You knew this was gonna come...

[DH]

Return of FredEx not such a bad idea

By Bob Ford

Inquirer Columnist

Oh, I know. It's a crazy idea. Why would anyone take a chance on messing up the quiet, settled world of the Eagles' receiving corps?

I mean, really. When you're entering the season with a star receiver who isn't speaking to either the quarterback or the offensive coordinator, it's obvious that everything is under control and everyone should just book that February vacation to America's favorite resort destination, Detroit.

When the other wide receivers who will dress for the opener a week from tonight are Greg Lewis, Billy McMullen, Reggie Brown and Darnerien McCants, there is simply little room to improve. That group has a combined 80 catches in eight combined seasons of NFL experience, with 53 of those pulled in by McCants during four years with the taterskins that were so impressive he couldn't beat out Taylor Jacobs for the last receiving spot on the Washington roster.

McCants to Joe Gibbs: "Did I make the team, Coach?"

Gibbs to McCants: "Darn near, Darnerien."

Maybe you are confident, but I have to wonder about this plan. And I have to wonder why it isn't time to welcome back Freddie Mitchell with open arms and an open mind.

FredEx, who is now an ex-Chief as well as ex-Eagle, was released by Dick Vermeil last week for the very understandable reason that he is unable to play football at the moment. Kansas City also released defensive end Clint Mitchell during its paring process, which opens the possibility that not only wasn't Freddie the best player cut loose, he wasn't even the best Mitchell.

Nevertheless, Freddie has a date tomorrow with surgeon James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. Andrews is scheduled to repair the pesky cartilage tear near Mitchell's right knee with a little arthroscopic incision and - presto! - our favorite former first-round pick will be as good as new in four to six weeks.

Mitchell to Andrews: "Will I be fast when you're done, Doc?"

Andrews to Mitchell: "You bet, Freddie."

Mitchell to Andrews: "That's funny. I was slow as heck before."

If Andrews holds a post-operation news conference, I think he should come out and thank his hands for being so great.

The best NFL organizations - a short list that includes the Eagles near the top - must have great long-term goals and lousy short-term memories. This is a team that had a nasty separation with Jeremiah Trotter once upon a time and had no problem bringing back Trotter when it was in their best interest to do so. The same could be said of Hugh Douglas and the same might be someday said of Corey Simon if it doesn't work out with the Colts. The Eagles are very good at a lot of things, but they are wonderful at getting other teams to build their players' vacation homes.

(Speaking of Douglas, whose vacation home was built by the Jacksonville Jaguars, I guess stepping between Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens during that famous training-camp encounter near the dorm elevator didn't count for as much as he might have hoped. Should have just pushed the down button and let them go at it.)

Anyway, if Andy Reid chooses to blot out a few intemperate remarks made by Mitchell between the Super Bowl and the receiver's minicamp dismissal, it would improve the overall depth of a receiving group that is perilously close to low tide.

He'd have to forget about Freddie whining that McNabb never throws to him. He'd have to forget about Freddie claiming to finish a play call in the huddle while McNabb was allegedly barfing into his helmet during the Eagles' renowned Six-Minute Drill at the Super Bowl. All right, he'd have to forget a lot of stuff.

It seems, however, that the Eagles were willing to overlook quite a bit in the case of Terrell Owens. If the Eagles don't take a serious look at Mitchell, this would appear to be a double standard.  :-DI needed an expert opinion on the matter and asked Inquirer beat writer Bob Brookover why the Eagles would make allowances for Owens that they wouldn't make for Mitchell.

"Well, Bob," Brookover said, after a long pause. "It might have something to do with all those receptions [699] and touchdowns [95] after his name."

One must admit he has a minor point, but the real measure that should be applied to Mitchell is exactly the one applied to Owens: Are the Eagles better off with him or without him?

If Mitchell rehabilitates the knee - he's only 26 - and can be the same receiver he was last season, his presence would improve what the Eagles are putting on the field right now. Yes, Mitchell said McNabb only had confidence in him when he needed to "get his [butt] out of a jam," but that's exactly how Mitchell should be viewed. Right now, Freddie would help get the Eagles out of a jam that seems inevitable with a recalcitrant Owens, a recumbent Todd Pinkston and a bunch of other guys who might not be able to catch a cold.

Laugh if you like, but there's a fourth and 26 waiting for this team out there somewhere, and the clock is ticking.

[Diomedes]

[Seabiscuit36]

I second that Dio

[PhillyGirl]

That HAD to have been a facetious column. Because comparing Mitchell to Owens is like comparing AJ Feeley to Dan Marino.

They might both speak the English language, have blue eyes and throw a football, but you can't compare the 2.

[MURP]

terrible column and terrible idea. 

[Larry]

No chance.  Freddie can't push a blocking sled 5 miles.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Bob Ford sucks.

[MDS]

I like his upteenth trade Allen Iverson article better than this garbage.

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

Bob Ford has a tiny meatcicle.  Ha.

[phillymic2000]

I'll third Dio's thought! 

[shorebird]

How a reporter who covers the Eagles on a daily basis could actually suggest that Mitchell be brought back makes me wonder what he's putting in his coffee.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I was going to point out what made this article so stupid and wrong....then I realized everyone else here know why anyway. So farg it, and farg Bob Ford.

[Geowhizzer]

Resign Mitchell.

I'll fourth Dio's recommendation:

[MURP]

They should resign Freddie and then cut him an hour later.  Just for fun.

[Mad-Lad]

They should resign Freddie and then cut him an hour later.  Just for fun.

Nah, they should just cut him...  with a rusty knife.