Maxwell Wants the Traveling to Stop in Atlanta

PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - Byron Maxwell doesn't mind packing his bags for Atlanta but wants the traveling to stop when he arrives.

There are two schools of thought when it comes to great cornerbacks.

Darrelle Revis is the proprietor of Revis Island and generally locks up with the opposition's best receiver and shadows him all over the field. Conversely Maxwell's former teammate in Seattle, Richard Sherman, is Revis' top competition for the mythical best corner in the world and he stays home as the prototypical, praying mantis-like lengthy CB, who locks down one side of the field while baiting the less experienced quarterbacks to try him.

The Eagles signed Maxwell to a massive, six-year deal worth $62 million, including $25 million in guarantees to upgrade one of the worst secondaries in football which allowed a league-high 72 plays of 20-yards-or-more a season ago. He's not Revis or Sherman but he's a lot closer than Cary Williams or Bradley Fletcher.

With one of the NFL's best receivers on the docket in Julio Jones on Monday night, some have speculated that Bill Davis may allow Maxwell to travel with the Falcons All-Pro receiver no matter where he lines up. However, the presence of a really good No. 2 option in Roddy White could table that thinking for now.

"I think I'm going to stick to a side," Maxwell claimed Friday after practice. "But, if I have to follow (Jones), I've played inside, I've played both sides. It wouldn't be a problem."

Maybe not for Maxwell but it could for other members of the Eagles' rebuilt defensive backfield. Remember if Maxwell's responsibility is changing from play to play, a domino effect emerges and everything changes for the other DBs on the field as well.

So, while a casual may see one moving part, in reality there are three of four.

Revis and Sherman have actually feuded over their respective responsibilities with the now Jets CB wearing his traveling like a badge of honor. Sherman, on the other hand, has tried to convey the aforementioned point in that a selfish defensive approach could have a trickle-down impact on lesser players.

Not surprisingly Maxwell is more comfortable with Sherman's way of thinking because he was often the guy lining up opposite of the Seahawks' star in the Pacific Northwest.

"Hopefully (staying home) it's the plan sticking forward," Maxwell told 973espn.com. "The best defenses have guys playing one side. They have two corners that can do it. I think that's ideal and probably the best way."

-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen@phanaticmag.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen