Looks Like they will be wearing the first ever eagles jersey in their history against the Lions
They shot confetti and
showed off the first-ever Eagles uniforms and for a couple of hours on Wednesday the focus was not on Saturday's draft, but on the history of the Eagles, on the status of defensive end Jevon Kearse and of Jeffrey Lurie talking about Andy Reid and his status.
Here is a recap, in case you missed the gulp of air taken away from draft mania.
The Eagles are going to the very beginning for the very near future,
announcing plans to wear the 1933 jerseys for the September 23 game against Detroit. The uniforms are fantastic -- yellow with blue trim and blue numbers, white pants and yellow and blue socks. Smashing, really. I love 'em. I think they are completely different -- "A real throwback," said Owner Jeffrey Lurie. "We could have gone back to Kelly Green, but what kind of throwback is that? We wanted to go back to the start."
Agreed. I like the uniforms very much.
DE Jevon Kearse
But they are only part of the celebration of 75 years. The Eagles will wear a 75th Anniversary patch on their uniforms all season and will commemorate the franchise's history throughout the year. We have unveiled our virtual museum on this web site, and each week you have the opportunity to vote for the Anniversary team. This week, pick a running back from among the six finalists, a list established with consultation from two Eagles experts -- play-by-play man Merrill Reese and Hall of Fame writer Ray Didinger. Good stuff.
This is only the start of the season of celebration. There is going to be more, plenty more. The Eagles are embracing the past with a full hug, so stay tuned.
And as this is the high season for draft drama, the news slant shifted dramatically the instant the Wednesday morning press conference ended. Both player uniform models, kicker David Akers and Kearse, were swarmed by cameras and asked football questions. Lurie spoke over and over again about the team's "window of opportunity" and about the status of Reid, who is back in the draft room on a full-time basis after taking a leave of absence for five weeks.
First, Kearse. He is fine, thank you, after playing in only two games last year and then suffering a knee injury. Kearse said he plans to be on the field for the post-draft mini-camp and that he is already close to 100 percent. -
AWESOME NEWS
The guy looks incredibly fit, with every muscle bursting out of the Anniversary uniform. Asked about the possibility that he could lose some speed off the edge because of the injury, Kearse chuckled.
"That ain't gonna happen," he said. "The speed is there. I feel great. I'm out there every day with Wolfie (Mike Wolf, the team's strength and conditioning coach) and I feel great. Don't worry about the speed. It will be there."
Akers has his own off-season routine, one designed to get him peaking when the season begins. He is as stable and outstanding as they come, and there are few things that ruffle the best kicker in Eagles history.
"It's been a great off-season. Everything is going fine. I like what the team is doing," he said. "I like the uniforms, too."
Then there was Lurie, who took on all comers. He said he thinks the Eagles are being built the right way, that they have pieces in place and that this weekend's draft offers a huge opportunity to bolster the roster.
As for Reid, Lurie said he wondered about the head coach's next steps after the news of his family challenges were broadcast. But now that Reid is back, Lurie knows he is back all the way.
K David Akers
"No doubt about it," said Lurie. "Ask him about a player and where he is rated in the sixth round and he is completely up to speed on him and has watched him and has a grade on him. I have no worries about that.
"Andy is a strong man, a great man. He's a great head coach and a great family man. We're all supporting him."
Lurie would not talk specifics about the draft, other than to say that times are exciting and that he is confident in the preparations and that, well, you know the usual non-speak three days before the draft starts.
There you have it. A fun day for the Eagles and the start of a celebration for the franchise and the fans. It is going to be special. It is going to be a season to remember, and a past to recall.
EAGLES celebrate 75 years
EAGLES celebrate 75 years
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