Eagles Interested In Stephen Davis

[hunt]

time to dig even deeper into the scrap heap, i guess.

[The BIGSTUD]

If Davis signs elsewhere, and the Eagles go into the season with what we have now, it's really going to piss me off, because all we're going to hear is how they are satisfied with their current RBs.

Which obviously isn't the case if they brought Davis in. So I really don't want to hear that BS this year.

[Rome]

If he visits the taterskins, then it's over.

One can only hope so...

Yea it's not like we have no depth at running back and Reid has shown basically no interest in trading for a back.

I was referring to the thread, Quick Draw.

Settle down.

[mpmcgraw]

Settle down.

I tend to misplace flustration.  You prolly know that by now. 

[Rome]

If he visits the taterskins, then it's over.

After bashing the Davis visit today, it'll be fun to watch the complete 360 that Skins fans make if he signs there.

taterskins fans:

One week ago... Stephen Davis was a great running back for the Skins!  Hall of Fame?  Probably!111!

Yesterday...  Stephen Davis sucks!  He blows goats!!  I would never want him on my beloved team again!

As of 10 minutes ago...  SIGN STEPHEN DAVIS!  Coach Gibbs will steer him back to greatness!!

[PhillyPhanInDC]

Don't know if this was already posted somewhere, but it belongs here I suppose:

Eagles don't make a deal with Davis

By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com

IF A RUNNING back arrives and departs without commenting or signing a contract, does he still make a sound?

In the case of 32-year-old free agent Stephen Davis, the answer has to be yes.

The Eagles brought Davis in, gave him a physical and met with him yesterday, but by the time the team's afternoon practice session was over, Davis had left the Nova-Care complex. A source close to the situation said Davis was going to visit another team - possibly Washington, which the source said has shown interest in bringing back the former taterskins star, though the taterskins have denied that to reporters there.

Davis' departure almost certainly means the Birds weren't blown away by the results of his physical. Davis was "released injured" by Carolina at the end of last season, because of chronic knee problems, for which he had microfracture surgery in the offseason. It might be too early to say the Eagles are no longer interested in signing Davis, but they definitely did not seize the day.

If Davis is not about to become an Eagle, the team has put itself in an interesting situation. Everybody in Eagle Nation, including the current group of running backs, now knows the Birds are actively looking for help. Coach Andy Reid can still say he's "not necessarily" displeased with or alarmed about his running situation, as he did yesterday, but not too many people are going to believe him.

If Davis isn't the answer, there doesn't seem to be a long list of attractive alternatives. Cleveland presumably would still like to trade Lee Suggs, the guy who failed the Jets' physical, voiding a trade last week. Last year's stopgap, Lamar Gordon, isn't playing anywhere. Neither is now-36-year-old Dorsey Levens. As far as that goes, Steve Van Buren might be available, too.

But clearly, there is a now-acknowledged need there. Much of quarterback Donovan McNabb's media session yesterday was devoted to discussing how much Davis would help, though McNabb kept stressing that he wasn't saying Davis was going to be signed.

"When you have a guy like Stephen Davis in the backfield and [Brian] Westbrook in motion, lining up maybe as a receiver... and you hand the ball off to Stephen Davis and pick up 8 yards, now the defense has to wonder what you're going to do next," McNabb said. "We can fake to Stephen Davis, if he's back there - now, I'm just saying, 'If he's back there,' I'm not saying it like it's a 'go' or nothing - but teams have to be able to recognize the fact that you have two guys out there on the field that can do a lot of different things."

Westbrook, who suffered a foot injury on his only series of the preseason (in his return from an injury to his other foot that ended his 2005 season four games early), ought to be practicing in a week or so, Reid said yesterday. Reid said Westbrook "has started running in the pool."

Behind Westbrook, you have Reno Mahe, who probably stays on the roster no matter what happens, and three guys who aren't where the Eagles hoped they would be when minicamps adjourned a little more than 2 months ago - Ryan Moats, Bruce Perry and Correll Buckhalter.

Moats, the team's 2005 third-round draft pick, seemed to be progressing impressively in his knowledge of the offense through the spring. A knee injury at Lehigh set Moats back, as has a penchant for fumbling. Last Thursday, on his first carry of the preseason, he coughed up the ball.

"You can't control anything anybody else is doing, you have to worry about yourself," Moats said yesterday, when asked what he made of Davis' visit. Perry and Buckhalter said virtually the same thing; no one would acknowledge being miffed.

Moats said he felt the list of things he couldn't control extended to Thursday's fumble - which probably is not the opinion of his fumble-averse coach.

"Sometimes you just can't control what happens," Moats said. "I had it tucked away; they get paid, too. Sometimes it happens, and you can't control it."

Moats said he feels he's progressing.

"I'm way better than what I was at this point last year," Moats said, "as far as picking up blitzes, and how to pick up blitzes, and stuff like that. I'm learning still. It's a learning process, it doesn't happen overnight... I only can be Ryan Moats... I'm working toward getting back to where I need to be, where I can show my full talent and be an athlete instead of thinking out there."

The knee injury, he said, "put me behind mentally a little bit, but I'm getting back on top of it... I can rebound."

Perry, a seventh-round pick in 2004, was the least upbeat of the three. He did not get a carry from scrimmage in Baltimore, as he returned from suffering a concussion in the preseason opener. Perry fumbled the ball away twice in that opener.

"I don't know," Perry said, when asked if Davis coming in affected where he stood. "I can't control it."

He acknowledged he was "a little surprised" at his role in Baltimore. "You've just got to be ready when they call on you," he said. "I had a talk [before the game] with my running-back coach [Ted Williams]. I understood why. I opened the door for it, in that Oakland game. I've just got to continue to work hard."

Buckhalter said: "It's not for me to decide or me to think about. I have too much stuff I need to get done, to worry about who's coming in or who's this or who's that. I have to take care of what Correll's got to do."

Buckhalter went 48 yards with a screen against the Ravens, in his first game in 2 years. Skeptics say he still hasn't planted and made that hard, sharp cut so crucial to running between the tackles.

"I feel good," Buckhalter said. "Every day I'm getting better. Every day I critique myself, on each and every practice, little things I think I need to sharpen up on."

He said his knees came through the Baltimore game with no pain or swelling.

"Going into contact and driving, I think that's one thing I need to work on," he said. "I'm just running - it doesn't matter if it's a sharp cut or a light cut... I don't feel any hesitation. When I caught the ball and ran, you didn't see a limp. Some people say I walk with a limp or whatever - there's nothing bothering me, man."

[Magical_Retard]

if we dont get davis or duce or someone...moats better be #2 on the depth chart. going with moats and westbrook in the backfield could be dangerous for opposing defenses. i really liked moats last yr.

[QB Eagles]

IF A RUNNING back arrives and departs without commenting or signing a contract, does he still make a sound?

That is one strained metaphor right there.

[MDS]

Why did Donovan McNabb have a Stephen Davis boner?

[Drunkmasterflex]

Why did Donovan McNabb have a Stephen Davis boner?

Probably because he knows they can use all of the help they can get. 

[mussa]

heard a rumor tonight igles are working to get tj duckett..that is incredibly accurate....any truth? boners...poppin

[reese125]

slap.. slap

[Feva]

Rams set to make an offer to Stephen Davis

[General_Failure]

Damnit! The Eagles can't even sign an unwanted free agent right! This season is OVER!

[bobbyinlondon]

Davis Visits, Doesn't Sign
Thursday, August 24, 2006

By Nick Wagoner
Senior Writer

A day after the hoopla surrounding the arrival of running back Stephen Davis at Rams Park, things had settled down considerably.

Davis, who was in town for a visit, a physical and a workout for Rams brass on Wednesday, left St. Louis without signing a contract and as of Thursday afternoon, nothing seemed imminent on that front.

We brought him in for a physical, gave him a little workout, coach Scott Linehan said. He looked like he is as good as ever. We'll see. We haven't moved any further than that.

Davis visited with Philadelphia on Monday and left there without coming to terms on an agreement as well. Davis had been thought of as one of the top backs in the league as recently as 2003.

In 2003, he posted a career-high 1,444 yards for Carolina, a number that still stands as a franchise record. For his career, Davis has rushed for 7,875 yards and 65 touchdowns in 10 seasons with Washington and the Panthers.

Despite his success in recent seasons, Davis has played in just 15 games the past two seasons, including a 2004 season in which he played in only a pair after a right knee injury that required microfracture surgery.

After parting ways with Carolina in the offseason, Davis waited until recently to begin looking for a new home. The Panthers released him on March 1 and Davis has waited patiently for another opportunity to come along and to ensure that he was in the best possible physical condition.

Linehan said Davis looked good in his workout Wednesday.

I just wanted to see him move, make sure there isn't a noticeable limp of any kind, Linehan said. I wanted to see him cut, mostly the cutting type things. He did some routes. He did a little bit of going through bags and agility type stuff, but nothing overly extensive other than we wanted to see his movements and make sure he looked like he is running pain free. He looked very good.

Since the Rams placed backup Marshall Faulk on the physically unable to perform list early in the preseason because of his own knee surgery, they have been in a perpetual search for a true No. 2 running back.

Tony Fisher currently holds the position, but he is more suited to a third-back type of role. St. Louis signed Moe Williams after failing to acquire Michael Bennett in a trade. Williams is also coming off microfracture surgery.

Fisher has eight carries for 35 yards and a touchdown and Williams has contributed 12 carries for 30 yards and a score in the preseason. Fred Russell has also made an impression during the exhibition games, but there is little doubt that Linehan and the Rams have been looking for more help at running back.

I don't think it was like we were keeping it a secret that we are still looking for a No. 2 type back,Linehan said. They have done an excellent job. We are just thin there. There wasn't anything at that point we were pursuing. Stephen is certainly a guy that's proven in the league and probably has a couple of good years left in him, but you don't know where he's at. It came up just recently that he was going to give it a go.

Although Davis came out of the workout and physical OK, it seems there is nothing certain on his future since he left town without signing a contract. Should Davis choose to become a Ram, there is a roster spot available following the release of cornerback Dwight Anderson.

Linehan said Thursday that Anderson's release had nothing to do with the anticipation of adding Davis.

It wasn't related,Linehan said. It really wasn't. It was just a matter of we are going to give guys some opportunities. We were looking at it down the road of who is going to play in this game. We made a decision that was going to be best for us going into this game that we kind of set the depth the way we want to have it for the game and he'd have a chance to catch on with somebody else.