Eagles Rumors

The Daily News got in touch with Andy Reid yesterday to discuss the state of the team and, of course, Brian Westbrook.

Reid certainly seems confident that Westbrook will be fine, but he was still willing to discuss adding some insurance:

“Let’s just see what happens, and then we’ll take it from there,” the Eagles’ coach said. “We obviously know what’s out there, as far as other running backs; we’ve done our homework there. But we’re not going to do anything here until we see what’s going on with Brian.”

“I’m not that worried about it.”

“We’ll reconvene after the surgery.”

We appreciate Reid’s rosy disposition on the matter, but he should be worried about it.  Westbrook has been a warrior, but as we all know, one that is regularly wounded.  He has chronic problems with his legs and that is bad news for a running back.

We’ll really be looking forward to hearing what he has to say (and if the tune changes) after the surgeon is done with his work.

The entire article is worth reading.  You should head over for a wide ranging discussion about this season’s team.

Update 3:  This report indicates he should be ready for training camp. 

Update 2:  Bone spurs.  Surgery upcoming.  Looks like he’ll be out at least into late August.

Update: Yes, we still find it strange to see the Eagles official website reporting on “media rumors” (their words).  However, we did get this piece of information:

The only official comment thus far from the Eagles came from offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg who said that he wasn’t “concerned” about the injury after discussing it with Westbrook on Tuesday afternoon.

Hoorah for Marty.

Via PFT:

Per the report (and we’ll put up a link as soon as one is available), Westbrook is out with a high ankle sprain.

How long?  How about until the start of the regular season.

Yikes.

Per the CSN report, Westbrook was examined in Baltimore on Wednesday by ankle specialist Mark Myerson.  Apparently, Westbrook might need a procedure to “clean out” the ankle.

What kind of procedure does one get “clean out” a sprain?  This seems like it will get cleared up in the coming days, but my god — what awful, awful news.

According to Derrick Gunn of CSN:

A league source has told CSN’s Derrick Gunn that the two sides have been discussing an extension for the past month. They have agreed to pause the extension talks until a later date and instead have decided to focus on reworking the two years remaining on his current deal.

This was suspected given the silence over the last month from the McNabb camp (Michael Smith included).

Thanks to Greg for the quick scoop on this one.

Apparently Brian Westbrook is a bit gimpy.  We’d all like to know how the heck this guy has an ankle injury in June, but that explanation was not forthcoming.

This latest injury, head coach Andy Reid insists, has nothing to do with the knee. “This past week, he got a hold of (head athletic trainer) Rick (Burkholder) and his ankle was bothering him, so we’re checking it out,” Reid said. “His knee is feeling good. He went through our last camp and was feeling good. It’s just his ankle that’s bothering him.”

There is literally no time of the year when Eagles fans get to take a break from Westbrook injury anxiety.

Sheldon Brown has chosen not to show for voluntary workouts with the entire team this week.  He is the only veteran on the team who is not attending.

Brown was present at mandatory workouts immediately following the draft.

Reid has a press conference in about an hour and may address the situation.

This week begins several days of organized full-squad workouts.  Donovan McNabb will participate (he was at the NovaCare Complex on Friday working out), despite a widely reported squabble over his contract.

It will give us a new chance to see the team’s best quarterback throwing to the bevy of weapons now at his disposal (as noted below, Cornelius Ingram looks ready to go).

Another interesting player to keep an eye on as the team advances through these camps is the newly acquired punter, Ken Parrish.  He has apparently performed quite well for the Eagles coaching staff so far, and his presence at workouts and into training camp could turn into more than just a token challenge for Rocca.

Cornelius Ingram, who suffered a knee contusion during last week’s OTAs, was back to full practicing on Friday.  He looks like he should be fine when the entire team gets together for eight days of workouts starting tomorrow.