Inside Training Camp: July 29

Eagles that keeps him in Philadelphia through twenty seventeen. What's funny, Dave as you talk to the players and get their reaction to the deal, and wide receiver Jordan Matthews said on Friday that the guy that we look up to in the locker room is a guy who only comes up to our knees. He's five foot six. We scored fourteen touchdowns over the last two seasons with the Eagles, four of them by punt return. When he was traded from Neuros of Philadelphia, the Saints thought that he was

done well. Obviously that's not the case, and even though he's entering his twelfth NFL season, the Eagles called comp end up in his ability in terms of what he does both on and off the field to extend his contract through twenty seventeen. And so yet another Eagles core players signed by the Eagles will talk to Howie Roseman about that. In just one moment and four Sprowles. Look, it's another opportunity to be in this offense, Chris, and to be a big part of what Doug Peterson and

Frank Reich are putting together. If there's one drawback to the way the Eagles have used Sprowls in the offense these past couple of seasons, it's been in the receiving game. Look for Darren Sproles to be heavily involved in this screen game as the Eagles also look to get him in space and get him the football. Now. The man who coaches Sprowles, former Eagles great running back Deuce Staley, had nothing but glowing things to say about the little

big man in this Eagles offense. It's the things that he do off the field in the classroom, the type of person he is. It's very professional. He just brings us a lot to the table. You know, a lot of the fans they see what's happening on Sunday and Monday night. I get a chance to see him all during the week, and he's special. It's hard to find him. It's hard to find him behind lineman, you know, you got linemen that are six five sixty six, six to seven,

and here comes Spros who's five whatever. I know, he's short and you can't find him. So he's been using that as a strength his whole career and it's been working. And it's amazing for him to be in his twelfth year too. In my opinion, I don't think he's lost a step, and he takes care of his body. He does everything right. He's very routine and you're able to see that also on the field. I tell you, man,

he's one of them. He's one of the ones that's gonna go down to history as one of the best to play the position at that size, height and weight. An extraordinary player in every way. You wonder just how much use he'll get in this Eagles offense or backfield.

That's got a lot of questions. Ryan Matthews still not able to practice, Kenyon Barner really hasn't proven himself in the NFL, and of course, fifth round draft pick wen Dale Smallwood a player with promise and a player who's got to get onto the field and do it in

the NFL. Chris, how much work do you think Darren Sprowles gets touching the football this year, it seems like the coaches really want to expand his workload because you mentioned earlier, what's the one complaint that Eagles fans might have about the waste Sprowles has been used the last couple of seasons, and you said it's in the receiving game. And certainly when he was first acquired from New Orleans, I thought he was going to be the perfect perimeter

space weapon for this Eagles offense. And I think Doug Pearson and Frank right look at a skill set, You look at what Doug Pearson has done during his time in Kansas City and feel like they need to get the ball in his hands more. But keep note he has been one of the most prolific punt return over the last couple of seasons and he still wants to keep that role. Dave here in twenty sixteen. So following the practice on Friday, the Eagles indoors again because of

the weather. Both Doug Peterson and Howie Roseman talked to the media about the deal about keeping Darren Sproles an Eagle and his Sprowles says for the rest of his career. When you talk about leadership work ethic, character, and then production. He's made the last two Pro Bowls. He just exemplifies everything that we want to be and as we look at it, and he's so important to this team on and off the field, it was a no brainers from

our perspective. Darren Sprowles is a pros pro. He knows how to take care of his body in the offseason. He's very, very intelligent running back. He's been around this game a long time. It's guys like that you don't worry about. He's gonna he does everything right. He does what you what you coach him to do. And again it's just the way he prepares and the way he attacks every day gives you the confidence that he's going

to be around fifteen more years. So we expect Sprowles to get his touches as a running back, as a receiver Chris as well as a punt returner. What about the rest of this backfield with Matthews, with Barner and with Smallwood. The Eagles want to run the football, how do they mix up these carries? To me, Ryan Matthews is still the lead guy. And I know fans may not want to hear that right now because he opened training camp on the non football injury list. Now it's

an ankle injury. He'd expected to be back next week, so it's not a serious issue for him to deal with. Nonetheless, he was so effective last season nearly five point one yards per carry, super athletic. The key is going to be can they feed him the football and can he hold up throughout the course of the season. We've talked about Wendell Smallwood and once the pads go on Saturday, will he be able to hold up in pass protection? That's a question with him. Kenyon Barner, he may be unproven.

He got some snaps there in two fifteen toward the end of the season, but he attacked the offseason hard. Physically, he looks like he's in great shape. Now can he

carry that workover from the spraying to the summertime? And remember this last year in Kansas City, Doug Peterson, the offensive coordinator Jamal Charles, their Pro Bowl running back goes down, They lose the next week, and then proceed to rip off eleven consecutive wins on their way to a Divisional playoff round game and ultimately a loss to the New

England Patriots. So we will find out. As Chris said, the pad's going on Saturday, and some of these spring and early summer football players, they kind of become a mirage when when the pads go on, the contact begins at the Novacare Complex on Saturday, and we will have full coverage of that. Now we're going to return here to Inside Training Camp presented by ex Affinity, talking about the offense. Sam Bradford, Eagles quarterback in studio. What's going

on with Sam? Find out in just one moment. No one's ever fallen fifty percent and love or cared for somebody with only part of their heart. Love means you're all in, but not all alone. Lincoln Financial helps you provide for and protect your financial future because this is what you do for people you love. Talk to an advisor Lincoln Financial, You're in charge. One discovery sparks another,

lighting the way for amazing achievements. At Jefferson's Vickie and Jack Farber Institute for Neuroscience, with our brightest minds focused on yours, we are pioneering new hope to prevent, treat, and cure brain and spine disorders. From the nation's first brain tumor removal to the region's first neuroscience hospital. Look to us for breakthroughs that are light years ahead. We welcome you into the studio Eagles insider Dave Spidero along

with Eagles quarterbacks Sam Bradford. Please to have you in here. Sam, Welcome to training camp. Thanks for having me. How are you feeling physically and mentally? Uh, you know, I feel really good. Obviously. This is kind of the first year that I haven't had the rehab. You know, I've really been able to train and just kind of get my body back to where it was before the injury. So

physically I feel great. Mentally, you know, the beginning of camp it's always a really exciting time and so you know, to just get back around the guys start playing football again. You know, I feel pretty good right now. What is the camaraderie like, what's the chemistry like on this team? It's really good, you know, I think you know, we've got a pretty tight locker room. You know, there's a lot of good guys in the locker room, a lot of guys that I really enjoy spending time around. And

I think that's that's key to any team. You know, I think we all enjoy working together. I think we all enjoy spending time together. You know, when we come to work, we have a blast. That's a lot of fun. You know, it's not a grind. It's uh yeah. Obviously the training camp can get tough at times, but you know, with this group of guys, there's always something happening. It's always exciting, you know, it's always a good time. It's interesting, Sam.

You know, the locker room changes every year for every team, and this year there's also a change in the coaching staff. So how does how does chemistry develop? How does leadership Developes it just organic or I mean, how does it happen? Yeah, you know, I think it is organic. I think it

just kind of happens over time, you know. I think, um, yeah, obviously, some of the better and some of the guys who have been through change before and who have seen this process, you know, you know, they can kind of step up, you know, in the beginning stages of it and kind

of take control. But you know, I think as training camp goes along, as the season goes along, as everyone gets comfortable with each other, um, you know, I think the natural leaders just kind of be merge and for you year two, does that make you feel more natural as a leader. Knowing more the guys. Yeah, you know, it really helps, you know, Especially last year, it was tough for me just you know, not being able to practice in the spring, not really knowing anyone. You know.

I felt like I still had to prove myself to everyone in the locker room, you know, and I wasn't able to do that in the spring, and so it was really hard for me to step up and be vocal and try to take a leadership role, you know. But I felt like as the season went along, you know, it's something that you know, I felt more comfortable with. I took more of a leadership role, and being in year two, you know, I think it makes it a

lot easier knowing everyone in the locker room. Now. I know it's very early, but the training camp just starting. There's a preseason game in two weeks. Do you have a sense what this offense can be? You know, I hope it can be a great offense, you know. Obviously, I think we had a really good spring. You know, We've got a lot of work to do, obviously, with it being a new system, you know, we're still kind of ironing out some of the kinks. But you know,

I think we had a great spring. I think if we can work together, you know, in training camp these next two three weeks, you know, really get after it, you know, get better focus each day, I think we've got a chance to be a special group. Is the

verbiage the difficult part to learn? Uh? Yeah, you know with the verbiage being different, you know, the communication, you know, from me to Kelsey, from me to the receivers, you know, the offensive line those guys, everything's a little bit different, you know, and learning to commu unicate in any offense

is key. And so I think that's really what's important for us these next couple of weeks is going out there, you know, just speaking the language, learning to communicate, learning to come off to the sideline after set, talk about what we saw, how we want to make adjustments, and then the next time go back out there and make those adjustments from a personal standpoint. And what kind of goals do you have for training camp? Yeah, I really just gain a better grasp on this offense. You know,

I felt like, you know, the spring was great. I felt like I learned a lot about it. But you know, I think this is really the time of year where you take that next step in learning an offense, you know, And like I said on Monday, I think the really important thing is me and Kelsey. I think this year, me and him have to be on the same page. We have to be seeing the same thing and be

speaking the same language at all times. So these next couple of weeks, you know, one of my goals has really just spent a lot of time with him and make sure we're seeing the same things. How about preseason games? Do you have a certain number of plays you'd like to take, reps, you'd like to have, throws you'd like to make. Yeah, I don't know. Yeah, obviously I'm not sure how coach Peterson handles the preseason. Obviously you're always

looking for as much work as you can get. Um. You know, you can simulate game speed a little bit in practice, but it's hard, you know. I think those preseason games are really, you know, a good opportunity to really see where you're at. And I think those will be great challenges, uh, you know, great learning opportunities for this offense this year. Sam, What is the part of training camp you like the most? The practice for sure? Yeah, Okay, that's the fun part um. You know, sitting in meetings

for the other ten hours a day. That gets a little tough at times. How do you stay awake during these meetings? Um? And not fall asleep? But we hear you know, you know, the old throwing the racer at the guy who's falling a suit. What is it like inside inside of meeting room? Um? You know, sometimes, especially after a couple of weeks, they can get a little monotonous. But you know, a lot of sunflower seeds, a lot of caffeine, a lot of bubblegum, you know, pretty much

anything that kind of keep you stimulating. He is flipping entertaining guy. He is an entertaining Yeah, yeah, I mean him, Him and coach right, they've got some great stories, so they'll Throllo's in there to kind of break it up every now and then. For us, Well, I'm glad you came in so much. Thank you so much, and keep up the great work. Let's go to the field. Sam Bradsher, thanks so much for joining us in studio on Philadelphia

Eagles dot com. Growing up, we had a basketball hoop in our driveway and that's all I used to play with. This past August, I happened to notice the bump on my foot, so my parents and I decided that we would go to Rothman at Jefferson. We found out from a biopsy that I had an osteosarcoma cancer. Scary, but the Rothman doctors felt so confident in what they were going to do, and it couldn't have turned out any better.

The Rothman Institute at Jefferson was able to get me back on the court and back to where I wanted to be. Love me tender, love me sweet. The stronger the love let me go, the greater the responsibility. But you don't have to do it alone my life. Lincoln Financial helps you provide for and protect your financial future because this is what you do for people you love. Talk to an advisor Lincoln Financial, You're in charge. Welcome back to Inside Training Camp presented by Xfinity, Dave Spidero

and Chris McPherson. A super busy week in South Philadelphia This week the Eagle's opening training camp. The Democratic National Convention going on for four days across the streets, so a lot of restrictions, a lot of traffic, and a lot of fun for the Eagles on the field and off the field long snapper John Doranboss continuing to amaze viewers for the TV show America's Got Talent on NBC, and this week he was voted into the semi finals

of that show. Took the Red Eye back to Philadelphia in time for Thursday's conditioning test, and then in the locker room, Chris, the Secret Service agents coming to Philadelphia, stopped by to check out some action here in Philadelphia with the Eagles. They went into the locker room and John Doran Boss the magic Man, put on a show. Kay, We'll make this super simple. Just say stop stop, Okay, take it, look at it. I don't want to see it, but show everybody else here. And I know you guys

gonna bounce here. So does everybody know what it is? Yes or no? Yeah? Um, so I'll try to disc everybody can see. You're gonna take it and you're gonna push it in somewhere in the center, but you're gonna leave it, stick it out. Does that make sense to it? And then so put it in there in the middle. Yeah, I'm perfect. Okay, screw the sea, don't don't screw you guys will see that. You guys see us not in

the middle. Yeah, and then that's it right, excited this up high so you guys can see, I'm gonna go down this way and just push it all the way in the center. So just take your finger, just keep pushing it in. This is sick, okay. So when we riffle it this way, it's a ripple like this and we can get your card to jump to the top. Perfect. Yeah, was it the three of hearts? The three of hearts up? Familiar but no perfect? Okay, of course it's not the three hearts. Let me see that hat and uh okay,

last time, okay, uh, put your hand flat. I messed up. What was it? Two club? Two of clubs? Put your hand on top of the three will quick? Uh oh wow, Okay, this is called a trick on bad and we're gonna try and get out of it. So it was it was the two. If you tap this way and snap, that's when I get that three. I ripped up from one piece. Putch things, hold on, name your card on that to look at the pieces in your hand. We

get those pieces of change. Yeah, which if you can't see that, the hold on, hold on, put your hand on flat, hold and hold the pieces your other hand on top. Here's a really cool I'll try this one hundred left your hand up. Some people can see pick that hand up, open your head one hand. What a phenomenal act there by John Dornbost. It's amazing watching the players in the background because Cody park is sitting there at his locker and he's like, I've seen his trick

one hundred times before. Carson Wentz is completely enraptured and everything that's going following from beginning to end. But it's just so great to see Dornbost, the longest tenured Eagle, and the way that he's representing the Eagles organization and the city of Philadelphia on America's Got Town. A true showman, to say the very least. So we're about to wrap things up here on inside Training Campers and bikes Face,

But first a look at what's coming up tomorrow. Dave's one on one interview with quarterback Sam Bradford will be available on demand. Following the team's practice in the morning, defensive coordinat Jim Schwartz meets the media. You'll be able to watch that live right here on Philadelphia Eagles dot Com as well as Eagles Mobile app. As we said, it's the first padded practice. Unlike the past couple of years with Chip Kelly, you will see tackling and players

going down to the ground. Doug Peterson Jim Schwartz believe in a physical training camp, that's where you learn about the players being able to take it to the next level. So we'll get to see it live and up close tomorrow. All right, name the one player you're looking at the most tomorrow. I've got my guy, my guys cornerback Jalen

Mills to go. Seventh round draft pick who's played really well throughout the spring, and in these first couple of days of training camp, Jalen Mills looks like he's the real deal without the pads. Does his game go up or does he struggle when the pads go on. Jalen Mills is my player to watch on Saturday. I will say on the defensive side of the football, I'll even stay there in the back. I'm gonna go at the linebacker position. Jordan Hicks has looked very fluid coming off

injury in the first couple full team practices. Remember you missed a second half of last year due to that pectoral injury. How does he hold up in the tackling Kenny get physical? Are there any setbacks whatsoever that's going to be looking at, because he's such a key to that Eagles defense right there in the middle of all the actions. So we find out a whole lot more about the Eagles starting Saturday, when the pads go on and the tempo increases, we'll have full coverage for you

here on Philadelphia Eagles dot com. And remember on Sunday, the first of two open practices at Lincoln Financial Field, completely free of charge. Get down to the link and the gates open at eight am. Practice begins at ten am. A good day of football and fun, Eagle style in South Philadelphy. We hope to see you then. For Chris McPherson, I'm Dave Spidero. Thanks so much for joining us on Inside Training Camp presented by x Tanity