Kelce will be in themiddle of things in 2019
PHILADELPHIA >> With all apologies to the quarterback, it starts up front for the Eagles.
It begins with fiery center Jason Kelce, who has started 73 straight regular-season games, the secondmost among active pivots in the league.
As Kelce and the offensive line go, so go franchise quarterback CarsonWentz and that arsenal of Eagles playmakers highlighted by deep threat DeSean Jackson and Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz.
The first chapter ofwhat the Eagles hope is a special season is Sunday when they oppose underdog Washington at Lincoln Financial Field (1 p.m., FOX, WIP 94.1-FM).
Kelce will have no shortage of fans to lean on for encouragement as he’s settled into a house in the perfect place to embrace his work ethic, wit and warmyet sometimes edgy personality: DelawareCounty.
The next time you run intoKelce at a Wawa or Lowe’s, to name a couple of his Delco haunts, there are any number of conversation starters beyond everybody’s favorite now, the ESPN The Magazine Body Issue where he and his offensive line mates bared almost all.
You could talk about Kelce being a vocal supporter of the Cabrini men’s lacrosse team that won its first Division III national championship last spring. You could ask about the commercials he does for Videon autos, including the Jeep Center in Newtown Square. Might even want to wish the Lower Merion girls field hockey teamcoached by his wife, Kylie, good luck on the upcoming season. She’s the Cabrini connection, too.
“My wife grew up in Havertown for seven years,” Kelce said. “Then Summary: The Eagles just need to keep Carson Wentz healthy because there’s almost no way they lose Sunday. The Redskins are like a collection of survivors following a disaster. They’re just happy to be around. Make it a win-win for the Eagles.
The pick: Eagles 27, Redskins 13.
she moved to Montco and went over to Lower Merion. She always loved being in Delaware County.”
Kelce is firmly rooted in Delco after an enjoyable stay in the city. There’s something about the suburbs and their passion for the Eagles that resonateswithKelce, who grewup inClevelandHeights, Ohio.
“You probably don’t see the (Philly pro) athletes out there in Delco quite asmuch as you do in the city,” Kelce said. “ButDelco has a really diehard following of sports in general. It’s a little bit more of a blue-collar area. The fans are passionate.”
Kelce and the Eagles’ offensive line are best when they aren’t noticed. An inopportune penalty, a missed block that exposes Wentz or a running back to a turnover or injury and you can become a public enemy.
A thick skin is part of the job for Kelce, the sixth-round draft pick out ofCincinnatiwho in eight seasons with the Birds has twice earned ProBowl and first-teamAllPro honors.
In eight seasons with Kelce at the pivot, the Eagles are 70-52 (.574) with a world championship. Not bad for a guy who was supposed to be too small to play in the NFL.
Teammates voted Kelce a team captain for the second straight season alongwithWentz, Fletcher Cox, Malcolm Jenkins and Kamu Grugier-Hill.
“I think his teammates love him,” offensive coordinator Mike Groh said. “And I knowwe love him as a coaching staff and hope that he can play for another ten years. Make sure you tell himthat, too. ...
“From a leadership standpoint, froma communications standpoint, from an ideas standpoint, he can be another extension of the coaching staff. Or of coach (Jeff) Stoutland out there on the field in terms of recognizing the fronts, the coverages, those kinds of things and getting that communicated, getting us in the right call, pointing us in the right direction, being another resource for the quarterback out there, forCarson, and taking something off his plate and being able to direct traffic that way, too. He’s a veteran guy. He’s experienced. He’s very talented and he’s decisive. So, you trust his eyes that he canmake a call and everybody will roll with it.”
Kelce (6-3, 295) is among the smaller centers in the league, and with his energetic style of play, a bit more susceptible to injuries. Last season he battled through a sprained knee, broken foot and torn elbow tendon. No one would have blamed him for retiring, which, considering the punishment over the years, seemed a possibility for a guy who turns 32 this season.
“Last year was a grind for sure,” Kelce said. “There’s always pain in this league. There’s a 100 percent injury rate. You try to get used to it and then as you play longer you havemore andmore things happen and it just adds up.”
Kelce appreciates theway his participation in offseason practices has beenmanaged by head coach Doug Pederson. He’s gotten a fewdays off. He feels refreshed, reinvigorated.
“It’s worked pretty well,” Kelce said. “I’mthe same guy I’ve always been. I love going out there and playing ball. I love playingwith the guys next to me. I love coming to work every single day so I think in that respect I’m verymuch looking forward to playing this year.”
The first month of the season could be bumpy for Wentz, Kelce and the offense. The openerwill be their first game together since last year primarily due to injuries. It could be a sloppy September while the line gets in sync.
“I’m pretty comfortablewithwhoever’s in the game,” Kelce said. “And we’re really, really fortunate to have the caliber of players we have in backup roles. They could start on any other team, or a lot of other teams.”
Bringing energy obviouslywon’t be a problemforKelce. Nothingwill top the fierce speech he gave, clad in a Mummer’s suit, on the steps of the Art Museum to cap the Super Bowl LII championship parade.
The Kelce rant, sung to the tune of Oh, MyDarling Clementine went like this: “We’re fromPhilly, bleepingPhilly,” Kelcesang, “noonelikes us, we don’t care.”
At this stage of Kelce’s career, you could substitute Delco for Philly.
“I hear about that speech everywhere but definitely in Delco for sure,” Kelce said. “I think DelawareCounty is a little bitmore awestruck.”