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http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/columns/stor..._len&id=1829217
It remains the longest of long shots, but there is still some chance that unrestricted free agent middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter could return to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team with which he made two Pro Bowl appearances but which also released him in the spring of 2002. Word is that Trotter was trying to contact some Philadelphia officials this week, most notably coach Andy Reid, to see if there were any residual hard feelings that might preclude the club from reuniting him with coordinator Jim Johnson. Trotter, or course, was tagged as a "franchise" player by the Eagles in 2002, but the team subsequently rescinded that marker, making him a free agent. Trotter signed with Washington, had two good but not spectacular seasons, then was cut this spring for salary cap considerations. Philadelphia returns Mark Simoneau at middle linebacker and, while the spin from the Eagles is that the four-year veteran has looked improved in his second spring in their system, he is definitely coming off a roller coaster '03 season. But Johnson prefers a middle linebacker who can "run downhill" to the ball, and Simoneau might be quicker than Trotter at this point. Trotter remains a solid defender against the run, but past knee problems have reduced his range, for sure. It's a bit surprising that Minnesota, which has projected second-year pro E.J. Henderson into the starting middle linebacker vacancy created by the retirement of Greg Biekert, hasn't considered signing Trotter, at least as an insurance policy. Henderson is talented by has been hounded this spring by a series of offseason problems. He was found guilty on Thursday of drunken driving charges in Maryland and was allegedly involved in a June 6 melee outside a Minneapolis night club.
It remains the longest of long shots, but there is still some chance that unrestricted free agent middle linebacker Jeremiah Trotter could return to the Philadelphia Eagles, a team with which he made two Pro Bowl appearances but which also released him in the spring of 2002. Word is that Trotter was trying to contact some Philadelphia officials this week, most notably coach Andy Reid, to see if there were any residual hard feelings that might preclude the club from reuniting him with coordinator Jim Johnson. Trotter, or course, was tagged as a "franchise" player by the Eagles in 2002, but the team subsequently rescinded that marker, making him a free agent. Trotter signed with Washington, had two good but not spectacular seasons, then was cut this spring for salary cap considerations. Philadelphia returns Mark Simoneau at middle linebacker and, while the spin from the Eagles is that the four-year veteran has looked improved in his second spring in their system, he is definitely coming off a roller coaster '03 season. But Johnson prefers a middle linebacker who can "run downhill" to the ball, and Simoneau might be quicker than Trotter at this point. Trotter remains a solid defender against the run, but past knee problems have reduced his range, for sure. It's a bit surprising that Minnesota, which has projected second-year pro E.J. Henderson into the starting middle linebacker vacancy created by the retirement of Greg Biekert, hasn't considered signing Trotter, at least as an insurance policy. Henderson is talented by has been hounded this spring by a series of offseason problems. He was found guilty on Thursday of drunken driving charges in Maryland and was allegedly involved in a June 6 melee outside a Minneapolis night club.
