Ellis Hobbs

RE THE LETTER pooh-poohing the level of Ellis Hobbs' generosity: I think it's ridiculous that someone would actually be criticized for being generous. I just wanted to make that letter-writer aware of the fact that on Thursday night Dec. 23, Ellis Hobbs helped numerous families by providing a dinner and giving toys to many needy families in North Philly. But more important, he and his family gave their time to speak to everyone about the importance of giving back.

Here are our grades for the Eagles' 31-28 loss to New England: RUSHING OFFENSE Eagles pretty much abandoned the run in the second half after the Patriots held Brian Westbrook to 3.3 yards per carry in the first half. Grade: D PASSING OFFENSE A.J. Feeley's three interceptions, including an early one that was returned for a touchdown, marred an otherwise impressive three-touchdown performance. Grade: B RUN DEFENSE The Patriots didn't run the ball much, but had two rushing touchdowns.

THE PHILADELPHIA Eagles have a secret Santa on their team - and, no, it's not Andy Reid. While Big Red might have the right physique to play the Big Red Guy, it turns out injured cornerback Ellis Hobbs is the Eagle most likely to be mistaken for Jolly Old St. Nick. Hobbs, 27, stepped into a South Philadelphia Toys "R" Us yesterday afternoon, smack in the middle of one of those manic Christmas-is-just-a-week-away sales. No one noticed that an Eagle had landed. There were no cheerleaders flipping through the store, no public-relations handlers handing out photos, no sign even of Swoop, the mascot.

Ellis Hobbs isn't retiring just yet, and Winston Justice's left knee cleanout apparently did not indicate a need for career-threatening microfracture surgery. Those were the major nondevelopments of the day in Eagles Nation. There has been speculation about Hobbs' possible retirement since the 27-year-old corner and kick returner suffered his second serious neck-disc injury in as many seasons, on a kickoff return against the Giants Nov. 21. That setback ended his season after eight games, the exact number of times Hobbs took the field in 2009 before injuring his neck and requiring surgery.

Ellis Hobbs said that he is not retiring, although the Eagles cornerback sure sounded content with the idea should he eventually choose to do so. "I'm not planning on anything," Hobbs said Tuesday. "I just feel like if I need to leave this game then I can leave it with an empty conscience, that I [played] my hardest. . . . I'm comfortable with or without the game. That's all. " Hobbs, who suffered a devastating neck injury two weeks ago, was at the Water Works Restaurant near the Art Museum as part of the NFLPA's One Team Tour, which is visiting NFL cities to raise awareness about the league's labor issues.

THERE WAS A union rally disguised as a meet-and-greet/drink-and-eat for Eagles fans and Philadelphians of a labor sort last night at the Water Works Restaurant. There were speeches and exhortations and expressions of support for NFL players in their current contract tussle with the league, including this from Patrick J. Eiding, president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO: "We'll be down there on Pattison Avenue if we need to be. " It harkened back to a time, 20-something years ago, when NFL players went on strike and the owners continued on with scab players and union truck drivers paralyzed the streets around Veterans Stadium.

  BETHLEHEM, Pa. - When a fight breaks out at training camp - and it almost always does - Andy Reid likes to say, "We're not ultimate fighters, we're football players. " However, on a day with lots of hitting, live tackling, and, as a result, plenty of tussles, the Eagles looked like boxers. On the undercard were some heavyweight tilts. But the main attraction - Riley Cooper vs. Ellis Hobbs - was a battle of opposites. It was wide receiver vs. cornerback, rookie vs. veteran, big guy vs. small, and second-team offense vs. first-team defense.

In the NFL, as with most professional sports nowadays, many players migrate from one team to another. So when a player faces a former team, there usually is not the awkwardness that, say, Hall of Fame defensive back Ronnie Lott felt the first time his Oakland Raiders played the San Francisco 49ers. "It's a business," Eagles cornerback Asante Samuel said. "You signed up with somebody [else] and you move on. That's how it goes. " Last off-season, Samuel left the New England Patriots when he signed a multimillion-dollar contract with the Eagles.

The clock ticks down and the pressure builds. Often, the final minutes of a game are the most important. The New England Patriots stayed undefeated with a touchdown with 44 seconds remaining in their 12th game. The Jacksonville Jaguars won their playoff game last Saturday on a field goal with 37 seconds remaining. But tonight, the final minutes of the AFC semifinal will be the final minutes of the season for one of them. "Whoever is playing their best football at the end is going to be winning the game," New England cornerback Ellis Hobbs said.

One moment, there was a wall of sound. The next, there was veil of silence. The quiet lasted for around 10 minutes, too, as medical personnel worked on Eagles returner Ellis Hobbs, who was injured on the second-half kickoff. After the long, anxious delay, Hobbs left the field on a stretcher, raising both fists to salute the crowd in Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles announced that Hobbs had suffered a neck injury but that he had full movement of his extremities and that X-rays were negative.

Ellis Hobbs isn't retiring just yet, and Winston Justice's left knee cleanout apparently did not indicate a need for career-threatening microfracture surgery. Those were the major nondevelopments of the day in Eagles Nation. There has been speculation about Hobbs' possible retirement since the 27-year-old corner and kick returner suffered his second serious neck-disc injury in as many seasons, on a kickoff return against the Giants Nov. 21. That setback ended his season after eight games, the exact number of times Hobbs took the field in 2009 before injuring his neck and requiring surgery.

RE THE LETTER pooh-poohing the level of Ellis Hobbs' generosity: I think it's ridiculous that someone would actually be criticized for being generous. I just wanted to make that letter-writer aware of the fact that on Thursday night Dec. 23, Ellis Hobbs helped numerous families by providing a dinner and giving toys to many needy families in North Philly. But more important, he and his family gave their time to speak to everyone about the importance of giving back.

THE PHILADELPHIA Eagles have a secret Santa on their team - and, no, it's not Andy Reid. While Big Red might have the right physique to play the Big Red Guy, it turns out injured cornerback Ellis Hobbs is the Eagle most likely to be mistaken for Jolly Old St. Nick. Hobbs, 27, stepped into a South Philadelphia Toys "R" Us yesterday afternoon, smack in the middle of one of those manic Christmas-is-just-a-week-away sales. No one noticed that an Eagle had landed. There were no cheerleaders flipping through the store, no public-relations handlers handing out photos, no sign even of Swoop, the mascot.

Eagles right tackle Winston Justice is writing a weekly column for the Daily News this season. His column appears Wednesdays. DURING THE game against the Texans last Thursday, I was hit in the left knee and had to come out in the fourth quarter. I knew we didn't want to stop the clock so I quickly hopped off the field and King Dunlap was ready to get in there for me. I initially thought I would just be able to walk it off on the sideline. This was the first time I haven't been able to finish a game, ever.

Ellis Hobbs said that he is not retiring, although the Eagles cornerback sure sounded content with the idea should he eventually choose to do so. "I'm not planning on anything," Hobbs said Tuesday. "I just feel like if I need to leave this game then I can leave it with an empty conscience, that I [played] my hardest. . . . I'm comfortable with or without the game. That's all. " Hobbs, who suffered a devastating neck injury two weeks ago, was at the Water Works Restaurant near the Art Museum as part of the NFLPA's One Team Tour, which is visiting NFL cities to raise awareness about the league's labor issues.

THERE WAS A union rally disguised as a meet-and-greet/drink-and-eat for Eagles fans and Philadelphians of a labor sort last night at the Water Works Restaurant. There were speeches and exhortations and expressions of support for NFL players in their current contract tussle with the league, including this from Patrick J. Eiding, president of the Philadelphia Council AFL-CIO: "We'll be down there on Pattison Avenue if we need to be. " It harkened back to a time, 20-something years ago, when NFL players went on strike and the owners continued on with scab players and union truck drivers paralyzed the streets around Veterans Stadium.

One moment, there was a wall of sound. The next, there was veil of silence. The quiet lasted for around 10 minutes, too, as medical personnel worked on Eagles returner Ellis Hobbs, who was injured on the second-half kickoff. After the long, anxious delay, Hobbs left the field on a stretcher, raising both fists to salute the crowd in Lincoln Financial Field. The Eagles announced that Hobbs had suffered a neck injury but that he had full movement of his extremities and that X-rays were negative.

It's a shame Ellis Hobbs couldn't cover Kenny Britt as well as he covered some very delicate territory Wednesday. Hobbs had joined a list of infamous Eagles defenders - Izel Jenkins would be stunned to know how long his legend has lingered - with his hapless performance against Britt two Sundays ago. The worst performance in Nashville since Adam Lambert played Ryman Auditorium made Hobbs the focus of sharp criticism and the butt of blunt jokes....

At some point between the Eagles' loss to the Titans 11 days ago and Monday, when Ellis Hobbs was diagnosed with a hip-flexor strain, coach Andy Reid approached his cornerback about the injury he had kept secret. "He made it known to me that he knew something was up," Hobbs said. "I wouldn't have said it. I'm a very independent person and I try to deal with things on my own. " But the injured hip had affected more than just Hobbs, and its revelation Wednesday raised the issue of when playing hurt hinders a team more than it helps.

AS USUAL, the tape didn't lie. Lots of people who rewound the fourth-quarter disaster that became a 37-19 Eagles loss at Tennessee on Oct. 24 came away convinced something was wrong with cornerback Ellis Hobbs, the man primarily responsible for Titans wideout Kenny Britt catching four fourth-quarter passes for 159 yards and a pair of touchdowns. On Monday, Dimitri Patterson told reporters he was going to start at right corner Sunday against Indianapolis. The Eagles said then that Hobbs had been sent for medical tests, but they didn't acknowledge any linkage with the Titans game until yesterday, when Andy Reid disclosed that Hobbs has a hip flexor strain that "was bothering him during the game there.