BETHLEHEM - It was a day like every other day at Injuryfest 2009. Backup quarterback Kevin Kolb had already been taken off the field with a sprained knee, and defensive end Trent Cole with a sprained shoulder, and a half-dozen big, black birds were flying in lazy circles above one end of the Eagles' practice field. Buzzards, perhaps.
The offense looked lousy yesterday (lousy being a technical football term). It is not the first time, either. There is no reason to be panicked about it, and nobody up here is panicked about it, but the troubles are becoming stubborn. They have an offensive line that has not yet been intact for a single practice, with right tackle Shawn Andrews and his uncooperative back the major issue. They have new faces scattered all about the formation, kids and acquisitions. They are desperate this season to play against their history and start the regular season quickly, but they cannot get through the morning stretch without somebody tweaking something.