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Eagles Notebook - November 25, 2008

November 25, 2008

BOOKER BACK IN PLANS

With Brian Westbrook (knee swelling and tender ankle) and Correll Buckhalter (knee sprain) missing practice Monday, the Eagles may turn to seldom-used Lorenzo Booker as an option in Thursday night's game against Arizona.

Booker is the second-year running back the Eagles acquired from Miami in exchange for a fourth-round draft pick, but saw little action before being designated as inactive the last three games.

''I think he'll be OK,'' Eagles coach Andy Reid said. ''[Pass] protection was the main thing and that's what he's worked on. I think he'll be all right there.''

Fullback Kyle Eckel, who was a fullback/halfback-type player at the Naval Academy, also could be active for the first time since signing with the Eagles, Reid said.

BACK TO WORK

With a Thursday night game, the Eagles did not get their customary rest.

They didn't get any. The Eagles practiced Monday afternoon and will be back at it again today.

''It's tough enough [during a normal week], but it's just something you have to put out of your mind,'' defensive tackle Mike Patterson said.

''You've got to put it out of your mind and go play,'' fullback Dan Klecko said.

Klecko said that was essentially the message coach Andy Reid delivered.

''Just what I said: 'Put it out of your mind and go play,''' Klecko said. ''They're going to be sore, too.''

Klecko said Reid did not address the decision he made to start quarterback Donovan McNabb instead of backup Kevin Kolb in Thursday's game against Arizona.

''We have to play better for whoever it is,'' Klecko added.

COMIC RELIEF

Asked if he gave McNabb any advice on how to bounce back from Sunday's demotion, third-string quarterback A.J. Feeley could not help laughing.

''I don't think Donovan needs any advice from me,'' Feeley said.

OTHER VIEWS

NBC's Cris Collinsworth took McNabb and Reid to task in his ''Football Night in America'' commentary Sunday night.

''Donovan learned last week the game could end in a tie, this week he learned the game could end at the half,'' Collinsworth said. ''The only thing worse was his replacement and the decision by Andy Reid to replace him. You do not take a kid who has not practiced and put him in at halftime on the road against the Baltimore Ravens killer defense. The season ended [Sunday] for the Philadelphia Eagles. Donovan McNabb is finished in Philly, is what I believe.''

NBC10 sportscaster Vai Sikahema, the pre-Reid Eagles return specialist and acknowledged friend of the coach, offered his latest criticism of the coach in a posting on his station's Web site, nbcphiladelphia.com.

Sikahema focused on Reid having quarterbacks coach Pat Shurmur deliver to McNabb the you're-benched message. ''Do you announce the breakup to your spouse in a text message? Email? Or through a mutual friend?'' Sikahema wondered. ''In essence, that's what Andy Reid did to Donovan McNabb on Sunday.''

''I predict Reid is going to be surprised that there's a backlash on this issue,'' Sikahema added. ''That's how out of touch Reid has become.''

Larry O'Rourke