L.J. Smith could have made it difficult. He could have called a press conference and complained about the injustice of having the franchise tag applied to him. Hey, why not? It's what players around the league are doing these days. It's fashionable to complain, to use the media to translate the message.

But Smith didn't say a negative word. He didn't moan about not having the chance to go into free agency. He reacted with total professionalism, and on Wednesday he signed the one-year contract that guarantees him $4.5 million reasons to be happy in 2008.

Smith deserves a lot of credit here, and his move and the way he conducted himself through the entire process deserves some applause. Hopefully it is a sign of good things to come for Smith, for the Eagles. Smith is in fantastic shape, totally healed from his injury-riddled 2007 season. He figures to be a huge part of the Eagles offense as they look to get back on track in the big-play category and inside opponents' 20-yard lines.

By not waiting until training camp, or later, as many players do, Smith jumps right into the team's offseason conditioning program and will be on the field for the post-draft minicamp at the NovaCare Complex. Smith has an entire spring and summer to re-connect with Donovan McNabb and work on his timing and explosiveness on the football field.

It is, frankly, a distraction wonderfully avoided. Smith sidestepped drama. He understood the picture perfectly and made the right decision at the right time.

Expect good things for Smith ahead. His 2008 season is off to a great start.

Off the top of my head ...

Why did the NFL have to change the rule that says a direct snap that goes from a center to a quarterback and is a fumble without being touched by the quarterback is now a fumble, rather than a dead ball? Why couldn't that rule be in place last year, before it happened in the Eagles' loss to the Bears? I'm going to cry about it. It was a ridiculous play and a ridiculous rule and a terrible loss for the Eagles.

Musing about the questions Andy Reid answers ...

I know Andy Reid gives very, very little during an interview. I understand that Eagles fans want to hear answers that point a finger at a player or identify a problem or admit a mistake. That just doesn't happen very often with Reid, and I understand his strategy: He lets his actions speak louder than his words.

But Reid also gets share of repetitive questions that could certainly be directed into another corner. In his annual breakfast with the national media on Wednesday at the NFL Annual Meeting, Reid answered question after question after question about the possibility the Eagles are going to trade quarterback Donovan McNabb.

How many times does Reid have to talk about it? How many times does he have to say that McNabb is his guy and that No. 5 is the quarterback for 2008 and that, yes, Reid expects McNabb to have a wonderful season?

I guess reporters want the headlines, but how many times do we have to read the headline, or a variation, that says, "Reid has not plans to trade McNabb," or, "Look for McNabb to be an Eagle in '08." No kidding. 

Is this story done? Please?

I did find it interesting that Reid basically admitted that the left guard position is an open competition between Todd Herremans, Max Jean-Gilles and Scott Young. Reid said that Herremans needs to be better than he was last season and that while the ability is there, the production was not there last year. That in itself isn't a wild revelation, but it was revealing. I've always believed that competition brings out the best in players. We will find out how Herremans responds to the challenge.

The fans react ...

Some of you have expressed questions about what Reid said with regard to the playmakers on the team and on the fans' intense interest in the 'X' receiver position and, well, some of you are concerned that the Eagles think they are fine, just fine, at wide receiver all the way around.

The truth is, the Eagles like their receivers. That is true enough. Kevin Curtis was terrific last year with 77 catches. He's a very fine player. Reggie Brown has the ability to be better than he was from start to finish in 2007, and the Eagles are hoping he breaks out this year. Jason Avant is a bright piece of what the passing game wants to do. 

But if the Eagles have a chance to upgrade, they are going to do so. Trust me on that one. Maybe they will have an opportunity to add a receiver in the draft, or via a trade. Maybe they won't. There are no guarantees. If the don't add a receiver, they are going to have to find other ways to improve the offense -- Reid stressed on Wednesday that improvements can come from within from one year to the next, too -- in other ways.

Understand that Reid is in pre-draft mode right now. He isn't going to say a thing that would let out a lick of information.

Names, notes, news and other things off the cuff ...

• In case you missed it, William Thomas has now changed his name back to Tra Thomas. Seems that not too many folks took to calling him "William," so he is back to Tra Thomas again.
• Running back Tony Hunt is down to 227 pounds, a loss of five pounds from his listing last season.
• I don't know what it means for when the season starts, and I know he has not been a productive, consistent player, but defensive lineman Darren Howard looks great. He looks like he slimmed down and he looks better than I have ever seen him.
• Reid made an interesting point about Montae Reagor, who is two years removed from his serious automobile accident. The Eagles certainly need a better presence with their inside pass rush, and Reagor is one of the leading candidates. He had just one sack last season. Maybe he bounces back now.
• Anybody who says he/she knows what the Eagles are going to do in the first round of the draft is simply guessing. The Eagles have so many directions in which they can go. They don't even know what they're going to do yet.