Eagles Sign Punter Parrish
By Lance Epstein
Police officer and punter Ken "Sarge" Parrish and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed on a three-year contract on Wednesday.
Parrish (6-1, 210) was invited to Eagles training camp last season, where he competed with incumbent punter Sav Rocca. At training camp, head athletic director Rick Burkhalter gave him his nickname "Sarge." Eventually, Parrish was cut, picked up by the New York Jets, but unfortunately did not make the team.
Instead of trying to catch on with another NFL team, Parrish went back to his day job of being a police officer with the Stroud Area (Pa.) Regional Police Department. However, now he is putting his cop career on hold to try and live out his dream job.
Parrish grew up as a Eagles fan and even attended training camp practices with his family at Leigh University. In order to make the team, Parrish must beat out Rocca and Durant Brooks. He must also demonstrate that he is capable of being a efficient punter, placekicker and holder.
At East Stroudsberg University, he twice earned first-team All-Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, where he was a four-year starter that averaged 40.7 yards a per punt. As a rookie in 2007, Parrish signed a free agent contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
Many Eagles fans will be cheering for Parrish when training camp rolls around because Rocca seems to become inept in the game's biggest moments. Also, since this is another potential Vince Papale type of story.
However the Eagles hope he can read opponents their miranda rights and tell them they have right to remain silent on special teams.
Now this is a guy you can root for no matter what the outcome of the game. He is already a winner, hopefully he can punt well enough to make a positive impact on the outcome of the game.
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