Jim Lang

Jim Lang is a Connected anchor and NFL reporter for Sportsnet. Also check out Jim's website, www.jimlang.ca

Eagles head coach Andy Reid gives instruction to quarterback Kevin Kolb.

After leaving Ravens camp in Westminster Maryland, Mario and I made our way to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Located deep in the heart of the Lehigh Valley, Bethlehem is home to the Eagles training camp.

On the way Mario and I were driving deep in the heart of rural Pennsylvania when we passed the ‘Freedom Armory Shooting Range' located on 2nd Amendment Drive. I guess they weren’t kidding when they say that Americans take guns and the 2nd Amendment very seriously.

The Eagles camp is held on the campus of Lehigh University. My man Mario is not easily impressed and even he was speechless at the beauty of the architecture of the buildings on campus.

With temperatures in the low 90’s and high humidity in the air, head coach Andy Reid still held a high tempo practice. The Eagles do their fair share of hitting at practice, but there was also a lot of teaching going on. The first thing that stands out at Eagles camp is the arm strength and composure of quarterback Kevin Kolb. Now Donovan McNabb is a great quarterback, but I can see why Reid and the Eagles brain trust felt comfortable enough to deal McNabb to the Redskins. Kolb has a ton of ability and his calm, cool demeanor seems to work well with all the young weapons on the Eagles' offence.

With DeSean Jackson out for the time being with a minor injury, rookie Riley Cooper was given the chance to get a lot of reps with the first team offence. The rookie from the University of Florida has great hands and came up with a number of solid catches on balls thrown to him by Kolb.

Defensively it was the Eagles linebackers that stole the show in the 11-on-11 drills. At one point, Omar Gaither was chirping at the offensive line because they had missed a block and allowed him to come in and crush the ball carrier. A little later linebacker Stewart Bradley hammered running back Eldra Buckley on a toss sweep play. About 10 minutes later, linebacker Ernie Sims crushed poor Buckley with a highlight reel tackle. Sims stood over the prone Buckley for good measure.

Eagles’ fans are an interesting bunch. While they love their football team, they have no problem heckling the players. At the end of the day that will be one of Kolb’s biggest challenges, handling the harsh fans in Philadelphia. His teammates, his coaches, and even his owner Jeffery Lurie have all the confidence in the world that Kolb is the man now and he will get the job done. But as McNabb will tell you, it doesn’t take much for fans in Philly to turn on you when you are the starting quarterback of the Eagles.

After practice we had to talk to Michael Vick, who hadn't spoken to the media since the first day of training camp. However, on Tuesday NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell ruled that the league would not be imposing any disciplinary action on Vick for the shooting incident at his birthday party in the off-season. It was an absolute gong show of a scrum as Mario and I tried to stand our ground with the Philadelphia media. Vick claims he’s a “changed man” and he will have no trouble holding himself to a higher standard as Goodell requested. Like a lot of people, I will believe it when I see it.

While waiting to speak to Eagles owner Jeffery Lurie about the club and his feeling about the recent Vick ruling, we had a chance to go over the rule changes in the NFL with veteran head referee Walt Coleman.

Basically any shot to the head or the neck of a defenseless receiver or quarterback is an automatic 15-yard personal foul penalty. Head shots to running backs coming through the hole are still allowed, but the safety going head hunting on a receiver reaching for a pass over the middle is forbidden. A likeable guy from Arkansas, Walt was very honest, saying that NFL refs don’t know all the answers and are always working at improving themselves. Beginning in May, all NFL officials have to pass a series of 100 and 200 question rule book exams. On the Saturday before every game, the officiating crew must pass a two and half page rules test.

With so much attention being paid to Vick and his off the field antics, Kolb is quietly going about his business. Make no mistake, Kolb is clearly the No. 1 quarterback of the Eagles, Vick is No. 2; and in more ways than one.

In CFL-related news, former Lion running back Martell Mallett will be back in BC in the near future. Mallett barely had any reps in practice and when he did get in, he was used as a human tackling dummy on defensive drills.

Up next Mario and I are off to Albany, New York, home of the Giants training camp.