Eagles head coach Andy Reid and General Manager Howie Roseman are looking at players, who have made mistakes in their lives but learned from them a little differently nowadays. They want make sure they’re avoiding guys with real problems, but not turning down talented players, who may have made a youthful mistake, but aren’t bad kids.
“Yeah, we have a couple guys that we’re giving a second chance to,” head coach Andy Reid said when camp ended Monday. “They goofed up and we felt through our evaluation process that they’re not bad kids and we’ll give them a chance. They know they goofed up, and that’s important. And they admitted they goofed up, which is really important. We’ll see if there’s a change that takes place.”
The most talented of those youngsters this weekend seemed to be rookie free agent wide receiver Damaris Johnson. He was very impressive during the rookie camp. He did a good job of getting open and he caught the football nearly all the time it hit his hands.
This young man is as quick as a cat. His quickness and speed jump out at you. Johnson’s got a tremendous burst when he comes off the line of scrimmage plus as I pointed out previously he can catch the football.
Johnson is only 5’7″ and he told me yesterday that he weighed 175 pounds. He’ll have to prove he can take the poundings that are dished out on this level or as he told me, “he’ll need to prove he can avoid the poundings that are dished out on this level”.
Remember that Johnson broke the record for the most all-purpose yardage gained by a player in NCAA football history and he did this without playing his senior year. From the moment I saw him on the Youtube video I could tell that he’s the type of player, who catches the eye of Andy Reid.
Johnson ran for over 1000 as a running back at Tulsa, caught passes for 1000’s yards, while returning punts and kick offs. Any time you put the ball in his hands, he makes things happen.
Johnson talked about the big mistake he made which cost him his senior season at Tulsa University. The rookie received about $2,600 of goods from the Macy’s store in Tulsa where his girlfriend worked, but he paid only about $13 for it. He received a felony embezzlement conviction and has the chance to have that conviction expunged from his record, if he does a certain 
number of hours of community service.
To say the least, the young man is thrilled about the Birds giving him another chance and he’s eager to show that he has learned from his mistake.
“I’m very thankful for the Eagles giving me the opportunity”, Johnson said after the workout yesterday. “That’s why I go out every day and try to show them everything I got. I couldn’t be in a better place.”
I could see him giving Chad Hall a run for his money. Johnson has to prove he’s big enough to play on this level. Can he learn this offense and will he hang onto the football?
I can guarantee you that he’s fast and quick enough to make tacklers miss.
Kick returner right here. Could finally have a legit threat here.
Between Damaris Johson, M Gilyard and C Hall for the final and 6th WR on the Roster.. My $$$ is on Gilyard sticking with Damaris Johnson making the Practice Squad ..
johnson is too good and to versatile to be on the practice squad… and on tape he looks even faster than 4.42
I again disagree with you my friend………Gilyard wont make the team. I felt that way even before this guy was drafted. Now. I really think he wont make it because this kid is the real deal, not a hope to be like Gilyard.
They didn’t draft TY Hilton, Joe Adams, or Devon Wylie, because Damarius Johnson was always on their radar. Had this kid not got into trouble, he may have been a 2nd round pick. If he can prove he can deal with the physicality, he will easily suplant Gilyard as a viable option for KR. As I have stated before, Gilyard was cut by the Rams, and the Jets – He is not all that as a pro – This Kid is FLAT OUT more talented than he is as a receiver, KR/PR, and potentially as exciting, and dynamic with the ball in his hands as DeSean Jackson. Say goodbye to Gilyard – and be prepared for the I told you so’s Paul – Gilyard is not all that, and unfortunately for him, the Eagles know it
We will see when they put the pads on, when Gilyard gets cut/released, I will stop posting on GCobb.Com and sign over all my assets,properties,vehicles and Retirement Funds,Jewelry, Grateful Dead and Bob Dylan bootlegs Music Collection GMcliff and company….
Johnson should make the squad with the demise of Jeremy Maclin we will need another receiver. Maclin will not be extended unless it’s at the Eagles price. Maclin will not even get Desean money. This will be his last year.
ALL YOU MACLIN LOVERS KISS HIS ASS GOODBYE!
WE SHOULD SIGN BRAYLON EDWARDS, IF GMCLIFF CAN GET HAYNESWORTH WASHED UP ASS. I WANT BRAYLON EDWARDS WASHED UP ASS LOL.
nah Pdid – Maclin is gonna get about 1200 passing yards – fully healthy – nice season – 4 year extension… this season.. its gonna be fun! GMCliff aint gettin Haynesworth – so you and GMCLiff can have the same thing as Songs and Burflict – nothing!
I meant rcving yards – sorry – wrong end!
Jeremy Maclin put on about 5-8 lbs of muscle in his upper body and is finally 100% and is going to have a monster season I believe… Last Season was kind of a lost year for him with that virus scare he had, very little campt time and really did not get his football legs until halfway thru the season and then got stronger as the season went on and then hurt his shoulder just when he was playing good again.. I think he will surprise many on his strength and really coulbe be much bette rutikized if he played in the slot more.. Maybe have D-Jax and McNutt out on the outsides and have Maclin as the slot receiver which could cause many match-up nightmares for opposing defense’s.. team would double up D-jax, leaving McNutt with lots of 1 on 1 and then you have Macling working the middle of the field verus nickel back, Safeties or even LB’s in some cases trying to keep up with him.. He could turn 5-6 yard hitch and slant routes into 12-15 yard gainers all game long and even break a long one once in a while..
Just from his condition last off-season and at the beginning of training camp, I think it is not entirely unreasonable to assume that Maclin was compromised for a significant portion of the year. He had a whole off-season to work out and get himself right for the 2012 season. If he is going to blow up, we should have a pretty good idea of it early on in September. I expect a big year for him, and would love to know if the Eagles brain trust is putting aside dough to extend his rookie deal.
Maclin isn’t going any where. At least because of the relationship between Washburn, and Haynesworth what I stated might happen is reasonable.Can’t guarantee it, but it might happen.
It’s not reasonable that Braylon Edwards, would be viewed as an option of any kind even if someone gets hurt. But if someone on the Defensive Line is hurt Haynesworth WOULD be a reasonable option. Guarantee it.
I don’t feel bad because my peers don’t agree with me, thats healthy dialog on GCobb.com. But I do try to make reasonable statements. Braylon Edwards is not reasonable……..
Yup maclin is 205 now.. he started out at 180 last year and ended up around 195 by mid season.. hes gonna have a big year..so is desean ..
I think Chad Hall and Reno Mahe are about the same size and they both made the team.
Maclin is going to have a pretty big season, but if the Eagles want to dramatically increase the offensive output and get their money’s worth they need put DJax on the left and Maclin on the right.
I think RB McCoy receives a 4 Year $45 Million Deal by Camp time and that Maclin’s Deal is extended by October.. I also think that players like DE D Tapp and DT M Patterson get traded for 2013 MId_Round Draft Picks or at the minimum ,are asked to rework their deals or possibly even get released..
As for the back up RBs…maybe we should keep 4 RBs this year instead of 3 and a fullback.. because who ever loses the battle between polk and brown theres noway the other guy slips onto the practice squad with out being noticed …
I agree Paul wholeheartedly!!!!!
that thing Maclin had last year – I remember reading when they thought it might be lymphoma or whatever – then one of the guys I work with has a 28 year old son that actually got that – nasty, nasty, nasty, basically ate his insides up.. if I remeber reading right – Maclins old man is a doctor – if they were worried he had lymphoma, no wonder Maclin had such an slow start last season. if he is up to 205, that is really a good size for him – I will upgrade from 1200 to 1350 rvcing yards.. 1 extra WR screen per game
Pman – I am starting to come around to the idea of Patterson being the odd man out in the DT rotation – why do you think you should keep thorton and landri and dixon over Patterson – what round trade do you think you could get for him (4rth round pick) Tapp is definitely odd man out amongst DEs.. I think a 5th or 6th for him (maybe conditional 5th?)
I believe Paul, is actually Gilyard, himself. Dude what is this infatuation & fascination that you have for Gilyard. The dude is a non-factor, journeyman, stiff, camp body. He has ZERO shot at making this team, with all of the other possible KR/ PR that we have added this off-season. Stop it already, you’re just forcing it now. Get over your man-crush, already. LMFBO!!!!
BTW, I agree with you on Tapp & Patterson.
Fellas just fuckin around a little, I could care less about braylon edwards just stirring the pot a little gentlemen.
But let me say this, and I know this for a fact. Maclin and Desean respect each other but they both want to be top dog on this team. Djax was here doing his thing before Mac came. Mac came in as the number one pick and thought he would be the man. And he was making more than Desean, now stay with me fellas on my line of thinking. In Maclins minds I am sure he think he is the man and he wants to be paid as such. Now if the Eagles pay him More than Desean there’s a problem. If they pay him more than Desean there’s a problem. This is why I think Maclin will be gone he will get his money from another team. Pride will not allow him to make less than Djax.
Wow big era I meant to say less than desean in the one line there my bad dam.
depends on the number.. if desean has a huge year then maybe we can sign maclin to an extension during the season .
Maclin will outpay D-JAx in 2012 and beyond, he’s a more complete WR and as long as Coach AR is around, Maclin is going nowhere..
–DJax is a 3 catch 53yds. a game guy
Maclin is a 4 catch 55yds. a game guy
Here we go with the Maclin. Just read a article the other day of every team that 1 player should be traded and MACLIN was that player on the Eagles that needed to b e moved. They stated being the 6th best reciever in the NFC EAST theres noway the Eagles will pay Maclin anything near big money. DJax has that money. You CANT pay everyone. There are 70 catch 900 yard recievers everywhere.
The Eagles have already been one of the most active teams in the NFL as far as trades are concerned. They shipped Asante Samuel to the Falcons and acquired DeMeco Ryan from the Texans.
However, it may make some sense to see what they can get for Jeremy Maclin. The Eagles chose to give DeSean Jackson the contract he has been waiting for, making it very difficult to pay Maclin with all of the other high-priced players on the roster.
If Maclin were to hit the trading block, he would draw a ton of interest. The Eagles would be wise to cash in while they still can.
This is from Bleacher report which I totally agree with. Eventually he will break that difficult 1000 yard barrier that an annual 20-25 WR and TEs do every year. The sad part is with teams game planning against DJax every week you would expect Maclin to have monster numbers. What I saw was when DJax missed a game or got hurt and Maclin actually faced the teams best CB and coverage this offense was PATHETIC, he couldnt get open ala Arizona game. Open your eyes fans. lol its ok.
I think trading Maclin is one of the top stupidest things the Eagles can do. You need 2 very good WRs in this game. You could argue that you need more than two. We have two. Trading him makes the team significantly weaker with no guarantee that you can easily replace him. Maclin is NOT, I repeat, NOT a dime a dozen WR. Period. And with the cap going up and the money the Eagles have, you can certainly pay McCoy and Maclin.
I agree with Schiller on this, in facat, the top Teams have 3 very good WR’s
I expect Macling to put career #’s this seasons, 70 Receptions over 1100 yards and 10-12 TD receptions… D-Jax makes the big plays, but Maclin moves the chains and catches TD passes..
Shiller what we be stupid is replacing Maclin with you But replacing Maclin with another 60-70 catch and 900 yard reciever who will cost you 10-15 million over 4 years or Maclin who will probably cost you 30-40 million.Hes a dime a dozen reciever he is average at best. Oh my goodness what would we do without Maclin moving the chains. We would never ever find anyone that can give us his production. You live in a fantasy world. Take off the green colored glasses. He is the 6th best reciever in his own division. Give me a friggin break. 1000 yard seaasons-0, Pro Bowls-0. Teams that game plan against him-0. Jackson has to run 40 plays a game to clear out for him and Celek. Victor Cruz better, Nicks-better, Moss better, Dez Bryant better, Austin better Jackson better Gaston a push.
Its just my opinion Im just not high on Maclin. But anyway I do have a Sixers question. Is it me or is it hard to dislike Garnett and Pierce. They may be the 2 players in any sport that you just would love to have on your team. Just love thier style.
Simply put, Maclin is the best all around receiver on the Eagles squad…you gotta be kidding me, with this nonsense…with this trade Maclin talk and average WR ish….Maclin was set back in 2011, with his health and the limited training camp…do you recall how his 2010 season went…
Those NFC EAST WR’s may have produced better numbers last season…but guess what last season is behind us…
Jeremy Maclin is the Eagles’ #1 wr. He steadily improved his first 2 years, surpassing the 40/60 catch benchmarks looked for when assessing quality WRs.
Setback last year due to illness and then injury. If healthy I expect the a return to growth witnessed first 2 yrs. 80 catches 1000+ 9tds a reasonable goal.
Only thing keeping him from those…Reid’s offence never wants to rely on 1 player and a bad QB.
@Vinnie – To my knowledge the Eagles got rid of the bad QB a year ago…Since when did the Eagles bring back Kolb?
I apologize I was wrong. Maclin is the best. He is #1. This is the year. He was sick. It takes time, no reciever gets 1000 yards in thier 1st 4 years. We re not a passing team. It was Vicks fault, no it was Kolbs fault, no it was Mcnabs fault. We spread the ball around. Hes improving, How dare does a Victor Cruz do it thier first year. !000 yards is rare, he was sick. ummm, this is his year. I see clearly now. go birds.
Dag – Glad you came around – but “But replacing Maclin with another 60-70 catch and 900 yard reciever who will cost you 10-15 million over 4 years” – dude that’s lazy speculation. The market is different with a new CBA, and ever changing. So to trade a guy and assume you’ll have a cheaper replacement option that’s equal or better is SHITTY HORRIBLE HORRENDOUS business/gming.
That’s just assinine.
“I like my girlfriend and all. Sex is pretty damn good, but not amazing. But she wants me to buy her expensive jewlery. Shit, I’ll just dump her and get a new girlfriend with whom the sex is pretty damn good, but who doesn’t want expensive jewlery. That will be easy. Guaranteed.”
Sound stupid to you?
just replaced one bad with another.
I STARTED THIS MACLIN ISH AND I AM GOING TO FINISH IT. YOU GUYS WON’T BE ABLE TO ARGUE THIS POINT GO AHEAD AND TRY. YOU GUYS KNOW FOR A FACT THAT THE EAGLES ONLY VALUE CERTAIN POSITIONS. NOW YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THEY ARE GOING TO PUT A HUNDRED MILLION IN RECEIVERS FOR THIS TEAM HELL NO. WE USUALLY WILL PAY ONE TOP FLIGHT RECEIVER TERRELL OWENS, AND NO DESEAN. BUT YOU’LL KNOW UNLESS MACLIN COMES VERY REASONABLE FOR THEM HE WILL NOT BE BACK. THEY DON’T VALUE RECEIVER LIKE THAT AND YOU GUYS KNOW THIS. HE IS GONE PERIOD.
UNLESS THE EAGLES CHANGE THEIR PHILOSOPHY HE’S GONE. THEN IF THEY PAY HIM WHAT IS HE GOING TO BE HAPPY MAKING LESS THAN DJAX NO. HE THINKS HE IS THE MAN AND WILL BE OFFENDED BY THE OFFER AND WILL SEEK FREE AGENCY. HE IS GONE, LIKE DAGG SAID HE IS A DIME A DOZEN. LET’S SEE WHAT MCNUTT CAN DO.
WOULD YOU TAKE MACLIN OVER ANY OF THESE GUYS: DEZ BRYANT, MYLES AUSTIN, HAKEEM NICKS, VICTOR CRUZ, SANTANA MOSS, DESEAN JACKSON. IF SO PLEASE EXPLAIN WITH NUMBERS TO BACK UP YOUR DEFENSE.
THE EAGLES COULD HAVE HAD NICKS IN THAT MACLIN DRAFT BUT THEY SCREWED UP.
LAST PARTING SHOT AT MACLIN, HOW COME HE NEVER RETURNS PUNTS CAUSE HE IS SCARED BACK THERE AND HE SUCKED AT IT THAT’S WHY. LITTLE DJAX WANNA BE PLEASE.
I would take Maclin over Dez Bryant (who is too immature and stupid)
over Santana Moss (who is too old) and Miles Austin who I believe was a 1 year wonder in 2009 and has been hurt alot and not the same player the last 2 Seasons since teams scheme for him as opposed to 2009 when no one knew who he was … Victor Cruz could fall into the same category ..
I see them offering Maclin a 4-5 Year Deal in the $40 Million range and he won’t be as highly paid as D-Jax and I wouldn’t think he would take any offense to that.. If they don’t and he puts up a good season, he will be looking at a big pay from someone… Look at all the big deals many WR got this year…
Pman that’s my point he is going to want that payday. He may not accept their offer, plus he might want to go somewhere where he can be that guy. Moss he is older but his numbers are still better. Dez Bryant if he ever just calms down he will be a beast anyone with eyes can see it. Miles Austin made a pro bowl one year wonder or not Maclin never put up those numbers. At least not yet. I think Maclin benefits from playing with special talent like Mccoy and Jackson. The defense really does not key in on him like that. Plus I believe Celek has a break out year for the eagles.
Paulman beat me to it.
I’d take Maclin over every player there save Nicks. I’m not sure about Cruz, as he’s only produced for 1 year, so jury is still out there.
Otherwise, Maclin over everyone else on your list,