Corey Simon...not the smartest guy around....

[PhillyGirl]

Holdout by Simon not playing well
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

Corey Simon's absence was somewhat benign at the start of this Eagles training camp.

With the Jerome McDougle shooting, the Brian Westbrook holdout, and the Terrell Owens traveling sideshow, it was easy to forget that the defensive tackle whom the Eagles used their franchise tag on this off-season was missing, too.

Now, Simon's decision to stay away is going unnoticed for another reason that has far more serious implications for the defensive tackle who has protested his contract situation by refusing to sign the Eagles' franchise tender of $5.13 million.

"The more you miss, the more you give other people an opportunity," Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday after practice at the NovaCare Complex. "Right now, that [defensive tackle] group is playing well. We have a group that I'm very comfortable with in there."

Does that mean Simon's playing time could be significantly reduced when he does arrive at the NovaCare Complex?

"Obviously, yeah, because I feel comfortable with the guys we have in there," Reid said. "The door has been open and the other guys have taken advantage of it."

There is a precedent during the Reid era for a veteran costing himself playing time by staying away from camp. Two years ago, running back Duce Staley staged a 26-day holdout, and his total number of touches fell from 320 in 2002 to 132 in 2003.

Part of the reason for Staley's decline was the emergence of Westbrook and the return of Correll Buckhalter from a knee injury. But the holdout didn't help Staley's cause, and it didn't help him when he hit the free-agent market after the 2003 season.

The 28-year-old Simon, still at home with his family in Tallahassee, Fla., said he hasn't been paying much attention to what has transpired at Lehigh University or in Philadelphia. He also said he wasn't too concerned about what happens when he returns to the team.

"It is what it is," he said. "I don't control that. People know what I can do. They know what I've done over the last five seasons."

Asked if he'd be upset about a decrease in playing time or possibly even a demotion to the second team, Simon said: "I don't control that part of it."

Asked if he planned to arrive soon, he said, "When I get there, you'll see me."

The Eagles would argue that Simon could have controlled his own destiny by signing their tender and reporting to camp on time. They'd also argue that he could have accepted a trade elsewhere if he could have agreed to contract terms with either the Baltimore Ravens or Cincinnati Bengals this off-season.

"I'm not going to get into that," Simon said. "I'm not the type of person who gets into a hissing match."

The "other guys who have taken advantage" of Simon's absence are veteran Hollis Thomas and rookie Mike Patterson.

Thomas, who also had contract complaints this off-season, played an exceptional game Saturday night against the Baltimore Ravens, coming up with two tackles and a forced fumble. Starting in place of Simon alongside Darwin Walker, Thomas has performed well throughout training camp.

"Hollis is a pro," Reid said. "He separated [the contract situation] and didn't let it get in the way of how he has played."

Patterson, meanwhile, has performed above the early expectations that defensive coordinator Jim Johnson had for the Eagles' first-round pick.

"The biggest surprise about Mike is the very few mental mistakes he has made," Johnson said. "We knew we had a very competitive guy with good quickness. There are a lot of different schemes for a rookie, but he's really picked it up well."

Patterson registered three tackles and a sack in each of the Eagles' first two preseason games, including one Saturday in which he threw starting quarterback Kyle Boller for a 9-yard loss. The rookie also recovered a fumble after Michael Lewis nailed Boller on a safety blitz.

As a defensive unit, the Eagles seem to have strengthened a past weakness. The first-team defense has allowed just 3 yards per rush in the first two games, and that's against two AFC teams that ranked in the top 10 in rushing last season. (The Ravens did not play top rusher Jamal Lewis on Saturday.)

Even without Simon's return, the Eagles will get stronger at defensive tackle Friday night against the Cincinnati Bengals because Sam Rayburn is expected back after missing the first two preseason games with a hyperextended right elbow.

Just as Simon is thinking little about the Eagles down in Florida, the Eagles seem to be thinking just as little about him right now.

"I just can't worry about it," Johnson said. "We have to play with the guys we have here. These guys are working hard, so we'll see what happens."

Johnson said he does believe that Simon is hurting himself by not being in camp.

"Any time you're not in camp, you're going to be behind," the defensive coordinator said. "It's a concern. You want guys in camp to get into hitting shape and football shape. I think he needs that, but I can't worry about it. He's not here and I'm moving forward."

[Zanshin]

I can't even begin to imagine how fat and out-of-shape Simon will be after all this time off.  He won't even be able to play at a decent level before 5-6 games into the season.

Shame of it is that he's carrying a huge cap number this year, and that the Eagles could have gotten a nice deal in a trade if Simon didn't have ridiculous contract demands.

[rjs246]

Just cut him. He'll be so out of shape that he won't be able to help another team significantly and probably won't get much of a contract. He's taking up a roster spot. Cut his ass.

[Zanshin]

He's taking up a roster spot. Cut his ass.

...and upwards of $6 mil of cap space.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

You don't even have to cut him.  Remove the franchise tag a la Jeremiah Trotter before the 2002 season, and he's an unrestricted free agent.  Honestly, if I'm the Eagles, I don't let that fat-ass steal a paycheck or a roster spot from more deserving and hard-working players.

[Diomedes]

I'm with Team Patterson.  Remove the tag right before the season starts, when all the teams are full up with players and all their monies are spent.  Let him find his way onto a team then.  Fat and overrated DT looking for work in a job market with few vacancies, and no wealthy suitors.

I would enjoy seeing that.

[phillywin2k5]

You don't even have to cut him.  Remove the franchise tag a la Jeremiah Trotter before the 2002 season, and he's an unrestricted free agent.  Honestly, if I'm the Eagles, I don't let that fat-ass steal a paycheck or a roster spot from more deserving and hard-working players.

as much as id love to drop that fat POS he still strengthens an avg DT rotation. And if Darwin is needed to spell Kalu/Douglas Simon will be needed even more. Take the cap hit or trade him for a Vet WR or a DE.

[Zanshin]

Can't trade him because of his contract demands.  They've already had two deals in place that have fallen through because of those pie-in-the-sky delusions.

[MadMarchHare]

We'd be fine at DT without him.  End is more of a concern.  And trading him is out of the question.  He'll still demand a $10MM SB from the new team, which would never consider it.

[Larry]

It's rather peculiar that for the first time, unlike other preseasons, we're actually stopping the run...and that's without our supposed #1 DT. 

[Zanshin]

We'd be fine at DT without him. End is more of a concern. And trading him is out of the question. He'll still demand a $10MM SB from the new team, which would never consider it.

He wants waaaaay more than a $10 mil SB.  If that was what he wanted, he'd be an Eagle or traded already.

[MadMarchHare]

It's varied, depending on the team in question.  I was going with the lowest reported number I remembered (or misremembered......).

[mussa]

I feel the same way about simon....we've filled the void.  he barely made any plays last year and didn't do anything really.  hes as good as gone imo.  im cool with walker, rayburn, hollis, and patterson.  im very impressed so far with patterson.  hes made good plays every game, even though it is preseason.  i like what i see. 

[T_Section224]

Just cut him. He'll be so out of shape that he won't be able to help another team significantly and probably won't get much of a contract. He's taking up a roster spot. Cut his ass.

burning is not an option?

[Beermonkey]

If I never see Corey Simon again this season, I wouldn't care. I just want to see the team get some value for him if possible first.