Eagles Notebook: Scirrotto signs with Eagles

BETHLEHEM - The great safety search has ended, with the signing yesterday afternoon of Anthony Scirrotto, formerly of Penn State and West Deptford (N.J.) High.

Scirrotto was the lucky winner among four safeties who tried out over the past 2 days for the spot that opened up when Antoine Harris suffered a season-ending Lisfranc sprain Friday against Jacksonville. Of course, that's an 80-man roster spot, and Scirrotto now has to learn a new defense and climb over a whole bunch of bodies to make the 53-man group that faces the Green Bay Packers in the season opener, Sept. 12. But being in camp for a few weeks, presumably getting on some preseason game film, is better than sitting at home.

Scirrotto, 23, spent time on the Giants' practice squad last season after signing with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent.

Quintin Demps, whose knee bone bruise suffered against Jacksonville helped create the safety crisis, looked just fine at yesterday afternoon's special teams practice, but the placing of Harris on injured reserve opened up a spot, and the Birds must have figured they might as well use it.

Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott said yesterday he intends to keep ex-safety Macho Harris at cornerback for now, kind of a moot point in that Harris left the morning practice after aggravating his hamstring problem.

Sean McDermott hadn't watched a game from the coaches' booth in many years, since he was the defensive quality control guy. Now that he's the coordinator, McDermott can do whatever he wants on things like that, so McDermott decided Friday night against Jacksonville to try watching from the booth again, where a coach can see the field clearly, instead of being on the sideline, where a coach can get right into the ear of a guy who just played the wrong coverage.

McDermott is a hands-on person, so his conclusion from the evening spent up top was not surprising.

"That experiment's over," McDermott said yesterday.

Why?

"Well they're putting glass in front of me. I can't handle that," McDermott explained. "About ripped the glass off the hinges a couple of times up there, so I'll be down on the field for Friday night" when the Eagles visit Cincinnati.

The most notable nonpracticing Eagle yesterday was running back LeSean McCoy, with a quad bruise, which didn't sound terribly serious . . . The Eagles brought back defensive end Eric Moncur, 2 weeks after cutting him. Unlike running back Martell Mallett, who was reclaimed the day after his release was announced (Mallett said he got a message when he arrived home at the Little Rock, Ark., airport, to jump on the next plane back), Moncur had quite a lengthy unplanned vacation . . . Center Nick Cole did not practice yesterday, putting Mike McGlynn back with the first team. Left guard Todd Herremans took some reps with the first team, but didn't do everything. Center Jamaal Jackson continued to do individual work . . . Mallett left the morning workout with a hyperextended knee after a Trevard Lindley hit, but he was back out there for the afternoon . . . Running back J.J. Arrington (foot) returned to action . . . Sean McDermott indicated rookie linebacker Keenan Clayton, a fourth-round pick, looked better in the Jacksonville game than he has looked at Lehigh. "The lights came on and Keenan showed up a little bit," McDermott said. "Now, like a lot of us, he has a lot of work to do at the same time, and it has to be an everyday thing. You have to come out and play consistent, aggressive, dependable football. So, it can't just be in the games. He has to do it every day here."