Eagles anticipate end of lockout, ready for Lehigh

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EVESHAM, N.J.It kind of felt like Lehigh. The sun was strong, the temperature hovered in the 90s and there was Jason Avant, catching passes and sprinting on the artificial turf at the Memorial Sports Complex in Marlton, N.J., on Tuesday, again. The New Jersey suburb has become like Avants second home during this off-season. Nearly every day for a couple of months, the Eagles wideout has been catching passes from quarterback Mike Kafka. But with the lockout likely nearing its end (possibly as early as Thursday), Avant is ready to trade in the New Jersey suburbs for Bethlehem, Pa., and Lehigh University for Eagles training camp. I just want to see the guys and get a chance to work out and do some things together as a team to get ready for the season, Avant said. Im excited about playing football. Im glad that we havent canceled Lehigh, because its a great experience for the people of Lehigh Valley, so I think that we have a lot of fun going up there. Its hot, its humid, its tough.Hot, humid, tough. Lehigh can be brutal. Tuesday, as Avant and second-year tight end Clay Harbor caught passes from Kafka, it was pretty brutal, too. It had some similarities to training camp, but it wasnt quite the same. This was a little different, Avant said. See, at Lehigh I dont lift weights and lift legs and squats before I come out here, so its a little better.Lehigh is better? He must really be itching to go. Itisn't official that the Eagles will hold training camp at Lehigh, but the university has already started to prepare for the team's arrival. Avant said that if training camp does start on July 28 or 29, he would continue to work out this week and the beginning of next week. According to him, a week off would be like not doing anything for a whole summer.Harbor said hes ready to head to training camp too. The Eagles 2010 fourth-round draft pick out of Missouri State is ready for his second crack at Lehigh. Im more confident coming into the season, he said. I cant wait to show people what I can do at Lehigh this year.Harbor, 24, remembers what it was like as a rookie trying to learn the offense last year. It was hard. Itll take a few days, especially for the rookies coming in, Harbor said. I remember last year, it took me a good, you know, through the first few minicamps and into training camp before I was semi-comfortable with the offense. It will be tough for the rookies, but I think we have good enough coaches to teach them up in a short amount of time and get them on the right track.The first few days might be a little hectic with some of the young guys, but I think after a week and after a few practices, well be right where we need to be.Harbor joined the Eagles involuntary workouts a couple weeks ago and says that the time with Kafka has really helped his timing. Harbor has also added about 10 pounds to his frame for blocking purposes and says he hasnt lost any speed. As for getting back on the field with his teammates, thats what Harbor is most looking forward to. Im real excited for training camp, he said. We know that our hard work in the off-season is going to pay off and were going to get to utilize everything weve worked for this season. As a team, it was such a tough way to lose last season to Green Bay, who ended up winning the Super Bowl. It was a tough game, but as close of a loss as it was, it really showed us how close we are.We feel confident as a team. We feel like were close. If we work hard and get a few breaks, we could really get to the Super Bowl.E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com

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