OL Shuffle -- Wells Here, Cole Starts, Max Back
Max Jean-Gilles was getting a tattoo Saturday evening around 6:30, he said, when agent Drew Rosenhaus called with an odd bit of news.
OL Shuffle -- Wells Here, Cole Starts, Max Back
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Max Jean-Gilles was getting a tattoo Saturday evening around 6:30, he said, when agent Drew Rosenhaus called with an odd bit of news.
The Eagles had just missed the 6 p.m. deadline for filing their trade of guard Stacy Andrews to Seattle with the league office. Guard Jean-Gilles was being released, to get the team under the 53-man roster limit. But assuming Jean-Gilles didn't want to try to strike out for greener pastures, the team that drafted him in the fourth round in 2006 would re-sign him the next day.
"I love Philly," Jean-Gilles said Sunday afternoon, after re-signing his one-year restricted free agent tender and practicing with his teammates at NovaCare. "They wanted me here, I love being here, so, I'm here ... Everything happens for a reason. I've got a job, so, I'm good."
Nick Cole and Reggie Wells voiced similar sentiments. Cole is the guy who seemed most likely to start the season at center, this week against Green Bay, when camp opened. But Cole missed most of the preseason with knee swelling, and now, regular center Jamaal Jackson's ACL recovery has gone so well, the plan is for him to take the field against the Packers. Jackson practiced yesterday. Cole is the right guard, with Stacy Andrews traded Saturday to Seattle for a seventh-round draft pick. Cole started nine games at right guard last year, but still, it's been an eventful past few weeks. And Cole is very much aware that Reggie Wells, the longtime Cardinals starting guard the Eagles traded for on Friday, didn't come here to sit on the bench.
"I'm pretty much used to it," Cole said. "Whether I'm playing left, center or right, I just adapt. Juan (offensive line coach Castillo) makes sure I get my work in, makes sure I'm ready."
Cole said his knee is fine now.
Someone observed that this is a pretty good spot, the way things worked out.
"As long as I'm playing, it's a pretty good spot," said Cole, as Wells was drawing a crowd of interviewers down near the end of the row of offensive line locker stalls. "NFL, baby. Always competing. Fight to keep a job."
The Arizona Republic reported that Wells, a Cardinal since he was drafted in the sixth round out of Clarion in 2003, and a starter since 2004, was given the option of staying in Arizona as a backup or going to the Eagles, where he would have a chance to start. Wells opted to leave.
But, obviously, if he ends up sitting behind Cole all year, he might as well have stayed in the Valley of the Sun.
"Whatever position they want me to learn, that's what I'll do," Wells, 29, said. "They haven't really told me anything other than ... just come in and they think I'm someone who can help make them a lot better, in whatever way they think I can. We'll take it as it comes. I'm not going to rush it our anything, but I came out here to play and give my best."
Asked if he still feels he's an NFL starter, Wells said: "Oh, without a doubt. I wouldn't have left there if I didn't."
Jean-Gilles' tattoo, by the way, is an intricate thing that winds up the length of his left forearm. It features his initials, a crown, and money burning.
***
Asked if the Eagles are finished making roster moves, Andy Reid said: "Right this minute, we are."
Reid underlined the intention to use new DE Antwan Barnes in the "joker" position, and said Dimitri Patterson will get some reps at safety, while the Birds have six corners and just three safeties. He said Jamaal Jackson will start the opener "unless there's a setback there."
Jackson, asked if he is confident he's ready to roll, said: "We'll see," which was kinda cryptic.
Backup center Mike McGlyyn had strained his back in the weight room but practiced.
Reid said DeSean Jackson was fine, although his teeth remain sore after having his wisdom teeth removed Monday.
"He did okay ... The swellings down and he’s good," Reid said. "It’s just a matter of working through. He went through the whole practice, did everything, and did well.”
Reid said Hank Baskett -- used a few years ago as a quasi-tight end -- knows the position, and rookie wideout Riley Cooper will learn it, while the Birds are carrying just two TEs. Kind of odd that they named five of their eight practice squadders Sunday without adding a TE, even Cornelius Ingram, who finally felt like his knee was making progress last week against the Jets.
Those practice squadders, by the way, are WR Chad Hall, RB Martell Mallett, OL Dallas Reynolds, C A.Q. Shipley and DT Jeff Owens.
The Eagles' roster right now features an even dozen rookies.
The Eagles are off Monday and Tuesday and return to practice Wednesday for a normal game week.
**
To read Paul Domowitch's column on Stacy Andrews, click here.
Another head scratcher from Andy: He has the twice knee-injured Ingram in camp allllll the way through, including another injury (to his calf) and instead of keeping him around to see what he looks like next year, severs him completely from the team. Honestly, this man has me scratching my head so much I'm losing my hair...in neat little furrows.— TBear
i don't get the timing of these things. why would you get arm tattoos now? so guys can rip at your arms and get them infected or ruined? there seems to be all kinds of killer staph infections going around. not too mention, if i'm on the packers, i'm gonna smack that arm up. wisdom teeth don't pop up overnight. get them yanked months ago. please don't anybody have babies in december or january. there's people starving out here, be professional. you're getting paid millions from the backs of us broke MF's to be 100%.— Evilvet
I think the Eagles have a really really good o-line right now with the addition of wells. The Starters should be Peters, Herremans, Jackson, Wells and Justice. The Eagles have alot of depth with mcglyn, jean gilles, nick cole and austin howard.— briandawkins20- Glad to see they held onto Hall and Mallett.— P Even
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They are likely to need Mallett as Bell seems a bit injury prone. Wells is a great addition, I would line them up the same as bdawk had them on the o-line. Hopefully, Celek and Harbor can both learn to block better.
like who they brought back on the practice squad...I forgot about DT Owens. curious to see how he works out.— bboybeballin
Good news, but this squad needs to be practicing not having days off. GB is going to wear the Eagles out Sunday if they dont get crackin'. Good luck Eagles! Try to keep it close Sunday!Dont shame the city anymore than it has!!— The Philly Shadow- Happy Bob, How in the heck can you say Ingram has been stealing money since he got to Philly? The guy had a legit ACL injury. It's not his fault Indelicato (Gator surgeon) did a lousy job reconstructing his knee. He wanted to play. He didn't ask the Eagles to do another ACL surgery, they elected to do it. He's a really good guy and I hope he gets a shot somewhere else. He deserves it. Andrews is the guy you're talking about, not Ingram. He wanted to earn it!!! He did everything the Eagles asked him to do as far as rehab was concerned. I feel bad for the guy. Yeah, he made some money while he was on IR but he certainly didn't want his stint with the Eagles to go that way. Throwing around "he's been stealing money," just isn't right. Not cool at all.— 1983ufgator
- This is a disaster. You can't shuffle in offensive linemen at the last moment and expect them to work.— sbdons1982
- Eagles have a very servicable NFL o-line. The stength is left with Peters, Herremans, Jackson and they have players to alternate on the right with Cole, Wells and Justice, with Max and Mic to back them up. Run the kid from Pitt to the left and take sum pressure off the QB. Use weaver and the two tight ends and smash the ball down their throats once and for all Andy!!! I am jones-ing for sone smash mouth football.— Fo Fo Fo
- I like Kurt Coleman. He's a tough dude and he likes to hit and never stops. Sound familiar even though they played different positions? Maybe Dawk 2!!!!— Phillyexp
- Didn't Jean-Gilles have that lapband surgery in the offseason? I am not saying this to make fun, but how can you be a pro athlete and be that fat? Look at his face. Hope his heatlh is ok. And what's up wiuth getting a tat with money burning? (Tats in itself is burning money). But that is a slap in the face to all the hard working people of the world. Does it mean he is a pro athlete and he can burn money? He doesn't sound too bright.— carlosbeltran
- doesn't big red have a great record against the packers?? and isn't it even better at home?,...and what about as a home dog??,...sounds to me like the Eagles are in fine shape and have the rest of the NFC right where we want them,...stay healthy guys and i predict an opening game upset,...upset?? guess so,... upset iggles are a home dawg i'll take it iggles 23 packers 16— SyddBarrett
- Jason Peters a strength? That is laughable. Try watching games before writing. Jamal Jackson was average and is now coming off ACL surgery. Some of you guys are such shills.— sbdons1982
- Don't know how the D will play, but if they really start left to right, Herremans, Jackson, and Cole, this has all the makings of a can't look train wreck. We might not know anything more about Kolb after the first game than how his x-rays look!— jimmyj
- Relax everyone, Reid has assured us Roca can play both gaurd and center, and in a pinch safety
- first play of the game - kolb picked off and the packers score. the fans start screaming for mcnabb......— knebman
- With the difficulties in getting the offensive line to gel, I would say that the need for really capable blocking tight ends and effective blocking running backs (to help provide Kolb with protection in the backfield) will be the only hope for a decent long-range passing game. Let's see how the first three games go. -30-— Tucci78
- Carlos are you on drugs ? MJG works harders in a few months at football then you will in your entire life . He is a grown man and can spend his money anyway he wants .— kdubs215
- dear 1983ufgator, happy bob was talking max j-g, not ingram.— Richard S
