Abiamiri's Playing
Defensive end Victor Abiamiri, who hasn't been hit fullspeed since undergoing wrist surgery July 29, will be active for the Eagles' game at San Francisco.
Abiamiri's Playing
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Practice? Are we talkin' 'bout practice?
Who needs it? Apparently, not Victor Abiamiri, who returned to the practice field in earnest on Wednesday for the first time since July 29 wrist surgery, and then was identified Thursday by Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson as the newest member of Johnson's defensive tackle rotation for Sunday's game in San Francisco. Abiamiri, who is chiefly a defensive end, will move inside and take some of the reps that normally go to Dan Klecko. Klecko apparently is back to being a fulltime fullback, for the time being, and will only play on defense in an emergency.
Johnson said rookie DT Trevor Laws will get more than the 10-12 reps a game he has been averaging. Abiamiri probably will play less than that, as Johnson's defense tries to recover from the physical pounding it took while giving up 203 rushing yards in a 23-17 home loss to the Redskins.
Abiamiri will wear a cast to support his wrist, the outside of which is marked with a T-shaped scar.
"In the cast, it feels strong, feels solid," he said.
Post-practice update: No Reggie Brown (groin), Shawn Andrews (back) or Brian Westbrook (ribs). Kevin Curtis ran with the regular offense, after two weeks of working out with the scout team.
Quick highlights from the coordinators' news conferences:
Special teams dude Rory Segrest said he doesn't foresee the Eagles changing their outlook on trying longish field goals, even though David Akers is on an 0-for-9 streak from 45 yards and farther.
"I don't think our strategy changes on things," Segrest said. "The leg strength is definitely there." Segrest noted that Akers has been getting better distance this season on his kickoffs than he's had in a few years. "it's just a matter of working out some technical issues on things," Segrest said.
Offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said WR Reggie Brown, who left Wednesday's workout with a groin problem, is "day-to-day," and that Brown is feeling better today. Asked whether the Eagles need to run the ball more, Mornhinweg said: "We need to run it better."
Johnson said his linebackers have to do a better job of sorting out play action and covering tight ends.He said they will rebound from last week's ugly second half, when they "didn't set the edge and didn't tackle well," for the first time all season. That game dropped the Birds from first to fourth in the league in run defense.
Finally, Eagletarian feels obligated to weigh in on the matter of the Flyers asking "hockey mom" Sarah Palin to drop the puck for Saturday's season opener, a partisan gesture some fans clearly don't appreciate. The better move here would have been to ask Upper Darby's Tina Fey to drop the puck as Palin. Then you could have had the "hockey mom" thing covered, and people would have laughed, not booed.
Why is it OK for Springsteen to sing on the Parkway, but not for Palin to drop the puck? If Flyers' fans boo, I'll be ashamed to be a Flyers' fan.— Bama- It's obvious which side of the fence the Inquirer is on. What is the issue with Palin dropping the first puck? Mr. Snyder is the ultimate promoter of the game.— pete099
- I'll boo like crazy.— PhilsWin
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- anyone read the NY Times lately? kinda funny that this is an article about the Eagles and we have reached the point where we are commenting on the Palin blurb. Eagles buzz is dying!— njeagles
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- If the Democrat candidate was there he would get booed too. The point is us Philly fans don't want politics injected into our sporting event.— MSG71
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- I think it's a disgrace!!! Why doesn't Ed Snider ask the KKK to throw up the first ball at the Sixers opener?— pico723
- Hey Pico, is your real name Lattrice Bryant??? That is not really a very good analagy since I dont think she is full of hate. I have never seen a 30 second silent action take on such a life of its own.— rvb2321
- I'd boo and throw beers at Palin— athomasu
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- The Eagles need to demonstrate that they can run the football. I may not be making a million dollars, but even I know that fact.— Donnie
- pico723 were they giving away free degrees in idiocy in your neighborhood? Let's get back to football.— obergruber
