Leave it to Eagles veteran guard Todd Herremans to put the return of Donovan McNabb to Philadelphia in perspective.

Asked how McNabb would be received by Eagles fans, Herremans unleashed the old pregnant pause.

"It's hard to say. He got booed when he got drafted. I'm sure the city will have mixed feelings, mixed emotions."

Herremans outlined some interesting differences in the huddle demeanor of McNabb and current Eagles quarterback Michael Vick.

More on that later.

Andy Reid is coming off like a genius with his decision to start Mike Vick at quarterback.

Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg also has elevated his star quotient.

If Vick continues his improvement - and he gets better each week - don't be surprised if Mornhinweg gets another shot to be a head coach.

The NFL is all about quarterbacks, offense and scoring points. And with Vick lighting the skies with six TD passes and a 110.2 passer rating, the Eagles are on the good side of 2-`1.

Mornhinweg's first gig as head coach resulted in a 5-27 record in two seasons with the Detroit Lions. That's not the worst thing considering that current head coach Jim Schwartz is about to commiserate a start 2-19. Youno could easily make the argument that no one could win with the Lions.

After thinking about what he said about Kevin Kolb, Andy Reid changed his mind again Friday.

Following practice Reid flatly denied an SI.com report saying he went with Michael

Vick partly because he feared Kolb, as a young quarterback, would be “crucified” for making a mistake.

Media relations director Derek Boyko, sensing a public relations disaster, told reporters after the news conference Friday that he met with Reid and that Big Red did make those comments.

“He read it and he said it,” Boyko said of the piece. “He originally said he didn’t say it. He didn’t hear the context of the question.”

Reid told SI.com’s Peter King after the switch to Vick as the starter that "A young quarterback needs time to mature as he grows in the game.

“I don't think Kolb has lost one thing,” Reid said. “He's a franchise quarterback. He will win games and championships for the Eagles. But I think it's a different deal when you go out there and can't make a mistake or you're going to get crucified, which is the way this thing might have gone if he went back in there now.”

While Kolb wasn’t available for comment, you can almost guess he wouldn’t have been happy about being portrayed as soft. The SI.com report is at http://tinyurl.com/26qqy7q.

Tune in later to see how some of the Eagles weighed in on this matter.
Also notable at the Friday news conference was Reid saying Nick Cole was the starter at right guard “right now.”

Cole didn’t practice Friday due to a sore knee. It’s the same one that sidelined him for a chunk of training camp. He’s listed as probable.

Veteran Reggie Wells, acquired from the Arizona Cardinals, took the snaps at right guard, not veteran Max Jean-Gilles.

If Wells gets the nod it would be the third straight week the starting lineup at offensive line has changed

Eagles fullback Leonard Weaver underwent surgery Tuesday to repair a torn ACL and a torn posterior lateral corner in his left knee.

Andy Reid said Weaver also had nerve damage.

Renowned orthopedist Dr. James Andrews did the work in Birmingham, Ala.

Weaver was hurt in the first half of the season opener.

He was placed on injured reserve Sept. 13.

Think Peter King would like to have this piece back?




http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:-1C7avUhSdsJ:sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/peter_king/08/15/mmqb/1.html+Peter+King+Kevin+Kolb+practice+tape&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

Until someone supplies evidence to the contrary I'm going to have to take Andy Reid at his word - it was his idea to go with Mike Vick.

A trusted source stunned by the drama assures me Reid would have walked and been hired in a minute had management forced Vick on him.

Cleveland would be interested. Mike Holmgren is Prez there. How bout those Cowboys? You get the point.

Then again you would have to wonder about th
e way he manages the all important quarterback position. Rest assured management is.

Quarterback Kevin Kolb and middle linebacker Stewart Bradley passed their concussions tests, according to the Eagles, and are expected to be in the starting lineup next week.

The Eagles said Kolb participated in the Saturday walkthrough as well.
Both players passed the written or computer phase of the tests and showed no symptoms after the physical tests. They're good to practice and play barring setbacks.

Michael Vick started at quarterback here Sunday against the Lions, and Omar Gaither got the nod at middle linebacker.
The Eagles started the game with only rookie Mike Kafka backing up Vick.

The Eagles scratched Kolb, Bradley, rookies Daniel Te’o-Nesheim, Keenan Clayton, Clay Harbor and Austin Howard, and veteran Darryl Tapp.

With Bradley sidelined rookie linebacker Jamar Chaney was activated for his first NFL game.

The Eagles also dressed offensive linemen Max Jean-Gilles and Reggie Wells, who were scratched last week.

It was the second straight week Tapp was deactivated

Concussed Eagles starters Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley didn't practice Friday.

They left before the open phase of work began.

And without comment, but smug smiles when asked "How are you guys feeling?"

Guess that rules out playing against the Lions this Sunday.

The good news is they didn't need assistance getting into their automobiles. And they've recovered enough from their concussions sustained last Sunday to drive. At least that would seem to be good news.

Eagles Sims trying to end his victory drought where it began - delcotimes.com

When DeSean Jackson wasn't laughing about the double and triple coverage he faced in the opener or discussing the final stage of the concussion testing he underwent before getting cleared to play last year, he let some news slip Wednesday afternoon.

When the Eagles take on the Lions this Sunday, Mike Vick might not start his first game at quarterback in four years after all.

"I heard Kevin might come back Friday but we don’t know," Jackson said of quarterback Kevin Kolb, who is trying to comeback from a concussion. "I mean, Wednesday and Thursday our practices are huge. In those two days we have a lot of down-the-field throws and things like that. Hopefully we can just know who’s going to be our quarterback so we can be able to get the full reps with that quarterback and go into the game prepared."

Kolb and linebacker Stewart Bradley, who also suffered a concussion Sunday, haven't formally passed the first stage of the testing. They have to be symptom free Thursday morning.

But don't rule them out just yet. Veteran safety Quintin Mikell said Brian Dawkins used to play "all the time" without practicing or attending meetings while rehabbing injuries during weeks leading up to games.

I really don't see Michael Vick playing lights-out this week.

The Lions have young legs. They'll watch game film of Vick. I don't think Vick can can run away from the opposition two weeks in a row on those 30-year-old legs.

The Lions are going to make Vick try to beat them with his arm. Anyone remember the last time he did that? Me either.

The could lose this game. Seriously. It's going to be tough cleaning up their opening day mess in one week. Especially with Andy Reid second-guessing himself for the way he deal with those concussions.

When Reid says "listen," and that he "fels very comfortable that we followed the protocol that was set forth," he's second-guessing himself.

All of that said the Eagles' defense is good enough to win this game - even without Stewart Bradley.

After starting 71 straight games, after solidifying himself as the rock on the offensive line of the Eagles, Jamaal Jackson's luck has gone bad.

The very likable lineman has had to undergo season-ending surgery in back-to-back starts, the latest on his right triceps tendon. It was repaired today by team physician Peter DeLuca of the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia according to the Eagles.

Jackson rushed back from a torn ACL to get back on the field for quarterback Kevin Kolb, who needed all the help he could get in his debut as the every-week starter before he sustained a concussion last week (Jackson was out of action, his arm unable to function when that happened).

Now, this.

Jackson suffered the injury in the second quarter of the season-opening loss to the Green Bay Packers Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. He was officially placed on injured reserve Monday, ending his season.

The Eagles didn't categorize the surgery as "successful," which they typically do. Knowing Jackson, that won't be an issue.

Michael Vick clarified the controversial remarks he made after playing the second half in the Eagles' 27-20 loss Sunday to the Packers.

When Vick said he felt "like if I had been out there for four quarters maybe we would have had a chance to win the game,” he wasn't ripping starter Kevin Kolb, who exited at the half with a concussion.

"I don't know how you could take that comment and try to make it seem like I'm trying to say I'm a better quarterback than Kevin," Vick said. "It was about me just having more time to bring us back and win the game. If I had more time maybe we had a better shot at winning the game so I could orchestrate a comeback.

"You can't win a game in two quarters. But you can definitely try."

With veteran Leonard Weaver facing a trying rehab for a torn ACL in his left knee, it looks like the Eagles are bringing fullback Jason Davis in for a workout.
The 26-year-old Davis got his start in the NFL in 2006 as an undrafted rookie out of Illinois.
Davis (5-10, 242) spent 2006-07 with the Eagles but didn’t get into a game until the following season with he Oakland Raiders.
Later in the 2008 campaign Davis started in three games for the Chicago Bears.
Davis was claimed by the New York Jets in 2009 and released Sept. 3. He caught a four-yard pass against the Eagles in the 2010 preseason finale.
Pro Bowl veteran fullback Weaver tore the ACL in the second quarter of the Eagles’ 27-20 loss Sunday to the Green Bay Packers.
Gruesome as the injury appeared – Weaver’s upper and lower leg went in different directions following a high-low hit – the veteran exited the field with the help of teammates and without a cart.
Thankfully Weaver inked a three-year $11 million with $6.5 million guaranteed prior to the season.

The Eagles labored to get ahead on a 45-yard first-quarter field goal by David Akers/.
Tight end Brent Celek didn't help matters committing the fourth Eagles penalty of the half, pushing off Clay Matthews.
Michael Vick, the backup quarterback, ran three times on the eight-play, 26-yard series so dysfunctional Kevin Kolb might end up needing group therapy.
At the end of the trip you wondered what in the world the Eagles coaches were thinking. They didn't make it at all easy on Kolb.
Kolb completed just 1 of three passes for 5 yards in the first quarter.
Counterpart Aaron Rodgers connected on 6 of 10 attempts for 39 yards and was sacked twice by Juqua Parker.

The Eagles could use a little attitude on defense. And Brandon Graham might be just the guy to bring it.

Not because he said he wanted to sack Packers passer Aaron Rodgers but rather he put some heat on himself to earn that big contract.

“He better be confident," defensive tackle Mike Patterson said. "He plays next to me. Confidence is OK. But you don't want to be cocky."

It was all for fun from a guy who plays the game for fun.
Asked about the season opener against Pro Bowl quarterback Aaron Rodgers, Eagles rookie defensive end Brandon Graham said he was going to sack his opponent.
"You’ve got to dream about taking him down so I’m just going to tell you what I’m dreaming," Graham said. "I’m dreaming about taking him down about two or three times and being a factor in the game – the whole game."

Talking the latest Eagles news this morning on WIP 610-AM - \http://tinyurl.com/2entbzd

The Eagles completed their eight-man practice squad Monday, signing safety Chip Vaughn to go with tight end Garrett Mills and wide receiver Jeremy Williams.
Vaughn (6-2, 221) is a fourth-round draft choice of New Orleans who spent his 2009 rookie season on injured reserve. The Wake Forest product played in all four preseason games with the Saints this year notching 12 tackles. Vaughn had three interceptions in college.
The Eagles have just three safeties on the 53-man roster.

Tight end Garrett Mills and wide receiver Jeremy Williams joined the practice squad of the Eagles.
One more spot it open for a safety.
Mills is a fourth-round draft choice of the New England Patriots in 2006. The 6-1, 235-pound product of Tulsa spent the past three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings, notching seven receptions for 91 yards in nine games.
Williams joined the San Diego Chargers this spring as an undrafted free agent and was released this past weekend.
Williams (6-0, 203) is a product of Tulane where in his senior year he caught 84 passes for 1,113 yards and seven touchdowns.

Antwan Barnes (6-1, 251) is just what the Eagles need.- another smurf defensive end whp can play special teams.
This cannot be good news for vet Juqua Parker, who lost his starting job to Brandon Graham.
Or for LB/DE Moise Fokou.
Acquiring Barnes for an undisclosed pick also is an indication Trent Cole could be nursing a high ankle sprain.

Kurt Coleman and Macho Harris are at the safeties, Joselio Hanson and Trevard Lindley at the corners, Keenan Clayton (weakside), and Omar Gaither (middle) and Moise Fokou (strongside) at the linebackers.
The defensive line from left to right is Daniel Te'o-Nesheim, Jeff Owens, Antonio Dixon and Darryl Tapp.

Besides Mike Vick, the Eagle starters for the Jets are RB Martell Mallet, FB Eldra Buckley, TE Clay Harbor, WR's Riley Cooper and Kelley Washington.
Also, from left to right on the offensive line are Austin Howard, Max Jean-Gilles, A.Q. Shipley, Dallas Reynolds and King Dunlap.