Rookies enjoy final day in the spotlight

From Inquirer staff reporter Marc Narducci:

Today was the final day for Eagles rookies to truly feel like first-year players.

The entire squad is due to report to training camp at Lehigh University by 5 p.m. And, of course, there is the much-anticipated arrival of wide receiver Terrell Owens.

The Eagles will have testing and a light afternoon workout for the entire squad tomorrow and conduct the first day of practice in full pads on Wednesday.

Practice this morning consisted primarily of rookies who are learning the NFL ropes before they start To compete with the veterans.

"It helped me a lot [working with mainly the rookies] but now those days are over," said running back Ryan Moats, a third-round draft choice from Louisiana Tech. "The veterans are coming so I have to turn it up a notch and know what I’m doing."

Most of the players on the field were rookies, but veteran quarterbacks Koy Detmer and Mike McMahon, along with Andy Hall, who spent last season on the practice squad, also worked out.

McMahon, who played the previous four seasons for the Detroit Lions, is looking to battle Detmer for the backup job behind Donovan McNabb.

Despite those subplots, the main story continues to be Owens, who complained about his contract throughout the off-season and hasn’t promised to be a model citizen in camp.

Owens also made some less-than-flattering references perceived to be about Donovan McNabb; many feel the players’ differences will have to be patched up.

Despite the so-called distraction, Eagles offensive coordinator Brad Childress said he anticipates no friction between Owens and his teammates. Childress said he hasn’t talked to Owens during the offseason. He said he doesn’t believe the fact that Owens missed minicamps will put him behind others.

"I don’t believe so," Childress said. "He’s been doing this system for a long time. … He’s savvy enough that he will be able to pick those up."