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John Smallwood: Brown might have trouble catching on with Eagles' receiving corps
"During training camp, I have a better idea of whether or not I'm going to have an opportunity to climb the ladder."
The fall to the bottom rung started when Brown missed the first two games last season with a groin injury.
AP
Washington Redskins cornerback Fred Smoot (27) and safety LaRon Landry (30) stop Philadelphia Eagles wide receive Reggie Brown, top, short of the goal line during the closing seconds of an NFL football game Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, in Landover, Md. The Redskins won 10-3. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
Rookie DeSean Jackson, who moved into the starting rotation when veteran Kevin Curtis was hurt, started fast and never slowed. He had a spectacular rookie season, grabbing 62 catches for 912 yards.
The buzz that once belonged to Brown shifted to Jackson.
Brown fell out of favor as the season progressed. He was even deactivated for three games late in the season.
He finished the season with career lows of 18 catches, 252 yards and one touchdown. He had only had two catches in the Birds' three playoff games.
He was officially an afterthought.
His unsettled status was reaffirmed in the 2009 draft when Eagles moved up to select University of Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin with the 19th overall pick.
Maclin has been impressive in minicamp and OTA and, like Jackson, is expected to be an impact player as a rookie.
He will be given as many opportunities as his talent and progress warrant. That might come at Brown's expense.
The unofficial depth chart has Jackson and Curtis as the first-team receivers with Brown and Jason Avant as second team.
That's just for now.
Barring injury, Jackson, Curtis and Maclin will be in the rotation.
That leaves Brown in a battle with Avant and Hank Baskett - who both had more receiving yards than him last season - for the other remaining receiving slots.
To be blunt, if Avant and Baskett can offer the same things that Brown does, they'll be doing it at a considerably cheaper price.
Unless Brown clearly distinguishes himself, there might not be a place for him and his contract on this roster.
"It's a surprise," Brown said of his uneasy status with the Birds. "But you have to deal with those things.
"Everything is not always going to be as smooth as you want it to be. There's always going to be that adversity that comes along, and you are going to have to get over it to get to where you want to be.
"Hopefully, I'll have a good training camp and I can get back to a starting position. Maybe not, but at least having an opportunity to go out there and play." *
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