Celek reunion party won’t be all hugs and kisses

PHILADELPHIA » Each summer the rallying point for the extended Celek family is a lake in Michigan so stunning its visitors applaud it. You might be able to fit 30 people in the vacation home.

The go-to place Sunday is Lincoln Financial Field, where about 50 Celeks and friends will gather to cheer Brent, the 32-year-old tight end of the Eagles, and his 29-year-old brother Garrett, a tight end with the San Francisco 49ers. Even the rain forecast throughout the day won’t dampen this campfire story for the next summer reunion.

“Yeah, I’m excited,” Brent said. “It’s real cool. I think my family, there will be a few people coming into town for this game. So it will be fun for them, another game for me. I don’t really know if there’s going to be any times to line up against him. If that was the case, it would be a little bit different story.”

That actually could be the case, Brent conceded, as the brothers play special teams. Brent also revealed, upon interrogation, that Garrett sent him a text suggesting he keep his head on a swivel Sunday.

“I don’t know if that works or not,” Garrett confirmed in a telephone interview about the special teams get-together. “But if it does, I might, you know, run up to him and give him a little shot in the chops.”

It won’t be the first time the Celeks have gone toeto-toe. Growing up, Garrett said they regularly played basketball, baseball and football against each other before moving on to LaSalle High School in Cincinnati.

“I have a lot of fond memories of endless nights where the two of us were just playing against each other,” Garrett said. “As brothers, he’s always had my back. When we were kids we didn’t get along but you’re brothers. But once we matured we became really close. I would say the reason why I’m in the NFL now is because of him. I think he’s a leader, a tremendous leader and I’m always trying to work hard and model my life after his.”

Brent Celek (6-4, 261) has had a solid career with enough highlights to fill a book. A 2007 fifth-round pick out of Cincinnati, he’s played in 166 games with 127 starts. Brent has three receptions worth 19 yards starting 5 of 7 games this season but 388 catches — fourth on the all-time Eagles list.