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Monday, April 27, 2009

 

Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown still isn't happy about his contract situation and he has no regrets about going public with his trade request a week ago today.

That doesn't mean he's about to boycott the team's mandatory post-draft camp at the NovaCare Complex that opens Friday.

"Yeah, I'll be there," Brown said before boarding a plane in South Carolina this afternoon.

The Eagles' veteran cornerback said he has no intention of being a disruptive force in the locker room.

"I didn't become a villain all of a sudden," he said. "I'm a professional. I've been in contact with Troy (Vincent)."

At the end of Vincent's eight-year run as a starting cornerback with the Eagles, he was unhappy about his contract situation, but he never protested by missing practice time during the offseason or training camp. Some players in the past -- Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor and Lito Sheppard -- have attended the team's mandatory post-draft camp, then skipped voluntary workouts later in the spring.

After this weekend's mandatory camp, the voluntary full-squad workouts are scheduled from June 2-5 and 8-11.

Brown was asked about a comment he made last week on 610 WIP radio in which he said, "They don't want me in that locker room."

"You can take that in another light," he said. "I'm the leader on the football team and it's bad for players to see me in a situation where I'm not happy. But I'm not going to blow up the NovaCare Complex. I'm not going to be one of the guys who puts on show week in and week out when the media comes to my locker."

Brown said he's also not worried about having to compete for a starting job with Ellis Hobbs, who the Eagles acquired for two fifth-round draft picks yesterday.

"I've always competed for my job," he said. "That doesn't matter to me. I have respect for Ellis. He's a guy who has played through injuries like me. He tore up his groin and didn't miss any time. He's a hard worker and he's trying to establish himself."

Eagles coach Andy Reid said Sunday he didn't feel the need to explain the acquisition of Hobbs to Brown.

"Well I am not going to go through and call every player here," Reid said. "I can't do that. He knows he is on the team, so I don't feel it's necessary to do that."

Brown, who has four years left on a six-year contract extension he signed in 2004, said he didn't need a call from Reid.

"Coach knows me," he said. "That doesn't need to be done. You don't have to do that kind of stuff."

 
Here are the bios put together by the Eagles' media relations department for the nine undrafted rookies they signed today. 
 
Josh Gaines
Defensive End, 6-1, 274
Penn State
A defensive co-captain for the Nittany Lions, finished his career with 105 tackles, 8.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries. Became a starter during his sophomore season then rarely came off the field, playing 589 snaps during his junior season and 696 snaps during his red shirt senior campaign. One of 11 children (four brothers and six sisters). Attended Northrop HS in Fort Wayne, IN. Born 9/27/85 in Fort Wayne.
 
Reshard Langford      
Safety, 6-1, 213             
Vanderbilt
A four-year starting safety at Vanderbilt, posted 247 tackles (16 for a loss) and eight interceptions. Was a two-year captain at Tanner HS in Tanner, AL, as a running back and safety, earning first-team All-State honors in his senior season. Born 2/6/86.
 
Marcus Mailei (MY-lay)     
Fullback, 6-0, 255
Weber State
A two-time, All-Big Sky selection from 2007-08, recorded 58 receptions for 563 yards and five TDs in his four-year career. Also amassed 161 rushing yards and three TDs. Attended the same high school (Highland) as Eagles LB Stewart Bradley and garnered first-team all-state honors as a senior after rushing for 1,206 yards and 16 TDs. Born on 10/30/86 in Salt Lake City, UT.
 
Walter Mendenhall
Running Back, 6-0, 225
Illinois State
Transferred from Illinois after spending four years with the Illini. In his one season at Illinois State, rushed for 796 yards and 11 touchdowns on 126 carries (6.3 avg in 2008). Earned academic All-Conference honors with a 3.2 GPA at Niles West high school in Skokie, Ill., where he finished his career with over 3,600 all-purpose yards. His younger brother, Rashard, played collegiately at Illinois and was a first round draft pick of the Steelers in 2008. Born 1/22/86.
 
Dallas Reynolds         
Guard, 6-4, 314
Brigham Young
Played all five offensive line positions at BYU and twice garnered first-team All-Mountain West honors – as a left tackle his junior year and as a center his senior year. Attended Timpview HS in Provo, Utah, where he was a team captain and a two-time all-state performer. His father, Lance, is the associate head football coach and running backs coach at BYU, and his older brother, Lance, also played center for the Cougars. His two younger brothers, Matt and Houston, have also signed letters of intent to play there after serving their church missions. A former Eagle Scout, Reynolds served a church mission in Seattle and is married to Suzanne Steele. Born 4/23/84.
 
Brandon Robinson
Wide Receiver, 5-10, 198
Boston College
Posted 141 receptions, 2,023 yards and 10 touchdowns in his four-year career at Boston College, earning All-ACC honorable mention honors in his junior season. Attended Breck School in Minneapolis, MN, where he earned All-America and Minnesota Prep Player of the Year honors in 2003. He recorded three touchdown catches, a punt return touchdown and a 32-yard field goal in his final high school game. Also starred in soccer, basketball, tennis and track. Born 8/2/85.
 
Courtney Robinson       
Cornerback, 5-11, 200
UMass
A two-time All-CAA selection at cornerback from 2007-08, tallied 101 tackles, five interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 22 knockdowns in his three-year career at UMass. Additionally, is the school’s all-time leader in kickoff return yards (1,388) and garnered all-conference accolades as a returner in his sophomore and junior seasons. Appeared in 11 games as a reserve cornerback at UConn in 2005 before transferring to UMass the following year. As the team captain in both football and track at Atlantic high school in Delray Beach, FL, earned first-team all-county honors as a senior defensive back and was the conference champion in the 100-meter and 200-meter dash. Born 12/7/86 in Boynton Beach, FL.
 
Sam Swank
Kicker, 6-2, 201
Wake Forest
Finished as the all-time leading scorer at Wake Forest with 337 points. Set school records with 71 field goals and 124 career PATs. Concluded his career ranked 16th in NCAA history in career scoring. Excelled on the football and soccer teams at Fletcher HS in Neptune Beach, FL. Born 10/5/85 in Lakeland, FL.
 
Marcus Thigpen
Running Back, 5-9, 193
Indiana
Finished second in school history with 2,009 career kick return yards, third with 4,658 career all-purpose yards and tied for eighth with 21 career touchdowns. Became the first player in school history to record 1,000 yards rushing (1,621), receiving (1,028) and by kick return (2,009). Amassed eight career rushes of 70 yards or more. Earned first team All-America honors as a sophomore after leading the nation with a 30.1 yard kick return average and three touchdowns on 24 returns. Captured the Michigan 100-meter crown as a senior track athlete at Mumford HS in Detroit, MI. Also clocked a 10.67 100-meter dash to take sixth at the 2007 Big Ten Championship. Born 5/15/86.

 

Posted by Bob Brookover @ 3:04 PM  Permalink | 54 comments
54
Comments   
Posted 02:36 PM, 04/27/2009
MVKrum
I guess we're going to see if Sheldon can back peddle as fast as he can run on the field. The Eagles have shown him that he is either going to shut up and play, or be "Lito'd" and sit on the bench all season. Hobbs will step right into his spot if he doesn't like it. My guess is that he'll be more of an upstanding citizen.
Posted 02:38 PM, 04/27/2009
yahmpy
I like Sheldon because he is a professional. A constantly negative person in the workplace is a cancer, and Sheldon seems too classy to pull that nonsense. To that end though, the Eagles should quietly make this situation right with Sheldon. He's not like Lito who showed up when he wanted to. Sheldon is a dependable and a deserving player. They can send a real strong, positive message by taking care of one of their hard workers. The Eagles don't have to, but they definitely should.
Posted 02:39 PM, 04/27/2009
gulls3012
get this guy a box of tissues. It should be the hard workers of this country that get to complain about what they make and the families they have to feed. Sheldon stinks anyway
Comment removed.
Posted 02:41 PM, 04/27/2009
birdistheword79
Thank you Sheldon. At least you are manning up to your contract. Most people just sit it out, cause distraction, and tear teams apart, and become the lead story every game thats aired. Sounds like this wont be the case with this guy. We got too much going for us after this draft to be down on anything withn the Eagles right now. We are soaring high !!!!! Whoooooo
Posted 02:42 PM, 04/27/2009
jkidd49
I smell something... yup its B.S! Damage control from Sheldon and nothing more.
Posted 02:43 PM, 04/27/2009
fman727
Baby! Nobody forced you to sign a long term deal. Go to another team who will just cut you after 1 year... I love Dawkins but he will play one year in Denver, which he could have done here for a little less. Or take the risk like buckhalter who is now 3rd on the depth chart in Denver... Enjoy babies, ENJOY
Posted 02:45 PM, 04/27/2009
RAS
Sheldon is closer in ablity to Roynell Young that Troy Vincent. He's overpaid IMHO. What has he done since he flattened Bush in that playoff game? He can't cover one-on-one anymore. He needs to step up his play and honor his contract.
Posted 02:51 PM, 04/27/2009
gobirds556
paraphrasing some of the lines he told Eskin: You do not want me in that locker room. More than adamant about wanting to be traded. and he said he might show up to the mini-camps just to stir things up. That is a far cry from the quotes above.
Posted 02:54 PM, 04/27/2009
owumd
This certainly does read like a backpeddle to me. Looks like the Hobbs arrival sent precisely the message they intended to send. Now if he can play nickel back as well as they thought, it would be a really great move.
Posted 02:59 PM, 04/27/2009
crohnkiller
Asa man I have to say Sheldon does great things in the community especially down here in SC, but as a player, I don't get where he thinks he deserves it, I understand being upset about the contract that was given to Samuel, but he is no Samuel...
Comment removed.
Posted 03:13 PM, 04/27/2009
eglassiter
If the man wants to be traded then trade him. Stop hatin on the man. He is entitled to go and get some of that additional salary cap money if he can.
Posted 03:13 PM, 04/27/2009
yantastic
gulls3012 I'm sure you work just as hard at your job to deserve the sympathy and in your workplace you're the equivalent of an olympic athlete who is known to millions in this nation who will pay to watch you do your job. kudos.
Posted 03:14 PM, 04/27/2009
Chookie
I am sick and tired of these professional athletes complaining about contracts. If you are a "professional" then honor the contract you signed and if you don't like it then don't sign it in the first place. I wish I could do that everytime I was unhappy in my job. Sheldon, Brown and all the rest of these athletes should zip it. he isn't complaining about the signing bonus he got and offering to give that back. is he.
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About Birds' Eye View Blog

Bob Brookover, left, is in his seventh year of covering the Philadelphia Eagles after spending 15 years covering the Philadelphia Phillies for the Inquirer and two other newspapers. The 45-year-old Brookover lives in Delran with his wife Francine and roots for Notre Dame and Michigan State, the two schools attended by his children, Justine and Ryan. When Notre Dame plays Michigan State, he cheers for the school of the child he likes more at that particular moment.

Jeff McLane, right, joined the Eagles beat in April 2009 after two years of covering colleges, namely Penn State football. Before that he covered high school sports for The Inquirer. Before that he worked in the mailroom (not quite). Informed that his father is no longer covering the Lions, McLane's eldest, three-year-old son said, "You mean Simba, Scar and Mufasa, Daddy?" His two-year-old son -- excited about the move to the Eagles -- said, "Go, Deigo, Go!" or something like that. His wife of five-plus years, however, had a different take on the new job. "Another five years is in question," she said. Check out McLane on Twitter and Facebook for instant updates on the Eagles.
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