Eagles’ colorful guard gets in … on his own

When Philadelphia running back LeSean McCoy was selected to the Pro Bowl, he offered a prayer.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles thanked the fans.

But when teammate Evan Mathis got his invitation to Sunday’s Pro Bowl, he … called off Tonya Harding?

"Someone tell Tonya Harding I don’t need her help getting into the Pro Bowl anymore," the Eagles guard posted from his Twitter handle, @EvanMathis69.

Welcome to the curious, often irreverent world of the Eagles’ Associated Press All-Pro guard, a 6-foot-5, 304-pounder who identifies himself as a "decorated horse racing jockey."

The same one who tweeted to 43,094 followers a $500 offer to the one who could get @AmandaBynes to follow him. This is a guy who posted a picture of himself with Selena Gomez and his real life wife and labeled it as, "just two of my wives." And also posted a photo of himself outside the IRS building ostensibly performing a unique protest.

"I try to have fun on Twitter and most of the things I say on there are satirical," Mathis said.

Of course, being a left guard in the NFL often means being left to your own devices to make a name for yourself, no matter how good your on-the-field credentials. Even for a three-time All-Pro pick from Alabama who has opened holes for McCoy and helped to protect Foles, the position can carry a high degree of anonymity.

Players, coaches and Eagles fans know him, but often the only time somebody at his position gets wider public notice is when he gives up a sack or commits a penalty. And, in 47 starts over three seasons for the Eagles, Mathis has been remarkably low on those.

So much so that a study by Pro Football Focus, which uses game film to grade every player at every position, rated Mathis its Bruce Matthews Award winner as the NFL’s best offensive lineman for 2013. At $3 million a year, he was named to the NFL’s All-Value team.

 "I try to keep things in perspective," Mathis said. "I know it’s hard for people to pay particular attention to interior offensive line play. I maintain my focus on playing good football and trust that (things) will take care of themselves … eventually."

Now, in his ninth NFL season, they finally have. At age 32, Mathis is the Eagles’ oldest Pro Bowl rookie in 44 years, finally achieving a boyhood ambition as an alternate once Denver’s Louis Vasquez got ticketed for the Super Bowl.

An uncle, Bob Baumhower of the Dolphins, played in five Pro Bowls (1979-83).

"I’ve watched a lot of (Pro Bowls) since I was a kid. It was always fun to watch the best players in the NFL together in one place having a good time," Mathis said.  Joining them, Mathis said, "has been my goal since high school."

For Mathis, the fear was that it might come when the game had left Aloha Stadium.

"I was always worried about that happening," Mathis said. "There’s a lot of history with the Pro Bowl in Hawaii and, I’m thankful to be part of that."

Without requiring Harding’s assistance.

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Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@staradvertiser.com or 529-4820.