One last audition for McDougle

PHILADELPHIA -- Tonight could be the last time Jerome McDougle and Tony Hunt don the Midnight Green and winged helmet.

Each figured prominently into the Eagles' plans at one point. But in the NFL, plans change.

McDougle is having his best training camp in the six years since the Eagles drafted him 15th overall in the first round.

Both should see ample playing time tonight against the Jets in the preseason finale at Lincoln Financial Field, hoping to turn this final audition into a role for the 2008 season.

"Obviously, the coaches have to make some big decisions," McDougle said.

With the season opener around the corner, head coach Andy Reid already has an idea of how his 53-man roster will shape out.

If he already knows his starting fullback, he hasn't let on. If he already knows exactly how many defensive ends he'll keep, that's also been kept under wraps.

In his final preseason press conference Tuesday, Reid suggested that jobs have been won -- and lost -- in the final preseason game.

"I'm sure there have been some who were just sitting right there on the bubble, and this last game put them over the edge," Reid said.
"There is so much time that goes into evaluating guys every day. Every day, every play, they are graded. You sit down every day and go through it and talk about each guy. So, what seems like a one-day decision is a decision that is being made constantly with their reps."

McDougle is finally excelling after five injury-plagued seasons. Entering camp, he barely registered a blip on the radar.
Injuries to other ends helped McDougle creep up the depth chart, and he's turned the extra practice time into a showcase.

He's been the dominant pass-rusher among all the ends in camp and leads the defense with two preseason sacks.

"It feels good to go through a whole training camp and whole preseason without getting banged up," he said. "[I] Finally put one together."

But his odds aren't favorable.

With Victor Abiamiri not scheduled to go on injured reserve, the Eagles have an overload at the position. Trent Cole, Juqua Parker, Abiamiri and Darren Howard have seemingly locked up four jobs.

That leaves rookie Bryan Smith, free-agent signing Chris Clemons and McDougle to duke it out for two.

It might be too risky to release Smith, a third-round pick, and hope he clears waivers before signing him to the practice squad.

They shelled out $4 million to sign Clemons and seem determined to use him, even though he's missed all three preseason games from injury and isn't expected to play tonight.

That leaves some to wonder if the decision on McDougle's future has already been made, regardless of tonight's game.

"I gave it my all," McDougle said. "I left it all out there. Whatever happens after that happens."

(delawareonline.com)