Philadelphia Eagles

New NFL policy limits types and sizes of bags tobe brought into stadiums.

C Jason Kelce’s recovery appears to be going smoothly. C Jason Kelce appears to be fully recovered from a devastating knee injury he suffered in September of 2012, according to a report from Comcast SportsNet. If he is indeed all the way back, Kelce’s return would provide an enormous boost to an offensive line that desperately needs to rebound from a nightmarish, injury-plagued 2012. In the same report, Geoff Mosher questions Kelce’s ability to thrive outside of Howard Mudd’s system. He states that Chip Kelly’s scheme is not “a system that isn’t catered to his quickness,” but that could not be further from the truth. In fact, Kelly coveted athletic centers at Oregon and when he had them, he often pulled them on outside running plays. That system showcased Max Unger’s skills and allowed him to be a top 50 selection in the 2009 draft. Athletic centers like Kelce allowed Kelly to open up his playbook at Oregon, and it’s reasonable to expect the Eagles to carry over some of those same elements. In an offense where plays are designed to get the ball in space, athleticism is supremely important for offensive linemen, who don’t often operate in closed quarters. That’s why the Eagles spent a top-5 pick on Lane Johnson, and that’s why they’re counting on Kelce, Jason Peters, and Evan Mathis to return to form in 2013. If all five starters make it out of training camp healthy, Eagles fans have a lot to get excited about up front.

Over the next month or so, we'll be taking a look at the various position battles set to be waged when the Eagles open training camp in late July. We start with QB. This one almost goes without saying. It's going to be, by default really, the #1 position battle of the summer. The competitors Michael Vick, Nick Foles, Matt Barkley, Dennis Dixon, G.J. Kinne. The Eagles have an interesting, albiet not terribly exciting cast of characters at the position. There's a lot of youth, but none that would be considered the blue chip heir apparent. Michael Vick is the most experienced of the group and despite his decline over the past 2 seasons, is still actually a capable starting QB in the league. At 32 years old (soon to be 33), he's not exactly on the verge of retirement, but he's not exactly a QB of the future either. You might be surprised to learn that right now he's actually the same age as Eli Manning. So in QB years, he's not too old to lead this team for the next couple of seasons, but at the same time if this is his prime the team could very well be looking to take a shot on someone else developing into something greater than just "capable." Nick Foles & Matt Barkley represent the youth and are basically co-QBs of the future. Foles is heading into his second year, but thanks to Vick's injury actually got a chance to play as a rookie. For the most part, he looked like a rookie 3rd round pick thrown into a bad team. There were flashes of good things, but in the end the numbers were not terribly impressive. Foles has ideal size and impressive poise, but there are concerns about his ability to locate the deep ball. At this point, it seems as though Foles is the co-favorite for the starting job. Matt Barkley shocked many draft observers when he slid to the top of the 4th round in this year's draft after many had him pegged as a sure fire first rounder in 2012. Barkley represents the true x-factor in this competition. He's the guy that Chip Kelly actually chose and did not inherit. The coach knows him well from their days in the Pac-10 and he has the accuracy, experience and leadership you look for in a starter. The questions with him are whether is his averagish size and arm will limit his ceiling in the pros. Dennis Dixon played for Chip Kelly at Oregon, so he has a headstart on the other QBs in terms of understanding the coach's philosophy. But practically, Dixon is likely just competing for a depth role. GJ Kinne was a UDFA out of Tulsa who spent some time with the Jets in 2012. He's most likely just camp fodder. Who could win the job? There are 5 QBs in camp but in all likelihood the competition is down to no more than 3 guys. Vick, Foles and Barkey the former two being the co-favorites. Vick & Foles have been sharing the first teams snaps all through OTAs and despite some members of the team hoping to have a starter by camp, it appears as though Chip Kelly will continue the competition. Who could be a surprise cut? This is a position where the top 3 competitors for the starting job may very well not be guaranteed the 3 roster spots for the position. If there's an odd man out here, it's almost certainly Michael Vick. If he does not win the starting job, it's kind of hard to figure what the point of keeping on the roster would be. If Nick Foles or even Matt Barkley is the starter, the team has clearly decided to move ahead with a young QB and is willing to take the growing pains that go with it. There's just no point to having a high profile veteran backup. Plus, if they did want a vet to help the young guys, Dennis Dixon might even be a better candidate for that role than Vick. For one, he knows Chip Kelly and his offensive concepts better having played for him in college and he also makes the league minimum. So if Vick doesn't win the top job, don't be shocked to see him let go. Poll Who will be the team's starting QB? Michael Vick Nick Fole

It safe and fair to say that the Eagles didn't care, and they were not playing with heart the last two seasons while Andy Reid was still head coach. Now, the birds are in a new direction. New scheme, change of scenery, and new implmented systems such as the 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Billy Davis, and your typical pro style offense under new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who had two stints with the Eagles. From 1999-2001, Shurmur served as Tight Ends coach, and 2002-2008 Shurmur then served under Reid as quarterbacks coach. At first, the hiring seemed kind of odd to fans and few sports writers. A lot of people questioned the moved due to Kelly's likelihood of bringing his high octane Oregon offense with him. So far, Kelly has said the right things, and has been going on about his work with adapting. Chip Kelly has stated that he's implementing 15% of what he ran at Oregon into the offense he's going to run with the Eagles. But, the big question of all is, Are the Eagles really committed? A lot of players seemed excited about the possibility of Kelly becoming head coach, and there were past reports that Michael Vick would hold out or not come back unless Chip Kelly was made coach. Now Chip Kelly is your head coach. Chip Kelly seems to be a much more approachable coach than Andy Reid Jason Kelce stated. "With Andy it was more of... especially with me coming in later in his career after he'd built up such a reputation in Philly amongst the players in the locker room, it was kind of like there was an aura around him. You never wanted to be yourself around him. You always had to have this front up and you always had to be 'Yes sir & yes maam" always on your Ps and Qs. He was a hard man to talk to and be loose around. It was always an uptight conversation whenever I had with him. Whereas with Chip, he's much more, at this point at least, like one of the guys. He's still the head coach and you still have respect for him, but he converses with everyone, strikes up conversations and is much more of a loose guy to be around than Andy was." It's really hard to tell if Eagles wanted him because they believe he's soft or softer than Reid. The real question is will they play for him? It's going to suck if the Eagles take the same approach they took with Reid and still did nonsense off the field. But, if the Eagles are really committed to Chip Kelly as they said in the past, Chip Kelly's plan for this season is certain to be interesting. It safe and fair to say that the Eagles didn't care, and they were not playing with heart the last two seasons while Andy Reid was still head coach. Now, the birds are in a new direction. New scheme, change of scenery, and new implmented systems such as the 3-4 defense under new defensive coordinator Billy Davis, and your typical pro style offense under new offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur, who had two stints with the Eagles. From 1999-2001, Shurmur served as Tight Ends coach, and 2002-2008 Shurmur then served under Reid as quarterbacks coach. At first, the hiring seemed kind of odd to fans and few sports writers. A lot of people questioned the moved due to Kelly's likelihood of bringing his high octane Oregon offense with him. So far, Kelly has said the right things, and has been going on about his work with adapting. Chip Kelly has stated that he's implementing 15% of what he ran at Oregon into the offense he's going to run with the Eagles. But, the big question of all is, Are the Eagles really committed? A lot of players seemed excited about the possibility of Kelly becoming head coach, and there were past reports that Michael Vick would hold out or not come back unless Chip Kelly was made coach. Now Chip Kelly is your head coach. Chip Kelly seems to be a much more approachable coach than Andy Reid Jason Kelce stated. "With Andy it was more of... especially with me coming in later in his career after he'd built up such a reputation in Philly amongst the players in the locker roo

A contrite Chad Johnson apologized Monday for disrespecting a judge when the former NFL star slapped his attorney on the backside in court last week, and his immediate release from jail was ordered.

If you want to bring a camera to your next Eagles game, be sure to leave it's bag in the car. Ladies, if you want to bring your purse... make sure it's a small one. The NFL has issued a new set of safety guidelines for all teams that bans the majority of containers and bags from being brought into the stadium. Prohibited items include, but are not limited to: purses larger than a clutch bag, coolers, briefcases, backpacks, fanny packs, cinch bags, luggage of any kind, seat cushions, computer bags and camera bags or any bag larger than the permissible size. Here's the list of things the NFL says you can bring. Bags that are clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and do not exceed 12" x 6" x 12." One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc bag or similar). Small clutch bags, approximately the size of a hand, with or without a handle or strap, may be carried into the stadium along with one of the clear bag options. An exception will be made for medically necessary items after proper inspection. "Our fans deserve to be in a safe and secure environment," said Jeffrey Miller, NFL vice president and chief security officer. "Public safety is our top priority. This will make the job of checking items much more efficient and effective. We will be able to deliver a better and quicker experience at the gates and also provide a safer environment. We appreciate our fans' cooperation." I certainly get that the NFL wants to keep it's fans and employees safe, but I can't help but wonder caused the need for this? What happened that would necessitate banning women from even bringing a purse with a strap on it into a game? These just seem like such draconian measures that aren't in response to anything particular.

Dec 2, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (18) runs after making a catch against the Dallas Cowboys during the game at Cowboys Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports Coaches and quarterbacks aren’t always the players sitting on the hot seat.  Whenever a new coaching regime comes in, every player on the roster who was there when he arrived is suddenly up for audition like any common actor.  He better put up a good performance if he wants to keep his job.  That is what Jeremy Maclin stares at as a new era begins for his team, and it couldn’t have come at a worse time as his contract is set to expire at seasons end. Maclin and DeSean Jackson issued open challenge by Chip Kelly Chip Kelly came to the Philadelphia Eagles with clear plan in mind.  He will create his team with his identity, just like he did with Oregon in college.  That means any player who can’t get on board with his style of offense will either ride the bench or find a new team.  That is the message he’s sent to the players on the offense, including star receivers DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin.  Already Jackson has felt that pressure when Kelly demoted him to running with the second and third string players in practice.  Only after a personal talk in Kelly’s office did Jackson get the message.  Maclin hasn’t incurred any sort of similar restriction but that doesn’t mean he’s lost on his situation.  He understands that except for the 2012 Eagles draft picks, whom Kelly selected personally, everybody else on the roster has something to prove.  Maclin is in special danger because of his contract.  One slip up or injury and he could be looking for new job in 2014.  Does he have a future anywhere else? Andy Reid familiarity makes Chiefs a prime landing spot The short answer is yes.  Maclin is not a game breaker like Calvin Johnson or Brandon Marshall but he is a model of consistency.  The past three seasons he has averaged 893 yards and seven touchdown catches.  That is the ideal production for a #2 receiver in an offense, which Maclin is.  There is no shortage of teams that would love to have him, including the Oakland Raiders, Baltimore Ravens, Carolina Panthers, and Detroit Lions.  However, one location that makes more sense than any other is the Kansas City Chiefs.  Their head coach Andy Reid was the one who drafted Maclin back in 2009.  He knows what the young receiver can do for his team and for quarterback Alex Smith. Kansas City already has a go-to guy in Dwayne Bowe but the fight for the second spot is anything but a clear picture with Jonathan Baldwin, Donnie Avery and Dexter McCluster.  If Jeremy Maclin finds he doesn’t fit the Kelly offense in Philadelphia, Reid should welcome him with open arms to Arrowhead Stadium and the new Chiefs.

Washington Nationals (34-34) @ Philadelphia Phillies (33-37)Pitching Match-Ups:Monday - Dan Haren vs. John LannanTuesday - Ross Detwiler vs. Cliff LeeWednesday - Gio Gonzalez vs. KK7:05 start time for all gamesGnats Bats:R - 237 (29th)AVG - .233 (28th)OPS - .666 (27th)The Nationals surprised a lot of people last year when they won the NL East, and because of that were a favorite to repeat in 2013. However, things haven't gone as planned. Washington's offense has been terrible (blame it on Obama, easy scapegoat). Bryce Harper/LF is hurt (get used to it, I see a lot of Chase Utley in him). Jayson Werth/RF is fresh off the DL and so is Ryan Zimmerman/3B. Although, neither of them are hitting like past track record would suggest. The only two really doing well are Ian Desmond/SS (.287/.808) and new second baseman Anthony Rendon (.361/.951 in 17 games). The catching situation is also a mess, nearly as bad as the Phillies.Gnats Arms:ERA - 3.59 (7th)WHIP - 1.23 (7th)Good news- the Phils miss their top 2 starting pitchers this series (Strasburg and Zimmermann). Bad news- Gonzalez and Detwiler is still really good, with Haren being the only beacon of hope for run scoring. The bullpen has the 3-headed monster for the 7th, 8th, and 9th innings (Storen, Clippard, and Soriano). New addittions (Ian Krol and Fernando Abad) have combined for 15.1 IP, 18 K, and a matching 0.59 ERA and WHIP. Hell, even their long reliever is good (Craig Stammen- 2.95/1.23).Predictions:A low scoring series, with the Phils taking 1 outta 3 (only win comes against Haren).

If there was a word to describe Chip Kelly's methods, it would be "unconventional." He's been called a mad genius, an aggressive play caller, and a calculated risk-taker. People have been speculating about everything and anything that he might do on the professional level and it hasn't helped that he's been extremely vague with his plans. And while most of the speculation has gone to his offensive scheme, his game management strategies have also gotten some attention as well. More: Chip Kelly's extra points might not be mundane Which brings us to overtime. Overtime could prove to be one of the more interesting aspect's of Chip Kelly's game plan, simply because NFL overtime is a huge departure from the sudden death employed by the NCAA. And even then, the new overtime rules completely overhauled how it's approached. A few short years ago, the overtime strategy was simple: if you won the coin toss, you received the kick and went for the field goal. In fact, it was so simple that the NFL decided to change all that after the 2009 NFC Championship Game (even though it probably didn't have to). Now if you kick the field goal, the opponent gets an opportunity to counter. If the first possession results in a touchdown, the game is over. So what will Kelly do? As I mentioned above, Kelly doesn't take risks - he takes calculated ones. What is the calculated risk in the new overtime rules? If my two cents is worth, well, two cents, don't be surprised if Kelly departs from his normal aggressive stance and chooses to kick during overtimes. There are a lot of things that might factor into that decision, but the simplest might also be the biggest: logic. Any given possession in football has three outcomes. You can turn the ball over to your opponent (via a lost fumble, interception, missed field goal, downs, or punt), you can kick a field goal, or you can score a touchdown. Of those three outcomes, it is more likely that you will turn the ball over by an incredibly vast margin. Every new set of downs brings with it the possibility of a punt, missed field goal (depending on field position, of course), or turnover on downs. There is a possibility of losing a fumble or throwing a pick on every play. Conversely, the sustained success required for a field goal is unlikely for one specific drive, which is all that matters in overtime. And that's not even considering touchdowns. All of these things are true for both teams, so what does it matter who gets the ball first? Well, there are seven possible scenarios for a drive, as discussed above: lost fumble, interception, missed field goal, turnover on downs, punt, successful field goal, and a touchdown. Of those seven, only one ends the game and one will give you similar field position to your opponent. In the other five, however, you are almost guaranteed to get better field position, unless the opponent has a good punt or turns the ball over deep in your territory. Additionally, it is a fact that in those five scenarios you have a shorter distance to travel in order to win, since all you need at this point is a field goal. Weighing all of this, whoever gets the ball second in overtime has a very clear advantage over their opponent. Anyone who watched the Lions game Week 6 last year probably realized this a long time ago. Of course, there are a lot of other factors involved: if your opponent has a lot of offensive momentum going into overtime, you might want the ball just because your defense is on its heels. Likewise, if your defense has played lights-out and shut the opponent down in the fourth quarter so your offense could tie, kicking the ball looks like the more attractive option (although I can see the argument for receiving there too). But if the game is a slug fest where neither team really ever gained an advantage, I would kick every time and I think that Kelly would, too. Or he could be classic Chip Kelly and do something so out of the ordinary that nobody could have predi

Philadelphia is still paying for the now nonexistent Veterans StadiumNearly fifty years after the original bond was approved the city is still paying for the construction of the now nonexistent stadium. Peters arrest a test for Eagles coach KellyChip Kelly's message to his players before they started the NFL's answer to summer vacation was to "be professional" about their work during the intermission between minicamp and training camp. Player to watch at training camp: Matt Barkley | Comcast SportsNet PhiladelphiaWhen training camp begins later this summer there is going to be plenty of players to watch for, including rookie quarterback Matt Barkley. Three Things We Learned About the Eagles' Defense - Birds 24/7From new roles for Trent Cole and Brandon Graham to the changes for safeties and linebackers, here are three things we learned about the Eagles’ defense this spring. Bryon Jackson showcases his brother's career, pays tribute to dad'The Making of a Father's Dream' is about DeSean Jackson. Twitter mailbag: Eagles' QB muddle - NFC East Blog - ESPNWhy keep Michael Vick? Simple, he might be their best option at QB. NFP Sunday Blitz | National Football PostMonte Kiffin shares the secrets of a coaching tree; best father-son coaching combos