Shiancoe Works Out but Won't Sign with Birds
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Shiancoe Works Out but Won't Sign with Birds
Les Bowen
BETHLEHEM -- Veteran tight end Visanthe Shiancoe "had a good workout," Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said Tuesday, but Roseman said no TE signing is imminent, and late Tuesday afternoon, a source close to the situation said Shiancoe will not be signing with the team.
Why are the Eagles, who seem reasonably well set with Brent Celek and Clay Harbor, suddenly being rumored to be in discussions with every veteran tight end this side of Mike Ditka?
"Competition," Roseman said. "We did the same thing last year. We had five tight ends in camp, including Donald Lee" who was just off playing a solid role for a Super Bowl-winning Green Bay team. Lee was eventually cut.
Roseman would not confirm a CBSSports.com report that said the Eagles will give Jeremy Shockey a physical.
So far, all this seems to mean is that we should probably hold off on the stirring profiles of guys like former Penn State TE Brett Brackett. Obviously, there is something the Eagles would like to see in their TE mix that they aren't seeing.
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Defensive line coach Jim Washburn says he talks to Albert Haynesworth now and then, Haynesworth telling him, "Hey, Wash, it's your big black son." Haynesworth was a star defensive tackle for Washburn in Tennessee. But Washburn said he feels Haynesworth is done, with a degenerative back condition.
"He helped me pave my driveway," Washburn said. As reporters envisioned Haynesworth ladling tar, Washburn explained he wasn't speaking literally. "We won a bunch of games, I got a raise and was able to pave my driveway. We took the clothesline down, got a dryer and everything."
Asked about the loss of defensive tackle Mike Patterson, held back from training camp as his skull heals from brain surgery to untangle blood vessels, Washburn said Patterson's consistency is hard to replace.
"He's a constant. Every time I turn on the film on Monday, I know he's going to play good," Washburn said. "He's a constant guy. Might not make a million plays, but he's always where he's supposed to be and always doing the right thing." Amidst last year's early defensive chaos, "that was a wonderful feeling, to have a guy in there you knew was going to play the same every week.
"It's hard to stomach a loss like that. Hopefully, he'll be back sooner than later."
Washburn likes 2011 practice squadder Cedric Thornton, and good spring work started to revise his opinion of vet Antonio Dixon, who Washburn said showed up way out of shape aftrer the lockout and eventually went down for the season with a triceps tear.
"Nobody ever talks about [Thornton]," said Washburn, who clearly wanted to remedy that. "He's big, strong, tough, just raw, doesn't know he doesn't know. Wants to be a football player ... He's another great kids. That room's just full of great kids."
Thornton, 6-4, 309, played at Southern Arkansas. He was promoted to the roster for the final three games of the 2011 season, for safekeeping during the time when teams start poaching other teams' practice squad guys for future use.
Scope33: I saw that one coming from a mile away. They say it's only cheating if you get caught in the act.
Celek has been up and down because of injuries but he leaves it on the field. I'd like to see some plays designed our TE's since we don't have a featured FB. Keep hitting the TE's and Avant underneath until the WR's get open over the top.— nceagle- Vick was severely punished for his crimes, paid his dues to society... and has singularly done more than any for prevention of animal cruelty, certainly more than y'all HATERS who criticize without any solutions...Come on now Tell us the Real reason y'all hate Mike? hmmmmmmmm... Jealously,his continuing success, back to back 100 million dollar contracts...hahahhahah Come on tell us the real reason. No Compassion for a fellow human being? Please tell us hahahahaha.— trinieagle
- I wish they brought in some Gms and Head Coaches for "competition". All in Dream Team. Dynasty!— Scope33
If you think cheating your way to titles is cool, that's a reflection of your character, and the character of cheatriot fans who also think cheating is OK. Maybe someday you'll win a title without getting caught cheating. Fans will always be suspicious though, but that's the price you pay for cheating.- What about the character of Eagles fans who root for a man who systematically tortured and killed dogs for his own pleasure? — Scope33
- More boo-hooing from the peanut gallery about the Patriots. Just can't get over it, can you? The Patriots have how many SB titles, and your beloved Eagles have how many? That's right. And it's not because of cheating...so get another extra large crying towel ready for this season. Roseman urging anything makes me suspicious. 8-8.— MidStaterUXB
- Eagles fans would never want the EAGLES to cheat their way to titles like bill belicheat and the cheatriots did. Notice the haven't won any titles since they were caught cheating. In the NCAA if a student receives a happy meal without paying for it, the school forfeits the season and bowl eligibility.
- The Eagles will sign Shockey because New England signed Shiancoe. The whole reason they brought Shiancoe in was because New England already has 2 good tight ends and The Eagles front office thinks they're on Par with New England. There always trying to compare themselves to the Pats. Minus the Superbowls of course... Its not working though.— Geno D
- I can't believe I'm reading people taking shots at Brent Celek. You can really tell who the strictly "fantasy" football players are these days. Celek might be most UNDERrated TE in the game!— Joyner80
- Man really thought we had a chance for Visanthe. He could still stretch the field and understood the west coast offense.— Yes_General
- "Good, Celek is overrated & injury prone".
Dumbest thing I've seen posted here in ages.— eaglefaninAZ - If something happens to Celek, they can throw out a good part of play book. I believe we will see more double tight end plays this year from birds, they need quanity and quality at that position.— camasbud
- Sign Shockey and Hainesworth. Hell, bring back McNabb and T.O. too! The fans will need some comic relief when Big Andy's boys bite the dust again. Die-nasty! OMG!!!— Boru
- It's already a Dynasty Owner of Junod.— hunglikeaton
- Good, Celek is overrated & injury prone.— main liner
- Shaincoe was always a solid fantasy option. Hes a good red zone target and maybe Celek is hyped a bit more than he actually produces. Cant hurt.— peteike
