Beneath the surface, a special bond is brewing

By now, Monday afternoon, the “enjoy” part is over and the Eagles are on to Arizona, Sunday’s opponent. They’re all going to be at the NovaCare Complex working together as the preparations for the next challenge begin. Each player has a part in the work.

“You just know we’re going to need everybody during the course of the season,” wide receiver A.J. Brown said. “It doesn’t matter how we get it done or who makes the most plays because at the end of the day it’s about winning. We’re here to win.”

Cornerback James Bradberry was one of the final players out of the Eagles’ locker room on Sunday and he stopped for a moment to talk about the last time he had been “on a team like this.” He knew what I meant. The Eagles are 4-0. They know this is a good team that must keep its perspective through the course of a long season that will inevitably have its share of ups and downs, but there is no denying that this is a good team.

“I haven’t been on a team like this since Little League,” he said. “That team was really good. We were undefeated three years in a row and won the championship every year. I think, you know, we are a team that didn’t waver when we were down 14-0 (against Jacksonville). Everyone knew we had the ability to fight back and get into the game because we have a strong offense and we have a strong defense. Players were going to step up.

“That’s just the mindset. We all have ownership here.”

Every player has a role and every player embraces it in the “We, Not Me” mantra that permeates the NovaCare Complex. We know the Eagles are 4-0 this season and we know the stars are playing star football. Deeper than that is a team that has its players wrapping its arms around the collective concept of team. Know your role. Embrace it. Star in that role and understand that when the team has success, individual success happens.

“I think we’re in it for each other,” Bradberry said. “This is a special team, a special mindset. I think that’s what I’ve learned through four games. We can win in a lot of ways, no matter who is out there. That doesn’t happen in this league very often.”