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The personal player intros shown on TV early in games would have resonated so much stronger had Detroit Lions guard Jonah Jackson, the product of Penncrest High, recited it before taking on his hometown Eagles in the divisional round of the playoffs Sunday at Ford Field.
The Eagles blew it, though, losing to Tampa Bay and leaving the young man who grew up in Everybody’s Hometown to give his trademark shoutout to his fanbase this week: “Jonah Jackson … Media Elementary.”
On the scale of all-time innovative player intros, Jackson’s spot doesn’t move the needle like the one where Pro Football Hall of Fame tight end Tony Gonzalez, with a manufactured Latino accent says, “I’m Tony Gonzalez, University of Cal-i-fornia, OK?” …. or perennial Pro Bowl tight end George Kittle of Iowa bragging, “George Kittle … Tight End University.”
But Jackson is a road grader, a pass protector and a guy Lions quarterback Jared Goff never will forget. He is not an entertainer. Jackson, the pride of Delco, as David Ross Burman would say, is a critical cog in what now is the best offensive line in the NFL. Yeah, better than the gold standard in South Philly.
Judge for yourself after the 3 p.m. kickoff on NBC when the Lions’ front of Taylor Decker, Jackson, Frank Ragnow, Graham Glasgow and Penei Sewell opposes a very good Buccaneers defense and line.
It won’t take long for even the most casual fan to realize how dominant the Lions are up front. Eagles fans will quickly realize the Lions take as much pride in their offensive line punching opponents in their faces as their team does. Lions head coach Dan Campbell appreciates Jackson and the big bodies, having spent 10 years in the league as a blocking tight end for the New York Giants, Dallas Cowboys, and Lions.
“He wants this thing to be like the city,” Jackson said of Campbell in a Sirius Radio interview. “Detroit’s a gritty, hard-working, and blue-collar city. That’s exactly what he wants his team to be, gritty and fight to the end. No remorse, and just a constant, nasty attitude — especially the guys up front. Being able to have somebody like that who pushes the demeanor of finishing and being nasty and being a great offensive line, it gives you confidence. You feel like you play freer with somebody like that behind you.”
If that sounds familiar, that’s because it is. The offensive line coach in Motown is Hank Fraley, who started at the pivot for the Eagles in Super Bowl XXXIX. That wasn’t the Eagles finest day as they fell, 24-21. Then again, the Patriots were still in their cheat mode back then and Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb had a panic attack and hurled on that steamy humid night, dooming the Birds.
The Eagles won their only Lombardi Trophy with an offensive line that put on a clinic in front of Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles, who was unable to win at any of his other five stops in the league. The Eagles prevailed because they scored last on a day Tom Brady of the Patriots peppered the defense for 505 passing yards.
Jackson and the Lions are two victories from playing for their first Lombardi largely because that monster O-line has given Goff enough time to find receivers, enough room for backs Dave Montgomery and Jahmyr Gibbs rush for 1,960 yards and 23 touchdowns. Blue collar, for sure. The fans are the same way, although a bit more demonstrative in the way they express it.
Last week the Lions let Matthew Stafford have it, the former first overall Detroit draft pick returning with the Los Angeles Rams in the wild card round. It wasn’t a thanks for all you did welcome for Stafford.
“To do that and boo him and his kids and all that kind of stuff, I ain’t going to lie, if I was Stafford I wouldn’t want to step back over there anymore,” said Eagles defensive back Darius Slay, who played in Detroit with Stafford. “Yeah, that’s bad business. They should fix that. They shouldn’t have done that. That was terrible, Detroit. We’ve got to be better than that because they’re a good fan base as well. They can’t do that to Stafford. When I came back there (with the Eagles), they gave me a little standing ovation. I did a lot for the city as well, but not close to Stafford.”
Jackson appreciates Stafford, too, having blocked in front of him in 2020, the year the Lions took Jackson off the board in the third round of the draft. What Jackson would value every bit as much is turning 27 years old on Media Day at Super Bowl LVIII at Allegiant Stadium.
That would be a rush.
Until then, appreciate the big guy for what he’s accomplished and gives back to his community, when he offers up his “Jonah Jackson … Media Elementary” TV intro.
Contact Bob Grotz at rgrotz@delcotimes.com
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