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BROWN SAYS HE'LL REPORT FRIDAY; EAGLES SIGN NINE UNDRAFTED ROOKIES

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54 comments

BROWN SAYS HE'LL REPORT FRIDAY; EAGLES SIGN NINE UNDRAFTED ROOKIES

POSTED: Monday, April 27, 2009, 2:20 PM
Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown still isn't happy about his contract situation and he has no regrets about going public with his trade request a week ago today.

That doesn't mean he's about to boycott the team's mandatory post-draft camp at the NovaCare Complex that opens Friday.

"Yeah, I'll be there," Brown said before boarding a plane in South Carolina this afternoon.

The Eagles' veteran cornerback said he has no intention of being a disruptive force in the locker room.

"I didn't become a villain all of a sudden," he said. "I'm a professional. I've been in contact with Troy (Vincent)."

At the end of Vincent's eight-year run as a starting cornerback with the Eagles, he was unhappy about his contract situation, but he never protested by missing practice time during the offseason or training camp. Some players in the past -- Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor and Lito Sheppard -- have attended the team's mandatory post-draft camp, then skipped voluntary workouts later in the spring.

After this weekend's mandatory camp, the voluntary full-squad workouts are scheduled from June 2-5 and 8-11.

Brown was asked about a comment he made last week on 610 WIP radio in which he said, "They don't want me in that locker room."

"You can take that in another light," he said. "I'm the leader on the football team and it's bad for players to see me in a situation where I'm not happy. But I'm not going to blow up the NovaCare Complex. I'm not going to be one of the guys who puts on show week in and week out when the media comes to my locker."

Brown said he's also not worried about having to compete for a starting job with Ellis Hobbs, who the Eagles acquired for two fifth-round draft picks yesterday.

"I've always competed for my job," he said. "That doesn't matter to me. I have respect for Ellis. He's a guy who has played through injuries like me. He tore up his groin and didn't miss any time. He's a hard worker and he's trying to establish himself."

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Sunday he didn't feel the need to explain the acquisition of Hobbs to Brown.

"Well I am not going to go through and call every player here," Reid said. "I can't do that. He knows he is on the team, so I don't feel it's necessary to do that."

Brown, who has four years left on a six-year contract extension he signed in 2004, said he didn't need a call from Reid.

"Coach knows me," he said. "That doesn't need to be done. You don't have to do that kind of stuff."

 
Here are the bios put together by the Eagles' media relations department for the nine undrafted rookies they signed today. 
 
Josh Gaines
Defensive End, 6-1, 274
Penn State
A defensive co-captain for the Nittany Lions, finished his career with 105 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Became a starter during his sophomore season then rarely came off the field, playing 589 snaps during his junior season and 696 snaps during his red shirt senior campaign. One of 11 children (four brothers and six sisters). Attended Northrop HS in Fort Wayne, IN. Born 9/27/85 in Fort Wayne.
 
Reshard Langford      
Safety, 6-1, 213             
Vanderbilt
A four-year starting safety at Vanderbilt, posted 247 tackles (16 for a loss) and eight interceptions. Was a two-year captain at Tanner HS in Tanner, AL, as a running back and safety, earning first-team All-State honors in his senior season. Born 2/6/86.
 
Marcus Mailei (MY-lay)     
Fullback, 6-0, 255
Weber State
A two-time, All-Big Sky selection from 2007-08, recorded 58 receptions for 563 yards and five TDs in his four-year career. Also amassed 161 rushing yards and three TDs. Attended the same high school (Highland) as Eagles LB Stewart Bradley and garnered first-team all-state honors as a senior after rushing for 1,206 yards and 16 TDs. Born on 10/30/86 in Salt Lake City, UT.
 
Walter Mendenhall
Running Back, 6-0, 225
Illinois State
Transferred from Illinois after spending four years with the Illini. In his one season at Illinois State, rushed for 796 yards and 11 touchdowns on 126 carries (6.3 avg in 2008). Earned academic All-Conference honors with a 3.2 GPA at Niles West high school in Skokie, Ill., where he finished his career with over 3,600 all-purpose yards. His younger brother, Rashard, played collegiately at Illinois and was a first round draft pick of the Steelers in 2008. Born 1/22/86.
 
Dallas Reynolds         
Guard, 6-4, 314
Brigham Young
Played all five offensive line positions at BYU and twice garnered first-team All-Mountain West honors – as a left tackle his junior year and as a center his senior year. Attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, where he was a team captain and a two-time all-state performer. His father, Lance, is the associate head football coach and running backs coach at BYU, and his older brother, Lance, also played center for the Cougars. His two younger brothers, Matt and Houston, have also signed letters of intent to play there after serving their church missions. A former Eagle Scout, Reynolds served a church mission in Seattle and is married to Suzanne Steele. Born 4/23/84.
 
Brandon Robinson
Wide Receiver, 5-10, 198
Boston College
Posted 141 receptions, 2,023 yards and 10 touchdowns in his four-year career at Boston College, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors in his junior season. Attended Breck School in Minneapolis, MN, where he earned All-America and Minnesota Prep Player of the Year honors in 2003. He recorded three touchdown catches, a punt return touchdown and a 32-yard field goal in his final high school game. Also starred in soccer, basketball, tennis and track. Born 8/2/85.
 
Courtney Robinson       
Cornerback, 5-11, 200
UMass
A two-time All-CAA selection at cornerback from 2007-08, tallied 101 tackles, five interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 22 knockdowns in his three-year career at UMass. Additionally, is the school’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards (1,388) and garnered all-conference accolades as a returner in his sophomore and junior seasons. Appeared in 11 games as a reserve cornerback at UConn in 2005 before transferring to UMass the following year. As the team captain in both football and track at Atlantic high school in Delray Beach, FL, earned first-team all-county honors as a senior defensive back and was the conference champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Born 12/7/86 in Boynton Beach, FL.
 
Sam Swank
Kicker, 6-2, 201
Wake Forest
Finished as the all-time leading scorer at Wake Forest with 337 points. Set school records with 71 field goals and 124 career PATs. Concluded his career ranked 16th in NCAA history in career scoring. Excelled on the football and soccer teams at Fletcher HS in Neptune Beach, FL. Born 10/5/85 in Lakeland, FL.
 
Marcus Thigpen
Running Back, 5-9, 193
Indiana
Finished second in school history with 2,009 career kick return yards, third with 4,658 career all-purpose yards and tied for eighth with 21 career touchdowns. Became the first player in school history to record 1,000 yards rushing (1,621), receiving (1,028) and by kick return (2,009). Amassed eight career rushes of 70 yards or more. Earned first team All-America honors as a sophomore after leading the nation with a 30.1 yard kick return average and three touchdowns on 24 returns. Captured the Michigan 100-meter crown as a senior track athlete at Mumford HS in Detroit, MI. Also clocked a 10.67 100-meter dash to take sixth at the 2007 Big Ten Championship. Born 5/15/86.
54 comments
Comments  (54)
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:22 PM, 04/27/2009
    Thatta boy Sheldon, Know your role and shut your mouth. You signed that extention, you haven't really outplayed the contract call Trotter and ask him how things were when he left. He realized the grass isn't greener and came running back.
    K_Ball
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:26 PM, 04/27/2009
    sheldon is a good hard working player that has been great for the ealges but he is wrong in this situation, he should know better, if i were the eagles i would say "hey sheldon you have been great for us and we apperciate it so we are going to throw in a larger bonus for ya for making the pro bowl", this way he still plays hard and if he makes the pro bowl then he deserves the money, problem solved
    jbettner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:26 PM, 04/27/2009
    sheldon is a good hard working player that has been great for the ealges but he is wrong in this situation, he should know better, if i were the eagles i would say "hey sheldon you have been great for us and we apperciate it so we are going to throw in a larger bonus for ya for making the pro bowl", this way he still plays hard and if he makes the pro bowl then he deserves the money, problem solved
    jbettner
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:49 PM, 04/27/2009
    Dont sign the contract if you're gonna b!tch Sheldon. Man up.
    Nezhy
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:51 PM, 04/27/2009
    C'mon belocki, for a kicker in Philly, do you really want a guy whose name rhymes with SHANK???
    wvbillz
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 4:55 PM, 04/27/2009
    A very positive off season for the Eagles being wrecked by an athlete who suddenly (for whatever reason) began believing that he's a top notch D-Back. I guess he went down to South Carolina and his boys started telling him that. Look, he signed the contract, so he needs to stop being angry with the Eagles and be angry with his agent. He's the one who recommended it.
    hawaiiphillyfan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:22 PM, 04/27/2009
    Sounds like Sheldon has calmed down a bit from his earlier explosion. Aren't there incentives built into his current deal that he can attain to get more money? If so, what is the problem? Does anyone know what the incentives are?
    southern eagle fan
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:32 PM, 04/27/2009
    EVERYBODY RELAX....WE HAVE SIGNED AN EAGLE SCOUT. ALL IS WELL.
    Nico Lange
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 5:48 PM, 04/27/2009
    Sheldon --> You're not a villian... Just another whiny athlete who SIGNED a big buck contract and now doesn't like it because others are making more money...
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:02 PM, 04/27/2009
    the only thing i'm sick and tired of is people comparing their salaries to these NFL players. yes, they play a game for an unREASONABLE amount of money, but how can you possibly complain? you are the people who contribute to their salaries! however if you really have to compare workplaces why not think about this, you have your position in the company, but then next year someone gets hired to do the same thing but gets paid a ton more than you. you're just supposed to be OK with this? I'm not on sheldon's side here he should just shut up and play, but youhave to at least think about where he's coming from
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:13 PM, 04/27/2009
    Sheldon. You can have my job. Oh, that's right. The company shut down our facility. Shut up and play football you whiner.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:39 PM, 04/27/2009
    If any player on the Eagles is focused on anything other than winning the Super Bowl, they need to go. Distracting the team from that, and you're a villian. The Eagles haven't won one for awhile.
    MikeP
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 6:55 PM, 04/27/2009
    Trade him to Detroit!!! or Cincy! see how it feels playing there and see if it was worth it.. Stop crying and make a pro bowl. You will be begging to come back here, just like bdawk(love bdawk) will and buckhalter next year. We have the best team we have had in years!!!
    fman727
  • Comment removed.


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