Daniel Adds Veteran Presence, Leadership for Eagles

It's been a few months since the chatter of former Dragon quarterback Chase Daniel potentially becoming a starter in the NFL began to fizzle.

The eighth-year Super Bowl champion, playing under his former offensive coordinator, now head coach Doug Pederson has still made a splash, despite his new team trading up to the second overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft to select North Dakota State's Carson Wentz.

The Philadelphia Eagles, who picked up Daniel back in March during free agency, have said all along they never had intentions of placing Wentz in the backup roll in 2016, but the chatter in the City of Brotherly Love certainly didn't vibe with that notion. Still, Daniel put his head down and got to work during the offseason to prepare to become a locker room leader and an on-the-field contributor to the best of his abilities.

"For me, it’s all like clockwork," Daniel said. "Going into my eighthbryear, I have everything mapped out, exactly. I work with a trainer in Dallasbrfrom the end of January to April. Then, we come up here for OTA's, and when they’re done inbrJune-July, I go to San Diego to train with Todd Durkin."

Daniel saw limited time in the first preseason game, but with Wentz suffering a hairline fracture to his rib in that game, Daniel picked up some extra snaps. His most impressive outing was the third preseason game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

In three weeks, Daniel has gone 23 of 38 for 201 yards and a touchdown. He also has a rushing touchdown. He's been sacked four times behind a not-so-experienced Eagles offensive line.

"I feel like I’m playing really well," he said. "I've been taking advantage ofbrmost opportunities given to me. You've always got to be ready when your number's called. Ibrfeel like I’m playing confident right now. It’s good to keep building on abrstrong offseason and training camp. Keep stacking those blocks. Hopefully, we’ll get out there and show some good stuff in the last preseason game and getbrready for Cleveland in Week 1."

Daniel said it's easy for players to look to him in the locker room and on the field as a leader, coming from a familiar Pederson offense.

"I sort of bring a lot of comfort to the guys tobrknow what he’s doing and how he’s calling the game," he said. "I’ve been in the offense for four years now. It helps to show the guys the nooks and crannies that may take abrbit of time if you haven’t played in it as long as I have."

The adjustment to his new city has been relatively easy, Daniel said, as almost all of the furniture is in his new home in South Jersey.

"We’re used to the Midwest and Dallas and downbrsouth a little bit," he said. "So, it’s been an interesting change for my wife and [me], butbrit’s a good one. We’re excited about it."

While it's clear that Daniel won't start the season, with league veteran Sam Bradford in a healthy physical state thus far, he still looks to make a contribution to the team each day. He attributes that to his Southlake pedigree.

"Growing up in Southlake made me strong," Daniel said. "People were gunningbrfor your job and for the football team. When we were there, obviously we werebrpretty good. It was good that you have to prove yourself week in and week out,brevery single day. You have to do that in the NFL. No matter who you’re playing, you have to bring you’re A-gamebrevery single week and you have to be ready."

Q&A

Daniel took some additional time to answer some questions about his time in Southlake and beyond.

Southlake Style: What have you learned in your eight years in the pro’s so far?

Chase Daniel: I think, just never take everything for granted. Every day isbrnot promised to you. You have to go out there and prove yourself. You have tobrpractice really well. You have to play. When your number gets called, you havebrto be ready to play and play well if you want to stick around this league. I’vebrbeen striving to prepare like a starter week in and week out and do well whenbrmy number is called.

SS: What are the differences between the cities you’ve played in andbrSouthlake/the Metroplex?

Daniel: I think Southlake is great. It's a one-high-school town. I wouldn’tbrchange anything about my time there. My parents still live there and I stillbrwork out down there in January through April, so I'm always around the team around that time. It’sbrgreat. 

New Orleans is great. Down south, the fans are nuts there. Really it’sbrbeen that way in KC, too. They are some of the craziest, blue-collar fans in the country. I've had a greatbrexperience with where I’ve been.

SS: Favorite memory playing football as a Dragon?

Daniel: I would obviously say my senior year was pretty special tobrgo wire to wire so to speak. To win a championship and be ranked No. 1 at the end of the year. That was prettybrspecial.

SS: Can you pay homage to your greatest influencers: Todd Dodge, Drew Brees, Doug Pederson? 

Daniel: Sure thing. Starting with Coach Dodge... He’s the one that taught me how tobrlive, eat, breath, sleep football. I can’t say enough to not only how he progressedbrwith me on the field, but how much of a man he made me and how much of a gamebrfootball was that he taught; but also life. The way of living life. We still staybrclose to this day.

Drew... being able to be around a future hall of famer, first-ballad hall of famer in my mind - especially the first four years of my NFL career - was verybrspecial. He taught me everything from preparation to how to take my game to the next level,brfrom off the field to on the field. I really can’t say enough about him.

I've been with Coach Pederson the past three years, and I know what he brings as a head coach inbrthe NFL. He’s played the position of quarterback and knows the locker room. It’s reallybrspecial. Being with all of those three guys has made me pretty lucky.

SS: What do you miss the most about Southlake?

Daniel: Joe’s Pizza, hands down. 

SS: Well, we were going to ask your favorite place to grab a bite when you’re in town... Same answer? 

Daniel: Defnitely Joe’s, or Anamia's. Those are [No.] 1 and 1-A. 

SS: You've had the rare opportunity to be on winning teams for most of your life, from Carroll to the University of Missouri. What is that like? 

Daniel: I think being on winning teams even when I was younger, before high school, brought that confidence that we just expected to win. It’s somethingbrthat you can’t really teach. It’s a confidence factor that no matter who you’rebrplaying, you expect to win the game. I've been to a lot of championship games, from the state championship to having a Super Bowl ring. Youbrcome to expect it, but it doesn’t come easy. It’s good to know you have what it takes to win football games. 

SS: Were you a Cowboys fan growing up? 

Daniel: I guess I grew up a little bit of a Cowboys fan. I grew up a Troy Aikman,brEmmitt Smith and Michael Irvin fan, but was also a huge Brett Favre fan. I loved the waybrhe played the game.

SS: What would you like to say to people back home?

Daniel: You know, it sounds pretty cliché, but just follow your dreams. I’vebralways gotten people that told me, 'You’re too slow, too short; you don't have a strong enoughbrarm.' The power of your mind is something special. Put all of your faith in God.brHe’s already written a plan for your life. Put the control in his hands, workbrhard, and do the right things in life, no matter if it’s football or life inbrgeneral.

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