Another Prodigal Son

My brother called me last night about 10:30 pm. “You’ll never believe who the Eagles got,” he asked. “A former player…like Trotter,” he hinted. Now as I tried to answer the question of which prodigal son had returned, a surprisingly long list of names came to mind: John Welbourn, Duce Staley, Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, etc.. To be honest, it took me a couple of guesses to get Hugh Douglas. He’s only been away one season, but it seems much longer than that.

Perhaps the bigger shock of the Eagles re-acquiring their former star D-end, is the fact that Jacksonville waived Douglas only one year after signing the big multi-year contract. They will take a cap hit of $3.6 million next year on Douglas’ pro-rated signing bonus. Reports from Jax indicate that the team wanted more speed from the edge rush than Douglas could provide, and it seems clear that coach Jack Del Rio didn’t get along with Douglas and cut him to send a message to the rest of the team about job security and performance. (With a $5 million salary for 2005, Douglas would likely have been cut before next season anyway. Now, Del Rio gets his message across and accelerates the cap hit the team will take while they are still in full rebuilding mode. So really, the only remaining question is why the Jaguars threw so much money at Hugh to begin with.)

Like the Trotter signing, getting Douglas back makes a lot of sense along several fronts. Douglas comes back to a defensive system in which he excelled and knows well. He adds depth to a position that has been depleted by injuries. Douglas and Trotter add a veteran presence and also leadership in the locker room --- a not insubstantial consideration given the departure of defensive leaders with the stature of Taylor and Vincent. Plus, the Douglas signing – like Trotter’s – is cost-effective. Close to the veteran minimum but with incentives that the Eagles would gladly pay for more sacks and big plays.

The Douglas saga also appears to validate the personnel decisions of the Eagles’ front office. The uncomfortable truth was that Douglas had devolved into a situational player in his last year with the Eagles: a pass rushing specialist. Albeit, a successful pass rushing specialist with 12 ½ sacks. Still, the Eagles were willing to re-sign Douglas, but only at a level that was commensurate with his future role on the team. Instead of paying millions for a 3rd down specialist, the Eagles will be paying approximately $700,000 for a pass rushing specialist.

The examples of Trotter and Douglas are evidence of the Eagles’ astute player evaluations and salary computations. It must really put a scare into the teams that signed Staley, Vincent and Taylor who must now begin asking themselves, “why did the Eagles not try to re-sign these guys? What did they see that we haven’t?”

ESPN radio's Eagles' predicition

ESPN's morning sports radio program, the Mike and Mike show, analyzed the Eagles 2004 prospects today. "Analyst" Mark Schlereth addressed the cornerback concerns about Sheppard and Brown being able to fill the shoes of Taylor and Vincent by noting that both 2nd year players saw (and started) a lot of games last year while both all-pros were injured.

There was also some debate about whether the Eagles had "underachieved" by failing to make the super bowl in either of the past three years (the consensus was that was likely the case vs. Carolina). They also highlighted the glaringly obvious observation that the passing game should be much improved this year with the addition of TO. Duh.

The three personalities then gave their predictions for the Eagles regular season record. Schlereth had them at 12-4 same as last year. Former Eagle Mike Golic said they were as good as last year but still thought 11-5 was more likely. And the guy filling in this week for Mike Greenberg predicted 13-3 based on the soft road schedule the Eagles have this year, which he contended is the hardest thing to do in the NFL and separates good from great teams - winning on the road.

Steelers vs. Eagles

Well, at last the preseason period has ended for the starters, so we won't have to endure any more pictures of first-teamers being carted off the field like we did tonight with Nate Wayne. I hope it wasn't serious.

The game vs. the Steelers was just weird. It was weird to see Duce wearing #22 for another team (but I was pleased to see him get a warm welcome and his signature "Duuuuuce" cheer); it was weird to see Pat Summerall doing games on ESPN with the two clowns Paul Maguire and Joe Theismann; but it was truly weird to see the bizarre interview with McNabb and TO. And I don't mean McNabb's Krusty the Klown afro. Was McNabb supposed to be imitating the press with his rhetorical questions? Was he just goofing with funny voices. Very strange indeed.

Having said that, that taped interview was a harbinger of McNabb's mood captured on the sideline in the second half. I know it's only preseason, but he sure looks relaxed out there.

Other thoughts and observations:

* Can Mark Simoneau tackle? Duce Staley must have run over him at least three times. His futility even caused the announcers to comment on how much bigger he looks this year and wondered why he was having such difficulties bringing runners down.

* A more perfect contrast to Simoneau's physical failings couldn't have been scripted than when Michael Lewis stood up Duce for a solo tackle on 3rd and inches.

* How great was it to see TO busting his ass blocking downfied...during an exhibition game!?

* Reno Mahe looked pretty good. So did McCoo and Tapeh against the Pittsburgh backups.

* Shawn Andrews looked pretty good. He even manages to make the mountainesque Runyan look svelte.

* In the discretion is a better part of valor department, Andy Reid gave a slight lie to his standard "injuries happen we have to move on" posture by holding out B. Westbrook from the game. It was a wise move.

* Duce Staley played very well, and he was very well-spoken during the sideline interview after he was finished playing for the evening about his time with the Eagles and why he went with the Steelers .

Please no more injuries before the home opener!!!!

Another Eagles' preview view

ESPN's NFL beat writer Len Pasquarelli offers his observations on the Eagles and their upcoming season based on a visit to training camp on Aug. 18. Click on the link below to go to the article. Highlights of his take:

* He notes the rash of injuries that are once again decimating the defensive line, but that Jevon Kearse will "add another dimension" to the defense.

* Is impressed by Shawn Andrews.

* Sees TO as a model citizen on the field, but speculates what effect he will have on the other WRs and D. McNabb (with the comment that he is not the most accurate passer.)

* Calls the LB corps suspect but says Jim Johnson can camouflage their deficiencies (and predicts that Trotter will make one game winning/saving play this season).

* Marvels at the stability of the coaching staff and the long tenures the assistants have had with Reid, nearly all of whom have have stayed in Phily since Reid arrived..

What do I know...not much

Well, what do I know. The Eagles did indeed go out and sign Dorsey Levens to fill the RB hole left by Correll Buckhalter's balky knee.

I shouldn't have discounted Levens' familiarity with the Eagles offense and Reid's familiarity with Levens, going all the way back to their days with the Packers, as primary selling points in him being reacquired. With only three weeks till opening day, those are not inconsiderable considerations. Levens does have the requisite size and his price tag (the league minimum) is right, but at 34 how much does he have left? I know he averaged 5.5 yards/carry with the team back in 2002, but he looked downright done with the Giants last year. And that's a team that kept Ron Dayne!

It's a safe bet - getting Levens - but I can't help but think the Eagles will be keeping close tabs on the waiver wire to see if anyone comes available whose an upgrade over Levens. An addition would be a long term move with the second half of the season in mind when a new back could be expected to be up to speed - literally and figuratively- with the Eagles offense.

Schlereth...stink indeed

Admittedly, I was channel surfing right through ESPN, but did I hear ESPN "analyst" Mark Schlereth reviewing the Redskins say that they would "surprise" teams this year with their improvement? Is it possible to surprise a team when you've got a former pro bowl QB, an all-pro RB, Arrington on defense and a Hall of Fame coach with three - 3! - Super Bowl rings?!?! The Skins aren't sneaking up on anyone.

Time out! Sideout?

Hey, since when did the rules of volleyball change - the rules I learned in gym class, er... P.E. - about the basics of keeping score? Now either team scores a point on the play regardless of which team is serving. When did this happen? What happen to only being able to score when you were serving?! Does this apply to all volleyball, or just international play? The beach volleyball still plays by the old rules, right? NBC really needs to elaborate on this instead of showing Michael Phelps for the gazillionth time.

Brookover's Overly upbeat analysis

Inqy Eagles beat writer Bob Brookover has taken it upon himself to blow sunshine up the wazoon of Eagles fans in the aftermath of Correl Buckhalter's season ending knee injury. Thanks, Bob.

Alas, the "analysis" is shortsighted and misses the larger point. Ultimately, the issue isn't the durability of Brian Westbrook--the Eagles remaining quality RB-- but of his effectiveness. Are we really to take comfort, as Brookover suggests, in the fact that Westbrook carried a large load at Division I-AA Villanova and only sustained one serious injury. And that somehow this experience equates to the pounding he will take over the course of a full NFL season as the Eagles feature back (and I say that as a proud Andy Talley-fan, Villanova alum.)

The issue isn't if Westbrook will get hurt, but the accumulation of the hits taken from his "touches" that could impede the quickness that is his most important quality. Westbrook is a compact 5'9" 200 lbs. He is solid. But he is not a grinder. He is more in the mold of a David Meggett. A scatback. A dangerous triple threat weapon. He simply is not a between the tackles battering ram (although, who knows, maybe he steps up and proves he's more Emmitt Smith than D. Meggett.)

Eagle fans should take little comfort in Brookover's argument that Westrbrook can handle a heavy load. The mych more salient question is whether the Eagles want him to carry such a heavy load.

And by the way. I would be very surprised if the Eagles stood pat in the RB department. You don't go out and sign TO and Jevon Kearse only to rely on Reno Mahe as your #2 back (no offense, Reno. You are a fine role player. But this team is built for a Super Bowl this year.)

I would be surprised if they signed Dorsey Levens, whose name has been in the paper this weekend. Levens has some size, but his last go round with the Eagles indicated that he had less in the tank than Eddie George.

With $7 million cap room, the Eagles have plenty of money to make a move for a quality player. Even figuring they spend alot of that to extend Corey Simon alot of that cash will be use it or lose it.

Adieu, Kalu

Not to be overlooked is the season-ending injury to DE N.D. Kalu. Not only does it hurt the depth at d-line, but Kalu was the kind of player teams need these days to succeed: knew his role and played his position well. After coming to the Eagles as a free agent from the Redskins, Kalu was a man in search of a position. At first, the Eagles kept at d-line. Then asked him to cut weight and move to LB. When Derrick Burgess went down with his first foot injury, they asked Kalu to put weight back on and go back to the line.

He did all of this without complaint and played very well considering all of the shifts he experienced. He was rock solid if unspectacular last year which is all you can ask for when your line is being decimated by injuries. Of course, he was also a finger away from blocking the Rams last punt in the NFC championship game.

Here's to a speedy recovery for ND. and let's hope the line and the team don't have too many more serious injuries from here on out.

Bucky's Knee Buckles

Dammit! We have to presume Correl Buckhalter's right knee buckling and him getting carted off the field mean that he blew out his knee and he's done for the season, pending medical confirmation (and the fact that they didn't update his condition during the telecast tonight is not a good indication).

Him going down on the second possession overshadowed the fantastic TO TD on the Eagles' first offensive play. Everyone in the stadium except, apparently, the Ravens' corner knew the ball was going to Owens and he blew by him and McNabb laid a perfect throw in there for an 81 yard pitch and catch. Let's hope we see a lot more of that this year.

Alas, the Eagles might be throwing even more than they envisioned when they brought Owens in. What a loss! The Eagles three-headed RB monster from last season is down to only one head (Westbrook's). And the simple fact is that Westbrook is not a 25 carry a game back. So what to do?

Well, you must have noticed the increased reps for Eric McCoo in the 2nd half. But I've got to think they will probably bring in another back, a veteran, preferably someone with some size for short yardage situations at a minimum. Who's going to get the tough 3rd and 2. You lieutenant Mahe? Humph.

I think former Cowpoke Troy Hambrick is still looking for work. Or maybe the Eags' can pick up someone else's castoff in the next week or so when rosters get reduced.

Other thoughts on the game vs. the Ravens:

* Both returners, Reed and Wynn, looked good. Heck, Reed took one kickoff to the house. Will be interesting to see who they keep.

* Much maligned Lito Sheppard looked to me to have a good game. Maybe he's coming into his own.

* Did anyone else's heart stop when Kearse was being attended to on the field on the Ravens first possession?

* What color cleats did the Eagles wear last year? The black shoes this season look new/different to me for some reason.

* When will the Eagles injury problems stop?!

* The announcers said that Owens' 81 jersey is the league's top seller. I'm assuming that 99% of those purchases are being made in the tri-state area.

* Even the announcers called Freddie Mitchell, "Hollywood."

From Phillies to Eagles

My brother went to the Giants-Phillies game Friday night. Here's his report:



Went to phils Friday night and went to McFadden’s at 8 to watch the eagles. Many eagles chants and there was a line to get into the place (Phils were up 5-2 at the time).

After about 5-10 minutes of the Eagles game enough people complained and they moved the eagles to the big TV and put on the audio (switching from the Phils game)

We left after the 1st quarter and headed home (Phils getting crushed by then). Turned on WIP and every call was about the 1st teams performance against the Pats. I think the city has turned off the Phils. They still pack the ballpark, but only because it’s new and the tix were already bought.

Stick a fork in them

After being swept by the Giants and essentially ending the Phils playoff hopes, why is Larry Bowa still coaching the team? Lieberthal is still blathering on about how they are still in contention, yada yada yada. Has he looked at the standings? We're 8 back of the Braves and 6? back in the wildcard, with 4 teams ahead of us?

Does Ed Wade just want to wait till after the season? Does he not want to hire Charlie Manuel now and feel pressure to carry him over next year if the team responds to him?

The only sure thing is that, even if Bowa goes, Vuckovich will probably catch on with whoever is the next Phillies manager. He must have a lifetime contract, or pictures of Bill Giles with a goat.

Perry done

Disappointing news coming out of Lehigh with the season ending shoulder injury to Bruce Perry. Perry's a Westbrook clone whose quick and shifty. Not sure he would have made the team, but at the very least probably would have made the practice squad and he could have been in reserve to add some depth to RB if it were needed as the season progressed. Interestingly, the one knock on Perry was that he injury prone and/or didn't play with injuries. Roger that.

Que Pasa, USA basketball?

As if the losses and close calls in the preliminary games leading up to the Olympics weren't enough of an indication, the 19 point loss by Team USA to Puerto Rico in their first tournament game signals the end of the US's domination in a sport we not only invented but have owned since, well, the Olympics first started.

But the bumbling stumbling American team has to be a very troubling development to Maximum Leader David Stern. A 19 point loss! To Puerto Rico! I don't care how you cut it, a team with Tim Duncan and Allen Iverson should not be blown out by a tiny island commonwealth. Whose PR got on its team? I mean, is Ramon Rivas still playing? Ramon Ramos?

Commentators, and I heard any number, pooh pooh the loss as not having any impact on the US's gold medal hopes, since 4 of the 6 teams in the US pool advance to the medal round. Are you kidding me? After a 19 point loss, I don't think you can count on them getting that far at this point. (i've also heard commentators try to explain away the loss as American players being unfamiliar with zone defenses. Note to commentators: NBA rules now allow zones).

Skeptics will say that the blowout, and that's what it was - no two ways about it - was just the natural evolution of the world improving in the sport in response to us sending the pros over since 1992. And let me just say, that that decision was very questionable. Sure the Dream Team made a great story, but the whole thing had a scent of bullying and overkill. We don't win the gold which the national psyche thinks is our birthright after losing by 6 to the Russkies in '88. All the sudden its a national scandal and we fall back on our pros to show the world whose really boss in basketball. Well, whose the boss now?

Up to '92, we always held the moral high ground when it came to Olympic matters like this. The commies sent their pros, and we sent our young amateurs. The subtext was that we played by the rules and the Eastern bloc cheated. The Dream Team perhaps accelerated the whole professionalization of the Olympics (with a big help from the collapse of the Soviet Union. The games no longer have that overt good vs. bad theme going.) I mean, everyone competing now has an agent. Jiminy, swimmer Gary Hall, Jr's agent was the one commenting on his disappointment of not racing in the final when the US team came up 3rd in the 4x100 freestyle relay. Can you imagine that happening 20 years ago! And by that I mean Hall's agent speaking for him while the Olympics are underway and of the relay team being soundly beaten and coming in 3rd.

As disappointing and shocking as the loss to Puerto Rico was, it has to be most troubling to David Stern. This team and this loss perhaps encapsulate what is wrong with the NBA: an uninspiring individually oriented brand of play (as opposed to the fluid team play of international teams), the astonishing inability of American pros to consistently knock down a mid-range jumper (the ESPN highlight revenge - everyone wants to take to the rim and throw it down. Apparently few Americans can hit a basic 15 footer anymore), and the lack of star appeal of the NBA players in general. International players have vastly improved their fundamental basketball skills, while American players' basics have regressed to the point where they rely primarily on their athleticism.

Yes, Shaq, Kobe, and KG aren't playing. But, c'mon. (Shaq and KG aren't going to help with the perimeter shooting anyway). More to the point, there was an ad of the USA team in Newsweek with a picture of the entire roster. I only recognized Duncan and AI. Now, as a 36 year old white guy, I'm not the NBA's key demographic, but I am more sports-oriented than the average guy. And if I'm not a key audience, why was USA basketball advertising in Newsweek to begin with? The whole thing speaks to the the mediocrity and genericness that now passes for what was the most glamorous and expertly marketed sports league in the world.

Emmons aches

Did the Eagles' medical staff see something in their treatment/recuperation of Carlos Emmons' broken leg that led them to believe it would be a chronic or nagging injury well past the normal recovery time? Did it have any bearing on the personnell side's decision to let him depart via free agency? Those questions have been raised in my mind after seeing reports that Emmons missed three straight practices with the Giants last week because of pain in the leg he broke in the Niners game late last year.

Mistress with a lawyer

Can someone explain to me why Amber Fry, the "other woman" and key witness in the Scott Peterson murder trial, has her own attorney? And not just any attorney, but Gloria Allred. Fry isn't remotely involved with any of the alleged wrongdoing surrounding the murder of Laci Peterson (right?). So why does she have a lawyer of Allred's stature by her side at all times? Is Fry already angling for the de rigeur book deal? Is Allred a full service attorney who provides public relations assistance to shape the public image of a client who jumped into bed with a married man on their first date?

To my knowledge, Kato Kaelin didn't have an attorney for his star turn during the OJ prosecution. I know Paula Jones' lawyer was glued to her hip, but Paula Jones was the named defendent in her case against Clinton. Now, I understand that any lawyer will tell you to get a lawyer when you are in anyway remotely involved in a legal matter. But I always thought that was part of the full employment lawyer strategy they teach in law school.

Is your own attorney the new "it" thing to have for anyone involved in a celebrity trial? You'd think with all the coverage of this story - from Court TV to Larry King - that someone would at least explain why Fry needs an attorney and why Allred is with her 24/7.

Ugly debut

Well, that was an ugly pre-season opener...and not just the miserable weather. 14 penalties, 8 Eagles carted off the field, a blocked punt and only two FGs for their effort. Of course, it is only preseason, or as some call it, exhibition games - i.e, they don't count.

Let's not put too much stock in this "matchup" between the defending super bowl champs and one of the main contenders in the NFC. This was a game to get everyone broken in and to finally get to hit someone other than your teammates. Most importantly, this was a game in which players should have been most focused on not getting hurt. Unfortunately, the Eagles failed in that regard.

Eight injuries! Not sure if it was the miserable soaking rain condition or what. Already, we lost a safety for the year with a season ending knee injury (Quinton Mikell). Anyone who saw the play in which Matt Ware was carted off the field also had to be worried that he was also done for 2004. I certainly thought he broke his leg or ankle. It did remind me of they way in which Carlos Emmons was injured - with a defensive teammate rolling into a leg that was planted. Amazingly, Ware only suffered a leg contusion, albeit one that has him on crutches.

If any good can be taken from the injury report it is that at least none of the starters went down and the injured have a full month to recover before the games that count actually begin.

Other than that, let's forget this game ever happened. Which is how the record books will handle it anyway.

The other receivers

With all eyes on the breathtaking #81, Sports Illustrated's Peter King offers this very encouraging observation of another Eagles' WR: "I think Freddie Mitchell is one heck of a football player. You talk about having a great training camp, fearless and sure-handed. He's catching everything, even the impossible balls. He might be having the best camp of any player I've seen this summer."

High praise indeed. Maybe the TO effect is having some some spillover in the receiving corps and is pushing First down Freddie to fulfill his God-given potential. If so, signing TO isn't just adding one free agent, it's like getting 1 1/2 players in the deal. Or maybe Freddie's 4th and 26 catch vs. Green Bay last year was the very thing to give him the confidence and kick start he needed and it's carrying through to this year. Either way, it is very encouraging. Let's hope he keeps it up.

The TO effect

One of the primary rejoineders of anti-Eagle fans regarding the bright prospects for the upcoming season come down to the negative effect Terrell Owens could have on the team. The main points seem to be that he will be a problem/distraction in the locker room and, more specifically, he will get in the face of team leader Donovan McNabb. Let's debunk these two "criticisms" and offer a counter-theory.

First, the locker room/sideline scenario. This line of thinking goes that Owens' me-first attitude will quickly be at odds with Andy Reid's team approach. Now, as my brother has pointed out - TO doesn't get in trouble for having handguns, speeding, or altercations at nightclubs. By all indications, he is an upstanding citizen off the field. On the field, however, his antics have drawn attention and contempt. My most vivid memories of TO are three-fold: 1) spiking the ball on the Dallas star, 2) Signing a ball with a sharpie after a TD and 3) hyping up his teammates during their amazing come from behind playoff win vs. the Giants in 2002.

Ok, as an Eagle fan how can you hold the Dallas spiking incident against him? I hope he has the opportunity to do it 8 times this year. Sure, it was unsportsmanlike and he probably shouldn't have done it twice, the second time precipitating the brawl at midfield, but in the scheme of things this appears to be a molehill made into a mountain.

Second, I still don't know how to feel about the sharpie. It was flamboyant, showy, but it didn't hurt anyone and he really didn't show any opponents up, certainly not compared to some of the celebrations that are performed today. Now i'm not sure about playing with a permanent marker in your sock, but hey, that's his call. (As an aside, the sight of TO grabbing the pom poms and joining the cheerleader line after scoring was HYSTERICAL.)

Third, does anyone remember how out of that game the Niners were? They were down by 3 touchdowns. Owens was still competing, still trying to fire up his team. That competitive, never say die spirit is exactly what I want on my team. Indeed, you could make the case that TO's sideline "problems" - really rants- stem from wanting to win and to succeed too much. You think Todd Pinkston's got that kind of fire? Hell, he can't even get off the line of scrimmage after being chucked by a 5'9" d-back. As Brian Dawkins said, I want a guy with TO's intensity and craving to make a play on my side when the big games are on the line.

Now for the McNabb issue. Again anti-Eagle fans take a perverse glee in suggesting that the TO honeymoon will end after McNabb, as per usual, doinks his second pass to TO in the ground. McNabb has gotten this rep for not being the most accurate passer. And while it is true that he usually begins games either under or overthrowing his recievers, I believe it is because he is too hopped up. When he gets in the flow of the game, his accuracy improves.

But here's another perspective, and one that should strike fear in the rest of the NFC. What if the presence of Owens pushes McNabb's game to an even higher level? Undoubtedly, Owens is the best receiver the Eagles have had in McNabb's time, and closest to his equal in terms of talent. What if McNabb accepts the challenge of stepping up his game so that can continue to assert that he is still the best player on the offense in particular and the team overall? At the very least, McNabb's confidence should be higher than its ever been. And when McNabb plays with confidence, look out.

Playing the percentages

As a follow up to the previous post, here's some discomfiting stats for homophobic athletes to ponder in the locker room. With an accepted estimate that 10% of the population is homosexual and 1696 football players in the NFL (32 teams and 53 man rosters), there are 170 gay players currently playing. Or, put another way, 5 players on each team. Even if you low ball the homosexual population as a percentage to 5%, that still works out to 85 players and at least 2 per team.

TO and Ho-mo

You would think after the tempest stirred up by Pat Burrell's comments about sex in a Playboy pre-season issue several years ago that any Philly sports star would steer clear of skin mag interviews during training camp. Alas, TO didn't get the memo from the Eagles' public relations department on that.

His comments in the September Playboy magazine insinuating that the rumors are true about former teammate QB Jeff Garcia being gay just further fueled the perception of the NFL, and professional sports in general, as rampant with intolerance and homophobia. What Garcia's sexual orientation has to do with his performance on the field has never been established. Worse is the perpetuation of this despicable whisper campaign. But what made the whole episode even more bizarre was the color and context included in the story about the interview by Philly Inquirer's Bob Brookover.

What to make of Brookover's reference that Owens is 30 years-old, single and childless himself? Heck, why didn't Brookover just mention that Owens wears tights in practice! Was Brookover hinting that Owens is gay? Or was Brookover taking the high road and merely pointing out that you shouldn't judge a book by its cover---or lifestyle choices in the cases of Owens and Garcia.

Incredibly, the Brookover story was picked up by DC sports radio where the whole thing plunged even further in the muck, if that was at all possible. Sports personality Steven Zaban noted that in today's professional sports world most athletes have fathered at least one child out of wedlock--- even Mr. Whitebread himself, Larry Legend (Bird)---and thus hinting that perhaps BOTH Owens and Garcia were gay. What a damning indictment of the ethical and moral standards of today's stars where out of wedlock births are the norm and responsible upstanding adults without children are the ones who are looked at askance.

New York vs. Boston

Could there have been a better contrast between the Yankees and the Red Sox than last night's game being broadcast on ESPN and the deuce? The Yankees' rallied for two runs in the bottom of the ninth to tie the A's and then won it in the 11th. The Yankees are relentless and you never, ever get the sense that they are out of a game.

Over on the deuce, the Bosox were unable to hold a two run lead and then, when they finally did manage to put the tying run on second base in the top of the ninth with no outs totally botched it when the third base coach, former Phil Dale Sweum, sent the runner home on a sharp single to center. He was out by a mile. Game over.

I'm a Yankee hater, so it pains to admit how good they are and the intangible difference between them and the Sox.

When the Left Side is Right

You can almost hear the head-slapping down in Tennessee as Jeff Fisher and his coaches exclaim, "why didn't we think of that!" upon hearing the news that defensive genius Jim Johnson was moving DE Jevon Kearse to the left side of the defensive line.

Ostensibly, the move is about trying to minimize the stress on Kearse's surgically repaired left foot which is the most prudent and wise course of action to protect the investment in your new free agent. But it is also about maximizing your talent, and the Eagles' decision raises a league-wide question of whether putting your best pass rusher on the QB's blindside (the right side of the d-line) is an outdated or overrated strategy.

Because of the defensive emphasis on the blindside, the left tackle position has developed in response as the premier pass blocking position. But is this situation a chicken or the egg phenomenon? That is, which came first--- the refinement of the left tackle as a pass blocker to protect the backside which then forced defenses to match up their best pass rusher? Or did the best pass rushers get placed on the blindside and it was offenses that responded by matching with their best pass blocking linemen.

Any Eagles' fans who has seen Michael Strahan blow past Jon Runyan can appreciate the havoc a defense can create by counterintuitively placing their best pass rusher head up against the offense's right tackle. In many ways, the Strahan-Runyan example is illustrative of the benefits of ignoring the league's conventional wisdom.

Jon Runyan is a pure drive blocker. It's been almost unfair to have Strahan pinning his ears back to attack the QB and not really playing or respecting the run (have you ever noticed how much Runyan has neutralized him when the Eagles actually have the lead and Strahan can't presume pass on every play? I've also wondered why they didn't run at Strahan more and play to Runyan's strength, but that's a different story).

Runyan's physical rofile is the standard across the league for right tackles. Imagine how Kearse will excel, like Strahan, in going against tackles who may be stronger, but are not as quick or agile as the "Freak" (as opposed to the dancing bears posing as left tackles.) And Strahan was going against one of the most mobile and athletic QB's in the league. Being able to see him coming didn't seem to help McNabb out too much. Do you think it will matter much to the statutesque Vinny Testaverde that he will see Kearse an instant before he gets hit?

Sure there is the whole theory that the TE lines up most times next to the right tackle and who, theoretically, is available to help block Kearse, but that takes a whole receiver out of the pass play. It also means, in theory, less opportunities for Kearse to cause a fumble from the blindside. But turnovers are just an added bonus. His primary responsibility is to get to the QB. And it will be easier to do it from the left side of the d-line than the right side.

Run, baby, run

Interesting trivia question (from my desktop Eagles calendar). Can you name the six players in Eagles' history to gain more than 1,000 yards in a single season?


Duce Staley
Wilbert Montgomery
Ricky Watters
Herschel Walker
Earnest Jackson
Steve Van Buren

Kudos to Conlin

The Daily News' Bill Conlin is probably the city's best baseball columnist and he's really stepped his A game over the past few weeks. The columns on Pat Burrell, Ed Wade, and his memo to David Montgomery were insightful and engaging.

Bo Must Go

It is a sad day, but the conclusion has been reached that Phillies manager Larry Bowa has to be fired. Now. Before the team completely implodes and any hopes of making the playoffs are irrevocably dashed.

I take no pleasure from making this call, having grown up watching #10 play SS for the 1980 World Series team. Bowa's fierier demeanor was a refreshing change from the sleepwalking Terry Francona, and we all had high hopes that he could instill in the roster the sense of urgency and balls out play that epitomized his own playing career. Alas, the players appear to have tuned him out and he appears not to have an improvement strategy beyond his animated antics.

Sure, the pitching staff injuries have not helped the team this year, but injuries are a part of the game. Perhaps it may have been overcome if the supposed "ace," the not-soon-enough to be leaving Kevin Millwood, and offensive "studs" like Burrell, Lieberthal, and Byrd hadn't gone in the tank. It's also worth noting that such play can't be laid at Larry's doorstep. (I for one don't buy this whole national media storyline that the Phils are underachievers. Were they that good to begin with?).

Still, the ultimate responsibility still resides with the manager. It's obvious Bowa will not be the manager here next year. So why not make the change now, especially when the Phils are only trailing another no-account team--- the highly overrated Braves --- by 5 1/2 games? Especially when you've got a ready replacement in Charlie Manuel?

The season's not yet lost, but Bowa's tenure is. It's time for him to go.