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Following up on an item in this week's Team Notes. ... Correll Buckhalter found out being a starter doesn't necessarily mean a lot of playing time in Philadelphia.

Buckhalter, playing his first game since a knee injury sidelined him all last season, got just one carry in Monday night's loss to Tampa Bay.

The first play of the game was a pass to Buckhalter that fell incomplete, and the third-year running back didn't see the ball again.

He spent most of the game watching from the sideline while Duce Staley got most of the work.

"It was very frustrating," Buckhalter said. "I just feel like playing more than two plays I can establish some type of rhythm. I don't think I could've made that big a difference in the game. We had to play better collectively."

Buckhalter had 586 yards rushing and averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a rookie in 2001. He missed last season after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee in mini-camp.

As Associated Press sports writer Rob Maaddi noted this morning,while Staley held out until the final week of training camp because he wanted a contract extension, Buckhalter earned the starting job. He expected to split carries with Staley and second-year pro Brian Westbrook.

Staley ran seven times for 14 yards and had seven catches for 46 yards against the Buccaneers. Westbrook carried twice for 5 yards.

Buckhalter said he spoke to head coach Andy Reid after the game about his role.

"It wasn't by design," Buckhalter said. "We were playing from behind. We had to get back on top. He got caught up in trying to do what's best to get us on top.

"I was trying not to think about it. I was doing what I can on the sideline to tell guys who came off the field what I saw. I'm not confused at all. Whatever role he has for me, I'm going to go out and give my best."

Asked whether he was mad he didn't play more, the former Cornhusker replied: "Obviously, after all the work I put in, I'm going to think like that," he said. "It's only human. But I can't dwell on it. I was in the game plan. I expected to split things up, but it didn't fall that way."

None of the Eagles' running backs expect to carry 20-25 times a game. Reid prefers to mix in his backs, and give defenses more to worry about.

But even Donovan McNabb, who rarely questions Reid's play-calling, said he didn't expect to see Buckhalter on the sideline so often.

"I was surprised. I didn't focus too much on it during the game," McNabb said. "We know Buck made plays during the preseason and we know he can make big plays for us during the year."

Also of interest. ...

McNabb responded to suggestions he's become too reluctant to run with the football as follows: "You have said that coach Reid has a leash on me. I don't know. When you go through the course of the game, the defense is preparing for me to run as well. If I play right into their hands, then you'd be saying I should stay in the pocket.

"As a quarterback, you sit in the pocket, go through your progressions, and then make a decision. Sometimes I check down to Duce Staley or [Jon] Ritchie. That is what you're supposed to do during the game. That is what Rich Gannon does. During a game, you pick and choose your time to run."