Sean Jones News

Here are the selections of the football writers from the Dallas Morning News: Todd Archer: Eagles, 35-30 Tim Colishaw: Cowboys, 26-21 Gerry Fraley: Cowboys, 27-24 Rick Gosselin: Eagles, 27-24 Bill Nichols: Cowboys, 24-21 David Moore: Eagles, 34-31 Kevin Sherrington: Eagles, 24-21 Jean Jacques Taylor: Eagles, 38-28 SUNDAY NIGHT VIEWS If you are ...

There was a lot of blather yesterday at the NovaCare Complex about how Donovan McNabb has evolved into the vocal leader in the Eagles locker room now that everyone who came before him - Tra Thomas, Jon Runyan, Brian Dawkins, to name a few - is gone.

The Eagles had five penalties for 45 yards Sunday against the Giants. Jason Peters was called for holding in the first quarter to negate a touchdown to Brent Celek .

New York Giants kicker Kevin Boss gains 22 yards and a first down on a shotgun pass from Eli Manning in the second quarter of a football game against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on Sunday, November 1, 2009.

Brian Westbrook will not play in Sundaya s game with the New York Giants, according to the Philadelphia Eagles.

THE INACTIVE LIST for the season opener last month was not quite what veteran safety Sean Jones had in mind when he signed with the Eagles this past offseason.

During training camp, one of the most-watched position battles was at free safety.

Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook missed practice Friday and is officially listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Giants.

Will Witherspoon is an aberration. Over the course of the last decade, it has been rare for Eagles defensive newcomers to step right in and make a difference.

When the Eagles signed free-agent Sean Jones during the offseason, it was assumed the former Cleveland Brown would challenge for the starting job at free safety.

USUALLY, PRAISE from Eagles coach Andy Reid amounts to a declaration that a designated player is doing "a good job." Not too helpful, for those of us hoping to gain insight, which is pretty much how Reid likes it.

Eagles wideout DeSean Jackson, who has 5 touchdowns in 47 touches this season, was a full practice participant Thursday and didn't seem to be favoring the foot he injured in Monday's victory over Washington.

But one thing the Eagles cornerback is not is a prototypical tackler. In fact, Samuel sometimes can't tackle at all.

Last year host River Ridge ruined F.W. Springstead's playoff hopes with a 31-14 lashing.

A tight end can be a young quarterback's best friend. So look for the Buccaneers to try to do that Sunday with Josh Johnson throwing to pass-catching threat Kellen Winslow.

THOSE WHO prefer to look at the Eagles ' defensive glass as half-full today will no doubt dwell on the three interceptions and the three sacks they collected in yesterday's 19-point win over the winless Tampa Bay Bucs.

Andy Reid's teams have had the advantage of a bye week 10 times in the regular season during his career as the Eagles' coach, and all 10 times they have won.

After two weeks, the Eagles have accumulated 16 penalties for 121 yards. Only seven NFL teams have been called for more.

The way Ted Daisher sees it, and the way he believes DeSean Jackson sees it now, the rule for when to return a punt and when to let it go is not flexible.

"I think there is a process that is going on, and the progression makes you feel confident that things are going to be better," McNabb said.