DC Wink on Kelce: ‘He embodies Philly’
Cheesesteaks, the Liberty Bell and Jason Kelce.
As Giants defensive coordinator Wink Martindale sees it, Kelce — the Eagles’ five-time FirstTeam All-Pro center — is symbolic with the city of Philadelphia after playing in the second-most games in franchise history (190).
“He embodies Philly,” Martindale said. “Just like the fans — mean but smart.”
Giants offensive coordinator Mike Kafka — a former thirdstring quarterback for the Eagles — agreed with Martindale’s description after witnessing both Kelce’s “mean streak” and his football IQ during one season as teammates in 2011.
“He was a sponge, trying to learn everything,” Kafka said. “He was also very vocal — just like he is today. He’s a great dude, one of my good friends, so nothing but respect for him.”
Centers — even the great ones — typically spend their careers in obscurity. Not Kelce.
“He’s a first-ballot Hall of Famer,” Martindale said.
What else is he? The subject of an Amazon Prime documentary chronicling his 2022 season, a nominee for People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive award in 2023 and co-host of a charts-topping podcast (“New Heights”).
Oh, and he double-dates with the most famous woman in the world — his brother Travis Kelce’s girlfriend Taylor Swift.
Fame hasn’t affected Jason Kelce’s football acumen, however.
“It’s like playing [against] Peyton Manning,” Martindale said, “and it’s not sexy so he doesn’t get that Peyton Manning-type credit. But he’ll see something — whether it’s a stance, whether it’s a guy putting his mouthpiece in differently — and completely flip a protection. So, that chess match is always tough.”
Kelce is one of the main reasons that the Eagles have a better than 93 percent success rate converting thirdand fourth-and-shorts when running the “Tush Push” quarterback sneak.
“Every first down, it’s not first-and-10 — it’s firstand-9,” Martindale said. “If you just look at it that way, you just have to give it your best shot when they get in those situations.”
➤ K Randy Bullock (hamstring) was placed on injured reserve and will not return this season. He was injured on a kickoff against the Saints, after following up his walk-off field goal against the Packers with the second-longest field goal of his 144game career.
Head coach Brian Daboll confirmed Cade York will make his Giants debut — as their fourth different placekicker, including cross-over punter Jamie Gillan. “You don’t want to get on the kicker train,” special teams coordinator Thomas McGaughey said, “because the destination is unknown.”
York was a fourth-round pick of the Browns who lasted just one season. He has been cleaning up his technique since joining the Giants on Nov. 3.
➤ S Xavier McKinney (illness), RT Evan Neal (ankle), DT Dexter Lawrence (hamstring), TE Lawrence Cager (groin) and DT Rakeem NunezRoches (knee) did not practice Thursday.
RB Matt Breida (hamstring), LB Carter Coughlin (neck), DT A’Shawn Robinson (back) and Gillan (left groin) were limited participants.
RB Gary Brightwell and OT Matt Peart — both fresh off of injured reserve — were full participants, as were LG Justin Pugh and TE Darren Waller.