Hayes: Eagles need a leader or two to emerge

THE MOST remarkable thing about this edition of the Philadelphia Eagles is its staggering unremarkableness.

No team in Jeffrey Lurie's era of ownership has featured less dynamic star power to act as the voices of the team. Leadership is intangible, and leadership is often dismissed, but leadership in a brutal, short-term job like the NFL cannot be overstated. All good teams have capable leaders, and the best leaders combine talent on the field with the ability to articulate issues off the field; and, if necessary, administer justice in the locker room. It's hard to be sheriff and spokesman if you're an ordinary player. Howie Roseman seems to have compiled a team chock full of ordinary players.

This doesn't mean players cannot develop into the roles. Stars can rise; once risen, their voice is amplified. Players can be seasoned, which sharpens their perspective and heightens their capacity to avert incidents and create a professional atmosphere. For now, though, there just isn't that guy.

Even the worst of Lurie's teams over his 22-year stewardship had in place players who at least seemed equipped to fill the role. Think about it, down the timeline.

Last season the top dog was DeMarco Murray, a well-presented star accustomed to the limelight playing running back, a feature position. Murray didn't produce and he didn't lead, but, with the trade of quarterback Nick Foles and with the uncertain nature of Sam Bradford's arrival - his health, his future, his talent - Murray lent legitimacy to the locker room.

In the years prior to 2015, receiver Jeremy Maclin, left tackle Jason Peters, linebacker DeMeco Ryans and, to an extent, running back LeSean McCoy provided perspective. For a while the locker room was completely Michael Vick's. Before that, the list of leaders was overwhelming: Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, Jon Runyan, Jeremiah Trotter, Troy Vincent, Irving Fryar, Ricky Watters (see: McCoy), Rodney Peete, William Fuller, Eric Allen.

Not every one of those players represented the room with diplomacy and aplomb. Some talked a better game than they played; some played much more effectively than they talked. But, to some extent, all of them led.

Who leads this bunch? Let's begin with the most likely candidates.

Bradford? He's generally considered a placeholder for rookie Carson Wentz. Bradford agrees with this assessment.

Connor Barwin? Smart, well-spoken and versatile, Barwin has produced double-digit sack numbers once in the past four seasons and seems better suited in the 3-4 scheme that was just scrapped.

Malcolm Jenkins? He's the player rep and the defensive leader, but he's more a polished veteran than a star safety.

Jason Kelce? He seemed prime for prime time (quite a feat for a center) and poised to be an unquestioned leader before his poor 2015 season.

Lane Johnson? Honest, pedigreed, talented and productive, Johnson is a stud offensive tackle . . . and he is expected to miss the first 10 games of 2016, serving a second suspension in three seasons for using performance-enhancing drugs. You can't lead when you're not allowed on the premises.

Fletcher Cox? He's the most talented player and, at defensive tackle, the foundation of the defense, but he's not interested in being a spokesman. Neither is running back Ryan Mathews, who will be the featured back but will never be a featured speaker. Third-down back Darren Sproles and defensive tackle Bennie Logan do their jobs and move on.

Brent Celek has acted as a leader but there's only so much weight carried by a starting tight end who has averaged slightly more than 30 catches and three touchdowns the past three seasons. Similarly, Peters' influence has diminished with his play.

There are plenty of players with potential.

Wentz, of course, was drafted No. 2 overall to lead the franchise for the next decade, but his presence undermines Bradford's power.

Eventually, Wentz's chief target likely will be Jordan Matthews, a big, engaging, effusive, productive slot receiver with 16 TD catches in his first two seasons . . . and an occasional case of the drops. Talented tight end Zach Ertz caught a lot of passes Celek might have caught, and Ertz, a Stanford guy with Pro Bowl potential, pulls no punches.

Kelce might play himself into redemption. Johnson, who led the vanguard against fired coach Chip Kelly last season, could re-emerge in 2017 as a significant voice.

The smartest money, however, is on Jordan Hicks.

He's a playmaking middle linebacker blessed with exceptional intelligence and remarkable maturity.

Maybe this cast isn't so unremarkable after all.

@inkstainedretch Blog: ph.ly/DNL