Mitchell’s career statistics nothing to talk about

Now that Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens have seemingly put their issues behind them, all is… Now that Donovan McNabb and Terrell Owens have seemingly put their issues behind them, all is quiet in Philadelphia-too quiet. Something is noticeably absent this year: the mouth of former Eagles’ wide out Freddie Mitchell.

For those of you who permanently blocked “FredEx” from your memory, I apologize for re-opening wounds. For those of you unfamiliar with him, the Eagles selected Mitchell out of UCLA 25th in the first round of the NFL draft in 2001. Much was expected out of Mitchell, but he was only ever able to crack the starting lineup when other receivers fell to injury. What Mitchell lacked in production, however, he made up for with his mouth.

I have no problem with trash-talkers. I think they contribute greatly to the overall game atmosphere. Bold predictions, bad-mouthing opponents and self-congratulation all add intensity to a given game and give fans something to talk about. There is a qualification, however, to being able to run your mouth: You actually have to be good.

For example, last year, the Bengals’ Chad Johnson sent bottles of Pepto-Bismol to Browns defensive backs before their game in Cleveland. He included handwritten notes warning them that they would need the antacid when they got done trying to cover him.

The prank caused quite a stir and actually backfired on him as the Browns rolled to a 34-17 win. But he still went on to have one of the best seasons in Bengals’ receiving history, earning him the right to “talk.”

And then there is Mitchell’s former teammate, Terrell Owens, who is famous for his celebrations. Owens’ stunts include standing on the Dallas Cowboys’ star logo; the Sharpie in the sock; and last season’s spiral into the “T.O. has B.O.” banner. Although he can be a little over the top at times, T.O.’s performance has earned him the right to talk.

That brings me to Mitchell, the self-proclaimed “People’s Champ,” who has been talking since the day he joined the Eagles, but lacks the statistics to back it up.

The 26-year-old has 90 career catches for 1,263 yards and five touchdowns. To put his touchdown total in perspective, the Eagles’ second-string tight end, L.J. Smith, had as many touchdowns this past season as Mitchell has in his career – not what you’d expect from the 25th overall pick. His numbers barely made him tradeable, which is why the Eagles ultimately decided to cut him.

Mitchell is best known for his 28-yard catch on a 4th-and-26 play in the Eagles’ divisional playoff overtime win against the Green Bay Packers in 2003. Mitchell promised more of the same heroics in last year’s playoffs. He hardly delivered.

Needless to say, his mouth was in full stride, especially after he caught five receptions for 65 yards in the Eagles’ divisional playoff win against the Vikings. In a post-game interview, “FredEx” thanked his hands for “being so great,” despite the mediocre performance. Ironically, those same hands fumbled the ball out of the end zone in the fourth quarter, resulting in a touchback for the Vikings instead of a first and goal for the Eagles. Mitchell followed up that game with a brilliant two-catch, 20-yard performance in the NFC Championship against the Falcons.

You would think that only catching two balls would be a humiliating experience, but not for Mitchell. Shortly after the NFC title game, while a guest on SportsCenter’s “Hot Seat,” he said that he only knew the Patriot’s secondary by their numbers, not their names.

He then looked into the camera and said, “I’ve got something for you on the field, Harrison,” in reference to the Patriots’ All-Pro safety Rodney Harrison. The Eagles were especially counting on Mitchell with Todd Pinkston injured and a recently signed construction worker for a tight end.

In the Super Bowl, Mitchell caught one ball and dropped two others. I guess that was the “something” that he had for Harrison.

“Freddie Mitchell said he was bringing something for Rodney Harrison. I don’t know, maybe it was the two dropped passes,” Patriots’ head coach Bill Belichik said in an interview on SI.com just following his Super Bowl. “He’s terrible…We loved when he was in the game.”

So where is the “People’s Champ” now? After being released by the Eagles, Mitchell signed with the Kansas City Chiefs in June. The Chiefs hoped he would compete for a starting role, but even when he was healthy he was in a battle to make the club. Shortly into camp, he tore his meniscus and was told by team doctors that he needed surgery.

He initially declined to have the surgery, and the Chiefs cut him. Now he’s having the surgery. He should be ready to go by the middle of the season, and says he has 32 teams open to him right now. The Chiefs have indicated they would consider re-signing him later in the season if he is healthy. However there have been rumors that Mitchell could be headed back to Philly to replace Pinkston, especially after he was seen with Owens at a recent Phillies game.

But while he may return, the bottom line is that big-talking, high-expectation Freddie Mitchell currently sits at home on Sundays like the rest of us – watching pro football, and not playing it.

Joe Balestrino is a senior staff writer for The Pitt News. E-mail him at balest@pitt.edu.