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I guess the players get just as upset as the fans when players leave for other teams.
An angry McNabb blasts management
Saturday, May 03, 2003
By MARK ECKEL
PHILADELPHIA - Maybe Donovan McNabb finally realized that he is the man.
That what he says carries weight in the Eagles organization and there are not going to be any ramifications.
In the most telling, and uncharacteristic, interview of his five-year career, the Eagles quarterback expressed his disappointment over the free-agent losses the team absorbed over the past three months.
Suffice it to say, he didn't call it the team's most exciting offseason.
"Any time you lose 12 players, or however many we lost, it takes its toll from the very beginning. It's tough to swallow," McNabb said in between practices of yesterday's opening of minicamp. "Anytime you lose a guy who gets you 14, 15, 16 sacks, that's hard to fill and that's putting a lot on the guy you bring in. Anytime you lose a weakside linebacker who came in and did a great job against running backs and tight ends, that's tough. Anytime you lose a Hall of Fame kickoff returner as well as a punt returner, those shoes are hard to fill. When you lose a Hall of Fame punter, again, those shoes are hard to fill. The list goes on and on."
McNabb's anger, and he was angry, stemmed from the free- agent losses of Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas, linebacker Shawn Barber, returnman Brian Mitchell and punter Sean Landeta. But it was interesting that McNabb knew the Eagles lost exactly 12 players to free agency.
It was also interesting that after an encouraging past week in which the team received universal high grades for its draft, which included a move up to get Miami defensive lineman Jerome McDougle, and gave a long-term contract extension to All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins, McNabb would choose this time to voice his feelings.
"It just puts a lot of pressure on the guys you brought in to replace them," McNabb said. "As a player going on his fifth year, you realize the financial aspect and some of the needs of the team. You understand that. But these are guys who have been doing it for a while. We're not talking about guys who have done it for just one year. They did it consistently. It's tough, tough to swallow, because you know they can play for more years."
The Eagles' front office, president Joe Banner and head coach/general manager Andy Reid have said throughout the offseason they feel they did an adequate job of replacing, or have players in place to replace, the players they lost.
McDougle, the first-round draft pick, moved into Douglas' vacated locker stall yesterday, although he was at left defensive end at practice, not right defensive end.
Former Packer Nate Wayne was signed as a free agent to replace Barber. The coaching staff feels second-year man Brian Westbrook will handle Mitchell's return duties, and Dirk Johnson was signed to replace Landetta.
The Eagles also think that the trade for middle linebacker Mark Simoneau, in place of the tandem of Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardner, McNabb's closest friend on the team, and the promotion of second-year strong safety Michael Lewis to replace veteran Blaine Bishop makes the defense faster and better in coverage.
McNabb said he was happy with the Eagles draft, especially the fact that three of their first four picks were from the Big East - McDougle, fellow Hurricane Jamaal Green and Rutgers tight end L.J. Smith.
"That was good," he said with a smile. "You like the Big East. I'm from the Big East."
That was his only smile of the press conference. He quickly turned serious again when asked if he was so upset that he went to Reid or Banner during the free-agent exodus.
"No, I stay out of that," he said. "As the years continue on, you try to learn from it. You see people leave, and you see how the organization acts. Guys move on, and you're happy for them, and then you move on. Because you never know, in a couple of years it could be you."-- -- -- Running back Correll Buckhalter, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament at last year's first minicamp practice, was back on the field and looked sharp running and cutting. Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who missed all of last season with a broken foot, was also back at practice. "It was nice to have those guys back," Reid said. "You want to keep a close eye on them. You want to make sure they are back up to speed. But it didn't look like there was much hesitation with either one." . . . Defensive end Derrick Burgess, coming off two foot surgeries, did not practice. Neither did defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who strained a pectoral muscle lifting weights earlier in the week.
An angry McNabb blasts management
Saturday, May 03, 2003
By MARK ECKEL
PHILADELPHIA - Maybe Donovan McNabb finally realized that he is the man.
That what he says carries weight in the Eagles organization and there are not going to be any ramifications.
In the most telling, and uncharacteristic, interview of his five-year career, the Eagles quarterback expressed his disappointment over the free-agent losses the team absorbed over the past three months.
Suffice it to say, he didn't call it the team's most exciting offseason.
"Any time you lose 12 players, or however many we lost, it takes its toll from the very beginning. It's tough to swallow," McNabb said in between practices of yesterday's opening of minicamp. "Anytime you lose a guy who gets you 14, 15, 16 sacks, that's hard to fill and that's putting a lot on the guy you bring in. Anytime you lose a weakside linebacker who came in and did a great job against running backs and tight ends, that's tough. Anytime you lose a Hall of Fame kickoff returner as well as a punt returner, those shoes are hard to fill. When you lose a Hall of Fame punter, again, those shoes are hard to fill. The list goes on and on."
McNabb's anger, and he was angry, stemmed from the free- agent losses of Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas, linebacker Shawn Barber, returnman Brian Mitchell and punter Sean Landeta. But it was interesting that McNabb knew the Eagles lost exactly 12 players to free agency.
It was also interesting that after an encouraging past week in which the team received universal high grades for its draft, which included a move up to get Miami defensive lineman Jerome McDougle, and gave a long-term contract extension to All-Pro safety Brian Dawkins, McNabb would choose this time to voice his feelings.
"It just puts a lot of pressure on the guys you brought in to replace them," McNabb said. "As a player going on his fifth year, you realize the financial aspect and some of the needs of the team. You understand that. But these are guys who have been doing it for a while. We're not talking about guys who have done it for just one year. They did it consistently. It's tough, tough to swallow, because you know they can play for more years."
The Eagles' front office, president Joe Banner and head coach/general manager Andy Reid have said throughout the offseason they feel they did an adequate job of replacing, or have players in place to replace, the players they lost.
McDougle, the first-round draft pick, moved into Douglas' vacated locker stall yesterday, although he was at left defensive end at practice, not right defensive end.
Former Packer Nate Wayne was signed as a free agent to replace Barber. The coaching staff feels second-year man Brian Westbrook will handle Mitchell's return duties, and Dirk Johnson was signed to replace Landetta.
The Eagles also think that the trade for middle linebacker Mark Simoneau, in place of the tandem of Levon Kirkland and Barry Gardner, McNabb's closest friend on the team, and the promotion of second-year strong safety Michael Lewis to replace veteran Blaine Bishop makes the defense faster and better in coverage.
McNabb said he was happy with the Eagles draft, especially the fact that three of their first four picks were from the Big East - McDougle, fellow Hurricane Jamaal Green and Rutgers tight end L.J. Smith.
"That was good," he said with a smile. "You like the Big East. I'm from the Big East."
That was his only smile of the press conference. He quickly turned serious again when asked if he was so upset that he went to Reid or Banner during the free-agent exodus.
"No, I stay out of that," he said. "As the years continue on, you try to learn from it. You see people leave, and you see how the organization acts. Guys move on, and you're happy for them, and then you move on. Because you never know, in a couple of years it could be you."-- -- -- Running back Correll Buckhalter, who tore his anterior cruciate ligament at last year's first minicamp practice, was back on the field and looked sharp running and cutting. Defensive tackle Hollis Thomas, who missed all of last season with a broken foot, was also back at practice. "It was nice to have those guys back," Reid said. "You want to keep a close eye on them. You want to make sure they are back up to speed. But it didn't look like there was much hesitation with either one." . . . Defensive end Derrick Burgess, coming off two foot surgeries, did not practice. Neither did defensive tackle Darwin Walker, who strained a pectoral muscle lifting weights earlier in the week.
ARI @ LAR
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