Could a former first round bust be rising from the ashes thanks to what looks like a new 2nd round bust?

Speaking of McDougle, he was matched up a lot against Winston Justice, Jon Runyan having the morning off as a 30-plus club member. In one sequence, McDougle beat Justice badly on three of four snaps.

If Jerome McDougle not only made the team but actually contributed this year... it would be one of the most unlikey comeback stories in NFL history. Considering everything this guy has gone through in his life and career, I don't see how anyone could be rooting against the guy. As for Winston Justice... I just don't know what to say with that guy.

It's good to be the King

As we all cringe upon hearing the news about former 2nd round pick OT Winston Justice and his struggles, we can take solace in the good about the news we're hearing about 7th round rookie OT King Dunlap.

The other day, Dunlap was matched against defensive end Trent Cole in one-on-one drills. Cole, a Pro Bowl selection last season known for wide-eyed ferocity even in drills, kept finding himself steered wide of the imaginary pocket by the big rookie's long reach.

"He's going to find a place on this team," Cole predicted yesterday. "D-ends hate people with long arms."

As devastating as it would be to have a 2nd round pick like Winston Justice end up a bust... what a coup it could be if the Eagles found their LT of the future in the 7th round. It will be very interesting to watch those 2 in preseason.

Andrews update

Since Shawn Andrews  publicly revealed that it was depression which was keeping him away from camp, the media has tried to paint Andy Reid as callous for his public handling of the situation over the weeks. Reid refused to comment on the specifics of the situation and repeatedly only referred to Andrews' absence as "unexcused." Andrews' agent Rich Moran revealed that Andy has been anything but callous.

It may have seemed at least a little bit callous when Eagles coach Andy Reid kept referring to Shawn Andrews' absence as unexcused, especially since the guard revealed Monday that he is being treated for depression.

The truth, according to Andrews' agent, is that Reid has been as supportive as anyone during the troubled player's 13-day absence from training camp.

"You could talk to Shawn, and he'd tell you the same thing," Rich Moran said during a phone interview from Orlando, Fla. "Andy has been nothing but sensitive to Shawn's situation. He didn't disclose this personal issue even though he has been peppered with questions about it."

Moran also said that upon hearing the news that Andrews would not be reporting to camp 24 hours before camp opened, Reid asked Moran to fly down to Arkansas and get Andrews to see doctor. Andy has been in contact both with Shawn and his doctor throughout the course of this ordeal. Reid spoke with Andrews yesterday and gave him Brian Dawkins' phone number, suggesting that Andrews give Brian a call. Yesterday Dawkins spoke about how he battled depression early in his career.

If Andrews is indeed fined 15k per day thanks to his unexcused absence, fines that could accumulate to over $200k, Shawn has offered to donate the money to a mental health charity. So far, the Eagles have never said whether or not Andrews will be fined.

Andrews issued an apology to the team and fans on NBC10

Andrews apologized to the Eagles, his teammates and the fans on several shows for the way he has handled his situation. "The way I handled things initially with the organization, I apologize for that," he said. "To my teammates, I apologize how I handled things. To the fans that care and to those that don't care, I apologize to everybody. The whole city of Philadelphia and every Eagles fan across the world."

Kevin Kolb is impressive, young

Yesterday was a day off for the 30+ club which mean Kevin Kolb was taking reps with first team. Several media sources at camp gave him praise

With McNabb off, Kolb got to run the first-team offense, minus the 30-something tackles Thomas and Runyan. The second-year QB had one of his better days.

Two plays that stood out: A perfectly thrown 50-yard pass to Greg Lewis for a touchdown that was threaded between cornerback Therrian Fontenot and safety Quintin Mikell, and a nicely placed end-zone pass to Hank Baskett after the quarterback had sprinted hard to his right.

AJ Feeley has earned his own place in the Urban dictionary. His name now has something to do with couches and hoes... (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

HHR also has an interesting take on the Brian Westbrook contract situation. Really, who owes who here? (Hugging Harold Reynolds)

Is it possible that we could see the fade pass entered into the Eagles offense this year? (Iggles Blog)

We all know how Eagles web guy Dave Spadaro feels about the Eagles... but what about entertainment and politics? (Poor Sports)

The word is that Victor Abiamiri's wrist injury could end his season, but what happened to the days of putting a club on your hand and playing? (Eagle Scout)

I'm sure Winston Justice really appreciated Osi Umenyoria's kind sentiments... (Bounty Bowl)

Just because you're a multi millionaire pro football player, doesn't mean you don't need online dating to find love. Right Mr Herremans? (Eaglesville)

At least we know that Desean Jackson knows how to take a hint. (Bleed Eagles Green)

If this year was last year... The Eagles would have won the Bears game thanks to a new rule change. (700 Level)

Santa may have deserved it, but LJ does not. (Santa Deserved It)

Here's a headline about Brett Favre I think we can all agree on. (Huge Tiny Mistake)

Speaking of Favre... if he went to Tampa Bay, Madden 2009 thinks he'd lose a playoff game to the Eagles (SI.com)

If Shawn Andrews is especting sympathy from his teammates at Lehigh, he's not getting it. At least not from Jon Runyan. (Eagletarian)

You know how I titled this edition of The Linc "Pacman forgot something?" Well what forgot was how to cover a WR.  Seriously, I don't know if I've ever seen someone faked this bad! (With Leather)

Finally. hands down no possible argument can be made... This is the hottest Bar on earth. (WWTDD)

via www.nydailynews.com

It's always odd when you check the morning papers and nearly every local Eagles writer has penned the same story... Today, Winston Justice is the soup du jour.

Les Bowen, Daily News  - "Offensive Tackle Justice has something to prove for Eagles"

Bowen asks Justice about all the critical remarks Hugh Douglas has made about him this offseason.

Asked yesterday if this was the first time anyone ever questioned his competitiveness, his heart, Justice said: "He's the first one that did it out loud.''

"It does bother me,'' Justice continued. "But it would be stupid to talk back to him. Talk is nothing. The only thing I can do is prove it. I think that's the best thing to do.'' 

Bob Grotz, Delco Times  - Looking for Justice after a slow start

Give Winston Justice a hand for going outside the box to try and get better.

Embarrassed by his performance against Osi Umenyiora and the New York Giants last season, the Eagles offensive tackle enrolled in the strength and conditioning program at Velocity Sports Performance in Naples, Fla.

When Justice wasn’t building upper body muscle, he was firing out of his three-point stance each and every time his trainer clapped, which was about 50 times each day.

"My first couple of days, I was really slow," Justice said. "But by months two and three, I was a lot quicker. I think that’s going to translate a lot into (success) in camp and the season. It’s something that I really needed to work on."

There's some encouraging stuff. It's been good to see guys like Justice and Jamal Jackson make the effort to seek outside help on their own time this offseason.

Geoff Mosher, News Journal  - Eagles' Justice works to improve

Mosher had some more info about the program Justice was put through.

Using a hand clap to simulate the snap, Touchette had Justice crouch into position and react at the sound of his clap. Sometimes, Touchette would clap immediately. Other times, he would pause before the clap.

The varying clap rhythm forced Justice to react on instinct instead of anticipation. They would repeat these drills nearly 50 times a day.

Nick Fierro, The Express-Times  - Justice out to answer his critics

Confidence, Justice insisted, was never a problem last season. Only technique.

So the satisfactory job he did filling in for injured right tackle Jon Runyan in the season finale three months later didn't make him feel any better about what happened against Umenyiora, the Giants' defensive end who tallied six sacks at Justice's expense during a desultory 16-3 defeat for the Eagles on Sept. 30.

"I knew what I was doing wrong," Justice said, "so I felt bad after. I knew I was capable of playing a good game and I'm capable of being a good player. I just need to prove that next season."

So there you go... all you could have ever wanted know about what Winston Justice has been up to and where his head is right now...

PFT seems to think so.  Florio wrote an article asking whether teams were become leery of USC players since in his mind so many have become busts.

In 2003, the Trojans sent a trio of solid players into the league:  Carson Palmer, Troy Polamalu, and Justin Fargas.  Since then, however, the only guy who has proven to be a consistent high-end talent is linebacker Lofa Tatupu.  The growing parade of busts includes Keary Colbert, Shaun Cody, Mike Patterson, Mike Williams, Darnell Bing, Dominique Byrd, Frostee Rucker, Winston Justice, Reggie Bush (relative to his draft status and hype), and Dwayne Jarrett.

Florio was then slated in the comments with many Eagles(and non Eagles) fans pointing out how solid Patterson has been. Patterson has started since his rookie year, led all DTs in tackles last year, and combined with Broderick Bunkley to help the Eagles to the 7th best run defense in football. He was also rewarded with a big money extension...

Florio did backpeddle a bit...

UPDATE:  Okay, maybe Patterson isn’t a full-blown bust.  We were influenced by his pot charge.

Most commenters also felt it was too early to label guys like Winston Justice, Dwayne Jarret, and Darnell Bing a bust.