Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Cole goes out his way, as an Eagle
PHILADELPHIA » The wreckage from his not-too-distant past on the visiting side of Lincoln Financial Field, Trent Cole retired from pro football as a Philadelphia Eagle Christmas night.
Forgive Derek Carr for leaving the applause to Eagles fans jamming the venue where Cole registered a ton of his 90 ½ career sacks. He and Cole have an almost tragic history.
Carr and the Raiders were blowing the doors off the opposition late last season when Cole, in what would be his last year in the NFL, dropped in on him as a member of the Colts.
It was late in the game and Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn was supposed to block Cole, but couldn’t. That resulted in what would be Cole’s last career sack, and Carr’s last play of the 2016 season.
Cole dragged Carr down from behind, his body pinning the quarterback’s leg beneath them and resulting in a fractured fibula.
That basically was the end of the season for the Raiders. And they’ve not gotten over it, as they entered the Linc Monday with a 6-8 record.
“It was a bad situation for him, part of the game,” Cole said. “It’s something you can’t explain. You’ve just got to keep moving forward. I had nothing against him. I was out there just playing a game and went out there to make a tackle and then things happen. I’ve had things happen to me. We all know what this game entails, we all know what can happen in this game. When he first got hurt all I did was wish the best for him.”
Cole registered 85 ½ of his career sacks in eight seasons with the Eagles, who took the University of Cincinnati product off the board in the fifth round of the 2005 draft.
After the 2014 season, Cole declined to take a pay cut, was released by the Eagles and played two years with the Colts.
Cole said he had plenty of offers to play an 11th season, when the realization hit him that it was time to move on.
“Every time I wanted to go out there and make sure I left everything on the field,” Cole said. “Everybody knew I was going to give everything I had. That’s the way I was. That’s the way I played. I gave 110 percent. I had that drive. I’ll never be satisfied. To the day I die, I’ll never be satisfied and I’m going to preach that to my kids.”
Right now, Cole has a daughter, with another on the way. He resides in South Jersey, where he owns 1,200 acres, some of it he uses to farm corn and soybean, some of it he leases.
Cole said he does a show on Blitz Outdoor TV and a big announcement is on the way. One of these days he says he’ll go hunting with Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, another South Jersey resident. Neighbors?
“I can’t comment about that,” Cole said. “Maybe.”
So, there you have it, Trent Cole in a nutshell. He said he’s grateful to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie for making the retirement dream happen.
“There’s nothing better than to co me in here on Christmas night on Monday night football with the Eagles having a great season to end my career and start a new one,” Cole said. “I had some great years and I wouldn’t change them for nothing. I don’t regret nothing.”
The latter includes the adventures Cole had with the media. Emotional to a fault, he was rarely accused of being diplomatic.
“Sometimes you hated me, but you were passionate in my support as well throughout all this,” Cole said. “It’s great to be back here now. I’m very excited about the Philadelphia Eagles season.”
*** The Eagles scratched guard Stefen Wisniewski (ankle), who began his career with the Eagles
The Eagles also deactivated wide receivers Shelton Gibson and Marcus Johnson, running back Wendell Smallwood, defensive end Steven Means, linebacker Joe Walker and defensive tackle Elijah Qualls.
*** Jay Ajayi took over the starting job at running back for the Eagles.
LeGarrette Blount started 10 of the team’s 14 games entering the contest.
*** The Raiders scratched quarterback Connor Cook, wide receiver Isaac Whitney, cornerback David Amerson, offensive lineman Ian Silberman and defensive linemen Treyvon Hester and Mario Edwards, Jr.