Teary Tra: Andy Like Second Father
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Teary Tra: Andy Like Second Father
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
The Eagles' return to NovaCare for the remainder of the preseason began with a news conference allowing three-time Pro Bowl left tackle Tra Thomas to retire as an Eagle.
The conference was a formality for a player three years removed from having played in the NFL, but it was perhaps another symbol of the organization trying to emphasize its new outlook on honoring notable figures, giving current players a sense of continuity and history.
Thomas broke down in tears after saying Eagles coach Andy Reid was "like a second father figure to me." He said he would do anything he could to help the Eagles' organization.
"The happiest day in my life was when I was drafted by the Eagles. The saddest day was when I left the Eagles," Thomas said.
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Andy Reid said corner Nnamdi Asomugha will return to practice today. Asomugha suffered whiplash in a Monday collision with safety Nate Allen.
UPDATE: Asomugha couldn't get his neck comfortable and left practice early. Brandon Hughes got the remainder of his reps. Also leaving were defensive tackle Antonio Dixon (left triceps spasm) and corner Joselio Hanson, who dislocated his right pinky.
Reid said defensive end Jason Babin remains sidelined with a calf strain. He said Babin might be OK for the final preseason game, Aug. 30 against the Jets, but Reid said there is a danger of reinjury with calf strains if you don't let them fully heal.
Reid also said linebacker Casey Matthews is out with a high ankle sprain.
Didn't realize how much I would miss Tra Thomas until he was gone.... Solid guy, solid player.— HAROLD Eskin- Tra was such an under-rated player. It really was a joy to watch he and Runyan every Sunday afternoon.— beegal99
- LT is like an Umpire; you know you had a good game when no one yelled your name. Tra had a lot of those games. You take for granted solid tackle play and along with Runyan, the Eagles enjoyed it for a decade.— regassert6
- Class guy....on and off the field....a role model for kids and the egocentric diva's on this team...— nuggett
- A great Eagle and a good guy. Enjoying seeing him on CSN during the season too.— Sidewinder7
Comment removed.- Thomas and Runyan- what a pair of tackles.— friedmozzarela
- Thank you Tra!— Breath EZ
- We forget how spoiled we were to have him. The McNabb-Reid era would have been a short lived footnote, behind Cunningham-Ryan, without Tra & Runyan together all those years.— TongueWagger
- He made himself into a great player. And he's a good dude too. Congrats Tra! A lifetime honorary Philly dude, for real.— 5NOT4
- Thanks Tra!!! Job well done— cmoney
- Good man, good NFL player and Eagle. Thanks Tra.— Romus
- It's amazing how much we were able to take the tackle spots for granted when we had Runyan and Thomas lining up every week for almost a decade. They were as important as anyone in our poor man's Buffalo Bills run of semi-success.— mjb
- Class guy. Nothing but respect for Reid...— Stallone
- Tra Thomas was a true NFL player in every sence of the words concept.He did his job every day on a level that was more than satisfactory.He was steady.Most of all he had longevity.— Andrew Grier
- Tra Thomas a real Pro and class guy. Thanks Tra.— oldBird
- Thanks, Tra.— Bruce in NM
- Congrats Tra. Great person, enjoy your rides! Sts-scott— D.Scott cohen
- Him and Runyun were a heck of a set of bookends. Tra is an easy guy to root for and hope the best for.— rustypop58
- And there were those that said that McNabb never had a good offensive line in front of him.— watsonmr
- My man Tra! Thanks for giving your all. ALWAYS AN EAGLE BABY!!!— phillyboy88
- I SAW TRA AT THE AUTO TRAIN STATION IN LORTON VA. , ABOUT YEAR AND A HALF IN THE AUTUM. BIG GUY, BUT PLEASANT FAMILY MAN. NO ONE NOTICED WHO HE WAS AND SO I KEPT MY DISTANCE DID NOT SINGLE HIM OUT. JUST WATCHED HIM INTER ACT WITH HIS FAMILY. HE IS GOOD PEOPLE ASIDE FROM FOOTBALL.— RicardoZ
