They say there are always different ways to be a leader in sports. Some athletes choose to be more outspoken in the locker room and in team meetings to galvanize the troops.
Others are more soft-spoken and choose to lead by example.
Neither style of leadership is wrong. Both can bring out the best in others. It's just a matter of preference for the individual.
The Philadelphia Eagles have a great example of both in their receiving room right now. The outspoken A.J. Brown has been a revelation since arriving to Philadelphia in a draft day trade and always seems to be at the front of any major story coming out of the team.
Then there is DeVonta Smith.
It's hard to imagine, but Smith was the true start to the Eagles run to dominance. He was the 10th overall selection in the 2021 Draft and was the first drafted wide receiver to show competence in his first year with the team. Along the way, he set a franchise record for receiving yards in his first four years to start his career with the team combined.
One thing that doesn't get talked about enough when it comes to Smith is his ability to be a good teammate.
Whether it's defending the honor of his quarterback in a top-five competition, or sharing top targets with Brown, Smith has always been a consummate professional with the Eagles since he arrived. It certainly helped Philly put him in a situation to play with his college quarterback of course.
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"There were two reasons I went to Alabama," Smith explained on the 7pm in Brooklyn Podcast. "The first was Jalen. I knew if I went there, he would be the quarterback. I think that's why the relationship was so good. When I got drafted to Philly, I was happy as hell. I got my dog here. It made me comfortable being with someone I had that relationship with and had a connection with.
"If I ain't got nothing in this city, I know I got him."
Philadelphia is extremely lucky to have a star like A.J. Brown on the roster. He changed how the offense was defended and opened the door for the Eagles to become the Super Bowl team they are now.
The Eagles are just as fortunate to have a running mate to Brown that is as good and an even better teammate to go along with him in Smith.
The two combined have Philly rolling and expecting more titles in the future.
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This story was originally published March 21, 2025 at 10:21 AM.