Jason Avant as a defensive back? Plus, more Matt Barkley believers emerge. Here’s your weekend roundup.

Michael Vick is clearly tired of answering questions about how he’s not good enough at reading NFL defenses.

The Eagles’ veteran quarterback talked to Mike Missanelli during a 97.5 The Fanatic interview earlier this week and was asked to address critics who have pointed out that he doesn’t make quick enough reads and holds on to the football too long.

“I’m really tempted right now to just say no comment to that because like I said a second ago, you don’t last 12 years in the NFL not being able to read the defense,” Vick said. “Those people who are talking and saying that are just ignorant, and they know nothing about football. Unless they turn on the film and watch my game and see what goes on, then they’ll replace those comments with the right comments.”

In the college ranks, it’s fairly common for a player to switch over from one side of the ball to the other.

A wide receiver moving to defensive back, an offensive guard becoming a defensive tackle, and so on.

In the NFL, however, such maneuvers are rare. But that’s apparently not going to stop Chip Kelly from considering them.

From Chip Kelly’s success in the red zone to Mychal Kendricks’ tackling issues, here are three Eagles numbers that matter.

One writer thinks Matt Barkley could be the next Tom Brady. Another rips Felix Jones for his eating habits. Here’s the national media roundup of what they’re saying about the Eagles this week.

Even though he’s the wide receivers coach, Bob Bicknell didn’t need a football during a “teach” period at Monday’s practice.

The emphasis during this particular session was on blocking. It’s an aspect of playing the position that is often overlooked, and it’s not something that shows up in the box score or gets guys big pay checks.

But in Chip Kelly’s system, it’s crucial.

DeSean Jackson‘s relationship with Andy Reid and the Eagles got off on the wrong foot.

The receiver and his family were already in the midst of a stressful day. Their draft party back in April of 2008 turned tense as the projected first-rounder slipped and slipped…until finally he was taken 49th by the Eagles. The celebration that ensued was quickly dampened following Jackson’s call with his new head coach.

The second the previous play was blown dead, Chip Kelly’s assistant was already going through his routine.

Standing on the sideline in a grey hoodie, grey sweats and an Eagles visor, he quickly looked down at his cheat sheet on the grass before running through the motions.

An NFL-version of charades. One second, he was adjusting an imaginary telescope. The next, flapping his wings like a bird.

The Eagles are hosting a cool event this weekend that will give fans the chance to see up-close how Chip Kelly is running his operation at the NovaCare Complex.

It’s called Eagles Academy For Men, and there are two sessions:

* Saturday, May 18th from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.
* Sunday, May 19th from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Select players, coaches and alumni will be on hand as fans get the opportunity to watch tape and run through drills on the practice fields. There will also be a tour of the weight room, training room and locker room.

Lunch will be provided in the team cafeteria, and each fan will receive an autographed item.

Birds 24/7 has a pair of tickets to give away to each session. To be eligible to win them, all you have to do is become a fan of our Facebook page. On Thursday afternoon, we will randomly select the winners. If you’re already a fan of Birds 24/7 Facebook, you’re automatically eligible.

“With Andy — especially with me coming in later in his career after he had built up such a reputation in Philly among the players in the locker room — there was an aura around him where you never wanted to be yourself around him. You always had to have this front up,” Jason Kelce told 97.5 The Fanatic Tuesday. “You always had to be, ‘Yes sir.’ You had to be on your P’s and Q’s. He was a hard man to kind of talk to and be loose around.

“It was always an uptight conversation whenever I had one with him. Whereas Chip is a lot more — at least at this point — one of the guys. He’s still the head coach and you still have great respect for him, but he converses with everybody, he strikes up conversations. He’s much more of a loose guy to be around than Andy was, that’s for sure.”

LeSean McCoy’s publicist calls allegations that the running back and his bodyguard assaulted a woman in December “completely, unequivocally false.”

As soon as the whistle blows, Eagles wide receivers are asked to shift their attention to the next play.

That doesn’t mean jogging back behind the line of scrimmage and huddling up – not anymore, anyway. Instead, it means turning their attention to the sidelines, identifying the hand signals and hustling to the right spot in the formation.

However, that’s just the beginning of the process. It’s not only the quarterback’s job to make decisions based on the look of the defense. In Chip Kelly’s offense, wide receivers will have option routes – plays where they are asked to assess the coverage and adjust their path accordingly.

The Eagles’ fourth overall pick toiled quietly in the background Monday, running with the second team while Dennis Kelly got the reps at right tackle with the ones.  Jason Kelce — wearing a large brace on his right leg — got some work in but sat out teams drills, giving way to Dallas Reynolds. Evan Mathis‘ only appearance during practice was on Twitter. 

Just how close are we to seeing this line in its (presumed) most potent form?

The Eagles have added another option to the mix at running back, signing Felix Jones to a one-year deal and releasing wide receiver Marvin McNutt.

Jones, 26, spent his first five seasons with the Dallas Cowboys. He dealt with knee, shoulder and rib injuries last season and played in only 34.7 percent of the offensive snaps, according to Pro Football Focus. Jones did not miss a single game due to injury in 2012, but he was on the injury report 10 times (probable seven times, questionable three times).

“I’ve seen Coach [Chip] Kelly do his thing when he played his Bowl games at Oregon,” Jones said. “It seems like a fun system, a fun thing he has going on. No huddles and things of that nature. It’s exciting. I can’t wait to learn the playbook and get going.”

Chip Kelly has warned repeatedly not to draw any depth chart conclusions in May.

And he has a point.

Practice is about getting players acclimated to the offensive and defensive schemes. Reps, reps and more reps.

Having said that, there were a few surprises on Monday, the first time practice was open to the media.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the positions of note.