Post by EagleGene on Jul 26, 2006 17:29:59 GMT -5
July 26, 2006
By SHANE EVANS
Excited is the only way to describe defensive end Jerome McDougle. Returning from a season-long stint on the PUP list, McDougle could not wait to hit the first offensive player to come his way.
"Oh, it was wonderful," said McDougle after the Eagles' first practice in pads on Tuesday. "I was actually smiling when I hit (Brian) Westbrook. I just started smiling and thinking how great is this. It's just good to be back out here you know? You just think about all the things that happen to people and what I could be doing. You gotta' love it."
You do have to love how well McDougle recovered from a gunshot wound in the abdomen during a robbery attempt in Miami that sidelined him for the entire 2005 season. McDougle, however, doesn't even think about the incident that happened only days before he was scheduled to report to training camp, and is fully focused on football.
"I felt chills," said McDougle. "I didn't even think about it. That's the first time I've had contact. Life is good ya' know. You can't really put a word to it. I just love football. I have too many plays and too many other things to think about that, man. (The incident is) in the past."
After Tuesday's practices, he looks to be in great shape and is very quick off the ball.
"I'm just coming out here just trying to get after it," said McDougle. "Just lose it, go crazy, you know? Just have fun with it and see what happens man, let the chips roll where they roll."
In his four-year career, the former first-round pick has only played in 19 games for the Eagles. Every season has been marred by injury, including last year's near-tragic incident. McDougle has 29 career tackles and two sacks. But that's all in the past, and McDougle is ready to move on with his life and his career as a football player in the NFL.
"I've just been looking forward to it," said McDougle. "I've been dreaming about it, I guess you could say. Just looking forward to it and looking forward to getting back out there with the guys. We're going to be real, real good as a team and real, real good on the defensive line."
McDougle isn't the only person who is excited he's getting back on the field.
"When you're talking about a gun shot to that area, where you have so many vital organs in that area, for him to be back on the field and we expect big things from him," said free safety Brian Dawkins. "It's not like he's just coming out to just to spell guys. We're expecting big things from him so I am definitely happy to have him back out there."
It's obvious that McDougle has great value on the field for the Eagles, and he cannot wait to get out there and prove how healthy he is and how productive he can be on a talented defensive line.
By SHANE EVANS
Excited is the only way to describe defensive end Jerome McDougle. Returning from a season-long stint on the PUP list, McDougle could not wait to hit the first offensive player to come his way.
"Oh, it was wonderful," said McDougle after the Eagles' first practice in pads on Tuesday. "I was actually smiling when I hit (Brian) Westbrook. I just started smiling and thinking how great is this. It's just good to be back out here you know? You just think about all the things that happen to people and what I could be doing. You gotta' love it."
You do have to love how well McDougle recovered from a gunshot wound in the abdomen during a robbery attempt in Miami that sidelined him for the entire 2005 season. McDougle, however, doesn't even think about the incident that happened only days before he was scheduled to report to training camp, and is fully focused on football.
"I felt chills," said McDougle. "I didn't even think about it. That's the first time I've had contact. Life is good ya' know. You can't really put a word to it. I just love football. I have too many plays and too many other things to think about that, man. (The incident is) in the past."
After Tuesday's practices, he looks to be in great shape and is very quick off the ball.
"I'm just coming out here just trying to get after it," said McDougle. "Just lose it, go crazy, you know? Just have fun with it and see what happens man, let the chips roll where they roll."
In his four-year career, the former first-round pick has only played in 19 games for the Eagles. Every season has been marred by injury, including last year's near-tragic incident. McDougle has 29 career tackles and two sacks. But that's all in the past, and McDougle is ready to move on with his life and his career as a football player in the NFL.
"I've just been looking forward to it," said McDougle. "I've been dreaming about it, I guess you could say. Just looking forward to it and looking forward to getting back out there with the guys. We're going to be real, real good as a team and real, real good on the defensive line."
McDougle isn't the only person who is excited he's getting back on the field.
"When you're talking about a gun shot to that area, where you have so many vital organs in that area, for him to be back on the field and we expect big things from him," said free safety Brian Dawkins. "It's not like he's just coming out to just to spell guys. We're expecting big things from him so I am definitely happy to have him back out there."
It's obvious that McDougle has great value on the field for the Eagles, and he cannot wait to get out there and prove how healthy he is and how productive he can be on a talented defensive line.
