McDougle, Moats might have to face the music

By LES BOWEN
bowenl@phillynews.com

Dead men walking?

Even if they are, there isn't much Ryan Moats and Jerome McDougle can do about it, except work their hardest and hope for the best.

Moats and McDougle don't seem to figure into the Eagles' 2007 plans, unless other players are injured or they are able to produce some sort of miraculous, 11th-hour revival of their faded promise.

Moats is a running back the Birds drafted in the third round out of Louisiana Tech in 2005. At the time, the team was going through a contentious contract negotiation with Brian Westbrook and it seemed that Moats might be groomed to replace Westbrook, as early as 2006. But Moats was ill-prepared for the West Coast offense. The team reached agreement with Westbrook on a new deal late in the 2005 season, amid behind-the-scenes grumbles that Moats still couldn't figure out where to line up or whom to block. Those concerns persisted through last season, when Moats barely saw the field after running into punt returner Dexter Wynn in an Oct. 15 loss at New Orleans, causing a critical fumble.

Since last season ended, the Eagles have re-signed running back Correll Buckhalter and drafted both Penn State running back Tony Hunt, in the third round, and Hawaii running back Nate Ilaoa, in the seventh round. The only departure so far is the decision not to bring back running back Reno Mahe, who is a free agent. Moats might be able to eke out a roster spot, if Ilaoa ends up on the practice squad or something, but he seems further from a prominent role than ever.

McDougle looms as the biggest draft-day mistake of the Andy Reid era. The Birds traded up from 30th to 15th overall in the 2003 draft, spending a second-round pick in the process, just to nab the defensive end from Miami. Injuries limited his progress before a gunshot wound cost McDougle the 2005 season and perhaps much more; when he returned last season, a strong training camp start quickly fizzled after a rib injury, and McDougle failed to win playing time on a struggling defensive line. He played in 14 games but managed just one sack, the third of his career. There was a perception that McDougle was just happy to be alive, that maybe his intensity wasn't what it had once been.

Moats might have a little better chance to stick around - he has burned fewer chances than McDougle, and his position isn't as logjammed as defensive end, where second-round draft pick Victor Abiamiri gave the Birds six defensive ends, all except McDougle and the rookie signed long term. McDougle is entering the final season of his original contract.

Yesterday, when Reid wrapped up the offseason's first minicamp for reporters, he was asked a question about McDougle, third-year linebacker Matt McCoy and Moats. Maybe Reid just didn't hear the question completely, but his answer defended McCoy and Moats while making no mention of McDougle.

"Ryan has done nothing but improve throughout here," Reid said of Moats. "He's a snap away from having to be in there and playing full time, and that's the way he's preparing himself."
Moats, 24, said he feels confident he can play elsewhere if he can't play here.

"It hasn't been an easy process," said Moats, who has gained 347 yards on 77 carries, 4.5 yards per carry, much of that in meaningless games. "I've done some good things on the field. Of course I want to play, but it doesn't happen that way all the time. This is my situation, and I have to learn from it and grow. I think I have. I'll be ready."

McDougle, 28, said he can "only do what I can control and that's go out there and practice hard."
McDougle knows his situation, though, knows he is unlikely to suddenly find traction here in a fifth Eagles season. Asked if he sometimes wonders if he'd be better off starting over elsewhere, McDougle said: "Well, you said it, I didn't say it. The only thing I do is just keep practicing hard, make sure I'm in my best physical shape I can be in, make sure I'm healthy, keep doing what the coaches ask me." *

I have to agree completely with the article. The Eagles have a crowded backfield now, and only so many guys can make it. Moats is going to need a miracle to make the team now. Same goes for Jerome McBustle. Barring major injury, these guys are on the way out.

Will James starting CB?

James: I'm A Starter, Period

May 14, 2007

By JOHN CLAYTON

After spending half of last season with no team and a career in limbo, logic would tell you William James should just be happy to be on a football field again. James, however, is slightly more ambitious.

James stated bluntly on Monday he is healthy and ready to resume a career that took a disastrous turn in 2003 when the former Giant suffered a devastating lower back injury that almost cost him his career. More importantly, James stated frankly his objective for the season.

"I want to be a starter. Period," James said.

That statement might sound rather stirring to begin with. But James' aspirations don't end there.
CB William James -

"I want to be the best cornerback in the league," James said. "And this camp was
definitely a good start to that."

That's boastful coming from a player who played in only six games over the past two seasons, including just four of ten games after signing a free agent contract with the Eagles last October.

James was used primarily as a nickel corner, although he did see extended playing time in place of an injured Lito Sheppard in the Eagles Divisional Playoff loss against New Orleans.

Sheppard's illness during this past weekend's mini-camp meant James spent most of the weekend practicing with the first-team defense.

Yet James is eyeing a more permanent appointment, and has the talent to back up his boastful claims. During his first five years with the Giants, James' talent and consistency earned him a spot as one of the league's most highly-regarded young corners. James has spent the last year doing Pilates to help strengthen his back, while at the same allowing the knee and calf injuries that nagged him last season to heal.

Now after signing a one-year deal with the Eagles in the offseason, James is finally healthy and ready to resume his rising career where it left off.

"Just saying 'Pro Bowl' lets you know my intentions," James said in a conference call after he agreed to terms on a one-year deal. "Obviously I'm not going to the Pro Bowl being a nickel back."

James appears to have told the world about his desire to start. But what about the ones who make the decisions-the coaches?

"I told the world," James said. "They're a part of that."

It seems Andy Reid and co. have gotten the message - even if it was given indirectly.

In early May, defensive coordinator Jim Johnson indicated the door was open for James to earn his coveted starters role. In a published report, Johnson heaped praise upon James, while stating that he expected James to push current right cornerback Sheldon Brown for starting time.

In his press conference Sunday, Johnson was more diplomatic, although he continued to extol the efforts of James.

"(William) looks good," Johnson said. "If you watch practice, you can see he's
making plays. Will is a heck of a corner. He's a battler and he looks good. He's
going to help us."

Although Johnson's statements appear to open the door for the impatient James, the corner didn't seem to take much stock in his coach's comments. James said his play on the field would leave his coaches without a decision to make.

"I'll decide that," James said. "My confidence comes from within. Whatever the coaches say that's their thing, I just got to go take care of things on the field.

"Whatever I have to get through to get to my goal I'll go through."

CB Sheldon Brown Right now, what James has to get through to reach his goal is Sheldon Brown, who is entering his sixth year in the NFL and has spent the last three seasons starting at right cornerback. In addition Brown appears to be part of the Eagles' long-term plans-he is under contract until 2012.

Though it's impossible for Brown not to hear the ambition exuded from his defensive backfield mate, Brown downplayed the competition at his position as something he's grown accustomed to over his career.

"Every year it's a competition," Brown said. "You're saying every year I started here it was just given to me and we've been going to the playoffs? I don't think so. We all play the game and every year I'm fighting my butt off to keep a job.

"When you think your job is a lock, that's when your game falls apart."

For the time being, the problem of three starting caliber corners is one the Eagles are undoubtedly glad to have. Yet from a more personal standpoint, it's apparent James is committed to his desire to start in 2007.

"I don't deal with doubt, fear, none of that. I know what I've come through. All I see is the end," James said. "I've always been a starter since the first time I was on the field in New York. I was a starter then and I'm a starter now, period."

James is pretty cocky isn't he? Is this the same Will James(Peterson) who was cut by the Giants, and the Eagles picked up off the street? Sheldon may have not had a great year, but I don't see the often injured James taking his spot. At least I don't think he could. I guess cofidence, and competition is a good thing. This starting talk, just seems a little suprising to me.

McNabb should be ready for Eagles camp

PHILADELPHIA - Barring any setbacks, Donovan McNabb should be ready when the Philadelphia Eagles open training camp in 2½ months.

The five-time Pro Bowl quarterback has rehabbed vigorously since a knee injury ended his season in Week 11 last year. He’s running and throwing and is on course for a complete return when players report to camp on July 27.

“He’s been throwing once a week, and he looks good in that area,” coach Andy Reid said Monday after the team completed its first minicamp. “Progressively, he’ll be given more days where he can get out and throw, and he’ll continue his rehab. The closer we get to camp, he’ll be back to full speed. So, we’re expecting him, when camp starts, to be able to participate.”

McNabb is spending a lot of time at the team’s practice facility, but also will rehab at his home in Arizona part of the summer. He tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee last Nov. 19. It was the third time in five years that McNabb’s regular season ended in mid-November.
“You want to give the surgery time to heal and not stretch anything out there that you just tightened up,” Reid said. “So, that’s the part that takes the time.”

When the Eagles hold their first practice of training camp, it’ll be exactly eight months to the day McNabb had reconstructive knee surgery. The season opener at Green Bay on Sept. 9 will be 9½ months post-surgery.

Quarterback Carson Palmer started Cincinnati’s first game last year just eight months after he tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and dislocated his kneecap in a playoff loss. Palmer played every game for the Bengals, throwing for 4,035 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

Daunte Culpepper’s return from a major knee injury wasn’t quite as successful. Culpepper tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in a game with Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2005. He was traded to Miami and started the season opener but clearly wasn’t the same player and played just four games.

McNabb was having one of the best statistical seasons of his eight-year career before he got injured. He finished with 2,647 yards passing, 18 TDs, six interceptions and a passer rating of 95.5.

The Eagles surprised quite a few people, including McNabb, by picking quarterback Kevin Kolb in the second round with their first selection in last month’s NFL draft. However, there is no quarterback controversy. McNabb is the starter for as long as he stays healthy.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18661625/

Great news! Let's all pray this stays true.

L.J. wont hold out

Tight end in a tight spot

By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

The Eagles have a decision to make about L.J. Smith, and they're running out of time to make it.
Smith's agent, Brian Mackler, has had contract talks with the Eagles over the last few seasons, including some discussions at the end of last season. The sides have never really come close to an agreement on what Smith is worth, and it appears as if the fifth-year tight end is going to enter into that thing known in professional sports as "the contract year."

"Obviously, it's very important, but . . . it's something you can't control as a player," Smith said yesterday as the Eagles continued their three-day minicamp at the NovaCare Complex. "It's pretty black and white. It's either they're going to pay you or they're not. You hope your agent can get it done, but sometimes it's even out of his hands. . . .

"I can show my talent to the world and the rest of the league, and whatever is supposed to happen will happen."

That's a healthy attitude for a player going into the last year of his contract, but it's not the approach that has always been taken around here. Smith, who returned to practice yesterday after missing Saturday's workouts because he was sick, has decided against following the same path traveled by some of his former teammates.

As a rookie, Smith watched running back Duce Staley and cornerback Bobby Taylor boycott voluntary minicamps in the spring. Staley extended his holdout into training camp.

Since then, Smith has watched wide receiver Terrell Owens, defensive tackle Corey Simon and running back Brian Westbrook all protest contract situations by staging minicamp boycotts, training-camp holdouts or both.

Westbrook was the only player from that list who received a contract extension from the Eagles. It's obvious that overt protests do not send management rushing to the negotiating table.

"The smart ones learn from other people's mistakes," said Smith, who turned 27 yesterday. "I'm under contract, so I'm going to play it out. I'm not one for all the controversy. I'm going to come in here and practice hard and play hard and try to help this team win a Super Bowl."

Smith, who will make $920,000 this season, may be among the most underrated tight ends in the league. In his second season as the Eagles' starter in 2006, he ranked 10th among NFL tight ends in catches (50), 12th in receiving yards (611) and was tied for seventh in touchdowns (five).

His receiving production declined after Donovan McNabb went down in the Eagles' 10th game against Tennessee, because the team started relying more on the running game. But Smith showed vast improvement in the blocking department during that stretch when the Eagles reeled off six straight wins, including a playoff victory over the New York Giants.

"I don't know how I'm rated on that tight-end chart," Smith said. "I know I'm not a secret around the league. I know I'm respected. I pray that, hopefully, things will work out here. This is a great football city, and everybody that plays here wants to play here. You don't hear people saying, 'I can't wait to get out of Philly.' They make it a great place to play while you're here."

Jason Witten, who was in the same draft class as Smith, signed a contract extension with the Dallas Cowboys last July that was worth $29 million over six years and included $12 million in bonus money.

Witten has been to three Pro Bowls and has 847 more career receiving yards than Smith, who was named a second alternate to the Pro Bowl last season. Smith has the same number of career touchdowns as Witten (14) and averages more yards per catch.

What's that worth to the Eagles?

Maybe it will all depend on what Smith does in the fifth and final year of the contract he signed after he was selected in the second round of the 2003 draft. Maybe it will depend on how Brent Celek, a fifth-round draft pick out of Cincinnati, performs during his rookie season.

Smith just wants to make sure that he has the kind of season that will leave people asking, "Why didn't they re-sign him?", if it doesn't happen.

"That's all you want," Smith said. "You want to put your best effort out on the field and have people respect it."

Good to know he has a positive approach to the situation, but it seems like they must be far apart in numbers, since we keep hearing public reports about this. The Eagles have plenty of cap space to lock up some talent, so why not throw a bone to L.J.?

Star from Australia kicks up a storm

Sunday, May 13, 2007
By NICK FIERRO
The Express-Times

http://www.nj.com/eagles/expresstimes/index.ssf?/base/sports-0/1179029401242930.xml&coll=2

PHILADELPHIA Despite the claims of his new head coach, Saverio Rocca's biggest adjustment in switching professional sports at age 33 will be extreme inactivity.

"There is a lot of down time and it's something that I'm going to have to get used to," the aspiring Eagles punter said of his first American football practice at minicamp on Saturday. "... We were standing on the other side (of the practice field), just waiting for our turn to come up. We were over there for an hour.

"It just seems like it's laid-back for the kickers, and all the other guys were busting their bums out there doing their work."

Rocca, a phenomenon in Australian rules football for most of the 1990s and the earlier part of this decade, decided last year that he wanted to give the NFL a try. He worked out for a couple of teams before signing with the Eagles not long after their season-ending playoff defeat in New Orleans.

Saturday, he did nothing to diminish the legend he carved for himself in Australia as one of the most powerful kickers in sports. Not all of his punts were better than incumbent Dirk Johnson's, but a good many were both longer and higher than any the Eagles have seen in a long time.

"I thought he did a nice job," coach Andy Reid said. "He has to be more consistent. This is the first time he had a football helmet on. It is a little different experience, but he sure is a competitor. He was a great player in Australia. We'll just see how he does here."

Rocca has a ways to go before earning a spot on the final roster, though. As Reid pointed out, in addition to wearing a helmet for the first time, Rocca has yet to face a live rush or even strap on pads.

Plus, until he faces game situations requiring directional kicks, nobody knows if he'll be able to master that, either.

Yet his all-around athletic skills remain intriguing, to say the least. Having played the Australian game, which is a tad more brutal than the brand played here, Rocca is a full-contact beast of a man at 6 feet, 4 inches and 255 pounds. He can kick on the run or just run without kicking it and dare tacklers to take him down.

None of those options have been discussed yet, according to Rocca, because he's still just trying to learn the American game.

Back home, he led the Australian Football League in goalkicking 10 times in 15 seasons, although he was dropped in his final season to the North Ballarat Roosters of the Victorian Football League, a minor-league affiliate of the AFL.

As an NFL punter, he could have plenty of prime years left if he proves he can play the game. "That's my aim," he said. "I'm not here just filling time. I want the job and I'm going to do everything I can to get it."

After 15 years of mostly star status in Australia, Rocca wouldn't mind the relative anonymity of being an NFL punter. In fact, he would prefer a lower profile at this stage of his career. It's one of the main reasons he came over.

But his primary motivation was fear of regret.

"There are a couple Aussies over here that are doing it," Rocca said, "and I know that I've got a good leg and can boom it a long way, so I thought I'd give it a go. I didn't want to wake up 20, 30 years from now wondering if I could have done it."

Nick Fierro can be reached at 800-360-3601 or by e-mail at nfierro@express-times.com.

Dirk might be in trouble. I keep hearing great things about Rocca. they say his hang time is rediculous. I'm all for improving the team un any way. Dirk was just below average last year, and having a good punter can be an undervalued weapon. Here is a video of Saverio, and his brother in the AFL. Not the NFL, but just watch Sav boot the football. Dude can kick.

Nice knowing ya Bethel

Bethel Johnson-WR-Eagles
May. 12 - 6:03 pm et
Bethel Johnson has a stress fracture in his foot and will miss minicamp.
Johnson is a longshot to make the Eagles. He'll have to avoid his usual injury problems for a chance.
http://www.rotoworld.com/Content/home_NFL.aspx

Looks like a big break for Jeremy Bloom. No pun intended.

Trotter working to regain old form

Linebacker has a role model in the secondary.


By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20070512_Trotter_working_to_regain_old_form.html
Jeremiah Trotter already knows how he wants the story of his 2007 season to unfold, and he's not afraid to admit that he intends to plagiarize the work of a teammate.

He wants to duplicate Brian Dawkins' experience.

"People were saying he was done two years ago," Trotter said earlier this week.
"And last year, B. Dawk came back like a wild animal. To me, he should have been
in the top two or three vote- getters for defensive player of the year. Even
when we were struggling on defense, he was the one guy that played week in and
week out. That's an example of how you can turn it around."

The Eagles middle linebacker realizes that there's a growing population out there that believes his best days are behind him and that 2006 signaled the beginning of the end of an NFL career that has already spanned eight seasons, half of which landed him a spot in the Pro Bowl.

"I had a bad year for me," Trotter said. "It was an average year. It was great at times, but by the end of the season, I got worn down a little bit. The Eagles' fans and the organization were used to seeing me play at a high level, so when you don't have a great year, there are going to be questions. The knee issue comes up and people start talking about your age.

"I'm still young. I'm only 30 years old. I'm not worried about my knees. I'm excited about this year and I feel great."

The next three days should be interesting because the post-draft minicamp, which begins today at the NovaCare Complex, always offers the first glance at how the coaching staff plans to use its players for the coming season. Everything, of course, is subject to change once the pads go on in training camp and the preseason games take place, but this is where the initial plan is hatched.

Trotter will be lining up at middle linebacker this morning when the No. 1 defense takes the field. But he realizes he won't be on the field as much this season as he was last year, and he's fine with that.

"I think the goal is to have me average 2½ downs," Trotter said. "I'll be out
there on first down and second down and sometimes on third down, depending on
the situation. I'm sure any opportunity they can get to give me a rest, they're
going to want to do that. I'm thankful that they want to take care of my
well-being."

A year ago, Trotter was on the field almost all the time. The plan was to use Shawn Barber in the middle on passing downs, but the veteran linebacker missed three games and had to leave a few others because of various injuries. Omar Gaither, who finished the year as the starting weakside linebacker, figures to be the middle linebacker on passing downs this season.

Trotter thinks he also wore down because the Eagles had such a difficult time stopping the run. They finished 26th in the NFL, allowing 136.4 yards per game.

"The more teams run the ball, the more pounding you're going to take," Trotter said. "I'm not getting any younger, but when you don't stop the run the way you're supposed to, teams are going to keep running it. I don't think I was the only player that got worn down last year. I think other defensive linemen and linebackers got worn down, too."

The Eagles believe help has arrived in the form of Takeo Spikes, a two-time Pro Bowler acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills.

"Oh, man, I was excited to get a player of his caliber," Trotter said. "I think teams felt like they had to put a body on me when they wanted to run the ball, and that's what happens when you play at a certain level. When you add a guy like Takeo Spikes, that's another guy who makes plays, and he's going to help me a lot."

Trotter also has tried to help himself this off-season by changing his workout schedule. Immediately after last season, there was speculation that Trotter had arrived at training camp overweight and out of shape.

"I rested a lot" after the 2005 season, Trotter said. "I was the only one on the team that went to the Pro Bowl, and then I had [knee] surgery right after the season, so my off-season was a lot shorter. My mind-set was to rest my body.

"What I learned from that situation is that there are other ways to rest your body. This year, I started working out a lot sooner. Three days after the season was over, I started working out with light weights and high reps. My weight wasn't as much a problem last year as my muscle mass being down. I wasn't as strong as normal, and I've always taken pride in my strength. This year, my muscle mass is back to where it usually is."

Now, Trotter and the Eagles are hoping the linebacker's elite level of play returns, too.

"I still believe with every bone in my body that my best years are ahead of me,"
Trotter said. "And this year, everybody is going to see that."

Trott can really make you a beleiver. He is a good talker, but take that with a grain of salt. I remember last year, he said his goal was to win defensive player of the year, and we saw how that turned out. We'll see what happens. I am still a big Axe-Man fan.

Deal for L.J. in the Works?

The Philadelphia Daily News reports that the Eagles will try to sign tight end L.J. Smith to a new contract between now and next February. If a deal can't be reached, the team could use the franchise tag on Smith. The '07 franchise number for a tight end is just $4.371 million.

http://www.sportsline.com/nfl/story/NFL_SC-RUMOR

L.J. has really been a big key to the offense. He even blocked fairly well last year. Hopefully both sides will give in some, and come to an agreement. If not then it will come down to the franchise tag game. The last thing they need is a Lance Briggs situation.

Heckert: Things are being ‘blown out of proportion’

By Bob Grotz, Of The Times Staff

The second the Eagles selected a quarterback with their first draft pick, they realized everything else thought it was more than just a pick.

When a telephone call to franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb went unreturned, the impression was his long-term future was in jeopardy.

Some even speculated a smear campaign was under way although the only smear, if you will, was the selection of Houston’s Kevin Kolb in the second round.

“That thing has been blown so far out of proportion,” Eagles general manager Tom Heckert said. “It’s not like we took Kolb with a top-five pick. I don’t think Donovan McNabb feels threatened. If we had taken Tony Hunt with that pick in the second round, would it have been Brian Westbrook who felt threatened? If you were a Pro Bowl quarterback and someone took a quarterback in the second round, would you feel threatened?”

In the week leading up to the draft Heckert pointedly said the Eagles would draft a franchise quarterback if one became available. Even McNabb conceded recently he was aware of the interest in Kolb. Those words have all but been forgotten.

Heckert obviously knew more about his craft than reporters and draft gurus for quarterback Brady Quinn, widely considered a top-five pick drifted all the way to 22. Kolb also moved all the way up to No. 36 overall in a lottery where four quarterbacks came off the board in the first couple of rounds.

“I don’t know why everybody is surprised,” Heckert said. “We’ve always said if the guy is the best available player, why not take him?”

Heckert reiterated that the Eagles at this stage aren’t married to Kolb. If McNabb bounces back from a knee injury and continues to play well, there’s a chance Kolb could be dealt a la Matt Schaub, the third-round pick the Atlanta Falcons by way of West Chester East High school who was traded to the Houston Texans.
— BOB GROTZ

Rayburn Cut

Eagles release Rayburn

The Eagles released backup defensive tackle Sam Rayburn one day before the start of mini-camp, which begins Friday morning at the NovaCare Complex.

Signed as a rookie free agent in 2003, Rayburn recorded 101 tackles and nine sacks in a 52-game career slowed by injury and inconsistency.

The acquisition of free agent tackles Montae Reagor and Ian Scott in recent weeks paved the way for Rayburn's departure.

http://blog.nj.com/timesupdates/2007/05/eagles_release_rayburn_dawkins.html


Too bad for the Truck Driver. He did pretty well in 2004, and since then has really not produced enough. The Eagles DTs have taken a complete overhaul since 2004 now. Hollis Thomas, Corey Simon, Rayburn, and Darwin Walker are all gone. Looks like a good group with Bunkley, Patterson, Reagor, Ramsey, and Scott. Let's hope it is anyways.