– For the last time, McNabb is fine [Bleeding Green Nation] –  What’s up with the media’s love affair with McNabb’s injuries.  This is TENDINITIS for Christ’s sake.  Since when is tendinitis a major news story on ESPN?  This is absolutely ridiculous.  If this were any other QB, this wouldn’t even be a story.  What’s next, “McNabb stubs toe, gets paper cut on throwing finger” as ESPN.com’s next story?  Well, McNabb spoke out and you can read what he had to say at BGN.

– Picture of McNabb at the OTAs [Iggles Blog] — In the quote from the BGN article, McNabb talks about how the media criticizes his weight.  This may be a bad picture, but he is looking a little chubbier than last year.

Keeping track of some signings:

– Eagles sign DT von Oelhoffen to a 1-year deal.  They also inked LB Andy Studebaker and OG Mike Gibson to 4-year deals.

– The Eagles also inked Quintin Demps, also a 4-year deal.  I’m excited to see what kind of player this guy turns out to be.  I see potential there.

– The Eagles also locked up their GM until 2011.

What else is going on:

– DeSean Jackson and Asante Samuel Tweaked Their Hammies [Iggles Blog] — You gotta stretch those out guys! Haven’t they seen The Cable Guy?

– Video: DeSean Jackson Interview [Inside the Iggles] — I’m on the DeSean bandwagon.  The video shows some highlights from minicamp: the dude looks good — Action Jackson!  Apparently, he’s Philly’s new A.I. [The 700 Level]

– So… what really happened this spring? [Dave Spadaro] — Spads goes over the major stories coming out of the OTAs.  We’re really beating a dead horse with the Lito Sheppard situation.  He also analyzes the state of the WRs and looks at the DL.

Spads poses the question, “Can J.R. Reed challenge Considine in camp?”  It should be the other way around.  Considine is a joke.  He has to earn the spot from Reed, not the other way around.

Curtis had a good camp, Brown is catching balls with more consistency, and DeSean Jackson has the mental part down.

The defensive line looks sick — I agree.  The Eagles have stockpiled talent on the line.  They should be able to let them loose this year.  I’ll be paying close attention to Abiamiri this camp.  If he steps up, with the outside rushers the Eagles have, and Trent Cole, they can be dangerous.

Jason Davis looks like a lock to be the starting FB.

The Eagles’ nickel package has me excited: Asante and Lito on the outside.  Sheldon playing the slot.  Gaither and Bradley in the middle.  Dawkins and Q roaming in the back.  I like it.

The Lito story leads me to the next story…

– An article Lito Sheppard should read… [Bleeding Green Nation] — The consensus amongst a few GMs is that Lito is nothing more than 3rd CB.  I.e., Lito should stop bitching about his contract, stay healthy, hit harder, make more plays, and then we can talk.

So I promised an Eagles link up and there you have it.  These days in Eagles news are slow.  We’ll really get into full gear when the Eagles kick off training camp in late July at Lehigh University.  Until then, we can keep hoping that the Phillies continue to put up 20 on the scoreboard.

Another link up is coming soon.  There’s lots to talk about: Jason Taylor, Lito Sheppard, Quitin Demps, T.O., Chad Johnson.  There’s lots of stuff going on before training camp gets underway.  Anyway, I found this piece in the Philadelphia Inquirer interesting:

After finishing last season with a league-low 19 takeaways, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson is stressing getting to the ball in these minicamps. In fact, the defensive players are required to pick up the football and sprint with it even after incomplete passes.

“I don’t know who started that, but it’s getting on my nerves,” safety Brian Dawkins said. “No, I’m just kidding. It’s different. To me, it’s all a part of conditioning also. You get to the ball and you pick it up. It’s about practicing turnovers and picking them up and scoring. At the same time, it’s about having a good time. You’re supposed to have a good time on the defensive side of the ball.”

Lorenzo Booker starts fast [Philadelphia Inquirer]  — The Lorenzo Booker trade thrilled me from the start.  I don’t know how many people are familiar with his college career, but when I watched his Florida State games two seasons ago, I was always paying attention to him.  Every time he got the ball, he had a chance to take it to the house.  His ability to get yards after the catch is uncanny.  So far, Booker’s talent and level of preparation in camp is being raved about.  Not only does Booker fit in perfectly in the Eagles’ system, not only will he be able to take some pressure off Westbrook, but he has a great attitude that Eagles fans love.  You have to love quotes like this:

I’m a perfectionist.  I expect to go out there and when you tell me something once, I get it right. I just love the game. I love to play football. I’m not a guy that can go out there and jog through stuff. To me, there is no halfway. Going full speed and working hard is the only thing I know how to do.  You want to always get used to finishing a play or breaking a long run because you never know in the course of a game when it’s going to happen.

Big tackle has big name, big hopes [Philadelphia Inquirer] — King Dunlap was a great low-risk, high-reward draft pick.  Dunlap was a pre-season All-American and could have been taken in the one of the top two round this draft, but he lost his starting spot his senior year because of some injuries and his draft stock plummeted.  Dunlap ended up being the 35th tackle taken in the draft. Despite a poor senior season, you have to be intrigued with his physical assets and credentials: 6’8″, 310 pounds, size-18 shoes, 5.0 40-yard-dash (that’s fast for a tackle — Jake Long ran a 5.23, Ryan Clady ran a 5.2), 225-pound bench press 20 times, and a very good Wonderlic score.  Give him two or three years behind Tra Thomas and I’m sure he’ll pan out just fine with the Eagles.

Offensive tackle Justice has something to prove [Philadelphia Inquirer] — Justice is ready to prove wrong all the critics who say that he has no heart/fight/fire/bite.

Still Excited About the LBs… [Iggles Blog]  — A bit of pessimism/criticism to relax all the praise that is thrown to the Eagles young linebacking corps.  I happen to love the Eagles linebackers.  They’re young, have a ton of talent, and should continue improving.  Gaither will move to the WILL where he will be able to utilize his athleticism more.  I’m expecting big things from Stewart Bradley in the middle — he made a statement at the end of the season and was drawing comparisons to Brian Urlacher.  Gocong should only keep getting more comfortable in his role on the strong side.  Interesting article nonetheless.

Bryan Smith Buys Food, Gains Weight [Bleeding Green Nation] — I was a little worried about Smith’s small size (231 lbs. at the combine, 243 lbs. right now) as a DE, but Smith says that he could barely afford to buy food in college since D-II athletes get about half the amount of scholarship checks that D-I athletes get.  They get $438 a month and once you deduct money for rent, utilities, and other expenses, you’re not left with a whole lot of money to feed a 240-pound athlete.  Smith has the frame to pack on weight and he should be able to get up to 250 pounds.

Getting To Know Joe Mays [Inside the Iggles] — Joe Mays looks like he could be a beast on the field.  He’s short and stocky, so he has some problems changing direction, but he’s a downhill player, a tackling machine, and he does a great job at shredding blocks.  It seems like Joe Mays is a guy that the Eagles could use in the middle on running downs to stuff the line.  He may get a roster spot if he proves to be a valuable asset on special teams.

Sizing Up Some Prime Roster Battles [Dave Spadaro]  — It’s already pretty clear who will make the 53-man roster.  The only real question marks are what runningbacks won’t make the roster and whether the Eagles go with Jason Davis or Dan Klecko at fullback.

Lito Sheppard lining up as a wide receiver? [Yardbarker] — I don’t see the point of that when you have DeSean Jackson, but sure, why not?

Will the Ravens bring the return of Freddie Mitchell? [Bleeding Green Nation] — The Ravens have worked out “The People’s Champ” Fred Ex.

Eagles getting some love [Iggles Blog]  — According to Iggles Blog, Vegas gives the Eagles the 6th-best odds to win the Super Bowl.  By my count, the Eagles have the 10th-best odds to win the Super Bowl.  The Jaguars, Steelers, Browns, and Saints are all ahead of the Birds.  The Eagles odds to win the Super Bowl are currently 25-1 on sportsbook.com.

Eagles defense ready to soar [Sporting News] — Nothing we don’t already know.  On paper, this defense looks as good as ever.

5 teams that could surprise [ESPN - Matt Mosley] — Here is what Matt has to write on the Eagles:

Even in the very talented NFC East, it’s hard to imagine the Eagles staying down for long. Andy Reid didn’t suddenly become a bad coach and he still has a very talented roster. Keeping quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Brian Westbrook healthy always is going to be a challenge, but the Eagles will be contenders if McNabb and Westbrook can stay on the field. Reid firmly believes Lorenzo Booker, acquired in a trade with Miami, can help lighten Westbrook’s load.

Wide receiver remains an issue, but the Eagles drafted DeSean Jackson to try to give McNabb another playmaker. Reid’s had a rough couple of years, dealing with family issues and the saga of former Philadelphia receiver Terrell Owens. But when Reid has the time to just focus on coaching, he’s as good as anyone in the game.

2008 NFL Draft Grades – NFC East [The Football Expert] — Great breakdown of the NFC East draft picks.  The author gave the Eagles the highest grade with a 89/100.  He gave the Cowboys an 86, the Giants an 86, and the Redskins a 76.

More Draft Grades [DraftSeason.com] — He gave them a B+.  Better than Kiper’s C+.  I don’t know what Kiper was thinking — the Eagles had a very solid draft.  He must have failed to take into account that the Eagles got  Carolina’s 2009 1st-round selection and Lorenzo Booker.

NFC East Draft Grades [Miami Herald] — The Miami Herlad gave the Eagles a B+.  They thought the Redskins were losers: they gave them a D+.  Washington may have picked up a lot of offense, but paying no attention to the defense will hurt them.

Which rookie receiver will have the best rookie year? [End Zone Buzz] — The consensus has DeSean Jackson as the rookie who will have the best year.   I’m going to through out some predictions for Jackson’s year.  I’ll be modest here and predict 35 receptions, 500 yards, 3 receiving TDs, and 2 kickoff returns.  Here is a quick comparison of rookie WR stats from the 2007 draft class.  [The Pass Rush]

DeSean Jackson has been working with Jerry Rice on his routes [Inside the Iggles] — Jerry Rice says don’t sweat his size.  Rice has nothing but praise for Jackson: he says he has great hands, runs great routes, has tremendous speed, and his work ethic is outstanding.  There is no reason to doubt that he can’t be the next Steve Smith.

AFC scout comes to the defense of Jackson [Delaware Online] — Some are worried about Jackson’s size, but if you see the interview with Jery Rice (above) and read this article you will realize that Jackson has the potential to be a special player in the NFL and not just as a kick returner, but as a wide receiver.

Eagles 2008 Draft Videos [Inside the Iggles] — If you missed the NFL Draft, here are the video segments from the draft that overview the selections for the Eagles first two picks: Trevor Laws and  DeSean Jackson.

Trevor Laws and DeSean Jackson get their first Philadelphia cheesesteak [PhiladelphiaEagles.com] –  After a visit to the NovaCare Complex, the Eagles top two picks got a real taste of Philly.

DeSean Jackson Highlights [PhiladelphiaEagles.com] — I’m liking the DeSean Jackson pick more and more each day.  Here is a great interview with Andy Reid and DeSean Jackson while they go through his college highlights.

Eagles Add Seven Rookie Free Agents [PhiladelphiaEagles.com] — They grabbed a handful of WRs hoping that one of them will stick.

Lito Sheppard Update [Bleeding Green Nation] — He showed up for mini-camp to avoid being fined, had a chat with Andy Reid, and stated there are still some “things” that need to be worked out.  Apparently, everything will be fine between the two parties.  If I were the Eagles, I would say “Play in more than 10 games in a season and then we’ll talk.”  If I were Lito Sheppard, I would be pissed at my agent instead of the Eagles organization.

Sheppard shares time with Brown and Samuel [Philadelphia Inquirer] — At the Eagles’ first mini-camp, Sheppard wasn’t sent to the second team.  Rather, he rotated with Samuel and Brown.

Minicamp Quotables [Bleeding Green Nation] — Dawkins, Sheldon, Asante and Lito commented on the “Lito Sheppard situation.”  Westbrook stated that his contract was fair at the time he signed it.  McNabb stated that he’s happy with the Eagles’ offseason moves.  Sheldon said he’s excited about moving to the slot at times because he’ll get more opportunities to go after the quarterback.  I’m going to say there will be a forecast of a lot of blitzes from the Eagles next year.

Day One Minicamp Observations [Dave Spadaro] — Looks like the King Dunlap pick in the seventh round was huge — literally.

Who knows what will happen by the time the draft rolls around.  These are merely rumors, but it appears that the Eagles could make a move to possibly grab Chad Johnson, Anquan Bolden, Roy Williams, or Jared Allen.  Here are some links to stay on top of the situation:

The Eagles to make a “major move” for a WR [Pro Football Talk]

There will be news on Roy Williams before the week is out [GCobb.com] — Cobb went 2/2 breaking the Asante and Moss news, will he go 3/3 with his rumblings that the Eagles are after Roy Williams?

Anquan Bolden wants out of Arizona [Yardbarker] — Bolden wants an extension, the Cardinals aren’t ready to make the move.  The Eagles appear to be in the situation.

Eagles make move for Jared Allen [Yardbarker] — A 1st- and 2nd-round pick is the asking price.  I wouldn’t be surprised if the Eagles make the move on draft day if the Eagles miss out on the WR they want.  The Eagles have already offered Lito Sheppard and picks (but not a 1st-round pick that Kansas City is seeking). [Delco Times]  The Vikings are the front-runners for Allen’s services.

Why are the Bengals being idiots? [All Philadelphia Sports] — If the Bengals scoff at an offer of Lito Sheppard and the 19th pick, they are the worst originzation ever.  This guy shares my opinion. [The Add Show]

Video: McNabb talks about possibly getting Chad Johnson [Inside the Iggles] — Translation: The Eagles need to get Chad Johnson, if not, our receivers will be mediocre to mildly good.

Eagles trading up to 11th? [GCobb.com] — I doubt the Eagles would trade up for Devin Thomas, nor would they need to since he should be available at 19 and if not, it’s not a big deal: there are other solid WRs at the same level (Thomas, Sweed, Kelly, and Hardy are all in the same class — all are solid, but they all have some shortcoming).  I do, however, see them trading up for Ryan Clady or Chris Williams.

Eagles draft predictions — Round 1-7 [GCobb.com] — This would be a fine draft if the Eagles are able to pull it off.

In case you haven’t heard, Chad Johnson wants out of Cincinnati and he said he’s not going to show up for anything.  Yet, the Bengals insist that they’re not trading him.  They turned down two 1st-round picks from Washington; albeit, the 2009 pick was conditional: it would be a 2009 3rd-round pick that could escalate into a 1st-round pick if Johnson set certain performance marks.

I think it’s absolutely foolish if the Bengals are not considering offers.  This could be a ploy to get more value for Johnson, especially if numerous teams (Dallas, New York) are expressing interest. Chad Johnson is a cancer for them: was the T.O. situation good for the Eagles, was Randy Moss outstanding in Oakland?  No, the Bengals need to realize they can’t please the disgruntled receiver and that it’s in their best interest to cut their losses and get what they can for him.

What I’m interested in knowing is if the Eagles would be willing to one-up the Redskins’ offer and see if they could catch the Bengals’ interest.  Would the Eagles consider giving up Lito Sheppard and the 19th pick for Chad Johnson?  And if that offer is made, would the Bengals consider it?

All signs indicate that the Bengals are saying Chad Johnson plays for us, or he plays for no one, but if the “Lito and the 19th pick” offer comes into Cincinnati, they would be absolutely stupid to not consider it.  They would instantly be able to turn their team around by patching up the CB situation with Lito, while at the same time, be able to pick up Sedrick Ellis with their 9th pick, and then Keith Rivers or Jared Mayo with the 19th pick.  They could then replace Chad Johnson with a WR in the 2nd round, there will be plenty to choose from: Limas Sweed, Devin Thomas, Malcolm Kelly, DeSean Jackson and James Hardy aren’t all going in the 1st round — I can guarantee you that.

The only question is would the Eagles offer the Bengals the 19th pick and Lito Sheppard for Chad Johnson, and would that be what it takes to get Chad Johnson?

Jared Allen is on the block and the Eagles need to act [Inside the Iggles] – Yes, Jared Allen would make that defense a top 3 defense in the league, no question about it.  The asking price for him is a 1st and 3rd rounder and the Vikings and Bucs are in the mix.  There’s no reason to think the Eagles shouldn’t be involved with Lito Sheppard and/or their 19th pick.

Banner says significant interest is shown in Lito, but they intend to keep him …unless they get significant value. [PhiladelphiaEagles.com]

Here’s about 3 reasons the Eagles should NOT draft a WR [Philadelphia Inquirer] – As much as I would welcome the prospect of James Hardy, Limas Sweed, or Devin Thomas as the Eagles 19th pick, the bust potential for 1st-round wide receivers is way too high and WRs rarely contribute to a team in their first year.

Video: Colbert gives a shout out to Philadelphia Sports on the Colbert Report [All Things Philly Sports]

Chad Johnson is at it again [Bleeding Green Nation]

ESPN’s Top 50 NFL Busts: Mike Mamula is the one of two Eagles players on the list at 43.  At least we took McNabb over Akili Smith.  [Yardbarker]

Eagles 2008 Schedule [All Philadelphia Sports]