4:22 PM -This really was the highlight of training camp so far for me (Chris). It did not involve Lito Sheppard, Shawn Andrews or Brian Westbrook. After Friday's practice, while every reporter was huddled outside for Westbrook or Sheppard, I saw Jason Avant playing around with offensive line coach Juan Castillo and Castillo's young son. Avant covered the boy while Castillo tossed a lob into the back corner of the end zone ...the father-son tandem connected for six! Avant patted him on the head and offered some words of encouragement. That's the stuff I like to see from pro athletes ...being role models and overall nice guys. See you all Saturday.
4:20 PM - Practice ended and after practice Lito Sheppard walked past reporters. Donovan McNabb acted as Sheppard's PR agent saying, "Lito is going to take a shower and then he will talk to you all later." The corner did in fact comment on his "situation" and there will be more to come right here on philadelphiaeagles.com so we will keep you posted.
4:00 PM - DeSean Jackson was put in motion during the 11-on-11 drills. Maybe that is the remedy towards the press coverage he will face against physical corners.
3:55 PM - Some depth chart/positional notes: Scott Young is in at 3rd team center. Lito Sheppard, Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown all rotated in at corner with the first team just as defensive coordinator Jim Johnson said they would. Andy Reid later said that practice today was strictly focusing in on the base defensive and offensive packages so there were no nickel or dime packages used.
3:51 PM -Andy Reid does not let up on his team at all as practice begins to slow down. "Get in and out of the huddle men," he said.
3:45 PM -Fullback Jed Collins has nice hands out of the backfield. Andy Reid wants that kind of versatilty out of the fullback position. Luke Lawton and Jason Davis focused more on blocking Friday.
3:43 PM -Correll Buckhalter looks like he was shot out of a cannon when he runs through the hole. He runs downhill decisively which is easy to do when no one is hitting you.
3:40 PM -The second-team defensive backfield is comprised of Sean Conisidine at free safety and J.R. Reed at strong safety. Quintin Demps at strong safety and Marcus Pascal at free safety make up the third team.
3:34 PM - Before the first defensive play, you can hear someone on the field saying, "Get nasty." These guys are itching to put the pads on, you can feel it. Omar Gaither almost breaks up the first pass play and then picks off the second attempt.
3:30 PM - Kevin Kolb throws a long touchdown pass to Reggie Brown on a flea-flicker play that has the sideline saying, "Uh oh, Uh oh."
3:25 PM -Donovan McNabb, wearing his red jersey, sings the theme song to Big Red, "Your fresh breath goes on and on ..."
3:23 PM - Lito, Sheldon Brown, Asante Samuel, and Brian Dawkins go through their paces together - that's nine combined Pro Bowl apperances. Wow.
3:22 PM -Lito Sheppard and Brian Westbrook walk onto the field together. Donovan McNabb shortly followed.
3:17 PM -Quarterbacks come out a play catch with receivers. Interesting note: Kevin Curtis can throw spirals with both his left and right hand ...impressive.
3:16 PM -Reggie Brown works on his footwork and does high knees on his own.
3:14 PM -Joselio Hanson and Kyle Arrington are take turns covering one another. Hanson had a breakout camp in 2006, Arrington is trying to follow suit in 2008. Therrian Fontenot is another possibilty to replicate Hanson's success. He is getting more one-on-one attention with secondary coach Sean McDermott. He stayed after practice with McDermott on Thursday and is on the field early Friday.
3:13 PM-King Dunlap learns that you have to earn everything in the NFL. Including the right to walk out on the field with the veterans. Offensive line coach Juan Castillo said to him,"What are you doing walking out with those guys?" There is also a new addition to the offensive line today. His name is Cameron Stephenson, a 6-3, 314-pound guard/center that was a fifth-round draft pick of the Steelers in 2007. The Australian native was cut by the Steelers and picked up on the Packers practice squad. To make room for Brett Favre, Green Bay dropped Stephenson. Shawn Andrews was placed on the Reserve/Did Not Report list.
3:11 PM- Andy Studebaker practices long snapping again. He is spending any free time constructively, improving different aspects of his game.
3:10 PM -J.R. Reed and DeSean Jackson are already fielding punts from Sav Rocca. The return game really has people excited and with good reason.
3:09 PM -Players are strecthing out and warming up on their own.
2:52 PM -Wide receiver Shaheer McBride is the first player onto the field, and he's followed closely by cornerback Therrian Fontenot and secondary coach Sean McDermott.
