🦅 Super men | Sports Daily Newsletter

After last season’s terrible finish by the Eagles, Howie Roseman got to work in a hurry. A year later, they are in New Orleans awaiting a meeting with the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LIX.

That’s quite a turnaround and the general manager deserves credit for the influx of players who made it possible. It starts, of course, with the free-agent signing of Saquon Barkley, who is having a season for the ages.

“I’m really not surprised by any of this,” Roseman says of Barkley’s huge success. “And I don’t say that in an arrogant way. It’s based on who he is. Nothing to do with me. Because this is who he’s always been, and I’m just glad everyone gets to see that.”

Along with Barkley’s pricey addition, there were some low-cost, high-reward signings that worked out in a big way, including All-Pro linebacker Zack Baun, along with a bonanza from recent drafts. Roseman also navigated the retirements of Kelce and Fletcher Cox after the 2024 season.

It was no small feat, but Roseman has helped forge a talented, deep roster on both sides of the ball. In six days, we’ll find out if it is good enough to knock off the two-time defending Super Bowl champions.

— Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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The Sixers were cruising by 26 points on their home court Sunday night before the Boston Celtics awakened. The defending NBA champs turned on the jets in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Sixers by 38-16 to post a 118-110 victory. Jayson Tatum finished with 35 points to help sink the Sixers.

The Sixers were stunned by the blockbuster trade that sent Luka Dončić from the Mavericks to the Lakers. “You know something is crazy when players, coaches, even reporters are surprised,” Guerschon Yabusele said.

Sam Ersson made 30 saves on 32 shots on Sunday, but it made little difference for a Flyers team that has forgotten how to score. They dropped a 2-0 decision to the host Colorado Avalanche for their third shutout loss in as many games, a new franchise low.

“I cannot focus on it,” Ersson said when asked if he feels added pressure with the lack of Flyers goals. “I know it’s going to turn sooner or later. The bounces are not with us right now. But soon we’ll turn and we’ll get a couple bounces so it’s just a matter of time.”

There have been many incredible moments this season for Saquon Barkley, but this one will likely stand the test of time (along with that wild backward hurdle):

In the snowy Jan. 19 playoff game against the Rams at the Linc, with the game still in the balance, Barkley broke free for a 78-yard touchdown run. “I think just like the atmosphere of the game, like snow game, it turned into a dirty, grimy game, and they’re a good team, we’re a good team,” said tight end Grant Calcaterra, who took part in the iconic play. “And we kind of felt like it wasn’t quite the nail in the coffin, but it was pretty close.”

Jeff McLane breaks down Barkley’s classic run in interviews with the players who made it possible.

Our latest episode of unCovering the Birds chronicles the play. Listen here.

Of course Barkley is a tremendous athlete, which makes it somewhat surprising to learn that he was not a superstar on the basketball court at Whitehall High near Allentown. He was, however, a “glue guy” on the court who is remembered as a leader and a good teammate.

It’s never too early to look ahead to the NFL draft, right? Trust us, fans of every team not named the Eagles or Chiefs are already doing just that. Last week’s workouts at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Ala., gave NFL talent evaluators a good look at many in this year’s draft class before the NFL Scouting Combine. Our Devin Jackson reports that edge rushers and defensive linemen made quite an impression in Mobile.

One of those players, Boston College defensive end Donovan Ezeiruaku, is a former star at Williamstown High. He had 16½ sacks this season.

Feb. 3, 1976: Dave Bing of the Washington Bullets won MVP honors as the Eastern Conference won the NBA All-Star Game, 123-109, at the Spectrum. Bing scored 16 points. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar of the Los Angeles Lakers had 22 points and 15 rebounds for the West.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Olivia Reiner, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Devin Jackson, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Katie Lewis, Jackie Spiegel, and Conor Smith.

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Thanks for reading and I’ll see you in Tuesday’s newsletter. — Jim