Babin Found Missing OTAs Unbearable
Jason Babin was brown bear hunting in Alaska. He planned to return for the start of the Eagles' current OTA last week, but bad weather intervened. He's here now.
Babin Found Missing OTAs Unbearable
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Jason Babin was bear hunting in Cold Bay, Alaska, when the Eagles began full-team OTAs last week, as previously reported. But Babin said Wednesday he'd intended to be back at NovaCare in time for the start of the optional workouts; bad weather pinned him down in a remote spot, where he and a hunting guide had to extend their stay several days.
"When the weather blows in, you don't have a lot of options," Babin said after arriving for his first OTA session, on a humid morning in sprinkling rain. "There were times when the tent bent in so hard, the tent was in our sleeping bags. There was snow drifting over."
Babin said he was upset he missed last week's action, though coaches didn't seem upset. "I don't miss stuff. I'm not late," he said.
Babin went to Alaska to hunt brown bear. Saw some, didn't end up shooting any, he said. "Didn't see the one I wanted," he said.
So what'd he do, mostly?
"Survived," he said. "You've got to pack in your food, which are freeze-dried meals. You got to hike up a glacier with snowshoes to get your water. You gotta boil it. If you fall through and get wet while out hiking, no one's gonna come dry you off with a towel. You've got to survive on your wits ... Some of the most extreme climates in the U.S."
After OTAs are over and before training camp, Babin has another adventure planned, he said. He wants to run with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Babin doesn't think he'll get gored.
"Bulls can't turn the corner on cobblestone. As long as you're on the inside, you're going to be all right,' he said. "I broke the tape down like game film."
***
Defensive tackle Mike Patterson, still recovering from surgery to untangle blood vessels in his brain, worked off to the side Wednesday with safety Colt Anderson, who is rehabbing his ACL.
Patterson said it would be up to Eagles coach Andy Reid to say whether Patterson will be ready for training camp in two months, but he said: "I have a feeling we'll be ready to go. It'll be exciting and we'll see what happens."
Patterson said the scary brain episode hasn't changed his thinking about football.
"I still have the same fire in my stomach...I still have the same excitement. Every time I go out on the field I get excited," he said.
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I like Jason Babin as a player, but he is an idiot. Why not wait until your career is over to run with the bulls? You have a multi-million contract and you are going to put it at risk?— Timo3004- I was thinking the same thing Timo304.— dragoon6
- A man has to do what "he has to do", just sayin'...— DJ
- Babin takes ' chances ' , likes to take risks ,, that's what makes him the player he is ... we just need him to stay in one piece ..— ingy9
- Babin takes ' chances ' , likes to take risks ,, that's what makes him the player he is ... we just need him to stay in one piece ..— ingy9
Comment removed.- He is a free man. Babin can do whatever he pleases as long as he can show up for work when needed. Unless his hobbies are interferring with work, I have no problems with him hunting bears or running with bulls.— penncrow19
- No, actually he CAN'T do whatever he pleases as long as he's under contract to the Eagles. Many teams write clauses into contracts that players can't engage in certain activities that could injure them. Look at Jason Peters as a perfect example. He was working out getting ready for the season, which IS football related, but he wasn't doing it at a team-sanctioned facility, so his pay was cut severely for this season. That's actually part of the CBA. — uncle meat
- HERE WE GO....all talk until the season actually starts— bbewsirhc
- Running with the bulls is still smarter than riding without a helmet... I'm looking at you, Big Ben!— operagost
- That right there is a Michigan Man.— dansdigs
- i'm sure there is something in his contract about that stuff. if he's injured outside of football, he wont get paid.— palmyra21
- Typical roid rager. This guy just likes to thump his chest at the "manly" things he does. What a clown.— Trashcan_Man
- The Big Brown Bear he wanted to shoot was Andy— SkipinWV
- So why is this any different than dog fighting? Where are all the "supposed" animal lovers who condemned Vick with such ferocity? Last I looked, bears aren't food. They aren't needed for clothing. They just walk around the woods helping to keep the deer population down. But I guess it's okay because the law says it is. Oh, and bears don't wag their tails and lick your face when you come home from work. Just remember this the next time some poster self righteously pounds their chest about how evil Vick is.— Hemingway
- Timo - My thought is your only young once and there is a chance that he might not be able to do that kind of stuff when he is older. Got cash when your young you know the story.— JL68
- Ok cool just be ready to roll this yr Babin n play the run a little on your way to the QB pls...thanx !!!— diehardeagle
- Bears do not help keep the deer population down. Imagine bears hunting down deer. Oh and they absolutely ARE food. Ask any Alaskan. They eat tons of bear. Silly. Hilarious. Whoever posted that, you need to get out in the woods. btw, Electrocuting dogs and hunting bear are not even in the same galaxy. I'd much rather have my players out in the woods than in a bar or club.— DigroJones
- man, Hemmingway, I read your comment again and I'm just shaking my head. "Last I looked, bears aren't food... They just walk around the woods helping to keep deer population down". !!!!!! Seriously?? Apparently the last time you looked was never. Do you even know what a bear is? Let's try to stick to football related posts on this Philadelphia Eagles page and leave commenting on animal behavior to people who know what bears eat.— DigroJones
- Here come the keyboard sages...— IgglesFan79
- @Hemingway. Well said... clearly other deeper issues exist...the expressed level of hate towards Vick, that is professed by some here. the dog killer thing is a "COVER."... The ISSUES that some express here are a whole lot more serious than being about " A DIE Hard" fan. Vick was made an example... punished like no other before him. His persecution continues even after serving the maximum sentence ever for said crime. Reid will forever have my respect for his compassion in giving Mike a second chance. Not many had the "STONES" to face that Vick challenge. Interesting the lack of passion here for other helpless creatures that get slaughtered Legally and for Profit. To each his own, in the end each of us are responsible for our actions— trinieagle
