Energy level reaches a high at Eagles' workouts

EVESHAM, N.J.There was an unmistakable buzz surrounding the Eagles informal workouts on Monday. Before the team announced that training camp will open Wednesday, just over a dozen Eagles gathered at the Memorial Sports Complex in Marlton, N.J., to run sprints and toss around a few footballs for about an hour. It was the biggest turnout the workouts have had in months, and according to the players, theyre ready to get back to work. Its kind of hard to explain, weve been waiting all summer for this, to finally get back to work, so my excitement level is at an all-time high right now, linebacker Keenan Clayton said. Once we get to Lehigh, then it will really be time to get to work.Clayton has worked out with his teammates in the New Jersey suburbs several times this summer, but there were some new faces among the players on Monday too. Defensive back Kurt Coleman along with the Eagles first-round draft pick (23rd overall), offensive lineman Danny Watkins, made their first visits to the artificial turf field. Its good news for me and the guys I guess, Watkins said of the new labor deal. Its critical for me. We didnt have the rookie OTAs or anything like that, so its going to be a workload ahead of us for sure. I know Im excited to get this over with and get going.Its been especially hard for Watkins, who hasnt been allowed to have any contact with coaches in the three months since he was drafted. He said his first order of business when the lockout is officially lifted will be to call offensive line coach Howard Mudd. As soon as Im allowed, Watkins said. Im going to be calling him up. Coleman, who will enter his second season with the Eagles, was able to stay upbeat throughout the labor negotiations. He said he had a feeling the lockout would last this long, but that doesnt mean he isnt happy its near an end. Its a lot of relief, a lot of stress that weve been able to put away, Coleman said. Now we can just play some football and not have to worry about anything else.All Coleman will have to worry about soon, is making his way up to Lehigh University for training camp. And, yes, hes pretty happy about that too. I know that a lot of fans will be out there to cheer us on, he said. Its fun. That will be a great time for us, because we missed OTAs and minicamps, to get together.

Both Coleman and linebacker Jamar Chaney said they were pleased with the new deal thats reportedly in place. From what I heard, Im happy with it, Chaney said. If the player reps are happy with it, then Im happy with it. Chaney said hes especially ready to head to Lehigh to learn the new defense from offensive-line-coach-turned-defensive-coordinator Juan Castillo. Im very excited, weve been out here working hard, Chaney said. Thats what we do, we play football. I know the other guys, especially on the defense, want to get out there and learn the new system. The length of the lockout has put teams in a tough place. They havent had OTAs or minicamps, but Clayton thinks the Eagles will be in a good position when the start of the season rolls around. If everybody was doing what they needed to be doing this off-season, it will all work itself out, Clayton. Once we get into camp, everything will fall into place like its supposed to.Mondays workout on the artificial turf was one of the lightest since players began to prepare in the New Jersey suburbs. It might have been the lightest, but the energy level among players and fans was undeniable. Im excited, Coleman said. I think this is what the fans have been waiting for, its definitely what the players have been waiting for. Its going to be an exciting season.E-mail Dave Zangaro at dzangaro@comcastsportsnet.com