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  6. article_body => "<p>The Eagles are 4-4, they just acquired a Pro Bowl receiver and they play their biggest division rival on Sunday Night Football.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>And Doug Pederson was asked about everybody\u2019s favorite player who has never played football: Jordan Mailata.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Specifically, Pederson was asked if the former Australian rugby player could ever be used the future as a running back, a la William \u201cThe Refrigerator\u201d Perry.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Here was his answer:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>That\u2019s a good question. I don\u2019t know. He\u2019s definitely used to carrying a larger football. Do they call it a football? I don\u2019t know what they call it. A ball? Very athletic guy. It\u2019s intriguing. It\u2019s not out of the question.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p>OK, this is a fun idea, but don\u2019t count on this happening anytime soon. After all, Mailata is still learning how to play one position in a sport he\u2019s never played before. And he has been active just one time in eight games this season.<\/p>\n<p>The Eagles are rightfully treating Mailata as a long-term project. That\u2019s what he is.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>But we\u2019ve all seen his rugby highlights and it\u2019s hard not to make this natural connection:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><iframe width=\"480\" height=\"270\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/oH233ZDm-BA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<p>Is there anything the Eagles can take away from the rugby video?&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cGive him the ball on the goal line,\u201d head coach Doug Pederson interjected with a smile before Joe Douglas gave his answer shortly after the Eagles drafted Mailata.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat you saw on the YouTube <!-- VIDEO FILTER - INVALID CODEC IN: [video] -->, I\u2019m sure you all have seen it,\u201d Douglas said. \u201cYou\u2019ve seen a big man that people are bouncing off of. We also brought in Adam Zaruba last year, so we weren\u2019t averse to go into the rugby pool. That was impressive. It definitely was an eye-opener, watching the YouTube.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/washington\/myteams-nbc-sports?utm_tags=nbcsphi1356\">Click here<\/a> to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<h3><strong>More on the Eagles<\/strong><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-injury-update-darren-sproles-lane-johnson-expected-play-vs-dallas-cowboys\">Eagles expected to get 2 huge returns vs. Cowboys<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/jason-kelce-goes-cowboys-and-their-fans\">Jason Kelce goes in on the Cowboys and their fans<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-wisely-thinking-about-using-golden-tate-punt-returner\">Eagles wisely thinking about using Tate as a punt returner<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/how-eagles-plan-get-golden-tate-caught-playbook\">How Eagles plan to get Tate caught up on playbook<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<li dir=\"ltr\">\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/eagles\/golden-tate-still-learning-he-knows-you-hate-cowboys\">Tate is still learning, but he knows you hate Cowboys<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n"
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Eagles

Eagles

The Eagles are 4-4, they just acquired a Pro Bowl receiver and they play their biggest division rival on Sunday Night Football. 

And Doug Pederson was asked about everybody’s favorite player who has never played football: Jordan Mailata. 

Specifically, Pederson was asked if the former Australian rugby player could ever be used the future as a running back, a la William “The Refrigerator” Perry. 

Here was his answer:

That’s a good question. I don’t know. He’s definitely used to carrying a larger football. Do they call it a football? I don’t know what they call it. A ball? Very athletic guy. It’s intriguing. It’s not out of the question.

OK, this is a fun idea, but don’t count on this happening anytime soon. After all, Mailata is still learning how to play one position in a sport he’s never played before. And he has been active just one time in eight games this season.

The Eagles are rightfully treating Mailata as a long-term project. That’s what he is. 

But we’ve all seen his rugby highlights and it’s hard not to make this natural connection: 

Is there anything the Eagles can take away from the rugby video? 

“Give him the ball on the goal line,” head coach Doug Pederson interjected with a smile before Joe Douglas gave his answer shortly after the Eagles drafted Mailata.

 

“What you saw on the YouTube , I’m sure you all have seen it,” Douglas said. “You’ve seen a big man that people are bouncing off of. We also brought in Adam Zaruba last year, so we weren’t averse to go into the rugby pool. That was impressive. It definitely was an eye-opener, watching the YouTube.”

Click here to download the new MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.

More on the Eagles