The Daily Philadelphian

Sometimes, the best moves are the ones you don’t make. Or, so the cliche’ says.

The Eagles refused to surrender a first day draft pick for Tony Gonzalez. Turns out that Andy Reid once again knew what he was doing — or not doing.

Gonzalez ended up being dealt to the Atlanta Falcons for a second round pick. The Eagles kept their second round selection and now have Shady McCoy to show for it. Without McCoy, the Birds would not have had a legit backup to Brian Westbrook.

With plays like this one, Eagles tight end Brent Celek is starting to remind people of Chad Lewis.

Meanwhile, the Eagles still were able to line up one of the league’s better pass catching tight ends this season. They just didn’t have to go outside of the organization for help.

Brent Celek has emerged as the perfect TE for the Eagles offense, and he is starting to remind some of a Pro Bowler from earlier this decade — Chad Lewis.

When Lewis returned for a second stint with the Eagles for the 2000 season, McNabb’s first as the full-time starter, the Brigham Young product was the “hot” receiver in most formations. Lewis was McNabb’s go-to-guy when he got into a jam, and he hauled in 69 passes for 735 yards and three touchdowns.

In his first three games of the 2009 season, Celek has caught 22 passes for 245 yards and two scores. He’s fifth among NFL TEs in receptions, having played one less game than those ahead of him.

Gonzalez, meanwhile, has 13 catches for 160 yards and two scores in his team’s first three games.

Celek is clearly the man controlling the middle of the field right now for a team that lacks a threat in the slot due to  Kevin Curtis’ injuries. He has become McNabb’s and Kevin Kolb’s security blanket, and he has space to run thanks to the attention opposing defenses must place on DeSean Jackson.

The third year tight end from Cincinnati is on pace to not only surpass Lewis’ best season. With his current level of production, he could break Keith Jackson’s franchise record for most receptions at the position. KJack pulled in 81 receptions during his rookie campaign in 1988.

For the last two seasons, Celek played in the shadows of butterfingers L.J. Smith. In fact, Andy Reid was so unsure of what he had in Celek that he handed Smith more than $4.5 million last season when he placed the franchise tag on the bust out of Rutgers.

Celek enjoyed a coming out party during the postseason last year. In three games, he caught 19 balls for 151 yards and three touchdowns. In the NFC Championship Game alone, he put up 10 receptions and found pay dirt twice.

His play helped pave the road for Smith to transform himself from the Eagles top TE into John Harbagh’s headache. Smith, now playing in Baltimore, has played in just two games and is averaging an insane 26 yards per reception. Of course, he only has one catch.

The Eagles unquestioned No. 1 TE this season is fulfilling all the promise that Smith never came close to touching. He plays the right way and in many ways is looking more and more like Chad Lewis did during his best years. He’s not afraid to leap over defenders to gain an extra yard or two, much like Lewis did.

Celek is the TE the team has lacked since Lewis retired. All Andy Reid had to do was look on his bench to find the perfect TE for his offense.