IS BUYING CROSS-COUNTRY SKIS
The ax did not drop, but it did return and that seemed to be enough for the Eagles in their ho-hum 33-14 win over woeful Tampa Bay.
Jeremiah Trotter made his déjà vu return to Lincoln Financial Field yesterday, and even though the middle linebacker recorded three uneventful tackles, he and the Eagles deemed the first game of his third stint in Philadelphia a success.
"I had one missed tackle, and I think I made one tackle," said Trotter, also known as the Ax Man. "I was joking with [Joe] Mays, 'I think you made more plays than I did, and you didn't even dress.' I was talking to [Michael] Vick and he said that he felt like he was going to come off the streets and hit the ground running but that's why it's the NFL. It's hard to do."
Trotter's previous NFL game was for the Buccaneers in December 2007. But the 32-year-old never considered retirement and kept training with the hope of someday playing again. After Stewart Bradley went down, and Omar Gaither and Mays failed to solidify the Eagles' run defense, coach Andy Reid brought Trotter back.
"He'll be the first to tell you he's been sitting on a couch, and when you come off the couch and play, the game is a little quicker," Reid said.
Trotter and his two surgically repaired knees played about 20 plays, almost all of them on first down. He was added for inside heft on run downs but tackles Brodrick Bunkley and Mike Patterson hardly let the Bucs' tailbacks get to the linebackers. Cadillac Williams, Derrick Ward and B.J. Askew were held to a combined 45 yards on 17 carries, with most of the yardage coming on a 28-yard burst by Ward.
"I really didn't get a chance to bang that much," Trotter said. "The times I did come downhill to try and put a hat on somebody, they went to the legs to cut me and that I understand - I would cut me, too."
While Trotter's reemergence was seen as a knock against Gaither, who played the majority in the middle yesterday, the four-year pro has been pretty solid at stopping the run the last two games. He dropped Williams twice - once on a short pass - behind the line of scrimmage.
"I think I play [the run] pretty well," Gaither said. "I just wanted to make a play. Obviously, I would like to play every snap, but we're going to work this thing together."
Reid and defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said that Trotter's weekly involvement will depend on the opponent and the game plan. The Eagles visit Oakland next week, and follow up with NFC East rivals Washington, the N.Y. Giants, and Dallas - all teams with formidable running attacks.
"I think if I just continue to work hard, keep learning the defense and keep progressing, you'll see progress every week," Trotter said.
Trotter also hopes to drop the ax, his signature celebratory play, as he did upon being introduced pregame. Gaither was announced as the starting middle linebacker, but Trotter was saved for last.
Reid called Trotter this morning to run the idea by the four-time Pro Bowler. There were a number of Trotter jerseys at the Linc - new, old and older - and they rose, along with many others, when No. 54 emerged from the tunnel. Some fans still haven't gotten over former Eagles safety Brian Dawkins' off-season departure. Trotter has said part of his return may have to do with filling that void.
"It was pretty emotional," Trotter said. "I got word that they were going to introduce me, and I was happy. I've always wanted to come out last, but when you're playing with Brian Dawkins, you're never going to come out of the tunnel last."
He did yesterday.
Contact staff writer Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745 or jmclane@phillynews.com.
