Training Camp News Articles Thread

[phillywin2k5]

seriously no way Stinky makes the 53, better off keeping Lewis or taking someone from the cuts comes Sept 2.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

If they keep all of the following, I will throw heavy objects:

• Mahe
• Buckhalter
• Pinkston
• Detmer
• Ware

[PhillyGirl]

If they keep all of the following, I will throw heavy objects:

• Ware

[hunt]

yeah...i don't mind ware.
and i think mahe is a lock at this point...bringing in someone like davis likely means the end of the line for perry or buck, imo.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I included Ware because he, once in a blue moon, makes a play. His good points are far outwieghed by his screw ups. With Reed back, Ware should move on.

[PhillyGirl]

I think Perry is going to be the odd man out, not Buck (as long as buck doesn't go down with injury in the preseason).

Perry, with his fumbles and injuries, will be out, imo.

[PhillyPhanInDC]

I think Perry is going to be the odd man out, not Buck (as long as buck doesn't go down with injury in the preseason).

Perry, with his fumbles and injuries, will be out, imo.

I would actually like to keep Perry over C Buck, but it's close. Perry looks pretty good returning punts and kicks, but those fumbles are murder. Buck, as much I like the guy, is a ticking time bomb. To me, putting him on the roster signifies that he is a necessary part of the team, and will be leaned on a bit (especially with the role he would fill), and it seems like a big gamble with his health history. What happens if they keep him and half way through the season he's goes down again?

[Feva]

If you think Bowen's was bad... Eckel slops a bunch of crap together.

It's like a "Highlights" magazine where you have to find all the things that are wrong.  His editor should be stabbed.

Who's in and who's out for Eagles

Sunday, August 20, 2006
BY MARK ECKEL
NFL

Not since Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb's rookie season of 1999 has there been as much uncertainty concerning the Eagles' roster, and maybe not even then.

As Reid and McNabb enter their eighth year together, there are several difficult choices the coach has to make about which 53 players he will take into the regular season.

Count on at least one "name" veteran to be cut on both sides of the ball, and probably more than that.

Besides those decisions, Reid also will have to weigh if it's worth keeping an extra offensive lineman or an extra defensive linemen, or maybe one of each and go light at wide receiver or running back.

First cuts come a week from tomorrow; the final ones are due the weekend before the season opener.

Here is our annual early look at who's going to stay, who's going to go, and who is on that bubble. The number in parenthesis is the likely number the team will keep.


QUARTERBACK (2-3)


Locks: Donovan McNabb, Jeff Garcia

On the Bubble: Koy Detmer

Longshot: Timmy Chang

Overview: Reid could take a gamble and save a roster spot by keeping only two quarterbacks. It would allow him to keep a position player somewhere else, and face it, if both quarterbacks go down, the season is over anyway, unless they can swing a deal for A.J. Feeley.


RUNNING BACKS (5)


Locks: Brian Westbrook, Ryan Moats

Good Bet: Reno Mahe

On the Bubble: Correll Buckhalter, Bruce Perry, Thomas Tapeh, Josh Parry

Longshots: Josh Davis, Marty Johnson

Overview: Perry obviously hurt himself in the Raiders game with three fumbles and then a concussion that kept him out of the Cleveland game. I might be the last person left who thinks he can still play, but I don't get to pick the roster. Buckhalter has to show he can make it to September. Tapeh trails Parry for the fullback job, but can make up ground over the final few weeks. Davis could go on the practice squad.


WIDE RECEIVERS (5-6)


Locks: Reggie Brown, Hank Baskett, Jason Avant

Good Bets: Darnerien McCants, Greg Lewis

On the Bubble: Todd Pinkston, Jabar Gaffney, Jeremy Bloom

Longshots: Bill Sampy, Justin Jenkins, Carl Ford, Michael Gasperson, Jermaine Jamison, J.J. Outlaw

Overview: Pinkston's health could force Reid to keep six, if he feels Pinkston will be ready some time during the season. Bloom could be in the same mix, or the team could just put him on injured reserve for the year. Gaffney has a lot of catching up to do, and McCants and Lewis both get the edge on special teams. One or two of the longshots could make it to the practice squad.


TIGHT END (3)


Locks: L.J. Smith, Matt Schobel, Mike Bartrum

Longshots: Andy Thorn, Steve Spach

Overview: As Buddy Ryan once said, his wife could make these cuts.


OFFENSIVE LINE (9-10)


Locks: Jon Runyan, William Thomas, Shawn Andrews, Todd Herremans, Jamaal Jackson, Winston Justice, Max Jean-Giles

Good Bet: Hank Fraley

On the Bubble: Scott Young, Adrien Clarke, Calvin Armstrong

Longshots: Pat McCoy, Nick Cole, Trey Darilek, Stefan Rodgers

Overview: Fraley still could be traded, but only if two things happen: Someone proves they are a capable backup center and the team gets a great offer. Realistically, Young, Clarke and Armstrong, three second-day draft picks who have all been injured, are fighting for one or two spots. McCoy and Cole both are practice-squad eligible.


DEFENSIVE LINE (9-10)


Locks: Jevon Kearse, Darren Howard, Trent Cole, Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Darwin Walker

Good Bet: Sam Rayburn

On the Bubble: Jerome McDougle, Juqua Thomas, Ed Jasper, DeJuan Ramsey

Longshots: Derek Lee, Keyontta Marshall

Overview: It wouldn't be shocking if the team kept Jasper and Ramsey over Rayburn, but don't bet on it. What Reid must decide is whether to keep the rookie Ramsey or the veteran Jasper as a fifth tackle, or to even keep a fifth tackle. Can they keep an unhealthy McDougle around another year over a somewhat productive Thomas?


LINEBACKERS (7)


Locks: Jeremiah Trotter, Matt McCoy, Shawn Barber, Chris Gocong

Good Bets: Dhani Jones, Mark Simoneau, Omar Gaither

Longshots: Greg Richmond, Dedrick Roper, Jason Short

Overview: Richmond's back injury cost him a chance for a job, and maybe even a starting spot. Gocong isn't ready, but he is a lock as a third-round pick. Short and Roper need an injury to steal a spot.


DEFENSIVE BACKS (9)


Locks: Sheldon Brown, Lito Sheppard, Brian Dawkins, Mike Lewis, Rod Hood, Sean Considine

Good Bet: J.R. Reed

On the Bubble: Rod Strickland, Matt Ware, Quintin Mikell, Joselio Hanson

Longshots: Dexter Wynn, Matt Clark, Brandon Pinderhughes

Overview: The big decision may be whether to keep five corners or five safeties. And does the fact that Matt Ware can play both give him an edge? It's hard to believe the team would cut Mikell, who would be claimed in a heartbeat for his special teams prowess alone. Jim Johnson likes Hanson, and he would be the league's first Joselio if he made it.


KICKERS (2)


Locks: David Akers, Dirk Johnson

Longshot: E.J. Cochrane

Overview: Cochrane, from Pennsbury High, can kick and may make it somewhere as at least a kickoff specialist. Was punter Reggie Hodges really at camp? I must have missed him.


QUOTE OF THE WEEK


"This is a Super Bowl team. And it goes back again to 2001, 2002, 2003, where we had guys who most people would talk bad about being they're not a No. 1 guy, or a household name. ...We need to play well together and I think we're doing that. The sky is the limit for us." -- Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb.

[Dillen]

  Wasnt Rod Strickland a PG for the Bullets/Wizards?

[Feva]

[PhillyPhreak54]

Sal Pal interview with Five Fo

Beginning with Donovan McNabb. Before training camp opened, Trotter, who many thought was too close to Owens last year, went to McNabb. He didn't apologize. He challenged him to be the old Donovan.

"I just told him, 'Listen, you the man, now go out and be the man, and have fun doing it,' " said Trotter, who made his fourth Pro Bowl last year. "I said, 'I need to see you cracking jokes.' I remember the first preseason game, I walked up to him before the game and I said, 'Listen, I need to see you out there cracking jokes, smilin', havin' fun, because when you're doing that, you're at your best.' "

Like any good therapist, Trotter adjusts his mind games depending on the client. When he takes the field with his defense, Trotter drops the nice guy act.

"I'm playing good cop and bad cop right now," he said.

"Andy set the tone in minicamp: It's his way or the highway," Trotter said.

Last season, for the first time in the Andy Reid era, the Eagles' defense -- which had few injuries -- seriously underperformed, finishing 27th in the league in points allowed. In 2004, when they went to the Super Bowl, the Eagles finished second in that category.

"I was embarrassed," said Trotter. "We all were. And if you weren't, I don't want you out here."

Trotter has spent the summer trying to get that point across. From day one at training camp, he has been extremely vocal -- bringing a tone of intensity and impatience.

During a practice on the first day of full contact, rookie linebacker Omar Gaither was standing next to several offensive rookies on the sideline. Trotter screamed at Gaither:

"Get over here with us!" Gaither sheepishly did what he was told.

The Cleveland Browns were at Lincoln Financial Field for the second preseason game and during back-to-back plays, two defensive stars were shaken up -- first cornerback Lito Sheppard, then defensive end Jevon Kearse. In both cases, Trotter offered no condolences, just the unmistakable look of a man unwilling to accept a moment of weakness.

Asked about those moments, Trotter didn't deny what happened.

"I understand that getting injured is about 80 percent mental," said Trotter, who had two enormous ice bags taped to his surgically repaired knees. "And sometimes you got to suck it up. Guys are going to have to play hurt -- every day. We've done a great job of practicing banged up. And that's what it's going to take to get through the season.

"We've set out to be No. 1 defense in the league," he added. "And in order to be that No. 1 defense, you have to have guys out there everyday in practice like you're the No. 1 team."

One of Trotter's teammates said privately that because Trotter played such a strong role last year trying to make peace between McNabb and Owens -- Reid recognized Trotter's role by often listening to him and letting him in on the details of the rift between the organization and the petulant wide receiver -- it was only Trotter who could rightfully attempt to set things right this year. Only Trotter could set the pace. And in the Reid era, the defense has allowed McNabb to flourish -- not the other way around.

"I'm just trying to set a tempo," said Trotter. "Playing defense is a mentality. Getting to the ball. I want guys to practice like we're the No. 1 defense. You've got to get on guys. Don't let them get away with nothing. Don't have any letdowns.

"I said it in the first preseason game in Canton, in the locker room before the game -- I said, 'this is not a preseason game for us. This is regular season. Our season starts now.' "

tried to repair two catastrophic mistakes made by management last season: allowing defensive tackle Corey Simon to marinate at home in a contract dispute and then releasing him; and deciding that defensive end Derrick Burgess was not worth a heavy financial investment.

"Oh, man, we got some bodies, some rotation in front of me," he said. "I'm ready to have an MVP season."

MVP, he was asked, of what?

"The league, the National Football League," he said. "Last year people said it was my best year ever. Well, guess what? We didn't win a lot of games. This year, we're going to win a lot of games and I'm going to make a major impact."

[Tomahawk]

Unlike G_F, I have been able to learn not to hate Trotter; however, the guy is still a dumbass.

[ice grillin you]

how could you hate trotter

[MadMarchHare]

It's not so much hate.  But the guy is dumb as a rock.

[hunt]

he gets paid to tackle people...who cares if he sucks at trivial pursuit?