Snotbubbles
Footballguy
Eagles Tuesday morning practice reportBy Marc Narducci
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Eagles had a spirited practice in their first day at pads at Lehigh, but it was a workout that didn't include wide receiver Todd Pinkston.
Last year Pinkston suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon in his right foot during training camp.
Coach Andy Reid said that Pinkston's other Achillies was bothering him and that is why he was held out.
"He has a little bit of inflammation in that," Reid said. "We are working to get that out and see how he does in the next couple of days."
What was surprising was that Pinkston participated in the first two days of camp for selected veterans and rookies on Friday and Saturday. Not only did Pinkston participate, but he was a dominant performer during those two days. Reid had given Pinkston, Donovan McNabb and Lito Sheppard that Sunday practice off.
Pinkston is entering his seventh season. He has 184 receptions for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns and, if healthy, could be the Eagles best deep threat.
Also on the injury front, fullback Thomas Tapeh missed his fourth day of practice with a hamstring injury. Wide receivers Jeremy Bloom (hamstring) and Jason Avant (knee) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Other than that, everybody practiced, including offensive tackle William (formerly Tra) Thomas, who was held out of yesterday afternoon's workout for what Reid called "precautionary measures."
"I had lots of rust, but it was good to be back," said Thomas, who suffered a season-ending back injury on Nov. 20 against the New York Giants. "What is good is that my back feels good.
During training camp, the Eagles are expected to practice in pads in the mornings and then in shorts in the afternoons.
Based on the first workout in pads, the defense appeared ahead of the offense. Cornerback Sheldon Brown and newcomer Darren Howard, the free-agent defensive end from New Orleans, both made a number of impressive plays.
Howard insists that he wasn't doing anything special to impress his new teammates.
"This is the way I play, going after it hard," Howard said.
The feel-good story of camp, rehabbing running back Correll Buckhalter was on the field, but didn't take part in any live contact.
Buckhalter has missed the last two years with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and missed the 2002 season with an ACL tear in his left knee.
"I may just play it by ear," Reid said after being asked when Buckhalter would take part in live contact. "I will see how he is doing and communicate with him and see how it works."
INQUIRER STAFF WRITER
BETHLEHEM, Pa. - The Eagles had a spirited practice in their first day at pads at Lehigh, but it was a workout that didn't include wide receiver Todd Pinkston.
Last year Pinkston suffered a season-ending ruptured Achilles tendon in his right foot during training camp.
Coach Andy Reid said that Pinkston's other Achillies was bothering him and that is why he was held out.
"He has a little bit of inflammation in that," Reid said. "We are working to get that out and see how he does in the next couple of days."
What was surprising was that Pinkston participated in the first two days of camp for selected veterans and rookies on Friday and Saturday. Not only did Pinkston participate, but he was a dominant performer during those two days. Reid had given Pinkston, Donovan McNabb and Lito Sheppard that Sunday practice off.
Pinkston is entering his seventh season. He has 184 receptions for 2,816 yards and 14 touchdowns and, if healthy, could be the Eagles best deep threat.
Also on the injury front, fullback Thomas Tapeh missed his fourth day of practice with a hamstring injury. Wide receivers Jeremy Bloom (hamstring) and Jason Avant (knee) remain on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
Other than that, everybody practiced, including offensive tackle William (formerly Tra) Thomas, who was held out of yesterday afternoon's workout for what Reid called "precautionary measures."
"I had lots of rust, but it was good to be back," said Thomas, who suffered a season-ending back injury on Nov. 20 against the New York Giants. "What is good is that my back feels good.
During training camp, the Eagles are expected to practice in pads in the mornings and then in shorts in the afternoons.
Based on the first workout in pads, the defense appeared ahead of the offense. Cornerback Sheldon Brown and newcomer Darren Howard, the free-agent defensive end from New Orleans, both made a number of impressive plays.
Howard insists that he wasn't doing anything special to impress his new teammates.
"This is the way I play, going after it hard," Howard said.
The feel-good story of camp, rehabbing running back Correll Buckhalter was on the field, but didn't take part in any live contact.
Buckhalter has missed the last two years with a torn patellar tendon in his right knee and missed the 2002 season with an ACL tear in his left knee.
"I may just play it by ear," Reid said after being asked when Buckhalter would take part in live contact. "I will see how he is doing and communicate with him and see how it works."
<insert rant about people using "dominate" as an adjective.> 
to Reggie Brown.The nice thing about Baskett is that he is a big target, and Philly needs one of those. He could be a Ernest Wilford type this year, especially with TDs.
There are a strong set of arguments to make that they are the worst team in their division. They certainly did the least of any team in that division to improve themselves, and are the only team in the division to suffer a net loss of talent when TO went from them to Dallas (not saying they should have kept him BTW, but still).
