Post by EagleGene on Feb 1, 2007 20:12:13 GMT -5
Rankled Reid reacts to story
The Eagles coach is unhappy with reports of McNabb's unhappiness.
By Larry O'Rourke Of The Morning Call
So much for peace and tranquility in the Philadelphia Eagles' post-Terrell Owens era.
Eagles coach Andy Reid fired back Tuesday, responding to a newspaper column that cited unnamed sources claiming Donovan McNabb is not pleased with several things that have happened since he suffered a season-ending knee surgery on Nov. 19.
Mobile News | Subscribe Online | Order Reprints
Lehigh Valley Local Links
''I think people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true,'' Reid said in a conference from call from Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl. ''But, that's how it works. I don't feel any differently [about McNabb]. I just hate to see people have to make things up that aren't really true.''
The column by the Trenton Times' Mark Eckel, a former long-time Eagles beat reporter for that newspaper, cited ''some people close to'' McNabb as reporting the quarterback was unhappy Reid stuck to team policy and did not let McNabb travel to New Orleans for the NFC semifinal playoff game because he was injured.
The column said the unnamed sources also said McNabb was unhappy to discern that some in the Eagles organization prefer fill-in quarterback Jeff Garcia. It also said McNabb was stung by media and fan criticism of his mother for posting a blog on his personal Web site that included the admission that it was ''bittersweet'' for her to watch the Eagles have success without her son.
The column said ''rumors floating and growing stronger from around the league'' have Minnesota and Tampa Bay as possible destinations for McNabb via trade or Garcia as a free agent.
After being apprised of Reid's comments, Eckel stood by the contents of his column.
''Donovan told people close to him that he was upset that he didn't go to New Orleans with the team, and those people told me,'' Eckel said.
The exchange came five days after Reid ordered cancellation of what would have been McNabb's first press conference since before the injury, an appearance Eagles sources said the quarterback had delayed scheduling so as not to be distraction Garcia, and also so he would have a chance to walk to the podium without crutches.
Reid told a Philadelphia radio station last week that he cancelled McNabb's briefing because he wanted the quarterback to remain focused on his rehabilitation.
Asked Tuesday about that cancellation — which a separate report said was because McNabb was prepared to criticize the Eagles' training staff over a setback in his injury rehabilitation — Reid hit the messengers again.
''[McNabb] knows what's the truth, and what isn't the truth,'' Reid said. ''I'm not worried about that. It was my choice and not Donovan's choice [to cancel the press conference]. I'm just disappointed people are making things up.''
The Tuesday column in the Trenton paper also said ''despite other reports, there was no hint from anyone close to him that the quarterback was not happy with the Eagles training staff over the rehabilitation of his torn ACL.''
McNabb and his representatives were not immediately available for comment.
Although Reid undoubtedly would not mind if McNabb was to keep quiet until after Garcia's options as a free agent play out, the quarterback is scheduled to make his annual Super Bowl-week appearance in Miami as a spokesperson for Campbell's Chunky Soup.
A representative for the Camden, N.J., soup company confirmed McNabb's scheduled participation.
Assistants shuffle: In what was supposed to be the reason for Tuesday's conference call, Reid did not waste time in announcing adjustments to his staff to make up for the loss of linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo, who Monday moved up the Jersey Turnpike to become the New York Giants' defensive coordinator. Reid shifted secondary coach Sean McDermott into Spagnuolo's role and switched special teams coordinator John Harbaugh to secondary coach.
Reid did not immediately name a successor for Harbaugh, but noted he is ''comfortable'' in making the move without naming a successor because special teams quality control assistant Rory Segrest remains on the staff to at least provide continuity.
''It allows John [Harbaugh] a chance to get out of that special teams mode and work toward being a defensive coordinator, because he wants to be a head coach,'' Reid said.
Harbaugh, a 44-year-old who had been the Eagles' special teams coordinator for nine seasons, said he had spoken to his brother, former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh, about possibly joining Jim's new staff at Stanford University.
But the move to secondary coach gave him a chance to ''expand'' his resume, and ''is a chance to stay with the Eagles, who have become family professionally.''
Roster reloaded: The Eagles began stocking their roster for minicamps and training camp by signing 13 players, including former Villanova wideout J.J. Outlaw, son of ex-Birds defensive back Johnny Outlaw.
The other players signed were running back Antoine Bagwell, linebacker Jeremy Cain, wideout Michael Gasperson, safety Erick Harris, center Jasper Harvey, wideout Jermaine Jamison, linebacker Craig Kobel, quarterback Jeff Mroz, linebacker Greg Richmond, wideout Bill Sampy, fullback Zach Tuiasosopo and tight end Lee Vickers.
Outlaw, Harris, Harvey, Jamison and Kobel were immediately allocated to NFL Europe.
Gasperson, Harris, Harvey, Richmond, Sampy, Tuiasosopo and Vickers finished 2006 on the Eagles' practice squad.
larry.orourke@mcall.com
The Eagles coach is unhappy with reports of McNabb's unhappiness.
By Larry O'Rourke Of The Morning Call
So much for peace and tranquility in the Philadelphia Eagles' post-Terrell Owens era.
Eagles coach Andy Reid fired back Tuesday, responding to a newspaper column that cited unnamed sources claiming Donovan McNabb is not pleased with several things that have happened since he suffered a season-ending knee surgery on Nov. 19.
Mobile News | Subscribe Online | Order Reprints
Lehigh Valley Local Links
''I think people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true,'' Reid said in a conference from call from Mobile, Ala., site of the Senior Bowl. ''But, that's how it works. I don't feel any differently [about McNabb]. I just hate to see people have to make things up that aren't really true.''
The column by the Trenton Times' Mark Eckel, a former long-time Eagles beat reporter for that newspaper, cited ''some people close to'' McNabb as reporting the quarterback was unhappy Reid stuck to team policy and did not let McNabb travel to New Orleans for the NFC semifinal playoff game because he was injured.
The column said the unnamed sources also said McNabb was unhappy to discern that some in the Eagles organization prefer fill-in quarterback Jeff Garcia. It also said McNabb was stung by media and fan criticism of his mother for posting a blog on his personal Web site that included the admission that it was ''bittersweet'' for her to watch the Eagles have success without her son.
The column said ''rumors floating and growing stronger from around the league'' have Minnesota and Tampa Bay as possible destinations for McNabb via trade or Garcia as a free agent.
After being apprised of Reid's comments, Eckel stood by the contents of his column.
''Donovan told people close to him that he was upset that he didn't go to New Orleans with the team, and those people told me,'' Eckel said.
The exchange came five days after Reid ordered cancellation of what would have been McNabb's first press conference since before the injury, an appearance Eagles sources said the quarterback had delayed scheduling so as not to be distraction Garcia, and also so he would have a chance to walk to the podium without crutches.
Reid told a Philadelphia radio station last week that he cancelled McNabb's briefing because he wanted the quarterback to remain focused on his rehabilitation.
Asked Tuesday about that cancellation — which a separate report said was because McNabb was prepared to criticize the Eagles' training staff over a setback in his injury rehabilitation — Reid hit the messengers again.
''[McNabb] knows what's the truth, and what isn't the truth,'' Reid said. ''I'm not worried about that. It was my choice and not Donovan's choice [to cancel the press conference]. I'm just disappointed people are making things up.''
The Tuesday column in the Trenton paper also said ''despite other reports, there was no hint from anyone close to him that the quarterback was not happy with the Eagles training staff over the rehabilitation of his torn ACL.''
McNabb and his representatives were not immediately available for comment.
Although Reid undoubtedly would not mind if McNabb was to keep quiet until after Garcia's options as a free agent play out, the quarterback is scheduled to make his annual Super Bowl-week appearance in Miami as a spokesperson for Campbell's Chunky Soup.
A representative for the Camden, N.J., soup company confirmed McNabb's scheduled participation.
Assistants shuffle: In what was supposed to be the reason for Tuesday's conference call, Reid did not waste time in announcing adjustments to his staff to make up for the loss of linebackers coach Steve Spagnuolo, who Monday moved up the Jersey Turnpike to become the New York Giants' defensive coordinator. Reid shifted secondary coach Sean McDermott into Spagnuolo's role and switched special teams coordinator John Harbaugh to secondary coach.
Reid did not immediately name a successor for Harbaugh, but noted he is ''comfortable'' in making the move without naming a successor because special teams quality control assistant Rory Segrest remains on the staff to at least provide continuity.
''It allows John [Harbaugh] a chance to get out of that special teams mode and work toward being a defensive coordinator, because he wants to be a head coach,'' Reid said.
Harbaugh, a 44-year-old who had been the Eagles' special teams coordinator for nine seasons, said he had spoken to his brother, former NFL quarterback Jim Harbaugh, about possibly joining Jim's new staff at Stanford University.
But the move to secondary coach gave him a chance to ''expand'' his resume, and ''is a chance to stay with the Eagles, who have become family professionally.''
Roster reloaded: The Eagles began stocking their roster for minicamps and training camp by signing 13 players, including former Villanova wideout J.J. Outlaw, son of ex-Birds defensive back Johnny Outlaw.
The other players signed were running back Antoine Bagwell, linebacker Jeremy Cain, wideout Michael Gasperson, safety Erick Harris, center Jasper Harvey, wideout Jermaine Jamison, linebacker Craig Kobel, quarterback Jeff Mroz, linebacker Greg Richmond, wideout Bill Sampy, fullback Zach Tuiasosopo and tight end Lee Vickers.
Outlaw, Harris, Harvey, Jamison and Kobel were immediately allocated to NFL Europe.
Gasperson, Harris, Harvey, Richmond, Sampy, Tuiasosopo and Vickers finished 2006 on the Eagles' practice squad.
larry.orourke@mcall.com