Eagles: Andy Reid erases mistake and releases Jaiquawn Jarrett

It wasn't easy for coach Andy Reid to admit he made a mistake, but he didn't want to compound that mistake with another. That's why he gave up on safety Jaiquawn Jarrett, his second-round draft pick last season, and released the former Temple star.

“You have to be honest with yourself,'' Reid said on Wednesday. “If it's working, then it works. If t doesn't, it doesn't.

“We're all human,'' Reid added. “We all have errors that we make at times. Where we think somebody is going to fit, it doesn't fit. Then you give them an opportunity to move on and make a living for themselves.”

The Eagles raved about Jarrett's athleticism and hitting ability when they drafted him and envisioned him teaming with Nate Allen at safety for the next decade. But Jarrett struggled learning the system and struggled in pass coverage, so he was deactivated for four games in 2011 and didn't play very much in the others.

The Eagles pointed to the fact that Jarrett didn't have an offseason with them as a rookie because of the NFL lockout and once he fell behind, he could never catch up. But he never did, even with a full season and offseason under his belt, which is why the Eagles brought in a few veterans -- O.J. Atogwe and Phillip Thomas -- to compete with him. Eventually, they, too, were released.

To fill Jarrett's roster spot, the Eagles signed wide receiver Mardy Gilyard, who did play well and impress the coaches in the preseason. The Eagles need another receiver because they're unsure of the status of starter Jeremy Maclin (hip-pointer) for this week's game against the Ravens.

Reid said he believes Jarrett has the talent to play at this level and will get another chance to make an NFL roster.

“His style of defense will be best for him somewhere else and not with this team,'' Reid said.

For more up-to-the-minute news and analysis on the Eagles from blogger Kevin Noonan, follow @CBSEagles.