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As Associated Press sports writer Rob Maaddi first reported, less than a week after he canceled Donovan McNabb's news conference, Eagles head coach Andy Reid dismissed reports that his star quarterback is unhappy with the organization.

"I think that people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true," Reid said in a conference call from the Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday. "That's how it works. I just hate to see people making things up that aren't really true."

According to Philadelphia Inquirer beat man Bob Brookover, McNabb's agent, Fletcher Smith, backs Reid's stance. "None of it is true," Smith, also attending Senior Bowl workouts, told Brookover.

Smith further trashed a rash of reports to the contrary by pointing out, "None of these stories quoted [McNabb]. They're all quoting sources close to Donovan. They claim to know what he thinks and what he's feeling. Who are these people? I don't know. I think there should be some level of responsibility in getting his side of the story before printing some of this stuff.

"It's sensationalism, and I guess it sells newspapers."

All this after Trenton Times staffer Mark Eckel, citing "unidentified sources close to McNabb," said the five-time Pro Bowl quarterback was upset Reid wouldn't allow him to travel on the team plane for the Eagles' playoff game at New Orleans.

Since Reid came to Philadelphia in 1999, he's had a rule that states players on injured reserve -- which McNabb was on -- don't travel with the team.

But Eckel argued: "Teams always treat their stars differently than they do the rest of the team. What would it have hurt to let McNabb go to the game, even if he had to sit in the owner's box with Jeffrey Lurie, if Reid did not want him on the sideline?"

Eckel's report -- which was clearly labeled as opinion -- went on to suggest that McNabb may feel that some with the Eagles might prefer Garcia as the team's starting quarterback after Garcia led Philadelphia to the playoffs and a post-season victory after McNabb went down with a torn ACL in late November.

This despite the fact Reid is on the record as saying that McNabb is the Eagles' quarterback next season as long as he has fully recovered from his knee surgery. And despite the fact Garcia could leave as an unrestricted free agent this offseason.

McNabb also reportedly isn't happy with how his mother has been portrayed in the media and by Eagles fans for comments on her blog on his web site. She wrote that watching the Eagles win without McNabb was "bittersweet."

That's quite a list.

Adding to the litany was a Profootballtalk.com report in which editor Mike Florio, citing multiple league and media sources, advised readers there has been a squabble regarding McNabb's rehab.

According to Florio, McNabb was at some point determined to be behind schedule in his recovery from the surgery to repair his knee. And McNabb has, on at least one occasion, blamed the delay on well-respected trainer Rick Burkholder.

Florio added: "There's a school of thought that Reid put the kibosh on McNabb's press conference due in part to concerns that McNabb would blab about the brouhaha."

Reid insists the presser was canceled because he wanted McNabb to focus on his rehab for a knee injury sustained Nov. 19.

According to Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan, there are two possibilities here:

One is that Reid actually stepped in and canceled the scheduled news conference as claimed. The other is that McNabb decided against doing it and Reid took the bullet by going on Howard Eskin's show on WIP-AM and saying it was his call.

Either way, as Sheridan wrote, "It was a lame decision. It was the public-relations equivalent of punting away your last chance to win a playoff game. It may seem like the safe call, but it's going to backfire."

I would suggest it already has. ...

Meanwhile, McNabb remains mum. For now.

But that will change soon enough. Smith said he believed that McNabb would share his thoughts with reporters before or during the Super Bowl.

Indeed, McNabb is expected to attend the Super Bowl as part of a Campbell's Soup promotion. Smith said he hadn't spoken to McNabb since flying to Mobile, but he insisted that nothing that had been written was a true reflection of his client's feelings.

"I'm absolutely comfortable saying that," Smith said. ...

For those keeping score at home, the veteran signal caller hasn't spoken at length to reporters since he was injured during a Week 11 loss to Tennessee. At the time, McNabb was among the league leaders in yards passing (2,647), touchdown passes (18) and passer rating (95.5).

But the Eagles were 5-5 with McNabb starting. They subsequently went 6-2 behind Garcia, including two playoff games.

Which brings us back to Eckel's contention McNabb was bothered by reports that some teammates might prefer Garcia. It's a contention Florio echoed and expanded on.

Per Florio: "An industry source tells us that guys like tackle Jon Runyan and linebacker Jeremiah Trotter, both members of Reid's 'veterans' committee' have expressed strong support for Garcia.

And while Eckel's sources were unnamed and Florio's accounts were second hand, Delaware County Times columnist Jack McCaffery reminded readers this morning that others -- like Brian Westbrook after a loss to the Saints in the playoffs -- openly and aggressively praised Garcia.

In case you missed it, Westbrook said: "We have been saying that the whole time Jeff's been playing that he has brought that fire back and that competitiveness. He is a leader. Everybody has played better since Jeff has gotten in there and that is the true definition of a leader.

"When the guys can rally around Jeff and play better, you can't ask for much more."

According to McCaffrey: "That quote -- delivered downstairs in the Superdome, minutes after the Eagles season (ended) -- did not generate nearly enough attention. Read it again. And believe that it was said out loud, in front of plenty, with purpose."

Teammates aren't the only ones taking a shine to Garcia. According to the Sports Xchange, "Eagles fans fell in love with Garcia in a way they never fell in love with McNabb."

McCaffrey went on to suggest that's where it is going -- and where Reid would like it to stop. McCaffrey added, however: "By censoring McNabb, Reid only redirected the river of speculation."

Hard to argue there. But it's more than McNabb's silence; it's the whole situation. And as long as Garcia is still on the roster and McNabb has yet to prove himself healthy enough to return from his reconstructive surgery this story will be intensely scrutinized -- and generate copious speculation -- throughout the offseason.

I will note that while many observers -- including SI.com's Don Banks and ESPN.com insider Len Pasquarelli -- expect the Eagles to re-sign him quickly, Garcia could move on.

In an appearance on The Tonight Show this week, host Jay Leno asked Garcia about returning to Philadelphia. After saying it would "be great" if something could be worked out, Garcia seemed eager for free agency.

"I'll definitely be testing the waters," he said. "I've got to see what's out there."

While Garcia's departure might be good news for McNabb in terms of his status in the locker room, it wouldn't stop the media focus; the attention would only turn to his knee.

And if McNabb fails to return from his reconstructive surgery with the same alacrity and overall level of effectiveness Carson Palmer did last summer? The media frenzy would only become more intense.

Bottom line? Look for lots of headlines featuring the word "McNabb" over the next eight months. It will truly be interesting to see how the quarterback -- and perhaps just as importantly his coach -- deal with the situation. ...

Also of interest. ... According to Pro Football Weekly, the Eagles head into the offseason with 11 unrestricted free agents but only one of them, Donte' Stallworth, is a likely starter.

In addition to Stallworth and Garcia, backup halfback Correll Buckhalter is also unrestricted.

As PFW went on to note, Stallworth is an interesting case because he played well when he was out there, but he was nagged for half the season with injuries and the market might outprice him in Philly.

Because the free-agent market is especially thin at receiver, Stallworth's value has gone up significantly, and the Eagles might not get into a bidding war to keep him.

That said, he and Reggie Brown made a pretty formidable pair.

And while the Eagles like reserves Hank Baskett, Greg Lewis and Jason Avant, PFW correctly pointed out that none have demonstrated the ability to fill Stallworth's shoes full time.

Either way, the team is likely to draft another receiver, though don't forget about '06 fifth-round pick Jeremy Bloom, whom the team would like to see win the return job next season and double as a receiver.