Paul Domowitch: Avant cares most about the final score
Jason Avant doesn't know what Sunday night in his hometown of Chicago will bring.
It might bring another 100-yard game, like the one he had last week against the Chargers. Or it might bring a goose egg like the ones he had in Weeks 6 and 7 against the Raiders and the Redskins.
Either one is fine with Avant, as long as the Eagles leave Soldier Field with a win.
"My football coach in college [former Michigan receivers coach Eric Campbell] taught me to never count my catches," Avant said. "He told me to count the W's.
"Like I tell everyone, I play to glorify God in this game. I know it's an opportunity and skill that He's given me. Being blessed to come up from one of the roughest areas in Chicago and just be out there playing in this league is a total testament to how Jesus can change your life around. I'm just thankful to be here. Whether I catch none or I catch eight, it doesn't really matter. I just want to win."
The '06 fourth-round pick who many scouts said wasn't fast enough to play in the NFL has developed into one of the game's better slot receivers.
His sure hands, his toughness and his feel for the middle of the field have earned him Donovan McNabb's trust, even if there are many games when the QB doesn't look his way much.
Avant has had just 31 passes thrown his way this season, which is 35 fewer than tight end Brent Celek, 39 fewer than DeSean Jackson and 21 fewer than Jeremy Maclin.
But when McNabb does throw the ball to Avant, there's usually a happy ending. Those 31 passes have resulted in 23 completions. And 16 of his 23 receptions have resulted in first downs. Both his percentage of catches-to-thrown balls (74.2 percent) and his percentage of first downs-to-receptions (69.6 percent) are team highs.
Last week, with the Eagles using three- and four-wide receiver sets on 54 of their 71 offensive plays and McNabb heaving the ball a season-high 55 times, Avant was targeted nine times and finished with a career-high eight catches and 156 yards.
"When you're forced to throw the ball as many times as we were last week, you're going to catch more passes," Avant said.
Avant has become one of the offensive leaders and a role model for their two young wideouts, Jackson and Maclin. He is teaching them to play the right way and with the right mind-set. He is teaching them to pay more attention to the scoreboard than the stat sheet.
"Like I tell them, whether you catch zero or six or seven, it doesn't matter," Avant said. "As long as we get a win."
Around the league
** No, it's not a typo. Longtime NFL gunslinger Brett Favre not only is the league's top-rated passer (107.5 rating), he's also its leading noninterceptor. Favre has thrown just three picks in 285 attempts this season. That's one every 95 attempts. This from a guy who had averaged an interception every 29.9 attempts during his career before he arrived in Minnesota. This from a guy who has had 15 or more picks in 13 of 17 previous seasons as a starter. "I could probably point to a lot of things [for the low interception total], but basically, the system is very familiar to me," Favre said. "The run game has played a part in it. I think the threat of the run game has helped. I think the other thing that definitely has made a big difference is I haven't made a lot of bad decisions. The few that - I wouldn't call them bad decisions - but maybe somewhat risky throws, the guys have saved me. [There were] games where guys have made plays that could have easily gone the other way."
** The Rams have just one wide receiver left on their 53-man roster who was with the team in training camp. That's Donnie Avery. The others have either suffered season-ending injuries or been released. That's opened the door for two ex-Eagles, Brandon Gibson and Danny Amendola. Gibson, who was sent to the Rams as part of the deal for Will Witherspoon last month, had seven catches for 93 yards in Sunday's five-point loss to the Saints. The rookie may get his first NFL start this week. Amendola, who was signed off the Eagles' practice squad, has 15 receptions and is the Rams' primary punt and kickoff returner.
** Tony Dungy's suggestion a couple of week's ago that Buffalo could be a landing spot for Mike Vick next season got a boost last week when the Bills benched struggling Trent Edwards. Edwards has a 74.1 passer rating and has thrown just six TDs and seven interceptions. His replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick, isn't a long-term answer. They will be looking for a quarterback either in a trade, via free-agency or in the draft.
** Don't feel too sorry for fired Bills coach Dick Jauron. For starters, he can move out of Buffalo now. For another, he still has 2 years left on his $3 million-a-year contract with the Bills.
