It's Mr. Mudd's wild ride

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - There have been injuries, fights, and even great sorrow during Eagles training camp, but there has been a moment of child-like joy almost every day at Lehigh University.

It happens near the end of practice, when a runaway utility cart is barreling down one of the empty fields as the sun makes its descent over the Appalachian hills and at its command is a 71-year old coach.

Howard Mudd's cart (a.k.a. "The Muddmobile") has been an omnipresent part of training camp the last two years. Because the venerable offensive-line coach has two balky knees from his playing days and a degenerative hip, coach Andy Reid has allowed him to use the cart.

Last camp, Mudd had a driver he often would bark at. This year, he just took over the controls and has motored himself from drill to drill. But at the end of almost every practice, he has escorted another coach off the fields - a ride the coach probably regrets.

Mudd has zoomed through a muddy dip just short of the locker rooms that has doused almost every passenger. Each time, Mudd can be heard laughing. One day it was Duce Staley, another it was Jim Washburn.

On Monday, Marty Mornhinweg took the ride. As the cart hit top speed and neared the mud pit, Mornhinweg braced himself with his foot on the dash. But rather than splash through, Mudd slowed the cart to a near stop and inched his way through the pit.

He still laughed.

Aside from the blow that injured cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha, the Eagles did not have any more injuries Monday.

Wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was a full participant for the first time since he injured his hamstring Thursday night. Linebacker Jamar Chaney (hamstring) took part in only a portion of the afternoon practice, as did running back Dion Lewis (hamstring).

Cornerback Curtis Marsh (hamstring), linebacker Clay Matthews (ankle), and guard Brandon Washington (concussion) did not practice.

Former Pro Bowl tackle Tra Thomas will sign a one-day contract with the Eagles on Thursday to retire as a member of the franchise with which he spent 11 seasons.

Thomas, the No. 11 overall pick in the 1998 draft, earned three Pro Bowl bids and was selected as the starting left tackle on the Eagles' 75th anniversary team.

"Tra Thomas is one of the best offensive linemen to ever put on an Eagles uniform," team owner Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. "He was an anchor at the left-tackle position for many years and played such an integral role in our success, though he probably never got all the credit he deserved."

In 2010, quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver DeSean Jackson connected on a number of long passing scores. Last year, that didn't happen so much, as teams took away the deep ball. The Eagles offense has been working on many things at camp, but its long game seemed to be neglected.

But on Monday, Vick and Jackson hooked up on a 60-yard touchdown during team drills.

There are three preseason games to play, but undrafted rookie wide receiver Damaris Johnson is making it very hard for the Eagles not to keep him on their 53-man roster.

"You have seen his athleticism, quickness, ball skills, these types of things," Mornhinweg said. "He can make plays and he's quite dynamic. His challenge is playing at that high level on a consistent basis, so I'm looking for that consistency out of him."