Ertz’s better half brightens up another camp outing
PHILADELPHIA >> Heading the star-studded celebrity guest list at training camp Monday was USWNT Julie Ertz, the wife of Eagles tight end Zach Ertz.
Julie made a surprise visit to catch up with her better half, sharing a kiss after practice before taking off to promote the USWNT’s ongoing World Cup championship victory lap, in this case a “friendly” with Portugal Aug. 29 at Lincoln Financial Field.
It’s safe to say Zach not only will be at the match but live vicariously through his wife. He reckons there’s a chance the team gears up in the Eagles’ game day locker room.
“Hopefully they keep my name plate up and put her right in my locker at the Linc,” Ertz said. “It’s going to be an unbelievable experience.”
••• Eagles defensive end Derek Barnett got in the grill of rookie offensive tackle Andre Dillard, who steamrolled safety Johnathan Cyprien in 11 on 11 drills at practice Monday morning.
The excitement brought the entire squad together for a scrum, which quickly was broken up.
Barnett, coming off a shoulder injury, probably doesn’t need to go into MMA mode until he’s 100 percent. But you can’t doubt the man’s loyalty for his teammates. •••
Also visiting camp Monday was Hugh Douglas, the most feared Eagles edge rusher since Reggie White and Clyde Simmons were in the house.
Douglas wasn’t just a pass rusher. He set the edge and played every down, the responsibilities of Barnett. Like Douglas, Barnett doesn’t have the prototype body of a defensive end but is full of tenacity.
After the practice Douglas, 47, posed for photos and said he turned down four requests to put his career in book form. He is fourth on the all-time Eagles sacks list with 54.5 in
82 games, ending in the
2004 season.
The late White registered
124 sacks in 121 games, tops on the all-time Eagles list. Simmons is third with 76 sacks in 124 games. Trent Cole is second on the list with 85.5 sacks in 155 games.
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NOTES >> Jason Kelce and Rodney McLeod were given veteran days off from the 10-10-10 practice Monday … Groh is looking forward to getting together with Foles Thursday. “We certainly do appreciate everything that Nick did while he was here as an Eagle and we had a lot of success with Nick and know that he’s moved on and wish him all the best there in Jacksonville,” Groh said. “Obviously still has a lot of friendships here and looking forward to seeing him before the game.”