When the Pro Bowl rosters were released earlier this week, the Eagles had just two players on the NFC roster and there were some notable omissions.
Among those snubbed were Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, who have been the bookends of one of the best offensive lines in football this season.
They’re not even alternates.
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But Mailata on Friday said his own snub didn’t bother him as much as Johnson’s.
“I’ll be honest, man, I haven’t really given much thought to the Pro Bowl snub. I care more for Lane,” he said. “I think Lane’s one of the best tackles in this game. I know, for me, if I look at myself in the mirror, I know I have a long way to go before I ever make those Pro Bowls. There’s so much stuff that I need to clean up on my own tape. If there’s one tackle I model myself after, it’s Lane. I just feel for Lane in that regard, more for him than myself.
“Because I know I’m still just starting up. Not everybody knows my name, but they will one day.”
RELATED: The shocking snubs of Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata
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Mailata is still just 24 and is having the type of season that really does warrant Pro Bowl consideration. Because of his age and because of how new he still is to football, there’s obviously the potential for him to grow into a perennial Pro Bowler and possibly a perennial All-Pro.
Mailata’s point on Friday is that he thinks Lane is already at that level.
Johnson, 31, has been fantastic, especially since returning from a three-game absence for mental health reasons earlier this season.
“When you think about all the stuff that he’s been through, to overcome and come back and play at the high level that he’s been playing, it just shows you the class athlete that he is,” Mailata said. “One of the best tackles in the game. For him to just keep doing it over and over, week in and week out. It’s truly a shame that he got snubbed, to be honest.”
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While it obviously seemed to bother Mailata that Johnson was snubbed, he said as long as the people inside the NovaCare Complex understand his importance that’s really all that matters. And after talking about the Pro Bowl for a bit, Mailata said he’s really just focused on playing the Giants on Sunday.
The Eagles have three games left in their 2021 season and if they’re going to run the table and sneak into the playoffs, they’re likely going to do it behind their stellar offensive line.
Mailata knows there’s plenty of time in the future for Pro Bowls.
“I’m going to keep working hard so I can put that respect on myself and make the league aware,” Mailata said. “Until then, I know the sun is still shining, checks are still clearing and I love playing for this city.”
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