Barner gets a boost from Sproles
COSTA MESA, CALIF. » The worst-kept secret among Eagles players is that injured Darren Sproles will join them to provide moral support this week.
The 34-year-old Sproles fractured his forearm and tore an ACL on the same play in the dramatic win over the Giants in Week 3.
Though Sproles has spent much of the rehab near his Southern California home, he’s been in constant contact with players, including his protégé, Kenjon Barner. Sproles relays personal scouting reports of opponents, stadium conditions and what to expect from special teams coaches.
“I’ll definitely see him,” Barner said. “He’s doing good. Obviously, he’s not 100 percent but he’s walking after surgery. He’s extremely happy about this season, where the team is at.”
Barner ranks third in the league in punt return average, notching 11.11 yards per attempt. He credits Sproles for his help. What Barner is working through is how to stay patient. Since he lit the Cardinals for three returns worth 110 yards (36.7 average), teams have punted away from him. Last week Barner made three fair catches, and the Seahawks punted another ball out of bounds.
“It’s frustrating but it’s a major compliment, too,” Barner said. “Any time a team opts not to kick to you, it means they respect what you do. It’s humbling. But at the same time it’s like, ‘damn, give me one.””
The challenge this week is Rams punter Johnny Hekker, who averages 48.5 yards, including a net of 43.5 yards. Hekker boomed a 71-yard punt over Patrick Peterson’s head last week.
Sproles will be around to help Barner get through it. Barner has no shortage of relationships to catch up with, as he’s a Los Angeles guy with family all over the area, including Inglewood, Corona, Chino, Pasadena and Mission Viejo.
“I’m going to spend time with my family and friends,” Barner said. “I wouldn’t have that opportunity if we weren’t staying for the whole week. But now that we are, every chance I get I’m leaving.”
Barner’s checklist of things to do for visiting Eagles fans:
Disneyland: If you have kids.
Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles: Confirmed, an absolute must-try.
Hollywood: Check out the celebrity stars on the sidewalk.
Hike in the canyons: They’re all over the place. Watch out for coyotes.
***
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham visited the Museum of Ice Cream in Los Angeles with his family.
“It was cool,” Graham said, no pun attended. “They give you ice cream in every room. For me, my baby girl, she’ll be 2, and I just want to make sure I’m there as often as I can be.”
*** The Eagles don’t control “everything” in their pursuit of playoff position in the NFC, as Doug Pederson suggested Monday.
But Pederson wasn’t exaggerating when he said, “everything is still right in front of us.”
The reality is the Eagles could lose their last four games and be the top playoff seed in the NFC, although that would take outside help.
The Eagles have a 32 percent probability of winning the top seed, and a 34 percent probability of taking the second seed, based on an algorithm using strength of schedule and other factors by Playoffstatus.com.