Post by EagleGene on Dec 16, 2005 11:48:38 GMT -5
REALITY SETS IN FOR PLAYERS
December 15, 2005
By BOB KENT
It's funny how fortunes change in the NFL. At this time of year -- at least for the past five years -- the Eagles have typically been gearing up for the stretch run to the playoffs. But not this year.
The reality set in this week in the Eagles locker room. Instead of talking X's and O's about this week's opponent, players were being asked about what went wrong this season and what's ahead in 2006.
The general undertone: Players understand that they have jobs to do and roster spots to secure either here or somewhere else next season.
"There's a lot to play for. Obviously, you're not playing for the playoffs, but you're trying to get better," said middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. "Every opportunity you get to get on the field is an opportunity for you to get better, an opportunity for the team to get better and it's an opportunity, especially for the young guys, to go out and get some more experience under their belt."
Trotter was in Philadelphia during the tough times before Andy Reid arrived on scene, then he enjoyed the good times before leaving and suffering through some adversity in Washington. He came back to the Eagles last year and helped lead the team to its first Super Bowl appearance in some 24 years.
LB Jeremiah Trotter
No question that for many in the Eagles locker room this is unchartered territory. This is a team used to winning.
"We get paid to play 16 games," said defensive end N.D. Kalu. "Even though we're out of it mathematically you're still going to give 100 percent. If not, you're not going to be in the NFL long."
Kalu, a free-agent-to-be, is realistic about his situation and he sees these final three games as a resume builder of sorts to prove to the Eagles and the other 31 teams that he can still play.
Kalu tore his ACL in the 2004 training camp and missed last season. He battled back and started the first eight games this season before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the Monday night game against Dallas. Since then, rookie Trent Cole has started in his place.
The defensive line has come under scrutiny of late for its lack of a consistent pass rush and it will likely be a focus in the offseason. Kalu acknowledged that.
"I would love to be here next year, but I know how things work," Kalu said. "I still have four or five years left in me, so I just have to prove to people that I can still play. That's what I'm going to use these last three games to do.
"My first audition is for the Eagles."
A year ago, the Eagles and Rams met in what was a meaningless game for Philadelphia, which had already clinched home-field advantage. This year's meeting will likely have a similar feel, with both clubs having been decimated by injuries.
"It seems like it happens to a team or two every year and this year it's been us. It just cycles through. That's football," said tight end Chad Lewis. "It's a wicked game. If you don't think it's a wicked game, just open up the injury report for all 32 teams and you'll be blown away. It's a nasty, wicked game."
Lewis says that once the season is over he'll look back on what has been a pretty good run of success for the Birds -- four NFC title game appearances, an NFC Championship, and four NFC East division crowns.
Right now, though, Lewis is focused solely on the St. Louis Rams.
"We've got to be full-steam ahead for the Rams," Lewis said. "It's going to take all the emotion, all the energy, everything we've got to beat them."
Free safety Brian Dawkins agreed.
"We still have some games left to play," Dawkins said. "My job is to make sure that I go out and give everything I have in these next couple of games and help these young guys understand how important these games left are for us, even though we are not playing for anything."
Still, there is a belief that young guys and veterans alike are playing for a job.
"I'm playing for a job, too," Trotter said. "Every year you've got guys coming in that are hungry. If you're on top, that's how you stay on top. If you're on the bottom, that's how you get to the top.
"You're playing for a job. You're out competing every day, every week."
So even though they're not competing for a spot in the postseason, it's that spirit of competition that will get them through these final three weeks of the season.
"Every week we're going to go out and fight hard and try to get a win, try to leave everything on the field."
December 15, 2005
By BOB KENT
It's funny how fortunes change in the NFL. At this time of year -- at least for the past five years -- the Eagles have typically been gearing up for the stretch run to the playoffs. But not this year.
The reality set in this week in the Eagles locker room. Instead of talking X's and O's about this week's opponent, players were being asked about what went wrong this season and what's ahead in 2006.
The general undertone: Players understand that they have jobs to do and roster spots to secure either here or somewhere else next season.
"There's a lot to play for. Obviously, you're not playing for the playoffs, but you're trying to get better," said middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter. "Every opportunity you get to get on the field is an opportunity for you to get better, an opportunity for the team to get better and it's an opportunity, especially for the young guys, to go out and get some more experience under their belt."
Trotter was in Philadelphia during the tough times before Andy Reid arrived on scene, then he enjoyed the good times before leaving and suffering through some adversity in Washington. He came back to the Eagles last year and helped lead the team to its first Super Bowl appearance in some 24 years.
LB Jeremiah Trotter
No question that for many in the Eagles locker room this is unchartered territory. This is a team used to winning.
"We get paid to play 16 games," said defensive end N.D. Kalu. "Even though we're out of it mathematically you're still going to give 100 percent. If not, you're not going to be in the NFL long."
Kalu, a free-agent-to-be, is realistic about his situation and he sees these final three games as a resume builder of sorts to prove to the Eagles and the other 31 teams that he can still play.
Kalu tore his ACL in the 2004 training camp and missed last season. He battled back and started the first eight games this season before suffering a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the Monday night game against Dallas. Since then, rookie Trent Cole has started in his place.
The defensive line has come under scrutiny of late for its lack of a consistent pass rush and it will likely be a focus in the offseason. Kalu acknowledged that.
"I would love to be here next year, but I know how things work," Kalu said. "I still have four or five years left in me, so I just have to prove to people that I can still play. That's what I'm going to use these last three games to do.
"My first audition is for the Eagles."
A year ago, the Eagles and Rams met in what was a meaningless game for Philadelphia, which had already clinched home-field advantage. This year's meeting will likely have a similar feel, with both clubs having been decimated by injuries.
"It seems like it happens to a team or two every year and this year it's been us. It just cycles through. That's football," said tight end Chad Lewis. "It's a wicked game. If you don't think it's a wicked game, just open up the injury report for all 32 teams and you'll be blown away. It's a nasty, wicked game."
Lewis says that once the season is over he'll look back on what has been a pretty good run of success for the Birds -- four NFC title game appearances, an NFC Championship, and four NFC East division crowns.
Right now, though, Lewis is focused solely on the St. Louis Rams.
"We've got to be full-steam ahead for the Rams," Lewis said. "It's going to take all the emotion, all the energy, everything we've got to beat them."
Free safety Brian Dawkins agreed.
"We still have some games left to play," Dawkins said. "My job is to make sure that I go out and give everything I have in these next couple of games and help these young guys understand how important these games left are for us, even though we are not playing for anything."
Still, there is a belief that young guys and veterans alike are playing for a job.
"I'm playing for a job, too," Trotter said. "Every year you've got guys coming in that are hungry. If you're on top, that's how you stay on top. If you're on the bottom, that's how you get to the top.
"You're playing for a job. You're out competing every day, every week."
So even though they're not competing for a spot in the postseason, it's that spirit of competition that will get them through these final three weeks of the season.
"Every week we're going to go out and fight hard and try to get a win, try to leave everything on the field."
