The secret chess club at One NovaCare Way keeps getting bigger. The latest member arrives in Philadelphia following two years spent as mainly a pawn in Cleveland.
Dorian Thompson-Robinson was chosen by the Browns in the fifth round of the 2023 NFL Draft. The 25-year-old quarterback mostly backed up Deshaun Watson, starting five games over two seasons while struggling with his completion percentage.
Now, after a surprise trade jettisoned Kenny Pickett to Cleveland, DTR will enter training camp as the Eagles’ third-stringer. Sitting behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee on the early depth chart, under the tutelage of brand new quarterbacks coach Scot Loeffler, DTR is ready to make his mark.
“Diving in with these new teammates. Diving in with this new playbook,” DTR said. “And, really, being a sponge to Jalen as well as Coach Loeffler in the quarterback room to make sure there is no stone unturned.”
And not just on the football field. DTR is an accomplished chess player who started playing the game at UCLA, on the advice of former Eagles honcho Chip Kelly. He considers Los Angeles-based performance coach Seth Makowsky a mentor of sorts, something that he shares in common with Hurts.
Makowsky is a chess guru with a cult following among NFL quarterbacks. He and his wife, Rebecca, run a company called Poison Pawn which he describes as a “mind-set training system that uses chess to achieve peak performance in every aspect of life,” according to the Los Angeles Times. Hurts is one of his clients.
“I’ve crossed paths with Jalen a few times,” DTR said. “He’s worked with a chess mentor of mine, Seth Makowsky … so, we have a little bit of familiarity there. I’ll have to ask him about chess when I get into the room, and if he wants to play a few games or two.”
No, you didn’t misread it. DTR sent a direct challenge to Hurts or anyone else who wants to play chess in the locker room. It should be noted that Saquon Barkley is another member of the secret chess club at the NovaCare Complex.
Thompson-Robinson ended his introductory press conference by telling Eagles fans to look him up on chess.com and challenge him. He likened the game of chess to football, in that you are constantly making decisions and each one affects the outcome.
“So much about this position [quarterback] is about decision-making, I think that’s really all chess is, it’s just a board to make decisions on, ” DTR said. “And every decision means something and you have to be consistent in that, and so I think that’s really how it helps playing quarterback.
“And, really, all positions. It’s just being able to take that same mentality and mindset into the game and know that you got to be locked in for a full four quarters.”
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, talking about his relationship with Chip Kelly: “Chip’s one of my all-time favorite coaches … the first guy to really take a chance on me and help me build throughout my college career to get to this point in the pros, so I have nothing but good things to say about Coach Kelly.”
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, talking about his Top-30 visit to Philly in 2023: “This was one of my favorite teams coming out of the draft process. I loved everything about my visit here, just the way it was ran. They put me through a press conference-type situation when I was on the visit. It got me prepared for whatever team I was going to be on so I appreciated that. I’m just happy to be in this situation for sure.”
Kenyon Green Embracing ‘Change of Scenery’ with Eagles
The Eagles shipped off C.J. Gardner-Johnson off to the Houston Texans in a trade no one saw coming. Unexpected would be the understatement of the year, wrapped up in the 6-foot-4, 324-pound offensive guard.
Kenyon Green was the prized jewel in the deal. The 15th overall pick from the 2022 draft will get a chance to resurrect himself, maybe even win a starting job depending on what happens to right guard Mekhi Becton. Green needed a change of scenery, badly.
“Definitely. I feel like this breath of fresh air, new surroundings, new people to meet, different atmosphere,” Green said at his introductory press conference. “I’m extremely grateful for what the Texans done for me and everything. Unfortunately, it didn’t go the way that I wanted it to but I’m excited and I’m happy that I’m here with the Eagles.”
Green visited Philadelphia on a Top-30 visit prior to the 2022 draft and walked out with a great feeling about the organization, specifically that Super Bowl-winning culture. He called to mind the conversation he had with Coach Jeff Stoutland, inarguably the best offensive line coach in football.
“Man, just great conversation, great man,” Green said of Stoutland. “I know that he loves his players. He loves to coach, and I’m going to give him everything I have.”
When asked to describe the way he plays the game, Green didn’t hold back.
“I’m a physical guy,” Green said. “I like trying to be a mauler, just moving people, and wherever I need to play, I’m going to do whatever I need to do to make sure that the Eagles are winning games.”
Kenyon Green, talking about the Eagles’ culture: “Just the culture, from the owner to the GM to the head coach, everybody is just unbelievable. I’m just excited in seeing that they are excited that I’m here, and it’s time to work. I really don’t have a lot to say, I’m blessed, I’m a grateful young man that I’m here right now and I have this opportunity.”
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
