Morningwood Not Worried About McNabb + Reed, Runyan and FA news

PhillyPhreak54 · February 24, 2006, 07:49:33 AM

QuoteMornhinweg not worried about McNabb

By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com

INDIANAPOLIS - Marty Mornhinweg doesn't think Donovan McNabb's psyche will be an issue for the Eagles.

Mornhinweg, the Birds' assistant head coach who added the title of offensive coordinator when Brad Childress left to coach the Vikings, said yesterday that while he didn't want to speak for McNabb, "I think he's fine."

Mornhinweg said he and Eagles coach Andy Reid have talked to McNabb since McNabb vented his feelings at the Super Bowl in Detroit. Mornhinweg wouldn't provide details of those discussions, but he said he didn't envision having to broker any sort of peace between McNabb and any of his teammates.

McNabb said he was disappointed that other Eagles wanted Terrell Owens back on the team after Reid made it clear he was off the roster, and after McNabb made it clear that he thought the team might be better off without T.O. The Eagles organization hasn't responded to what McNabb said, and Mornhinweg declined to do so yesterday at the NFL Scouting Combine, except to indicate that he didn't think the remarks were a big deal.

Mornhinweg has plenty of other issues on his plate. Yesterday he identified the offensive line as his biggest area of concern. The Eagles seem to have no plans to try to retain Jon Runyan, the 32-year-old right offensive tackle whose arrival as a free agent in 2000 changed the attitude of a formerly questionable group.

"There's a bunch of different scenarios that could happen. We're right in the middle of that, right now," Mornhinweg said when asked about Runyan. But none of those scenarios seems to involve signing Runyan before free agency begins March 3, and the Eagles rarely bid in the open market for their own players. When middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter returned last season after becoming a free agent, he pretty much accepted the deal he'd been offered before going on the market.

That's unlikely to happen with Runyan, who is on the downside of his career but doesn't carry any of Trotter's knee issues with him, and who can still be very effective for a team that wants to run the ball to the right side. Shawn Andrews could move from right guard into Runyan's spot, with last year's rookie tackle Todd Herremans moving into the starting lineup as a guard, assuming the Eagles don't add a significant free agent or draft an offensive lineman capable of starting as a rookie. Tra Thomas seems to be progressing from back surgery and presumably will return at left tackle. Jamaal Jackson and Hank Fraley presumably will battle for the center position.

Mornhinweg indicated he would like to see the Eagles' offensive-line picture come into focus by training camp, rather than using camp to clarify it.

Birdseed

Indications are that the Eagles might be interested in soon-to-be Giants free-agent defensive tackle Kendrick Clancy, a solid starter with good quickness, but not a star... The Eagles' assumption has been that returner-safety J.R. Reed will not be able to play again. Reed tore a nerve behind his knee in February 2005. Yesterday, a team source indicated that while Reed is unlikely to play this season, he has experienced significant progress in the past few weeks and now has some chance of playing again, eventually.

I wouldn't mind signing Kendrick Clancy at all. He'd be a cheap and solid addition to th DT rotation that would still likely get attention in the draft. He's 27 going on 28 and would probably replace Hollis as the run stuffer of the group. He's only listed at 305 but he plays much bigger. He was a NT in PIT prior to going to NY.

And good news on JR Reed. Even though it is way too early to get excited, its progress.

Feva · February 24, 2006, 08:55:05 AM

I wonder if Mornhinweg is worried about McMahon.

QuoteMornhinweg has plenty of other issues on his plate. First of which needs to be getting Mike McMahon to look less like a farging Maybelline model and more like an NFL Quarterback.

Wingspan · February 24, 2006, 09:08:39 AM

Quote from: PhillyPhreak54 on February 24, 2006, 07:49:33 AM
QuoteThe Eagles seem to have no plans to try to retain Jon Runyan, the 32-year-old right offensive tackle whose arrival as a free agent in 2000 changed the attitude of a formerly questionable group.

"There's a bunch of different scenarios that could happen. We're right in the middle of that, right now," Mornhinweg said

i am sure the eagles are at least thinking about the option of resigning runyun.

god damn i hate the media

ice grillin you · February 24, 2006, 09:10:00 AM

i am sure the eagles are at least thinking about the option of resigning runyun

yeah they are thinking he will cost to much is too old and therefore will be playing in dallas next year

rjs246 · February 24, 2006, 10:25:33 AM

QuoteMornhinweg said he and Eagles coach Andy Reid have talked to McNabb since McNabb vented his feelings at the Super Bowl in Detroit. Mornhinweg wouldn't provide details of those discussions, but he said he didn't envision having to broker any sort of peace between McNabb and any of his teammates.

Why the farg would Mornhinweg be called upon to broker anything? Also, why hasn't this man been accidentally sniped by someone yet? You know, 'some crazy fan' who doesn't think he's good for the team taking pot shots at poor old Marty. Sounds like good clean fun to me.

SunMo · February 24, 2006, 10:27:40 AM

how does anyone get accidentally sniped? doesn't the simple act of sniping imply a deliberate action?

ice grillin you · February 24, 2006, 10:29:24 AM

perhaps the sniper would be aiming at reid and miss

SunMo · February 24, 2006, 10:31:26 AM

perhaps, but that isn't at all what RJS is saying, and to be honest, I'm a little disappointed

MadMarchHare · February 24, 2006, 10:34:41 AM

Quote from: ice grillin you on February 24, 2006, 10:29:24 AM
perhaps the sniper would be aiming at reid and miss

Pfft. Like you could miss Reid. Wouldn't even need a scope.

rjs246 · February 24, 2006, 10:35:01 AM

Also, if you're aiming at reid and miss you are the worst shot in the history of everything.

rjs246 · February 24, 2006, 10:35:12 AM

dammit

ice grillin you · February 24, 2006, 10:37:20 AM

pass thru andy and hit marty?

MadMarchHare · February 24, 2006, 10:54:04 AM

That's even more absurd. You need a howitzer to get a shell through Andy.

BigEd76 · February 24, 2006, 11:58:48 AM

Here's another interesting note from the Denver Post, not really worthy of its own thread:

QuoteThere have been league discussions about sending the Broncos to Beijing to play a preseason game in 2007. A potential opponent is Philadelphia. Talks still are in the preliminary stage.

PhillyPhanInDC · February 24, 2006, 12:02:37 PM

Quote from: BigEd76 on February 24, 2006, 11:58:48 AM
Here's another interesting note from the Denver Post, not really worthy of its own thread:

QuoteThere have been league discussions about sending the Broncos to Beijing to play a preseason game in 2007. A potential opponent is Philadelphia. Talks still are in the preliminary stage.

Why would Philly be a potential opponent? Are the Eagles scheduled to play them in the '07 Preseason? farging commies.