Camp Notes: Maclin Revisits the Moment He Got Injured
Jeremy Maclin took us inside the moment when his season came suddenly to an end.
He had made it just a few steps off the line of scrimmage and said his foot “basically” got caught in the turf. He tried to go left, his right leg didn’t want him to, and he felt it pop before falling to the ground.
“I was devastated,” said Maclin, who addressed reporters in the Lincoln Financial Field tunnel Sunday. “It wasn’t the fact that it hurt, it was the fact that I knew what happened so I was emotional, knowing what was at stake. This is something that I love to do, I love to play football and knowing that I’m not going to be able to do that, knowing that I’m not going to be a part of this new era here in Philly this year. Hopefully I’ll be around for a few more years to come. I’m going to rehab, get stronger and be better than I was before.”
Dr. James Andrews is scheduled to perform the surgery on Maclin next Tuesday. The receiver plans on staying in Philadelphia to rehab.
Maclin tore this same ACL back in 2006 prior to his freshman season. He suffered the injury in the last week of July, had surgery in August and said he was running 40s by February. He went through spring ball without a brace, and caught 80 balls for over 1,000 yards with nine touchdowns in ’07.
While it may be theoretically possible that Maclin could return this year if the Eagles made it to the postseason, he said that at this point of his career he has to make sure he is 100 percent before he re-takes the field. The 25-year-old is in the final year of his rookie contract. He was asked if he is second-guessing his decision to show up at camp without an extension.
“You can’t think like that, man. I think the minute you start doing that you start doubting yourself, and that’s not the type of person I am,” Maclin said.
New attendance record for Eagles
President Don Smolenski told reporters that 30,000 fans attended practice at the Linc Sunday. Even though that’s less than half of the amount of tickets that were reserved (the weather reports may have kept some people away), Smolenski said that is still a new record for number of fans at an Eagles practice.
“We thought today was a success. Seeing when we opened up the gates and the fans rush up the steps, the kids, the families, it was kind of a cool feeling,” he said. “I actually video-taped it with my I-Phone because I wanted to capture it because it was a cool rush.”
The Eagles were in pads for the first time under Chip Kelly but did very little hitting. If fans were anticipating an Andy-Reid like level of physicality, they didn’t get it.
DeMeco Ryans was one player who didn’t mind. He said this is what camp was like in Houston, and noted the most important thing is to be as healthy and fresh as possible going into the season.
Injury Update
Todd Herremans did not finish practice after tweaking his knee. It is not serious, according to the Eagles. Antonio Dixon tweaked a hamstring and is day-to-day. No practice Sunday for Cary Williams (hamstring) or Arrelious Benn (knee).
McNabb/Vick have a moment
Donovan McNabb, who will officially announce his retirement tomorrow, was in attendance for Alumni Day at the Linc. The ovation he received from the fans was only rivaled by the one they gave Brian Dawkins and Brian Westbrook. McNabb took his time going down the greeting line, and saved his biggest hug for Michael Vick. The two met up just outside the locker room following practice as well, and spent several minutes locked in a private conversation.
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