Schwartz goes to the backhand, Metcalf volleys
PHILADELPHIA » File the “compliment” Jim Schwartz delivered to Seahawks star receiver DK Metcalf before he torched the Eagles with 10 catches for a career-high 177 yards Monday in the “what were you thinking?” bin.
About 30 seconds into Schwartz’s laborious 2-minute, 45-second deposition Wednesday alleging he was innocent of inflaming Metcalf’s ire, it was clear the defensive coordinator has no idea what a backhanded compliment he put out there.
Schwartz maintained all he did was mention Metcalf in the same breath as Calvin “Megatron” Johnson, one of the most formidable receivers to play the game. Johnson played for Schwartz in Detroit.
Metcalf already has it in for the Eagles because they drafted JJ Arcega-Whiteside instead of him in the second round of the 2019 draft.
“He said I was in Detroit with Megatron but you’re not there yet,” Metcalf said of his chat with Schwartz. “In my mind I’m not trying to be Megatron. I’m trying to be me. So, I had a little chip on my shoulder the whole game.”
Schwartz defended himself Wednesday with a verbose argument that sounded like the opening statement in a trial.
“Wow, I can’t believe paying a compliment to a player has become such a big thing,” Schwartz said. “Before I even go into that, everybody needs to understand the high esteem I hold (for) Calvin Johnson. Calvin was not only the best player I’ve ever coached, he was the best player I’ve ever coached against. And I think he’s one of the great players in the history of the NFL. So, in my mind, it’s a little bit funny.
“Anytime you even speak somebody’s name in the same sentence as Calvin Johnson, I don’t know how you take offense to that. I tried to pay the guy a compliment. I said I read his story, how he overcame injury. Heard he was a hard worker, said he reminds me a little bit of Calvin. Congratulated him after the game. At the time he said, ‘thanks a lot Coach, that means a lot to me.’”
Schwartz said he also chatted with Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson before the game. Wilson said nothing about being motivated by the talk.
Then again, it’s unlikely Schwartz would have said something to Wilson like “You remind me of Joe Montana … but you’re not there, yet.”
Metcalf leads the league with
1,039 receiving yards. He also has nine TDs. It would be 10 scores had he not done something very unlike Megatron – dropping a ball in the end zone when Darius Slay fell Monday.
SportsCenter did a graphic detailing the first 27 games of the careers of Johnson and Metcalf. The latter has better stats.
Megatron had 95 receptions for
1,662 yards and 11 TDs through his first 27 games. Metcalf has 116 catches for 1,939 yards and 16 TDs in 27.
Arcega-Whiteside wasn’t part of the graphic partly because he’s played in just 23 games, having spent the past three contests on the COVID-19 list. He was activated Wednesday.
As for defending Metcalf, it was almost criminal not giving Darius Slay strategic help on Metcalf, rather than leaving him out there one-on-one to be skewered. Why put a blueprint out for the stellar receivers the Eagles play in the coming weeks? Upcoming are Green Bay’s Davante Adams (11 TDs), New Orleans’ Michael Thomas (148 catches last year) and
Arizona’s DeAndre Hopkins.
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The Eagles activated tight end Zach Ertz from injured reserve, although he was limited in practice due to the ankle issue that shelved him.
With Dallas Goedert and Richard Rodgers getting the job done at tight end, don’t be surprised if Ertz is a healthy scratch this weekend for the first time in his eightyear career. He has 24 catches for
178 yards (7.4-yard average) and one touchdown this season.
Safety Rudy Ford (hamstring) and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox (neck) did not practice Wednesday. Linebacker TJ Edwards (hamstring) was limited.
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The Eagles released defensive back Will Parks, who played at Germantown High and was an advo
cate for youth in Philadelphia.
Parks billed himself as a guy who could play safety, corner, nickel and even a little linebacker, if needed. He was a jack of all trades, master of none. The Broncos reportedly picked him up.
For the Eagles, that means more playing time for rookie K’Von Wallace and Marcus Epps.
The good news is Jalen Mills is coming off an “outstanding game,” according to Schwartz.
“Not just coverage-wise, but in the run game,” the coach said. “And I think we’re seeing good signs from that group and I think those guys will pick up that slack really well and put us in a good position.”
Mills had seven tackles, two for loss as the Eagles limited Wilson and the Seahawks to 2-for-10 on third down.