I drove up to Hellertown, just south of Bethlehem, PA, for the Training Camp for the Philadelphia Eagles. Training Camp is always a big things for Philly fans, as Eagles fans are known as one of the more passionate and loyal fan bases in the NFL. Last Summer, after the 2004 season, the Eagles set the NFl record for most attendees at a training camp, with around 115,000 for the year. The Eagles also set the single day record for most attendees, with 27,000 in one day on one of the last days of training camp last year. While the Eagles won't break their own attendance record this year, they still draw possibly the biggest crowd to their training camp out of all of the NFL teams.

With a high of 100º for the Lehigh Valley today, and a heat index around 110º, attendance was pretty low; only about 3000 for the morning practice. But that made it easier for me to get a decent seat and take better pictures. :)


Welcome to the Philadelphia Eagles Training Camp.

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David Akers and Dirk Johnson take a break during some light special teams workouts on a secodary field.

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EJ Cochrane practices some field goals on a secondary field.

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The primary practice field. First team offense against the second team defense.

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In between plays. Andy Reid is in the black t-shirt (probably sweating off the pounds in lump sums).

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More first team offense and second team defense action.

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Second team offense.

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Third team offense.

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Defensive players rest on the sidelines.

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Brian Dawkins (#20), my favorite player.

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Field goal practicing.

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Despite EJ Cochrane following through with his kick and the defense leaping in the air to block the punt, I haven't been able to locate the ball in this picture.

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PLayers switch off on the field.

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Some 7 on 7. Andy Reid is at the left.

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More 7 on 7.

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McNabb passes.

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Leaping catch.

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More 7 on 7.

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LJ Smith runs with the football.

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After the play action.

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More 7 on 7.

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Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb.

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Some defensive players trot to the sideline.

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More practicing.

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Buckhalter runs to the outside.

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Some defensive players on the sideline.

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Second team offense.

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Jason Avant runs down the sideline after a catch.

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Andy Reid goes over the plays.

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First team offense.

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After the play.

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Jason Avant walks back to the huddle after bobbling a ball.

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Special teams practice, starting with punts.

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More special teams practice, now field goals.

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The end of the practice. Andy Reid goes over stuff with the team.

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Post-practice prayer.

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Some players stick around to go over mechanics.

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Roderick Hood and Dexter Wynn walk over to practice punt returns. JR Reed, making a comeback from an Achelies Tendon injury, misjudges a kick.

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Michael Lewis and Sheldon Brown sign autographs.

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After signing autographs for about 15 minutes, Sheldon Brown had to leave for a meeting. I only had about 5 people in front of me waiting for autographs when he left.

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More mechanics.

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Sean Considine signs autographs.

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The Eagles had a fan zone for kids if they got bored or were waiting for the afternoon practice.

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A look at a couple of the practice fields.

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Another look at the practice fields. South Mountain is visible in the background.

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God, I hate the Eagles. Go Skins!!!!!!!!

Whoa, a little steamy out there today, huh? It's a tribute to the players conditioning that they can persevere in an environment like that for extended periods of time. Talking about extended (distended?), that brings me to Andy Reid. That black shirt was to make him look skinnier. I wonder if he's still on LA Weight Loss...

God, I hate the Eagles. Go Skins!!!!!!!!

Have you ever run into these clowns at a game? :poke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ktboPhLRM

I don't really like the Eagles but that is really something I should go to some year. It would be great to see Brain Dawkins, he is a beast!

Boo! Eagles suck! The mountains near Hellertown are beautiful though.

The football you are looking for that was just kicked is direcetly above the front line, in the center. If you look above the guy in the white t-shirt holding a mini-dv camera you'll see an oblonged looking shape, that should be the ball

I went to a Phillies Game last week and I heard so many E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!!! chants throughout the game. That town loves their Eagles for sure.

Have you ever run into these clowns at a game? :poke:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8ktboPhLRM

Hell yeah, 'Skins Pride!