Eagles bolster inside pass rush

The Eagles added another defensive tackle yesterday because their philosophy is that you can never, ever have enough offensive or defensive linemen.

"The more the merrier," general manager Tom Heckert said after the Eagles signed free agent Montae Reagor to a three-year contract worth about $6.5 million, including slightly less than $2 million in guaranteed money.

Reagor said he was happy to be here, and considering what he went through last season with the Indianapolis Colts, there was no doubt he meant it.

"The accident was very, very scary," Reagor said, referring to the car crash that ended his 2006 season after five games and denied him an opportunity to play for the victorious Colts in Super Bowl XLI.

Reagor said the SUV he was driving to an Oct. 22 home game against Washington was sideswiped, and "I flipped over three times." He suffered a fractured orbital bone near his left eye and a broken nose.

"I'm very, very, very fortunate to have just those injuries," Reagor said. ". . . I'm very grateful to be alive today. I truly believe that the accident has taught me to appreciate life and appreciate the moment . . . because you never know when it's your time. My life passed right before me. I could have been dead."

Despite being reduced to a spectator early last season, Reagor did whatever he could to help the Colts, including breaking down film during the playoffs.

"I did a lot of things behind the scenes that helped the Colts on their playoff run," Reagor said. "I helped the guys in the locker room with my leadership and I helped the defensive linemen . . . just giving them my input and just being an inspirational leader. I was fired up for those guys. I was their biggest fan. I think the part I played really helped them to get over the hump."

The Eagles are hoping Reagor, 29, can play an even bigger role for them in 2007. Although they like his leadership qualities and believe he can help a young player like Brodrick Bunkley, they signed him because they believed he could have an impact on the field.

With the signing of Reagor, the Eagles have an overflow at defensive tackle. In addition to Reagor and Bunkley, they also have Darwin Walker, Mike Patterson, Sam Rayburn and LaJuan Ramsey at the position. Walker has been a starter the last five seasons, and Patterson moved into a starting role last season after being selected in the first round of the 2005 draft. Bunkley, of course, was the 14th overall selection in the 2006 draft.

One of the above isn't likely to be in green at the start of the season, but Heckert said, "I think it's way too early to determine that."

Perhaps, but it wouldn't be shocking if the Eagles tried to trade Walker before the off-season is over.

Reagor was willing to do whatever the Eagles ask, and, despite the swelling that remained near his left eye, said he should be ready when the team's first minicamp begins in May. Reagor said that he had full vision in his eye, and that the swelling had resulted from minor cosmetic surgery he had done last week. He was also recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery.

"I had minor knee surgery - nothing more than a cleanup - but that's going well," he said. "I'm looking forward to rehabbing that and keep getting that stronger. As far as any other thing, I'm overall healthy. The things I've had done have been minor, so I'm continuing to get better. . . . Nothing is wrong with my eye. I just fractured my orbital bone. I never lost vision."

Reagor's strength is his ability to apply an inside pass rush. He had combined totals of 101/2 sacks and 51 times pressuring the quarterback in the 2004 and '05 seasons.

"I'm very quick on my feet and I'm a good pass rusher," he said. "I think I have a lot of big plays left in me. I believe I can bring a lot of leadership and a lot of competitiveness to this ball club."

Reid's return. As expected, Eagles head coach Andy Reid will end his leave of absence and return to work full-time tomorrow, the team announced.

Reid, entering his ninth year as the head coach, had taken the leave early last month to tend to family matters stemming from legal issues concerning his two eldest sons after separate traffic incidents on Jan. 30.

The Eagles said that Reid would hold a news conference tomorrow morning, and that he also planned to attend the NFL owners' meetings in Phoenix, which begin Sunday.