Eagles Cheerleader Amy in Esquire
By Steve Mazzucchi
Esquire
For the past six years, Amy Mecca has been bringing Philadelphia Eagles fans to their feet, waving her pom-poms in front of 75,000 people as part of their cheerleader squad. But Mecca — and many of her fellow NFL cheerleaders — are more than just beautiful women. They’re beautiful women with untapped reservoirs of football knowledge, blessed with inside access to the teams and players, not to mention one of the best seats in the house come gameday.
In this debut edition of Monday Morning Cheerleader (which will run here, and occasionally on Tuesdays when there’s a compelling Monday Night Football game), we talked to Mecca about Michael Vick’s debut with the team (“I think he’s just looking to prove himself to the rest of the league.”), how the loss of Brian Dawkins will impact the Eagles vaunted D, and what her end zone move would be (“Some kind of booty-shake move. Everyone loves a good booty shake. I’d put Ochocinco to shame.”).
ESQUIRE: Before we get down to the football talk, set us straight: What’s the single biggest misconception people have about NFL cheerleaders?
AMY MECCA: People think that all we do is cheer, but I’m a full-time OR nurse specializing in orthopedic surgery — rotator cuffs, shoulder replacements. I’m in surgery from 7 A.M. until the day is over, sometimes 11 P.M. I’m up to my elbows in blood every day.
ESQ: You must have an interesting perspective on player injuries.
AM: I have a bit more of an understanding. I actually work with two of the Eagles team physicians. A few years ago, [offensive lineman] Todd Herremans had a meniscus tear, and I assisted in his surgery. So I’m an Eagles supporter in more ways than one.
ESQ: Okay, football time. With the loss of Brian Dawkins, the heart and soul of the Eagles D, along with starting linebacker Stewart Bradley, seems like the Eagles have some holes to fill. Your analysis?
AM: Dawkins was one of the most emotional players on the team — he got everybody fired up, so it’s sad to see him not wearing an Eagles jersey. But it gives other defenders a chance to step into that role. Bradley’s season-ending injury was terrible, but now we’ve got a nice battle for the middle linebacker position. Joe Mays is doing great, and Omar Gaither is also really talented. Somehow, we always get hot at the right time. I’m excited.
ESQ: Which Eagles draft pick should we keep an eye on this year?
AM: Jeremy Maclin. With the ball in his hands, he is dynamite. Once he gets acclimated to the offense, I think he’s going to be great. Rookie receiver Brandon Gibson has had some pretty good games in the preseason so far. Between DeSean Jackson and Maclin, plus the veterans Hank Baskett, Reggie Brown, and Kevin Curtis, McNabb has plenty of options.
ESQ: Who needs to have a good season for the Eagles to play in February?
AM: Definitely Westbrook. He’s one of the most electrifying running backs. Once he’s healthy, he’s going to be crucial. McNabb, obviously. With McNabb, Westbrook, Jackson, our offense is going to be really good.
ESQ: What was your first thought when you heard the Eagles signed Michael Vick?
AM: When I first heard, I was shocked, but excited. He’s such a talented athlete, such a playmaker. To have McNabb and Vick playing together, other teams’ defensive coordinators are not going to have a clue. I see him having a big impact. Our offensive coordinator is so excited about all the things they’ll be able to do. He can’t contain himself. It will be interesting to see how they use him — in the wildcat or as a running back. I can’t wait to see it all go down.
ESQ: What was it like being on the field the first time Vick played as an Eagle?
AM: When I first came out, I thought, “Oh my gosh, the stadium is packed for a Thursday night preseason game.” Everybody was excited. The reaction from the crowd was insane. It was kind of surreal. You could see how pleased Vick was. He had a huge smile on his face. It was a good feeling, to get such a great reaction from the fans.
ESQ: What takeaways do you have from his first game?
AM: I don’t think you can make too many judgments right now. It’s preseason, kind of the time to test out different things. I think it’s going to be shown in the regular season what we can really do having McNabb and Vick at the same time. This was about getting him back into the game. For all these ESPN guys to make predictions, I think it’s kind of far-fetched right now. Commentators just need something to talk about. We’ll see in the regular season.
