Reid on Allen, Graham and injuries
The Philadelphia Inquirer Blog - Eagles
Reid on Allen, Graham and injuries
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM -- Andy Reid didn't rule out getting rookie safety Nate Allen signed and into camp before practices start Tuesday morning.
The Eagles coach opened the 2010 training camp with a late afternoon press conference that dealt mostly with Michael Vick, but also provided updates on rookie contracts and injuries.
Allen and defensive end Brandon Graham, the Eagles' second and first round draft picks, have yet to ink contracts and thus, can't report to camp until they do so. Eagles president Joe Banner and Eagles general manager Howie Roseman have been negotiating with Allen's agent, Todd France, and Graham's agent, Joel Segal.
"Joe and Howie are in the process of working with both of them," Reid said. "We'll just see how things go there. We're closer with Nate than we are with Brandon."
France and Segal have not returned calls seeking comment.
Allen enters camp as the starting free safety, although he could lose that spot if he holds out. Reid has always stressed the importance of getting rookies in on time. Sources close to the situation are optimistic that a deal with Allen could be done before Tuesday's morning 8:45 a.m. start.
"I think it will get done," Reid said.
Getting Graham into camp could take longer. Only one first round pick has been signed -- Dallas wide receiver Dez Bryant.
"Nobody [picked] around [Graham] has done anything," Reid said. "There's not a first round pick that's really signed. To me, it's crunch time. But I'm not sure that urgency is there with ... the agents that are involved with all these first round picks."
On the injury front, Reid said that center Jamaal Jackson (knee), defensive end Victor Abiamiri (knee) and guard Todd Herreman (foot) would start camp on the Phyiscally Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The severity of Jackson's and Abiamiri's injuries are more serious than Herremans, although not having Herremans immediately could be a cause for concern.
"I want to see how he's doing before we take him off the PUP," Reid said. "We'll gradually bring him back in. I don't want him to jump back in and hurt himself. I just want to take it nice and slow."
Jackson, who tore his ACL last December, still seems like a long shot to return in time for the season opener.
"I would tell you he's in great shape and his leg is feeling good," Reid said, "but it's just that it happened not too long ago."
Reid also said that Ellis Hobbs, who is slated to start at right cornerback, will report for camp on Thursday with the rest of the veterans and that he will be cleared to practice from the get-go. Hobbs underwent neck surgery last December.
"I'm going to monitor and see how he does," Reid said. "But right now he's cleared and ready to roll."
Ditch Vick!— sjjr- Ha! Check out Reid sitting in front of the "WE HAVEN'T WON IN FIFTY YEARS" banner! Priceless!— jman
- Do you think half of these guys read what they wrote before they hit the "submit" button? It's just amazing..........— craig123
I tell you what if I had a kid just drafted in the NFL I wouldn't want him on the Ravens with the murdering pair of Stallworth and lewis or with the Eagles and that scum Vick in town.— KINGOFZED- Why don't you idiots that want Reid fired go root for a soccer team or the Cowboys??....if you don't like Reid , don't be an Eagle fan...easy to do, there are a bunch of other football and soccer teams....and I'd bet the "fat" callers are not hitting the gym turning down any beer or cheesesteaks..— merlinknghts
