Judge: Pats punter has little to say
PHOENIX -- The oldest man to ever play in the Super Bowl has stories. Lots of stories. You would expect that from Jeff Feagles, who has survived the tar pit that is professional football for some two decades.
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| Finally in a Super bowl, Feagles says: 'The stars haven't been aligned until now.' (US Presswire) |
He tells a story about Buddy Ryan, and that Feagles humor is front and center. Feagles has played with five teams, including the Philadelphia Eagles from 1990-1993. Ryan was the coach and in his final season, and just before being fired, Ryan told Feagles: I'll be back in the NFL, and when I come back, you're going to be my punter.
Some two years later Feagles was at a golf tournament when Ryan contacted him. Ryan had just been named coach of the Arizona Cardinals and kept his promise. He wanted then free agent Feagles back but with one condition.
You have to fire your agent, Ryan said, because I hate that guy.
Somehow, it all worked out. The agent wasn't fired and Feagles had made his return to the NFL. Then again, it seems, Feagles has been in football since they were playing with single bar face guards.
He has kept his energy and sense of professionalism by never letting the sport eat at his innards. Feagles has remained a football child at heart.
Just this week, for example, Feagles was inside the University of Phoenix Stadium doing a television interview when afterwards two men walked by him carrying a large metal case. "You'd love to see what's inside," one of the men told Feagles.
At first, they wouldn't allow Feagles a peek but he talked his way into a look. They opened the case and inside was ... the Lombardi Trophy. On top of the trophy, which was neatly snuggled inside the case, were two white gloves.
"It was like something from the Vatican," Feagles said.
He's seen everything, done everything, but even Jeff Feagles, it turns out, can be awed.
Feagles has played for the New England Patriots (1988-1989), the Eagles, the Arizona Cardinals (1994-1997), the Seattle Seahawks (1998-2002) and now the Super Bowl Giants.
"I have to be honest, I wasn't sure if I'd ever get here," Feagles said of the Super Bowl. He added: "The stars haven't been aligned until now."
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