Eagles LB Ernie Sims reacts to his NFL fine

EAgles linebacker fields questions after learning he had been fined $50K for innegal hits.

Without Vick Will the Eagles Season Remain Flightless?

It looks highly likely that as soon as the lockout is lifted, (if it is lifted) a move might be imminent for the Eagles Kevin Kolb in the free agency market.

Kolb has already made it clear he wants to be a starter in the NFL and judging by Vick's phenomenal season in 2010 it doesn't seem likely he will feature in the Eagles plans any time soon.

Kolb has already been linked with many teams in desperate need of a QB, the latest being the Cleveland Browns. This move seems unrealistic however considering the Browns already have Colt McCoy in his second season with the offence and the last thing Kolb needs is a fight for starting position with a player he might not be able to better.

No matter where Kolb ends up I fear it could leave the Eagles looking very bare in the quarterback department.

Starting quarterback Michael Vick returned to the NFL emphatically last season, producing clutch touchdowns and key downs when required. Many question whether he can produce the same performances that he did for the upcoming 2011 season however.

In 2002, for the first time Vick started every game with the Falcons. He threw for just under 3,000 yards, 16 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. This season proved to be the most impressive and he never bettered this performance during his time at the Falcons. Interceptions and fumbles became more apparent, and his quarterback rating dropped. So will we see a similar outcome again at the Eagles?

Admittedly Vick had his most positive season to date last season with the Eagles, posting his first quarterback rating average above 100, but did he produce this because he had a point to prove?

Defences will be more weary of his abilities next season as well. The Eagles thrived on their big game changing abilities in 2010 which I doubt will be so accessible again.

Vick showed his toughness and ability to get the job done when required, but his physical and stubborn method of obtaining yards could see him get into trouble. It was clear he was a huge target for many pass rushers and with Kolb out of the picture, and Vick ailing, it begs the question of whether Eagles hopes of the playoffs will greatly diminish in this scenario.

Currently without Kolb or Vick the leadership responsibility could fall to Mike Kafka. Kafka, 23, was the fifth QB selected in the 2010 draft behind Sam Bradford, Tim Tebow, Jimmy Clausen and Colt McCoy. He is quick, able to run like Vick but still has a lot to learn.

Kafka is yet to feature in his first NFL game, having only played in the four preseason matches of 2010. In those four matches Kafka threw three picks and one touchdown but it was all very valuable experience for the youngster.

Kafka still obviously has weaknesses at present in his strength and accuracy so will he be able to cope with the pressure in the event of a Vick injury, or will Andy Reid be prepared to pick up a replacement in the free agency?

Philadelphia Eagles Sports Football Camp

Philadelphia Eagles football camp takes place at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. At the start of training season, rookies and also free agents will report to the college dorms of the university to prepare for intense, 2-a day, all day workouts. Soon after that, the veterans will report to camp and the full workouts and training will begin.

Another intriguing part of training camp for fans is that they can watch the practice sessions without paying an arm and a leg for tickets. The media is there to watch as well to give football fans at home full reports as to how the players look, who is going to be starting that year, and who may be hurt. This will also be beneficial to those who play Fantasy Football. The Eagles have been training at Lehigh for 13 years. The university has four football practice fields for the team to train on, allowing coaches to work on different things at the same time.

The Eagles started to train at Widener University in 1973. The site was featured in the movie "Invincible" about the former Eagles player Vince Papale. This proved to be very exciting for both Eagles fans and Philadelphia natives. Philadelphia Eagles sports football camp stayed at Widener until 1980 when they moved their training camp to West Chester University. The team stayed there until 1995 when they made the move to Lehigh.

Philadelphia Eagles sports football camp is a great time for the players to make decisions about the upcoming season. Veteran players who may have thought they would start or be a key player that year could easily work their way down to second string. This could happen especially if a new rookie comes on to the scene and steals their thunder. The coaches watch intently as they make their rosters and imperative decisions for the upcoming season.

Players can easily get hurt in this intense strict workout they receive at Philadelphia Eagles sports football camp. This in turn could also give a second string player or rookie a chance to move into the starting lineup, or even start a few more games than they expected. The coaches have a perfect opportunity to weed out the weaker players and put together plays for the upcoming season. They also have the chance to get to know the players better on a personal level, especially the new players and rookies.

Training camp proves to be a very important tool for everyone involved. The players, coaches and even the media get to have their predictions for the new football season. Each year proves to be more exciting then the next and seeing the players get ready for the upcoming year brings about the football fan in everyone.

Matthew Finn is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about football camp [http://www.philadelphiasportstickets.info/philadelphia-eagles-sports-football-camp], please visit Philadelphia Sports Tickets [http://www.philadelphiasportstickets.info] for current articles and discussions.

The History of the Philadelphia Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles have been in existence since the nineteen-thirties. They won three NFL championships before the NFL merged with the AFL, so those were not Super Bowl winning teams. The team has played in two Super Bowls. In 1980 they lost to the Oakland Raiders and in 2004 they lost to the New England Patriots. Despite the Super Bowl losses the Eagles have been one of the top teams in the NFL for the past ten years. Quarterback Donovan McNabb and running back Michael Westbrook lead one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL year in and year out.

The Eagles play their home games at Veterans Stadium from 1971-2002 before moving to the new, state of the art, Lincoln Financial Field. They play in front of 69.032 fans each Sunday. The notorious Eagles fans support their team in good times and bad, but they do not hesitate to let the Eagles know when they are not happy. This is a crowd who once booed Santa Claus at a game at the old Veterans Stadium and they haven't become any more easygoing since they moved to their new home. One feature that was removed from the new field was the four cell jail that was a holdover needed for the rowdy crowds at the old Vet.

The Eagles were named in honor of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's New Deal which is also why their helmets are adorned with a silver eagle. One of the more interesting facts in team history is that in 1941 they briefly merged with the Pittsburgh Steelers. This was because during World War II the two teams were unable to fill their rosters. The team was known as the Philadelphia-Pittsburgh "Steagles" and the merger was broken up after the 1943 season when the two franchises were again able to field a full roster.

Over the years Eagles fans have been lucky enough to see many NFL greats play for their team. There are eighteen players in the pro football Hall of Fame that played or coached for the Eagles. There are also seven former Eagles players that have had their numbers retired. In addition to the retired numbers there are twenty-eight former players, coaches, or executives who are honored in the Eagle Honor Roll.

In 2008 Forbes magazine ranked Eagles fans as the most diehard fans in America which anyone on the more than forty-thousand person waiting list can attest. Season tickets are renewed at more than a 99.7% rate so the people who are at the bottom of the waiting list are going to be there for quite a few years. Of course, being the most diehard fans in America this doesn't discourage many of them from waiting.

The Philadelphia Eagles have made the playoffs in seven of the last eight years and this trend looks as though it will continue well into the next decade. When Philadelphia fans booed the draft day selection of superstar quarterback Donovan McNabb they had no idea he would become the face of one of the winningest franchises in the National Football League. In this era many people only judge success by Super Bowl wins, but the Philadelphia Eagles are a franchise that plays the right way and has won an awful lot of football games along the way.

Writer and editor, Freddie Brister, is a former high school football coach of 25 years. His love of the game of football is reflected in his words and memories of growing up in the South and playing football in the back yard with his brother, cousins and neighborhood friends. His biggest thrill is watching former high school players he has coached play at the college level. His favorite pastime is watching NFL on tv and attending the games in person every chance he gets. Freddie Brister is a huge fan of the NFL and the Philadelphia Eagles. Check out his Philadelphia Eagles Watch and his Denver Broncos Door Mat.

Philadelphia Eagles Football and Food - What a Great Combination

When we say American food, what quickly would come in to mind would be those thrown in the Grill and then mashed up with tons of onions, melted with cheese, and then placed between two pieces of bread. Upon biting one of those, one's world suddenly stops and just reflects on the flavors that just entered one's mouth. Yes, we are talking about the good ol' American Cheeseburger. And in the words of renowned chef, Bobby Flay, it doesn't get any more American than this. But in the great city of Philadelphia, they have yet made their own trademark. They have combined the juiciness of that beef, with the flavors of that sweet onion, and the stamp of that melted cheese, with their own version and touch of added flavor. Yes, we are talking about the Philly Cheese Steak. Yes, it is like steak on a bun; and this is exactly just how we like it!

But this is not only what this city is known for. Philadelphia is also known to many top sports teams in America. Whether you are a hockey, baseball, basketball, or Football fan, they got it all! The Philadelphia Flyers are one of the Stanley Cup winners in NHL and have made their mark in the league. The Philadelphia Phillies are one of the Major League contenders who have been also one of the most popular teams. The Philadelphia 76ers is without a doubt, one of the most victorious teams in the history of the NBA. They have been up there and have suddenly become the underdogs now soaring back to where they belong. And when you talk about NFL, there is, without a doubt, that you would be able to raise an eyebrow and deny the Philadelphia Eagles. From its history, this team has already won 3 NFL titles and has made two Super Bowl Appearances (1980 and 2004). It is without a doubt that this team which started at the year 1933, as purchased by Bert Bell, has been a notable force in the brutal competition in the NFL. This gives the people of Philadelphia yet, another reason to be proud of their great city.

If you would notice, almost all of the sports teams of Philadelphia would attach some meaning or connection to flying and soaring high. And yes, this was not only beautifully placed and planted to the names and logos of the teams, and it was lived on and delivered by them as well. Philadelphia should be proud for not only are they participating in the various sports leagues, but they are also very prominent in these. The city should be very proud of their teams as they are able to give pride to the great city of Philadelphia. Whether in the NHL, MLB, NBA, or NFL, they do practically excel in these and are respected in every division. That is not something common to all cities. If politics and city spirit would go together, hey, why not push those cheese steaks to the grill during those games?

Rick Grantham is an avid sports fan. Most of Rick's articles focus on fan gear. Many articles are related to baseball paraphernalia and other sports related topics. Rick is a contributing author to BooYah Village.