Reggie White of Eagles Has Very Demanding Streak Going

Reggie White is trying to solve a mystery.

The former U.S. Football League standout defensive end is beginning to show the wear-and-tear of playing football for 16 of the last 24 months and he’s not sure why.

“Out of the last two years, I’ve been playing football for 16 months,” he said. “I don’t know if it’s my body not responding or if it’s me. I hope something happens in the next few weeks because I need the strength.”

White, who signed with the Eagles Sept. 20 after playing a full season with the Memphis Showboats, is second on the team in sacks with 4 1/2, has two pass deflections and 35 tackles. But he knows he’s not playing as well as he can.

“I’m not getting the strength on my pass rush that I know I have,” he said, adding he hopes trainer Otho Davis can help him find renewed strength to get through the rest of the season.

“I’ve started getting sore in the second quarter,” he said. “I never used to get sore until after the game.”

White may not be happy with his play but Coach Marion Campbell has no complaints.

“He’s coming along very fine,” he said. “He’s still learning this league right now and every week he’s seeing something a little different. . . . But still he’s got a knack for making the big plays.

“As well as he’s played, I know he’s going to be better once he’s got a full training camp behind him. . . . I’m already sure he’s going to be everything we thought he would be.”

And that’s a lot, since Eagles owner Norman Braman, who paid Memphis $1.3 million to release White from his contract and then gave the player a $1.6-million deal, labeled White a “franchise player” when he signed with Philadelphia.

“It’s a great compliment,” said White, an ordained Baptist minister who was known as the “Minister of Defense” in Memphis. “I just try to be the best that I can. Hopefully, one day, I’ll be the best here. That’s a goal I want to reach.”

White, who would have been one of the top players selected in the NFL draft two years ago if he had not first signed with the USFL, does not regret his decision to go to the other league, but is happy he’s in the NFL.

“At the time, it was good for me,” he said. “I wanted to help my family and myself.”

During his second season problems developed between White and the team. White, who won’t discuss the problems, said he wanted to make the move to Philadelphia, which had selected his rights in a supplemental draft.

He was so eager, in fact, he and his agent showed up on the sidelines in Detroit during training camp as the Eagles were practicing with the Lions. Several weeks later, he was an Eagle.