Andy Reid rewarded his players by ending training camp yesterday after a light practice, a day earlier than scheduled. The team will get today off before tomorrow’s preseason game in Pittsburgh.
“That’s really a reward for the effort that they put in,” Reid said. “They came out and they busted their tails, and from a coach’s standpoint that’s about all you can ask for.”
Reid plans to play his starters for the first half, followed by the twos and threes. King Dunlap will start at right tackle with Ryan Harris still hurt. DeSean Jackson will make his first start of the preseason.
The coach applauded his guys for working through the “rigor mortis.” Reid seemed especially impressed with Michael Vick. Remember, the quarterback didn’t get many reps with the ones last year at Lehigh, since he started the season as Kevin Kolb’s backup.
“I think he’s putting pressure on himself to be a better football player,” Reid said. “I think he’s putting pressure on the guys around him to be better football players, and at the same time rallying them to try to bring out the best in them.”
When asked about his expectations for the regular season, the coach didn’t offer much. He certainly wasn’t going to go all Nostradamus on us.
“You can’t sit there and predict which ones you’re going to win and you’re going to lose,” Reid said. “You’re coming in thinking that you’re going to win and that’s how you go about your business. So with that, the expectation is always high.”
