It all starts tonight. Philadelphia Eagles football, at Chicago’s Soldier Field against the Bears. The start of the preseason separates the rabid football faithful from the more faint at heart. If you get excited about Eagles preseason football, then tonight brings the most exciting start to a weekend in many, many months.
Sure, the game doesn’t mean anything about the 2014 regular season. It doesn’t tell us how the Eagles will finish in the NFC East. But it’s something. We won’t see them for long, but Chip Kelly tells us that we’ll see the starters for about 10-15 snaps. Better than nothing, but close to it. What we will get to see is the Birds’ rookies in NFL game action for the very first time. Now that’s something to look forward to.
Everyone from Philly’s top draft picks to the those who went undrafted, there are 22 young men that know nothing of what it feels to put on an Eagles uniform in front of a crowd.
That will all change tonight.
To Kevin Graf, an undrafted offensive tackle out of USC, the excitement is palpable.
“I’ve been waiting — this has been my dream my whole life. I’m on pins and needles, can’t wait for game time. Just an exciting moment for me and my family.”
The preseason is about more than the lights and action, of course. It’s about securing a job come September. The enthusiasm will soon turn to anxiousness as the Eagles roster rather quickly dwindles from 90 to 53 over the next few weeks.
If you want to look for something meaningful, pay attention to the rookie receivers. Injuries to Jeremy Maclin, Jeff Maehl and Riley Cooper reveal how quickly the Birds depth at wideout fades. We’re all eager to see Jordan Matthews on the field as we look forward to how Kelly will use his new offensive weapons come the regular season.
Tonight, let’s be like the rookies on the Eagles and around the NFL. Let’s enjoy the high of there simply being an Eagles game and enjoy seeing the team on our TV screens once again. Yes, many of the names you see in Eagles uniform you will soon forget were a part of the team. But tonight, we’ve never been happier to see them.
