"The reason he's a good football player is he's really quick, he's explosive, and he never stops," Washburn said last week. "Who in the league plays harder than Jason Babin?"
A reporter suggested the Eagles' Trent Cole, a two-time Pro Bowl defensive end.
"Not so," Washburn said. "I haven't seen anybody. . . . Trent Cole and Jason Babin play hard. But who chases the ball better than Jason Babin?
"You want me to just tell you: There's nobody in the league that plays as hard as he does. Sorry. I can go out there and make that statement."
DeMarcus Ware's or Jared Allen's position coaches may disagree, but Babin at least deserves to be mentioned among the candidates. Only the Cowboys linebacker and Vikings defensive end have more sacks than Babin's 271/2 over the last two seasons.
His 15 sacks this year are tied for second in the NFL, and with three games left to play, Babin has Reggie White's franchise record of 21 within his sights. His relentless pursuit of quarterbacks has been one of the few bright spots for an Eagles team that will be on the brink of postseason elimination when it hosts the New York Jets on Sunday.
To some of Babin's critics, the mere mention of Babin's name alongside White's is blasphemous. White set his mark in a strike-shortened, 12-game season while dominating just as much against the run.
That's become the rub against Babin - signed as a free agent in July after he resurrected his career last season in Tennessee under Washburn - and to an extent his position coach, is this: All they care about is sacks.
"We're not doing good, they should be critical of us, they should talk in a negative way," said Babin, who hasn't been afraid to take on his detractors. "But they should understand what they're really talking about. I hate when they just use generalities."
