The Eagles are bigger, and therefore, better, apparently. That’s the issue Daily News scribe Les Bowen adopted yesterday at Eagles minicamp, which is officially underway to wet our football appetites. [Link]
And so begins another season of ubiquitous football coverage. "Big" is in. "Stopping the run" is in. "Speed," like the kind Keith "The Bullet" Adams and Mark Simoneau once possessed in a different version of the Eagles, is out like yesterday's news. Size is the new black. Specifically, the size of players that haven't played yet (Chris Gocong, Victor Abiamiri, Stewart Bradley), barely played (Broderick Bunkley) or played for other teams (Takeo Spikes, Montae Reagor). Even the offense is getting into the act, where East-West runner Ryan Moats will be challenged by North-South pounder Tony Hunt.
It’s always something at Eagles’ minicamp. Something new. Something fresh. And often, something that’s never seen outside the confines of Eagles minicamp. Like Na Brown’s soft hands.
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Ray Didinger and Glen Macnow revisited the phenomenon of Na Brown’s hands Saturday on 610 WIP, using Brown's magical appendages to denounce anything said or written during minicamp. Everyone remembers the former North Carolina standout, and it wasn’t because he caught 34 passes for the Eagles between 1999-2001. It’s because of his soft, pillowy mitts, which were destined for Canton every May between 1999 and 2001.
Na was part of a deep 1999 wideout class, which transformed into a mostly underachiving lot of NFL journeymen. Rams star Torry Holt was taken in that draft, but so were David Boston, Troy Edwards, Peerless Price, Kevin Johnson, D’Wayne Bates, Tai Streets, and our man Na.
Very early, scouts loved his hands. "Adequate size," said Pro Football Weekly. "Very good hands and hand-eye coordination. Can really snatch the ball and has quick hands and reactions. Good lateral speed. Makes the tough catch inside. Has worked to improve speed."
Then in the same report: "Will never be a burner. Does not have great size for a possession-type receiver. Can be a little inconsistent catching the ball."
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We all know how the story ended. Na could snatch minicamp hype, but when it came to footballs or playing time, not so much. He was released a month before the start of the 2002 season, his spot on the roster replaced by Antonio Freeman.
(Jason Weitzel is the author of Beerleaguer, a blog about the Philadelphia Phillies. He is an avid reader of the 700 Level and a fan of all Philadelphia sports)