Reid says Eagles checked into Boldin

Eagles coach Andy Reid said yesterday in an interview on the morning show on WIP-AM (610) that the team checked into the availability of Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin before the NFL draft, but found the price too high.

Reid suggested the price might have been first-, third- and fifth-round draft picks.

"That's a lot of picks, No. 1," Reid said. "And then you're going to pay the guy $10 million. So you get hit on both sides of it."

Instead, the Eagles traded up two spots and selected Missouri receiver Jeremy Maclin in the first round. Reid said he thought Arizona probably wasn't willing to part with Boldin. If the Cardinals were, a deal would have been struck.

"He's a pretty good player and he's still there," Reid said.

As for veteran safety Brian Dawkins, who departed as a free agent to Denver, Reid said he believed the organization offered a very aggressive contract to the 35-year-old safety. It was not aggressive enough.

Dawkins had said the Eagles' tender was a low-ball figure. The Broncos came after Dawkins with a deal that would pay the former Pro Bowler $14 million if he plays two seasons for them.

Once again, Reid said, money was an issue, and the Eagles let Dawkins fly.

The Broncos "did something that was just phenomenal," Reid said.

"They guaranteed Brian Dawkins - 35 years old - $7 million in his first year. And that's unheard of. And so my feeling was, 'Hey, Brian, that's a great opportunity for you. I can't do that. To keep our team together, I can't do that.' "

As for public criticism of the Dawkins episode, Reid said, "Somewhere you got to be able to separate yourself and make a decision that you think is best for the team and thus best for the city, even though the city is attached as you are to that player."

Meanwhile, Reid said that rookie running back LeSean McCoy would "most likely" be the backup to Brian Westbrook.

"If he's not 21 today, he's going to be 21 here pretty quick," Reid said. "He is young, but he'll be fine."

During the most recent minicamp, the Eagles had Shawn Andrews - the brother of newly signed tackle-guard Stacy Andrews - at Jon Runyan's old spot at right tackle. Reid did not commit to keeping Shawn Andrews, who played his first five seasons at right guard, on the outside.

"I want to see how he does this off-season," Reid said. "His brother can [play both guard and tackle]. That's the primary thing."

Runyan is recovering from microfracture surgery on his right knee and is a free agent. Reid said that he recently ran into Runyan at a function, but that he did not expect to see the 35-year-old back in Eagles green.

"Right now it doesn't look promising from our end," said Reid.