If there's one cornerback a young player in the Philadelphia Eagles secondary could learn from, they could do much worse than Darius Slay.
With training camp in full swing, Slay has become a guiding light for Philadelphia's young defensive backs, who eagerly absorb the wealth of knowledge he shares.
"They listen," Slay affirms. "A lot of guys I've been around, they mostly listen, but this group is really listening because they're young. They want to get the experience. I always tell them, 'I'm trying to get y'all to play like my years, 11 years plus.' They're going about it the right way."
Slay, now entering his 11th year in the NFL and fourth with the Eagles, brings a wealth of experience to the table. Having spent the first seven seasons of his career with the Detroit Lions, the 11th-year cornerback has amassed an impressive 26 interceptions, including three in each of the last two seasons.
Philadelphia's secondary is brimming with young talent, including rookie cornerbacks Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and second-year corner Josh Jobe. Ricks, in particular, showcased his skills with an interception returned for a touchdown in the Eagles' recent 20-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
Slay attributes Philadelphia's success in developing young players to the willingness of veterans, like himself, to take them under their wing.
"Our young guys become great at a younger age because they've got great vets that are willing to teach them," Slay reveals. "A lot of vets that I've been around in this league probably don't want a young guy to take their spot. I'm looking forward to a young guy taking my spot because that's what it's all about."
With the mentorship of Darius Slay, the Philadelphia Eagles are poised for greatness in their secondary. As these young defensive backs soak up his wisdom, the team's future looks brighter than ever.
