Eagles radio broadcaster Merrill Reese was at the Philadelphia Protestant Home on Tuesday, answering questions from members of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia and Eastern Montgomery County Chambers of Commerce and recording the Pro Football Report with guest Ray Didinger.
Reese’s show was broadcast later that night on WBCB (1490 AM).
Reese, who turned 80 on Friday, is beginning his 46th year broadcasting Eagles games. He was asked to name the team’s strength.
“I think they have the best offensive line in the National Football League,” he said.
In addition, he is a fan of quarterback Jalen Hurts and backup QB Gardner Minshew.
As for the Eagles’ running back by committee, he expects Miles Sanders to have a good season as long as he’s healthy.
The broadcaster is also high on the wide receiving corps of A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Zach Pascal and Quez Watkins.
While the Eagles don’t have a punt returner, Reese suggests they move practice squad player Britain Covey to that spot.
Defensively, Reese believes first-round pick Jordan Davis will have a good future. Though he weighs 340 or so, he runs well.
Cornerback James Bradberry, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and linebacker Haason Reddick are also nice additions to the defense, in Reese’s view.
Asked if there is ever backlash when he criticizes the team, Reese told a funny story from the 2008 season. As he signed off after a game, he said, “Let’s go, Phillies,” as the team was playing in the World Series that night. Angry Eagles president Joe Banner called a WIP executive and said, “How dare he mention the Phillies on an Eagles broadcast.”
The WIP exec called Reese and told him, “Please do it again next week.”
During the radio show, Didinger agreed with Reese that Davis will fare well, as long as he is in shape. He also agrees with Reese about the Eagles’ offensive line, saying Jordan Mailata has made great progress, Jason Kelce should be a future Hall of Famer and Lane Johnson is coming off a season of not allowing a sack.
Didinger, a recently retired sports commentator, believes Brown will help Smith catch more passes. He is also a fan of linebacker Nakobe Dean, a draft pick who played with Davis at Georgia.
Reese and Didinger are both worried about Sunday’s season opener at Detroit, pointing to the Lions being featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks. The behind-the-scenes program shows coach Dan Campbell pushing his team hard. Eagles coach Nick Sirianni has not worked his players as hard in training camp.
Didinger also believes the Lions will be going for revenge, as the Eagles beat them last year, 44-6.
