One NFL Coach Thinks Eagles Have Best Team

As the national media continue to check in and out of Lehigh on their training camp tours, the consensus seems to be that the Eagles are as a strong contender in the NFC.

The betting public clearly believes that, as the over/under for Eagles wins is at 10.5. Only the Patriots and Packers have higher totals.

But it looks like others in the league, specifically one coach, are buying into the Birds too this season.

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com, who spent a couple days here this week, recently included an interesting nugget in his column:

The Philadelphia Eagles have two missions this season: Minimize quarterback Michael Vick’s mistakes and maximize his starts. If they succeed, they should accomplish a grander objective — namely, a return to the playoffs.

I believe they can, and I believe they will, and I’m not alone. In fact, one coach I trust told me last week that this season’s best team won’t be the New York Giants or the New England Patriots or the Green Bay Packers.

“It’s the Eagles,” he said. “Provided, of course, they can keep Vick healthy.”

I know many of the fans and some of the players would prefer that the Eagles fly under the radar this season after last year’s disaster. But clearly, that’s not going to be the case.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.