--The Eagles have been heavily criticized for not making a more earnest effort to acquire the Kansas City Chiefs' nine-time Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez before last week's trading deadline. But coach Andy Reid suggested Wednesday that Chiefs president Carl Peterson wasn't serious about trading Gonzalez, even though he was quoted as saying a second- and fifth-round pick would have gotten a deal done.
"Some things are real and some things aren't," Reid said. "I'll leave it at that."
The Eagles' current trio of tight ends - starter L.J. Smith and backups Brent Celek and Matt Schobel - have caught just nine passes for 77 yards in the last five games. But Reid insisted he's more than happy with his tight ends. "I look at it like I've got an All-Pro tight end in L.J.," he said. "I've felt that way for a long time. I see things different than maybe you (media) guys see it. I understand the calls. I understand the coverages. I'm very happy with the tight end position."
--This week's signing of fullback Kyle Eckel doesn't mean Dan Klecko is headed back to defensive tackle. Coach Andy Reid said the Eagles didn't sign Eckel to replace Klecko. "It's Klecko's job," he said. "That's whose job it is. Eckel will have an opportunity to learn the offense. If something were to happen to Klecko, then he'd have a chance to step in." Eckel will be used primarily on special teams and also could see action as a short-yardage back. He had 33 carries for the Patriots in 2007.
--McNabb on Falcons' rookie quarterback, Matt Ryan: "That's not a great situation to be going into. You're talking about going into a city where they loved Michael Vick and still love Michael Vick. All eyes are on you to see how you're playing. This is his first year and I think he's been doing a decent job, as far as what they've been giving him. He's done a wonderful job of making plays when they needed it."
--McNabb hasn't been nearly as productive in the second halves of games this season as he has been in the first half. His first-half numbers: 68.3 completion percentage, 9.01 yards per attempt, seven touchdowns, one interception. His second-half numbers: 58.2 completion percentage, 5.44 yards per attempt, one touchdown, two interceptions.
BY THE NUMBERS: 9-0 - That's the Eagles' perfect record in games directly after the bye week under Andy Reid.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "I'm not even sure I could tell you our record (after the bye). I didn't even know that record. I really don't care to know that. We've just got to do our thing. Records don't mean a lot." -- Coach Andy Reid on the fact that his Eagles teams are 9-0 after the bye.
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