Demetrius Bell scheduled to visit Eagles
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Demetrius Bell scheduled to visit Eagles
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Demetrius Bell took over for Jason Peters after the Bills traded away the perennial Pro Bowler in 2009. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
Wasting little time after announcing that Jason Peters ruptured his Achilles tendon, the Eagles have lined up free agent tackle Demetrius Bell for a visit this weekend, an NFL source said Friday.
One potential problem: Bell is currently visiting with the Steelers and may not leave Pittsburgh without a contract. The 27-year-old Bell has also drawn interest from the Cardinals, Packers and Redskins.
Howard Eskin of NBC10 first reported Bell's visit.
The 6-foot-5, 307-pound Bell has logged 30 starts at left tackle over the last three seasons. He took over for Peters after the Bills traded away the perennial Pro Bowler in 2009. Bell missed part of last season with a shoulder injury.
If Bell doesn't make it here, the Eagles could pursue the 32-year-old Kareem McKenzie or Marcus McNeil, formerly of the Chargers, as possible replacements for Peters.
Peters ruptured his Achilles on Tuesday while training in Texas. The injury occurred while he was participating in a football drill, according to a source close to the situation. He will have surgery on Tuesday at the Rothman Institute in Philadelphia.
Eagles center Jason Kelce said he saw Peters today at the NovaCare Complex.
"I saw him talking to the doctors, so I went up to him and asked him if anything was wrong and he told me about the Achilles," Kelce said. "Actually, his spirits were a lot better than I thought they would be. Obviously, he had a few days to let it sink in."
Comments (38)
They might be looking for someone to backup Dunlap and not necessarily to be a starter.— soulman386- Whoever signs here would have to know it's temporary. Not sure Bell is looking for that.— ej610
- "Know" it's temporary? Based on what? Often players never regain their form after such injuries, especially big men. And if Peters does fully recover, how long would it take. My understanding is that it takes two years to "fully" recover. Isn't that the reasoning used behind the DeMeco Ryan acquisition? He certainly didn't have an all-pro season last year.
- Achilles are pretty serious especially when its holding up 320lbs.peters may never be 100% again.— Sean s.
- Achilles are pretty serious especially when its holding up 320lbs.peters may never be 100% again.sorry.i wanna punch myself in the face for saying that but it the truth unfortunately.— Sean s.
- Eagles like offensive lineman from Buffalo, Must make Andy think of Buffalo Wild Wings.— eaglessuck@life
- What about that firefighter! lol— Ace-Philadelphia
- They had Peters, one of the best tackles in football last year all year and they could only go 8-8. They waste one of the best running backs in the game by passing it 80% and scoring 3 points every 4th quarter and losing winnable games due to horrible coaching and playcalling. Now because they cant draft well thier injured tackle is already 30 and will probably never recover fully from this injury. By the time he comes back , best case, at maybe 80% of his former self he will be 32. Throw money at a high priced FA and when he goes down youve got nothing because you dont know how to draft properly. I am sure King Dunlap and Max-Jean Gilles are the answer. One had lap-band surgery and isnt even in the league anymore. Guess what, Andy Reid the offensive lineman/genius NEVER even drafted Tra Thomas or Jon Runyan the two best tackles in Eagles history. NOT DRAFTED BY REID. Tra Thomas was drafted by Ray Rhodes, along with half the defense that won all those games early in andy's tenure, and Jon Runyan was drafted by another team and signed as a FA when Tom Modrak was still the GM. When you cant draft a good OT you spend a ton of money on someone elses draft pick, and when that guy is already 30 and gets injured...your screwed...so they will sign another over-priced FA from another team that is aleady 27 instead of actually drafting a good OT. Andy Reid's Dream Team 2012.— CharlieGarner25
- This post is way too long. I didn't even try to read it. Learn how to post CharlieGarner25. You stink. — Vituperator
- Why is CharlieGarner25 permitted to continually post the same drivel day after day? The moderators on this site absolutely suck. Stop allowing the same 10 trolls to dominate the forums. Otherwise you run the risk of having people ignore your already pathetic site further.— Jerome99RIP
- Welcome to America, Jerome. The more unique hits they get, the more money they make. It doesn't matter who's posting. You might want to try another country where dictatorships are all the rage. Perhaps you can stage a coup. Good luck with that.
- Charlies post reflect the opinion of many of us that have realized we are constantly being fed pink slime and being told that it's filet by this coach and F.O. We resent the hubris and arrogant attitude as well as the flat put refusal to address glaring needs until it is too late. This team is not made in the mold of this city, it is made in the mold of Jeffery Lurie. Soft with no real substance. We would like our team back. You are always welcome to go to Dave Spadaro's website where the rest of the sheep enjoy....CRAVE the pink slime they are being fed
- This is potentially career ending due to his age. Either way it's a 2 year injury. As much as I am anti Andy Reid and rosebud, something tells me they are going to be very aggressive in fixing this. Sheeet, I'm still shocked they got ryans. A bills fan buddy of mine said this kid can play, evidently handled ware last year. Ah who am I kidding, they're screwed.— sore richard
- Steelers will sign them if not the Eagles will sign him and he will resume his injury prone career.— Drew777
lol, umm Jerome, a majority of Eagles fans want Reid fired...51% according to a poll on this very site...- lol, nice. I guess those 49% are right, and their way has resultred in 13 championships so far.
Here's a LITTLE consolation: Vick is LEFT-HANDED. I leave it to the experts to say what this means to Shady, although it can't be good. Get well soon, Floyd. Best of luck with your surgery and recovery.— Jack Hughes- OK, Miss Manners won't let me speak Port Richmond. I wish to express my regrets for the odiferous gassy emission from my cerebrum when I confused Floyd Peters with Jason Peters. I sincerely apologize to all those who might be offended by short descriptive words which make American English appropriate for all occasions, speakers and listeners. Duh.— Jack Hughes
- Charlie would you be happy if the eagles won a Super Bowl unde Reid? I'm not so sure. And that's pretty sad. You're not changing a thing with all of your complaining. Either support the team or find in your opinion that is better to root for. Posting day after day on articles about a team that you constantly call out for all kinds of flaws comes off as pretty pathetic. I am sure the Vikings, browns, jaguars, and plenty of other teams would love to have you.— djack10
- At least he can swap Achilles stories with Howard and DeMeco...unreal! This one could be a devastating blow!
Check out this new Philly sports blog - http://www.orble.com/philly-phaithful/— Colonel Angus - yes and the fans blindly supporting King Andy for a decade really did wonders for the organization. Once peoples realized he was over-rated then he only goes 8-8 and blows an NFL record 5 4th quarter leads. AND THE BROWNS JAGUARS AND VIKINGS HAVE NEVER DONE THAT. That is something we should be proud of that Andy has accomplished.
- Hopefully the eagles let it be know to Bell that they will give him the best offer. They also have a loty of cap room.Peters, if he does come back, will not ever be the same because IF he makes a complete recovery, it will take at least 2 years, making him 32 at least, and age tyakes away a litle bit as the years go by. So, they had better get a good young LT, and Bell fits the bill.— ol duke
- Floyd Peters reference! Old ex-Eagle. (R.I.P.) Wow, that requires taking a ride in the Way-Back machine. I went to grade school with Floyd's son Kelly.— philly2sf
- Andy go cheap!— losteagle
- Garner, AR is not overrated...you however seem to be a legend in your own mind. I know...you yearn for the the Kotite, Ray Rhodes, Marion Campball, Mike McCormick, Ed Khayat. It is not easy being the HC in the NFL and few are better than AR. You are an idiot for thinking they can just go out and get somebody better. It is easy to sit on the sidelines and take potshots. AR would have had his championship years ago if the Pats hadn't cheated. You do remember the hundreds of thousand of dollars their coach paid in fines for cheating...or did that slip your memory. I wouldn't trade Andy for anyone and andone who comments on his weight is a schmuck.— ceocreates
- This team never catches a break. I wonder if that stems from all the negativity from this site?— Craig321
- of course its not easy, but thats why they are paid the big bucks, and most dont get as many opportunites as Andy Reid has. If you fail you usually are fired or the organization is kind enough to let you "step down" after a while...its about that point for Andy Reid after setting new lows in blown 4th quarter leads, assigning offensive line coaches to DC, and failing to win a SB 14 times in 14 tries. Thats not good. I would have fired him three years ago and he will in fact be fired or step down at some point if they do not win a SB soon. probably next year. and they just lost thier LT. And the Pats did not make Andy call 90% passing with a low wonderlic QB resulting in three interceptions...Andy Reid...excuses champion 13 years in row now...
- A team can never have enough OT...trade the first, second and third pick for the kid from USC OR settle for the kid from Iowa...Mudd can coach him up.— BirdinParadise
- Don't you have to HAVE a mind to be a legend in it? Guess that accounts for Hindsight's mindless BS?
90% passing now Hindsight...exaggerate much? What were those SB passing percentages you used to post on a daily basis? Weren't they smashed by BOTH teams in this year's SB? Ah hindsight, defying the blind squirrel rule once again...and what is your problem with the I before E rule?— tpizza - Once again, I love Charlie's math. The Eagles did NOT throw it 80% of the time. In fact, they threw it 55.2% of the time. And to really knock your socks off, the Giants threw it 58.9% of the time! Wh...wha...what?! The Super Bowl winning team threw it MORE than the Eagles? Who would have thought that? Crazy! It's amazing what the numbers will reveal when you actually LOOK at them.— Penfold18
- What other NFL Coach has done as much as Reid with so little? You guys are harsh on Reid but last year, forget about the "all in" Rhetoric, that was a marketing ploy. There's not a team any of you can remember who won or pushed for a Championship with so many new pieces in key positions.
Anyone that appreciates Football and has a remedial understanding of strategy knows it takes time to built chemistry on a defense and offense. All over the league 5 new starters on defense practically getting off the plane in August indicates a massive rebuilding effort.
In the Super Bowl era, who compares, in terms of success; to Andy Reid as Coach of the Eagles? Maybe Dick Vermile.... and he fielded a team of overachievers. In the end Vermile had to move on to the next stop to celebrate a Super Bowl.
I support Andy, primarily because I remember coaches like Merion Campbell.
However, the Issue is Tackle, and none of the guys they are talking about bringing in can give us what Peters gives the Eagles. With a half decent Tackle, we'll really see what Shady is all about this year. Personally, I'm not convinced he's what some of you are suggesting. Shady's stats are more a by product of the system he plays and the extraordinary talent at other positions on the offense, such as Peters.— Dexter - Charlie garner i didnt take that pole and im not stupid so im gonna side with keep reid.so 50%now.not that it matters because ur all "fans"(i use that term VERY LIGHTLY) and not front office guys and u all dont have a say.so while the front office that has put together all this talent: mccoy celek maclin jackson cole(all drafted by the awful drafters)runs this team and collect a fat paycheck u just continue to sit in ur computer chair eating cheetos and pretending to have a clue what ur talking about or how to put together a football team.— Sean s.
- What moron would use a poll by fans as proof of anything?...oh, THAT moron. Hindsight = wiff, no doubt about it. Polls? Hahahahahaha.— tpizza
- Hmmm, I wonder, what's the waist size of the waste of space? Everyone knows whom I mean!— Warhound
- Wait - "Howard Eskin of NBC10 first reported Bell's visit."
Never mind, it's probably bull if Eskin "broke" the story!— gdibig - As I've said elsewhere, they need a solid LT; Peters is a may or may-not return case. Bell could fill the gap, and hopefully the Eagles draft a good one. Of course, we're talking about the Eagles here.— MidStaterUXB
- If Lonedork wants to be taken even a quarter seriously, she needs a new photo. I can't read any of her comments because of it. It would be like reading commentary written by Moe Howard.— jimqk
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Birds' Eye View is the Inquirer's blog covering all things Philadelphia Eagles and the NFL.
Jeff McLane
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