Great name, Weston Steelhammer. Sounds like a porn star alias, or the name of a safety who delivers big hits.

He’s got an interesting background story as well. Steelhammer actually finished his college career at Air Force several years ago and took part in Eagles minicamp back in 2017. However, he had to complete a two-year military service commitment before playing professional ball.

From Pro Football Talk:

For the last two years, Steelhammer has been serving in the Air Force, as required by the U.S. Department of Defense, but now his active-duty obligation is over and he’s free to pursue an NFL career.

The military has changed the rules through the years for players from Army, Navy and Air Force who have NFL opportunities. At some times, players have been required to serve as many as five years before playing, while at other times players have been allowed to go straight from college football to the NFL. President Trump said this week that he is considering changing the current rule and allowing service academy players to turn pro immediately without any compulsory military service.

A three-year starter at Air Force, Steelhammer played youth football with Eagles coach Doug Pederson’s son, and Pederson was happy to give him an opportunity once he and fulfilled his commitment.

That’s pretty cool/interesting.

I did some light Friday afternoon research and didn’t find any current Army players in the NFL, though the Patriots’ long snapper, Joe Cardona, went to the Naval Academy, as did Seattle practice squad quarterback Keenan Reynolds. Another long snapper, Austin Cutting, went to the Air Force Academy, and was drafted two weeks ago by the Vikings.

Please join me in thanking Mr. Steelhammer for his service to our country. I hope he makes the team and lays the Steelhammer on an unsuspecting receiver coming across the middle.

His career stats and a highlight video, after the jump:

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Remember the Eagles “major community announcement” that was teased for today?

The team is extending their relationship with Lincoln Financial through 2032. So that means “The Linc” will be called “The Linc” for the next 13 years.

From the team website:

Lincoln Financial Group and the Philadelphia Eagles announced Thursday that they have agreed to extend the stadium naming rights for Lincoln Financial Field through the 2032 NFL season. The partnership, which began in 2002, is one of the longest naming rights relationships in the NFL. The state-of-the-art sports and entertainment facility, lovingly referred to as “The Linc” by fans, is the home of the Philadelphia Eagles. Since kicking off the 2003 season, the Eagles have hosted many memorable moments at Lincoln Financial Field including, the famous “4th-and-26” conversion, the Snow Bowl in 2013, three NFC Championship Games, and of course raising the Super Bowl LII Championship banner.

….

Under the new agreement, Lincoln Financial Group will have a more dynamic stadium presence with new signage prominently featured in, around and on top of the stadium.

Here’s video of the announcement, which is taking place as we speak:

Tune in now for a special announcement with @lincolnfingroup! https://t.co/5SQ9Qg9ImI

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) May 9, 2019

Donovan McNabb, the greatest quarterback in Philadelphia Eagles history, was on 97.5 the Fanatic this morning.

You’ll recall recent comments he made about Carson Wentz, noting his concern for the QB’s injury history and suggesting that the Eagles might want to draft a quarterback if Wentz doesn’t get the Birds out of the divisional round in the near future. Donovan clarified those comments after a backlash that included Lane Johnson referring to him as a snake and essentially accusing him of jealousy.

So Donovan was asked again about his Carson comments, with Marc Farzetta explaining that people took it negatively.

McNabb:

But my point is, why? Because I’m an analyst and a question is presented to me, I’m supposed to answer the way I see fit. Being truthful, right? I think a lot of times media members send mixed messages because they say one, players are not honest and upfront, then, two, when they are honest and upfront then it’s too much. Or, three, if sometimes when it’s certain people, we want to judge it or have a different type of emotional feel to their answer because of who it is. And that’s unfair. It’s unfair because, from a reality and business standpoint, if you’re not able to be out on the football field and contributing to your team on a consistent basis, which is the most important position to a football team, they’re gonna have the backup come in.

And if the backup is in too much, one thing you don’t want to have is your backup being out there really too much longer than you want him to be, then you’re gonna go out there and draft someone who you think can fill that void. That’s just the lay of the land. We’ve all been through it. Tra (Thomas) has been through it. I’ve been through it. The list of everybody that’s played in the past, 5, 10, 15, 20, or 100 years, these owners and presidents and GMs, they’re gonna find a way to either find a player less talented than you that they can pay less, or find two players that they can pay for the price they’re paying you, if you’re not contributing.

Farzetta then asked Donovan if Carson Wentz is a guy in whom Donovan would invest his future. Can he be a perennial MVP candidate?

More McNabb, after the jump:

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Let’s get it back to economic development.

As we await the launch of PA online sports betting betting any day now, today the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board held a public input hearing and license renewal jawn for the planned Live! Hotel and Casino, which is expected to open next year on the plot of land where the Holiday Inn used to be at the sports complex.

The hotel/casino is expected to have 125 table games, 2,000 slot machines, and 200+ hotel rooms. And of course a sportsbook, which will complete locally with SugarHouse Sportsbook, Parx Sportsbook and Harrah’s. This was originally a joint development between Greenwood Racing and The Cordish Companies, which purchased the site for $37 million dollars last January. Cordish later bought out Greenwood and now controls the entirety of the project.

The presentation was shared on Youtube, and Cordish showed some slides to the Gaming Board.

Among then, was this list of community benefits:

And some mock ups and diagrams of the property and the finished project, after the jump:

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