Macho Harris gets the START not Demps

Fourteen years ago, a rookie free safety broke into the Eagles’ starting lineup a week after the season opener in Washington.

Brian Dawkins replaced Eric Zomalt and for the next dozen years he was the Eagles’ only opening-day starter at the position.

Now, shockingly, another rookie has emerged as Dawkins’ replacement.

When the Eagles returned to practice yesterday to start preparations for Sunday’s season opener against the Carolina Panthers, Victor “Macho” Harris lined up with the first-team defense.

That news was revealed by a disappointed Quintin Demps, who had the starting free safety job through the team’s spring camps and most of the preseason.

“I’m disappointed in myself,” Demps said. “I had an opportunity and I didn’t capitalize on it.”

Although practice was closed, all indications were that Omar Gaither will be the starter at middle linebacker for the opener. Gaither passed Joe Mays on the depth chart last week, but he couldn’t play in the preseason finale against the New York Jets because of a sprained ankle. Neither Gaither nor Mays was in the locker room following team meetings.

Demps was one of the few Eagles to make an appearance, while Harris was among the many no-shows.

A week ago, Harris, a fifth-round pick from Virginia Tech, said he wasn’t even aware that he was in a competition for the starting job.

“That sounds good, but I have to control what I can control,” Harris said before the Eagles’ game against the Jets. “If I don’t perform well, I won’t be in there.”

Apparently, he performed well enough to convince defensive coordinator Sean McDermott and coach Andy Reid that he deserved to start the opener instead of Demps and veteran Sean Jones.

Harris was a second-team all-American at cornerback for the Hokies, but the Eagles decided during the spring camps to take a look at him as a free safety. He probably thrust himself into the competition for the starting job during the Eagles’ second preseason game against Indianapolis. Harris had four tackles – including one for a loss – a sack and a quarterback hurry in that game.

“Coming in, I wanted a job wherever I could help the team,” Harris said last week.

Harris has a heart-wrenching personal story that includes the loss of his mother, Maritza, on Christmas night 2004 to a brain aneurysm when he was a senior in high school. He honors his mother with a “Mama’s Boy” neck tattoo.

Harris, Demps and Jones all played against the Jets after Reid and McDermott declared an open competition at free safety. Harris was the most impressive.

“I felt like I played pretty well,” said Harris, who had three tackles and knocked down a pass. “I know there was a competition here, but I don’t pay attention to it. I just control what I can do and what I’m coached to do.”

Demps, on the other hand, may have focused too much on the competition. He said last week that it was “irritating” that he had not been named the starter before the final preseason game.

When asked if he thought the Eagles’ decision at free safety was entirely a football decision, Demps laughed.

“I don’t know, man,” he said. “I’m just coming to work, pinning my ears back and going hard. I’m going to try to get better every day.”

The free safety job isn’t the only one Demps has lost, either. He spent his rookie season as the Eagles’ top kick returner, but that role now belongs to reserve cornerback Ellis Hobbs, who finished second in the NFL with a 28.5-yard return average last season at New England.

“If I didn’t start, I wanted to return kicks, but I have to come here and just play football,” Demps said.

Demps said his lack of consistency cost him in the competition for a starting job.

“We’re all men,” he said. “We all could tell that I wasn’t being consistent enough. Like I said, it’s a competition and that’s what happened. Ain’t no sugarcoating in the NFL.”

If there’s any consolation for Demps, it’s that the competition for a starting job, like the 2009 season, is just beginning.

“I understand my role,” he said. “I’m on special teams and we’re still competing. It’s still a competition.”

I love this right here.  Cause a little bit of “you have to work for it and dont expect things to be given to you”  sending a great msg out to the defense right now.  Macho worked hard and deserves that start.  As far as I’m concerned Jones played better then Demps too.  It will be interesting to see where Demps will be now.  I think he will get shifted to a special teams stud.  At least I hope.

GO MACHO!!!