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With McNabb, he won't be a "weapon" running, but I'm betting we're going to see more than we have.
-FD

Well now you're sayin what Ive said out here- he ran well last yr late and that figures to continue.
Initially I read your post to say he'd be a weapon with his legs and that would be a sight we havent seen since 2002 or something like that.

80 rushes would surprise me. That MUST mean you think he's upright and starts all 16, which is also a good thing.


I would tend to agree with the whole Jackson bit (your take matches mine FD) based on that blip on PE.COM but mainly what the coaches and other players have said about dude in interviews etc.

80 rushes would surprise me. That MUST mean you think he's upright and starts all 16, which is also a good thing.

I'm hopeful he'll play 16, but who knows. His injuries have been of the freak variety as opposed to ones that are chronic (like T.O. being a lock to miss a couple games because of his groin every year or something like that) variety.

I think with a full off-season of training instead of rehab, he has a good chance to have a big rebound type of season. Not as good as 2004, but maybe close statistically since his snaps were really limited that year by sitting out games and sitting out a bunch of games lat with a big lead.

Sheppard not expected to be part of OTA flock

By Bob Grotz bgrotz@comcast.net

Last week the Eagles expected cornerback Lito Sheppard to join them for organized team activities beginning today at the NovaCare Complex.But the door was cracked just enough to warrant further speculation, and now it appears the embattled veteran and subject of trade rumors won’t be anywhere near practice or his teammates this week.

Unlike the mandatory minicamp, the OTA sessions are voluntary.

Seasoned talents such as Sheppard — the former first-round pick out of Florida is approaching his eighth season — really don’t need the work.

The OTAs are all but mandatory, however, for newcomers such as Asante Samuel, the corner who basically took Sheppard’s job the day the Eagles gave him a six-year deal that could be worth $60 million.At this point the big surprise would be Sheppard showing up for OTAs, not taking some snaps at wide receiver, a real possibility if he sticks around.

From Andy Reid to defensive coordinator Jim Johnson, the company line is the Eagles are prepared to enter the season with all three of their front-line corners — Sheppard, Samuel and Sheldon Brown. Sheppard and Brown have been the starting tandem since 2004.

Realistically, the Eagles almost certainly could rethink that philosophy and dangle Sheppard should a deal fall in their laps.

In the April NFL draft the Eagles couldn’t resist surrendering their first-round choice for a package of Carolina Panthers draft picks including their No. 1 in 2009.

The Eagles are among a handful of teams that inquired about veteran defensive end Jason Taylor, according to reports. Taylor, 33, wants to play one more year before pursuing an acting career.

Taylor had 11 sacks last year for a 1-15 Dolphins team.

The Dolphins want at least a second-round pick for Taylor, according to reports, so a talent like Sheppard might not get the job done even if the Eagles wanted to cut their losses and move the veteran.

Lito didnt show up today.

From PFT.COM-

CJ says he's reporting to the Bengals (citing the money he'd lose) but also has this quote that should fuel the TATERS on the EMB for another month:

“If I can get out of Cincinnati, the sky’s the limit,” Johnson writes. “What could I do in a place like Philadelphia or Dallas? It would be ridiculous. It’s gonna be like a whole new me, like Ocho Cinco 2.0. Yeah, I like that. Ocho Cinco 2.0.”

ouch.
Wrong thread.
Ugh.

They should trade him to Detroit.

Then watch the hilarity ensue.

I wonder if Reid and Spuds will issue another public scolding to the media for covering Lito "the non-story" Sheppard.

I mean, it obviously isn't an issue, so they should be spending their time reporting on how Joe Mays looks in his jock strap.

"My emphasis is on the guys that ARE here".

- a stern Reid in his Presser today.



oooooohhhhh that'll teach you.

What you need is for him to pull a Clarkie-

"See Eckel, nobody talks to you cos youre an asshole".

That would be fantastic.

I love Runyan. I don't know if you guys heard, but Scott Young also skipped the OTAs. I have no clue what's happening there.

This is the funny part, though:

Even Reid acknowledged that it is far more important for Sheppard - and even Young - to be at training camp, for that is where starting jobs and roster spots are earned.

Sheppard will be competing with Brown and Samuel for playing time. Young, who is entering the final year of the four-year contract he signed upon being drafted in 2005, was supposed to challenge Todd Herremans and Max Jean-Gilles for the starting spot at right guard. Maybe he was spooked by the Eagles' decision to draft Mike McGlynn in the fourth round two months ago.

In the Eagles' media guide, Young lists Runyan and Hall of Famer John Hannah as his favorite offensive linemen.

But Runyan had no idea Young was not at practice Tuesday. "Who?"

"I don't think I've spoken 10 words to him my whole life,'' Runyan said.

By DAVID WEINBERG Staff Writer
Published: Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Great start for 5...

McNabb pitches like Ricky Vaughn

Another outing like Tuesday and the Eagles will be wondering if there’s a correlation between quarterback Donovan McNabb’s wildness and the baseball pitcher training regimen he HAs adopted.McNabb was all over the place with his throws during the afternoon practice, evoking memories of woeful Birds passer Mike McMahon, and after he described the new program, the Phillies’ Brett Myers.

For too much of the drills McNabb’s long passes were too long, the short throws too short. The timing throws calling for blind precision appeared aimed. While it was windy, the breeze didn’t seem to be a factor when Kevin Kolb and A.J. Feeley spit the ball out.

"It’s throwing and using your legs and being balanced while doing it,” is the way McNabb explained the training program. "I felt early on last year I used a lot of upper body instead of using my legs. Not that I didn’t have confidence in the legs. Now, knowing how the whole body feels, it’s like coming off the mound.”

McNabb said the trainer, Brett Fisher, is based in Arizona and has helped the careers of such pitchers as Randy Johnson and Kerry Wood.“He’s still throwing 90-something miles per hour at 40-something years old,” McNabb said of the 44-year-old Johnson. "So clearly something is working. Not to say that I’m 40 or feel 40, but there are still good things working for me.”

Hopefully for the Eagles, McNabb exhibited nothing more than rustiness. Then again, McNabb had to be shut down for the last couple of practices at the minicamp, allegedly because he’d thrown too many passes.

Nonetheless today is another day and offseason camps are the time to iron out the kinks.

Just the same, the Eagles want to see the old Donovan McNabb, not the Donovan McNabb who suddenly got old.

link

This isn't news - we've all known that McNabb needs to throw off a pitcher's mound to hit people around the knees.

With the apparent logjam on the line, methinks he's tryin to get himself released.

Young that is.

And yes, Runyan is the man.

B Dawk was talking big things this season on Ike's show tonite. I believe him

I think he was outta shape when he got to camp last yr and MAYBE that lead to the injuries and ineffectiveness?

I think he had some issues with his daughters born last spring or something and missed a lot time with the team due to those issues.

He has said this yr already he feels great, and that this yr will be diferent.

What exactly has he said tonite that you've heard?


Im interested cos when i heard him describe the issues that he thinks plagued him, it came off as very believable and that his confidence seemed genuine, not like he was tryin to talk himself into it or stave off doubts bout his play due to his age.

McNabb cant ever say the right thing.

This guy makes it so hard to like him.

This was a quote by him today when asked (paraphrasing) if he finally feels appreciated here in town.

"I think when you look at situations, Iverson . . . It's funny his last year, everybody kind of turned on him, wanted him out of here. Then when he came back they gave him a standing ovation and showed the love they had for him and the appreciation of what he brought here."

"For Ryan Howard, struggling early on, everybody kind of booed him or talked bad about him. Now that he's in the top echelon in home runs, every time he gets up to bat everybody cheers or looks for him to hit a home run."

"There's mixed emotions no matter what. And for all of us, we kind of consider ourselves guys who love being here. Willing to do whatever it takes to win a championship here. Or wait for that opportunity for any one of us."

"I've got more things to worry about. I think what would be the answer to all of it, if that's the case, would be to just bring a championship here."




Also, while i have no quote, i heard that McNabb said the team is no faster this yr than it was last yr., when asked about the additions of D.Jackson and Booker.

Super.

Of course thats just an asinine statement, thats a fairly easy measurable to gauge.
clearly they ARE faster with those men on the field.

So why make that statement?

Backin up last yrs guys?

Lettin it be known (Saving his free chip of "they didnt get me an established playmaking WR) he isnt happy with the lack of a new WR?

I think this is the 1st Eagle I can honestly say i have loved and hated both in the same time in town.

Mike McGlynn signed a four-year deal.

Two in the fold.

I am lookin forward to seeing McGlynn in camp.

Not just the PITT thing, just that I think he's got an edge to him that lets just say I wish Justice had (or at least demonstrated so far).

The fact he plays all line spots also (IMO) along with him bein taken w/ one of their many 4th rounders, assures him a spot on the final 53 man.

Some news outta the practices today:

Both D.Jackson and A.Samuel suffered hamstring injuries today, tho neither are believed to be serious.

Juqua Parker (Thomas) seems to have gotten slightly more reps at LDE than Abiamiri today.

No surprises with the rookie Laws- he's in the backup DT rotation with LaJuan Ramsey. I think they'll get a decent return on the investment of Laws this yr.

Demps looked good returning both kicks and punts, better on punts than kickoffs but again, good on both.

That RDE position should be nice this yr- with Clemmons backin up Cole,thats goin to be (should be) constant pressure applied from that side all yr, fresh legs and perhaps not a big drop off if any, in ability there.

From PHILLY.COM this am-

On Scott Young (Seems the idea of him trying to force his release has at least occurred to the Eagles as well):

Someone who knows Young said Young feels he began to fall from favor last August, when he was scheduled to start an exhibition game against Carolina but didn't play. Young's mother, Diane, was visiting from Utah and became ill that afternoon. Young took her to the hospital and stayed there through the game, something the Eagles did not publicly criticize him for doing.

Banner said he didn't know whether Young hoped to be released, so he could sign with another team before training camps open.

"You'd like to think a guy would want to come in and take on a challenge," Banner said. "It's hard to get into his head - even if you [don't like your chances of making the team], you still want to be working and getting better as a football player."

On McNabb not looking good throwin the ball:

Wideout Kevin Curtis made an offhand comment about McNabb having some shoulder soreness. You might recall that McNabb didn't throw on the final day of the mandatory minicamp last month, officially because he'd reached his "pitch count" for the camp.

File this under "Westbrook unhappiness with his contract" or "36 not liking being dictated to" - take your pick:

The Eagles scheduled running back Brian Westbrook for a news conference yesterday, but he declined to appear. One version of events was that Westbrook wasn't showing his continuing displeasure with his contract, but was tweaking the PR staff for not clearing the news conference with him in advance. Who knows?


Also, on Kick returns it seems Booker is goin to get a long look. I figured Demps, Booker and Jackson all could do it, but that Jackson was the clear favorite for the PR job. That means if someone else CAN do it, they'd have another guy return kicks.
Booker may be that guy. Id like to see Demps and how he performs returning them.
One things for certain- the Eagles cant be accused of not learning from their mistakes last yr regarding Special Teams- especially the return phases of the game.

I think Jackson's too small for KR. He wouldn't last eight games. Punt returning is better suited for the small, shifty guys. There are exceptions in the kick returning game (small guys), but bodies take more of a pounding than in punt returns (fewer OL needed putting faster defenders in the mix, longer sprints to build momentum, etc).

Scott Young is definitely angling for an early release...I can't think of any other plausible scenario, but it's bizarre he hasn't asked for one before this camp. Based on Reid's reaction, he seemed genuinely shocked/angered.

The McNabb situation is one to watch. He's had the sore shoulder before in some of these little camps (because he ends up throwing so many balls), so it didn't surprise me when they shut him down during the post-draft mini-camp.

However, the fact they he's still experience shoulder soreness and he's working this new exotic training program is a little concerning. If he overworked in this new training, it's possible he could have developed a pitching-type injury (frayed cuff, shoulder strain, etc.) you normally don't see in football players. He'd better get that looked at and taken care of quickly because I do not want him "pushing through" and looking like shit all hear.

Nothing to be "concerned" about at this point, but definitely something to watch. It's hard to believe right now, but the first pre-season game is only 8 weeks away and training camp is 6 weeks away. Depending on the injury, it's possible he should be shut down from now until TC so it has time to fully heal.

The Eagles flat out denied any soreness in McNabb, and essentially in doing so called Curtis a liar or misinformed.

Ah, the spin.

Even if McNabb's experiencing pain, you think he's goin to get the rest he needs (outside of sitting durin OTA's and minimal reps in Lehigh) with the perceived threat of the new hottness that is Kolb, now right behind 5 on the depth chart, waiting in the wings?

NO
SHOT.

He'll "Push through" if it gets to that point FD, and Philly will allow it (if for no other reason than to grease the skids for his then departure outta town with some basis of justification ).

I agree with everything you said, unfortunately.

Another offseason of Eagles Romper Room. Super.

I wish these guys would just shut up and play football.

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