THE OPENING kickoff of the 1998 preseason drifted toward the Jets' returner, who retreated deep into the end zone. Everyone at Veterans Stadium knew that it would be a touchback. Most of the Eagles slowed down around the 10 and stopped at the goal line.
One guy sped up. Ran right at the returner . . . and ran him over. Penalty flags rained down. The Jets' bench emptied.
Ray Rhodes was in love.
It's almost 20 years later. Reese's dirty-work mentality that impressed his first Eagles coach bought him nine years in the NFL, the first seven in Philadelphia; sent him to a Pro Bowl; and made him a Philly icon, where he has been a sports-talk host the past decade whose passion is football and basketball.