There was a lot going on in the Eagles locker room following the first day of mini-camp, so in an effort to cover all the bases, here's a sampling of thoughts from rookies, new faces and veterans alike.
Linebacker Ernie Sims
On learning a new defense: "I have played in a lot of defenses and right now it's all just terminology. Once I get that down, I'll be pretty good."
On the attitude at his first Eagles practice: "You can see it right now, everybody has a good vibe. That's how it was on the field. Everybody was working hard, but at the same time, everybody was enjoying themselves. That's what you want on the team."
On coming to a winning culture: "That's right in my ballpark. That's how I grew up and that's how I was raised, to win. And that's what I expect to do."
Defensive end Daniel Te'o-Nesheim
On getting drafted by the Eagles in the third round: "I thought it worked itself out. I mean, I didn't have really high expectations, but I would have liked to - I'm happy with what happened."
On comparisons to Pittsburgh Steelers' safety Troy Polamalu: "I don't know, he's really, really productive and a freak athlete. So maybe in work ethic I could try to be like him, but I don't know if I could just compare myself to him."
On rushing the passer from the inside on passing downs: "I feel comfortable doing it ... Guards are a little slower, but that's my experience. I'm sure this is completely different, but we'll see."
Linebacker Moise Fokou
On running with the first-team defense at the SAM position: "Nothing's ever handed to you, you've always got to work for it and work to keep it. It felt pretty good out there. I knew what I was doing, the adjustments, and I felt I moved pretty well today."
On the competition at linebacker: "This is the National Football League, it's Not For Long, so every day you're fighting for your job. The competition's always welcome, but it just puts a little more pressure on your back to go out there and compete and to be the best you can be."
On the difference from year one to year two: "I'm a little more calm out there, a little more patient. I kind of let things come to me now instead of just running around. It'll come a lot more in the future too."
On gaining approximately 10 pounds in the off-season (he now weighs around 238):"Coming into my second year, I knew that was going to be a little bit of a factor, just trying to stay on top and be the best I can be definitely motivated me to come into the weight room everyday, get faster, get bigger, get stronger. You know, just trying to improve from the first year to the second."
Quarterback Mike Kafka
On trying to learn the offense so quickly: "Well, I got the playbook last Monday. You get the week and kind of talk it over with the coaches a little bit on the phone, and then you get here and they're installing 100 miles-an-hour, and you're just catching up and having fun with it. The best thing you can do is just go out there and execute what you know and ask a lot of questions."
On his impressions of Kevin Kolb and Michael Vick: "Great, down to earth guys. As far as on the football field, they execute, and they know how to run the offense. There's no doubt why Mike's a nine-year veteran and Kevin's about to run the show right now. Those type of things, they have a lot of experience and a lot of good tips that you can get from them."
On what advice they gave him: "Just take care of the football, I think that's probably the biggest thing. When you're going in there, you want to take care of the football. Those are the things that, momentum can sway and you can lose the game."
Defensive end/linebacker Ricky Sapp
On his first practice: "It was great man, a dream come true. A little different role though. I've never done that much dropping in my life, so I have to get in better shape. I had fun though."
On practicing at linebacker: "I feel comfortable. I'm an athlete, so I have no trouble dropping in coverage and doing different drills. The only thing I think I had a problem with was the coverages and stuff, so I have to work on that stuff."
Defensive tackle Jeff Owens
On his first practice: "It feels actually pretty good. I'm just glad I got the first practice under my belt; I thought I did pretty good. I'm just going to go back and watch the film and evaluate myself and just try to get better and correct my mistakes."
On his impressions of the team so far: "It seemed like the players just try to go hard every play, just try to get after it and that's what I like. I like the players getting after it."
-- Posted by Bo Wulf, 9:30 p.m., April 30
