tr1 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Philly fans continue to hold these good news stories from us... http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=knight-eaglesreachendofrockyroad&prov=knight&type=lgns Eagles reach end of rocky road with Mitchell By Bob Brookover, Inquirer Staff Writer They were all wrong about Freddie Mitchell. That much is obvious now that the "People's Champion" has officially been stripped of the title of Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver. In a move that surprised only the oblivious, the Eagles released Mitchell yesterday afternoon. They made the announcement with a two-paragraph e-mail that included a quote from coach Andy Reid. "We appreciate everything Freddie has contributed to the Eagles organization over the last four years," Reid said. "By releasing him now, it gives him the opportunity for a new start with another team in the NFL." No one from the Eagles was available to be questioned on Mitchell's release, and attempts to reach the normally talkative wide receiver were not successful. The silence was ironic considering that Mitchell's mouth ultimately signed his Eagles death certificate four years after the team made him its No. 1 draft pick in 2001. Everyone was talking back then, and now we know that what they were saying was all wrong. Reid on draft day 2001: "He has the intangibles that you look for." It's safe to say that Reid regrets that statement about Mitchell, unless he truly was looking for that intangible in which a wide receiver taken in the first round never moves higher than No. 3 on the depth chart. It's also hard to imagine that the coach fell in love with the trash-talking intangible that infuriated New England safety Rodney Harrison before the Eagles' Super Bowl loss to the Patriots and alienated many of his teammates this off-season. Reid was concerned about that part of Mitchell's personality four years ago. Concerned enough that he made a trip to UCLA for lunch with Mitchell and a conversation with some of the Bruins' offensive linemen. "Linemen won't lie to you," Reid said after the Eagles drafted Mitchell. "They loved him." Reid was one offensive lineman who never truly fell in love with Mitchell. Last week, during the team's minicamp, Reid cordially invited Mitchell not to attend. The Eagles, of course, were ultimately wrong about Mitchell. After acquiring star quarterback Donovan McNabb with their first-round choice in 1999 and eventual Pro Bowl defensive tackle Corey Simon with their first-round choice in 2000, the Eagles' draft duo of Reid and then-personnel chief Tom Modrak erred with the selection of Mitchell. The Indianapolis Colts got Reggie Wayne five picks after Mitchell, and he has 18 more career touchdowns and 1,841 more yards than Mitchell. The Cincinnati Bengals took Chad Johnson 11 picks later, and he has 20 more career touchdowns and 2,856 more yards. The Miami Dolphins got Chris Chambers 27 picks after Mitchell, and he has produced 23 more touchdowns and 2,210 more yards than Mitchell. The Carolina Panthers got Steve Smith 49 picks after Mitchell, and he's one of the top receivers in the league. Mitchell, of course, was wrong, too. His most memorable quote on draft day 2001: "I'm ready for the world to see me." In his first two seasons in the NFL, he wasn't even ready to consistently step on the field. As a rookie, he caught just 21 balls for 283 yards and one touchdown. A year later, the Eagles decided he still wasn't ready to handle the role of the No. 3 receiver, prompting the team to sign veteran Antonio Freeman. Mitchell had 12 catches for 105 yards and no touchdowns. Mitchell finally became the No. 3 receiver in his third season as he made 35 catches for 498 yards and two touchdowns, then contributed one of the most memorable plays in team history with a fourth-and-26 reception that eventually led to an overtime playoff victory against Green Bay. With the arrival of Terrell Owens last season, Mitchell's numbers again declined and he became discontented with his role. When he was drafted, Mitchell referred to Donovan McNabb as Mr. McNabb, and he often spoke in glowing terms about the Eagles' quarterback during his time here. But this off-season, he described the quarterback in far less flattering terms. By then, it was obvious he was going to be playing elsewhere and, finally, FredEx was shipped out yesterday. Next stop? Tampa Bay, Denver, Washington and the New York Giants are all possibilities. Training camp dates. The training camp reporting date at Lehigh University for Eagles rookies is July 29. Veterans are scheduled to report the evening of Aug. 1, with the first full-squad practice scheduled the following day. Camp at Lehigh ends Aug. 14 with a closed walk-through practice before the team's exhibition opener at Pittsburgh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ghost of Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I really don't know why this is a surprise. I never expected anything from Mitchell and wanted no part of him on the Skins. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
augster Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 My seat of the pants prediction: Freddie winds up on the Packers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 we want Fred-Ex Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hooper Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Yeah, like we want herpes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 Originally posted by bubba9497 we want Fred-Ex "We" do? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. S Posted May 7, 2005 Share Posted May 7, 2005 I wonder if any team will take him, even the Packers. If anything, I could see the 49ers and the Seahawks, maybe the Saints taking a look only cause of a small hope for him. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
leaping lizzy Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 In Denver he could hang out with Champ. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bubba9497 Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Originally posted by Park City Skins "We" do? I'm channeling jbooma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PCS Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Originally posted by bubba9497 I'm channeling jbooma Gads. Bleah. Sure that won't leave a mark? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsFTW Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 I think someone will end up signing him for the minimum but not the Redskins unless they make duct tape to the mouth part of the contract. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RockyMountainHog Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Hooper ...is Michael Vick in town?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimboDaMan Posted May 8, 2005 Share Posted May 8, 2005 Originally posted by bubba9497 I'm channeling jbooma Which channel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
36HAMMER Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 tafter the off-season we've had with recievers showing their butts we don't need one that never puts his pants on Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerpsEagles Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 Originally posted by JimboDaMan Which channel? I'm guessing LowDef ? j/k bubba Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leonard Washington Posted May 10, 2005 Share Posted May 10, 2005 i think that's a good quote by reid b/c they definately wouldn't have been where they were if it wasn't for mitchell making big catches. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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