The reports of the Eagles bringing in veteran running back Warrick Dunn are premature because the play of Lorenzo Booker will decide whether the Eagles bring him in or not.
Booker has three or four practices to prove to the Eagles that they made a good decision in bringing him here.
I just shake my head when I hear people talk about how boring training camp is. I think it's exciting because there's nothing more thrilling in professional sports than do or die situations.
I think Booker is in that situation. My eyes will be on him when he steps up into the 9 on 7 run drill. Reid and his staff will be looking for some toughness.
Will he go down at the immediate split-second which he is hit? Will he get tripped up by a blade of grass or blown over by a gust of wind? Can he hit the hole with some authority?
Does he have "enough rocks in his pockets" to step into the path of an onrushing 250-pound linebacker and stop him from getting to the quarterback?
He must show that he's strong enough to break a tackle. Booker has to prove he's not just a good 7 on 7 passing drill running back, who can play two-handed touch football.
If he fails the test and the Birds are sure he can't handle the physical part of the game, they'll be on the phone to Dunn or one of the other veteran running backs who are available.
Booker's every move is going to be analyzed from the time he steps on the field. He knows the situation, it's do or die and it's exciting.
There's more. He won't be operating under civilian court parameters, where you're innocent until proven guilty. He'll be operating under military court paremeters, where you're guilty until proven innocent.
In football terms that means, Booker was given the benefit of the doubt last year, but this time around he will be presumed not good enough to play in the NFL unless he proves other wise.
I don't think that's boring.
