Jenkins Responds to Scandrick Shots
PHILADELPHIA (973espn.com) - The usually diplomatic Malcolm Jenkins didn't pull any punches after practice Friday when answering the charges of the recently deposed Orlando Scandrick.
Scandrick, the veteran cornerback who was released earlier this week, took aim at the Eagles organization while appearing on FS1's "Undisputed" on Friday morning.
Among his targets was Jenkins, Philadelphia's Pro Bowl safety and defensive leader.
"On defense, they have stuck together pretty good," Scandrick said before pivoting toward Jenkins. "But I think there’s some selfish people on that defense. Rasul Douglas, who is a good friend of mine, he took some unwanted heat for some blown coverages [in Minnesota] on some other people’s selfish play. And we don’t have to say names at all. They know who they are.”
Scandrick, with the help of hosts Shannon Sharpe and Skip Bayless, then made it clear he was discussing Jenkins.
“When you wear a 'C' on your jersey, it’s your job to bring guys along,” Scandrick said. “Sometimes you need to take the hard down, you need to take the hard job, and you need to, like, bring the thing together. I don’t know if that’s the case. Look at everything that happened -- you hold out for a contract [Jenkins sat out of voluntary OTAs and did not hold out], you come in, you’re not really making any splash plays and you [blow the coverage]. That’s not a rookie we’re talking about here, that’s a two-time Super Bowl champ.”
Jenkins, who took responsibility for the blown coverage after the Vikings game, was not happy when made aware of what was said.
"I could give two s@#*^$ about people who aren't here," he said before getting even more emphatic. “... For us to move on as a team, we can’t have motherf@#$@#$ like that in the [locker] room.”
Jenkins also noted just how long Scandrick was in the Eagles' locker room during his second stint -- only three weeks -- although it's fair to point out that the former Dallas Cowboys player was with the organization this summer in training camp before being released and brought back before the Week 5 against the New York Jets.
"How long was he here?" Jenkins asked reporters.
When three weeks was the answer Jenkins said: "I don't think that's long enough to know our team."
Cornerback Jalen Mills also took time to defend Jenkins.
"There's no leadership problems." Mills said. "Especially not with 27. That's one person you don't have to worry about having leadership problems."
The reeling 3-4 Eagles visit the 5-1 Buffalo Bills this Sunday in hopes of ending an ugly two-game losing streak that has the team in disarray.
"They have responded well," coach Doug Pederson said of his team before practice. "Last week, we had a lot of distraction, off-the-field distraction, and they have put that behind them. They have moved on. They are focused in on this game, this opponent. They understand the mistakes they have made. As coaches, it's our job to not only point it out but correct it and fix it. They have done that. They are excited for this chance to go play again this weekend."
-John McMullen covers the Eagles and the NFL for 973espn.com. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen