[clevfan]

Wed, Jul. 26, 2006



Eagles Camp Update | McNabb vows to be more mobile this season

By Shannon Ryan
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER

A typically chipper Donovan McNabb said he is looking forward to using his mobility again this year, after a season plagued by injury.

"I'm able to get out of the pocket a little more with a little speed," he said. "It puts a lot of pressure on defenses. People know that I can get out of the pocket."

That was not true a season ago, when McNabb was criticized early in the season for not running enough and was later diagnosed with a sports hernia, missing the second half of the season.

"With teams knowing I was injured and not doing it as much, they were trying to double team on the receivers, double team on [running back Brian] Westbrook," McNabb said. "When you're limited in what you're doing, your reaction time is a little bit different."

While McNabb said he is looking forward to a healthy season, he asserted that his attitude never wavered, even during the infamous turbulent feud with former Eagles receiver Terrell Owens.

"I was myself last year but everyone kept trying to put that dark cloud over me, so it looked like I was trying to sugarcoat what was going on," he said. "I'm always going to be myself no matter what. This is the time when you have to try and do something to bring a smile to a guy's face."

One attempt was when he walked off the field with black mesh over his face, jokingly declaring himself crazy as teammates were being interviewed.

Style of the day

Maybe it doesn't look so hot, but Koy Detmer has to be cooler after shaving his head for today's practices.

Detmer, whose free flowing hair and stubble were trademarks, went from Scooby-Doo's Shaggy to Mr. Clean to avoid becoming overheated in Lehigh temperatures around the 90-degree mark.

Asked if he was wearing sunscreen on the super-white dome, Detmer said he did not SPF that morning.

So, if he shows up with a red head tomorrow, he might rethink the look.

Play of the day

Linebacker Jeremiah Trotter put some of the best moves of the day on display in the morning practice session.

Not only did Trotter break up a few passes, he also intervened when two of his teammates scuffled. Trotter, who failed as a negotiator between Terrell Owens and Donovan McNabb last season, was more successful yesterday when he attempted to break up a small tussle between linebacker Greg Richmond and guard Scott Young.

Richmond and Young got into it briefly after a play.

It was not exactly a smack-down, only jersey grabbing, but it gave the fans something to hoot about for awhile.

Catch of the day

It's not a combination fans likely will see much of - or want to see much of - this season, but it looked pretty yesterday.

Wide receiver Darnerian McCants caught a long pass from quarterback Jeff Garcia and ran down the left side of the field for a 50-yard touchdown.

There was another beauty when Greg Lewis caught a long pass from McNabb with one hand and pulled it in before falling out of bounds.

Hit of the day

Sean Considine, a safety in his second season, upended tight end L.J. Smith, after Smith pulled in a 15-yard catch up the middle from McNabb.

Quote of the Day

"He is small. I can't make him look big," Jim Johnson responding to a comment about Matt McCoy's stature.

New addition

The Eagles claimed wide receiver Derrick Fenner off waivers from the Washington Redskins.

Fenner, a 5-foot-11, 189-pound rookie free agent, had 82 catches for 1,189 yards and seven touchdowns at Maryland.

Looking ahead

The Eagles will practice tomorrow at Lehigh at 8:45 a.m. and 2:45 p.m. Quarterbacks, tight ends and kickers will be in the autograph tent after practice.


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