Eagles Blog

Shady. Shady. Shady. WOW: http://t.co/L51l7nWazD #FlashbackFriday #CHIvsPHI

— NFL (@nfl) December 20, 2013

An Eagles cheerleader is now an army intelligence officer? This can’t be true, can it? That sounds like the plot of a ridiculous movie starring Megan Fox or Jessica Alba.

But this is no joke. This is real.

As a Philadelphia Eagles cheerleader, Rachel Washburn toted pom-poms. As an Army intelligence officer with a special ops combat unit in Afghanistan, she carried an assault rifle and pistol. She was a pioneer on a special mission to relate to local women in ways that would be culturally inappropriate for male troops — including helping deliver an Afghan baby in a snowstorm.

Washburn, 25, who recently returned from her second tour in Afghanistan, will be honored Sunday night as a “Hometown Hero” by the Eagles at their home game against the Chicago Bears.

And she’s army through and through.

She didn’t join the Army on a whim. During her three seasons with the Eagles, Washburn was an Army ROTC student and history major at Drexel University in Philadelphia. Her father was an Army helicopter pilot and an Air Force fighter pilot. She figures she moved 17 or 18 times growing up, but she calls Philadelphia home even though she just attended college there.

Rachel is a beautiful, but she’s much more than that. Sounds like a really amazing lady. Kudos to her for choosing such an interesting career path.

Here’s Rachel from the good ol’ days.

If not for my nephews, I’d have no idea what the Elf on the Shelf is.

The Eagles and Bears have played on a regular basis in recent years. One interesting trend has been the changes at QB over that span.

2007 – Brian Griese vs Donovan McNabb

2008 – Kyle Orton vs Donovan McNabb

2009 – Jay Cutler vs Donovan McNabb

2010 – Jay Cutler vs Michael Vick

2011 – Jay Cutler vs Michael Vick

2013 – Jay Cutler vs Nick Foles

All those games and just one rematch of starting QBs.

3 years ago the Eagles pulled off the Miracle at the New Meadowlands.

@PhillyDNSports archives: 3 years ago, DeSean Jackson made greatest play in NFL history (as voted by fans). pic.twitter.com/rHGT7uH1GS

— Chuck Bausman (@ChuckBausmanDN) December 19, 2013

Glorious.

Good news.

RT @robellis94: Eagles cb @BrandonBoykin2 just told me on @SportsRadioWIP barring a set back he should be good to play vs Bears.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) December 18, 2013

Boykin won’t impact Marshall / Jeffrey much, but having every good DB available should help in some way.

As expected, Emmanuel Acho, @thEMANacho, is back as a practice-squadder.

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) December 18, 2013

The Eagles like their young ILBs – Acho, Goode and Knott. Good group.

DeSean Jackson is 135 receiving yards away from setting Eagles single-season record. L McCoy is 170 from the single-season rushing record.

— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) December 17, 2013

It is great to see the stars playing up to their potential.

The Eagles signed S Keelan Johnson off their practice squad. To make room for him, they sent ILB Emmanuel Acho packing. I don’t expect there to be nearly as much uproar over Acho’s departure as there was this summer.

Johnson, 5-11, 212, is needed because of injuries to Kurt Coleman and Colt Anderson. The Eagles aren’t sure if one or both will be out this week.

Earl Wolff thinks he’ll return, so that will help.

And the release of Acho could mean that Najee Goode is set to return from his injury.

Meant to tweet this earlier, but Earl Wolff said that baring a setback he expects to play Sunday against the #Bears.

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) December 17, 2013

That is great news.

Pat Chung has struggled for part of this year. His sloppiness has led to some big plays and long TDs. Wolff hasn’t been perfect, but I trust him more.