Fletcher Cox Should be Setting an Example at OTA’s

I recently heard some old football head somewhere talk about Terrell Owens’ work ethic early in his career. Same said old-head mentioned that Owens had said he was blown away, as a rookie, by Jerry Rice’s work ethic and sought to emulate Rice.

That’s why I think it’s an issue that Fletcher Cox was absent from the Eagles’ voluntary OTA’s this week. It’s not simply that he is the 3rd highest paid Eagle. I don’t care about that. It’s about setting an example.

It’s no secret that the Eagles just spent their top draft pick on Derek Barnett, a defensive lineman. It’s no secret that the Eagles defense struggled last year and that Cox’s performance dropped off from 2015 by pretty much every statistical measure. It’s also no secret that the coaching staff and system has only been in place for two years and the Eagles finished last in their division at 7-9.

What kind of example does that set for Derek Barnett as he joins the football team for the first organized workouts? Barnett sees a high paid, under-performing player on a losing team blowing off OTA’s. That’s a far cry from Jerry Rice’s legendary workouts and the example that he set for a young Terrell Owens.

If the new first round draft pick was a wide receiver, I would not care.  Maybe I’m naive to expect Cox to be there at the start of OTA’s welcoming the new, young defensive addition to the team, showing an example of dedication and hard work, while making Barnett feel at home with the defensive unit. That’s quite possible.

I still think, all things considered, Cox should’ve been at NovaCare for this week’s OTAs.