Grimes' homecoming may be on hold

[ugadawg]

Grimes’ homecoming on hold

By D. Orlando Ledbetter | Thursday, October 23, 2008, 09:20 AM

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Imagine how cornerback Brent Grimes feels.

Grimes overcame all of the odds to become a NFL starter and when his team is about to play in his hometown, he’s injured.

Got to be a major bummer.

The former undrafted free agent from Shippensburg played his high school football and basketball at Northeast High in Philadelphia.

Grimes slammed his knee on the turf at the Georgia Dome during Chicago’s fourth quarter touchdown drive. He suffered what the coach Mike Smith said was a bruised knee, but he hasn’t practice since.

Smith is hoping he returns for today’s practice. (We’ll update his return or non-return after practice). Grimes promised earlier in the week that he’d be ready to go.

After not getting any Division I offers, going to Shippensburg University as a running back and then converting to defensive back, getting cut by the Falcons, playing in NFL Europe, making the practice squad and then finally the team, you know that Grimes is going to do all that he can to play in this game.

But if Grimes is not able to go, Domonique Foxworth would step into his spot. Foxworth was acquired before the start of the season from Denver. At some point the coaches have to figure out what he can do because the former Maryland Terp becomes an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.

Coaches keep saying the Falcons system is so much different than Denver’s and Foxworth (a pretty smart customer) needed time to digest things. Well six weeks and a bye week is plenty of time. Let’s see some Foxworth!

Whatever the case may be, Foxworth or Grimes will be on the spot against Philly QB Donovan McNabb, who’s healthy again and dissecting pass defenses.

The Eagles pass offense (5th in the league, 263.5 yards) against the Falcons pass defense (26th, 231.7) is the glaring statistical mismatch. Rookie receiver DeSean Jackson appears to be legit. Throw in the return of Brian Westbrook, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis and it could be a long day for the secondary against Andy Reid’s pass first West Coast offense.

Do you hope that Grimes gets to make his homecoming trip and play? Ready to see some Foxworth, but not at Grimes’ expense? McNabb is looking pretty good, how do the Falcons stop him? Should the Falcons steal a page from the Eagles and blitz more in order to help out the pass defense?