Yardbarker: Jon Runyan

THE JERSEY DINER MORNING NEWS

Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:42:21 -0500

THE MORNING NEWS...FROM THE MORNING PAPERS

1. "I want to score some touchdowns," Willie Parker said after he scored on the first play of the goal-line drill that ended practice last night. "Thirty-nine is a guy who could potentially be a guy in that area. We'll see. He had a nice run." Tomlin said Sunday that Mendenhall had to run harder, and he gave him a better grade yesterday." I thought he was better. He was downhill. He went in standing up one time." This battle for the Short Yardage back in the Pittsburgh offense is critical for fantasy football players. And it appears to me that there is no clear winner...YET.

2. He's one of those guys you've got to pull back or they're not going to pull back themselves." -- Saints Coach Sean Payton, explaining why he has scaled back the workload for Jon Vilma, who has been practicing once per day this week and won't play in Thursday's game. Vilma hasn't experienced any setbacks with his surgically repaired knee, however. Vilma will have a much better year now that he can go back and play in a defense that is more familiar to him. The 3/4 defense forces linebackers to deal with blockers coming at them all the time. In the 4/3, Vilma can use his speed and quickness to run to the ball and not have to work so hard at shedding so many blocks.

3. In Miami, LB Junior Glymph was all over the field, creating havoc for RBs and notching 2 1/2 sacks. The 6-foot-5, 278-pounder nearly intercepted a hand-off between RB Jalen Parmele and Beck. Glymph has been working his tail off to be a player. He has been in Atlanta and in Dallas with the old staff. He is finally in the right place. If he is ever going to make a statement as a pro player, now is the time.

4. Like Max Jean-Gilles? "Max has taken advantage of his opportunity, and he has done an excellent job," Marty Mornhinweg said. "You win with guys like Max. Max is a fighter. He's big and strong and gives big effort. He loves to play the game, and when you love to play the game you're going to work hard...and you're going to get better every day." I think if they like Jean-Gilles as much as these quotes seem to indicate, then the Birds might want to move Shawn Andrews to right tackle and provide themselves with the eventual replacement for Jon Runyan. Andrews could be an awesome right tackle and dominating run blocker.

5. According to a team official reached Tuesday night, Jackson remained a no-show. As a result, Jackson's 2008 season will not count as an "accrued" year in terms of eligibility for free agency. Players under contract must report at least 30 days before the overall NFL opener for the season to count as an accrued year. That 30-day deadline came and went Tuesday. I don't think Jackson sees this deadline as a problem. He knows he is going to get a new contract from the Rams, so why would be concerned with this date? He is not worried about being a free agent. He is worried about getting paid.

6. If I was the GM of the Buffalo Bills I would get on an airplane and fly to wherever Jason Peter is living. He is too important to the team for no contact to occur. I would find Peters and get this done.

7. Kyle Orton gets the first start for the Bears, which is good for him. Like the Ravens, the Bears don't have much depth in the offensive line and the quarterback that plays with a good line will look much better. Orton needs to know his role and not try to do too much in his first start. Playing against the Chiefs is a good start. KC will not run very complicated schemes and will play vanilla-like coverages this early in the preseason.

8. I wonder how Steven Baker, Jeff Garcia's agent, is handling the Brett Favre news in Tampa. And let's hope Chris Simms gets his freedom very soon. It would not surprise me to see Simms in Green Bay.

9. From the Denver Post, "Tom Nalen isn't going to like this, but people are starting to become concerned about him. These people include his coach, Mike Shanahan. 'Anytime Tom sits out of practice, it is not just another injury, because it is tough to keep him out of practice,' Shanahan said." I was around Nalen last year and he is really a great warrior who is fighting something he cannot beat, father time. He was amazing last year with his quickness and athletic ability, but with injuries it's hard to keep coming back. On the other hand, if the Broncos think Casey Wiegmann can do the job at 35, they will be in for a shock. Playing center in the AFC West means blocking Jamal Williams of SD. And that is VERY hard to do.

10. Mike Holmgren talked about Leonard Weaver in the Seattle Times this morning. " 'He is as talented a fullback as I've ever had,' Holmgren said. So Holmgren sat his backup fullback down and laid out the situation with all the subtlety of an uppercut. 'Look, if you don't fix this, you're not going to be here,' Holmgren said. No misinterpretations there. No room for mistakes in the final exhibition game, and no backing down from Weaver, who carried 16 times for 74 yards against the Raiders to run his way onto the roster. 'Pretty self-explanatory,' Weaver said. 'He let me know where I stand, and I performed, and look at me now.' " I LOVE this. All it takes is being honest with players, good or bad. Tell them where they stand and don't try to be a politician. I use to hate when we would cut a player and the guy walking the player around for his exit procedures would tell the player, "I think you got screwed." Players want honesty, they want the truth, we all do.

State of the team: Lurie has 'very high expectations.

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 07:02:53 -0500

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Jeffrey Lurie's state-of-the-team address was upstaged yesterday by his Pro Bowl guard's state-of-being address, but the Eagles' owner still had some interesting things to say after the morning practice at Lehigh University. Most notably, Lurie is "pumped" about what the Eagles can do in 2008 after finishing last in the NFC East with an 8-8 record a year ago. "We approach every season with very high expectations," Lurie said. "This isn't about rebuilding, retooling or anything. We're going for it. That's what every move is based on." The good health of quarterback Donovan McNabb is a primary reason for Lurie's optimism. "Part of the reason I'm real pumped up about this season is finally we have a real healthy Donovan McNabb, who looks great out there," Lurie said. "I think Andy [Reid] and the personnel people have done a great job of retooling the defense with young, fast players to go along with the veteran mix we have. We're much more athletic on offense." Lurie said he still thinks McNabb is the best quarterback in the NFC, a conference that includes Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning of the New York Giants and Pro Bowler Tony Romo of the Dallas Cowboys. "He's right in his prime," Lurie said of McNabb. "We've had the best quarterback in the NFC for quite a while. That's not the case when he's not 100 percent or not there. When he's healthy, we have a terrific record." Lurie also has one of the best running backs in the league in Brian Westbrook, but it has been well-publicized that he is not the happiest player because of his contract. The owner conceded that Westbrook has outperformed the five-year, $24.9 million contract he signed in November 2005, and he is hoping a new deal can be agreed upon. "My philosophy . . . is to try to always be fair," Lurie said. "Adapt to where things are at. You try to be fair and do contracts when they make sense for the team. You're trying to spread it out the best you can so you have the best possible roster. "I think you want every player to be happy, especially a professional like Brian. He's great, one of my favorites. You just need two reasonable sides and usually these things do have a way of working themselves out. Hopefully this will play out well." The owner seemed much less sympathetic to cornerback Lito Sheppard's plea for a new contract, which was made over the Internet by agent Drew Rosenhaus last week. "I'm not even going to address that," Lurie said. "I will say that I'm very hopeful that Lito will have a terrific season. He'll show us and the league that he's back to the old Lito. That he's healthy, that he's got tremendous playmaking ability and certainly a lower YPA." A lower YPA? That's an acronym for yards per attempt, an obscure statistic on NFL cornerbacks that reflects how many yards they surrender per pass thrown in their direction. It is probably not a good sign for Sheppard that the owner did not think his YPA was good enough a year ago. As for the Pro Bowl guard who upstaged the owner yesterday, Lurie said he was disappointed that Shawn Andrews was not in attendance. "It's certainly disappointing," Lurie said. "Other players get reps and improve because that's the game of football. You've got to prepare. He's been hurt before, so we've had to prepare anyway. Any time a player misses the work that's being done and the bonding with teammates, even though he's a veteran and a very good player, it disappoints me."

Dawkins knows Andrews' struggles

Tue, 05 Aug 2008 06:55:44 -0500

When Shawn Andrews eventually does rejoin the Eagles, he'll find a sympathetic ear in six-time Pro Bowl safety Brian Dawkins. Andrews said in interviews yesterday with web site www.philly.com that he's missed the first 12 days of training camp and the last week of June minicamp because of depression. Andrews said he's being treated and hopes to return to the team later this week, if he's cleared by his doctor. Last night, in an interview on Comcast SportsNet, Dawkins revealed that he too was once treated for clinical depression. "I went through it my rookie year, my first two years, so I know what it's like," Dawkins said. "I did the doctor thing, but I leaned heavily on my pastor, I leaned heavily on men of God, my man Troy (Vincent) was here, Irving Fryar was here, Emmitt Thomas helped me out tremendously, so there were a lot of people that I had in my corner as well as prayer to help me out of that situation. "It's nothing to scoff at. The thing about it is we're held up as being these mighty people because we play this violent game, but at the end of the day, we have the same emotions as the average cat." The Eagles had no comment on Andrews' remarks. Andrews has been AWOL from the Eagles since the middle of June. His minicamp absence was excused, according to head coach Andy Reid, but his current absence is not. The Eagles are fining Andrews the NFL daily maximum of $15,000 per day, which comes out to $180,000 so far. "I'm willing to admit that I've been going through a very bad time with depression," Andrews said in the story. "I've finally decided to get professional help. It's not something that blossomed up overnight. I'm on medication, trying to get better." Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw, a two-time Super Bowl MVP, also battled depression going back to his college days at Louisiana Tech. His symptoms seem nearly identical to the ones Andrews describes — among them a lack of concentration and an inability to sleep. "With depression, I have always had problems focusing," Bradshaw said in a 2004 speech in San Francisco."I suffered from terrible panic attacks and was unable to concentrate. With the help of therapists, counselors and the medication they prescribed for me ... my panic attacks are gone and I can pay attention to the elements of my life that are important." Andrews signed a 10-year contract worth $48,873,545 in June 2006 and is scheduled to earn $2.98 million this year. The fines he's already accrued amount to about 6 percent of his 2008 base salary. "Football is important, it's a means to an end," Andrews said. "But my mental health, I feel like, is a lot more important. That's a hell of a lot of money. Money's good, money's a necessity, but it's not everything. I can't put a price tag on my mental state." Andrews said in a second interview that appeared last night on the www.philly.com web site that he initially sought medical treatment in June but changed his mind and returned to his home in Arkansas. "My pride got in the way," he said. "I didn't want anybody to see me walking into a psych clinic. Professionals aren't always the answer. Sometimes, just talking things out helps. And now with all the rumors coming out, it has only made things worse. "Some of the comments really got to me. You always hear guys say that they don't care what people think and sometimes I don't about certain things. But in the grand scheme, I want people to think positive about me." Earlier in the day, Eagles owner Jeff Lurie said he was disappointed Andrews is missing significant camp time. "I'm certainly disappointing he's not here," Lurie said. "Other players get reps and improve because that's the game of football, you've got to prepare. He's been hurt before so we had to prepare, anyway. I'm hopeful Shawn will have a terrific season, be here and that things will work themselves out. You don't see too many players not at their training camps. You just hope what's going to happen to Shawn will be great for Shawn and great for the franchise." Reid said he's not concerned about Andrews' absence because Max Jean-Gilles has played so well with the first offense at right guard. However, Jean-Gilles is a third-year pro who's started one career game and only played in four. Andrews is a two-time Pro Bowl player and an all-pro. Andrews said he anticipates arriving at Lehigh on Friday. The Eagles open their preseason with a game against the Steelers that evening in Pittsburgh. Their next practice would be at 8:15 a.m. Sunday. Andrews did not return a message left on his cell phone yesterday. Andrews is currently on the Reserve-Did not Report list. The Eagles would have to release a player if they reinstate him and allow him to practice, which Dawkins hopes is soon. "What needs to be dealt with," Dawkins said at Lehigh earlier in the day, "is to get in here, make sure he's fine, make sure he's healthy, make sure everything is good with him and get him in here so we can play some ball."

Andrews Suffering From Depression

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 22:46:50 -0500

Eagles' offensive lineman Shawn Andrews has mysteriously been absent from the team's training camp over the past week. All that we were told was that he was out for personal reasons. On Tuesday, Andrews sent a text message to ESPN Radio 950 Philadelphia that all of the rumors were untrue, but did not provide an actual reason for his absence. Andrews, widely considered the Eagles' best offensive lineman, has been missed while the team regroups and prepares for the upcoming season. Fellow linemate Jon Runyan has been publicly critical and unhappy with Andrews' absence, stating that "It's not helping us, and it's not helping him sitting out," Runyan was quoted as saying in a Daily News blog. "The longer he holds out, the longer it will be before he gets in there. So it's going to be a tough situation. If you keep giving reps to the guy who's backing you up, at some point, he's going to pass you." In an exclusive interview with Bob Brookover of the Philadelphia Inquierer, Andrews finally opened up Monday about why he has not yet shown up to training camp. According to Andrews, "After finally deciding to get professional help, I felt like maybe talking about my situation could be a blessing to someone else going through the same things," Andrews said today from his home in Arkansas. "Regardless of whether you're a celebrity or you play for the Philadelphia Eagles and you're in the limelight, you still go through problems." Andrews has been dealing with depression and has not been in the right frame of mind to play football. Your job is important, but your mental health takes priority. Despite a successful career with the Eagles, Andrews has endured some tough times during his four years in the league. In 2007, he lost a good friend to a heart attack. The friend was only 23, but was overweight, and this spurred the 6-foot-5, 335-pound Andrews to lose some weight and eat healthier. His brother Derrick has endured two very dangerous tours of duty in in Afghanistan with the United States Army. He has also had a gun pulled on him several times in this City of Brotherly Love. The most recent time was during the Eagles' playoff run in January of 2007. "A lot of things in my life have happened even since I've come to Philadelphia," Andrews said. "Random people have pulled out a gun on me. One time during the playoffs, some guy walked from around a building and said, 'You're going to the Pro Bowl? [blank] him, he's not going to the Pro Bowl.' Luckily, I was talking to someone and I didn't hear him. If I heard it, I think I'd have been on the ground." Andrews did not delve into the exact details of all of his troubles, but did explain that he was dealing with several issues, some dating back to his childhood. "I've just had a lot of thoughts and questions going through my mind about a lot of things," he said. "Some things I'm embarrassed to talk about. But even dating back to when I was growing up . . . people made fun of me. I always wanted people to think I was more than what I was. "When I got into the [NFL], I wanted to be man enough to admit that, but I tried to use material things to say who I was. I know now that some of the happiest times in my life were when I didn't have a pot to piss in. I'm hoping this is just part of my growing process." Even the tough, rich, and famous have issues with confidence and self-worth. Despite initially rejecting help, Andrews has started to see a psychiatrist and take medication to treat his depression. "My pride got in the way," Andrews said. "I didn't want anybody to see me walking into a psych clinic. Professionals aren't always the answer. Sometimes, just talking things out helps. And now with all the rumors coming out, it has only made things worse. Some of the comments really got to me. You always hear guys say that they don't care what people think and sometimes I don't about certain things. But in the grand scheme, I want people to think positive about me." And talking does help. It takes a lot of courage for someone to speak openly about their problems and their deficiencies, especially a tough offensive lineman like Andrews. Football is not a culture that encourages and nurtures a problem like depression; it does not encourage grown, hard nosed men to talk about their feelings and their fears. Andrews should be commended and supported for his courage and I know we all hope that he makes a speedy recovery. I know I speak for everyone here at Hot Stove Philly when I wish Andrews the best of luck and all our support.

SHAWN ANDREWS

Mon, 04 Aug 2008 19:10:54 -0500

This Shawn Andrews hold out has everyone baffled. And yesterday in Peter King' story about his annual journey to Lehigh, he wrote that he had been assured from the EAGLES this protest from Andrews was not about money. So what could it be?

It can only be two issues -- either he wants to retire and hates football or he is unhappy with his contract. If he were sick or had an emotional problem at home, the Eagles would be much more sympathetic to his needs. So you can rule out those reasons. The Eagles are acting as if the player has told them he wants to quit, but needs more time to make the final decision. Jon Runyan's call for Andrews to just show up and be a teammate is a clear indication Runyan thinks the guy is quitting on him.

During my time with the Raiders we went through this with Steve Wisniewski and Napoleon Kaufman. The Andrews situation reminds me of those times and it's the only reason that makes sense to me. What do you think?

The mystery of Shawn Andrews

Sun, 03 Aug 2008 06:35:59 -0500

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The players come gasping to the sideline, remove their helmets, and sink to one knee. The sweat stings their eyes and runs hotly down their necks, and it takes a minute to even realize that one of the ubiquitous helper kids is standing there with a water bottle in one hand and three shades of sports drink - red, blue and yellow - in the other. The day appears to be abnormally bright, and everything seems to be buzzing. Training camp is supposed to be hard for all NFL players. It is particularly hard, perhaps, for the massive offensive linemen, the guys whose girth helps them hold their ground during the regular season. In July and August, however, it doesn't feel like such an advantage. "It's tough. We hit every single play. If we get up at 6 o'clock in the morning, we're hitting at 7. You have to be a man about it," guard Max Jean-Gilles said. "We get together in the huddle and just say, 'Let's go.' " Jean-Gilles has been in the huddle with the first-team offensive line at training camp because Shawn Andrews is not there. Andrews might be in South Jersey or he might be in Little Rock, Ark., or he might be riding the wild tortoises in the Galapagos. But he is not at Lehigh University with the rest of the Philadelphia Eagles. There are no explanations for the absence of the two-time Pro Bowl player. There are only rumors. There is a contract dispute. There is no contract dispute. There is a physical problem. There is no physical problem. There is a mental problem. There is no mental problem. There is a family issue. There is no family issue. Regardless, there is no Shawn Andrews. The Eagles have called it a "personal" matter, which seems sympathetic, but coach Andy Reid added that Andrews "wasn't excused," which doesn't. Andrews could be fined $15,000 for each day he misses. As of today, the potential tab is $165,000. Team president Joe Banner won't say whether the Eagles actually will assess the fines. Everyone is saying very little, actually, just waiting to see how things turn out. It is all up to Andrews. The young man with the tattoo of a smiley face inside his right wrist and the words The Big Kid, will have to decide. The guy who wears what he likes to call a "Brohawk" haircut, the player who has added other, more serious, tattoos all the way up his neck, he is the one with the ball on this play. The NFL season will not wait for him. Will he still have his starting job when he returns, if he returns? Jon Runyan, who has lined up on Andrews' right shoulder the last four seasons, shrugged. "He doesn't want his job right now," Runyan said. "He's not here." We think we know the pro athletes in our town, and it is always a bit of a shock to find we know nothing but the public face or the locker-room caricature. Darren Daulton was pegged as the solid clubhouse leader. What else could he be? Of course, now he's talking about spaceships coming to take us all away, and maybe his image has been altered. Andrews has always seemed like a sweet, guileless kid from Arkansas, the kid who went to SeaWorld and decided on the spot that he would get a pair of penguins as pets. He is the kid who bought a house in New Jersey with money from his first NFL contract and immediately jumped up and down on the bed because he never was allowed to do that back home. He is the kid who worries about his brother, Derrick, who was stationed by the Army in Afghanistan last year. He is the kid who donates toys to area children at Christmas. He is the right guard of the Philadelphia Eagles, but that doesn't mean we know him at all. It certainly doesn't mean we know why he isn't with teammates at Lehigh. They don't know, either. "Andy might be the only one that knows," Runyan said. Reid isn't saying, just as he didn't offer an explanation when Andrews skipped the last five workouts of the Organized Team Activity camp at the NovaCare Complex in June. Whatever is bothering Andrews now - whether it is simple or complicated - has been going on nearly two months. Maybe he isn't sure he wants to continue playing football. It is hot out there and playing football hurts. If he waits too long, however, the hole will close over and it will be as if he were never there. "Coaches get comfortable with the guy that's there. They get used to what he's good at," Runyan said. "You don't just have another guy show up and throw him in there and expect him to pick up where he left off. That's why we're out here for a month before the season starts." But Shawn Andrews isn't there yet. He doesn't fight for a breath of the humid air or taste the sweat. No one seems to know why, or they aren't saying. In the end, it is a reminder that we don't really know him. We only know he's not at work.

DeSean Jackson starting small

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:09:56 -0500

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The smallest guy on the team was carrying the heaviest load as the Eagles sauntered off the field toward their air-conditioned oasis following another morning of beating on one another in the soppy air at training camp. DeSean Jackson was weighed down with equipment, most of it not his own. In his right hand, he had Hank Baskett's helmet, shoulder pads and jersey. He was lugging Brian Westbrook's body armor in his left hand. Moments later, Omar Gaither showed no mercy as he handed Jackson his helmet. When Jackson spoke of his need to gain weight, this was not the method he considered. "That's the life of a rookie, man, you've got to handle all the veterans - Hank Baskett and Brian Westbrook," he said. "It's all right, though." Not that he had an option. Veterans show little sympathy for rookies at their first NFL camp, even a guy like the 5-foot-10, 175-pound Jackson, whom the Eagles drafted in the second round with the hope that his speed and sensational moves will juice up the offense and punt-return game. At Cal, Jackson set a Pac-10 record with six punt returns for touchdowns, most of them YouTube-worthy. The only other Pac-10 athlete to average more yards per punt return than Jackson was a guy named Jackie Robinson from UCLA. Jackson also had 22 TD catches and 2,423 yards receiving in an all-American career. But now, all those are merely gaudy numbers on his resume. The 21-year-old with the bright smile and spindly legs has to prove he can hang with the big boys, that he can pick himself off the turf after a heat-seeking missile disguised as an NFL defensive back pops him. Jackson returned to practice yesterday, having missed two valuable days after aggravating a hamstring pull Sunday. It was the same hamstring that kept him out of much of the last minicamp. Jackson was falling behind, something he can't afford if he wants to contribute to the team early in the season. If there's anyone who has less sympathy for rookies than veterans, it's the coach. And the message Andy Reid sent to Jackson when asked about him Tuesday was far from subtle. "He needs to get healthy and get back out there is what he needs to do," Reid said. "This is a challenge for wide receivers, that first year, and you have to push yourself through these things, so that's what he's working on right now." Message delivered. Yesterday, Jackson was back out there. He didn't directly address Reid's comment, but he said all the right things about how great it is to be back at practice and that he'd much rather be practicing than rehabbing a hamstring pull. Jackson also said the hamstring felt good and that he doesn't really think he's behind because he's learning at meetings and by talking to veterans. But those aren't meetings they hold on fall Sundays. "I felt really good," Jackson said. "The biggest thing is when I'm not practicing I kind of feel left out with my teammates. It's hard for me to be in the training room and not on the field. That's been the hardest thing for me so far. The biggest thing is I'm being pushed at a high level, and I have to keep working to make it through this." Starved for another playmaker, much of the crowd at Lehigh turned its attention toward Jackson. Fans cheered loudly when he made a nice sideline catch behind cornerback Lito Sheppard for about 30 yards, but the official ruled he had only one foot in bounds. In college, it would have been a reception; in the pros, it was not. "The biggest thing is you have to catch the football wherever the quarterback puts it," Jackson said. "I dropped one today. But I think I'm doing pretty good." The drop was during a punt-return drill, which conjured a sour memory from last season for one fan. "Green Bay," the guy shouted at Jackson. That was a bit harsh. Jackson was at Cal when the Eagles frittered away the 2007 season opener against the Packers because of fumbled punt returns. But like Jackson said, that's the life of a rookie.

Eagles - Eagles' Thomas and Runyan: Old kids on the block

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 05:03:34 -0500

BETHLEHEM - For eight seasons, they've been Donovan McNabb's wingmen, protecting him from vicious, pass-rushing thugs determined to do unspeakable harm to the Eagles quarterback. For eight seasons, they have been there for him. For eight seasons, they have been the tough, durable bookends of an offensive line that has helped the Eagles earn six playoff invites and advance to four NFC title games and one Super Bowl. Tra Thomas on the left side. Jon Runyan on the right. No offensive-tackle tandem in the league has been together longer. "It's been a great situation," Thomas said. "We've been blessed to be together as long as we've been. We're just trying to keep it going." They'll keep it going for at least one more season. After that, well, it's too soon to tell. Each is entering the last year of his contract. And they aren't getting any younger. Thomas, who is entering his 11th season, will turn 34 on Nov. 20. Runyan, who is entering his 13th campaign (ninth with the Eagles), will turn 35 a week later. The good news for the Eagles is, so far age has been just a number for the pair, who have 357 combined NFL starts. Both still are playing at an extremely high level. "They've both done an excellent job here later in their careers of keeping themselves in terrific physical condition on a consistent basis throughout the year," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said. "I think that has added years for both of them. They are both terrific players and we need them both. They both add toughness to the football team." Runyan, who played much of last season with a broken tailbone, has a streak of 194 consecutive starts. He hasn't missed a game since he entered the NFL. Thomas, who has 163 career starts, has played at least 15 games in nine of his 10 pro seasons. "I just keep adding stuff to my offseason [training] regimen that keeps me sharp," Thomas said. "I've been blessed." Thomas, who has played at as much as 365 pounds during his career, shed weight this past offseason to take pressure off his knees and occasionally balky back, which sidelined him for six games in '05. He reported to camp at a slim, trim 320, the lightest he's been since Florida State. Runyan said his weight was down to 304 at one point in the offseason before he hit the weight room. He's also at about 320 now. "I definitely feel a big difference in my weight," Thomas said. "It's helped me out a lot coming into this camp. Because I know I'd be feeling way worse than I do now if I was still heavy." A couple of years ago, the possibility of Thomas and Runyan still being the Eagles' starting tackles beyond this season seemed remote. When Andy Reid selected Winston Justice in the second round of the '06 draft, it was with the idea of having him eventually replace Thomas. There also was talk of eventually moving right guard Shawn Andrews out to tackle to succeed Runyan. But Justice has been a major disappointment. Andrews earned his second Pro Bowl invitation last season, but was inconsistent much of the year and now is a training-camp holdout for reasons that still aren't clear. Bottom line: If Thomas and Run-yan play as well this season as they did last year, there's a good possibility the Eagles will try to bring both of them them back for a 1- or 2-year encore. "You take care of this year," Runyan said. "Everything else will take care of itself. People will be knocking down your door [if you play well]. So it's not a problem. I'm not worried about it." Neither is Thomas. "I really don't think a lot about it," he said. "I'm just trying to take care of what I've got to take care of on my part. If I do that, everything else will take care of itself. Because me worrying about it isn't going to make it any better. "I'm just trying to have the best training camp I can possibly have. I don't want to have any negative thoughts in the back of my head." The Eagles' sack numbers have never been particularly low in the eight seasons Thomas and Runyan have played together. But that's more a product of the type of quarterback McNabb is, rather than the job they've done blocking for him. Because of his mobility and his reluctance to throw balls into tight areas, McNabb always has held on to the ball a lot longer than most of the league's slower-footed throwers. And that often has resulted in some extra sacks. "I've been fortunate to have both of these guys around for most of my career," McNabb said. "Not many quarterbacks can say that they had their blindside and frontside tackles be there pretty much throughout the duration of their career. "You develop a great feel with each other. Tra knows at times that I may step up, or, if I feel pressure, I'll get away from it, and he can adjust his blocking. I think this is going to be a great year for all of those guys, including myself." Despite the fact that they've been playing together for nearly a decade, Runyan and Thomas aren't bosom buddies. They're friends, but they don't really hang out with each other. "The league has changed so much in the 13 years I've been in it," Runyan said. "Everybody is so spread apart and individualized now. I remember back early in my career, guys hung out together for hours. Screwing with each other. Ripping on each other. It was a lot of fun off the field. Now, everybody just kind of goes their own way. "I tell people all the time about how it used to be. You talk about offensive lines. Thursday nights during the season, we would be out every single week. If you weren't at the [Thursday] dinner, you were fined. Now, we probably go out once a year here. It's just one of those things. It's a different time. "We used to go in the locker room and throw all of the rookies' clothes in the cold tub. We'd mess with guys' cars. We'd goof around on the field before practice, playing stupid games. Throwing knuckleballs at each other and trying to catch 'em. That doesn't happen anymore." *

David Akers longs to make up for last season

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 04:59:24 -0500

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - David Akers hit it good, so good that even he was a bit surprised at how far the field-goal attempt was traveling. It was the waning seconds of the Dec. 9 game against the New York Giants, and the 57-yard kick had the distance to send the game into overtime. It was the type of moment that was going to light the candle on a day that just happened to be Akers' 33rd birthday. Every Eagles fan knows the story - the ball drifted, doinked against the right upright and deflected the wrong direction to the turf at Lincoln Financial Field. The Giants won, 16-13, and the Eagles dropped to 5-8, virtually guaranteeing they would not make the playoffs. "I think that's what made it so hard was that I didn't think I'd really get it there," Akers said. "Then when I did get it there and it hit the pole, I'm like, 'Uh, happy birthday.' " The numbers don't lie, and by the numbers, Akers was not an effective kicker from 40 yards and beyond last season. He was 1-for-6 on attempts from 40 to 49 yards and 1-for-4 on attempts from 50 and beyond. But as with a lot of things in professional sports, the numbers don't always tell the entire story. "Everybody says from over 40 yards he was this for that," Akers said, "and, yeah, I missed some kicks from over 40 yards, but I tried some kicks that a lot of teams wouldn't have even tried - a 59, a 57, a 43 into the wind, a 48 into a driving rain. "Those things, you'd obviously love to make, but they make your numbers look horrible if you miss them. The one good thing about (Eagles coach Andy Reid) is he's never been a numbers guy with me. "He just says, 'I'm going to put you out there, and you go kick it.' When you have that, you have confidence when you go out there. I never want to miss. What I'm doing every single day through this whole process is to try to get to the point where I can be perfect. If you're not striving to be perfect, you are going to regress. Ultimately, I hope that pays off with better results this season." It's because Akers has been so clutch for the Eagles since he took over as the full-time kicker in 2000 that last season's struggles from long range stood out so much. Lost in the talk of his misses from distance is the fact that he was a perfect 22-for-22 on field goals within 40 yards. Of course, that leads to the question whether a 33-year-old kicker has lost some of the leg strength to make the longer attempts. "You're going to lose something over the years, there is no question about that," Akers conceded, "but the thing is, other than one kick down (at FedEx Field) against the Redskins, I didn't have any kicks come up short. "When you're stroking it, you feel all the confidence in the world. When you start to miss a couple, sure the questions come up, but what you have to do is fight through that. That's what makes the difference between guys who are good and not so good." As three trips to the Pro Bowl indicate, Akers has been a very good kicker. Last season's stumble to 16.7 percent was the first time in his career that he hit less than 55.6 percent on field goals from 40 to 49 yards. He is also 52.4 percent (11 of 21) on career attempts from 50 or more. Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Akers' range is something that is dealt with on a game-by-game basis. "Before every game and sometimes during the game if the weather changes, we will discuss exactly what his range is," Mornhinweg said. "Pregame, coming out at halftime, those kind of things. "There is no issue there. We just know what we believe his range is in that particular game, and it does change, whether you're indoors, outdoors, or into the wind." The thing you have to remember about Akers is that not only is he a perfectionist as a kicker, he is also a "precisionist." Going into a game, he factors in everything from wind conditions to air temperature to turf conditions. He likes to have a comfortable grip on every aspect of the kicking process. With that in mind, it is likely that it took some time for Akers to develop a comfort level with punter Sav Rocca, the former Australian Rules Football player who took over as holder last season. "Obviously, one thing that is totally different now is that last year Sav had never played the game before," Akers said. "He and (long snapper Jon Dorenbos) have had some time working together, and I think we've really been good from the minicamps up until now. We've all worked really hard this offseason. "It's one of those things where I feel I've got a little eye of the tiger my own self, right now. I've got something to prove to myself. I don't want any excuses. I just want to be able to go out there and knock it between the poles."

'Cuz He's ... Batman (?)

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 01:47:26 -0500

Among the many images reporters were left with during a long afternoon of staking out the Sayre Park section of Lehigh, waiting for Eagles veterans to report to training camp (especially Brian Westbrook and Lito Sheppard), there was this: Offensive tackle Jon Runyan unloading an inversion table from the back of his pickup. That's right, a 6-7, 330-pound man spends part of every day hanging by his ankles. Picture that a moment. Runyan said he has been using the thing for two years, but usually only hangs for 10 or 15 minutes at a time. Any longer than that, he said, and his eyes begin bulging out. Making regular use of the inversion table helps his back as much as anything else. And coincidence or not, he has played in 192 straight games, including playoffs. It's not like he hasn't been hurt, either. He played the last 10 games of 2007 with a broken tailbone, and said it still bothers him when he sits for a long time, as was the case on the long drive to Bethlehem. "I'm fine," he said, "as long as I'm standing up." He will spend a lot of time on his feet over the next couple weeks, though he is one of those who has been granted admission to the "30-Plus Club" by coach Andy Reid, meaning he will get morning practices off every third day. "Can I get my years retroactive?" Runyan asked. "I wouldn't have to practice at all."

Eagles Training Camp Opens: Jackson, Westbrook, and More

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 01:29:40 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles training camp opens today, July 21. Storylines: signing of DeSean Jackson. Brian Westbrook contract updates. McNabb: healthy and ready? It's all touched on in here...

“The Big Kid” Ranked The 5th Best Guard In The NFL

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 23:21:35 -0500

According to New Era Scouting, Eagles right guard Shawn Andrews is the 5th best guard in the entire NFL. Ahead of him on the list are Eric Steinbach of the Browns, Steve Hutchinson of the Vikings, Alan Faneca of the Jets, and Brian Waters of the Chiefs. Rounding out the top ten are Leonard Davis [...]

Eagles' burning question: Defense ready to soar again?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 08:43:22 -0500

Since 2000, the Eagles have been consistent playoff contenders in the NFC, finishing only one season under .500. During the decade, despite having an offensive-minded head coach and offensive stars such as Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, the team's backbone has been Jim Johnson's aggressive defense. When that unit has made key plays and limited opponents' scoring, the Eagles have been more successful. But last year, except in a few key games, both the solid and the spectacular elements were missing from the defense. It didn't help that longtime linebackers/defensive backs coach Steve Spagnuolo took the system he learned under Johnson to New York and made the division-rival Giants the league's top pass-rushing defense. The Eagles were beaten at their own game in their own division. Despite sending a defensive end, Trent Cole, to the Pro Bowl, the Eagles finished with a so-so total of 37 sacks, and Cole (12 1/2) provided more than a third of them. On the last line of pass defense, the secondary, injuries were a major problem. Cornerback Lito Sheppard missed five games, while safety and unit leader Brian Dawkins missed six, contributing to the team finishing dead last in the league with only 11 interceptions. The Eagles managed to be pretty strong against the run because of good interior line and linebacker play, but they didn't really strike fear into teams by swarming after quarterbacks and forcing them into big mistakes. The defense did have one surprising stand against the high-powered Cowboys offense in an impressive Week 15 victory. Philly recorded three sacks and three picks of Tony Romo in a 10-6 win. Not surprisingly, both Sheppard and Dawkins were active for that game. The Eagles will need many more performances like the one they enjoyed in Dallas to get back into contention for a playoff spot in a very tough NFC East. However, there's hope they can do it with a cleaner bill of health and improved personnel. The strength of last year's team was up front, where Cole and young tackles Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley combined to anchor the defensive line. Former Titan Juqua Parker showed promise in seven starts last season, and the addition of former Raider Chris Clemons (eight sacks) will bolster both the team's edge pass rush and its overall depth. At linebacker, Omar Gaither will be more comfortable making plays after moving from the middle to the weak side. Of course, there is that monster offseason addition in the secondary. Philly obtained arguably the best player on the free-agent market: cornerback Asante Samuel. Samuel, with 16 interceptions over his final two seasons in New England, has emerged as one the game's most dangerous ballhawks. Not only does he reinvigorate the Eagles' takeaway potential, but he also allows them to have a fine nickel package that includes '07 starters Sheppard and Sheldon Brown. After a down year, Johnson should be much happier with the results this season. The defense can take a huge leap with Samuel's presence as the driving force. The offense is the source of the team's second burning question: What should be expected from McNabb? But if the defense regains its old swagger, that question won't matter as much. As the team proved as recently as 2006, it can win plenty of games when the defense is operating at a high level, supplemented by heavy doses of Brian Westbrook and the running game. Philadelphia finished in the division basement and was the only team in the NFC East not to make the playoffs last season, but it still was 8-8 and proved it could play with the 13-3 Cowboys when everything was clicking. The Eagles have improved their roster and gotten healthy enough on defense to turn the NFC East standings upside down. With a little help from the offense, worst to first isn't as big of a jump as you might think.

swoop ties it up!!!

Sun, 22 Jun 2008 16:06:21 -0500

Hey all eagles fan swoop tied it all up 50%-50% if you havent voted yet get that vote in!!!!! round ends june 24th http://www.sportsline.com/spin/story/10868936

Where do your allegiances lie: college or pro?

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:39:35 -0500

"...what do you do when a player you disliked in college is suddenly on your team, or even worse, a player you loved in school quickly becomes a rival? I can attest, the former is not very hard to overcome. I can forgive Jon Runyan's Michigan days because of the way he steamrolls d-linemen weekly for the Eagles..." A look at how being a die hard college football fan relates to being a die hard pro football fan.