Green-Beckham eager to start over with Eagles – Philly.com

Dorial Green-Beckham woke up Tuesday morning believing he was a big part of the Tennessee Titans’ future. He went to sleep Tuesday night in Philadelphia a member of the Eagles, exiled by the team that invested a second-round pick in him. Green-Beckham must now learn a new offense, new city, and new teammates in his second summer in the NFL.

“Me not knowing, just waking up and finding it out, it’s tough on anyone’s part,” the 23-year-old Green-Beckham said. “But you’ve got to know wherever you end [up], you’ve got to stay positive.”

The talented wide receiver, whom the Eagles acquired in a trade for offensive lineman Dennis Kelly, went through a walk-through Wednesday. That was his first exposure to coach Doug Pederson’s offense. He flew with the team to Pittsburgh on Wednesday afternoon.

The initial intention was not to play the 6-foot-5, 237-pounder in the preseason game Thursday.

Plans changed.

Green-Beckham warmed up before the game wearing No. 18, which was last worn in the regular season by fellow St. Louis native Jeremy Maclin. The team saw enough to give him limited action in the 17-0 win.

Green-Beckham was in for eight plays and was thrown to twice. One pass was underthrown. The other was behind him and he appeared to drop the ball.

But it was enough to get his feet wet before the third preseason game, next Saturday, when Green-Beckham will likely receive considerable playing time.

“Really fast, like the blink of an eye,” Green-Beckham said of the last few days. “To go from one offense to another offense, playbook to playbook, home to home, you’ve just got to pick up on it.”

Green-Beckham said he’s “not necessarily sure” why the Titans gave up on him after one season. He added he must keep a “chip on your shoulder” about the trade and react positively to coming to the Eagles.

He arrives to a team that could use him. The Eagles are unsettled at wide receiver, and Green-Beckham’s talent is undeniable. He had 32 catches for 549 yards and four touchdowns as a rookie with the Titans while starting five games. Green-Beckham could find a similarly prominent role in Philadelphia, and his size would be a welcome addition with some of the slant routes in Pederson’s system. He also presents value in the red zone.

“I feel like being in this offense, I can catch a lot of balls, score a lot of touchdowns,” Green-Beckham said.

Titans coach Mike Mularkey wanted to see more consistency and more extra work from Green-Beckham. After the trade, Mularkey told reporters that he had “many conversations” with Green-Beckham about putting together “back-to-back-to-back” productive days.

“It wasn’t like he wasn’t trying, but it just never clicked in,” Mularkey said.

Green-Beckham said Mularkey “saw potential in me” and wanted more of him, and he tried to fulfill his promise. When asked about the inconsistencies in his daily production, Green-Beckham said he must work on eliminating the “mental errors” and understanding the “little details” about playing wide receiver. But he believed he came early and stayed late, implying that work ethic was not the problem. He also said he arrived at training camp in shape, so conditioning was not a problem, either.

Green-Beckham’s talent might have warranted a first-round selection last year, but his off-the-field problems dropped his stock. Green-Beckham was dismissed from Missouri after he was the subject of a burglary and assault investigation, although no charges were filed. He also had two marijuana-related arrests, but was not charged. Green-Beckham said his days of being linked to trouble are behind him.

“Totally a whole different person,” Green-Beckham said. “The off-the-field stuff is in the past, has been in the past. That stuff, I’ve never heard anything since then being brought up from anyone. That tells me I’m doing the right things.”

When he first heard about the trade, the first thought was that he’s starting over. It’s not a situation the No. 40 overall pick usually finds himself in after one season, but Green-Beckham thinks it will be good for him. And the Eagles are hoping the tantalizing talent flourishes in a change of scenery.

“I think this will be a fresh start, new start, new teammates, new family, great family atmosphere,” Green-Beckham said. “I feel like this is a brand new start.”

Walker tears ligament

Linebacker Joe Walker tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee, a league source confirmed. Walker, the Eagles’ seventh-round pick, was poised to be the backup middle linebacker. He will now miss the season, and a position that already lacked depth became even thinner.

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Staff writer Jeff McLane contributed to this article.

Published: August 19, 2016 — 6:23 PM EDT | Updated: August 19, 2016 — 8:46 PM EDT
The Philadelphia Inquirer

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