Westbrook rested; Jean-Gilles has surgery

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Thursday December 04, 2008, 3:22 PM

Associated PressBrian Westbrook was given the day off Thursday to rest his knee and ankle.

PHILADELPHIA -- NFC Offensive Player of the Week, Eagles' running back Brian Westbrook, was held out of today's practice at the NovaCare Complex to rest his knee and ankle in preparation for Sunday's make-or-break game against the Giants (11-1) at the Meadowlands.

Westbrook practiced Wednesday when the game plan was installed and is expected to start.

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Donovan McNabb wants a sit-down with Eagles' brass

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Thursday December 04, 2008, 12:24 AM

Associated PressDonovan McNabb has asked for a postseason face-to-face with head coach Andy Reid, team president Joe Banner and owner Jeffrey Lurie regarding his future.

PHILADELPHIA -- The day after welcoming newborn twins into is family, Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb is looking for a different type of love from the Eagles.

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McNabbs welcome twins

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Tuesday December 02, 2008, 6:40 PM

Associated PressEagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb had two more reasons to smile today.

Donovan McNabb surely will have a happy holiday no matter how the rest of the 2008 season pans out for the Eagles.

McNabb and his wife, Roxie, welcomed twins - a boy and a girl - to their nest early this morning - a story first reported by John Clark of NBC Channel 10 in Philadelphia.

The McNabb's also have a four-year-old daughter, Alexis.

McNabb will address the media tomorrow at the NovaCare Complex in preparation for Sunday's NFC battle with the Giants at the Meadowlands.

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Eagles respect Giants with or without Burress

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Monday December 01, 2008, 4:17 PM

Associated PressPlaxico Burress had seven touchdowns in his last eight games against the Eagles. The Giants' wide receiver will not play when the two teams meet again Sunday at the Meadowlands.

PHILADELPHIA -- The Eagles were going to have their hands full with the Giants Sunday at the Meadowlands even before Plaxico Burress shot himself in the leg at a New York City nightclub Friday night.

Now that the Birds have seen what the top seed in the NFC was able to do against the Washington Redskins Sunday without Burress, who surrendered to police on a weapons charge Monday and was led away from the 17th Precinct in handcuffs, players at the NovaCare Complex are even more impressed.

"Just their consistency and the fact that they are never distracted says a lot about their organization and the type of people they have over there,'' rookie defensive tackle Trevor Laws said. "They have had some things happen over there this year and they just keep plugging away. It's just one of those things a good team has, from the leaders to the coaching staff.''

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Eagles' G Shawn Andrews finally returns to NovaCare Complex

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Monday December 01, 2008, 4:08 PM

Philadelphia EaglesShawn Andrews has finally rejoined his Eagles' teammates after Oct. 21 back surgery in Marina Del Ray, Calif.

PHILADELPHIA -- Two-Time Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews finally returned to the Eagles' practice facility today after close to a month in California recovering from surgery to repair the L4-L5 disc in his back.

Sporting a red Mohawk hairdo, a trimmer physique and seemingly in good spirits, Andrews addressed the media for the first time since his surgery Oct. 21.

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Postgame Notebook

by Philadelphia Eagles Media Services

Friday November 28, 2008, 1:30 AM

Getty ImagesBrian Dawkins had one of the Eagles' three interceptions of Kurt Warner Thursday. It was the 34th of his career, tying Eric Allen and Bill Bradley for the franchise record.

Thanksgiving Day Birds ... The Eagles improved their record to 5-0 on Thanksgiving and 9-2 on Thursdays overall. They have outscored their opponents, 111-34, on Thanksgiving, including three shutouts.

Breaking Out The Broom ... With a 48-20 win over the Cardinals, the Eagles swept the NFC West this year, going 4-0 and outscoring those opponents, 152-56. The Eagles also swept the NFC West in 2002.

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Westbrook, McNabb power Eagles to 48-20 rout of Cardinals

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Thursday November 27, 2008, 11:34 PM

Associated PressBrian Westbrook scored a career-best four touchdowns in Thursday's win over the Cardinals.

PHILADELPHIA -- "Operation Scapegoat'' - code for Donovan McNabb taking the brunt of the blame for the Eagles' being on the fast track to missing the playoffs for the third time in four years - hit a snag Thursday night at Lincoln Financial Field.

McNabb and an offense stuck in the mud for the better part of a month actually looked like a diverse, fully functional professional outfit against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Eagles scored the game's first 21 points and registered 32 first downs to roll past the Cardinals, 48-20.

"He was under some scrutiny and he was able to block everything out and he went about his business,'' head coach Andy Reid said of McNabb. "That's a credit to him and the kind of person he is and the kind of athlete and quarterback that he is."

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Eagles' guard Max Jean-Gilles done for the season

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Thursday November 27, 2008, 10:01 PM

Philadelphia EaglesEagles' right guard Max Jean-Gilles fractured his ankle in the first half against the Cardinals Thursday and has been lost for the season.

PHILADELPHIA -- The season of Eagles' right guard Max Jean-Gilles ended with 12 seconds remaining in the half of Thursday night's 48-20 win over the Arizona Cardinals when he was carted off the field with a fractured right ankle.

Jean-Gilles was injured when Arizona linebacker Chike Okeafor rolled into his leg from behind as quarterback Donovan McNabb took off on a scramble.

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Joselio Hanson replaces Asante Samuel at left cornerback for Eagles

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Thursday November 27, 2008, 6:40 PM

Getty ImagesEagles' cornerback Asante Samuel is inactive for tonight's game against the Cardinals with a stinger (neck).

PHILADELPHIA -- The highest paid defensive player in Eagles' history will not play against one of the No. 2 passing offense in the NFL tonight, as cornerback Asante Samuel has been rendered inactive for the Arizona Cardinals after twice being removed from last week's 36-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens with a stinger injury to his neck.

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Eagles' QB Donovan McNabb: "I'm not the only one that's the problem''

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Tuesday November 25, 2008, 2:21 PM

Getty ImagesDonovan McNabb was benched for the first time in his career Sunday against Baltimore.

PHILADELPHIA -- The NFL set a record for points scored in a single week once the New Orleans Saints finished routing the Green Bay Packers Monday night at the Superdome.
The contribution of the Eagles' offense to that total?

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McNabb, Eagles humiliated by Ravens, 36-7

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Sunday November 23, 2008, 7:27 PM

Associated PressDonovan McNabb watched from the sidelines after being benched in the second half of Sunday's 36-7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.

BALTIMORE -- For once, Eagles' head coach Andy Reid was right on the money.

"It's an understatement to say that was a poor offensive performance,'' Reid said after taking the unprecedented step of benching quarterback Donovan McNabb in favor of Kevin Kolb, only to get lambasted 36-7 by the Baltimore Ravens Sunday at M&T Bank Stadium.

"When you get beat up like we did today that's a head coaching problem and a direct reflection of the job I'm doing. It's unacceptable.''

That is more than taking responsibility, ladies and gentlemen.

That sounds like a man that has lost confidence in himself, his team and, obviously, his quarterback.

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Andy Reid leaning toward starting McNabb vs. Cardinals

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Sunday November 23, 2008, 6:21 PM

Associated PressKevin Kolb provided no relief for the Eagles in the second half Sunday against the Ravens by throwing two interceptions.

BALTIMORE -- The day after Donovan McNabb played one of the worst games of his NFL career and admitted not knowing NFL rules regarding ties last week against Cincinnati Bengals, this is what Eagles' head coach Andy Reid said when asked if he would consider giving backup quarterback Kevin Kolb a look.

"No. That's not what I'm doing right now,'' Reid said Monday. "Donovan will continue to be the quarterback.''

Apparently, even Reid can only take so much.

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Kevin Kolb replaces Donovan McNabb

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Sunday November 23, 2008, 2:59 PM

Rusty Kennedy/Associated PressDonovan McNabb is out, Kevin Kolb in as the Eagles' quarterback for the second half against the Ravens.

BALTIMORE -- Second-year quarterback Kevin Kolb has replaced Donovan McNabb to start the second half against the Baltimore Ravens.

McNabb had an abysmal 13.2 passer rating and three turnovers over the first two quarters.

Kolb, the Eagles' top pick (second round) in the 2007 NFL Draft, did not attempt a single pass and played in only one game as a rookie.

Kolb's first series as the starter resulted in a 40-yard punt by Sav Rocca with the Eagles trailing 10-7.

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Eagles' LB Omar Gaither benched

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Sunday November 23, 2008, 1:10 PM

Philadelphia EaglesEagles' LB Omar Gaither and TE L.J. Smith did not start today's game against the Ravens.

BALTIMORE -- Eagles' head coach Andy Reid shook up his lineup on both sides of the ball today by benching weakside linebacker Omar Gaither and starting Brent Celek at tight end in place of L.J. Smith.

Akeem Jordan replaced Gaither, who is fifth on the Eagles with 62 tackles, including six for a loss. Gaither had started 33 consecutive games since his rookie season of 2006.

Smith was sent into the game on the Eagles' second offensive series.

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Brian Westbrook will start for Eagles

by John Nalbone/The Times of Trenton

Sunday November 23, 2008, 9:31 AM

BALTIMORE -- Brian Westbrook, hampered throughout the week by swelling in his ankle and knee, is active and will start today's game against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium.

Westbrook did not practice during the week, marking the first time he has done that and still played on Sunday.

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