We just don't know. Whatever the case, [Chuck Bednarik]'s timing and judgment couldn't have been much worse. [Reggie White], who died in January 2005 at age 43, will be inducted into the Hall of Fame Saturday, joining Bednarik and his ilk.

Bednarik wanted [Jeffrey Lurie] to pay $15 apiece for the books, then give them to the players as gifts. Lurie, he has often said, refused, saying he couldn't do that for salary-cap reasons.

Lurie welcomed the apology. He acknowledged that there had been "some resentment" of Bednarik's prior anti-Eagles stance, but said Chuck had always been welcome at camp or games.