Nothing like a friendly wager to spice up training camp
PHILADELPHIA » Eagles head coach Doug Pederson demonstrated again Friday that he’s willing to do whatever it takes to get his team through the grind of training camp.
The day after Pederson ordered players to collaborate on group celebrations of touchdowns, he interrupted the morning practice in another wave of searing heat to engage in a couple of off-the-wall wagers.
Pederson first gathered his players together at midfield and put kicker Caleb Sturgis on the spot. All the Eagles had to do to get an hour added to their 11 p.m. curfew Friday was to will Sturgis into making a pair of 54-yard field goals; one for the offense, one for the defense.
Surrounded by teammates carrying on like fans, Sturgis smacked the first try off the right upright for a miss. The second attempt was clearly wide right, which a defensive player who shall remain anonymous suspects was done intentionally lest the kicker be accused of favoring one unit over another. Sturgis wasn’t immediately available for comment.
Pederson’s explanation left much to be desired.
“What was on the line?” Pederson said rhetorically. “That’s between the team and I. We worked out a couple of things. And the guys have been working extremely hard.”
The second wager was less of a secret as Coach Doug told hulking defensive tackle Fletcher Cox and offensive tackle Jason Peters that if one or both successfully fielded punts, their respective units would get their last meeting of the day cancelled.
Peters, a long ago tight end, took a knee while cradling the ball in.
“I lost it in the sun,” Peters said. “I was just trying to get up under it.”
Cox answered with a more conventional yet no less effective catch.
“It definitely got everyone excited and going,” Cox said. “And it was good to have things like that right in the middle of practice. I think it was about a meeting or something. We both caught the ball, so we don’t have a meeting later and we have an off-day tomorrow. He kind of threw us a bone. It was a good thing, especially after having three days like we did, three physical days. Yesterday had been a long, really hot, physical day. To come back today and do that, we appreciate that.”
Appreciation has nothing to do in the grand scheme of things for the Eagles, who have a season to play. But it has everything to do with getting over the fatigue the players feel after a blistering hot week of practice, including two days of tackling to the ground.
Even quarterback Carson Wentz conceded he was tired. Wentz and quarterbacks Matt McGloin and Dane Evans have had to throw more than originally scripted since Nick Foles has been out with a swollen elbow.
Wentz found himself playing with the second team offense.
“That’s what I love about Coach Pederson, he was a former player, so he kind of knows the dog days of camp, knows how to break up the monotony so that was cool,” Wentz said. “I’m thankful JP made that catch. That was big. What Coach Pederson brings is a happy balance between the hard work and keep it light at times as well to make it fun for the players, too.”
The 35-year-old Peters has been a full participant at training camp. Typically the big guy takes a few personal days.
Whatever it is that’s keeping Peters out there the contract extension or respect for Pederson – it’s working. The big guy unabashedly said he had no idea why he had to catch the punt, just that he had to catch it.
“I think Doug, uh, he was trying to explain something about curfew,” Peters said. “I didn’t get the memo but I just know I had to go back and catch the ball. So I had no idea what was behind it.”
Pederson laughed and smiled when the two competitions were brought up but was less than forthcoming about what he wanted to convey with them. It made for awkwardness in the media tent.
Of the second competition or wager, Pederson said “That was between me and the guys.
“That’s the beauty of being the head coach I think,” Pederson said. “Sometimes their voices can be heard. So we had a little friendly wager there and there will be a reward later.”
What’s next, putting an empty gas can in front of a star player’s locker with a note asking if he had anything left in his tank?
Bill Parcells tried that. And it worked with Brian Cox.
Whatever it takes, gimmick or whatnot, former NFL quarterback Pederson will put it to use to get his team through the grind of training camp.