SAINT PAUL, Minn. – While the Philadelphia Eagles are looking to earn their first Super Bowl rings in the franchise’s third-ever trip to the big game, two members of the underdogs from Philadelphia already have pro football’s most coveted piece of bling.
Defensive end Chris Long and running back LeGarrette Blount won them last year, with the New England Patriots. To get a second ring, that pair will have to find a way to help beat the Patriots on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
“It brings back a lot of memories. I had a great, great year with those guys, but at the end of the day in this business, people move around,” Long said on Monday night at Xcel Energy Center during the Super Bowl’s traditional media circus. “I was only there a year. It’s not like playing the Rams in the Super Bowl, a team that I was there eight years for, but when you win a championship with somebody, it creates a bond that lasts a lifetime, so it’s interesting to play against those guys.”
The Patriots are preparing for an interesting time playing against Long, after the son of NFL Hall of Famer Howie Long had five sacks and four forced fumbles this season. Against the Vikings in the NFC Championship Game, Long hit quarterback Case Keenum’s arm, which led to a 50-yard interception return by cornerback Patrick Robinson that tied the game 7-7 in the first quarter.
In the second quarter, long recovered a fumble on a sack, which led to another touchdown and a 21-7 Eagles lead.
“Chris is one of their eight D-linemen that they run out there and they run him out a lot,” said Patriots offensive line coach Dante Scarnecchia. “Chris has a really unique skill set defensively. We have to do everything right against Chris or he’s going to be a problem. I love Chris.”
The Patriots’ running backs have all said good things about Blount, who spent parts of three seasons in New England, but former teammates on both teams agree that friendships will be put away until Sunday.
“A little bit. Not much, but a little bit. We’re still cool,” said Patriots running back Brandon Bolden, when asked if he and Blount still talk. “I love LeGarrette. We’ve known each other a long time, been teammates for a long time. It will be great to see him, but it’s work. Anything goes right now.”
The primary bit of work the Patriots’ defense may have on Sunday is slowing Blount, who had two touchdowns in the regular season, but reached the end zone in both of the Eagles’ NFC playoff games.
When asked if he has lots of friends on the New England roster, Blount got a blank look in his eyes.
“Not this week,” he said.