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."
collusion by the league is taboo, but collusion by the agents is cool. what a crock. Wage scales. Higher taxes on athletes. Bring em down to earth. Heck, I'd play that game for teachers' wages .— retzlaff
Good to hear than Allen has almost signed but why is it every year that teams have trouble signing first round picks on time. Something needs to change here.— briandawkins20
what needs to change is first round picks that have done nothing yet have to stop getting paid incredible millions (throwing money made from ticket buyers at unproven talent is flushing our high ticket prices down the toilet). they need a cap on what they get paid before they get started. i'm all for guys getting millions of the owners billions if they deserve it. but being it's the not for long league, it would be hard to get them low ball salaries to begin, then get paid what their worth, only to get injured and cut (westbrook) nobody will sign until the top overall pick gets paid then the rest have a scale for what everyone else is measured by.— Evilvet- Andy Reid unbeleivably said that the sick physcho Vick who drowned and tortured helpless dogs with his own hands is a "nice guy". I lost all respect for this fat slob Reid who has no morals or character. I have rooted for my home town Eagles for over 30 consecutive years, win or lose....but until these low life scum bags are gone, I will not root for the Eagles...PERIOD.— Bill20
- I love the Eagles but can't stand Elephant Andy. He is sooo disgusting. Please lose weight and get a life.— Kornholio Kolb
- Well Bill, there goes the season. Knowing that you're not rooting kinda spoils it for everyone.— deputydog
- KK... You think the coach is disgusting yet your handle is cute? Geeting a life is a great idea.— deputydog
I think Herremans foot will be a problem all year. These things always seem to never go away and always end more serious than what was though or reported.— ej610- The best thing ever would be if the two sides signed a bargaining agreement which is guaranteed 100% to have a rookie wage scale and all these guys ended up with 10% of what they could get today. Too all the dumb ess 1st rounders who are not getting deals done: Look at what the guy got paid in your slot last year and tell your agent you want 10% more. You'll be able to sign now and end up with what everyone knows you'll get anyway and get your career started.— UncleStosh
- Geeting?? Are you serious? What a loser.— Kornholio Kolb
- We need a run game!— 46 and 2
- "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. . . . and that is why you don't move Nick Cole to center!— jimmyj
- Looks like Andy's lost some hair, but not any weight. I'm sick of Reid. The same non-statements for 11 years. Is the team going to win the Superbowl? No!! So all this tuff is much ado about nothing. Everyone on this board should get a freakin' life, myself included. Who cares about a bunch of semi-literate mercenaries and their billionaire girly man owner?— baabyrrej
- With Herremans starting out on the PUP list, McGlynn needs to take, check that, earn the C postition so Cole can play RG, which is a stronger lineup than Slim Fast (that would be Max Jean Gilles for the not so clever) at RG and Cole at C, should this be more than the *grunt* precautionary *heavy breathing* action that Mr Piggy is portraying it to be. In hindsight, it may have been prudent to add a starting quality OL this offseason, that is if we would have been able to give up 1 or 2 of our 13 draft picks.— The Reddgie
if you really want to do something to bring down athlete's salaries and all of the disgusting money in sports -- you need to end your contract with your pay TV provider. It's the license fees that cable/dish/networks pay to the leagues that create the salaries and largess. It's your monthly payment to the provider that makes it all happen. I bet this post never sees the light of day.- 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
