Eagles Kick Off OTAs

Put away the remote control car and break out the helmets, the Eagles are onto Phase Three.

Teams may conduct 10 days of Organized Team Activities over these final four weeks of the offseason conditioning program. The Eagles begin OTAs today at the NovaCare Complex. The schedule breaks down as follows:

May 27-29

June 2-3

June 5

June 9-12

Only the May 29, June 2, June 9 and June 10 sessions are open to the media. Chip Kelly will speak on Thursday along with a good number of the players.

By the sounds of it, just about the entire team is expected to be in attendance. The one exception is safety Ed Reynolds, who is forced to be away from the team because of the NCAA graduation rules.

Per the  Collective Bargaining Agreement, teams are really limited in what they can do with the players during the first five weeks of the offseason conditioning program. During the first two weeks (Phase One), activities are restricted to strength and conditioning and physical rehab, and quarterbacks are allowed to throw to uncovered receivers. For the next three weeks (Phase Two) coaches are permitted on the field and player instruction and drills are allowed, as are “perfect play” drills (offense or defense only, but not offense vs. defense).

During Phase Three, where we are now, there is no live contact but 7-on-7, 9-on-7, and 11-on-11 drills are permitted, and the players can be asked to wear helmets (no shells). The same rules apply for the mandatory minicamp, which runs from June 17-19.

So, that’s where we’re at. The 2014 Eagles have started practicing. We’ll have it all covered for you.