Todd Herremans

The dynamic may have shifted slightly, some tinkering may have been done, but the Eagles still conduct business as they always have. And yet, the narrative, after what unanimously has been declared a successful offseason, has been that the Eagles have significantly altered their philosophy or shaken up the front office after a disastrous 2011. Not true. They have made changes. However, they are micro adjustments that owner Jeffrey Lurie hopes will have a net macro result - the Eagles finally winning a Super Bowl.

Never have so many been so glad to see a bunch of professional football players running around in shorts. Organized Team Activities (OTAs or, as we called them before the NFL was completely bloated with self-importance, minicamps) have come to South Philadelphia. That is welcome news for two reasons: one, because it signifies the unofficial start of the 2012 season; and two, because it signifies the official end of all the lame excuses about how the lack of running-around-in-shorts time hurt the Eagles in 2011.

EAGLE TODD HERREMANS loves golf so much that he traveled to Los Angeles for a tournament. Did we mention it was the Playboy Golf Finals, which kicked off with an opening reception at the Playboy Mansion? Herremans represented the Eagles and competed against Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots, Michael Richardson of the Seahawks, comedian Josh Wolf and some cast members from Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset. " Herremans, who is reportedly dating April 2010 Playmate Amy Leigh Andrews , hung out with Miss May 2007 Shannon James , of Bucks County, who recently split from Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence , and Miss August 2004 Pilar Lastra at the Playboy Golf Finals Pajama and Lingerie Party at the Playboy Mansion.

Winston Justice said playing right tackle is like riding a bicycle. Since he last played there, though, the Eagles have replaced a mountain bike with a racing model. And with a knee that's still less than 100 percent, it's unclear whether Justice can even get back on the bike. Questions about Justice's ability to return to tackle were prompted by King Dunlap's recent spate of back spasms. Dunlap started at left tackle last week for the injured Jason Peters and was slated to fill that spot again Sunday at Washington.

The Eagles have been crippled by another season-ending injury. Coach Andy Reid announced yesterday that offensive tackle Tra Thomas has been placed on the injured-reserve list with a lower-back injury that will require surgery. Thomas will have an operation on his lumbar disk in California at a date to be determined. Thomas is the third Eagles Pro Bowl selection from last year who has been put on injured reserve this week, joining quarterback Donovan McNabb (sports hernia)

HE STEPPED UP on the stage for his press conference, and gave his coach a playful pat on the back, and you could not have smacked the smile off LeSean McCoy's face if you had tried. On the day he got paid, signing a 5-year contract extension worth $45 million overall and $20.765 million guaranteed, the Eagles' elite running back admitted that his dominant emotion might just have been relief. "It feels good just to wake up tomorrow and go to work knowing that the deal is done and it's over with," McCoy said.

What a difference a few months make. After a toxic 2011, Andy Reid and the Eagles management have restored a sense of optimism and hope around their team. Even the loudest Reid critic should be impressed with what the Eagles have done the last two months, including the draft that just unfolded. "It's a positive thing. When you're around the team right now you feel that," Reid said Saturday, wearing a signature Hawaiian shirt. "I think they're excited to get going. " For anyone else it would be a bit early for short-sleeves with a tropical motif, but as the weather warms and the Eagles' barren January fades in the distance, the team once again looks great in the offseason.

1. Smith       2. Brent Celek       3. Matt Schobel 4. Todd Herremans

The Eagles finish their spring with 4 additional days of organized team activities beginning today at the NovaCare Complex. The team will practice through Thursday before breaking until training camp. Rookies and selected veterans are scheduled to report to Lehigh University on July 26, with all remaining veterans expected to arrive on July 29. The preseason opener against Jacksonville is Aug. 13 at Lincoln Financial Field. This week's workouts likely won't include Todd Herremans, who sat out last week with a foot problem.

The Eagles yesterday announced the signing of offensive tackle Todd Herremans, one of the team's two fourth-round draft picks, to a four-year contract. Terms were not disclosed. Herremans, who attended Saginaw Valley (Mich.) State, earned Division II all-American honors as a senior. The 6-foot-6, 321-pounder, the 126th overall pick in this year's NFL draft, started all 10 games at left tackle and allowed just two sacks. Herremans, 22, was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference offensive lineman of the year in 2004.

WHEN JASON Kelce was named the Eagles' season-opening starting center over Jamaal Jackson last summer, there were more than a few players on the team who wondered whether that really was such a good idea. Kelce, a fifth-round pick out of the University of Cincinnati, was a cerebral player who picked up the Eagles' offense and blocking schemes last summer quicker than anybody had a right to expect, particularly considering that he didn't see a playbook until the day before the start of training camp thanks to the 4 1/2-month lockout.

Never have so many been so glad to see a bunch of professional football players running around in shorts. Organized Team Activities (OTAs or, as we called them before the NFL was completely bloated with self-importance, minicamps) have come to South Philadelphia. That is welcome news for two reasons: one, because it signifies the unofficial start of the 2012 season; and two, because it signifies the official end of all the lame excuses about how the lack of running-around-in-shorts time hurt the Eagles in 2011.

The dynamic may have shifted slightly, some tinkering may have been done, but the Eagles still conduct business as they always have. And yet, the narrative, after what unanimously has been declared a successful offseason, has been that the Eagles have significantly altered their philosophy or shaken up the front office after a disastrous 2011. Not true. They have made changes. However, they are micro adjustments that owner Jeffrey Lurie hopes will have a net macro result - the Eagles finally winning a Super Bowl.

HE STEPPED UP on the stage for his press conference, and gave his coach a playful pat on the back, and you could not have smacked the smile off LeSean McCoy's face if you had tried. On the day he got paid, signing a 5-year contract extension worth $45 million overall and $20.765 million guaranteed, the Eagles' elite running back admitted that his dominant emotion might just have been relief. "It feels good just to wake up tomorrow and go to work knowing that the deal is done and it's over with," McCoy said.

What a difference a few months make. After a toxic 2011, Andy Reid and the Eagles management have restored a sense of optimism and hope around their team. Even the loudest Reid critic should be impressed with what the Eagles have done the last two months, including the draft that just unfolded. "It's a positive thing. When you're around the team right now you feel that," Reid said Saturday, wearing a signature Hawaiian shirt. "I think they're excited to get going. " For anyone else it would be a bit early for short-sleeves with a tropical motif, but as the weather warms and the Eagles' barren January fades in the distance, the team once again looks great in the offseason.

THE LEAST popular thing the Eagles could do in the first round of the draft Thursday night would be to select an offensive lineman. But it also might be the smartest thing they could do. By the end of last season, the Eagles' offensive line was one of the top performing units on the team. Jason Peters was the best left tackle in the league. Todd Herremans had made a silky-smooth switch from left guard to right tackle. Rookie center Jason Kelce was playing like a seasoned veteran and drawing comparisons to five-time Pro Bowler Jeff Saturday.

Jason Peters underwent surgery to repair his ruptured right Achilles tendon, the Eagles said Tuesday. The surgery was performed by Steve Ralkin of the Rothman Institute at Jefferson Hospital in the Navy Yard. Peters injured himself on March 27 while working out in Texas. The Eagles have not set a timetable for the all-pro left tackle's return, but recovery from an Achilles injury takes on average about nine months. The team has already begun to search for a replacement, bringing in free agent Demetrius Bell for a visit last weekend.

EAGLE TODD HERREMANS loves golf so much that he traveled to Los Angeles for a tournament. Did we mention it was the Playboy Golf Finals, which kicked off with an opening reception at the Playboy Mansion? Herremans represented the Eagles and competed against Rob Gronkowski of the Patriots, Michael Richardson of the Seahawks, comedian Josh Wolf and some cast members from Bravo's "Shahs of Sunset. " Herremans, who is reportedly dating April 2010 Playmate Amy Leigh Andrews , hung out with Miss May 2007 Shannon James , of Bucks County, who recently split from Phillies outfielder Hunter Pence , and Miss August 2004 Pilar Lastra at the Playboy Golf Finals Pajama and Lingerie Party at the Playboy Mansion.

He came, he saw, he left without a contract. Demetrius Bell was still a free agent when he departed Philadelphia after visiting with the Eagles over the weekend. The left tackle has met with four teams, including the Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, and Green Bay Packers, since the start of free agency last month. But he remains on the market even though the Eagles were scrambling to find a starting left tackle after Jason Peters suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon last week.