Agent: Levens returning to Eagles

[ALinChainz]

August 22, 2004


PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Free agent running back Dorsey Levens will return to the Philadelphia Eagles and replace the injured Correll Buckhalter, Levens' agent said Sunday.

``It's an opportunity to play, and it's a situation where he knows the offense and has an opportunity to win a Super Bowl,'' agent Hadley Engelhard said.

Engelhard said Levens planned to leave for Philadelphia Sunday night to sign a contract.

The Eagles declined comment.

Buckhalter tore a tendon in his right knee in Friday's preseason win over Baltimore and will undergo season-ending surgery. Levens' return would mark the second time he was brought in to back up an injured Buckhalter.

Levens likely will back up third-year back Brian Westbrook, who, along with Buckhalter, shared time with veteran Duce Staley last season. Staley signed with Pittsburgh in the offseason.

Buckhalter and Staley combined for 1,005 yards rushing and 13 touchdowns and 515 yards receiving and three touchdowns last season.

The 34-year-old Levens spent his first eight seasons with the Green Bay Packers before joining the Eagles in 2002 when Buckhalter was lost for the season with a knee injury.

Levens played in all 16 games in 2002, rushing for 411 yards on only 75 carries and one touchdown. He also caught 19 passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

Levens signed with the Giants as a free agent last year and saw his productivity decline. In 11 games, he managed only 197 yards on 68 carries -- an average of 2.9 yards -- but scored three touchdowns. He also caught five balls for 39 yards.

For his career, Levens has averaged 4.0 yards per carry, scored 32 touchdowns and compiled 4,545 yards rushing.



http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ap-eagles-levens&prov=ap&type=lgns

[POJO_Risin]

Levens...talk about being done...

and you know how damn desperate the Dolphs were...and Levens wasn't even an issue there...

[Lou]

I was hoping for more than this...he'll run for about 25 yards a game. A waste of a roster spot if you ask me; even Thomas Tapeh (a 5th round draft pick the Eagles have from Minnesota) is better than him.

[Lou]

Originally posted by POJO_Risin
Levens...talk about being done...

and you know how damn desperate the Dolphs were...and Levens wasn't even an issue there...

But the Eagles don't use a "featured back" hence they won't trade anything or pay a lot for a good runner when their philosophy is NOT to have a workhorse get 25 carries a game.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

Scramble Eagles, scramble !!!!!

[ALinChainz]

Teams will have cuts after game 3 of the pre-season, why not wait for the cuts. There will be runningbacks cut by other teams that have to be a bigger help than Levens.

[POJO_Risin]

Probably to make sure that Westbrook doesn't have to take all of the carries...

They've used a feature back before...Staley...2 years ago...

and they'll do it again...but I just don't think Westbrook is that kind of player...

I think they thought Buckhalter was that kind of player...which is why Westbrook...after all those good games he had...still had to watch Buck get a couple of 100 yard games at the end...

and don't you love it when the Eags get to the damn playoffs...and they don't have a goto back? They kept running Staley and Buckhalter and Westbrook out there in the playoffs...and they all looked attrocious...

Maybe this well help them in the long run...

[Lou]

That's not true at all. Staley was having a productive game against Carolina and Reid refused to stick with the run. Also Buckhalter was having a damn good game against the Rams in the championship game but nothing was gonna stop Marshall Faulk that day. Actually all three of them had a very fine year last year, especially Westbrook, but none of them are a "feature back," and Reid refuses to get a feature back or run a little more.

[ALinChainz]

With T.O. there this season, I don't think there is that much emphasis on the running game anymore anyway.

They'll throw more this year than past seasons, doesn't matter who is back there. Keep the defense honest, and keep Westbrook out there healthy and a threat. Levens on the goal line shit.

[POJO_Risin]

If they are depending on the pass...they are toast...

sorry...McNabb just isn't accurate enough to be dependant on the pass...

The question you need to ask yourself is this...are those backs...not feature backs? Or does Andy Reid have his head up his ass when it comes to the running game?

Staley wasn't a feature back? How about 98, 99 and 2002 respectively...when he had over 1,000 yards each year? And he has averaged nearly 50 receptions a year...

don't know about you...but that feels like a feature back...

Now they have been talking big about Buckhalter for three years...and this is the second time that he's gone out early...

I don't know what smoke they've been blowing your way hombre...but he's been earmarked as the guy since they got him...

No coach...stupid or not...would ever in a million years...give three different backs significant time if that weren't true...

Westbrook was cranking last year...and Buckhalter was stealing touches...Staley was stealing touches...

and they looked flat out horrible running the ball in the playoffs LAST YEAR...except for McNabb...

[Mezro]

Levens is just a quick fill safety net until another warm body shakes out.

Mezro...Westbrook will carry the load and have a decent year (and this is a big fucking if) if he stays healthy...