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Eagles Notes: Eagles' Cole defends takedown of Seahawks' Okung

Trent Cole said that he was fined $7,500 by the NFL for his WWF-style takedown of Seattle's Russell Okung last Thursday, and the Eagles defensive end defended the flip that drew criticism from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, among others.

Trent Cole was fined $7,500 for his actions in last week's game against the Seahawks. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)
Trent Cole was fined $7,500 for his actions in last week's game against the Seahawks. (Ron Cortes/Staff Photographer)Read more

Trent Cole said that he was fined $7,500 by the NFL for his WWF-style takedown of Seattle's Russell Okung last Thursday, and the Eagles defensive end defended the flip that drew criticism from Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, among others.

Okung suffered a torn triceps on the play, and the Seattle tackle's season is over as a result. Cole said that he intends to appeal the fine.

"I'm not a dirty player," Cole said Wednesday. "At the time, all the stuff that led up to that, there was a lot of stuff that happened in that game. . . . Watch that game closely and key on Okung and key on me, and you'll see what I'm talking about."

The play occurred near the end of the game with Okung blocking Cole for several seconds. After the whistle blew, Okung was draped on Cole until Cole flipped him over his back and onto the ground.

"He got grabbed under the arm and thrown down to the ground," Carroll said last week. "It had nothing to do with the play. . . . It might look like he was trying to disengage, and that might be what they say and all. But it was really late, and it was really out of line, unfortunately."

Okung went after Cole and had to be restrained. Cole said that he heard Carroll's comments and those of others that he said had compared him to Ndamukong Suh. The Lions defensive tackle was recently suspended two games for stomping on a player and has been labeled by some as a dirty player.

"They try to compare me to Suh up there," Cole said. "You can't compare me to that. I was in a situation."

Reid on Castillo

Andy Reid said that the front office has not approached him about firing defensive coordinator Juan Castillo in order to save his own job, and would not address a Profootballtalk.com report that said the head coach would face such a dilemma.

"Listen, nobody's approached me on it," Reid said. "My mind is to continue to get better as coaches and players. My mind goes no further than that."

Reid shocked the league when he promoted Castillo, his longtime offensive line coach, to defensive coordinator in January. A great deal of blame for the Eagles' disappointing season has been pinned on Castillo.

The defense has coughed up five fourth-quarter leads and once again is last in the NFL inside the red zone. Sean McDermott was fired last season after his unit had the worst red-zone efficiency numbers in 22 seasons. This year's success rate is only slightly better.

The Eagles front office has not spoken publicly about the team since the start of the season. Requests made to interview owner Jeffrey Lurie on the state of the team and Reid's future have been declined.

Team president Joe Banner has been asked to comment after the last two Eagles losses, but he has also declined to talk. Reid was asked if the front office has spoken to him and given him its support.

"We talk all the time," Reid said. "I know where you're going, but there is nothing there. We're in it to continue to get better, and we're all going in that direction."

Injury update

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hamstring) and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle) were listed as partial participants at practice.

Maclin said on Monday that he intends to play Sunday, and Rodgers-Cromartie voiced the same on Wednesday. Both missed the last three games.

Quarterback Michael Vick (ribs), cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (concussion, knee), tackle King Dunlap (concussion), tackle Todd Herremans (biceps) and defensive tackle Trevor Laws (knee) were all listed as full participants.