Jenkins was consummate teammate with Eagles

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When the Eagles brought him to Philadelphia in 2011, Cullen Jenkins was supposed to be missing link along the defensive interior that would stabilize the run defense, help collapse the pocket and make quarterbacks feel uncomfortable. While Jenkins showed flashes of being just that over his two-year stay with the team, he never quite found that consistent groove the the Eagles were hoping for on the field.

Off the field, you wont find a better human being. With his quiet demeanor, Jenkins treated everyone he encountered -- both in the locker rom and out of it -- with respect. He was one of the few real, stand-up guys who would always appear at his locker and answers endless questions from the media, no matter how bleak the situation.

When I went to his home on Tuesday to interview him after he was released, Jenkins alluded to how his verbal confrontation on the sideline with Andy Reid last preseason was blown out of proportion. He admitted that, even now, the unfortunate incident still bothered him. He’s never wanted to be viewed as a confrontational or disrespectful player.  

With the Eagles committing to a new head coach and going with younger players, the 32-year-old Jenkins knew the writing was on the wall. He made too much money and had to be one of the cap casualties for a franchise looking to free up dollars in order to move in a different direction. Jenkins holds no animosity toward the Eagles organization and wishes his now-former team all the best in the future. He will bounce back with another team, hoping to put himself in a position to reach another Super Bowl before his career ends.

Jenkins leaves the same way he arrived -- with class and dignity. Before we ended our conversation, he told me he feels as responsible as anyone on that 2012 squad for the team's failure. Jenkins didn’t keep up his end of the deal over two years. He had to go, and he knows it.

But that’s Cullen Jenkins for you. He never pointed fingers, never threw a teammate under the bus. He was and always will be the consummate teammate.

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