Shockey will try out in Philly on Wednesday. (US Presswire) |
After sitting out last season season because of a bad back, former Browns and Bengals guard Eric Steinbach is on the comeback trail, and according to CBSSports.com’s Jason La Canfora, he’ll work out for the Ravens on Tuesday. Meanwhile, tight end Jeremy Shockey, most recently with the Panthers, will visit the Eagles on Wednesday to talk about resuming his career.
Steinbach could help Baltimore’s left side after the Ravens lost guard Ben Grubbs to free agency this offseason. For now, the Ravens have tackle Bryant McKinnie, surprisingly effective last season, protecting Joe Flacco’s left side, and Steinbach’s former Cincinnati teammate Bobbie Williams was signed in the offseason as the left guard.
Since Steinbach has played his entire career in the AFC North, the Ravens clearly are familiar with him.
If Steinbach signs, though, he and Williams are most likely short-term solutions at left guard until 2012 second-round pick Kelechi Osemele would be ready to go full time.
And in case anybody is worried about Steinbach’s back, here’s a recent video of him showing off his workout skills. It’s not overly exciting, because, after all, it is only video of a guy lifting a large amount of weight. But I guess this means he’s healthy.
Meanwhile, the offseason for Shockey hasn’t gone so well, especially when he was named (incorrectly, as we all believe) as the whistleblower who led the league to the Saints bounty scandal. Plus, there was a real question in February whether Shockey even wanted to play anymore.
“It was a great conversation and he just said, 'Well, we'll see,'” Panthers coach Ron Rivera said. “With him, who knows?”
Shockey -- coming of a 37-catch, 455-yard, four-touchdown season in Carolina -- isn’t the only tight end looking for work in Philadelphia. Word broke Monday that the Eagles also are looking at former Vikings tight end Visanthe Shiancoe as a possible backup to starter Brent Celek.
Of course, five minutes after I posted this item, the Philadelphia Inquirer wrote this:
Plans to bring in FA TE Jeremy Shockey for a physical have been put on hold. #Eagles are talking with him, I'm told, but nothing imminent.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) July 24, 2012
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