Birds sign ex-Cowboys tight end
Posted: Thu Feb 24, 2005 12:39 am
Birds sign ex-Cowboys tight end
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles signed tight end James Whalen to a two-year contract yesterday, but it doesn't necessarily signal that veteran Chad Lewis is about to retire.
In fact, a league source said yesterday that the Eagles are convinced that Lewis, 33, is determined to return from the Lisfranc sprain of his left foot that he suffered making his second touchdown catch in the team's Jan. 23 NFC championship victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
With Lewis recovering from the foot surgery and fellow tight end L.J. Smith undergoing back surgery recently, the Eagles felt as though they needed at least one healthy tight end on their roster even at this early stage of the off-season. The Eagles are a little more than two months away from their first minicamp after the April 23-24 draft.
It's quite possible the Eagles will also use one of their draft picks on a tight end.
Whalen, 27, is a veteran of four NFL seasons. He was a fifth-round draft choice by Tampa Bay in 2000, but the Buccaneers released him in training camp and he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a member of their practice squad. Whalen spent four seasons with Dallas and played in 26 games. He caught 17 passes for 152 yards.
He spent last summer in training camp with Cincinnati, but was released by the Bengals. An all-American at the University of Kentucky, he set NCAA single-season records for receptions (90), receiving yardage (1,019) and touchdowns (10) by a tight end in his senior season.
Kevin Johnson cut. The Baltimore Ravens released wide receiver Kevin Johnson yesterday, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Ravens obtained Johnson from the Jacksonville Jaguars last spring for a fourth-round draft pick.
The Jaguars had claimed him off waivers in November 2003 after he was cut by Cleveland. The Eagles also put in a claim at that time.
Johnson, who played at Syracuse with Donovan McNabb, recently expressed a preference to play for the Eagles.
Johnson caught a career-low 35 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown in 2004. He had averaged 66 receptions in his previous five seasons.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/10966159.htm
By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer
The Eagles signed tight end James Whalen to a two-year contract yesterday, but it doesn't necessarily signal that veteran Chad Lewis is about to retire.
In fact, a league source said yesterday that the Eagles are convinced that Lewis, 33, is determined to return from the Lisfranc sprain of his left foot that he suffered making his second touchdown catch in the team's Jan. 23 NFC championship victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
With Lewis recovering from the foot surgery and fellow tight end L.J. Smith undergoing back surgery recently, the Eagles felt as though they needed at least one healthy tight end on their roster even at this early stage of the off-season. The Eagles are a little more than two months away from their first minicamp after the April 23-24 draft.
It's quite possible the Eagles will also use one of their draft picks on a tight end.
Whalen, 27, is a veteran of four NFL seasons. He was a fifth-round draft choice by Tampa Bay in 2000, but the Buccaneers released him in training camp and he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as a member of their practice squad. Whalen spent four seasons with Dallas and played in 26 games. He caught 17 passes for 152 yards.
He spent last summer in training camp with Cincinnati, but was released by the Bengals. An all-American at the University of Kentucky, he set NCAA single-season records for receptions (90), receiving yardage (1,019) and touchdowns (10) by a tight end in his senior season.
Kevin Johnson cut. The Baltimore Ravens released wide receiver Kevin Johnson yesterday, making him an unrestricted free agent.
The Ravens obtained Johnson from the Jacksonville Jaguars last spring for a fourth-round draft pick.
The Jaguars had claimed him off waivers in November 2003 after he was cut by Cleveland. The Eagles also put in a claim at that time.
Johnson, who played at Syracuse with Donovan McNabb, recently expressed a preference to play for the Eagles.
Johnson caught a career-low 35 passes for 373 yards and a touchdown in 2004. He had averaged 66 receptions in his previous five seasons.
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/10966159.htm