USUALLY, PRAISE from Eagles coach Andy Reid amounts to a declaration that a designated player is doing "a good job."

Not too helpful, for those of us hoping to gain insight, which is pretty much how Reid likes it. But once in a while, Reid just can't help himself. One of those times occurred this week, when Reid was asked about Eagles defensive end Trent Cole.

Reid likened Cole to former Eagle Hugh Douglas.

"It's hard to get Trent out of the game," Reid said. "You look at the first play and the last play, and you can't tell the difference. I hate pumping Hugh up, because he's a media guy now, but he has that same motor that Hugh had . . . they're relentless . . . It's a combination of stamina, love for the game, he's always in great shape, and he loves to play."

Cole made the Pro Bowl in 2007, then didn't make it last year, as his sack total dropped from 12 1/2 to nine. He has 6 1/2 this season. Cole said yesterday that he has progressed in handling double-teams, which were newer to him last year.

"I'm so used to it now," Cole said. "I keep baitin' em.I play 'em like I'm playing one opponent - there's two of them standing there, but I play 'em like one guy," figuring out how to get around the two-blocker entity, rather than dealing with each man individually.

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said Cole has "learned how to develop a repertoire of moves, an arsenal to combat the double-team."

But what about that "motor," the thing that made Cole into an elite NFL pass rusher, after he entered the league as a fifth-round pick from Cincinnati, in 2005?

"It comes from my history . . . I have asthma; it shocks me to have asthma and still be able to do what I can do. I think it's just being relentless and wanting to get after it," Cole said.

He said he still uses an inhaler.

"When I was younger, I had it real bad. I kind of grew out of it, but it still lets me know it's there," Cole said.

Hill climb

 

It's hard to say how much rookie running back P.J. Hill can help the Eagles this week, as he tries to learn their offense after being signed from the Saints' practice squad on Wednesday. Probably not that much.

But at least Hill finally is on an NFL roster, after a long and not terribly satisfying journey that began when he declared for the draft after his junior season at Wisconsin last year. Hill, now listed at 5-10, 218, carried around 240 pounds as a battering tailback for the Badgers. Even after he remade his body, his speed didn't impress scouts, and a couple of driving-related arrests before last April's draft, including one that reportedly involved a brief chase, ensured that his name was not called.

"I've grown up a lot, because I know not only did I hurt myself, I hurt a lot of people that supported me and were there for me," Hill said yesterday. "It kind of probably was more of a selfish act - I just had to grow up. A situation like that will make you turn your life around. I was, kind of like, down on myself. I didn't know if any team was going to pick me up, at all . . . Then when the Saints said they were going to [sign him last spring], I was really blessed. I was, like, 'I've just got to put everything behind me, show 'em that I'm a new person.' "

Birdseed

 

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (foot) was a practice participant yesterday and is on course to play against the Giants. "I'm good," Jackson said after the workout. He was hurt Monday night . . . Sean Jones seems likely to start at free safety in place of Macho Harris (ankle), who did not practice. Jones' role has steadily grown since he was inactive for the season opener . . . Defensive end Darren Howard (ankle, calf) returned to practice . . . The Giants have won the last four regular-season meetings at Lincoln Financial Field (losing to the Birds here in the playoffs after the 2006 season). Before that, the last New York loss here was the 2004 opener, on Sept. 12. The Eagles have beaten the Giants four times at the Meadowlands during that time, including last January's playoff victory . . . Brian Westbrook has 14 touchdowns in 14 career appearances against the Giants, regular-season and playoffs. *