Eagles heroes, ruffians and blips

0 Comments | Philadelphia Inquirer, The, August, 2008 | by David Cohen FOR THE INQUIRER

These colorful characters all played one season or less in an Eagles uniform.

Alabama Pitts (1935):  Signed out of Sing Sing prison, he was not a breakout star.

Irv Kupcinet (1935):  After his two-game NFL career ended, "Kup" was one of Chicago's media hotshots for six decades.

Frank Tripucka (1949):  A first-round draft choice and the father of future NBA star Kelly Tripucka, he failed to win Greasy Neale's confidence and was quickly traded to the Lions.

Leo Skladany (1949):  In his fourth and final game as an Eagle, he blocked a punt and landed on it for a touchdown in the NFL championship game.

John Madden (1959):  A knee injury ended his only training camp as a player, making his stay even shorter than fellow coaching greats Bud Grant (1951-52)...