The dream ended Saturday for more than a dozen potential Birds but a few of those guys will still be getting a paycheck from the team as a member of the practice squad.
Normally practice squad moves don’t get much press but the eight guys the Birds brought in after the rosters were cut to 53 players were interesting in many respects. The guys don’t suit up on game day but some of the players the Birds will be keeping around could make some contributions.
The Birds brought back wide receiver Danny Amendola, tight end Rob Myers and guards Mike Gibson and Paul Fanaika on Sunday. All four guys spent time during the preseason with the Birds.
On Monday the Birds resigned cornerback Jack Ikegwuonu, safety Reshard Langford and fullback Marcus Mailei. They also grabbed linebacker Jeremy Leman who was released by the Carolina Panthers on Saturday.
The Birds showed that they didn’t want to fully cut bait on some recent draft picks by bringing back Fanaika (7th round 2009), Gibson (6th round 2008) and Ikegwuonu (4th round 2008).
Ikegwuonu could one day even make the team but he didn’t appear to be fully back from a knee injury that cost him all of the 2008 season, Eagles General Manager Tom Heckert told the Burlington County Times.
"We like Jack," Heckert said. "He's definitely healthy. It's just a matter of coming back and getting in the swing of playing football. It's always like he was starting brand-new in training camp. He's going to continue to get better."
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The other name that might stick out was Amendola who despite his 5-foot-11, 186 pound frame made an impression on fans with his speediness and ability to perform on special teams especially in the preseason finale against the New York Jets.
Amendola put up 114 yards against the Jets including 21 on the ground, 40 receiving and 53 on kick/punt returns. The former Texas Tech speedster (sounds like Wes Welker) also might be able to supply the Birds with some info about the hated Cowboys – Amendola spent all of last season on Dallas’ practice squad.
Leman also might be on the practice squad to supply some insight on an upcoming opponent. The linebacker spent the preseason with the Eagles’ first opponent, the Panthers, so he might have some worthy information to share.
The risk with practice squad players is that any team in the league can sign a guy from any other team’s practice squad.
