BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- The Eagles are in their full gear this morning for the first time at training camp. It's go time -- well, at least not for everyone. Cornerback Asante Samuel (hamstring), tackle Jason Peters (quad), defensive tackle Trevor Laws (hamstring) and cornerback Macho Harris (ankle) are still not ready to practice. The four are working out with the training staff as they did yesterday.

Tackle Shawn Andrews, who had his back tighten up on him after yesterday's conditioning run, is not on the field. He worked out inside yesterday and appears to be doing the same today.

Running back Brian Westbrook (ankle) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (strained pectoral muscle) continue their rehab work with the Eagles trainers.

UPDATE: During one-one-one drills, Kevin Curtis apparently injured himself. The wide receiver, who had off-season surgery to correct a sports hernia, was matched up with cornerbacker Sheldon Brown and came up lame. Curtis limped off the field not long after and wasn't around for "live" hitting.

UPDATE, PART TWO: Andy Reid said that Curtis had a thigh bruise.

Also, the Eagles announced that the private memorial service for long-time Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson will be held on Friday, August 7 at 2 pm. The service will take place inside the West Club of Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. At the family’s request, the memorial service will be by invitation only. Johnson passed away on Tuesday, July 28, after a courageous battle with melanoma.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid has canceled both practices scheduled for training camp that day.

Donations made in his honor can be directed to:

Jim Johnson Melanoma Research Fund
c/o Tricia Bruning
Abramson Cancer Center
3535 Market Street
Suite 750
Philadelphia, PA  19104
www.pennmedicine.org\abramson

Darrius Heyward-Bey has reportedly signed a contract with the Raiders. With the first wide receiver taken in the draft finally inked to a deal does that mean the Eagles can finally agree to terms with their top pick, wideout Jeremy Maclin?

Eagles coach Andy Reid said today that there was nothing new in the Maclin negotiations. Team consultant Andrew Brandt confirmed this, but said both sides would probably meet again tonight. The Eagles have been hamstrung by the fact that they start camp earlier than most teams and thus had to wait until the dominoes of signing top picks dropped one by one.

Heyward-Bey's signing could move things along. After Heyward-Bey, there is only Michael Crabtree ahead of Maclin in terms of draft order. According to the Associated Press, Heyward-Bey's contract guarantees the rookie at least $23.5 million.

Reid, meanwhile, was a little more direct today in what he had to say about Maclin, who has now missed four days of camp. The team starts full-contact practices tomorrow.

“You can’t buy back that time," Reid said. "He’s going to have to be playing a catch-up game. It’s important that he’s here, that’s the bottom line.”

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- Good news: the Eagles are near complete -- minus Jeremy Maclin -- for the first full-squad practice of training camp here at Lehigh. Bad news: three of the veterans that just reported last night are apparently ailing.

Cornerback Asante Samuel, tackle Jason Peters and defensive tackle Trevor Laws are dressed working out with the Eagles athletic training staff, but they are helmetless and apparently not going to practice today. The exact nature of their injuries won't be disclosed until after practice when coach Andy Reid gives an injury update.

Cornerback Macho Harris was also part of the foursome going through exercises with the training staff. The rookie participated in practice yesterday morning and even had an interception, but he must have dinged something. Brandon Gibson was absent from practice yesterday, but the rookie wideout is back. The nature of his injury was unknown as of last night.

Running back Brian Westbrook (ankle) and defensive end Victor Abiamiri (strained pectoral muscle), meanwhile, continue to rehab with head athletic trainer Rick Burkholder.

Also, Shawn Andrews is missing from practice. The tackle reported for camp last night, but he's not here today. His brother, Stacy, did not line up with the first team offensive line. The guard is recovering from off-season knee surgery and doesn't look like he's just that ready to go full out.

UPDATE: Most of the injured players mentioned above hurt themselves during this morning's closed conditioning session. Shawn Andrews didn't attend the afternoon practice after he suffered back spasms. Peters had a quad spasm. Samuel and Laws strained hamstrings. And Harris suffered a slight high ankle sprain on the last play of yesterday's practice. He also had his right forearm taped.

Westbrook, Abiamiri, Shawn Andrews, Peters, Samuel and Laws were placed on the active physically unable to perform (PUP) list today, Reid said. They can be taken off the list at any time during camp, but must be on that list if they were to be considered for the reserve PUP list before the season.

Check back for further updates.

The Eagles' biggest celebrity just checked in for the start of training camp.

No, not quarterback Donovan McNabb or running Brian Westbrook. They were here Sunday.

Not Asante Samuel either, although the cornerback has arrived.

We're talking about wide receiver Hank Baskett, the husband of Kendra Wilkinson, former Playboy Playmate and current star of the reality TV show Kendra. Baskett has had his share of appearances on the show.

Baskett, who arrived here four years ago as an undrafted free agent, still doesn't like the notion of being called a celebrity, but he does like the idea of being known as a husband and father-to-be.

"I'm not celebrity," Baskett said. "That's how it has been from the get-go. That's one thing we got out there from the start. She's the celebrity. I'm a football player ... I did it to support her. It took her a while to talk me into doing it."

Baskett and Wilkinson were married last month in Los Angeles and now they are expecting their first child at Christmas time.

"We're going to find out the sex of the baby the last day of training camp," Baskett said.

Baskett, in his fourth season, could be hard-pressed to make the final roster. He is one of 11 receivers in camp. DeSean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant appear to be locks to make the team, leaving Baskett to battle for the final two spots with veteran Reggie Brown and rookie Brandon Gibson.

"As a rookie, you're really fighting to make the team," Baskett said. "But from your rookie year on, once that's over, you're just fighting for a spot. Just because you came in fighting for a spot, now you have guys coming in and trying to get your spot. If I slack off just one bit, they brought in Jeremy and Brandon."

MACLIN UPDATE

Negotiations between the Eagles and Maclin's agent Jim Steiner continued today, but as of right now it seems unlikely that the first-round draft pick will be on hand for coach Andy Reid's 7 p.m. meeting.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- This morning's practice here at Lehigh officially ended the portion of training camp designed to get rookies -- and few selected veterans -- in the flow of training camp before the rest of the squad reports. It was a rather uneventful three days -- as it normally is on the field -- but the action should heat up with the arrival of vets this afternoon. They are expected to start checking into their dorms around 3 p.m. and should all be here by the 7 p.m. team meeting.

Cornerback Sheldon Brown, who created a stir in the off-season over his contract, is expected to be here. So are all of the remaining vets.

Here are a few observations, however, from practices with rookies:

-- Defensive back Macho Harris looked significantly better than he had during minicamp. The rookie was sick a few times in the spring, but he raised some eyebrows with his play in Lehigh. He had another interception today during 7 on 7 drills.

-- Tight end Cornelius Ingram hasn't held back on a left knee that is still wrapped. Even though Ingram has yet to get hit -- in fact, it's been almost 18 months since he's donned pads -- the Florida product looks as good as billed.

-- LeSean McCoy is getting plenty of reps, but there are still plenty of unknowns about the rookie running back. "He's still working through some things, but he's a really bright young man" offensive coordinator  Marty Mornhinweg said today. "I do think by, let's say the middle of training camp, he should be pretty comfortable."

-- Jeremy Maclin is still not in camp as his contract negotiations drag on. If he's not here by Friday, then you can start panicking. "I'd normally talk about the players that are here, however, in general, it's my experience with rookies that help a ball club -- or helped the club that I've been on -- they've missed very, very little," Mornhuinweg said. "It's just a big advantage to be at every practice."

Some other notes off today:

-- Rookie wide receiver Brandon Gibson was not at practice. Mornhinweg didn't have an exact reason for his absence, although it sounds injury related. "They are doing some tests right now, so I don't have details on that," he said. "Maybe he's back tomorrow, maybe he's not."

-- Donovan McNabb was not at practice. The quarterback is usually given the third day off of the rookie session.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- With his blue eyes glistening, Sean McDermott reflected on the death of his mentor, Jim Johnson, today at training camp.

A day after the former Eagles defensive coordinator succumed to an eight-month battle with cancer, the new defensive coordinator in Philadelphia remembered the man that taught him the game and taught him to "be a good person."

"I got a text [message] last night from a friend," McDermott said. "It said, 'It's apparent that the good Lord up above needed the best defensive coordinator up in heaven with him.'" 

McDermott is just one of Johnson's students to go on to greater success. Four of the assistants that worked under Johnson with the Eagles eventually became coordinators; two -- John Harbaugh and Steve Spagnuolo -- would become head coaches.

"You look at the family tree he put out there and there's a reason why we've been successful," McDermott said. "It doesn't come back all to us and what we've done."

McDermott said he received the news prior to a team meeting. By the time he got out of the meeting he had messages from all those "brothers that we had, if you will. ... Everyone was checking on everyone else to make sure everyone was doing OK. And that's the way Jim would have wanted it," McDermott said.

Johnson was diagnosed with metastasized melanoma in December. The cancer spread to his spine, but the Eagles did not make his illness public until after the NFC championship in January.

"There were very few of us who knew and that's the way Jim would have wanted it," McDermott said. He thought back to after the title game when the Eagles fell to Arizona. "I remember sitting next to Jim -- both kind of having our head in our hand -- and wishing it would have went differently, obviously. There's nothing I would have wanted more than for Jim to call one more game," McDermott said.

Johnson was granted a leave of absence in May as he continued his fight. McDermott was then named the interim coordinator. That tag was lifted on Saturday when the La Salle High product was announced as Johnson's successor. Johnson died three days later at the age of 68.

The loss of Johnson hovered over yesterday's morning practice. Late last night the Eagles spray painted the initials "JJ" in large white letters on the small hill just beyond one of the fields. Fans set up an impromptu memorial also with Johnson's initials painted on the grass near the entrance to the stands that line the practice fields. There were also signs: "Our Good Friend Gone Too Soon. RIP JJ" read one.

We're taught in journalism school to be objective about the people we cover on a daily basis.

Some people we encounter, however, make that rule impossible to follow.

Jim Johnson was one of those people.

Six months ago I used this space to say that I was cheering from the press box for the Eagles' defensive coordinator to beat cancer. I said I'd gladly give him a standing ovation if he did so.

We found out early last evening that Johnson, like so many others, had lost his battle with metastatic melanoma.

This morning, I give Jim Johnson a standing ovation anyway because I know even more about the man than I did before yesterday.

As I was driving home from Lehigh University late last night, I received a couple of e-mails from Johnson's distant past.

One was from a man named Joe Johnson. Jim Johnson had recruited him to play at Notre Dame, then later coached him again with the Jacksonville Bulls of the USFL. Joe Johnson hadn't forgotten Jim Johnson.

A half-hour later, another e-mail appeared from Mac Brand, who was recruited by Johnson to play at Drake University in the 1970s.

Many years passed, but these men never forgot Jim Johnson's impact on their lives.

As I made my 90-minute ride home, I thought about how cool it must be to have that kind of influence.

I already knew, of course, that Jim Johnson was a great coach. Plenty of statistics support that fact.

I also knew he was a tremendous man from my personal encounters with Johnson. The last one came a few months ago when Johnson courageously tried to continue coaching through his chemotherapy treatments at the Eagles' post-draft camp.

Jim and I made eye contact after a Saturday morning practice at the NovaCare Complex. I smiled and told him how good it was to see him.

He smiled back.

"It's good to see you," he said.

I could tell he meant it. I could tell how happy he was to be coaching football, too.

It says on Jackie Robinson's tombstone that "a life is not important except in the impact it has on other lives."

Jim Johnson's life was incredibly important. 

BETHLEHEM, Pa. -- With word of Jim Johnson's passing, the respects and rememberances of the former Eagles defensive coordinator poured in  from around the NFL. A sampling:

Eagles chairman Jeffrey Lurie: “For ten years, Jim Johnson was an exceptional coach for the Philadelphia Eagles, but more importantly, he was an outstanding human being. As an integral part of the Eagles family, Jim epitomized the traits of what a great coach should be – a teacher, a leader, and a winner. He positively touched the lives of so many people in and out of the Eagles organization. It was easy to feel close to him. Our hearts go out to his wife, Vicky and his wonderful family. We will miss him greatly.”

Eagles president Joe Banner: “This is a sad day for the entire Philadelphia Eagles family. Jim Johnson was first and foremost a friend and our hearts are with his family at this difficult time.  Jim was an exceptional coach who had an incredible passion for his work. He had a knack for developing young players into mature, focused and responsible men. Jim was a strong, wise man; absolutely dedicated to his family and friends. While his presence will be missed, his legacy of excellence will be felt for years to come.”

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell: “Jim Johnson was a beloved coach who spent 22 years in the NFL as one of the best defensive coaches in league history.  He was a teacher to many players both on and off the field and devoted his life to the game of football.  He had a positive influence on scores of young men and leaves behind a wonderful legacy.  On behalf of the NFL family, we extend our deepest sympathies to his wife Vicky and his children and grandchildren.”

Ravens head coach John Harbaugh:  “I loved Jim Johnson. This is a sad day for so many people who were touched by this great man. Ingrid and I, the Harbaugh family, and the Ravens have Jim’s wife, Vicky, and the Johnson family in our thoughts and prayers. Jim was a tremendous teacher of football and life. He had a special ability to bring out the best in people while getting you to see the best in yourself. He saw potential and developed it. He made me believe I could coach at this level. In football, he was a pioneering and brilliant strategist, changing the way defense is played in the NFL. For me, he was a father-type mentor, and above all, a cherished friend. He belongs in the Hall of Fame. I will miss him so much.”

N.Y. Jets head coach Rex Reed:  "He’s one of the best who ever coached. I can’t tell you how much I appreciated him as a coach. There are a few coaches that I really respect -- he certainly is one of them, the way he mixes up with his schemes and brings pressures. He did a lot of my dad’s [former Eagles head coach Buddy Ryan] stuff and mixed it up. We're doing things now, overload pressures, that kind of thing, that he did. Any time you do something well, people are going to try to copy it. But the original guy, the innovator, is always the best. The imitator is never as good."

Giants head coach Tom Coughlin: “It is a sad, very sad, day. I talked recently to (Eagles video director) Mike Dougherty and asked him to let Jim know that I was thinking about him, and I had dropped Jim a note to let him know as well. Forget about what kind of coach he was…he was an excellent, excellent defensive coach, and he trained others to be the same. We know what Steve Spagnuolo meant to us. We had great respect for Jim, and he had great respect for us. I didn’t know Jim personally, but we would always talk to each other, mostly about the NFC East and what a great, competitive division it is. It was a respectful critique about what great players, coaches and organizations there are within the division. In talking with people who worked with Jim, you sense what a class act Jim was. He was great to work with and for, and he had his priorities in order. His players loved to play for him and his coaches loved to coach with him. It is a sad day for the National Football League to lose somebody the quality of Jim Johnson. It is a sad note on which to start the season. He coached right up to the very end.”

Broncos safety Brian Dawkins: “This is a sad, sad day for myself and my Philadelphia family. Jim was tailor-made to coach in Philadelphia. He was a tough coach who wasn’t afraid to let you know how he was feeling, but at the same time, he cared about us deeply. He was an absolute blessing to me with the way he used me on the football field and allowed me to show my God-given ability. His confidence in me meant so much—he looked to create new defenses each week to utilize my talents. I have been praying for him every day, and those prayers won’t stop now. I’ll be praying for his family and their comfort during this difficult time.”

Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo: “My wife Maria and I are deeply saddened to hear of Jim’s passing.  He was a dear friend and a special person.  Our prayers and thoughts go out to his wife Vicki and their family. Jim meant the world to me, both personally and professionally.  I am very blessed to have had the privilege to work for him and with him.  The NFL has lost a good man.”

Chargers defensive coordinator Ron Rivera: “Jim was most certainly a very good man; a very decent man.  He was definitely a mentor, not just for me but for several guys in the league right now that are coordinators and head coaches.  He was just a real caring person.  He gave me my start and my opportunity.  He took the time to teach me. I’m extremely grateful for everything he did for me."

49ers head coach Mike Singletary: “I would like to express, from the 49ers organization, my condolences to the Johnson family and the Eagles family, from the 49ers family. Everything that I know about Coach Johnson, is he is from the old school. He had a way of doing things and some of the people, players, coaches that know of him, speak very highly of him.”

From the Eagles:

The Philadelphia Eagles are saddened to announce Jim Johnson has passed away this afternoon at the age of 68 after a courageous battle with cancer.

Eagles president Joe Banner and head coach Andy Reid will be available to the media at approximately 7 pm tonight in the media tent adjacent to the practice fields at Lehigh University.

A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in National Football League history. Over the last decade, he gained a great deal of notoriety as the orchestrator of the renowned Eagles defense. His aggressive style kept Philadelphia at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category since joining Andy Reid’s staff on January 22, 1999.

From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked 2nd in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).

As the Eagles defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Asante Samuel (1), Trent Cole (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).

Four of his defensive assistants have gone on to successful careers with other NFL franchises: Steve Spagnuolo (head coach of the St. Louis Rams), John Harbaugh (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), Ron Rivera (defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers) and Leslie Frazier (defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings).

Prior to his tenure in Philadelphia, Johnson served as the linebackers coach with Seattle in 1998. That year, Johnson helped the Seahawks register 10 touchdowns on defense, including eight interceptions returned for scores, 2nd most in NFL history. He arrived in Seattle after a four-year stint in Indianapolis, the last two as defensive coordinator. While with the Colts, Johnson helped them secure a berth in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh in 1995.

Johnson spent eight seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (1986-93). After overseeing the Cards defensive line for four seasons, Johnson excelled as their secondary coach, helping Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interceptions (6) since 1981.

Johnson began his coaching career as head coach at Missouri Southern (1967-68), before serving four-year tenures at Drake and Indiana. From 1977-83, Johnson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Notre Dame, a stint that included a national championship in 1977.

An all-conference quarterback himself at Missouri (where he played in the same backfield with long-time NFL executive Bill Tobin), Johnson went on to spend two seasons with Buffalo as a tight end (1963-64).

A native of Maywood, IL, Johnson (born 5/26/41) earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in physical education from Missouri.

Johnson is survived by his wife, Vicky, two children, Scott and Michelle, and four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, and Jax.