Vermeil’s Return to Philadelphia Is for the Birds

On a night when Dick Vermeil came back to Veterans Stadium, Irving Fryar found his way back to the end zone.

Fryar caught his first touchdown pass in nearly a year, a 61-yarder from Koy Detmer in the third quarter Thursday night as the Philadelphia Eagles beat Vermeil’s St. Louis Rams, 17-14.

It was Vermeil’s first game at Veterans Stadium since he last coached the Eagles in 1982.

“It was emotional to go out there early and be around and see a lot of people I know. . . It felt warm,” Vermeil said. “The comments made to me as I came out the tunnel, by fans, and just general people making a real effort to come and say hello.”

Like Vermeil’s old Eagle teams, the Rams (3-10) didn’t quit when Fryar’s TD gave Philadelphia (3-10) a 17-6 lead with 7:18 left in the third quarter.

Tony Banks passed to J.T. Thomas for 41 yards to the Eagle 10. June Henley scored from the one, and Banks passed to Ricky Proehl for a two-point conversion that cut the deficit to 17-14 with 11:04 left.

After Philadelphia punted, Banks passed to Thomas again for 17 yards on third and 12. But the drive stalled, and Jeff Wilkins’ 52-yard field goal was wide left with 4:15 to go.

Although most of the fans had left, the game still meant something to Vermeil. The 62-year-old coach slapped his clipboard against his legs when the ball fluttered wide.

In a final drive, Banks passed to Thomas for 17 yards to the Philadelphia 35 on a fourth-and-two play as time expired.

There was no controversial coin toss in the first game under rule changes designed to avoid the Thanksgiving Day flap between Pittsburgh and Detroit. The Ram captains made their call--tails--before the coin was in the air, and two judges helped referee Bernie Kukar supervise the flip.

Former Eagle owner Leonard Tose stood on the Ram sideline with Vermeil. Tose hired Vermeil to coach the Eagles in 1976 and was the owner when Vermeil led Philadelphia to the Super Bowl in 1980.

Vermeil is 8-21 since as coach of the Rams.