After a close competition during training camp, King Dunlap will be the starting left tackle when the Philadelphia Eagles open their season against the New York Jets.
Dunlap had been in a battle with Demetress Bell for the starting job with Eagles coach Andy Reid announcing Dunlap as the starter.
"You've got to give him credit for what he's done," said Reid. "He's got a long road here to go this season and staying healthy and doing all of those things and playing aggressive football week in and week out. He hasn't had to do that [yet] at this level but you have to give him credit for the battle that he's been in here with [T] Demetress [Bell]. They went after it and they're still going to go after it. Demetress isn't just going to concede. That's not what he is going to do. I think we are fortunate to have two guys here that we know can play but King ended up being the guy that got the number one spot."
Dunlap, a former seventh round pick with seven career starts, won the job over Bell who signed a five-year deal worth $34.5 million this offseason. That said, Bell only makes a little over $3 million this season and has no guaranteed money beyond this season. In comparison, Dunlap signed a one-year deal worth $1.2 million. While Bell was penciled in as the starter heading into camp, Dunlap overtook him with a strong training camp.
"I came in with the same mindset I've always had coming in -- come in, work hard every day and try to be the starter," Dunlap said according to CSNPhilly.com. "That's been my mentality since I got drafted is to come in and work to get better until one day hopefully be the starter at left tackle and it worked out for me now."
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