PHLY Philadelphia Eagles Podcast - Eagles 26: Where Saquon Barkley, Tra Thomas Rank As Birds Greats Since 2000 | PHLY Eagles Podcast

Episode Date: June 29, 2026

When assessing the greatest Eagles players since 2000, should Saquon Barkley’s historic 2024 season outweigh franchise icons with longer tenures? Bo Wulf and EJ Smith discuss Barkley’s placement in the Eagles 26, and are also joined by Tra Thomas to discuss his standing among Eagles greats, the role he played in shaping the organization’s culture along the offensive line, and much more as the rankings roll on.  Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello everybody and welcome to the PHA by Eagles podcast on a beautiful Monday live from the Xfinity Lounge and presented by Ashley Wolf and E.J. Smith here to discuss a pair of great players on offense for the Eagles. How was your weekend, E.J.? Oh, it was amazing. Oh, yeah, baby. So many great memories, so many great events. Yeah, great weekend. Fantastic. How are you feeling?

I'm feeling good. I am excited to talk about each of the years. these great Eagles, maybe a couple bones to pick on the placement of one of these players, but we can save that. I am very excited. You know, with the Eagles 26, sometimes we're talking about players I enjoyed watching when I was a kid. This is one of the players where I have covered them thoroughly, and I have, you know, spent time with them as this journey has unwound. I think for that reason I am really excited to talk about. Take Juan Barkley. Let's get into it. Here we go.

In a world on fire, a world of short attention spans, cruelty, cynicism, maybe the most important thing an athlete can do is amaze us. To make us feel like a kid again. To say, wow. More difficult on that is to be so transcendent as to make your teammates the best athletes in the world who have become numb the feats of athletic brilliance to make them step away and cackle in astonishment. To be, as a poet might put it, the Galactico on a team of Galacticos.

That was 2004, Sequin Barclay. When he so famously leaped over Jaguars defender Jerry and Jones, showing the world, the football world, a backside that was, would make Al Pacino and Heat blush, the reaction from the Eagle's sideline told the only story you needed to know. This guy is the best of us. In what is probably the greatest running back season in NFL history, Saquan Barkley ran for 2,504 yards, including the playoffs, topping Terrell Davis's 2,476 in 1998. And like Davis, Barclay, put the finishing touch on that season by lifting the Lombardi Trophy in celebration.

The magic of his year was in the unprecedented firepower of his explosive plays. Nine runs of 50 yards or more, including the playoffs, more than any other running back as far as true media goes. Never before has a running back been solely responsible for such a big playoff. And yet, all of those accomplishments might still undersell the importance in delivering Philadelphia its second Super Bowl that Sequin played. He danced the delicate balance of entering a locker room of stars as a veteran interloper from a division rival. Well, maybe not a rival, but still. He ingratiated himself into that group quickly, earning their respect, eventually their reverence.

And as the confetti fell on the team in New Orleans, Sequin embraced his quarterback. Is Jalen Hertz going to smile now? He said, echoing me. Hey, man, said Jalen, that's you. That's you. No, that's all of us, Sequin deflected. I know it's all of us, but you don't understand the difference you made.

We were right there, but you were like the last piece, man. Call it a notarized stamp on the weight of what is perhaps the greatest single individual season in Eagles history. He gave Philadelphia a run-first title. He made Jalen smile. He proved right that no-nothing pundits who wondered what the offense would look like. If only they had a real running back. He did it all, and we were amazed.

number 20 on the countdown of the greatest Eagles this century is Sequin Barclay. Man a monologue that meets the moment of Sequin Barkley but

follow me here I think that this captures the significance that he has that his significance in such a short window. It's only been two seasons and I think the thing that stands out to me when I'm when I was thinking about the legacy of Saquan Barkley was the time that I

actually spent in the lead up to that season um because you know you hear a lot of like platitudes from athletes right you hear them talk about all these things but looking back at it with the benefit of knowing what came next it really is like I mean it was it was just very like profound to hear him talk about wanting to address the doubters the way that things ended with the giants and really just his, like, his personal pursuit of becoming a Hall of Famer, becoming one of the greats. And more than anything, the thing that, like, jumped out to me was his determination to prove that he doesn't abide by the rules of mere mortals.

Even good running backs from the NFL. Seekwon was determined to prove in that 2024 season, you know, you have to, like, remember the context of running back's not getting paid. You know, they had the Zoom meeting talking about the fact that it felt like the league. was, you know, banding together to not pay running backs. He wanted to show people, like, those, he doesn't conform to those rules. He is different. And he proved that season consistently that he was different.

He did. And it's, you know, we can, we can, I think we can get in the next segment into the actual ranking here. But let's use this to just reflect on how good he was in that season, because I think it's fair to say, you know, last year was relatively overwhelming, not all his fault. But, I mean, even from the, from the, from, week one, he catches the touchdown pass from Jalen in Brazil. But the explosiveness, the big playability in a way that would just make you laugh is like

nothing I've seen before. And like, you know, I love Shady's running style. The one-on-one make you misability to me is like the aesthetic perfection of a running back. But Sequin, like when he takes that. first touch of the NFC championship game to the house against the commanders, you're just laughing. It's like it's just silly. You can overuse a human cheat code. Yeah.

But like that's what he was. It was crazy. Oh, I mean, he took over games in a way that it's hard for a running back to do in the way that he did it. You know, the explosive plays. And the thing about the explosive plays that I loved is, you know, especially like the divisional game against the Rams, right? The effect it had on his teammates, the offensive line in particular, the, the, the, you know, the clips of him running through the snow, and you see each offensive linens,

individual celebration and reaction, he has an effect on his teammates that I think is singular to him. You know, I can't think of very many players that command that much reverence and awe. It's like during that season, I don't think I've ever seen that before. I'm not sure I ever will see that.

Like AJ, looking at him, AJ, the guy who knows that he's the biggest, baddest guy on the field. Yep. it was almost like a little crack in the armor of that for him to, you know, some of those mic'd up moments of him being like, man, this guy's right now, at least, this guy's even better than me.

Yeah, yeah, and rightfully so. And more important. Yeah, he was the engine. I want to start using my arguments for the next segment we're going to do here, but he was the engine for a team that is in conversations for the greatest team in NFL history. If you were talking about greatest teams in NFL history, I think the 2024 Eagles have a seat at that table,

and they do because of Saquan Barkley, having the greatest running back season in NFL history. And I do think the greatest running back season in NFL history. I think that is fair because it's not just the production, but you pair the production with actually being on a good team, a team that wins the Super Bowl, that Terrell Davis season is right there with it. Saquan had more yards per carry,

the different NFL. I think there's a real case that it is. is the best running back season ever. Yeah, I think being the champion should be, should weight it even greater. Right. It shouldn't be like, oh, you played the most games. It's like, you know, it's, that's, yeah, exactly. Like, that's why it's the greatest season in NFL history.

So to me, like, it's funny looking back because, I mean, you covered the season as well. Like, the process to get there, it did, I mean, it's just, it's more fun to reflect on it than it was to be in it every single day. The amount of work that Seacuan put into, keeping his body fresh that season stands out to me. You know, I remember asking his teammates that year about how much financially he put into his body, the investment of, you know, massages, nutrition, you know, cryo chambers,

all of this, all of this different technology. And, you know, I remember Lane Johnson and Jordan Milata talking about how he has people on his staff and that's what gets expensive. Right. And they estimated he probably spends about $200,000 a year on his, body. And Seekwon, I remember talking to him about, I remember his reaction. He goes, it's higher than that. He's like, I actually don't really want to know what the exact number is. That's for my financial advisor to figure out. But, you know, when you think about the greatest athletes of a

generation, like, you know, the LeBron Jameses of the world, that is oftentimes what you hear, the amount of investment they put in their body. Sequin is in that, in that category in terms of, you know, being very particular with the way that he trains, the way that he eats, everything that he does in his life. He's very intentional about it and it really, you know, formulated in that historic season. I also think there is a thing we haven't touched on yet, which is just the devilish delight that Eagles fans were able to take in, like this was the Giants guy. Yeah. And we took him and now like no one's going to even remember that he played it for the Giants. Like he spent six seasons there and in one year here, he became an eagle forever. Yep, Eagle and Eagle for life. We'll probably most certainly retire an Eagle.

I mean, he's respectful of the Giants, of course. Sure. Yeah. I pulled a quote from a story I did in July actually on this, where he talks about how this is going to be the second act of his career, where everything that he wants to achieve is still in front of him, which does kind of speak to, like, his tenure with the Giants, he had like a flash in the pan to show what he was capable of.

And like, obviously, at Penn State, we knew the type of player he was, but he said he wanted to be a Hall of Fame player. And he said, right now in my career, I'm far from that. But I feel like if I finish my second act of my career strong, I'm going to be able to put my name in that book. Like, thinking back to, like, sitting in, like, his high school in July and, like, what came after that, it's like, it almost gave me goosebumps reading that story back this morning. Like, he called a shot, you know?

Do you remember your own perception of when you started to realize, oh, this is different? Yeah. I was probably, I probably came around a little later on, like, how special the season could be for him. it was the away game against the Rams. Yeah, he has a monster game. And it's just like, this guy is bending defenses against their will. This guy is like, you know, it's like in the part in the movie where like the predator is like hunting for sport or something like that.

Because it's like all of a sudden it's like, no, they loaded the box. You know, like they have nine guys in the box. They've got 10 guys in the box. They did everything in their power to stop this guy. And he's like, if you do that, I'm just going to take it for 70 yards because I only have to beat the safety. what he was able to do that season and again, the Eagles offensive line

should get a lot of credit for this as well. They had the best offensive line in football that year and those two in tandem, even Sequin would say that they were necessary for what he accomplished, but I mean, it was just, at that point it's like we may never see this ever again. Yeah, highest guards before contact in the NFL

so it was the perfect marriage of player and offensive line. All right, let's take a break here on the PHA Eagles podcast. On the other side, we will let E.J. make the argument that Sequin should be even higher than number 20. Stay with us. And then not only we're going to bring you number 19, we may hear from number 19 himself. Declare your independence from hot, miserable sleep with Ashley's Stars and Stripes Mattress Sale. Stay cool all night with cooling mattresses starting at just $699.

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mattresses and pay zero percent interest for 60 months and get a coolly mattress starting at just $699. Freedom from hot sleep starts today at Ashley's stars and stripes mattress sales, shot more deals in store or at Ashley.com. Back in the P.HL.I. Eagles podcast, Bowulf and E.J. Smith. All right, E.J. I will hand it over to you. You believe that Sequin, despite admitting that he had probably the best individual season of an eagle of this century. I thought I'm going to hand it over to you. and then you just tried to pre-up the argument.

You believe that he should be higher. I believe Saquan Berkeley should be higher on this list. I think it's a great list. This was my biggest, my biggest point of issue. When I did my personal list, Saquan Barkley was number 10. Number 10. Number 10.

Really? I take Umbrage with the fact that Saquan and Terrell Owens are kind of coupled in this list. They're in a tier of kind of their own where it's like short-term, massive impact players. Yes, they are, I believe, the only two players who are who are in this list on the strength of well, Zach Bond was number 25.

Yeah. One season alone. To me, what Sequin accomplished with the Eagles transcends the amount of time that it has been. And I take issue with the Terrell Owens coupling here because I'm not saying what Tara Lowens did wasn't spectacular, but we're talking about really a shorter sample size from Terrell Owens because he was injured for a lot of that season. and I looked it up. In a 10-year window, Terrell Owens had the most receiving yards per game in 2005.

And I think that that shows you, like, the season Terralones was having in 2005 compares to Sequin Barclays in the sense that, like, we were seeing somebody do something that nobody else had done before. But the difference is that Saquan Berkeley did it for an entire season and most season. That's 2005. That's the second season. Yeah, but 2004, 2004 doesn't compare. I think that the 2005 season actually has a better argument because it was so dominant. If you're talking 2004, I think my argument's even stronger. But he had both of those seasons.

Yeah, but to me, it's like... 2004 is the season that he's there for. Yeah, but I'm... Okay, so if you want to look at 2004, like that was a above average Terraloan season, but he had better seasons with other teams. So to me, what Saquan Barkley did, no other running back had done that. Again, like the greatest running back season in NFL history in an Eagles uniform for a team that lifted the Lombardi trophy. Like, I don't think that him and Tara Lowens can be next to each other on this list.

And I'll be honest with you, I have him as the greatest running back in Eagles history because he's going to go down as one of the greatest running backs in NFL history. And he did that with a season as an eagle. The going to go down part, the projection of it. we can't, you know, if he, we can't price in that he might have another great season. If he retired tomorrow. You think he's the greatest running back in Eagles history if he retires tomorrow? I do. That's an outrageous take.

I think he is. I think the season. That's an outrageous take. I think like your, I think that we have rightfully penalized players who have not been on a team for very long, but I think what he has accomplished in an Eagles uniform, like, we're, like, I'm not going to ask you where Nick Foles is on the list. I think he needs to be closer to Nick Foles and Tara Lohans on this list. I think that's, I understand where you're coming from.

If Nick Foles is one of the greatest Eagles quarterbacks, I don't think it's outlandish to say that Sequin is the greatest running back in Eagles history. I just, I don't think you can say that he, the overall scope of the achievement obviously matters. Yeah. It's how much you wait. If you want to, now listen, he is going to be behind both Lashaw McCoy and Brian Westberg on this list. Those guys will be on this list.

They are ahead of him. I can understand you arguing that he should be ahead of one of them, maybe both of them. But I just, I think the time matters. Now, it's a complicated formula. When you win the Super Bowl, you should be rewarded more than you should, you know, if that same season happened and they lost in an NFC championship game. Of course that matters. I don't know.

It's not, it's not perfect. I think he is where he should be, but. I think he should be higher. Maybe I think it's a fair argument. Like you and I disagreeing on if he is the greatest running back or not, I think that's fair. I think reasonable minds can disagree on that. I think he needs to, like I said, I think the one, the thing I can't get past, he should be closer to Nick Foles than he is to Tara Lones because they're, they, like,

we are waiting. This is the person that drove them in a Super Bowl to, well, to a Super Bowl. That's fair. In this argument. This is the, this is the person that made the difference. for a Lombardi trophy. So for that reason, I think he should be hired. Well, I mean, you could get into,

if he had had a signature Sequin game in the Super Bowl itself, I think, no, I do think that matters a little bit. Yeah, but, right? Yeah, there's like, you know, he had one of his worst games in the season in the Super Bowl. And so you were talking about, like,

actually the value added in getting the team over the hump, like he got them to the game, but he didn't win the game because of him. Yeah. also emblematic of the fact that the defense is as a group just as responsible, if not more responsible for them lifting the trophy, whereas with Foles, his best game came in the game in which they won, and was the reason that they won. Right, but at the same time, like, Sequan's gravity in that game plays a significant role for the offense. And he also, like, the other thing

I wanted to say, I'm going to concede that, like, if he had had a signature Super Bowl moment, it would have been a little bit stronger. But, I also think, like, when we talk about LaShawn McCoy's greatness, now listen, he is production-wise, higher than Sequin because of the body of work. Yeah. But, like, we talk about the snow game. Seekwon had that in the playoffs, man. Yeah.

Like, it's fair. That in the divisional round against the Rams. Like, they don't win that game without him. Obviously, I don't want it with Jalen Carter either. But he has the moments, like, he jumped over a guy. Like, he had the moments. He had the historic significance. He has, like, the seat at the table in, again,

the greatest teams of all time, Sequin Barclay is the face of that team. So for me, I think his greatness, if we're talking greatness, I think he should be higher on the list. I am very open to maybe he should be higher than Shady just because of that. I can't quite get to over Westbrook. That's fair. I think it's fair. I think like, you know, that's an argument that I am not pounding the table against because I think that Brian Westbrook does have, does, does deserve a high I can't believe you have him 10th overall on your list. Yeah, I have him 10th. I, maybe, I don't know.

Let us know in the chat. Do you agree or disagree? Where do you think that Sequin deserves to be on this list? I'm curious. Depends on what we're defining. And I think if we're defining greatness, Sequin's greatness to me is unquestioned. And it's in an Eagles event.

Yeah, but and again, if we're ranking the greatest individual seasons, it's probably at the top. Yeah. But he's a special player, man. It's been. I think, I think. think the thing that we have talked about that that year, the way that he was looked at by his teammates is part of the storytelling of why he deserves to be potentially even higher.

Yeah. It's also hilarious how perfect the fit he is for Philadelphia. Like boxing background comes from a boxing family. Like he has a real like appreciation for this area. Obviously grew up near here. Like it, it feels like a. storybook, like a storybook, not ending, but it feels almost like scriptwriting, like how Seguan's career is unfolded in Philadelphia. What are your realistic expectations for the rest of his career? I think he's going to be productive for the Eagles. I think that the Eagles run game is going to be significantly better this year. There's a big unknown with the offensive line, but I also think, like, the argument that Sequin lost his step last year, I don't put much stock in, and I think he'll

look really good this year. So it's, maybe I am projecting a little bit. bit when I'm talking about like, you know, where he will end in Eagles history. But I think he will be right up there with Brian Westbrook and LaShawn McCoy in terms of overall production with the Eagles because I do. I think I'll have a bounce back here next year. Two years I just can't quite get there. But I agree with you. There's a chance he does get there. I understand. Like, I am, I probably didn't penalize him at all for the short 10 year in my list. That's how he got to number 10. But even if I am like giving you some room for that, I still think he should be a little higher on the list. Okay. Understandable. Let us know what you think in the comments. And for now,

we'll take a break. We'll come back. We'll get to number 19. Find out how angry EJ is that somebody could be ahead of Sequin Bark. No, we're going to appreciate these players. And we might just hear from this one, stay with us on the PHLAO's podcast. Well, my daughter was asking me the other day, is it officially summer yet? Because school has ended, handp has started, getting hot outside. I said, it's close, but it is not officially summer yet, not until Hogi Fest is back. That's right.

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is that he fundamentally changed the way everybody thinks about the team. For a very long time, offensive linemen in Philadelphia were much more punchline than source of pride. Pro Bowls are not the most reliable historical narrator, especially when it comes to the big guys up front. But consider this. After Hall of Famer Bob Brown left town in 1968, it took 20 years before another Eagles offensive linemen earned Pro Bowl honors.

That was Jerry Seismore who made the cut in 1979 and 1981. And guess what? Another 20-year wilderness ensued after that. Until, of course, Trey Tocom. broke through that repained glass ceiling, opening up the entryway for good for the likes of John Runyon, Jermaine Mayberry, and Jason Peters, Lane Johnson, Evan Mathis, Jason Kelsey, Brandon Brooks, Leonard Dickerson, and on and on and on down the list.

No team in the league has been known more for the importance of offensive line excellence since 2000 than the Eagles. and it all started with Trey Thomas. In that sense, one could argue that Trey was the most important foundational brick laid on the ground floor of the foundation for this extended period of Eagle's greatness. He preceded Andy Reed and Donovan McNabb by a year. Ryan Dawkins was more sui generous than path to follow. Joe Banner and Jeffrey Lurie, sure,

but they were more architects than tools. Trey Thomas was the one. He went by Trey because he arrived on an Eagles team that already had a William Thomas. And though he attempted to put that toothpaste back in the tube in the mid-2000s, he eventually relented, settled back into the name we know him as now.

Trey, which, if you think about it, is appropriate. because his role for 11 seasons in Philadelphia was to serve. In a football world that lionizes the Green Bay Packers quarterback chain of custody to cleanly transition from Brett Fav to Aaron Rogers to Jordan Love,

Trey Thomas began that same passing of a torch at perhaps the game's second most important position, handing off to Jason Peters, who then made way for Jordan Milada. The difference between the two, of course, Trey Thomas doesn't belong in jail. So here is to the first trusted blindside protector in the Eagles' impressive lineage.

Call him the foundation number 19, Trey Thomas. Man, it is very fun to think about the years I spent watching Trey Thomas. He really was, like, as you just said, the player that made me, in part, made me appreciate offensive linemen. You know, as an aspiring offensive lineman myself, as a young man, he was... Yeah, I want to know.

He was part of the group that made me revere the importance of the position and the art of the position. And obviously, you have like a larger-than-life personality, which is a lot of fun too. So, yeah, I have a lot of appreciation for him as a franchise cornerstone, a franchise building block. And it is fun to think about, like, Markell Bell, like, it's probably learning things right now that originated with Trey Thomas and Juan Castillo. You know, like, how, and you, I know, like, from covering Jeffrey Lurie, as long as I have,

like, that's something that he really is passionate about and really appreciates about the franchise and, like, the core tenants of what they've built. Well, it's fun to think about the conversation that Fran had with Brian brought us about what went into drafting Trey Thomas. and, you know, like the what if of Randy Moss. And sure, like, it would have been great to have Randy Moss in Philadelphia. But Philadelphia, they had had had star receivers before. Now, there's, we talk about how T.O. had then solved that after a while.

But the degree to which, like, the declaration of intent, it was that they needed to fix this offensive line, that that was going to be how this team was built, even though it was a year before Andy Reid got there. Like, it does, it starts with Trey. And now, as I said, like, I think more than anything else, more than any other position, this 26 years of very high-level performance from the Eagles is because of the offensive line. Yeah, absolutely. And I was going to say, like, if you're starting to power rank the reasons why the Eagles have been so consistently successful over the last few decades,

you're probably not getting past three or four. In the offensive line, the continuity that they've had, the ability. to transition those key positions is probably, I mean, it's high on the list, very high on the list. And do you agree that no other team in the NFL is known for that more over this course of 25 years? Offensive line succession planning? Absolutely not. I mean, the prioritization that they put it. Early 2000 Broncos with like those, but that's like a specific blocking scheme more than the offensive line itself. No, I think that the Eagles, the sheer talent that they have on the offensive line, the consistency with which they invest premium draft assets to the offensive line,

they are known for that more than any other team. And again, I think that hitting on the Trey Thomas pick is the beginning of that. What was young E.J.? Were you borrowing from Trey's game? I don't know if I was borrowing a whole lot from his game, but not to tease too much from maybe possibly hearing from him, but I was an offensive lineman who preferred past sets to run blocking, and I was rare in that.

I enjoyed, like, the reaction aspect of being, you know, being a pass blocker. And, you know, past blocking isn't always passive. So those are some things that I probably modeled my game after Trey Tava's on, but not even close to that level of player, obviously. I mean, I'm always forgetting just how young you are. Yeah. This was, this must have been late career, Trey, that you were looking at. I mean, yeah, so I was four when he was drafted.

So I don't remember. I don't have very many memories of when he was drafted. But I remember him. I remember him as a player. I remember being like a little kid being like, Trah Thomas and my dad's like, no, it's Trey. And honestly, in hindsight, I wish that I went by Trey. Trey's a good name.

And we are both the third. So, yeah. Yeah, I like that. You're throwing shade at EJ? I like EJ, but I like Trey too. Trey's a good name. Okay. So he was like, again, as a young man or basically just a kid,

for me to appreciate him and know him, like have that reverence for him that young, I think speaks to the impact that he out on the organization. Three Pro Bowls for Trey Thomas. Yeah. Undersold the degree to which he was reliable and dependable because he played next opposite Runyon who didn't miss a single game.

Trey Thomas barely missed games. Right, yeah. Yeah, I think, you know, in terms of setting up the offense for success, you know, this is before Westbrook gets there. It all starts with him, Runyon, Donovan, and you go from there. Yeah, and it's been really cool that he's kind of stuck around this area and is a part of Philadelphia sports still.

I like that. Do you have a bone to pick about his ranking? Do you feel like... Want to turn him down? I don't have a bone to pick, but I do have a question for you. How weird does it feel to not do Trey Thomas and John Runyon on the same... How weird does it do it to not break down John Runyon and Trey Thomas on the same episode? Well, I think that's a good...

No, it's a good question because I think this is a message to the viewers that the rankings were done with nothing in mind other than getting them right. Yeah. And not planning the show. Because, yeah, you could do running and tray together. You know, you could do... Don't say Seqa-O-D-O-Hon-Lashon together or something like that. Yeah, yeah.

You could do Sequin and Teo together. You could. You could... You literally couldn't do that. Make it a little bit more thematic. Yeah. But no, we are honoring the board. You're going to play it as it lies.

I respect that, but it is funny to do them separately. It is funny to do them separately. And now, I'm curious, when we talked to Runyon earlier, he wasn't exactly gassing up tray necessarily. Did you get that sense? I wasn't here for that. Oh, you weren't there for that interview. Oh, I'm sorry.

It's all running together. Now that I've watched it. I agree with you. Completely. Yeah. It was a little surprising. Just a little something that's in the back of my mind. Yeah.

I mean, is that just Ronnian's personality though? Maybe. Yeah. So I, to me, they feel like a package deal. I remember, you know, we saw my quick talk about that. They're like peanut butter and jelly. Peanut butter and jelly. Yeah.

They've always felt like, you know, the bookends to an era of Eagles football. How do you like your peanut butter and jelly? I'm big on peanut butter on both sides like double literally just a peanut butter sandwich at first and then you throw the jelly

in the middle I like a grape jelly don't like a strawberry jelly okay you know what you're going like really indulgent crunchy peanut butter no I'm not a big

crunchy peanut butter guy although listen 10 years ago I would have told you I'm not a pulp and orange juice guy you taste evolve as you age so maybe one day I like a sum pulp

if I'm getting like I love Sun Pulp. That's the only way to go now. If I'm going to go like indulgent with the PV&J, throw a little butter when you toast the bread and then put the peanut butter on. Are you always toasting your peanut butter and jelly? I like a toasted PB&J.

Oh, interesting. Now are you an accrucibles guy? Yeah. I mean, not like my favorite thing, but we have them in the house always because the kids love them. Oh, yeah. Well, okay, the kids aspect makes sense. If you were me...

You know, my son does. Because they keep him in the freezer. He likes him just out of the freezer. That's a little chaotic. A little diabolical, but that's how he likes them. I mean, I get it. I get it. Impatience is probably the final.

Yeah, but I think he likes that texture. He likes the crunch. Crunch, yeah. I don't like them in the house because you'll just go right through those things, man. Yeah, it's, I mean, it's like, oh, I haven't had lunch. Let me just pop into these bad boys. Yeah, they're amazing. I don't know if they're amazing.

Oh, I love an uncrustable. I like an accrustable. I get an uncrustable. Shout out Wawa. Yeah. Lindsay, where you add on Uncrustibles? I like them, but I'd rather just like make my own. Yeah, I would much rather have my own peanut butter and jelly.

My daughter also likes to eat waffles frozen. Oh. Like she's like, no, no, no. Yeah. So what about the jelly? Are we all grape jelly here? I do prefer grape jelly. I will only eat strawberry.

Really? Like if it's a grape, PB&J, pass. Wow. So you do the strawberry uncrustable? I can't you have ever had it Now where are you at on jelly versus jam I like jam I think I prefer a jam

I mean it's probably better for you But to me I'm a little bit like Why am I trying so hard? It's a PB&J Let me just use this super processed jelly You're just doing the smuckers like Yeah squeeze on now yeah that feels I don't do the squeeze on I like the one that you gotta get out of the jar

Okay I don't know who makes it That's the other thing I should say you I should say I don't eat a lot of PBN I don't think that they're like that healthy. But, you know, if I'm going to go workout, PBNJ, like the Uncrustible, or Pop-Tarts, I love pre-workout Pop-Tarts, man. What?

What about your soup? Not drinking soup. We're not eating soup before going to play basketball, usually. But if I were going to eat some soup before playing basketball, I wouldn't use the soups that Fran talked about on night three of the NFL draft, which was like the heaviest soups ever. Yeah, but nobody's doing soup as a pregame meal. You could do like a, I mean, you could do chicken noodle soup and then go and play some basketball. You could do that.

If you want to feel like ass. You could do chicken noodle. You could do, you could probably do like a chicken tortilla as long as it's not too spicy. You know, my mother-in-law makes a spicy chicken tortilla. It's excellent, but I probably wouldn't eat that before playing basketball. Interesting. But I wouldn't do any of the soups. What?

Usually I would have guessed the other way. No, she makes a spicy chicken tortilla. She likes spicy. Yeah. That's a carlo. Now that's a carly. All right. We have vamp long enough that we are ready to bring you our friend Trey Thomas

on the other side of this break on the PHLY Eagles podcast. We will hear from number 19 himself. Ray Thomas the Foundation. Stay with us. Elkins Chevrolet run by not one, not two, but three brothers, real brothers, big Philly sports fans, local guys,

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bonus categories capped annually restrictions apply. Visit trumark.com for details insured by NCUA. And we are back on the P.H.L.Y. Eagles podcast, Bowulf, E.J. Smith, and look who we have with us, the man of the hour. Trey Thomas, Eagles Hall of Famer, the legend. And he's looking at him just rolling. He's cruising, top down. He's got the sunshade. He's living right now. Yeah, man. I'm waiting all winter for this.

I told the missus, I'm not putting my top. but doors back on until September. Good for you. So just right with whatever comes. We love that. And we appreciate you taking the time, Trey, as we sort of reflect on the impact that you have had on the Eagles.

And I do think we talked to John Runyon about this earlier, but how important the two of you were in setting the foundation for what has been the building blocks of success for the entire organization, this entire century, the offensive line being at the fourth, front of that and that really started with with you in particular when you were drafted here. Yeah, you know, when you go back and look at it, it was definitely, it was a lot of work that

was put in. And it's awesome to see how it has transitioned with just Joy and Myelada, Lane Johnson, and the guys that's just taken over, even Jason Peters during his time that he was here. You know, the guys that you brought in as an offensive line to kind of help propel this organization forward has been awesome and to be the kind of the cornerstone start of it. It really feels good to know that your time here meant something to the organization. Kind of along those lines, Trey, I mean, you had such a long tenure with the Eagles where a lot did change, you know, the very beginning of the Jeffrey Lorry era. I guess how different did the building look toward the end of your time with the Eagles compared

to when you first walked into that building? I mean, come on, man. I started an event. You know, so, you know, we were underneath the stadium, you know, meeting in little rooms that were just like a little pulling sliding door to separate the rooms and stuff. And then once you move over to, what is it now, SunTrust, you know, because it was.

Yeah, they're not paying us in money. Yeah, you can call it every want. Yeah, you know, so now it's switched over, you know, once it's switched over because it used to be Novacare at the time. Yeah. You know, it was just totally different, you know, state of the art, facilities, and everything, just the way things look, you know, it was totally different. But it was, I think, just the environment that I thought, I think Mr. Lurie did a good

job with bringing in coaches that created that family atmosphere. And it always felt like a second home, you know, whenever you went to work. So as we think about you just specifically as a player for, for maybe the young Eagles fans who didn't get to actually watch you play, how would you describe what made you such a good player and sort of, I guess, what your, what you're, what your superpower was as a left tackle? I think anticipating the cadence was one of my things. I felt like I was durable. You know, I didn't miss a lot of games.

I wasn't a good run blocker. I tell everybody to this day, you know, oh, yeah, I suck as a run blocker. I was not a good run blocker, you know, and I admit it, I'm okay with it. You know, I was better. I was way better at past protection. And that's what you brought me in to do.

Right. And I think that protecting was my thing. You know, protection was my thing. I was okay with going into a game and knowing that we were going to pass it, 80% of the other plays just because that's where I felt I was at my best as a player going up against some of the top pass rushers. What was it about you that made that the case? Because I think most offensive linemen would tell you that they prefer run blocking.

They prefer being the aggressor as opposed to having to be the guy who's getting run at. Why did you enjoy that part more? Well, you can still be the aggressor as a pass protector. I think that one of the things that made me, what helped me is how Juan taught me how to count steps, you know, where I would pay attention to the defensive end, see which foot he has back. And then from there, I know where to get to,

I have to get to a point, and then I'm going to shoot hands. You know, I played with I was a puncher, not a grabber, you know, and I think that that's what made me a lot better. I was able to play with extension. When you look at a lot of these young offensive linemen, everybody likes to play bodied up to the defensive end. I play it with long arms and I wanted to punch you, which made it a lot better when it comes to, you know,

keeping defensive ends at bay using my limp instead of being bodied up with the guy. Pass pro isn't always passive, as they say, right? You mentioned Juan Castillo. What were some of the other ways that he really helped you improve your game over your time with the Eagles? I think he helped me with how to say. study guys, you know, how to study myself. You know, one of the things that I'm going to pull over here, one of the things that kind of bothered me a little bit was, you know, playing against

Simeon Rice. You know, he was one of the best defense events that I ever went up against. And, you know, just the way he made me change the way I played, you know, he made me change from where we like, all right, we would just shoot both hands to where now, okay, we're going to start treating them like boxing, where we're going to shoot inside hand, bring inside hand, only bring the outside hand if you really needed it. So he made me change my technique a little bit, the way I was taught, the way I attacked the game. And I think that all of that really just played as I continued to move forward and progressed through my seasons. One thing that I always like to ask guys is what was sort of the sweet spot for you where you felt like this was

this was the best version of yourself, whether, you know, if it was, you, you know, your body was at the right prime stage, but also you had learned enough to put everything together. Do you have a season in mind that was like your best season? Yeah, I don't know. I guess my first time making it to the Pro Bowl, it was at 2001, I believe.

Three, yeah, oh one, something like that. So I guess, you know, it kind of came together. Because I tell everybody all the time, like, you know, there's a progression with this, you know, with playing. Sometimes, you know, I learned the position once I got to college, you know, because I wasn't, you know,

I played defensive end all through high school and I went to college and Florida State to play defensive end, and then they switched me over to play offensive tackle. And that's where I learned the position. So I had to take my lumps. And then once I got to the professional level, like you still had to, you know,

learn the game and get used to how the game, the speed of the game and all of that. So I think they took a little while to kind of get my bearings right. And then from there, it just took off because then, you know, you kind of just put everybody in a category where it's like, all right, he's a speed guy. He's a power guy or he's a guy that's going to give you a little shake. So then you start figuring it out a little bit better after you've been in the league for a couple of years. Yeah, I love that. Now, let's ask about the partnership with Runyon because that's when everybody thinks about those offensive lines, I think about the two guys together.

the tent pulls. I guess what was your first impression of Runyon and how did that relationship between the two of you guys grow over the course of nine seasons? Yeah, I thought, you know, first impression was just like, wow, look at this big guy here. He's going to bring something different to the table. And then as you watched him play, I was just like, man, Runyon is a nasty dude, you know, just as the type of player that he was, like all the stuff you would see him doing games, he would do in practice, you know? And it's just like, wow, dude, wait a minute, man. these are our own teammates. Runyon did not care.

He's coming over the top of the pile, you know, just peeling guys off the top of the pile, you know, covering down field. It was just his tenacity and what he brought to the game, the nastiness. And it kind of rubbed off, you know, where you're seeing another offensive lineman play with that type of aggression.

You know, it helped me as well as a player to kind of play with some of that same. Do you feel like, Trey, that people these days, Eagles fans appreciate you enough? Do you think there's an awareness of just how good you were? I really don't think about it. You know, you know, I think enough people know, you know, you know, the appreciation for offensive line has gained a lot of attention over the past couple years, you know.

So before everybody really didn't pay attention to the offensive line, you always looked at receivers, you know, quarterbacks, you know, running backs, you know. But now I think that, you know, when you go to a game now, how many Kelsey's, jerseys do you see in the stands, you know, compared to before, you know, you would never see an offensive lineman's jersey in the stands. But I think that now you're starting to, the importance of the position is starting to come where people realize how important that position is, you know, and, you know, it's not something I think about, like, do people appreciate me or not? You know, I feel like, you know, being into the getting inducted into the Eagles Hall of Fame was just, you know,

all the world to me, you know, and that that was enough, you know, for me, you know, just because I, and that's the life of alignment though. You know, you never really think about it. You just go to work and do your job. You don't want your name called, you know, because if my name is called, the only time I want my name called is during introductions. After that, it's a penalty, you know, so, you know, you never really want your name called after day. So that's just the life of alignment. Well, because you are wired that way as an offensive lineman, I'll give you a chance to the spotlight on somebody else. Is there anybody else from, or I guess anybody who comes to mind from your time

with the Eagles who you feel like does maybe not get the recognition they deserve for how important they were to what you guys were able to accomplish? I think every guard that I had, you know, from Doug Brazinski, from Germain Mayberry, my rookie year, Doug Brasinski, John Welburn, Todd Harriman's, artist Hicks, you know, all of my guards because they made my game so much easier. I depended on them a lot, you know. because they made it to where defensive ends wouldn't even try to bull rush

or even if they did bull rush, they knew that if my guard was clean and he didn't have anybody, he was coming to take his head off. It made it a lot easier with inside moves. So every guard that played with me, you know, I don't think that they got the recognition enough

because they made my game so much easier, you know, and I depended on them, especially when Todd, my last couple years with Todd, you know, where we were being games where we couldn't hear each other. had to develop hand signals. And I'm just going off of what he's had to do. And he gives me a hand signal.

And then we go, you know. And there's a lot of, you know, unspoken stuff that has to happen out there on the field. So, you know, my guards had to, we had to really be in sync for it to work. And I think that all of those guys during my tenure really helped me throughout my career. How about on the other side of the ball, you know, during those training camp battles? Is there somebody that stands out that you think maybe is a young guy? Derek Burgess, like Hugh Douglas, you know, from Jump, you know, he was one of the guys we both came in together.

So we were battling every day in practice and jawing at each other. And, you know, iron shopper and iron just out there going at each other. With Dee Burgess, when he came in, just somebody that was always going to go 110%, you know, every week where to the point where it was like, all right, Dee Burge, I need you to calm down when it becomes on, you know, when it's Fridays. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, we can have at it. on Fridays, let's start to turn it down a little bit. But, you know, any, like, Derek Burgess, even McDougal,

Trent Cole, when he first came in, was that absolutely somebody that was really good to practice against. And then I'm going to even give you one other person that you wouldn't even, oh, man, what was his name? I just, oh, man, I just forgot his name. What was our running back name that was the kick return? Just, wow. Oh, man.

A little big head. What's talking about? the Samoan, Tunga. Reno Maha. Reno Maha. Yeah. Yeah, so I used to do pass sets against Reno Maha.

When I was getting ready for, even I, Reese, yeah, I would do pass sets against them. Like if I had one of those speed D-Ns that was going to give me a lot of speed moves and spin moves and stuff, like I would have Reno Maha come out there and pass rush against him,

you know, just to get used to that speed and a spin move. So guys like that help. sharp at me as a player. It's funny because Bo will know this. Rino Mahae was in my head, but I was too afraid to say Rito Maha. You can't throw out Rito Mahae.

Yeah, yeah. Rito Ma'i, little big hand do, man. A little big hand dude, man. A little big head dude. I got two more quick ones for you, Trey. One is for the people who have been watching the show for a while. We had Brian brought us on the show who was in charge of the Eagles draft when they drafted you in 98.

He told the story from the Eagles perspective. I'm curious how you experienced. experienced it when the Eagles drafted you. Did you have an understanding that they were interested in you? And how did that all go down for you? Well, so I was at Florida State at the time. And so I was an interesting, colorful guy in college. And so they sent Butchie down there to investigate me.

Yeah. You know, so Butch was the head of security at the time. And then you had Mark. I can't think of his last name. But he ended up being GM for the Giants, I think. for a head of scouting for the Giants for a little bit of. Yeah, Mark Ross. So they sent Mark Ross and Butch down there to kind of, you know,

check me out to make sure I was okay, you know, that they weren't bringing a problem in. And so, you know, once they came out in Tallahasse, I was like, look, man, if y'all draft me, I want you to be the one to call me. And they gave me a call, man, and it was just awesome, man. I think I broke down and cried my mom and then we had a big barbecue and everything. And then so they were like, hey, man,

we want you to fly out to Philly, you know, today. I'm like, no, I don't think y'all want to see me right now. I've been, you know, right now it's not a good time for me to come and show myself to the coaches. Let's, can I fly out tomorrow? Yeah. Because we had been hanging out a little bit. It was Black Spring Break down in Daytona. So, you know, it was a really good time, you know, so we had to make sure that we, you know,

I put my best faith forward when I flew up to Philly. So, but yeah, man, it was an awesome experience, you know, because it was a team that I wanted to go to. Because, you know, when you go through the whole process of going and visiting all the teams, like I went to Dallas, I went to St. Louis. I went to Oakland and then, yeah, Oakland. And then I think I went, I was supposed to go to Seattle. But I think after I came, I went to Washington. But after I met with Juan, you know, I came to Philadelphia and met with Juan.

And before I can even put my suit, so all I put my suitcase down, we were doing vertical sets in the vet. You know, if I was fully dressed, flesh out the plane. and we're doing vertical sets in the vet. And I was just like, look, man, this is the type of coach I need. This is the type of coaching I need. And it just worked out that they took me, you know. And after that, it was just, you know, I didn't want to go anywhere else. That's great.

I love that. The last thing unrelated to ask you about, Trey, is as we go through this list of the top egos of a century, one of the guys who we will talk about is Deshawn Jackson. And you are working with Deshawn right now. So tell us what Deshawn's like as a boss. Oh, man. D. Jack as a boss is interesting because, you know, you know, sometimes, you know, when you got a younger guy that you played with

and it's like, you know, you try to make sure you respect the role first. Sure. You know, and make sure you don't want a little bro him because at the end of the day, he's the head coach, you know, and he's the final safe in it. But it's awesome, man. It's awesome experience working with these young men. You know, you're answering some of these kids' prayers, man,

by offering them a chance to continue playing ball on the colloquium. college level, collegiate level. And, you know, that whole experience has been awesome. You know, being there for spring ball, being through the recruiting process right now, you know, it's been a really awesome experience. And I think Deshaun has really done a really good job. You know, he puts together a really good group of guys

as far as coaches to help steer this ship. And I think that, you know, him being in his role, you know, it's interesting just knowing the type of player that he was, to see him in his role has been like an eye open. It's not, I would say that the position isn't too big for him. You know, I think that he handles himself really well and he does a really good job. That's great. Well, Trey Thomas, thank you so much for taking the time and congratulations on making this list.

We appreciate your career. All right, I appreciate it, man. I'm about to make this you turn out of this neighborhood and get back in the road. All right. Thank you so much, Trey, back with more. All right, man, y'all take care. Have a good one. On the other side.

Actually, I believe this is the end of the show. So we will close the show now. Thank you to Lindsay and EJ and Trey especially. We'll be back later on the PHY Eagles podcast. And as always, we love you.