Injury List Expands to Create a Who's-Who of Players

The current injury list is as follows:

Brian Westbrook (ankle surgery), Victor Abiamiri (torn pectoral muscle), Shawn Andrews (back spasms), Jason Peters, (quad spasms), Asante Samuel (hamstring spasms), Trevor Laws (sore hamstring).

Wow.  There are four Pro Bowl players on that list.  And so soon after the opening of camp.  I mean, didn't veterans just report?  I'm not too worried though, as Cap'n Andy has already stated that these guys (excluding Westbrook and Abiamiri) could be ready to go as early as today.  I'd have no problem with them taking a few days off to work out the kinks, though.  After all, as we are all aware, today is the first day of pads-on, full-contact drills.  They can take as long as they need, as far as I'm concerned.

It's no secret that Andy Reid runs one of the toughest training camps in the NFL.  Unlike many other teams, the Birds go full-bore the minute camp opens.  You hear more moans and groans (albeit joshingly) from Eagles players about camp than from most other teams, and it's easy to see why.  Add Andy's hard-charging, no-prisoners approach to camp to the dead-of-summer Lehigh Valley climate, and you're bound to wind up with some injuries.  For those of you who have ever attended training camp at Lehigh, you know what I mean; the air hangs and does not seem to circulate.  A three-minute walk from your car to the practice field viewing areas produces more sweat than Patrick Ewing in the fourth period.  I can't imagine what it's like to strap on heavy pads and a helmet and go out into the sweltering heat and debilitating humidity to get my ass kicked up and down the field all day.

Every year, as the training camp injuries mount, I wonder if a change needs to be made.  Reid's methods certainly produce one of the better-conditioned and more hard-nosed teams in the NFL, but it seems like injuries nag the Birds from day one every season.  I'm not saying that we should go the Wade Phillips route (he doesn't allow hitting at his camps), because that's just silly (and why the Cowgirls are just plain soft).  But maybe there's a happy medium to be reached.

Now, I realize that training camp will produce injuries no matter what happens.  It goes with the territory.  I defy anyone to be one hundred percent game-ready after almost five months off.  I just think that the talent we have is too valuable to be lost to the sidelines because of injuries sustained during conditioning drills.  I suppose that all they can do for now is let these guys take it slow for a little while, and work their way back to full speed in their own time.  Hamstring and back ailments are nothing to sniff at, and must be managed carefully.  On the part of the players, they certainly cannot afford to attempt to rush back onto the field.  Just because they can participate despite their ailments does not necessarily mean they should.  So here's begging you, Jason, Shawn, Asante, and Trevor: take your time.  It's a long camp.  We need you ready, but more importantly, we need you healthy.