McCants: do you think he will make it?

3rd ID SOLDIER · 09-02-2006, 03:56 PM

Posted on Sat, Sep. 02, 2006email thisprint thisPaul Domowitch | Gaffney, McCants on the cutting edgeEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - This wasn't the way it was

supposed to be.

When Jabar Gaffney signed with the Eagles in March, the wide receiver expected to be spending this final preseason game on the sideline with his feet up and his helmet off, watching other less-fortunate guys duke it out for the final spots on the roster.

But there he was last night on the field in the Eagles' 20-17 loss to the New York Jets, trying to convince coach Andy Reid and general manager Tom Heckert to spare him today when they whittle their

roster to

53 players.

"In years past,

I was the one

sitting on the

sideline, sitting around watching the game," said Gaffney, a fifth-year veteran who caught 55 passes with the Houston Texans last season. "But this year, I'm fighting to get a spot."

He'll know by 4 o'clock this afternoon whether he won that fight. The Eagles likely will keep six wideouts on their 53-man roster. The first five are expected to be Reggie Brown, Donté Stallworth, Greg Lewis and rookies Hank Baskett and Jason Avant.

The sixth slot likely will go to

either Gaffney or Darnerien

McCants. McCants, who was twice cut by the Eagles last season and had just five receptions in 12 games, had four catches against the Jets for 69 yards, including a 30-yard catch-and-run and a nifty 23-yard grab on a fade pass that set up an Eagles touchdown. Gaffney had three grabs for 28 yards.

"McCants had some opportunities downfield and he made them," Reid said. "He made some big plays. Gaff, when he had the chance to make catches, he made the catches."

Read between the lines there

and it sounds like Reid was more

impressed with McCants than Gaffney.

When the Eagles signed Gaffney in March, they expected him to be their slot receiver this season. But he struggled to learn Reid's West Coast offense, which is much different than the system in Houston.

Early in camp and the preseason, he often was tentative and plummeted down the depth chart, below

Baskett, an undrafted rookie, and

below fourth-rounder Avant.

"At the beginning, it was a little

bit rough," Gaffney said. "But I'm pretty confident with it right now. I'm trying to learn all the adjustments, but I'm good with it now."

Gaffney led the Eagles with nine receptions in the preseason. But he averaged just 10 yards per catch.

McCants had six receptions for 113 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown grab in their second preseason game against Cleveland.

The 6-3, 215-pound McCants is bigger than the 6-1, 205-pound Gaffney and more physical. He also is a solid special-teams player, finishing fourth on the team last season in special-teams production points. That will carry a lot of weight when the Eagles make their roster decision.

"My goal from the beginning has been to try to make a statement," McCants said. "The hardest part is getting opportunities. When you get them, you've got to take full advantage of them."

If the Eagles cut Gaffney, it will be an admission that they made a mistake 5 ½ months ago when they signed him to a 1-year contract. But Reid is more concerned with making sure he opens the season with his best 53 players than having a little egg on his face.

"One thing that jumps out at you when you look at his hit tapes [balls thrown in his direction], he doesn't drop the ball," Reid said in March. "He has great hands. He runs very good routes. In this offense, those things go a long way.

"He has a good feel for the safety. We're going to use him a lot as the

inside receiver in three-receiver

situations. He works in space well. He wasn't afraid to cross the middle with the linebackers and safeties."

Gaffney said he was pleased with his play in the Eagles' final three

preseason games.

"I left it all on the field," he said. "I came and showed the coaches what all I can do. I showed them I could learn the offense. I did learn it. I made the plays when they came my way. It's out of my hands now."

McCants said he expected to be up late last night, but not necessarily because of his concern about

making the team.

"I don't sleep after games anyway," he said. "I'll be up until 4 or 5. I need to clean my apartment. So I'll probably be doing that.

"I'm trying not to think about things I can't control. I just tried to go out and play hard and make it tough on the coaches [to cut him]. If I get the nod, I'll be in for treatment [today]. If not, I've got to see if I can get another job."

superskins · 09-02-2006, 04:01 PM

no offense but, i could care less about the eagle and mccan-not-s

3rd ID SOLDIER · 09-02-2006, 04:17 PM

yeah you are right i was just learning to cut and past thanks for the reality check!

SmootSmack · 09-02-2006, 07:17 PM

Well, it turns out that both Gaffney and McCants were released

mooby · 09-02-2006, 07:19 PM

lololol, i thought Gaffney was supposed to be their #2. Guess not.

dmek25 · 09-02-2006, 09:15 PM

they must really suck if they cant make the eagles at wide receiver

Big C · 09-03-2006, 01:59 PM

forgot about darnarien lol.

ArtMonkDrillz · 09-03-2006, 02:14 PM

What are the odds the eagles sign Charles Rogers?

STPainmaker · 09-03-2006, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ArtMonkDrillz

What are the odds the eagles sign Charles Rogers?

Rogers appears to have a glass collarbone which is not good when you have to face Sean Taylor 2 x a year not to mention Roy Williams 2x a year vs Dallas.

Beemnseven · 09-03-2006, 04:51 PM

I used to be a Darnerian McCants fan. I was disappointed when Gibbs cut him. He was one of those guys who I thought, just needed a decent shot. Same for Cliff Russell ... and Taylor Jacobs.

At some point, these kinds of guys have to make some sort of impression with the chances they are given. Ultimately though, you have to figure that if they are truly worth anything, they'd be starting.

SkinEmAll · 09-04-2006, 03:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by superskins

no offense but, i could care less about the eagle and mccan-not-s

i second that notion. i just left another thread about lavar, that ended up being about other rivals wins and losses AND how and why we are gonna lose to our rivals!!!!

i dont know about the rest of you, but i personally could give a flying purple horny toads wart covered ass about lavar, mc-cants or any other former player for that matter.

anyway, time for bed. good night all.

djnemo65 · 09-04-2006, 05:40 AM

Im a huge, HUGE fan of Mccants, but more for his musical talents than his football abilities. Remember that rap he had on his site, I think it was called put me in coach Im ready to play! That was sick. Even if he doesnt make the Eagles roster, with mic skills like his, he`ll never have to worry about going hungry.

09-02-2006, 03:56 PM	#1
3rd ID SOLDIER Special Teams Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 197	McCants: do you think he will make it? Posted on Sat, Sep. 02, 2006email thisprint thisPaul Domowitch \| Gaffney, McCants on the cutting edgeEAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. - This wasn't the way it was supposed to be. When Jabar Gaffney signed with the Eagles in March, the wide receiver expected to be spending this final preseason game on the sideline with his feet up and his helmet off, watching other less-fortunate guys duke it out for the final spots on the roster. But there he was last night on the field in the Eagles' 20-17 loss to the New York Jets, trying to convince coach Andy Reid and general manager Tom Heckert to spare him today when they whittle their roster to 53 players. "In years past, I was the one sitting on the sideline, sitting around watching the game," said Gaffney, a fifth-year veteran who caught 55 passes with the Houston Texans last season. "But this year, I'm fighting to get a spot." He'll know by 4 o'clock this afternoon whether he won that fight. The Eagles likely will keep six wideouts on their 53-man roster. The first five are expected to be Reggie Brown, Donté Stallworth, Greg Lewis and rookies Hank Baskett and Jason Avant. The sixth slot likely will go to either Gaffney or Darnerien McCants. McCants, who was twice cut by the Eagles last season and had just five receptions in 12 games, had four catches against the Jets for 69 yards, including a 30-yard catch-and-run and a nifty 23-yard grab on a fade pass that set up an Eagles touchdown. Gaffney had three grabs for 28 yards. "McCants had some opportunities downfield and he made them," Reid said. "He made some big plays. Gaff, when he had the chance to make catches, he made the catches." Read between the lines there and it sounds like Reid was more impressed with McCants than Gaffney. When the Eagles signed Gaffney in March, they expected him to be their slot receiver this season. But he struggled to learn Reid's West Coast offense, which is much different than the system in Houston. Early in camp and the preseason, he often was tentative and plummeted down the depth chart, below Baskett, an undrafted rookie, and below fourth-rounder Avant. "At the beginning, it was a little bit rough," Gaffney said. "But I'm pretty confident with it right now. I'm trying to learn all the adjustments, but I'm good with it now." Gaffney led the Eagles with nine receptions in the preseason. But he averaged just 10 yards per catch. McCants had six receptions for 113 yards, including a 32-yard touchdown grab in their second preseason game against Cleveland. The 6-3, 215-pound McCants is bigger than the 6-1, 205-pound Gaffney and more physical. He also is a solid special-teams player, finishing fourth on the team last season in special-teams production points. That will carry a lot of weight when the Eagles make their roster decision. "My goal from the beginning has been to try to make a statement," McCants said. "The hardest part is getting opportunities. When you get them, you've got to take full advantage of them." If the Eagles cut Gaffney, it will be an admission that they made a mistake 5 ½ months ago when they signed him to a 1-year contract. But Reid is more concerned with making sure he opens the season with his best 53 players than having a little egg on his face. "One thing that jumps out at you when you look at his hit tapes [balls thrown in his direction], he doesn't drop the ball," Reid said in March. "He has great hands. He runs very good routes. In this offense, those things go a long way. "He has a good feel for the safety. We're going to use him a lot as the inside receiver in three-receiver situations. He works in space well. He wasn't afraid to cross the middle with the linebackers and safeties." Gaffney said he was pleased with his play in the Eagles' final three preseason games. "I left it all on the field," he said. "I came and showed the coaches what all I can do. I showed them I could learn the offense. I did learn it. I made the plays when they came my way. It's out of my hands now." McCants said he expected to be up late last night, but not necessarily because of his concern about making the team. "I don't sleep after games anyway," he said. "I'll be up until 4 or 5. I need to clean my apartment. So I'll probably be doing that. "I'm trying not to think about things I can't control. I just tried to go out and play hard and make it tough on the coaches [to cut him]. If I get the nod, I'll be in for treatment [today]. If not, I've got to see if I can get another job." __________________ YALL DON'T WANNA SEE ME SHINE THAT'S OKAY CAUSE I LOVE ME SOME ME BELIEVE IT!!

09-02-2006, 04:17 PM	#3
3rd ID SOLDIER Special Teams Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 197	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? yeah you are right i was just learning to cut and past thanks for the reality check! __________________ YALL DON'T WANNA SEE ME SHINE THAT'S OKAY CAUSE I LOVE ME SOME ME BELIEVE IT!!

09-02-2006, 07:17 PM	#4
SmootSmack Uncle Phil Join Date: Feb 2004 Posts: 45,256	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? Well, it turns out that both Gaffney and McCants were released __________________ You're So Vain...You Probably Think This Sig Is About You

09-02-2006, 07:19 PM	#5
mooby Hug Anne Spyder Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 20,468	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? lololol, i thought Gaffney was supposed to be their #2. Guess not.

09-02-2006, 09:15 PM	#6
dmek25 MVP Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: lancaster,pa Age: 63 Posts: 10,672	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? they must really suck if they cant make the eagles at wide receiver __________________ "It's better to be quiet and thought a fool than to open ones mouth and remove all doubt." courtesy of 53fan

09-02-2006, 04:01 PM	#2
superskins Special Teams Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 218	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? no offense but, i could care less about the eagle and mccan-not-s

09-03-2006, 01:59 PM	#7
Big C Mr. Brightside Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Leesburg, VA Age: 38 Posts: 4,453	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? forgot about darnarien lol. __________________ "I don't care what nobody say I'm a be me, stay hood stay real, cause I'm out here grindin'" -Joe Gibbs

09-03-2006, 02:14 PM	#8
ArtMonkDrillz Franchise Player Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD Age: 42 Posts: 8,029	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? What are the odds the eagles sign Charles Rogers? __________________ "Yeah, well, you know, that's just, like, your opinion, man." The Dude

09-03-2006, 04:51 PM	#10
Beemnseven Pro Bowl Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Virginia Beach Age: 50 Posts: 5,311	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? I used to be a Darnerian McCants fan. I was disappointed when Gibbs cut him. He was one of those guys who I thought, just needed a decent shot. Same for Cliff Russell ... and Taylor Jacobs. At some point, these kinds of guys have to make some sort of impression with the chances they are given. Ultimately though, you have to figure that if they are truly worth anything, they'd be starting.

09-04-2006, 05:40 AM	#12
djnemo65 Playmaker Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 2,836	Re: McCants: do you think he will make it? Im a huge, HUGE fan of Mccants, but more for his musical talents than his football abilities. Remember that rap he had on his site, I think it was called put me in coach Im ready to play! That was sick. Even if he doesnt make the Eagles roster, with mic skills like his, he`ll never have to worry about going hungry.

McCants: do you think he will make it?

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