Turnin 2 SS 2b
07-31-2002, 09:43 AM
Despite the fact coach Andy Reid continues to say he has faith in his young group of wide receivers, the team has shown interest in free agent receiver Antonio Freeman.
Reid and Freeman were together in Green Bay for the Packers' Super Bowl years, and the receiver knows Reid's offense, which is very similar to Green Bay's.
If the team does sign the veteran receiver it will be very interesting to see how and where they use him. It's doubtful Freeman would come to the team to be a backup.
And if he's a starter, who would be benched? James Thrash figures to be in the lineup.
That leaves 2000 second-round pick Todd Pinkston and 2001 first-round pick Freddie Mitchell looking for playing time. . . .
The team made a strange move when it released the rights to seventh-round draft pick Raheem Brock, a defensive end who played well in the spring minicamp.
Brock had failed to come to terms on a contract, and wanted more than the $19,000 signing bonus the team offered.
After second-round pick Sheldon Brown signed a five-year, $3 million deal, the team had no money left in its rookie pool, and released Brock. The move leaves the defense very thin on the line, especially at end.
ROOKIE REPORT
First-round pick Lito Sheppard, a cornerback from Florida, signed two days before training camp opened, which was crucial to his development.
The coaching staff wants Sheppard to get as much play as possible in camp and learn from veteran starters Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor so he can battle nickel back Al Harris for playing time during the season. Sheppard has decent speed and good playmaking ability.
Third-round pick Brian Westbrook, a running back from Villanova, has shown the good hands and breakaway speed that made him so attractive in the draft.
Westbrook will be used in a variety of ways in the Eagles' West Coast offense, but his major role could be as a receiving threat out of the backfield.
The team also plans to use Westbrook's return abilities, and he'll learn from one of the best of all time in veteran Brian Mitchell.
Reid and Freeman were together in Green Bay for the Packers' Super Bowl years, and the receiver knows Reid's offense, which is very similar to Green Bay's.
If the team does sign the veteran receiver it will be very interesting to see how and where they use him. It's doubtful Freeman would come to the team to be a backup.
And if he's a starter, who would be benched? James Thrash figures to be in the lineup.
That leaves 2000 second-round pick Todd Pinkston and 2001 first-round pick Freddie Mitchell looking for playing time. . . .
The team made a strange move when it released the rights to seventh-round draft pick Raheem Brock, a defensive end who played well in the spring minicamp.
Brock had failed to come to terms on a contract, and wanted more than the $19,000 signing bonus the team offered.
After second-round pick Sheldon Brown signed a five-year, $3 million deal, the team had no money left in its rookie pool, and released Brock. The move leaves the defense very thin on the line, especially at end.
ROOKIE REPORT
First-round pick Lito Sheppard, a cornerback from Florida, signed two days before training camp opened, which was crucial to his development.
The coaching staff wants Sheppard to get as much play as possible in camp and learn from veteran starters Troy Vincent and Bobby Taylor so he can battle nickel back Al Harris for playing time during the season. Sheppard has decent speed and good playmaking ability.
Third-round pick Brian Westbrook, a running back from Villanova, has shown the good hands and breakaway speed that made him so attractive in the draft.
Westbrook will be used in a variety of ways in the Eagles' West Coast offense, but his major role could be as a receiving threat out of the backfield.
The team also plans to use Westbrook's return abilities, and he'll learn from one of the best of all time in veteran Brian Mitchell.