PHILADELPHIA -- Rasheed Bailey played in front of a pretty big crowd when Delaware Valley University played Widener.
"That was our big, big game," Bailey said Tuesday. "So probably that was 5,000 [fans]."
In his time with the Philadelphia Eagles, Bailey has played two games at Lincoln Financial Field and one at Lambeau Field. On Thursday night, he will play in the Meadowlands. But the rookie wide receiver hasn't gotten stage fright yet.
"Once I get on that field, guess what matters?" Bailey said. "The football. It's all I see, all I hear. I hear that ball spin. It's all I see. It's all that matters."
That focus has helped Bailey handle the jump from Del Val to the Eagles, from Division III to the NFL. And not just the NFL, but the team he grew up rooting for as a youngster.
"He's not overwhelmed or overcome because he's playing in his hometown or playing for his favorite team growing up," Eagles coach Chip Kelly said. "I think he's really focused on what he has to do and that's improve on a constant basis.
"Sometimes you worry about that when you get a guy in that situation. Is he just going to press and try to do too many things? I remarked in our first game, he was extremely calm, went out there and made plays against the Colts, and I think it's been impressive for him, because it's obviously a different situation than anybody else is in."
Bailey has made it through the first mandatory roster cutdown by catching eight passes for 70 yards in three preseason games. He still has a major challenge hanging around past the cut to 53 on Saturday. But Bailey didn't get this far by being unrealistic.
He will be satisfied if he's able to land a spot on the Eagles' practice squad.
"It is considered a success," Bailey said, "because the one thing I can do is, I can give back to the city. I can be a part of this great team and also give back to this beautiful city.
"If I can keep making plays ... those are the things that make me go, 'Wow, I'm really here.' Even standing here right now, it's an amazing feeling. So I'm excited."
