NFL Notebook: Backup McMahon hopes to ignite Eagles
PHILADELPHIA -- He's fast, elusive and has a strong arm.
Mike McMahon sure is a lot like Donovan McNabb -- minus the five trips to the Pro Bowl, four NFC championship games and one Super Bowl.
With McNabb out for the rest of the season after deciding to have surgery for a sports hernia, McMahon gets a chance to revive the Philadelphia Eagles' fading playoff hopes.
A fifth-year pro from Rutgers, McMahon has a difficult task leading an offense that was inconsistent even with McNabb and receiver Terrell Owens playing. It didn't get any easier Friday when Pro Bowl left tackle Tra Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a back injury.
Thomas, who battled back problems most of the season and missed part of training camp while taking medication for a blood clot in his leg, will undergo disc surgery. He will be replaced in the lineup by rookie Todd Heremans.
The Eagles have lost four in a row and are last in the NFC East with a 4-6 record going into Sunday's game against Green Bay.
"You never know what is going to happen, the NFL is crazy," McMahon said. "A lot of teams make playoff runs late. As long as we go out there and take one game at a time, do it businesslike, you never know."
In his first start for McNabb, McMahon passed four a career-high 298 yards and one touchdown and ran for a touchdown in a 27-17 loss to the New York Giants last week.
EXTRA POINTS: Chargers TE Antonio Gates practiced for the second day in a row and reported no setbacks with the sprained right foot that has him listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Redskins. ... Rams OT Orlando Pace missed practice for the second consecutive day with a hamstring injury, but the six-time Pro Bowl player was optimistic he wouldn't miss any playing time. ... Chiefs DL Lional Dalton was jailed Friday after being arrested for allegedly grabbing his estranged wife by the hair and pulling her down. Dalton, 30, was released on $2,500 bond. ... Patriots coach Bill Belichick returned to practice after missing two days to attend his father's funeral. ... The rivalry between the Bucs and Falcons went from nasty to costly Friday when the NFL fined four players for unsportsmanlike play in Sunday's 30-27 victory by the Bucs. Tampa Bay DE Greg Spires was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness. Atlanta LB Demorio Williams was fined $10,000 for poking an opponent in the eye. Falcons guard Kynan Forney was fined $7,500 for an illegal clip, and tackle Kevin Shaffer $5,000 for an illegal block.
Mike McMahon sure is a lot like Donovan McNabb -- minus the five trips to the Pro Bowl, four NFC championship games and one Super Bowl.
With McNabb out for the rest of the season after deciding to have surgery for a sports hernia, McMahon gets a chance to revive the Philadelphia Eagles' fading playoff hopes.
A fifth-year pro from Rutgers, McMahon has a difficult task leading an offense that was inconsistent even with McNabb and receiver Terrell Owens playing. It didn't get any easier Friday when Pro Bowl left tackle Tra Thomas was placed on injured reserve with a back injury.
Thomas, who battled back problems most of the season and missed part of training camp while taking medication for a blood clot in his leg, will undergo disc surgery. He will be replaced in the lineup by rookie Todd Heremans.
The Eagles have lost four in a row and are last in the NFC East with a 4-6 record going into Sunday's game against Green Bay.
"You never know what is going to happen, the NFL is crazy," McMahon said. "A lot of teams make playoff runs late. As long as we go out there and take one game at a time, do it businesslike, you never know."
In his first start for McNabb, McMahon passed four a career-high 298 yards and one touchdown and ran for a touchdown in a 27-17 loss to the New York Giants last week.
EXTRA POINTS: Chargers TE Antonio Gates practiced for the second day in a row and reported no setbacks with the sprained right foot that has him listed as questionable for Sunday's game with the Redskins. ... Rams OT Orlando Pace missed practice for the second consecutive day with a hamstring injury, but the six-time Pro Bowl player was optimistic he wouldn't miss any playing time. ... Chiefs DL Lional Dalton was jailed Friday after being arrested for allegedly grabbing his estranged wife by the hair and pulling her down. Dalton, 30, was released on $2,500 bond. ... Patriots coach Bill Belichick returned to practice after missing two days to attend his father's funeral. ... The rivalry between the Bucs and Falcons went from nasty to costly Friday when the NFL fined four players for unsportsmanlike play in Sunday's 30-27 victory by the Bucs. Tampa Bay DE Greg Spires was fined $7,500 for unnecessary roughness. Atlanta LB Demorio Williams was fined $10,000 for poking an opponent in the eye. Falcons guard Kynan Forney was fined $7,500 for an illegal clip, and tackle Kevin Shaffer $5,000 for an illegal block.
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