PHILADELPHIA — There was a moment when veteran Darius Slay thought he’d wind up with the Baltimore Ravens last March because the Eagles were caught in a salary cap crunch.
It didn’t happen that way, and with the postseason ahead, the cornerback is bursting with energy after sitting out four games following surgery to repair the meniscus in his knee.
Slay may have been sidelined but he’s plugged into the playoff picture. Focused on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who the Eagles oppose Monday at Raymond James Stadium, he didn’t mind entertaining a few questions about the marquee game of Super Wild Card weekend, the Los Angeles Rams playing Slay’s former Detroit Lions Sunday evening.
Quarterback Matt Stafford, the first pick in the 2009 draft by Detroit, returns to Motown with the Rams to take on the Lions and Jared Goff, who the Rams selected with the first pick in the 2016 draft. The quarterbacks switched teams in a trade that netted the Rams a couple of first round picks and a Super Bowl title with Stafford in 2022.
“That’s going to be freaking amazing,” said Slay, who joined the Eagles after seven seasons in Detroit. “I think God was meant to set this up because this is a great setup. You’ve got Detroit winning their first division title (in 30 years) and in the playoffs that they wanted Stafford to do. And the Rams wanted Goff to win a Super Bowl over there in LA. So, they brought Stafford in, and Stafford won it his first year.
“Stafford could go in there and just crush all their hopes. Like, ‘I know y’all just won your first division title in 30 years, that y’all wanted me to win. But now I’ll just shut all that bleep down. Now y’all go home.’ Or, (for Goff), ‘yeah I just won the first title here in 30 years in Detroit and I can whoop y’all’s ass and just send y’all home.’”
It’s a small world that Slay, who turned 33 on New Year’s Day, is happy to be part of.
Storm clouds formed for Slay last spring when the Eagles struck a major deal to bring back cornerback James Bradberry but were unable to retain defensive tackle Javon Hargrave, who signed a mega-bucks deal with the 49ers. At the same time, there was an exodus of role players from the Super Bowl team, and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, the team’s best defensive back, was angling for a big pact.
Slay, voted to two Pro Bowl in Philly, had talks with the Eagles but figured he’d be released. He tweeted his love for Philly, adding, “Let’s see where we heading next.”
Not long after, Slay reached an agreement on an extension. Don’t even ask if he has second thoughts about the Ravens, who have the best record in football and are favored to win the Super Bowl. Slay is eager to show how much he loves Philly come Monday.
“We’re one of 14 teams playing right now, so yeah, we’re feeling damn good,” Slay said. “It’s hard to get in the playoffs, so we’re thankful to be one of those teams. We have to enjoy it and try to get this win.”
Statistically Slay did little in the Eagles’ 25-11 road win over the Bucs in Week 3. But neither did Mike Evans, whose 13 touchdown receptions is tied for the league lead. Evans had five catches for 60 yards against the Eagles.
Limiting Evans and Chris Godwin, both 1,000-yard receivers, figures to be key in defeating a Bucs team that relies heavily on Baker Mayfield and the pass. It starts with the 6-5, 231-pound Evans.
“He’s one of the best to do it,” Slay said. “He’s historical right now. He’s for sure a future Hall of Famer, first ballot. It’s crazy if he’s not. (To get) 1,000 yards in 10 (straight) seasons, very good dude. I know him personally. Great guy, he works hard, and it’s always a great challenge. Me and him have been going at it since college when he was at Texas A&M. It’s always a great matchup.”
A win over the Bucs and the fifth-seeded Eagles might get a shot at the Rams or Lions down the line. Then again, if the higher seeded teams prevail this weekend, a victory would send the Eagles to visit the San Francisco 49ers.
Until then, Slay is locked on the Bucs. When it’s time to soak his knee Sunday, he intends to watch the Rams and the Lions.
“I want Stafford to win,” Slay said of his old teammate “and I want Detroit, the city, to get the love that they deserve. … I don’t know how I can do that but I’m rooting for both.”
Source: Berkshire mont