1. NFLREPORT | Page68
BY JEFF JANICZEK
janiczj@phillynews.com
E
AGLES RUNNING
BACK LeSean McCoy is
accustomed to taking
handoffs from his quar-
terback on Sunday afternoons,
but on a rainy Tuesday night he
was theone giving handoffs.
McCoy stopped by VILLA, an
urban-inspired clothing store on
North Broad Street, to give out
150 frozen turkeys to any family
in need this Thanksgiving. He
signed autographs for smiling
fans and posed for pictures with
young kids wearing his jersey.
“I’m just focused on giving
back. I did the same thing last
weekinHarrisburg soI’mjusttry-
ing to the best of my ability to give
back,” McCoy said. “I think I’m
blessed, and I want to share my
blessings with everyone else. I
feel like this gives the opportunity
for everybody to have a good
Thanksgiving. It’s all about the
community, a community that
supports us week-in and week-
out, nomatterhowwe play.”
When McCoy arrived at the
store, which was already decorat-
ed for the holidays, he welcomed
the long line of people reaching
around the block. He took the
time to shake hands, give hugs,
andthank fans for their support.
“It feels great, man. When I
first started doing this, I was
young, andIdidn’t realizehowim-
portant it was,” said McCoy, who
often holds charity events in his
hometown of Harrisburg. “To see
the smiles and the looks on peo-
ple’s faces, it means a lot. I know
some people can’t afford certain
things so it’s a blessing for me to
beable to do this.”
Now in his third year with the
Eagles, McCoy has had a break-
out season with 1,217 total yards
and12 touchdownssofar.Thesec-
ond-round draft pick out of Pitts-
burgh is quickly becoming a star
andhasembracedtheresponsibil-
itiesthat comewithhisrisingpop-
ularity.
McCo, holdsan annual commu-
nity day in Harrisburg, which av-
erages more than 5,000 attend-
ees. Through “Shady Day” and
other events, the 23-year-old
hopes to become a role model for
kids in thearea.
“I know when I was their age, I
was looking up to other athletes,”
McCoy said. “I want to do things
right so when they get older, they
see LeSean McCoy as a good ath-
lete and a good person. Hopefully,
they will do the same things,
whether they’re playing in the
pros or have a good job, and give
back to the community them-
selves.”
After spending Thanksgiving
at home with his family, McCoy
will continue to prepare for a visit
from the 7-3 New England Patri-
ots on Sunday. The 4-6 Eagles
must continue to build momen-
tum off their 17-10 win over the Gi-
antsinordertohaveashotatmak-
ing thepostseason.
“They’re a good team, man.
They’ve been winning, and
there’s a lot of tradition up there,”
McCoy said. “It’ll be a good game.
They’ve got a good defense, but
we’re going to have fun with it
and hopefully win. It’s a big game
for us. Each game is critical.”
As far as remaining active in
the community, McCoy already
has something in mind for next
month.
“I think I might do like a toy-
giveaway oratoy-drive forChrist-
mas,”he said. ¢
BY LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com
DANIEL Te’o-Nesheim
might have been doomed
here from the moment the Eagles
selected him in the third round of
the2010draft.The teamhasn’t re-
ally taken a third-rounder it end-
ed up liking since Brian West-
brook in 2002. Thelitany ofdisap-
pointmentsincethen includesBil-
ly McMullen (2003), Matt Ware
(2004), Ryan Moats (2005), Tony
Hunt (2007) and Bryan Smith
(2008). Stewart Bradley (2007)
was a decent player who quickly
fellout offavorfollowingaknee in-
jury.
Te’o-Nesheim was signed off
theEagles’ practice squadyester-
day by the Tampa Bay Bucs. The
Eagles replaced him with another
defensiveend, Maurice Fountain.
Te’o-Nesheim got into six
games as a rookie, managing five
tackles and one sack, but he did
not make the team out of training
camp this year and had been on
thepractice squad all season.
Fountain is 29, which might
very well make him the oldest
practice-squad player in Eagles
history, if anyone bothered to
track that. He played at Clemson,
then in the Arena leagues and the
UFL. He has been on the practice
squads of the Dolphins and the
Seahawks.
Non-trash talk
In his weekly radio appearance
on WEEI in Boston, Patriots quar-
terbackTomBradysaidPatscoach
Bill Belichick told his team the Ea-
gles are “the best team we’ve
playedallyear.”
Brady called the 4-6 Eagles “tal-
entedat everyposition.”
“Obviously, they’ve had some
tough losses this year, most of
them have been in the fourth
quarter,” Brady said. “But they
have very good skill play-
ers . . . On a short week, against
a very talented team, it’s going to
beall wecan handle.” ¢
For more Eagles coverage and
opinion, read the Daily News’
Eagles blog, Eagletarian, at
www.eagletarian.com.
Follow him on Twitter at
http://twitter.com/LesBowen.
SPORTS | EAGLES
Eagles’ LeSean McCoy, who handed out 150 turkeys last night, hands one to Barbara Unruh.
SARAH J. GLOVER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Te’o-Nesheim never made name for self
’Tis the season
for McCoy to
say thanks
Page 76 P H I L A D E L P H I A D A I L Y N E W S Wednesday,November23,2011
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