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by **Slingblade** » Fri Aug 01, 2003 8:20 pm

PHILADELPHIA (July 31, 2003) -- First-round pick Jerome McDougle signed a six-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, ending a one-week holdout.

McDougle, 6-foot-4 and 271 pounds, is expected to replace three-time Pro Bowl defensive end Hugh Douglas. The Eagles traded up 15 spots to select McDougle with the 15th pick in April's NFL draft.

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"He will have some catching up to do," Eagles coach Andy Reid said. "It was a good thing he was in the minicamps and got his work in there. He needs to get himself in playing shape. We are already in pads and hitting, and he hasn't done that at this level."

McDougle had 114 tackles and 14 sacks in two seasons with the Hurricanes. To get McDougle, Philadelphia sent its top pick, 30th overall and one of its two second-rounders to the San Diego Chargers.

McDougle is a strong pass-rusher and is often compared to Douglas because of his playing style, and will get an opportunity to start.

Douglas left the Eagles in March after five seasons, signing a five-year contract with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He led the Eagles with 12½ sacks last season, but had just 1½ in his last five games, including playoffs.

McDougle is just the second rookie holdout since Jeffrey Lurie bought the team from Norman Braman in 1994. Defensive tackle Corey Simon, the sixth overall pick in 2000, held out 12 days. McDougle missed six.

Starting running back Duce Staley is the only player still out of camp. Staley, who is in the final year of his contract this season, wants an extension.