Not likely... fairly generic stuff from McNabb, but it was interesting to read what he said about Desean Jackson simply because he never really talked about the kid in mini camp.

He lists some of the usual questions he's gotten and his answers

Q: Did the team do enough this offseason to compete for a Super Bowl?

A: We have enough to compete right now. If there is a chance to continue improving our roster after June 1 than we should look at that too.

Q: Without any new offensive weapons, how will the team improve this year?

A: Having L.J. Smith healthy is a good start. We need to be more productive in the Red Zone and that's a part of the field where the tight end is crucial. When L.J. was hurt last year we seemed to get away from that too much.

Q: What about DeSean Jackson?

A: He impressed me with his speed and ability to catch the ball. Hopefully he will be able to shorten the field for us with his return ability on special teams, and stretch the field on offense with his speed.

I suppose the June 1 line is interesting. Clearly McNabbb is still looking for more pieces.

The Eagles Fancast boys chatted with Tommy Lawlor of Scouts Notebook about the Eagles draft. (Eagles Fancast)

Iggles Blog scored an interview with Eagles Kicker David Akers thanks to REEBOK. (Iggles Blog)

The 700 level has pics of some Eagles cheerleaders getting nude going green. (700 Level)

Here's a look at the state of sport in the city of Philadelphia ... Who do you think will be the team to break the drought? (Poor Sports)

I've talked about this before and I must say I wholeheartedly agree with Dave here ... Yet another Philly writer has written an "oh poor me" column about how hard his job is covering the Eagles. (Eagle Scout)

It's the offseason, which is why we see things like "The Rise and Fall of Koy." Was it a rise and fall or just a nondescript sputter... you decide. (Inside the Iggles)

Bounty Bowl has some comments on McNabb's latest inspirational t-shirt , which appears to be more of a novel than just a simple slogan. (Bounty Bowl)

The Eagles Chick is enjoying watching the Patriots squirm ... (Eagles Chick)

If you haven't seen this "Empire Strikes Barack" video yet... check it out. Hilarity. (Huge Tiny Mistake)

That said, I'd say this shirt best sums up my feelings on the political season... (Fortress of Pillows)

AJ Feeley's favorite receiver, Lofa Tatupu, was arrested for DUI . (The Big Lead)

It appears the Eagles may have lost their good luck charm , Jessica Simpson. (WWTDD)

Finally, I went to the Philadelphia Museum of Art this weekend to check out the Frida Kahlo exhibit which was great BTW... I decided to stay in the city Saturday night and had one of the best meals ever at Alma de Cuba on Walnut street. I highly recommend that place if you're looking for a great meal in the city.

It could be the Eagles says ESPN's Matt Mosley.. .

I realize the Jacksonville Jaguars would be the logical choice if you have them ranked behind the Colts in the AFC South, but let's go with something a little less obvious. The Eagles' season was doomed from the start last season because of the uncertainty of how starting quarterback Donovan McNabb would respond from ACL surgery and because of the family issues that plagued head coach Andy Reid.

But something funny happened over the last month of the season. The Eagles could have packed it in, but instead they started playing their best football. They should automatically be better on defense with the addition of All-Pro cornerback Asante Samuel. And the release of veteran Takeo Spikes will actually make them more athletic. Jeremiah Trotter's replacement, Omar Gaither, grew into his role as the season went on and I think he'll be a much more consistent player.

He goes on to talk about some more reasons why it could happen... It makes total sense, but then again it probably would make sense about several teams in the NFC. I'm just not convinced that anyone in the NFC is really head and shoulders above the pack.

The Saints look like they were primed for a real run and they fell flat last year. The Bears go the superbowl and fall flat. Those were the two teams in the NFC Title game in 06... I have no doubt that the same thing could happen again with a number of NFC teams that made the postseason in 07. Dallas has looked like it was on a upswing the past couple years, but then they can't win a playoff game and are getting old at certain positions. The Packers have a big bounce back year and then Favre retires. Anyone want to bet Aaron Rodgers will lead them to another 13-3 record? The Seahawks have hung around... but do they scare anyone? Would they have made the playoffs if they weren't in the NFC West? The Giants won it all, so you'd have to say they're the class of the conference... but they were no more than a wildcard last year and an 8-8 team the previous year. How many experts do anyone think will pick the Giants to repeat? Either as conference or SB champs?

Any of these teams could turn out to be better than I think... but that's the point. There are no Patriots or Colts in the NFC. There's a lot of mediocrity parity.

via d.yimg.com

Donovan McNabb was held out of Monday's practice

Clutching his right shoulder, Eagles franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb watched the last minicamp practice Monday.McNabb also was held out of the last portion of the Saturday afternoon practice, the snaps given to second-year quarterback Kevin Kolb.

Kolb took most of the first-team repetitions Monday, yet another sign the No. 2 job is his to lose.

Andy said in his post camp press conference that he held Donovan out because he had been charting his throws and that McNabb had thrown as many balls that he intended him to throw this weekend.

As for the grossest injury news of the day... Tra Thomas missed practice because he had a cyst on his head that needed to be drained. Aren't you glad I posted this after lunchtime?

First, everyone wanted to know whether McNabb thought the Eagles got the "playmakers" he asked for.

“I said playmakers, I didn’t say receivers,” McNabb said. “I said guys that can come in and make plays for us. We brought in Asante, who led the league in interceptions two years ago, and last year had a lot of interceptions as well. That was a start.

But did he like the offseason?

“(The offseason) wasn’t about my liking, it was for the team,” McNabb said.

Could the Eagles have been any more aggressive in the offseason?

“I think they did a great job,” McNabb said with a smile.

Can they win the Super Bowl this year with the players they have?

“I think we can win the Super Bowl every year,” McNabb said, this time without the smile.

If McNabb is bluffing, he’s doing a great job of it. He seemed upbeat, joking in the locker room and laughing with teammates.

Brian Westbrook was a bit more frank when he was asked about playmakers

"We added some guys that can play," Westbrook said. "At this point I guess you have to go to war with the guys that you have ... unless they add someone else. Me being satisfied doesn't mean too much. I want to add the best players to our team and I think we have some very good players already that can get the job done."

But ...

"If we can get a big-time receiver, a big-time runner, or whatever we can get, that's what I want as a player," Westbrook continued. "Coach (Andy Reid) made a point that he was going to get some playmakers on this team. I think he tried to. A lot of those (potential) trades and acquisitions didn't really go his way."

Westbrook on his contract situation.

"I'm paid," said Westbrook, who led the NFL with 2,104 yards from scrimmage last season. "I signed a contract that was fair at that (time), so there's no sense in me crying about it now."

Westbrook continued to deliver the goods on the topic of player compensation and his personal dealings with the Eagles' front office.

"All players want more money," Westbrook said. "I think the team's job is to not pay all the money that the player wants. I think that's where the conflict comes into play. I think this organization is a very good organization and they try to do things the right way. That doesn't necessarily mean that it al ways ends up the right way all the time, either."

I must say, I really love hearing Westbrook speak. He doesn't try to be controversial or even all that diplomatic either. He just comes off as honest and business-like. What more can you ask for?

Lito on his contract situation?

I'm not talking, so I don't know why you are all hanging around," a good-natured Sheppard told the horde of reporters gathered around his locker. "I'll answer a couple of questions on Monday."

Asante Samuel did his best to stay out of it.

"That's got nothing to do with me," Samuel said. "I just do what my coach tells me to do. It doesn't matter what I am used to. Whatever my coach tells me to do, I'm going to do it."

Sheldon Brown chimed in with his thoughts on the Lito situation

"I don't really know how Lito's situation is being handled," Brown said. "Obviously, Lito and me are close, but he doesn't really share that. As far as I know everything is OK. He's straight. He hasn't come to me and said they're doing it wrong. So, I just worry about my business. If we can play together and stay together, I'm cool with it. Hopefully we can stay together and win the (Super Bowl) and then all of us will get what we deserve."

And would Sheldon mind playing with Lito and Asante on the field?

  ``To be honest with you, I love it. Because I get to move into the slot. I get to rush the quarterback (from the slot). I get to do all that stuff. I hate it outside. It's boring out there.''

Brian Dawkins continued his defense of Lito

'It's different,'' Dawkins said of seeing a displaced Sheppard working as the third cornerback.

''[Sheppard's] play speaks for itself. When he's healthy, it speaks for itself. You have exactly what you need in a cornerback when you have Lito on the field. And when he gets the ball in his hands, it's almost six points.''

But he also defended the addition of Asante

'We were 32nd in the league in turnovers, so it doesn't surprise me they got playmakers on our side of the ball,'' free safety Brian Dawkins said. ''If we just hold onto some of the [turnover opportunities], we're not an 8-8 team.''

King listed the Eagles as one of his 5 teams he liked on draft weekend.

2. Philadelphia. The Eagles always ask for too much in trade. Always. They couldn't get rid of Lito Shepard last weekend, but that was primarily because Shepard, who gets hurt too much, wants a new contract even though he has four years left on his current one. But the Eagles were able to auction off the 19th pick in the draft for a mind-boggling sum, which they got from Carolina -- second- and fourth-round picks this year and the Panthers' first-round pick next year.

On the draft-trade chart, the 19th overall pick is worth 875 points. If you assign Carolina an average 2008 season and give them the 16th pick in the first round next year, this trade will be worth 1,546 points on the trade chart -- almost double what the 19th pick is worth. In terms of real additions this year, DeSean Jackson as a receiver/returner with the 49th pick is excellent value.

King wasn't the only member of the national media to like the Eagles draft. NBC sports gave the draft an "A" grade

By trading out of the 19th spot, the Birds picked up a first-rounder in next year’s draft. They also took an explosive first-round talent (receiver DeSean Jackson) at No. 47 overall. Notre Dame defensive tackle Trevor Laws, who Philadelphia got 47th, has a motor that never stops running.

Wisconsin defensive back Jack Ikegwuonu has starting potential, but is coming off a torn ACL. Linebacker picks Bryan Smith, Joe Mays, and Andy Studebaker may only be special teamers. Fourth-round safety Quintin Demps can fly.

Grade: A

The local media predictably painted a less rosy picture .

When Day 2 of the NFL draft wrapped up on Sunday, the Eagles had added depth at myriad positions and restocked for the 2009 draft. But they were arguably no better than last season's playoff-absent squad that finished 8-8.

Rich Hoffman asks how McNabb reacted

What does Donovan think? This is different from what he might say in public in the days or weeks following the 2008 NFL draft, when the Eagles again traded out of the first round and used their first pick in the second round on another defensive tackle (Trevor Laws), and then used their next pick on a very fast part-time wide receiver and full-time return specialist who is the size of a 10th-grader (DeSean Jackson), and also traded a fourth-round draft choice for a smallish running back the 1-15 Miami Dolphins didn't want anymore (Lorenzo Booker).

It's always telling when a writer's verbiage reveals his agenda. Jackson was no part time receiver in college. Had Hoffman liked the pick he could have described Jackson as the lightning fast playmaker from Cal who caught 22 TDs over the last three years... But instead he chose to describe him as "the size of a 10th grader." I wonder which description McNabb will use?

Paul Domowich seemed to take a different tact, "3 new Eagles could have sudden impact"

Take a closer look at the players the Eagles acquired this weekend before you rip into Reid again for focusing too much on the future and not enough on the present.