On the Birds Beat-Andrews Examined; Smith Still Starter - Monday, November 03, 2008
196 Views :: 0 Comments :: :: Team - Eagles, Brian Seltzer

-RG Shawn Andrews has spent nearly two weeks in California following back surgery on 10/21.  His is undergoing a re-evaluation today.  The findings will determine when Andrews can return to Philadelphia.

-TE Brent Celek provided the Eagles with a strong showing yesterday.  His 131 receiving yards marked the most by a Birds' TE since Pete Retzlaff registered 148 on November 28th, 1965.

-Andy Reid quickly dismissed the notion that Celek's performance would lead to a promotion to the starting TE spot.  In fact, the head coach bent over backwards to indicate that the job will still belong to LJ Smith upon his return, going as far as to call Smith "Pro Bowl" caliber player. Smith, of course, has never made the February flight to Honolulu, and his output so far this season and last would hardly suggest that he'll take such a trip any time soon.

-Smith is a solid T.E. whos contributions might sometimes get overlooked; however, tabbing him a "Pro Bowler," as Reid did this afternoon, is a stretch.  True Pro Bowl players still find ways to produce, even when they "attract attention," as Reid put it this afternoon.  Clearly, Smith has not been able to do that, particularly in the aerial attack (just 12 RC for 105 YD in 6 games).

Publicly, when asked why Smith has struggled to get involved from a pass-catching standpoint, Reid has downplayed the issue and praised Smith for grading highly as a blocking TE.   That might be true, but such an output in and of itself is definitely not a lot in return for the $4.5 million the Birds paid to bring Smith back for 2008.

-It is curious that Reid went so far out of the way today to praise LJ Smith, making remarks like, "Celek, obviously, had a big day, and again, that doesn't happen very often. L.J. attracts so much attention that the obvious question is, why isn't L.J. getting the same number of yards, but he attracts so much attention and Celek comes in and he's kind of an unknown guy, so there were times where they didn't do a great job of covering him. I'm not taking anything away from him because I thought that he played his heart out, and when he did have man-to-man situations, which he had three of those, he dominated there. He did a great job. I know what the obvious question is and it has nothing to do with L.J.'s play."

Perhaps Reid was trying to prevent Smith from experiencing any paranoia, and use those words to provide Smith with a sense of comfort.

-A positive for Smith is that his post-concussion symptoms are improving.  His status for this week is still ify.

-WR Jason Avant sat out yesterday's contest at Seattle with a trap strain.  He should be available for the Eagles' first practice of the week this Wednesday.

-CB Lito Sheppard suffered a groin strain in the second quarter against the Seahawks.  He would not have practiced today had the Birds' worked out, and it's unlikely he'll be ready to return by Wednesday.