EAST RUTHERFORD: This report was supposed be about how the game featured starting quarterbacks who were 35 years of age or older.
It was a nice angle. As the fourth quarter was coming to an end, the story would also be warm and fuzzy for Eagles rookie head coach Nick Sirianna as he would win his first-ever NFL game against an improving Jets team.
It looked like it was all set when Jets tight end Daniel Brown fumbled late in the fourth quarter, the ball was scooped up by Eagles cornerback Michael Jacquet who rolled 32 yards for TD to give the Birds a 31-23 lead with 48 seconds left. Done deal right?
Not quite. Jets backup quarterback James Morgan found Kenny Yeboah for a 49-yard walk-off Hail Mary touchdown that led to a 31-31 draw.
"Obviously we all wanted to win that game," Sirianni said in his post game interview. "We had one play to execute at the end of the game and we didn't do that."
There are reports surfacing that the Jacksonville Jaguars has agreed to trade quarterback Gardner Minshew to Philadelphia for a conditional sixth-round pick.
It could become a fifth-rounder if Minshew plays 50 percent of the snaps in three games this season according to Ian Rapoport.
The Eagles have released third-string quarterback Nick Mullens. It is unclear who will be designated as the backup.
The last preseason game for an NFL team is usually where teams look at the fringe players who are trying to land a roster spot or a call back for the practice squad.
Both teams were set on who their starting quarterback would be week one a long time ago.
So Eagles and Jets fans were treated to “Geezer” football Friday night at MetLife Stadium.
The term really only applied to the quarterbacks.
The Jets have four quarterbacks listed on their depth chart. Josh Johnson, a 35-year-old seven-year veteran is listed at No. 4 on the depth chart. Johnson started the game and drove his team yards to ties the Eagles at seven
Johnson is a walking trivia question. He is the definition of a journeyman having played for 16 different pro football teams over four different leagues including the NFL, UFL, AAF and XFL.
Drafted in 2008 by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the fifth-round pick lasted four seasons with the Bucs and has managed to make 19 additional stops since
The Eagles trotted out 36-year-old Joe Flacco (four NFL teams). Jets are at the 10-yard line and threatening at the two-minute warning.
Flacco hit J.J. Arcega-Whiteside with a stunning 42-yard touchdown pass. The beleaguered receiver broke free from two defenders to get into the end zone with five second left in the half.
Arcega-Whiteside followed that up with a special teams tackle in the ensuing kickoff. 21-10 at the half. You wonder if they can hold the lead with Nick Mullens under center.
Holyfield looked solid. The Eagles moved ball after interception by Kevon Seymour. But settled for 34-yard field goal. Birds led 24-10 at the half.
Mullens was 10 of 14 for 98 yards. He did not find the end zone and was not intercepted.
There was a Travis Fulgham sighting...for a second and it was great. With 11:13 left in the fourth quarter Fulgham caught an 18-yard pass from Mullens at the Jets two-yard line. Fulgham went to dive into the end zone when he was stripped of the ball by cornerback Jason Pinnock at the one. The fumble went out of the end zone for a touchback. Jets ball.
Arcega-Whiteside may have played himself on to the roster while Fulgham may have played himself off the roster.
Final cuts must be made by Tuesday. *
Follow Al Thompson on Twitter @thompsoniii
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