Buddy Ryan and several of his players from his years as the Eagles head coach returned to Philadelphia to be honored in an alumni tribute at halftime of Monday nights game against the Bears.
A couple hours before the game, they gathered in the press conference room at Lincoln Financial Field. Seth Joyner, Clyde Simmons, Keith Byars, Keith Jackson, Anthony Toney, Michael Haddix and Mike Pitts were among those in the room, reminiscing about Buddy Ball.
Here are their thoughts on the past and present:
This years team
Buddy: They impressed the hell out of me on TV the other day. I watched them play the Cowboys. I havent seen anybody that can stop them yet.
Byars: I know its a marathon, not a sprint. The season isnt determined in September. Youve got to play it out. Play 16 games, see where you shake out at. What do they have three or four losses12-4 at the end of the day, youll be like Yeah. It doesnt matter how you got there.
Michael Vick vs. Randall Cunningham
NFL
Buddy: Yeah, he might be faster than Randall. He really made things happen the other night. They keep him healthy, they have a super shot at it.
Byars: Vick is faster than Randall. But Randalls still in my opinion very underratedin the national media. People in Philadelphia, we know how great Randall was. Randalls a Hall of Famer, and he deserves to be in the Hall of Fame. Vick cant kick a football like Randall. Randall was special.
Randall holds the team record for longest punt: 91 yards vs. the Giants, at the Meadowlands, Dec. 3, 1989.
Why are his teams so beloved (perhaps more than Andy Reids)?:
Buddy: Andys doing a hell of a job. My personalitythey loved it.
Simmons: We were pretty good. Our attitude and work ethic kind of symbolized what this city is.
Favorite Memory?
Byars: Theres too many. My favorite memory is the Buddy era. There are just too many priceless times and things that went on on the field, off the fieldI was spoiled because that was my first experience in the NFL. Then you leave and compare it to some place else, its never the same. The Eagles always have a special place in my heart. My first love.
Ryan: Probably the kneel-down touchdowngetting even with Dallas.
In 1987, the Cowboys routed the Eagles in a scab game. Two weeks later, the teams met again, and Randall Cunningham faked a kneel down in the final seconds and threw a pass to Mike Quick, who drew a pass interference penalty. Byars on the next play scored from the one.
Failing to win a Super Bowl
Simmons: I think the only regret that all of us have is that we didnt win any championships. Thats the one thing that probably needles at everybody, because we were that good.
Now vs. Then
Byars: Im not trying to brag or anything, but I havent seen anybody play the game the way I could. Fullback, tight end, wide receiver, tailbackcatch the ball, blocking blitzing linebacker. Thats a different guy today, not the same guy. When me and Anthony were playing, we could play a variety of different positions.
The biggest change that Ive seen is player safety. Im always an advocate of player safety, but its the game of football, and theyre getting closer to flag football instead of real football.
E-mail Andy Schwartz at aschwartz@comcastsportsnet.com.