Doug Pederson’s Eagles will practice like it’s 1999

Jul 22, 2016

PHILADELPHIA — There is one small problem with Doug Pederson’s attempt to recreate Andy Reid’s 1999 launch of his tenure as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It isn’t 1999.

In the years since Reid took over as head coach of the Eagles, the NFL has tightened the rules governing training camp and regular-season practices. Coaches simply can’t practice as often or be as physically demanding as they used to be.

While Pederson intends to follow the rules, he also made it clear that he plans to adhere as closely as possible to Reid’s training methods.

“Why do I believe in hitting?” Pederson said last month. “It’s a physical game. It’s football. It’s tackle football. I think the only way you can properly fit offensively and defensively, you have to put the pads on and you have to hit.”

In 1999, Reid opened his first training camp with a grueling stretch of two-a-day practices in full pads. That approach, which became known as “three days of hell,” lasted for a few years. In ’99, nine players missed practice time because of dehydration in the first week.

“I think the …

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