The Times Herald (Norristown, PA)
Ajayi aims to keep rollin’ all playoffs long
PHILADELPHIA » Counting a semi-healthy scratch from the regular season finale, Eagles running back Jay Ajayi has had something akin to four bye weeks this season.
The last time he was so fresh, he rushed for 122 yards to lead the Miami Dolphins to a victory in their season opener.
“I guess I got lucky in a way,” said Ajayi, who enjoyed regular season bye weeks for the Dolphins and Eagles, and again last weekend. “I feel good right now. I’m excited for this challenge. It’s a one-game season.”
The Dolphins were 6-0 when Ajayi rushed for 100 or more yards, including a triumph over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5 this season. He ran for 200 or more yards three times, joining the exclusive club of Tiki Barber, Earl Campbell and O.J. Simpson.
Thoughtfully Ajayi has invited Eagles fans to ride the Jay Train in his rematch with the Falcons in the divisional round of the playoffs, Saturday, at Lincoln Financial Field. Train whistles are fine. All aboard, right?
“You know that, yeah,” said Ajayi, who was acquired at the Halloween trade deadline from the Dolphins for a third-round draft pick. “First class, everything, we’ve got it all.”
The Jay Train is the alter ego the 6-0, 223-pound Ajayi dreamed up during the sophomore year of a stellar career at Boise State. Think Eagles great Brian Dawkins, who did his Weapon X act after breaking the tunnel on game days. Think nasty, only with a football in his hands.
“I had seen a picture that someone had photoshopped me on a train or something like that, and I thought it was kind of clever,” said Ajayi, rewinding to his college days. “I just stuck with the Jay Train celebration when I scored and it just kind of became my persona on the field where I’m kind of a nice guy off the field, real chill. But when I’m on the field, I can turn into the Jay Train and become kind of violent, physical. Use it to just be physical, be a dog on the field and just use all those emotions to run and make plays for the team.”
Ajayi wears a necklace with a