McNabb Redskins Jersey Guy Rocks Kolb in PM
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
McNabb Redskins Jersey Guy Rocks Kolb in PM
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
BETHLEHEM -- Eagles fan Jim Devlin, the guy Eagles security asked to take off his Donovan McNabb Redskins jersey during the morning session of training camp, appeared for the afternoon practice wearing a red No. 4 Eagles Kevin Kolb practice jersey.
Devlin, of King of Prussia, said he bought the Kolb jersey during lunch break, from the souvenir stand. He said he'd intended to buy a Kolb jersey at some point, and figured this was as good a time as any.
Devlin seemed taken aback by the media stir he'd caused. He spent much of the afternoon practice talking to Eagles spokesman Derek Boyko and security official Dom DiSandro.
In the morning, Devlin said DiSandro told him coach Andy Reid wanted the jersey removed. Boyko later said Reid in fact had not noticed the jersey, that DiSandro was invoking Reid's general feelings, and not acting on a specific request.
Boyko said the Eagles don't have a hard-and-fast policy on such things, but that credentialied guests, as opposed to people who just come and sit in the stands, are supposed to be screened at their entry onto the field at Lehigh, and that the wearing of other teams' jerseys is discouraged.
Devlin was on the sideline on a guest pass, provided by friend Frank Deutchki, of Schwenksville, who accompanied him. Devlin said he was surprised by the whole scene, but emphasized there were no hard feelngs.
"I wasn't trying to make a statement, I was just trying to get a reaction out of the fans," said Devlin, who said he understood the organization's "business decision" to part with McNabb in April, and likes what he has seen from Kolb.
Devlin, who said he bought the jersey about a month ago, said he wore it to the Phils-Mets game Sunday, drawing scattered notices of disapproval from other fans. He said he wasn't expecting to draw reaction from the Eagles
"If you're (running) training camp, something like that, you're probably focused on other things -- I'd probably be worried about these guys (pointing toward the players) than all of these guys (the fans and media)," he said.
It was Devlin's first visit to training camp. He said if he'd known it would be a problem, he would have bought and worn a Stewart Bradley jersey.
After the forced removal, Deutchki carried the jersey in a plastic bag, with Devlin wearing a red T-shirt.
Fans here and there have worn Eagles McNabb jerseys at this camp without incident.
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On the field, tight end Brent Celek (illness) did not practice in the morning session, which was not conducted in pads or with hitting. Celek returned for the afternoon. He said he'd eaten cheesecake the night before that had set out too long.
Cornelius Ingram, back at full speed after time off earlier this week, and Clay Harbor took snaps with the first team in Celek's absence.
Running back Mike Bell also took part in the workouts. Defensive tackle Antonio Dixon, who has been out with a concussion, returned for the afternoon practice after missing the morning.
Center Nick Cole and cornerback Macho Harris remain sidelined.
Kicker David Akers returned to the morning practice after missing the last two days.
*Kolb beat an all-out blitz with a flip over the top to an uncovered Shady McCoy.
*Next blitz, Trevor Laws and Trent Cole got into Kolb's face, batting down his pass attempt.
*Kelley Washington blocked a Ken Parrish punt.
*Asante Sanuel jumped a DeSean Jackson route and knocked the ball away.
***
Todd Herremans declined further comment on Tweetgate. Herremans took down a Tweet and apologized after opining that the third season of True Blood unleashed a "barrage of homosexuality."
Jeremy Maclin, not surprisingly, was displeased by the huge deal some media outlets made of whatever his apparently minor on-field argument with DeSean Jackson was about. Maclin decried the tendency of people to invent a narrative, when, in fact, no one overheard what was said.
"It wasn't a big deal," Maclin said. "It wasn't anything."
Maclin sent this Tweet to Jackson yesterday evening: "Reporters lookin to start somethin ... funny how that works ... riding all day."
Yesterday, I went to the Redskins practice wearing my #5 EAGLES jersey. Many fans heckled the Green Jersey, and a few inquired as to what were we (the Eagles) thinking, about the trade. They love MCNABB, and the fan base is excited to see him play.— vapoppop
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i'm no big mcnabb fan, but it was a big selling jersey. i'm sure there are millions out there. for years all i had was a mamula jersey. in case the eagles didn't notice a GIANT recession happening whilst they were busy spending our millions, it costs a lot for new jerseys. and with players coming and going for so long now, it's hard to buy a new jersey every dang year. if they eagles were huge aholios about this, they shoulda given him a kolb jersey then. p.s. i just got a desean jackson jersey. so the birds better keep him for at least the next 6-8 years or i'm gonna show up in my old jersey. i wonder if the eagles will make me take off my bill bergey jersey. this is not some classless act like wearing a lebron MIAMI jersey at a cleveland game to incite a riot. mcnabb was pushed out.— Evilvet- Shouldn't have worn it on the sidelines, or he should have known somebody was going to tell him to take it off. I have an Eagle's Trotter jersey and Westbrook jersey and I'm sure both would have been fine, but at Training camp for the team, even more so than a game, you support the team practicing or don't be there. I didn't want to see McNabb gone, but he is, move on, and support the current players. If you want to wear a Redskin's jersey, go to their camp.— Bleue
- The Eagles are feeling very insecure, if they care about the clothing that fans wear. Let your football performance speak for you.— Reinholds
- evilet, it was a skin's jersey, he had to have just bought it, your bad economy argument is useless if he just bought it...— Bleue
- "they sell a guy a shirt and then don't let them wear it. What the hell are you talking about? Read the article at least before posting you nitwit.— BallsDeep
If he was invited guest to an Eagles practice and showed up in any other jersey, he was just being a wise guy and should have been put on the field as a tackling dummy. Why deny him the full experience of watching the action up closely?- So it's the case of the provacateur vs.the control freak; next on the peoples court. I've already changed the channel.— Rick Wise Guy
- It isn't that it was a McNabb Jersey that is the problem, it is that it is a Redskin Jersey that is the problem. I have no problem with this. He disrespected the Eagles Nation.— ChrisM
- Hey Milkey,I'm guessin it was an old Eagles #5 jersey he was wearin otherwise he woulden't have made it on campus let alone the sideline.— Wave1
Good for Andy. The guy's a guest, of the EAGLES, on the sideline. He should NOT be wearing a McChuckles Skins jersey. It's as bad as holding up a "go cowboys" sign.— Richard Saunders- In related news, Mr. Devlin, in an angry fit of rage after being told to remove his McNabb jersey, attempted to fire a water bottle at Coach Reid. However, any concerns over injury to Mr. Reid were alleviated when the water bottle bounced three yards in front of him.— toccheyhockey
- Sigh. Here's an idea, Reid... do what the Phillies do and just WIN a championship for once.— KDH
- tshirt, shmeeshirt, wth. Concentrate on dumping vick!!— bucky95
