Philadelphia Eagles Go With Youth Plan and What's Up With That Shirt?

During the 2008 training camp, Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid instituted reduced practice regime for players over the age of 30.

He won’t have to worry about that this training camp. After months of releasing players like Brian Westbrook, trading Sheldon Brown and Donovan McNabb and following the 2010 draft and deals, they have only three players over the age of 30.

Place kicker David Akers is 35, defensive end Juqua Parker is 31, and punter Sav Rocca is 36.

Coach Andy Reid said that his team isn’t rebuilding.

What?

What kind of spin is that?

It could be a good thing or blow up in their face.

And unless they win no games or one, the Eagles brass will spin the heck out of the 2010 season.

“It was a difficult time when we lost (Kevin) Kolb in week four, then LaSean McCoy was injured a week later,” I can imagine Reid saying following a 7-9 season. “Vick did a nice job, especially in the Dallas game and came close a couple of times.”

“Overall the defense was good,” he continues. “The time is yours …”

The above is pure conjecture, but this much is sure: Between Reid, Joe Banner and new GM Howie Roseman, the Eagles will justify what happens on the field this season.

And it starts with the draft.

A total of 13 players were drafted, the most number of draft choices in the NFL.

After trading up from the 24th pick to the 13th pick and selecting defensive end Brandon Graham of Michigan, the Eagles used the “Donovan McNabb" 37th pick overall and selected Nate Allen, a safety from South Florida.

The next “high” pick was defensive end Daniel Teo’Neshiem from Washington.

The Eagles traded out of the second and third rounds and had four picks in the fourth round, three picks in the fifth round, one in the sixth round and two in the seventh round.

In my mind, the only picks that the Eagles will be judged on is Graham, who is quick and relentless, but only 6-2, 268 pounds, and second-round selection Nate Allen. Allen will forever linked with the Donovan McNabb trade, which brought the Eagles a second-round draft pick this year and a third- or fourth-round pick next year.

If both Graham and Allen perform well and one or two of the other Eagles draft picks make the squad, the Eagles’ draft will be considered a success.

Dallas should be considered the favorite to win the NFC East. Mike Shanahan takes over as head coach in Washington and McNabb takes over as the quarterback; and the Giants could be a factor, three years removed from their 2007 Super Bowl win.

Where the Eagles place in the mix depends on whether they have done enough to bolster the defense and the leadership of quarterback Kevin Kolb.

The Eagles 2010 draft picks are listed below for all your draft day geeks:

First round: Brandon Graham, DE 6-2, 268, Michigan

Second round: Nate Allen, S, 6-0, 207 South Florida (37)

Third round: Daniel Teo’Neshiem, DE, 6-3, 263, Washington.

Fourth round: Trevard Lindley, CB, 5-11, 183, Kentucky.

Keenan Clayton, LB, 6-1, 229, Oklahoma

Mike Kafka, QB, 6-3, 225, Northwestern

Clay Harbor, TE, 6-2, 252, Missouri State

Fifth round: Ricky Sapp, DE, 6-4, 252, Clemson

Riley Cooper, WR, 6-3, 222, Florida

Sixth round: Riley Cooper, WR, 6-3, 222, Florida

Seventh round: Jamar Chaney, LB, 6-0, 242, Mississippi State

Jeff Owens, DT, 6-1, 304, Georgia

Kurt Coleman, S, 5-11, 192, Ohio State