respect.

“It’s something every organization would definitely want to do,” he said. “But we know they have been in it and are probably used to being in it. And we just can’t get distracted by outside stuff.”

Chris Long, who played last season for the champion Patriots, didn’t remember them making a major deal about their previous success.

“No,” he said. “No. Not at all. If fact, that’s what they stress, what Bill Belichick stresses: Being ready for that game. They don’t really say anything about their past.”