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.

Probably the easiest guess you'll make all offseason...

#7 Donovan McNabb, QB - Philadelphia Eagles

In a town whose fans would ask Santa Claus, 'What have you done for us lately?' the guy suiting up at quarterback never feels comfortable sitting down in Philly. With understudy Kevin Kolb learning more of the playbook every day, the pressure on McNabb will intensify. But he could keep Philly happy by handing the ball to Brian Westbrook and flipping it to rookie DeSean Jackson. Here's some good news: the offensive line returns intact. Here's some bad news: Eagles quarterbacks were sacked 49 times last season.

Blah blah, santa claus... blah blah...

That said, I would agree that McNabb is "on the hot seat."

You may have heard earlier this week that Falcons' rookie QB Matt

Ryan signed a 6 year $72 million deal with over $34.75 million in guaranteed money, which is the 3rd richest deal in NFL history. He's never set foot on an NFL field and he is guaranteed to make more money than  Tom Brady, who wears 3 superbowl rings, and Peyton Manning.

If Matt Ryan is anything less than great, that contract could be crippling to the Falcons. It certainly appears that a top 5 pick in the draft can be more of a curse than a blessing...

NFLPA executive director Gene Upshaw declared that the player's union will "never agree to a rookie wage scale in such a short-career sport" that would help curb these salaries... However, it seems that Upshaw's declaration is the opposite of what the actual players are saying. Current NFLPA president Kevin Mawae spoke out this week.

"As a guy who has been in the league for 14 now going on 15 years and being around other veteran guys, for a young guy to get paid that kind of money and never steps foot on an NFL football field, it's a little disheartening to think of," Mawae said. "It makes it tough for a guy who's proven himself to say 'I want that kind of money' when the owners, all they're going to say is, 'Well, you weren't a first-round pick.'

"And I know there is sentiment around the league amongst the players like, 'Let's do something to control these salaries and control these signing bonuses' and things like that, and I know that's something that the owners are talking about and I'm sure that's going to play into this round of negotiations for this collective bargaining agreement," he said.

It's not just the old guys that are talking either... our own Kevin Kolb, just a year removed from being a rookie himself, had some things to say .

"It's too much and this has nothing to do with Matt Ryan as a quarterback, or as a person, be cause that is awesome for him. He's set," said Kolb, who is ex pected to begin the season as the Eagles' primary backup to Donovan McNabb. "It is also too much pressure. I was somewhat of a high pick and I'm still saying this. It's not like I was a fifth-rounder."

 

"There are guys in this locker room that may not make as much, but they deserve it more than the guys that are just stepping in off a college field," Kolb said. "It didn't take me that long to realize that once I got here. You should have to prove yourself, at least somewhat."

This next statement is probably a good indication of what kind leader Kolb might be one day...

"Here's what gets me," said Kolb, the former record-setting quarterback at the University of Houston. "There are guys that were rookies last year that played their butts off and they are not making as much as I am ... and I didn't do anything. That's just not fair. They deserve to make as much, or more, than I do until I go out there and prove myself. There can be a better system, and I'm sure eventually it will all even itself out and the guys that are suppose to get that money will get the money."

I'm never one to shed a tear for NFL owners, I think the real story with these rookie contracts are what these players are talking about. It's penalizing veterans and guys who have proven they can play. It may sound callous, but the players' union represents the interests of it's current members... not some kid playing in college right now that may make it to the NFL. Shouldn't Upshaw be working on behalf of the members of his union and not the potential members?

Reading the tea leaves here, I  think there's a pretty good chance that Upshaw could be pushed out as the owners and players try to work on a new labor deal. We know that would make JoeD happy!

via d.yimg.com

Donovan McNabb was held out of Monday's practice

Clutching his right shoulder, Eagles franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb watched the last minicamp practice Monday.McNabb also was held out of the last portion of the Saturday afternoon practice, the snaps given to second-year quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Kolb took most of the first-team repetitions Monday, yet another sign the No. 2 job is his to lose.

Andy said in his post camp press conference that he held Donovan out because he had been charting his throws and that McNabb had thrown as many balls that he intended him to throw this weekend.

As for the grossest injury news of the day... Tra Thomas missed practice because he had a cyst on his head that needed to be drained. Aren't you glad I posted this after lunchtime?