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Here are three Eagles leftovers to chew on. DeSean Jackson talks tempo. Brandon Graham talks sports science. And Jason Peters talks playoffs.
DeSean Jackson and his teammates had grown accustomed to doing things a certain way at the NovaCare Complex.
From 1999 to 2012, it was the Andy Reid way.
But change has now arrived in the form of Chip Kelly. In the coming weeks and months, players will be asked to step out of their comfort zones and embrace change in a variety of football-related areas.
“First day, we had the team meeting, you could kind of sense the urgency,” Jackson said. “This is what it’s going to be, and it’s on you guys to get the information and dissect it and make the change and make the difference. One thing I can say, he’s letting us be professionals. We have to take accountability to do our jobs.”
Had the 2012 season played out differently, Jason Peters says he could have returned to his usual spot at left tackle.
“I could have, but I didn’t want to risk it with a losing season,” Peters said. “The coaches kind of held me back a little bit.”
“Since January, end of December, I’ve been 100 [percent].”
With sweat dripping down his face after a Tuesday morning workout, Peters addressed the media for the first time since injuring, and then re-injuring, his Achilles’ during the 2012 offseason. Last year was difficult for the 31-year-old. He was coming off his best season as a pro, but was forced to sit back and watch as the struggling offensive line played a major role in the team’s 4-12 season.
The health of the offensive line is obviously a major issue heading into the 2013 season. The Eagles lost Todd Herremans (dislocated foot), Jason Peters (ruptured Achilles) and Jason Kelce (torn MCL, partially torn ACL) to serious injuries in 2012. Their ability to rebound will be critical if Chip Kelly wants to experience some semblance of success in his first year at the helm.
With the offseason program set to begin on April 1 and the first minicamp a little over two weeks away, we checked in on the triumvirate’s status.
How will Trent Cole and Vinny Curry fit in a 3-4? Will Jason Peters return to form? And who is the pick at No. 4? We tackle that and more.
PHOENIX — Plenty to come on Chip Kelly‘s hour-plus session with reporters at the coaches breakfast this morning.
First to some news that came out of it:
Kelly confirmed that the Eagles will hold a private workout with quarterback EJ Manuel. According to his agent, it will take place on Thursday the 28th in Tallahassee. Manuel, who held his pro day at Florida State on Tuesday, also has workouts scheduled with Buffalo (Saturday) and Jacksonville (Monday).
Jason Peters should be available when the Eagles begin practicing, Kelly said. The first three-day minicamp, allotted to teams with new head coaches, is expected to be held in the third week of April.
One of the more intriguing aspects of free agency for the Eagles might have been a move they didn’t make.
On the first day of the new league year, the Birds were linked to right tackle Jake Long. Eventually, Long ended up signing a four-year, $34 million deal with the Rams that includes up to $20 million in guaranteed money if he stays healthy.
The Eagles also expressed interested in right tackle Eric Winston once he was cut by the Chiefs. Les Bowen of the Daily News reports that the team has a number it’s willing to sign Winston at, and a deal is still possible, depending on what he gets offered elsewhere.
So what does all this mean for the current players on the roster?
Every Thursday we select a few of your Twitter questions and provide the long-form answers they deserve. For a chance to have your question published on Birds 24/7, send it to @Tim_McManus.
The prospect of left tackle Jason Peters returning during the regular season seems more real than ever.
“There’s a chance,”Andy Reid acknowledged on Wednesday.
Compared to most of the Donovan McNabb-led teams, the Eagles are stacked at the skill positions on offense.
But how does the Birds’ talent compare to teams around the league?
Each summer, Michael Lombardi of NFL.com puts out his list of blue-chip and red-chip players. Click on the link for a full explanation, but here’s the basic version: Blue-chip players are among the top-five at their position, and red-chip players are among the top 10.
When first considering it, you’d think the Eagles would have a pretty good showing on the list, specifically on offense. But you’d be wrong.
The Eagles made a series of moves today, trimming their roster down to 75 players.
Mike Patterson has been placed on the non-football illness list, meaning he’s out for the first six weeks of the season. After that, he can return to practice and the Eagles have three weeks to either place him on injured reserve (ending his season) or add him to the 53-man roster.
The same rules apply to Jason Peters, even though he’s been placed on the non-football injury list.