Andy Reid compares Chiefs rookie to an Eagles franchise legend

Sometimes, a comparison says more than a stat line ever could. When Andy Reid starts throwing around names from his past, people tend to listen. That's especially true of Philadelphia Eagles fans. Coach Reid's Kansas City Chiefs used a fifth-round pick on a former Nebraska Cornhuskers running back. He did so in the City of Brotherly Love circa 2001. Correll Buckhalter was the selection. This time, he's rolling the dice on Emmett Johnson.

It was a move that didn’t exactly dominate headlines on draft weekend. Most discussed Kansas City's additions: Mansoor Delane, Peter Woods, and R. Mason Thomas. That changed quickly when Reid, one who rarely hands out casual praise, offered a comparison that immediately turned heads.

"He's got a good feel for things. Smart kid. Good kid. He's got that lateral quickness. We had LeSean McCoy here for a bit. He’s got a little bit of that to him. Where he can shift gears and still get himself upfield."

That’s not small talk, but hold on a second. That's invoking one of the most electric players Philadelphia has ever seen. That reintroduces a familiar name. Fans don't need a refresher on who LeSean McCoy is. He's in the Eagles' Hall of Fame for a reason.

Why the LeSean McCoy comparison matters

McCoy wasn’t just productive. He was unpredictable, a player who could make defenders miss in a phone booth and turn routine plays into highlights. Four 1,000-yard rushing seasons. Seventeen touchdowns in 2011. A constant problem for defenses. That kind of skill set doesn't come around often.