LouGrant
03-06-2003, 11:10 PM
PHILADELPHIA - Free agent visitor Derrius Thompson looks the part of a classic West Coast offense slot receiver.
Up close, Thompson appears larger than life - not to mention his dimensions on the flip card - 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds.
Right now, the 25-year-old Thompson says he'd be comfortable playing the slot for the Eagles, even though it's a non-starting position that gave Andy Reid 46 receptions last year. Thompson had 53 grabs last year with the Washington Redskins.
"You can catch a lot of balls in this offense," Thompson, who had four touchdown receptions last season, said Thursday. "The third receiver definitely can. So, the starter is not that important."
The starting position is important when it comes to money. Eagles starter James Thrash, for example, averages $1.7 million. With three other clubs in the bidding for Thompson - all offering at least a chance to compete for a starting job - the Eagles may have to get creative to land the player.
But first Thompson has another visit scheduled, one this Monday in Buffalo with the Bills, according to agent Vann McElroy. McElroy expects contract negotiations to jump out of the preliminary mode shortly thereafter.
"When Joe gets back," McElroy said of Eagles negotiator Joe Banner, who was out of town Thursday, "we'll see where we at. Until then, Derrius will look at Buffalo and we'll go from there."
http://www.timesherald.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1672&dept_id=32095&newsid=7288789&PAG=461&rfi=9
Up close, Thompson appears larger than life - not to mention his dimensions on the flip card - 6-foot-3 and 216 pounds.
Right now, the 25-year-old Thompson says he'd be comfortable playing the slot for the Eagles, even though it's a non-starting position that gave Andy Reid 46 receptions last year. Thompson had 53 grabs last year with the Washington Redskins.
"You can catch a lot of balls in this offense," Thompson, who had four touchdown receptions last season, said Thursday. "The third receiver definitely can. So, the starter is not that important."
The starting position is important when it comes to money. Eagles starter James Thrash, for example, averages $1.7 million. With three other clubs in the bidding for Thompson - all offering at least a chance to compete for a starting job - the Eagles may have to get creative to land the player.
But first Thompson has another visit scheduled, one this Monday in Buffalo with the Bills, according to agent Vann McElroy. McElroy expects contract negotiations to jump out of the preliminary mode shortly thereafter.
"When Joe gets back," McElroy said of Eagles negotiator Joe Banner, who was out of town Thursday, "we'll see where we at. Until then, Derrius will look at Buffalo and we'll go from there."
http://www.timesherald.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1672&dept_id=32095&newsid=7288789&PAG=461&rfi=9