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Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Eagles sign RB

This may tell you all you need to know about the severity of Brian Westbrook's concussion: The Eagles signed running back P.J. Hill off the Saints practice squad today, according to a team spokesman.

To make room on the 53-man roster, the team placed linebacker Omar Gaither (foot) on Injured Reserve. That means that Gaither's season is officially over, if there were any doubt.

The 5-foot-10, 218-pound Hill was originally signed by the Saints as a rookie free agent and rushed 26 times for 128 yards during three preseason games. He was released prior to the season before final cuts, but was brought back to the practice squad. He played college at Wisconsin and ran for over 1,000 yards in each of his three seasons with the Badgers.

I actually got to see Hill up close a few times when I covered Penn State. At Wisconsin he was listed much heavier than he is now, which usually happens. But I think they had him at something like 235 pounds. He always looked a legit 235. Maybe he dropped some of the weight. Nevertheless, he was a between-the-tackles-type runner with the Badgers. I thought he would get drafted. It seems as though two DUI arrests scared some teams away. Maybe he's a gem that the running-back-loaded Saints thought they could hide on their practice squad for a season. Maybe not.

 

Posted by Jeff McLane @ 4:28 PM  Permalink | 28 comments
28
Comments   
Posted 04:52 PM, 10/28/2009
JD New Haven
Jeff - who the heck is PJ Hill? By the way, one more vote against the auto-loading videos. They are so 2002.
Posted 04:59 PM, 10/28/2009
mikey48
why do U media type keep acting like this is the end of Westbrook's career? He has never had a history of concussions in 8 seasons, this is his first. If he is ok by Friday, they should play him.
Posted 05:04 PM, 10/28/2009
ArizonaMike
JD-- I just googled PJ Hill. He is the second leading career stats RB at Wisconsin in both yards and TD's, second only to Ron Dayne. He came out after just 3 years and was undrafted. He then signed as an undrafted free agent with the Saints and was a member of their practice squad. He is bigger than both Westie and Shady. Could turn out to be steal; or not.
Posted 05:05 PM, 10/28/2009
dsoul
and why do they have to auto load the same video every page...
Posted 05:17 PM, 10/28/2009
hawk18
I would love to see Westbrook retire, not for us, but for him. Guys his age don't run faster or get better. It is all down hill. This is not an opinion, except for John Riggins, no RB ever had their best year after 30. But several have added injuries. He has done it all, hang them up while he can still walk.
Posted 05:23 PM, 10/28/2009
WewantaSBRing
Any thing for the CHEAP, dats how da Eagles roll.....
Posted 05:23 PM, 10/28/2009
North Port
Hill was a GREAT back at Wisconsin! Why would they sign a RB when Reid doesn't want to run the ball?
Posted 05:24 PM, 10/28/2009
CarpGuy
Steal? Probably not. A bruiser with modest skills. And keep him away from cars ... has had a few run-ins with the law. Can't believe there weren't better practice squad options out there. We shall see ...
Posted 05:24 PM, 10/28/2009
KidCole35
I liked hill at Wisconsin. He's a big back who could move the pile and or pick up a 3rd or 4th and 1. He's nothing special, but he'll do ok if his number is called.
Posted 05:27 PM, 10/28/2009
phillyfan42386
well if you are a penn state fan you would know who pj hill is. He is a big, solid running back from wisconsin and he was really good maybe we can use him on short yardage plays.
Posted 05:45 PM, 10/28/2009
tampaPhillyfan
phillyfan, what r u thinking? we don't like using big backs in short yardage unless we throw it to them
Posted 05:49 PM, 10/28/2009
flyerdup
Shady is #1 right now anyway, this guy is just a warm body to throw out there once in a while. Agree with Hawk18, it's time for Westy to hang em up before he gets seriously hurt. He WAS the Eagles offense for many years and should be remembered for that instead of as another washed-up athelete who didn't know when to quit for his own good. Hope he recovers soon and is able to finish out the season. Go Eagles, Giants Suck.
Posted 05:53 PM, 10/28/2009
flyerdup
Agree that the auto-video is really annoying. Does anyone at this website take our comments into consideration? Probably not since we have been complaining for at least a year and you still can't post anything in a timely manner. Loser Geeks.
Posted 05:59 PM, 10/28/2009
GrownMan86
PJ is was better when he was 235. When he went down to 215 or 218 he was easyer to take down. His numbers went down big time.
Posted 07:28 PM, 10/28/2009
digitman
Maybe use him in the "WILDCAT"!!!!
About Birds' Eye View Blog

Bob Brookover, left, is in his seventh year of covering the Philadelphia Eagles after spending 15 years covering the Philadelphia Phillies for the Inquirer and two other newspapers. The 45-year-old Brookover lives in Delran with his wife Francine and roots for Notre Dame and Michigan State, the two schools attended by his children, Justine and Ryan. When Notre Dame plays Michigan State, he cheers for the school of the child he likes more at that particular moment.

Jeff McLane, right, joined the Eagles beat in April 2009 after two years of covering colleges, namely Penn State football. Before that he covered high school sports for The Inquirer. Before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Informed that his father is no longer covering the Lions, McLane's eldest, three-year-old son said, "You mean Simba, Scar and Mufasa, Daddy?" His two-year-old son -- excited about the move to the Eagles -- said, "Go, Deigo, Go!" or something like that. His wife of five-plus years, however, had a different take on the new job. "Another five years is in question," she said. Check out McLane on Twitter and Facebook for instant updates on the Eagles.
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