GRIDIRON GLORY

WITH PHILLY IN THE SPORTS SPOTLIGHT FOR THE NFL DRAFT, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES BRENT CEL AND RODNEY MCLEOD TALK FOOTBALL, FAMILY, AND FREE TIME.

Run down the stats and Brent Celek and Rodney Mcleod don’t seem to have much in common. Celek, who began his career as a fifth-round draft pick under Andy Reid, is a veteran Eagles tight end and has been a fixture on both the football and philanthropy scenes in Philly for more than a decade. Mcleod, who grew up around the Washington, DC area, just wrapped up his first season with the Eagles as a safety after starting out as an undrafted free agent with the St. Louis Rams, and is still getting to know his adopted hometown. But they do have one big thing in common: They love the food in Philly, from out-of-the-way pizza joints to stalwart dining experiences like Buddakan. Fresh off a charity fashion show for Big Brothers Big Sisters, Celek and Mcleod donned suits instead of uniforms to talk to Philadelphia Style.

I always knew I loved footWhenmore Brentball. especiallybut favoriteHe’s the I my watchedthan Celek:did Pittsburghteam favoriteyou Notrea hobby? becausebothall player Dame.the Steelersknow gamesof of I liked Jeromethatall were time. growingthe footballmy Bettis. EaglesI startedup, was playingschool. touchdown Duringtight pass,end the as and firsta I freshmanknew game thatI caughtin was high the a positionRodney Mcleod:I wanted to My play. mom always made sure we did extracurricular activities, so I played football and basketball, and ran track growing up. I went to the Junior Olympics for track and ran in the Penn Relays in high school. I enjoyed it but I knew football was where I wanted to be. I didn’t want to just run— I wanted to have a purpose behind it. Track has really helped me on the field from a conditioning standpoint. I’ve got a lot of miles on these legs.

What were your first impressions about Philadelphia? RM: I’m from the DC area so there are a lot of similarities. I had only been to Philly once before, but I had friends from here so I knew a lot about the city—like the cheesesteaks. I still don’t have a favorite. BC: Cincinnati was like a ghost town compared to Philadelphia; I had never really been to a major city before. One of the first things that I heard was about the people, that it was a rougher, tougher city. And it turns out that it is. [Laughs] But I liked that. It’s changed me for the better.

HowRM: I’m are goingyou spendingto stay in the Philly off and season? check out new restaurants. I have a whole list on my phone. I’ve knocked a lot of tourist stuff off my bucket list already: the Rocky steps, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell. BC: My family and I are going to a cabin in the Midwest. I like to cook, so I’ll make everything from scratch, and read a lot. Being a new dad is the greatest thing ever. My daughter has really changed how I see the world.

What’s one thing people might not know about you? RM: I’m the oldest of five brothers and sisters so I always helped out growing up, from making grilled cheese to changing diapers. BC: I’m an entrepreneur at heart. Real estate is my passion so I’m getting more involved in that. And I’m working with a local R&B artist, Guordan Banks, on his music career. Music is my other passion.