IT WASN'T exactly a lifetime ago that Jeremiah Trotter was a raw rookie being yelled at by Ray Rhodes, yearning for James Willis' job as the Eagles' middle linebacker, learning from Pro Bowl vets such as William "Willie T" Thomas.
In fact, it was 1998, the year before Donovan McNabb arrived. McNabb actually is 2 months older than Trotter, who turned 30 on Jan. 20. That was a week after the Eagles' playoff run ended in New Orleans, largely because neither Trotter nor anyone else on Jim Johnson's defense could stop the Saints from rushing for 208 yards.
Phillies leftfielder Pat Burrell is 3 months older than Trotter. Sixers point guard Andre Miller is 10 months older than Trotter. Martin Biron, the guy the Flyers hope will carry their goaltending load for the next several years, is all of 7 months younger than Trotter.
Trotter isn't that old, but his knees are, which is why the Eagles asked him to lose weight this offseason, and why they are hinting that last year's rookie find, Omar Gaither, will inherit at least part of Trotter's job, on passing downs.
"Seems like yesterday I was crackin' jokes with Willie T and those guys, callin' 'em 'old heads.' Now I'm in that position," Trotter said yesterday as he looked around a crowded minicamp locker room in which his head now ranks among the oldest. "But it's a great feeling, for somebody to call you 'old head' in this game. You know you don't last long. To be around this long, like myself, Takeo [Spikes] and [Brian] Dawkins, Tra [Thomas] and [Jon] Runyan, those guys, it's fortunate."
The Eagles hope they have transformed their linebacking corps this offseason, bringing in former Pro Bowler Spikes (6-2, 242) to start on the weakside, releasing Dhani Jones, promoting unproven Chris Gocong (6-2, 263) to Jones' starting strongside job, adding Nebraska's Stewart Bradley (6-3, 254) in the third round of the draft. Torrance "Tank" Daniels, (6-3, 248) an undrafted rookie last year who came up from the practice squad in November, also seems to have played his way into the mix. Undersized 2005 second-rounder Matt McCoy (5-11, 230), who began last season as the weakside starter, might be on the bubble for a roster spot.
"It's interesting to watch the young guys fly around and learn, 'cause I was once there," Trotter said. "Seeing guys like Chris Gocong and Tank Daniels, that size, being able to run that fast. I can relate to how they feel, and athletically, being able to do anything you want to do. My job as a leader is just to try to help 'em out, try to get 'em over that hump, the same way the vets took me in 9 years ago."
Trotter said the possibility that he is competing for playing time with Gaither won't stop him from trying to help the younger man, who was 14 when Trotter broke into the NFL.
"When I came in, I was hungry, and the older guys helped me out, even though I was fighting for their jobs," Trotter said. "I don't look at it as holding him off. I feel like if I do the necessary things I'm supposed to do, I don't have a problem, there won't even be an issue."
Gaither seems ticketed at least for the nickel role, and maybe more.
"I think everyone wants to be a starter here, but if you really think about it, if you break down a game, nickel, dime, regular - I think they all play just about the same amount of snaps," Gaither said. "Whenever the first 'D' goes out there and gets a stop, [setting up] second and long, I'm going on the field."
Gaither resisted the idea that he is being pitted against Trotter.
"I don't think it's anything like that. Trot's Trot, and he's the man," Gaither said. "I respect him, and I respect that to the fullest. I don't think there's any kind of competition between me and him. I think they just want to get guys on the field, get guys a breather. It's tough to play all 16 games, all three downs."
Trotter acknowledged he got worn down last season, got banged up enough that his conditioning suffered. He said he would like to get down to about 250 pounds by training camp, a weight he said he hasn't made since his second season, the year he became a starter. Trotter, 6-1, said he weighed about 265 toward the end of last season.
"No. 1, I'm going to have more strength toward the end of the year" playing at a lighter weight, Trotter said. "No. 2, I'll be more explosive, quicker . . . a couple pounds, and I'll be right there."
Trotter said he has come to like the elliptical trainer, but still isn't a fan of the StairMaster, as he tries to build conditioning without further damaging his knees.
"I've never been a big fan of cardio, but I had to find new ways to get a great workout without just pounding all the time," he said. "I knew midway through the season that I had to really buckle down, as soon as the season was over, focus on conditioning, getting my body fat down, things that I'm supposed to do anyway."
Eagles coach Andy Reid said Trotter "looked good" yesterday. Asked what he hoped would be different this season with his linebackers, Reid said: "I just want good, solid, consistent play, both in the pass and the run game. We were deficient, a bit, in the run game. That wasn't all linebackers . . . [but] we've got to be more consistent there."
Birdseed
The Bills confirmed an NFL.com report that if defensive tackle Darwin Walker, dealt for Takeo Spikes, does not report by Aug. 5, they could offer him back to the Eagles and receive a sixth-round pick next year . . . Defensive tackle Montae Reagor took the field for the first time since injuries from an auto accident ended his Indianapolis season last October . . .
The Bills confirmed an NFL.com report that if defensive tackle dealt for does not report by Aug. 5, they could offer him back to the Eagles and receive a sixth-round pick next year . . . Defensive tackle took the field for the first time since injuries from an auto accident ended his Indianapolis season last October . . .
Matt Schobel strained a hamstring yesterday. With L.J. Smith sidelined at least until training camp following sports hernia surgery, the Eagles now have two healthy tight ends, fifth-round rookie Brent Celek and 2006 practice-squad project Lee Vickers. They figure to get a lot of reps as the full-team minicamp continues through June 14 . . . Wide receivers Zac Collie and Bethel Johnson are out with stress fractures of the fibula . . . Quarterback Donovan McNabb watched the workout and apparently remains on schedule to participate in training camp, which starts July 27 . . . Another former Syracuse QB, Perry Patterson, joined the team as an extra minicamp arm . . . William "Tra" Thomas (knee) and free safety Brian Dawkins (personal reasons) also are not participating . . .
If you'd like to bowl with a Super Bowl champion, former Temple defensive end Raheem Brock, now of the Indianapolis Colts, is hosting a charity celebrity bowling party at Lucky Strike Lanes, 1336 Chestnut St., from 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday. McNabb, Reagor and other NFL players are scheduled to participate. Team lanes, including up to five team members and a celebrity bowler, are available for $1,500. Individual bowler tickets can be purchased for $100, and patron (bowling not included) tickets are available for $40 each. For more information,
call 313-452-1922 or e-mail hdc.mgmt@gmail.com. *