Chris Gocong never had the chance to play alongside Jeremiah Trotter. As a rookie in 2006, Gocong was placed on the injured reserve list with a stinger injury. By the time Gocong took over the strongside linebacker position the following year, Trotter was gone.

Now, the two will play together starting next week when the team returns on Monday from the bye week for a 10-10-10 practice. Gocong knows what Trotter brings to the table.

"He is legendary. He is Philadelphia," said Gocong on his weekly radio show on 950 ESPN Philadelphia on Tuesday night. "When I came in, I learned from him and he really taught me a lot. He and Jim Johnson and all of these guys, I really learned a lot from them. I still believe I can learn a lot from him. He brings so much to the table leadership-wise. He knows the game so well that it doesn't matter that he's in Year (11).

"He's going to bring the same game he always does. If nothing, he can still pound."

Trotter said on Tuesday after he signed a one-year deal that he expects to play on first and second downs. Basically, in any run situation. Mix in Trotter with Gocong's ability to set the edge and the Eagles hope to improve their 15th-ranked run defense. While Gocong applauds the move, he is just as much in shock as every other Eagles fan.

"There's a lot of things this whole season where if you asked me whether we would sign Michael Vick or whether we would sign Jeff Garcia, if Donovan (McNabb) would go out the first week and (Kevin) Kolb would be starting, all of this stuff that you never would think would happen and we sign Jeremiah Trotter, never would have thought it would happen, but it did and you roll with the punches," Gocong said. "You stay loose and adjust and I think it's a good thing. I think it's a good addition."

-- Posted by Chris McPherson, 11:58 a.m., September 30