McCoy basking in glow of Pro Bowl atmosphere

KAPOLEI, Hawaii - This is how Twitter wars can start.

But, thankfully, when more than 140 characters are available, the comment Seahawks safety Earl Thomas made about Eagles running back LeSean McCoy after yesterday's Pro Bowl practice can be explained in the proper context and understood with proper perspective.

"He's like a Pop Warner running back," Thomas said of McCoy, his teammate on the NFC squad.

But wait, there's more. It's meant as a compliment.

"I say that because he's very quick," Thomas added. "In Pop Warner, there's always that offensive player that is faster than everyone else on his team, reversing his field a lot and using his quickness very well."

McCoy, the third-year pro in his first Pro Bowl, displayed some of that speed in jetting to a bus after a 1-hour practice at Kapolei High School. The fan and media crush that engulfed Cam Newton, Larry Fitzgerald and Jared Allen gave McCoy a clear route to the transportation.

The ankle sprain that kept him out of the Eagles' last regular-season game and a shot at the league rushing title didn't slow him.

"It's still a little sore, but it will be fine. I'll be good to play Sunday," McCoy said before taking off.

Many Pro Bowl veterans have begged out of the game for much less. But as a first-timer in the Pro Bowl, McCoy wasn't going to miss it, especially since this might be the last one in Hawaii for a while. (Sunday's game at Aloha Stadium is the last under the current contract between the NFL and the state of Hawaii).

"I plan on relaxing a lot this week with my family, just relaxing and enjoying the islands," he said. "Nothing specific yet, but I am looking forward to it."

McCoy rushed for 1,309 yards on 273 carries with 17 touchdowns. He caught 48 passes for 315 yards and three more scores, a very nice follow-up to 2010, when, in his second season as a pro and first as a starter, McCoy ran for 1,080 yards.

Thomas and the Seahawks beat the Eagles, 31-14, on Dec. 1, but McCoy scored both Eagles touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. He rushed 17 times for 84 yards and caught five passes for 49.

"When we played them, we had a very hard time game-planning them, a lot of it because of LeSean," Thomas said. "That was a game that [quarterback Michael] Vick didn't play. But even though we could focus more on LeSean, he had a good game. He's definitely earned his spot in this game."

Packers coach Mike McCarthy is leading the NFC squad. He's happy to have McCoy in his offense rather than having to figure out how to slow him down.

"He's a dynamic running back," McCarthy said. "Being a Pittsburgh native, I followed his college career at Pitt and watched his transition to the NFL. He's definitely a special player."

Of course, McCoy would rather be with his Eagles teammates getting ready for the Super Bowl in Indianapolis. But this is the next-best thing.

The next few days will be sunny for "Shady."

"I'm honored and humbled to be here," McCoy said. "I get to enjoy the weather, and I'm getting to meet some really great players and people from around the league."