Eagles

THE WONDERFUL World of Chipper isn't just going to arrive full-blown in a stream of seamlessly choreographed, no-huddle artistry, everybody prancing in time to the thumping dance-mix beat. The Eagles have a lot of learning to do, along with a lot of winnowing of players, in the early days of the Chip Kelly era. This was apparent yesterday as the team allowed reporters their second look at an Organized Team Activity. (Back in the day, you might have called it "practice. ") Michael Vick didn't have a particularly sharp day throwing the ball, and seemed to get fewer reps with the first-team offense than Nick Foles.

THE EAGLES and the Giants exchanged players this offseason. Not formally, of course, but New York signed Eagles free-agent defensive linemen Mike Patterson and Cullen Jenkins, and the Eagles signed former Giants first-round safety Kenny Phillips. It will be interesting to see which organization had a better read on the other squad's talents. Patterson, a smallish defensive tackle, didn't fit the Birds' new defensive scheme. Jenkins just seemed to be wearing down at 32, and seemed expendable to a rebuilding team.

The NFL's collective bargaining agreement apportions the offseason into controlled, digestible bites for the players. Until the full training camps of August, there is no actual contact and the practice days are limited and counted closely. This is done for the health and welfare of the players, of course, at least in their view, and if it sometimes provides less preparation than a coaching staff might prefer, the league calls that an acceptable swap for getting to keep all the money.

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy left Monday's practice early with an apparent knee injury. McCoy stretched on the sideline at one point before leaving the practice field. McCoy was spotted after practice walking through a NovaCare Complex hallway with a plate of food. He said the issue was with his knee. He did not appear to be limping or in pain. The Eagles did not have an official report on McCoy's condition. Bryce Brown took first-team snaps at running back in McCoy's absence.

EVERYBODY loves an underdog, and every year there is a rookie of humble pedigree who catches the imagination of Eagles fans. Sometimes he's a seventh-round draft choice (Nate Ilaoa, a stubby fullback from Hawaii in 2007), sometimes he's an undrafted free agent (Chad Hall, a height-challenged ex-Air Force officer in 2010, or Damaris Johnson, the wideout/returner who supplanted Hall last year). Quite often, this object of fan affection doesn't even make the team. When he does make it, his impact tends to lag way behind the amount of attention he gets on message boards.

The Eagles plan to cut rookie running back Miguel Maysonet, according to an NFL source. Maysonet, who was signed as an undrafted free agent out of Stony Brook, will be released, presumably by Monday once the Eagles sign a replacement. He has not been at organized team activities because of an NFL rule that prohibits rookies who have yet to graduate from practicing with veterans. The 5-foot-9, 209-pound Maysonet ran for nearly 2,000 yards and scored 21 touchdowns as a senior. - Jeff McLane

On any given day during the last several seasons you might have found five or six Eagles sprawled out in their locker stalls catching some midday zzzzs. In most cases, the players would build themselves a makeshift bed with pillow, their heads covered with a shirt or some other piece of clothing, their outstretched legs obstructing passage through the narrow lockerroom at the NovaCare Complex. There were other places to sleep - the lounge, the trainer's room - and, it seemed, plenty of opportunities for exhausted players to nap under Andy Reid.

WE'VE HEARD IT thousands of times - professional sports aren't games. They are big businesses. This weekend in Los Angeles, Eagles rookies Zach Ertz and Matt Barkley are getting a taste of the NFL's big business as they take part in the NFL Players Association Rookie Premiere. Ertz, a tight end from Stanford drafted in the second round, and Barkley, a fourth-round quarterback out the University of Southern California, are two of 40 rookies invited by NFL Players Inc. - the marketing and licensing subsidiary of the NFLPA - to attend business seminars and connect with NFL sponsors, partners and licensees.

Chip Kelly has been open about his desire for versatile players, a trait sought by many coaches. But Kelly's search for versatility stretches beyond convention, as evidenced by at least two roster experiments during organized team activities last week. Tight end Clay Harbor spent one day of practice at outside linebacker. Wide receiver Jason Avant took practice repetitions with defensive backs. Neither player is changing positions. Rather, it seems to be an effort to explore different scenarios, if needed.

Part Three of a Series The Eagles are amid their first organized team activities this week, and they will practice throughout the next four weeks. After those practices, coach Chip Kelly will have a better idea of the Eagles roster. But there's a lot that will happen between now and then. Here is a look at the tight ends: Projected current first team TE1: Brent Celek (6-foot-4, 255 pounds), age 28, 7th season TE2: James Casey (6-3, 240), 28, 5th Of all the positions on the Eagles offense, the one that has seen the most change this offseason is tight end. Kelly brought in three new quarterbacks, but the current top two remain the same.