Healthy Reed Focused On Football

This is the first offseason that fifth-year safety J.R. Reed is able to exclusively focus on football.

In the past, he had to spend the majority of his time rehabbing. The Eagles' fourth-round draft pick in 2004, Reed missed the entire 2005 season when his career was derailed by a freak offseason injury to his peroneal nerve, affecting the use of his lower leg and foot.

Reed's 2006 comeback bid ended when the Eagles released him prior to the start of the season. He bounced around for a couple of years -- spending time with the Rams and Falcons in 2006 and the Giants for a few weeks in the summer of 2007 -- and didn't find a home until midway through the 2007 season. That home was back in Philadelphia.

"During the other offseasons I was on my own, so I would just work on running the 40. That's what you had to do to get back on the team is run the 40," Reed said. "I wasn't focusing on getting stronger because by gaining weight you get a little slower.



S/KR J.R. Reed

"This year I get to work on some defensive and special teams stuff, football stuff specifically, instead of just working on speed."

Reed proved last season that he can be a valuable asset both on defense and special teams. Reed played well on defense when Dawkins, Sean Considine and Quintin Mikell went down at various times throughout the season. He finished with 33 tackles on defense (17 solo) along with a quarterback hurry and five knockdowns. In addition to his 125 special teams production points, Reed averaged just over 22 yards on 31 kick return opportunities.

Now, with Dawkins and Mikel penciled in as the starters, Reed is in the mix with Considine, second-year man Marcus Paschal and rookie Quintin Demps for backup jobs.

What do you guys think? Do you think he will perform this year?