Posted by Will Brinson

Jeremy Maclin has been missing for the duration of the Eagles' training camp with what can only be classified as an "unspecified illness."

There doesn't even seem to be a hunt for information on Maclin's illness (though we know he returned to St. Louis for "more tests" recently) and it's presumably out of respect for the 23-year-old wide receiver.

However, Maclin's older brother said on Monday that there would be information forthcoming about Maclin's status and that the wideout is "fine" and his career is not in jeopardy.

"When I say definitely, we definitely will have some news tomorrow," Andre Maclin told The Sporting News. "That’s when we find out exactly what’s going on and when we will address it and talk."

Yes, this makes the illness only more mysterious, and terrifying, though Andre emphasized that there's nothing seriously wrong with Maclin.

"They kind of have us on a gag order until tomorrow," he said. "But he’s fine, he’s fine. That much I can say."

He also added that he's "confident about that as well" when asked if he believed that the Eagles wide receiver would play in the upcoming season. Which leads us to speculate that the signing of Steve Smith might not have been for Maclin insurance.

But it doesn't really matter either way -- the only important thing here is that Maclin ends up coming out of whatever he's dealing with fully healthy.

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Posted by Will Brinson

DeSean Jackson is finally back at training camp, practicing with the Heat Eagles.

And, according to reports out of Bethlehem, he's impressing people with early production in practice, having already torched Asante Samuel twice for a pair of long touchdowns.

He's also chatting about Jeremy Maclin and the Eagles recent addition of former rival wideout Steve Smith, which Jackson says is basically Maclin insurance.

"The reason why they picked him up is they're unsure of Maclin's health," Jackson said Saturday, per Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

So that should thrill the front office. I mean, we knew that, kind of. I think. Right? Right.

See, Andy Reid made it clear when he signed Smith that it had nothing to do with the state of Maclin's health, which lies somewhere between "mysterious" and "absolutely unknown."

But Maclin's illness has to be the reason the Eagles signed Smith.

Or maybe the Eagles were just thinking along the same lines of Michael Vick when he said that you can "never have enough weapons."

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Posted by Will Brinson

Over the course of the last week, DeSean Jackson has reportedly ended his holdout not just once, but twice. We're happy to inform you that "DeSean Watch" is now officially over, as the wide receiver has reported to the Eagles camp.

Jackson was, per our Eagles Rapid Reporter Kevin Noonan, around on Monday morning, undergoing his physical. However, he wasn't actually seen by reporters until he pulled up to camp shortly after lunch on Monday afternoon.

"Wasssup," Jackson said, per Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

Jackson also informed reporters that he'd be practicing on Monday afternoon but was otherwise quiet.

There shouldn't be anything shocking about Jackson eventually showing up to camp, even though he's been pretty adamant about wanting a new contract and even though everyone (including QB Michael Vick) seems to have known he'd holdout a little bit.

Jackson stood nothing to gain by holding out until he actually got a new deal; he stood to lose a pile of money and a year of service. And the Eagles aren't exactly timid about holding their ground with players who holdout. Additionally, is Jackson really going to miss out on the chance to take part in the team of his -- and everyone's! -- dreams?

Doubtful. And it doesn't sound like he'll be too far behind because of the time he missed either.

"DeSean's in phenomenal shape, he's been hitting the weights and he'll have a phenomenal season," Vick said, per the Eagles official Twitter account. "He's ready to go."

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Posted by Eye on Football Staff

Throughout the 2011 season we'll assemble our crew to discuss important NFL issues, Roundtable style. Though there are more pressing concerns for Philly right now, and though we've discussed this topic on the podcast, we want to know: Are the Eagles the NFL's version of the Miami Heat?

Will Brinson: The Philadelphia Eagles -- or, at least, Vince Young -- believe they're building the NFL's version of the Miami Heat. Obviously, this involves acquiring one of the top-five players at three-fifths of the starting positions on the roster? Oh wait, they didn't do that? Yeah, I don't think the analogy really works either.

That being said, I'm open to the idea that the Eagles are going out and turning themselves into villains while picking up all the biggest names in free agency. Or at least that they're putting a target squarely on their backs as we prepare for the 2011 season to start.

Josh Katzowitz: I find it awesome that it was Vince Young -- I mean, VINCE YOUNG!!! -- was the one who made the comparison. As if he's the key cog of that Dream Team that everybody in the league was trying to secure. I actually think Young gets a bad rap because of his attitude, because I think he's got talent and, most importantly, he's a proven winner. But in this case, he's the guy who's going to be holding the clipboard for Mike Vick. If this were the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, Young would be Christian Laettner. No, he'd be Christian Laettner's valet.   Anyway, I don't see the Eagles as the villains. Unlike the Heat, this wasn't some kind of conspiracy. It's not like Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins decided to join forces because they're such good friends. It's not like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie somehow orchestrated the Kevin Kolb trade. And no matter what you think about Nnamdi Asomugha's intentions, he didn't ask for a one-hour national TV special to announce his decision.    To me, the Eagles -- and Vince Young -- aren't the bad guys. They're just the guys who have pushed all their chips into the middle of the table and are trying to take down the pot with the best hand. Which, if the Eagles want to win a Super Bowl, is exactly what they needed to do.

Ryan Wilson: We talked about this on the Eye on Football podcast, but the Eagles can't be the NFL's version of the Miami Heat because if we're going down that road, the Jets have already done it. In the three offseasons Rex Ryan has been in New York he's yet to meet a player with more baggage than talent that he wouldn't acquire if he thought it meant more wins.  The Eagles have Nnamdi and, well, that's about it for big-name talent. Rodgers-Cromartie is a nice player, but the Cardinals traded him for a reason. Vince Young, as Josh points out (and to tie this back in to the Cards) is who we thought he was.  The Jets, meanwhile, have had LaDainian Tomlinson, Jason Taylor, Santonio Holmes, Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie mosey through the organization since Rex's arrival. And whether you agree with the personnel philosophy, it's hard to argue with the results; the Jets have appeared in AFC Championship games twice in two years, and the 2011 team looks to be the best of the bunch. Plus, as Josh notes, it's hard to hate the Eagles because they haven't won anything. In fact, I half-expect them to falter under the weight of all the preseason expectations, and then all that will be left is to find a way to blame it on Donovan McNabb.

Katzowitz: Well, I think you can still not win a thing and yet be hated. Look at the Heat, for instance. I think the reason the Heat were hated so much is because it was clear LeBron James felt like he couldn't win the title on his own, so he was willing to join forces with his buddies (and take a back-seat role!) to try to buy his way to a ring. There's a big difference between that megalomaniac (and egotistical) approach and improving your team with what looks like pretty smart (though costly) acquisitions. Even with a convicted felon starting at QB, the Eagles aren't hateable. They're just a team trying to win a Super Bowl. Just not in the manner that James and company tried to employ.
Brinson: You can totally lose and be hated -- it's just easier to hate teams and people who win all the time, especially if the folks involved are especially hateable. That's what strikes me as odd about this Eagles team: there isn't anyone you can really hate. I mean, you can dislike VY, but can you really hate him? He's a 28-year-old quarterback who's already fighting his way along the comeback trail, having dealt with mental issues and repeated benchings for Kerry Collins. (That's not hate-worthy material; more like mocking sympathy or something.)

And is Nnamdi the equivalent of signing LeBron James? Um, no, and for several reasons. One, he's not even the best player in the NFL, even if he is the best at his position. And two, he's like a really nice, soft-spoken guy who takes kids to the Met when he's visiting New York City. That's the total opposite of generating money for the Boys & Girls Club by doing a one-hour ESPN special with Jim Gray.

Vick, I guess, is worthy of folks' scorn, but only if you're really, really adamant that anyone who ever harmed a dog deserves never to be given the liberties associated with the Constitution despite having served the required amount of jail time.

Or if you're a PETA member.

Wilson: Here's the deal, at least in my mind: no, the Heat-Eagles comparison doesn't really work. And even though Philly is imminently likable (even lovable when you see Andy Reid on the sidelines) by fans outside the NFC East (and cat lovers), that will all change if they start winning consistently. Part of that is our fault -- if the Eagles jump out to a 10-0 start the media will be all over it, and fans won't have any choice but to hate them. That's how these things work. The Pats, Colts and Steelers are the most obvious examples, sort of the NFL equivalent of the Yankees and Red Sox. The Eagles are a long way from that level of hatred, but a nice winning streak and wall-to-wall media saturation can change that in a hurry. So in honor of T.O., former Philly wide receiver who really had a knack for getting people to loathe him, I will get my popcorn ready. Just in case.

Brinson: I'd agree with you except the just signed Ronnie Brown and, obviously, that put them over the top. Except not at all, but that's the narrative we'll be hearing the rest of the week I presume.

Vick will be a great litmus test for the symptoms that come with over-exposure to winning. There's absolutely no doubt that the Eagles will be shoved down the public's throat in 2011 -- I count a whopping five (!) national television appearances, and that doesn't include another five (!) that are all but guaranteed to be the CBS or FOX national games of the week.

People didn't hate getting too much of Vick last year because it was an out-of-nowhere comeback story for the ages that polarized the opinion of everyone watching -- either you didn't believe he deserved a second chance or you were thrilled to see redemption on a national stage. Plus it didn't hurt that he was single-handedly marching millions of people to fantasy football titles.

This season will be vastly different because there are expectations -- in both real and fantasy football -- and that always changes the way we perceive athletes. Fans of other teams who rooted for Vick's story won't be doing so this year and if he struggles at all, it won't be nearly as sweet.

Plus, NFL is all-in on the Eagles, so we will be seeing a lot of them even when there's not football being played -- they're the premiere team when it comes to updates, peak-ins, discussions and (duh) roundtables.  So in that sense maybe they are the Miami Heat, who somehow warranted their own section on many a sports website during the 2010 season.

Which means we've somehow come full circle on this analogy. At least until Mike Kafka's under center in Week 5.
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Posted by Ryan Wilson

After Ahmad Bradshaw re-upped with the Giants Monday, Ronnie Brown was the last big-name running back available in free agency. Now that honor falls to either Jason Snelling or Ricky Williams because Brown is the latest member of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Via the Eagles' official Twitter feed: "BREAKING NEWS: #Eagles have agreed to terms with former Dolphins RB Ronnie Brown on a one-year deal."

Brown is the latest acquisition for a team that has been busily assembling the pieces for a Super Bowl run in 2011. The centerpiece of the frenetic free agency signing period is cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha. The club also signed Jason Babin and Vince Young, and they shipped Kevin Kolb to Arizona for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Brown was originally selected by the Dolphins with the second-overall pick in the 2005 draft, but serious knee injuries in 2007 and 2009 limited his effectiveness. And last season, despite starting 16 games, he rushed for just 734 yards on 200 carries for a paltry 3.7 yards per carry. In Philly, Brown will play behind LeSean McCoy, the third-year back who rushed for 1,080 yards in 2010 (5.2 ypc), and had another 592 yards receiving.

Added value: you could argue that Brown was the best quarterback in Miami the last few years, and maybe he can reprise that role in any Wildcat wrinkles the Eagles might employ. 

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Posted by Josh Katzowitz

Since free agent Plaxico Burress was released from prison, there has been no shortage of rumors of where the 34-year-old ultimately could resume his career.

Would it be his old team, the Giants? Apparently, they’re interested. The Bears? Not so much. The Eagles? Michael Vick certainly wouldn’t mind that. The Jets? Sounds like they might take a shot at him.

Well, what about the Steelers? If Burress’ eating habits are any indication, it sounds like Pittsburgh is a real player to land Burress.

According to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette’s Ed Bouchette, Burress had breakfast with Steelers coach Mike Tomlin on Saturday morning. Burress also met with team president Art Rooney and GM Kevin Colbert, who drafted Burress in 2000 (in case you forgot, Burress played his first five seasons in the league with the Steelers).

Said Colbert to reporters: “Obviously he's interested. His agent is interested and we're interested, so where it goes we'll find out.”

Colbert said he didn’t know how much money Burress would command, but if his expectations aren’t too high -- and coming off his prison stint, I don’t know why they would be -- Burress could be a nice fit to build some depth at the WR position.

All of this depends on how much solid football Burress actually has left in his body. Which, of course, nobody knows at this point.

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Posted by Will Brinson



Since the lockout ended, we've waited with baited breath to find out when Kevin Kolb would get traded from the Eagles (presumably to the Cardinals). It's a "done deal," a league source told CBSSports.com's Mike Freeman, who notes that Arizona will give up exactly what we noted earlier -- Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and a high draft pick, believed to be a second-rounder.

Additionally, according to 97.5 The Fan's Adam Caplan who first reported the deal, the Cardinals have reached an agreement on a contract extension with Kolb that will pay him $63 million, including a whopping $20 million in guaranteed money.

Summer of Kolb

Prisco: Kolb to become a star or just average? Goodell: Teams could deal between lockoutsf Podcast: What's Kevin Kolb worth exactly? Warner: Palmer the best available QB? Eye on Football: Latest Eagles news

That is a LOT of cheddar for a guy who, as Freeman notes, hasn't proven anything. Of course, it's also less than the $30 million that Kolb's camp was reportedly demanding from the Cardinals in order to finalize the deal.

Then again, was there ever really a chance that he Cardinals wouldn't cave to Kolb's demands for a large extension? As we've written throughout the week, this was a game of chicken that was destined to end poorly for the Cardinals purely in terms of what they'd have to give up to land the quarterback.

There's obviously a shot that this deal does work for Arizona, if Kolb comes in and helps them reclaim the NFC West title. Or, if he's simply good enough to allow them to retain superstar wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who hasn't been happy with Arizona's quarterback situation since Kurt Warner retired.

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Posted by Will Brinson



Over and over again this offseason, I've said that no one's seen a bigger boost in their value than Kevin Kolb. That at this point all that value is squarely concentrated in terms of leverage against the Arizona Cardinals is neither here nor there.

But maybe Kolb's getting a little ahead of himself. See, according to a report from Sports Illustrated's Jim Trotter, Kolb's camp is demanding an extension when he's dealt that features $30 million in guaranteed money.

No, really.

Kolb obviously wants to be traded -- he's intimated as much before and he might not show up to Philly's training camp on Wednesday -- but he doesn't just want to get traded, apparently.

He also wants to get paid. And paid like he's one of the best players in the NFL.

Oh, and he wants the team that's about to give up a player like Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie as well a high draft pick in order to acquire him to do the paying. I mean, obviously he wants Arizona to cough up the cash, but it seems like Kolb's camp might be overstepping their bounds a bit on this issue.

Is Kolb worth the value discussed -- DRC plus a high draft pick -- in the potential deal? Maybe. We honestly don't know, and won't until (if?) we see him on the field for the Cardinals.

And, regardless of how much scouting they've done on Kolb, neither will they. Which is what makes a demand like $30 million guaranteed pretty ridiculous.

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