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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb demurred Wednesday when asked if he agreed with coach Andy Reid's assertion that McNabb will be a Hall of Famer, but McNabb said he knows someone who should be -- Eagles director of player development and alumni Harold Carmichael. Carmichael ranked sixth on the NFL's all-time Harold in flightreception list when he retired in 1984, with 590 receptions, in a much less pass-happy era. His 589 Eagles catches remain the franchise record, and he played in four Pro Bowls.

"I know one guy who should be in the Hall of Fame, who's not, and that's Harold Carmichael," McNabb said.

When a questioner noted that Reid's contention about McNabb's credentials had provoked a lot of discussion, McNabb reacted with mock surprise.

"Really!" he said.

Questioned further, McNabb said he didn't think you have to win a Super Bowl to make the Hall, as the presence of Dan Marino, Fran Tarkenton and many others would attest.

"It goes back to your body of work, how effective you were for your team, how much of a threat you were, playing against other teams -- how teams game-planned to try to stop you, how teams feared the talents that you presented to them."

McNabb reiterated that if he plays several more seasons, as he expects to, he hopes they will be in Philadelphia.

"I don't see myself being anywhere else but here," he said.

Sunday, McNabb will play in his 143rd game as an Eagle, moving him ahead of Ron Jaworski as the QB who has played the most games in an Eagles uniform.

Other Wednesday highlights:

*Brian Westbrook sighting in the locker room, though Westbrook did not speak with reporters. Andy Reid said Westbrook is out for this week's game, of course, but that he continues with an exercise program that includes stationary bike riding. "He's had a couple headaches" Reid said, as Westbrook continues his recovery from his second concussion, suffered Nov.15 at San Diego. "He said he had a headache watching me coach the other day, so I think that's a good sign," Reid joked.

*Reid said Akeem Jordan is "day-to-day" with his knee hyperextension. Jordan did not practice Wednesday and there is no indication he will play this week.

*Corner Asante Samuel was not scheduled to practice with his neck strain; Samuel seems much more likely to play.

*Reid told a story about Winston Justice speaking to him as the team prepared to disperse following the 2008 season. "He said, 'Listen, don't count me out, I'm going to start for you,' " Reid said. "Winston doesn't say much. That's as many words as I've seen him put together since he's been here. Pretty matter-of-fact guy. And he did it."

The Eagles signed Justice to a four-year contract extension this week, seemingly cementing his role as the starting right offensive tackle.

Justice was asked why he hadn't approached Reid sooner. He said for a long time, he didn't think it was necessary to voice his aspirations, to underline his determination. "I'm a quiet guy," Justice said. "I thought he knew." 

**

A few injury updates from Washington via the Washington Times: defensive Albert Haynesworth (ankle), cornerback DeAngelo Hall (knee), running back Clinton Portis (concussion) and tight end Chris Cooley (ankle) did not practice today. Portis and Cooley will not play. Haynesworth and Hall are considered questionable at this point.

The Redskins and Eagles seem to be battling for the most starters at one position: The Eagles have had five starting middle linebackers; the Redskins will have their fifth starter at right guard in Edwin Williams, who will be making his first career NFL start.

Posted by Les Bowen @ 1:48 PM  Permalink | 11 comments
11
Comments   
Posted 02:28 PM, 11/25/2009
jwatson
Carmichael yes to NFL HOF-Bozo to the CHOF(clowns hall of fame)lst ballot!!!
Posted 02:39 PM, 11/25/2009
nostrarollins
yea
Posted 02:57 PM, 11/25/2009
seph
Put Harold in The Tall of Fame as well, he is a nice guy.
Posted 03:46 PM, 11/25/2009
MIKEI
Harold should be in the hall of fame. Donovan will go too someday.
Posted 04:00 PM, 11/25/2009
southphilly42
Harold C. had some problems as a rookie and during his 1st several years, but then a light came on (don't remember if there was a new coach also) & he became an outstanding Eagles receiver & team player, also with that long stretch of consecutive game receptions. But, alas (a la Brian Dawkins) he finished his career with another team (was it the dreaded Cowboys?).
Posted 06:47 PM, 11/25/2009
Bill1966
McBadd needs to pay less attention to Hall of Fame and more attention to improving his skills and leadership and learning the rules of football.
Posted 08:33 PM, 11/25/2009
MG44
Brilliant point, Bill1966, because, of course, McNabb called a press conference to advocate that he should go into the HOF someday. Unbelievable.
Comment removed.
Posted 07:46 AM, 11/26/2009
lonewolf 10
like i was saying the other day there are many players that belong in the hall like harold charmichael,mike quick,buddy ryan,bill bergey,wes hopkins,wilbert montgomery,brian westbrook,merril reese,and i'm very surprised don did not mention Randall Cunningham,he was ahead of his time the real ultimate weapon!............my man.
Posted 02:06 AM, 11/28/2009
GeorgeDumbyaBush
I think if King Dunlap went to Winter training at Donovans posh estate in Arizona,he could turn him into a bigger genetically superior Harold Carmichael.Donovan with his superior Russian Training Techniques could turn him into an Ivan DRAGO Carmichael.
Comment removed.
About Eagletarian Blog
Les BowenLes Bowen has covered the Eagles for the Daily News since 2002. Before that, he spent nearly 13 years covering the Flyers. It took Les only a few seasons after the switch to figure out that there was no penalty box at the Linc, and that the time really wasn't his, despite what Andy Reid kept saying. Les came to Philadelphia and the Daily News from Charlotte in 1983. In the intervening years, he has pretty much lost track of NASCAR, and his accent. He, his wife Barbara, and their two sons live in Haddon Township, New Jersey.

You can now follow Les Bowen on Twitter.

Paul DomowitchPaul Domowitch has been with the Daily News since 1982. He has spent most of his 27 years at the paper covering the Eagles and pro football. For the last 10 years, he’s been a selector for the Pro Football Hall of Fame. A native of Wilkes-Barre and a graduate of Wilkes University, Domo came to the Daily News from the Fort Worth (Tx.) Star-Telegram, where he covered some god-awful Texas Ranger baseball teams. His first beat at the Daily News actually wa s boxing, which he covered just long enough to lose two sports coats to blood spatter before moving on to football. Domo and his wife Shelley, a University of Oklahoma grad and very dangerous to be around following a Sooner loss, have been married 29 years and have raised 2 terrific daughters – Allison, 26, a lawyer and graduate of Boston University School of Law; and Amy, 23, who graduated from Clemson and works in marketing and sales for a professional baseball team.