Eagles middle linebacker Stewart Bradley said former teammate Kevin Curtis is in good spirits after undergoing surgery to remove a cancerous testicle on Sept. 23.
"The prognosis is pretty bright . . . He's a pretty rational dude, and he understands that the rest of him is healthy. I think if things stay good, he'll be back healthy and ready to go," Bradley said of Curtis, a 32-year-old receiver who has not signed elsewhere since the Eagles released him this past offseason.
Groin and knee injuries limited Curtis to 12 games and 39 catches in 2008 and 2009, after a career year (77 catches for 1,110 yards) when he joined the Birds as a free agent in 2007.
Bradley's understanding is that Curtis hopes to resume his NFL career.
"Everything looks good," Curtis was quoted as saying in the Deseret News, a Utah newspaper. "They caught it early, and there is no sign that it has spread. I'm pretty fortunate, really."
Curtis told the paper that a Vikings doctor noticed an abnormality during a physical when he was a free agent in 2007, and he has gotten regular evaluations since then. No action seemed necessary until an exam this summer raised more alarms. Curtis felt he was close to getting back into the NFL then and wanted to wait until after the season for surgery, but that plan was vetoed.
"I don't know for sure what's going to happen. I'm prepared never to play again if it doesn't work out, but I want to give it a shot," Curtis told the paper. "Even if I don't play this year, I think I would prepare all year and try next year."
Man in the Middle
Stewart Bradley, who missed last season with an ACL tear and the second game of this season with a concussion, has not settled back into the middle-linebacking job as seamlessly as the Eagles might have hoped.
Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott defended Bradley yesterday.
"We all have to keep in mind that he's just a year over coming off of the ACL. He's a work in progress in terms of making plays and getting comfortable back inside again, but he has done a good job," McDermott said. "He has made plays and he brings a physical presence to the defense. Now, does that mean he's been perfect? Absolutely not, none of us have. But he's going to continue to work hard just like the rest of us."
McDermott switched Akeem Jordan out for Moise Fokou at strongside linebacker this week, a reflection of his frustration at a lack of physical presence from the linebacking corps.
Bradley said his struggles are in the details.
"It's a play here or there. I don't feel like it's a big thing, really," he said. "I feel pretty good out there . . . when you come up against something you haven't seen in 2 years . . . now I've seen it; you're always more comfortable after you've seen it once."
Bradley endured a number of frustrating moments against the Redskins, none worse than the potential game-changing interception that went through his hands after bouncing off Washington fullback Mike Sellers.
"I was juiced up for the big hit in the flat. I was definitely in full sprint mode," he said. "Then it bounced, it popped off his shoulder pads . . . That's a play I can make."
Birdseed
Special-teams coordinator Bobby April: "There have been a lot of big plays in the National Football League this year on special teams, I mean a lot of big plays. That [Miami-New England] Monday night game had enough for 4 weeks in it, and we haven't been able to hit any of them, and that's a disappointment, and that's on me; I just have to get these guys going" . . . Leonard Weaver's fan contest to name his English Bulldog puppy has been won by John Ferrani, of Bethlehem, who suggested "Dream" . . .
The team has promoted director of legal affairs Aileen Daly to general counsel. Remember, that's how Howie Roseman got started . . . Michael Vick (rib cartilage), Asante Samuel (concussion), Riley Cooper (concussion) and LeSean McCoy (rib) did not practice. Nick Cole (knee) was a limited participant. Asked to comment on his status for this week, Cole gave a thumbs-up gesture but declined to speak.
