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Eagles Notes: Reid: McNabb has stepped up as leader

Donovan McNabb has answered questions before about his role as the Eagles' leader. He answered them again yesterday after coach Andy Reid reiterated his feelings about the way the quarterback has taken charge in his 11th season.

Donovan McNabb

has answered questions before about his role as the Eagles' leader.

He answered them again yesterday after coach Andy Reid reiterated his feelings about the way the quarterback has taken charge in his 11th season.

"He is that senior guy that Tra [Thomas] had been before and [Brian] Dawkins had been before," Reid said before practice yesterday. "Now he is it, and he has a bunch of young guys around him, more than he has before. He always did a good job, but he just took it up another notch."

For his part, McNabb said he is not doing things any differently than in the past, and he continued to maintain that being labeled a leader has "always been overrated."

"I've answered this for the last I don't know how many years," McNabb said. "You say what you have to say, and you prepare yourself to go out and play well. In certain situations, you have to step up and talk to guys and make sure they're on the same page."

It's true that the Eagles have more young players contributing on offense this season than at any other time during McNabb's long run as the quarterback, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Cowboys coach Wade Phillips, who is preparing his team for Sunday night's game at Lincoln Financial Field, believes the Eagles have more weapons than ever at McNabb's disposal.

"You still see a great quarterback that can make plays that other people can't make," Phillips said in a conference call with reporters. "No matter what receivers he's had, he's had a big career . . . but I think this group of receivers is as good as he's had in a while."

In the Eagles' 40-17 rout of the New York Giants, McNabb's four primary weapons were receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin, tight end Brent Celek, and running back LeSean McCoy. Two of the four - Maclin and McCoy - are rookies and none of them has more than three years of NFL experience.

"I think when you have younger guys, it's a challenge," McNabb said. "Not just for those guys, but it's a challenge for you, because they are so talented but some are still so overconfident, and you have to bring them down. I think when some guys come out of college, they think they are invincible, and you have to make sure they understand that they're not, and you have to make sure they are preparing at all times for what they'll be faced with.

"I think once they get settled, and they understand exactly what it is that you are trying to express to them, then things begin to go even-keeled."

The Stewart factor

Reid said the Eagles' offensive and defensive coaches have spent time this week picking the brain of secondary coach

Brian Stewart,

who was fired last season as the Cowboys' defensive coordinator shortly after the Eagles' 44-6 rout of Dallas in the final regular-season game.

"All the coaches from the offensive side have talked to him about the scheme, and he had been with Wade a long time," Reid said. "We'd be foolish not to utilize him. I know the defensive coaches have talked to him about the personnel on the offensive side."

Phillips, who also worked with Stewart in San Diego, had little to say about his former defensive coordinator's dismissal.

"I thought it was better for him overall," Phillips said. "I'll leave it at that. You can see he's a heck of a coach."

Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown said this game means more to Stewart than some others.

"You'd be crazy not to think so," Brown said. "It didn't work out there for him, and it looked like he was one of the fall guys. I just know this game means a lot to him."

Injury report

Defensive tackle

Brodrick Bunkley,

linebacker

Chris Gocong

, and defensive end

Chris Clemons

did not practice yesterday. Bunkley suffered a knee injury in the first quarter of the Giants game, but he did return. Gocong injured his right quadriceps in the first half and his right hamstring in the second half. Clemons has a sprained shoulder.

If Gocong cannot play, the Eagles will likely start rookie Moise Fokou at strong-side linebacker.

Defensive end Victor Abiamiri and wide receiver Kevin Curtis also remained out of practice with knee injuries. Curtis is still in Utah recovering from knee surgery.

Rookie safety Victor "Macho" Harris returned to practice after sitting out the Giants game with an ankle injury.