Fourth and goal for Birds' hopefuls

[PhillyGirl]

Fourth and goal for Birds hopefuls

Tonight's game will give them a final opportunity to prove themselves before rosters are trimmed.

By Shannon Ryan

Inquirer Staff Writer

For more than a dozen Eagles players, tonight is their final interview.

The Eagles will trim their roster from 71 to the NFL-required 53 by Sunday. Not every player has the job security of Donovan McNabb. Late-round draft picks and free agents hope a solid performance in tonight's final preseason game against the Jets will persuade coach Andy Reid to keep them around.

The starters will not play tonight, which provides a long audition for bubble players to make their mark.

One mistake could mean unemployment. A great catch or solid block could guarantee a roster spot.

"There is some close competition out there," Reid said. "We are evaluating people. If we feel they can help the team, they come in."

For men chasing their NFL dreams, this is like the night before the Super Bowl - stressful and exciting. Some will be cut and might make the practice squad or be picked up by other teams. Others will fulfill a lifetime goal.

Safety Jeremy Thornburg has spent the week trying to pack in extra study with his playbook.

Thornburg is an undrafted free-agent rookie out of Northern Arizona. He has impressed coaches during the preseason by playing bigger than his 6-foot, 190-pound frame would suggest. But he is playing behind Brian Dawkins, Michael Lewis, Quintin Mikell and rookie Sean Considine.

Thornburg knows he needs to keep the momentum going. In fact, that is all he can think about.

"You are anxious," he said. "You don't want to take a step back. I think about it a lot. It's always in my mind, when I'm resting, in my mind and my thoughts."

Thornburg said he has awoken at 4 a.m. in his room at the Airport Marriott, dreaming about a specific play the team might have practiced that day.

Cut day is hardly a fun day.

Defensive tackle Norm Heuer knows what it is like and does not want to relive it again. He was with the Washington taterskins in training camp last year, before he got the call.

"It was a horrible day," said the 6-5, 288-pounder. "They basically called me up in my hotel room and said, 'Bring your playbook in.' You never want to hear you're not good enough."

Heuer said every play, every day in practice counts, even more so in games. Guys ahead of him like Hollis Thomas, Sam Rayburn, Darwin Walker and Paul Grasmanis are established, and Mike Patterson was the first-round draft pick, so he needs to push seventh-round draft pick Keyonta Marshall.

Heuer can definitely feel the clock ticking.

"I've got to go out and do well because you know you only have a couple more chances to prove yourself," he said. "Everything is going so fast. It seems like training camp is so long and now" it's nearly the regular season.

Some players say they are staying stress-free.

Running back Bruce Perry, a George Washington High graduate, is in his second year with the Eagles, hoping to come back from a season spent on injured reserve with a shoulder injury.

He is in competition with Reno Mahe for a roster spot, but Perry said he feels confident.

"It's not weighing on me," Perry said. "I put it in God's hands. I've done a good job in practice and I've done a good job in games. You can call it mental strength or my attitude. You have to be [focused] or you're going to stress out and pull your hair out."

Mikell, entering his third year, remembers when he was in the position to worry. On the final day of cuts, he waited by his phone.

"Every time the phone rang, your heart just started pounding," he said. " 'Is this going to be it? Is this going to be it?' I never got that phone call."

Mikell was a free agent competing for a job in 2003 out of Boise State. He became one of six rookie free agents to make the team that year, which offers hope for players like Thornburg.

Secondary coach Sean McDermott did give him a call, though, telling Mikell to be at practice the next day. Those are the sweetest words to players on the bubble.

"I was like, 'So does this mean I've made the team? Yes!' " he recalled. "I was so excited. I called my family. It was a great feeling. After that I was, like, I can really focus on playing ball."

Some players are willing to do anything to make the team. Robert Redd has played wide receiver and defensive back and on special teams. He will probably focus on defense tonight.

If the Eagles value his versatility, he could be an Eagle beyond Sunday.

"It's definitely beneficial," he said. "I'm a guy who can do more than one thing. I hope they look at me as one of those guys."

[Feva]

Defensive tackle Norm Heuer knows what it is like and does not want to relive it again. He was with the Washington taterskins in training camp last year, before he got the call.

"It was a horrible day," said the 6-5, 288-pounder. "They basically called me up in my hotel room and said, 'Bring your playbook in.' You never want to hear you're not good enough."

Heuer can definitely feel the clock ticking.

Well Norm, hate to say it... but The Turk is comin' for you.

But hey, at least he knows... he's got no shot.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Thornburg is an undrafted free-agent rookie out of Northern Arizona. He has impressed coaches during the preseason by playing bigger than his 6-foot, 190-pound frame would suggest. But he is playing behind Brian Dawkins, Michael Lewis, Quintin Mikell and rookie Sean Considine.

Any word on Sean and whether or not he'll be making his debut tonight?? Can't find shtein anywhere on the kid.

[Larry]

Injuries: " Sean Considine, [DE] Jamaal Green, [C] Jamaal Jackson, [P] Dirk Johnson, [DE Jerome] McDougle, [QB Donovan] McNabb, [FB] Josh Parry, [LB] Greg Richmond, [CB] Linj Shell, [FB Thomas] Tapeh and [CB Dexter] Wynn will not play. Right now everybody else is okay and ready to go.

[Feva]

Injuries: " Sean Considine, [DE] Jamaal Green, [C] Jamaal Jackson, [P] Dirk Johnson, [DE Jerome] McDougle, [QB Donovan] McNabb, [FB] Josh Parry, [LB] Greg Richmond, [CB] Linj Shell, [FB Thomas] Tapeh and [CB Dexter] Wynn will not play. Right now everybody else is okay and ready to go.

What happened to him?

[PhillyGirl]

He's fine. (just an fyi)

Remember, a hangnail will get you listed on the injured list. LOL

[PhillyPhreak54]

Injuries: " Sean Considine, [DE] Jamaal Green, [C] Jamaal Jackson, [P] Dirk Johnson, [DE Jerome] McDougle, [QB Donovan] McNabb, [FB] Josh Parry, [LB] Greg Richmond, [CB] Linj Shell, [FB Thomas] Tapeh and [CB Dexter] Wynn will not play. Right now everybody else is okay and ready to go.

What happened to him?

TO Tonya Harding'd him with a lead pipe in the knee...didn't ya hear?

[rjs246]

He's fine. (just an fyi)

Remember, a hangnail will get you listed on the injured list. LOL

Why must you constantly type 'lol'? You're not laughing out loud. You weren't laughing out loud when you typed it. No one else is laughing out loud. Just stop it.  It wasn't funny. Boo.

[SunMo]

TO Tonya Harding'd him with a lead pipe in the knee...didn't ya hear?

"why me?  why me?  whhhhhhhy meeeeee?

[PhillyGirl]

He's fine. (just an fyi)

Remember, a hangnail will get you listed on the injured list. LOL

Why must you constantly type 'lol'? You're not laughing out loud. You weren't laughing out loud when you typed it. No one else is laughing out loud. Just stop it.  It wasn't funny. Boo.

I actually WAS laughing because when I posted the thread, I was wondering how long it would take for someone to ask about McNabb.

So

[rjs246]

No you weren't. It's not possible that you can laugh at something so inconsequential and then not get the myriad oddball and often hilarious jokes that are tossed around this board.

NOT POSSIBLE, I SAY!

[PhillyGirl]

No you weren't. It's not possible that you can laugh at something so inconsequential and then not get the myriad oddball and often hilarious jokes that are tossed around this board.

NOT POSSIBLE, I SAY!

lol

[T_Section224]

No you weren't. It's not possible that you can laugh at something so inconsequential and then not get the myriad oddball and often hilarious jokes that are tossed around this board.

NOT POSSIBLE, I SAY!

there, it had to be said, lol

[rjs246]

Yay! A smilie and an 'lol'. I can finally die angry.

[T_Section224]

Yay! A smilie and an 'lol'. I can finally die angry.

nice!