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Game Vs. Redskins: Locker Room Offense

C Jason Kelce

On the rough start to the season: "We did start off a little rocky, but most of it was on my shoulders…I'm not going to lie that the lockout did hurt us. But, you never want to make an excuse like that—every other team had the lockout too. So, it would be unwise to say that it affected us more than it did other teams."

"I think we've already learned from our mistakes of saying we're going to be outstanding or anything like that. I'm not going to guarantee anything. But I  will say, if we continue to play the way that we have, then I don't think any teams will be looking forward to playing us next season."


G Evan Mathis


On the offensive line becoming one of the strengths of the team by the end of the season: "The only reason we were considered a weakness because people were scared of what we were on paper. We had a couple rookies, a journeyman guard and a left guard playing tackle. On paper it didn't look like it was anything. People just weren't sure. We hadn't proven anything to anybody. We took it on our shoulders, paid attention to (offensive line) coach (Howard) Mudd in the meeting room and continued to make strides the whole year."

On Mudd's presence on the offensive line: "It was huge. I mean, there's not a better offensive line coach in this game. He knows how to make the game easy for whoever he puts out there. He continues to coach us, continues to give us the techniques and the methods that will make us play our best football."

On whether he has ever played next to an offensive tackle like Jason Peters: "In Cincinnati, I played next to Andrew Whitworth. He's a very good tackle. There's nothing better than Jason Peters. It's great playing next to an elite tackle for sure."

WR DeSean Jackson


On finishing the season with a .500 record: "Obviously, we had to play for the team and play for one another. We could only control what we were able to control. We didn't have a shot to get into the playoffs, that was out of our control. As a team, we just focused on finishing the year strong and I think we did that. Next year, it will get better."

On how he feels: "Very frustrated. The year had a lot of ups and downs for me and the team. We just have to move forward. Everything in life happens for a reason. My situation and the team's situation, it all happens for a reason. God has a plan. I just wanted to say that I stuck with it and fought through the best way I could, regardless of how I started. I just wanted to put everything behind me and play well for this team. I think I was able to do that."

On whether he has ever envisioned not playing for this team: "I have not figured that far yet. It's a professional game and a business. I wish I could give you an answer and say whether I will be here or not, but I really don't know. We will just see how it all plays out."


On how much this year was a learning experience for him: "I think I have learned a lot about how this is a business and professionally how to come to work and not let things affect me. I can admit to certain things affecting me during the season. I just want to apologize, I could have handled things a little differently. Now, sitting here after the season is over, I can sit here and say I was able to put things behind me and fight for my teammates and this organization. I know that something good will come out of this situation. I was able to get to that and move forward. We will see how it plays out."

On whether his game today was a statement about how he can still make the big play: "No, I don't come out on the field and try to make statements about being able to play at a high level. I was able to finish strong and that is what really matters. I have my head coach (Andy Reid), offensive coordinator (Marty Mornhinweg), teammates, owners and the whole organization behind me. It's not how you start, it's how you finish."


On whether he had any moments today where he thought this might be his last game as an Eagle: "No, like I said, I am not there. I don't know whether I will be here next year or not. It is out of my control and power. I hope I will be here. These guys on this team and the fans, this is home."

On how he came to peace with his situation: "Honestly, it's about only fighting the battles that you can control. At the end of the day, I play football. It's what I do and it's what my job is. I can't really get frustrated over contract situations or how I am paid how I think I should be. Whatever the case may be, I can't really allow that to bother me. I am young and I went through what I went through, but I was able to shake myself out of it and come back to reality. I gave it my all, played hard and did everything the right way. You can tell a lot about a person and his character to see how they finish, not how they started."

WR Jeremy Maclin

On today: "The most important thing was to get this win and show how dominant we were inside the division. It was good to get momentum going into the offseason."

On whether he thinks the roster of players will remain mostly intact going into next season: "Yeah, but this is the National Football League and stuff is going to happen that we can't control. We want to stay as close as possible and take this momentum into next season."


On how it feels to not make the playoffs: "It will be tough to sit at home and watch the playoffs, but we have to maintain a positive outlook about what we could be and go into the offseason knowing that we can play with the best teams in the league."

On whether he expects guys to act differently this offseason in response to not making the playoffs: "I think that guys will be hungrier. Philly is not used to not being in the playoffs. I think guys will be hungry. This offseason will be very critical for us and I think it will be good."

On whether the team's failure to live up to potential is the thing that will bother him the most: "Yeah, it is very frustrating. We did the best we could do in the later part of the season. We finished 4-0 and that was the best we could have done. We can't look back into the past, guys will start hanging their heads. We have to use this to motivate us." 

TE Brent Celek


On his thoughts regarding winning the last four games but missing the playoffs: "We knew coming into this game that we were not going to make the playoffs, but we wanted to make a statement and show we were a good football team and that we are going to be a team to reckon with next year."

On whether he expects guys to act differently this offseason in response to not making the playoffs: "We are going to work hard. We already talked about it. We have to stick together as a team, do a lot of teambuilding stuff and get ready for next year. Nobody is content. We knew that if they were going to let us into the playoffs, we were going to do a lot of damage. Unfortunately, we didn't make it."


On whether the message has been sent that Andy Reid will be back next year: "I think that Andy is going to be back. I think he should be back. He is an amazing coach. I think it's tough when you don't have an offseason and you have a lot of new guys. Football is a team sport. You have to come together as a team. I think we have done that in the second half of the season. We just have to keep it going into next year."

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