By David Weinberg
Jake Elliott gets a kick out of performing in pressure situations.
It’s been that way since his days as a high school tennis player and has continued through his current gig as the Philadelphia Eagles’ place-kicker.
“It’s something I’ve been doing my whole life, Elliott said last Sunday after hitting a 54-yard field goal in overtime to give the Eagles a 34-31 victory over Washington. “I love it when those situations come down to me, whether it was tennis growing up or in baseball being the last batter. For whatever reason, I’ve just really loved those situations.”
He demonstrated that coolness under pressure yet again against the Commanders.
When the Eagles’ overtime drive stalled, Elliott trotted out with long snapper Rick Lovato and new holder Braden Mann, only to see Washington call a timeout. Instead of waiting on the field, he ran over to the sideline and booted a few balls into a net before returning and sending the kick soaring over the crossbar.
“I was in a zone for a while, thinking the game was going to come down to me,” he said. “I live for those situations.”
Eagles fans have been used to watching such heroics for the last seven seasons, though coach Nick Sirianni has yet to witness a game-winning kick.
Every coach and player has their own rituals/superstitions regardless of the sport. Mine takes place on the tee box. Before I swing my driver, I sing a few bars of Seals and Crofts’ 1973 hit song “Diamond Girl” in my head to get the right swing tempo.
“Diamond girl, you sure do shine … Glad I found you, glad you’re mine. …”
In Sirianni’s case, he turns his head when Elliott gets ready for a field goal. The reaction of the crowd – roars for a good one, moans for a miss – and a signal from his assistant coaches tell him the result.
“I look at (Special Teams Coordinator Michael) Clay,” Sirianni said. “He gives me a look if we miss or a thumbs up if we make it. I guess I shouldn’t be surprised I got the thumbs up this time. Jake is just so clutch.”
It’s been that way since the 2017 season, when Elliott made arguably the biggest field goal in franchise history.
The Eagles and Giants were tied 24-24 on September 24, 2017. Elliott, a rookie, had just joined the Eagles after Caleb Sturgis had gotten hurt. With just a few seconds remaining, Elliott made a franchise-record 61-yarder – he tied the record earlier this year – to clinch the win.
Many consider that game as the springboard for what turned out to be a championship season.
Sunday’s win could very well serve the same purpose. A loss to the Commanders would have left the Eagles tied with Washington and Dallas in the NGC East at 3-1. Instead, they are just one of two unbeaten teams along with the 49ers in the NFL heading into Sunday’s game at Los Angeles against the Rams.
“We find a different way that we’ve won so far this year,” Sirianni said. “I think that builds character.”
Keep it up and they’ll have to develop a theme song like in 2017.
I’d recommend “Diamond Girl.” Those of you under 60 probably never heard it, but I guarantee you it’s better than “Dreams and Nightmares.”
AC Boxing Hall of Fame honors a special duo
Last weekend’s Atlantic City Boxing Hall of Fame seventh annual induction ceremony featured more of the legendary fighters, trainers and others that helped make the town the country’s mecca for boxing back in the 1980’s and 1990’s.
This year’s class included former heavyweight standouts Shannon Briggs, George Foreman and David Tua, plus popular local slugger Darroll Wilson of Mays Landing.
All four heavyweights shared an Atlantic City connection.
Briggs got off to a terrific start, winning his first 25 fights and registering 20 knockouts in the process. He was being hailed as one of the best young heavyweights at the time.
His winning streak came to a stunning end on March 15, 1996, when Wilson scored a third-round knockout at Bally’s Atlantic City.
Six months later, Wilson suffered his first loss via first-round knockout against Tua in Miami.
Briggs got off the canvas and won five more fights in a row, including a disputed, 12-round majority decision over Foreman at Trump Taj Mahal on November 22, 1997. It was to be Foreman’s final fight.
Saturday’s ceremonies also featured the introduction of a “Pioneers” category that included fighter/official Rocky Castellani, fighter Horace M. Leeds, promoter Joe Miller, trainer/manager Becky and Willie O’Neil and fighter Frankie Polo.
Local inductees included fighter Shamone Alvarez, fighter Jamillia Lawrence, advisor Matt Howard, trainer Arnold Robbins, and Wilson.
It was fitting that Alvarez and Robbins were inducted at the same time, considering Robbins served as Alvarez’s trainer and manager throughout his 11-year professional career from 2002-2012. Alvarez earned a career record of 21-6 with 12 KOs as a welterweight contender.
“I’m happier for Shamone that he’s getting this honor,” Robbins said. “I started working with Shamone, Alfred (Kinsey) and Larry Parks when they were teenagers. They became like sons to me.”
David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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