With the work stoppage lifted, at least for the time being, players under contract have been granted permisssion to attend their team's facilities on Friday to work out, meet coaches, get into the training room and do what they usually do at this time of the year.
Players seen through the mid-day hours on Friday at the NovaCare Complex: quarterback Michael Vick (who was throwing in the practice bubble indoors) running back LeSean McCoy, wide receiver Jason Avant, tight end Brent Celek, offensive linemen Winston Justice and Austin Howard and long snapper Jon Dorenbos.
"It's good to be here and to see everyone," said Celek. "I've been working hard, staying in shape. What's next here, I don't know. I'm just doing what I'm allowed to do."
It wasn't, then, a mass influx of players who reported to work on Friday. But it was enough to get a taste of Eagles football, which continues with rounds two and three of the NFL draft tonight. Head coach Andy Reid said on Thursday that the team plans to have its post-draft mini-camp in two weeks if the rules hold.
All of that could come to a screeching halt, of course, if the league is granted a stay in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit in St. Louis. No decision has been announced from there days after Judge Susan Nelson ended the league's imposed work stoppage.
For the moment, though, there was plenty of football in the air at the NovaCare Complex on Friday in the form of players taking part in the action.
