NEW YORK: The Philadelphia Eagles added speed, speed and more speed.
After selecting TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor with the 21st overall pick in the NFL draft, the Eagles acquired wideout Marquise Goodwin from the San Francisco 49ers on Saturday and chose two other fast receivers.
The Eagles picked Boise State’s John Hightower in the fifth round and Southern Mississippi’s Quez Watkins in the sixth round.
Adding receivers was Philadelphia’s biggest priority. Last season, Carson Wentz became the first player to throw for more than 4,000 yards despite not having a wide receiver reach 500 yards, in part because of injuries. Wentz led the Eagles to four straight wins in December to secure an NFC East title with a group of castoffs at receiver.
Getting Reagor, Goodwin, Hightower and Watkins should help. They join veterans DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery, 2019 second-round pick J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Greg Ward and others.
“Can he run? Is he healthy? Does he love to play? That was going to be our offseason motto,” personnel boss Howie Roseman said.
Goodwin spent his first four seasons with Buffalo and past three in San Francisco. He has 140 receptions for 2,323 yards and 13 TDs in his career.
Goodwin has been plagued by injuries and played 16 games only once, in 2017, when he had career highs in receptions (56) and yards (962).
“Marquise is one of the fastest men in the world. I mean that,” Roseman said.
Hightower, 6-foot-1 and 189 pounds, led Boise State in yards (943) and TD receptions (eight), while finishing second in catches (51) as a senior. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash at the combine.
“I was running track before I started playing football, so the track background definitely helped me with my quickness, being able to outrun defenders,” he said.
Watkins, 6-foot and 185 pounds, had 159 receptions for 2,404 yards and 17 TDs in 35 college games. He ran a 4.35 in the 40 at the combine.
“A lot people may not know me now, but really by the end of the season people are going to know me,” Watkins said. “I’m really not somebody that’s going to try to stay off to the side. I’m going to show up to the competition and show everybody what I’m about, show them I’m ready to play and show them why I’m an Eagle.”
The Eagles started Day 3 by taking Clemson defensive back K’Von Wallace and Auburn offensive lineman Jack Driscoll in the fourth round.
Wallace was mentored by Pro Football Hall of Famer Brian Dawkins, a former Clemson star and Eagles legend, and Troy Vincent, a five-time Pro Bowl cornerback and current league executive.
Roseman then made several trades, flipping a fourth-rounder (No. 146) for picks Nos. 196, No. 200, No. 233 and a 2021 fifth-rounder.
Temple linebacker Shaun Bradley was picked at No. 196. Watkins went at No. 200. Stanford defensive end Casey Toohill was the team’s final selection at No. 233 in the seventh round.
The Eagles swapped sixth-round picks to get Goodwin, giving San Francisco No. 190 and taking No. 210. They used it on Auburn offensive lineman Prince Tega Wanogho.
Eagles emphasize speed, add Goodwin, draft fast receivers
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Eagles emphasize speed, add Goodwin, draft fast receivers
Seahawks soar to Super Bowl win over Patriots
- The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize
SANTA CLARA: The Seattle Seahawks coasted to Super Bowl glory Sunday, routing the New England Patriots 29-13 as Sam Darnold sealed his journey from flop quarterback to conqueror of the NFL’s biggest prize.
Brushing off a reputation for wilting in big games, journeyman quarterback Darnold threw for a touchdown and some 200 yards on the grandest stage of all to give the Seahawks their second-ever Lombardi Trophy.
“It’s unbelievable. Everything that has happened in my career, but to do it with this team, I wouldn’t want it any other way,” said Darnold.
The victory was buoyed by a dominant defensive display, and kicker Jason Myers’ five field goals — the most ever by one player in a Super Bowl.
But it was a night to forget for Darnold’s counterpart Drake Maye, who was sacked six times and threw two interceptions, failing in his bid to become the youngest starting quarterback to win a Super Bowl at 23.
Bad Bunny performed the half-time show, singing entirely in Spanish in a Super Bowl first.
One of the world’s biggest artists, Bad Bunny has been a vocal critic of Donald Trump’s brutal and divisive immigration crackdown.
His vibrant show, featuring cameos from Lady Gaga and Ricky Martin, largely avoided politics.
That did not stop Trump — who did not attend — taking to social media to dub it an “affront” to the United States, claiming that no one could understand the performance.
’Evil Empire’
An initially cagey game featured no touchdowns for either side in the first three quarters, with the Patriots stifled and the Seahawks largely playing it safe, relying on Kenneth Walker.
The running back managed 135 rushing yards across the night, and was named the game’s Most Valuable Player.
“We went through a lot of adversity this year, but we came together and stuck together and this is what we got,” said Walker, after the game.
Super Bowl LX sprang to life in the final quarter, with four touchdowns.
Darnold led things off with his endzone pass to A.J. Barner, before the hitherto scoreless Patriots hit back with Maye finding Mack Hollins for a touchdown.
Seattle compounded the misery with yet another Maye sack resulting in a turnover and a career-first touchdown for linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, before the Patriots managed another consolation visit to the end zone.
It all meant Seattle avenged its loss to the Patriots in the Seahawks’ previous Super Bowl appearance, back in 2015.
For the Patriots, a franchise once so dominant they were dubbed the “Evil Empire,” it was a disappointing night to end a season in which they had been reborn under coach of the year Mike Vrabel.
The storied franchise could not secure a record seventh Super Bowl, and their first since the departure of Tom Brady.
Porous Patriots
More than 120 million Americans were expected to watch the biggest event in US sports, which took place at the 75,000-capacity Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California.
The Seahawks boasted a vocal majority of fans from the kickoff, and their early nerves were settled with a field goal from the game’s very first drive.
New England’s porous offensive line was continually overwhelmed, the team pinned deep in its own territory, as Seattle added two more field goals for a 9-0 lead at the break.
Bad Bunny’s half-time performance came as a welcome respite for New England, with Internet memes quickly joking that the superstar had “gained more yards than the Patriots” as he strutted through his colorful set.
The Seahawks picked up where they left off, with Walker’s legs powering Seattle up the field for Myers to extend the lead.
Seattle finally managed the game’s first touchdown. Darnold’s 16-yard pass found tight end Barner in the deep right corner of the endzone.
With the night threatening to turn into farce, a topless streaker evaded security efforts.
This time the break in play briefly sparked New England to life. Maye found Hollins with a stunning 35-yard sling for a touchdown and the Patriots’ first points, narrowing the game to 19-7.
But it proved in vain, as Nwosu sealed the win before Rhamondre Stevenson ran in a late consolation touchdown.
It was sweet vindication for the humble Darnold, once a highly drafted youth who played for four NFL franchises before his stunning debut season in Seattle ended in the ultimate victory.
“So proud of my guys. I can’t say enough great things about our defense and special teams,” said Darnold.
“I know we won the Super Bowl. We could have been a little bit better on offense but I don’t care about that right now. An unbelievable feeling.”
