Herremans' hat's off to Thomas

THE FIRST current player to filter into the NovaCare auditorium to pay tribute to Tra Thomas, as the Eagles' all-time games-played leader among offensive linemen officially retired, was Todd Herremans.

These days Herremans is the right tackle, but for four seasons he played next to left tackle Thomas at left guard, after arriving as a fourth-round draftee from Saginaw Valley State. Herremans posed for photos with Thomas and former offensive line coach Juan Castillo, now the defensive coordinator.

"Tra and Juan, they're the ones that turned me from a Division II player to an NFL player . . . Tra just kind of took me under his wing and kinda showed me, if you have to go and do extra work, you don't complain about it, you just do it," Herremans said. "Even if you are an 8-, 10-year vet, you go out there and you just do the extra work, don't say anything about it, just get it done, and guys will fall in line behind you."

- Les Bowen