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Andy Reid set for Eagles' reality check

NFL, Philadelphia Eagles

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid is quick to dismiss that he's coaching a "Dream Team."

"Right now, we've got a lot of good looking guys standing around watching," Reid told ESPN Radio's Mike and Mike in the Morning on Wednesday. "Obviously, dreams aren't reality, so the reality will come when I get my hands on them and we get them into practice and start grinding here like the other guys are grinding. That's reality."

Philadelphia has signed a number of high-profile free agents over the past week, including cornerbacks Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha, defensive linemen Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins, quarterback Vince Young, offensive lineman Evan Mathis and running back Ronnie Brown. Reid credited that to a plan executed by team president Joe Banner and general manager Howie Roseman.

"We were very organized coming out of the chute," Reid said. "... Howie had it all mapped out on the players that we wanted to go get and we were able to do that and bring us some pretty good players."

Reid was asked about how he'd manage the Eagles' trio of Pro Bowl cornerbacks, including Rodgers-Cromartie, Asomugha and Asante Samuel. Only two will play at a time.

"That's a pretty good situation for a coach ... you find a way to work them in and keep them all working," Reid said. "That's what our challenge is as coaches. We kind of welcome that."

Asked if he was open to a trade, Reid said: "There have been people who have called. Right now, this is what we're doing. You know how we operate here ... we always keep our ears open. And so if people want to talk, we entertain everything. Right now, we're doing what we're doing and all three of them are here."

Later, former Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb told Mike and Mike in the Morning that chemistry is important when you bring in a number of new players.

"You can have a lot of guys on one team, but if the chemistry is not there, then things don't go as well as you really want," McNabb said of the Eagles. "Andy's a great guy. He'll make sure that everyone fits in perfectly.

"I know they've got some decisions to make in these next couple of weeks with a lot of their players, but you're talking about a coach who knows how to win and he's going to get his players in the best position possible to do that."

Reid also laughed off comments by Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Rob Ryan, who said, without specifying the Eagles: "I don't know if we win the all-hype team. That might have gone to someone else, but we're going to beat their ass when we play them."

"I would have been pretty upset if he'd have said it was a hot dog eating contest," Reid said. "I would have been ready then. I don't really care about that stuff. Anybody can say what they want to say. Reality is when you strap it on and play. That's where it all takes place."

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

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