Oh what a feeling

A couple of weeks ago in a post about the Giants game, I mentioned the atmosphere in the stands among the fans and the pervasive feeling that Philly fans get when they are optimistic but still have a general sense of foreboding that it is too good to be true and something bad will happen.

I think that unique combination of hope and dread is particular to Philadelphia and perhaps some other snakebit sports towns like Boston (the Red Sox) and Cubs fans. It's the mood that prompted my brother to comment in the days before the Eagles-Buccaneers NFC title game that was awash in stories about how the Eagles had set out to get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs and the impressive record of the home teams in those championship games by saying, "we're such losers, we'll probably lose." It was the same feeling that descended when they saw McNabb being helped off the field after Carolina LB Greg Favors dove into him in last year's championship game.

Now, Inquirer columnist Phil Sheridan has expanded on "the feeling" and maybe its exorcism this year. (see attached link)

Schilling Cy Young/MVP Watch

It looks like Curt Schilling will get one more start in the regular season with the possibility of maxing out his record at 22-6. He's scheduled to pitch Friday night. Of course, he probably wouldn't pitch if the Sox can't catch the Yankees for the division title and would instead rest up for game 1 of the divisional playoffs which start Tuesday. Still, stay tuned to today's doubleheader between the Yankees and Twins. From an intangible factor, it would be in Schilling's favor for his hopes of a Cy Young to pitch Friday night with a chance to narrow the Yankees lead over the Sox heading into the last two games of the weekend.

Also, check out Peter Gammons' column (attached link) on the candidates for the Cy Young and MVP awards. Note that he mentions Mariano Rivera for MVP. If a reliever can be an MVP candidate, why not a starter, specifically Schilling?

Eagles deny trade rumors

Several Philly media outlets are now reporting the Eagles have "emphatically" denied that they will try to trade for Chiefs RB Larry Johnson.

9 ?!

The Eagles' line for this week's game against the Bears opened at 9!!?? And will probably go higher closer to game time. The Bears secondary is decimated by injuries and they'll be starting their backup QB, Jonathan Quinn. Nevertheless....9 points is a lot of points to favor a road team in the NFL. It's an indication of how much respect the Eagles are getting. I mean, 9 points is the sort of line you saw with the '99 Rams or the '03 Chiefs, two of the most prolific offenses of the past two decades. Heady company. Man, that is a lot points. (I think the Eagles will cover.)

Another LJ on the roster?

Ok, take this news for what it for what it's worth considering it's second hand and its associated with sportsline.com, the same outfit that fell for an Internet hoax and erroneously reported that Clinton Portis had injured himself in a weight room accident and would be out 8-12 weeks, but according to Sportsline.com KC Chiefs running back Larry Johnson is on the trade market and the Eagles are shopping. Sportsline. com says, "The Kansas City Star reports that not only is Miami interested in trading for Johnson, but Philadelphia, Tampa Bay and Dallas have also held discussions with the Chiefs about the former first-round pick. The team is reportedly asking for a veteran player at linebacker, wide receiver or cornerback or a draft pick." Interestingly, the Eagles have the Chiefs' 3rd round pick obtained in the trade of John Welbourn (as long as he meets playing time goals). Perhaps the Chiefs would like that pick back? Larry Johnson is a big back, 6'1", 230 lbs. With Buckhalter an unrestricted free agent after this season (to say nothing of coming off a second season ending knee injury) adding Johnson now, in addition to bolstering a depleted backfield, is the type of long-range move Andy Reid and the Eagles personnel office is renowned for.

Schilling Cy Young Watch

Schilling won number 21 yesterday as the Bosox beat up on the Yanks. Had Francona not left Pedro in the 8th inning Friday night just before the Yankees busted that game wide open, Schilling's win would have put the Red Sox only a game and half behind the Yankees with 6 to play. Since Schilling needs all the intangible factors he can get if he has any hope of beating out Johan Santana for the AL Cy Young, Francona's Friday night gaffe is no small miscue. (And what is it about Red Sox managers and them being incapable of taking Pedro out in the 8th inning of must win games vs. the Yanks (see game 7 2003 ALCS?).

A friend of mine who lives up in Boston and is a Sox fan says he considers Schilling the MVP of the team and of the league. Which begs the question, can Schilling win the MVP? and has any pitcher not won the Cy Young but won the MVP?

Taming the Lions, 30-13

Noting that the Eagles' most impressive win of the season at this stage would come against the...Detroit Lions? ... would likely count as one of the most surprising pre-season comments. Still. And it wasn't the "why" of the Eagles win that was most encouraging - not the potent offense, with the multiple threats; not TO catching another TD (a now regular Sunday occurrence); not the stifling D, the rampaging Jevon Kearse and the heavy pressure put on young Joey Harrington; not the solid special teams play. NO, the most impressive feat was how the Eagles won. They came in after a short week (MNF), on the road, against an upstart undefeated team --- and they put the hammer down. A quick and clean kill that practically crushed any thought of a Lions upset (they were getting 4 1/2 points) after the first quarter. In years past, the Eagles would have let such a team stay with them and struggle to keep their lead and the victory till the bitter end. But with this offense and downhill playing defense, it's score early, score often and don't let the opposition catch up. Hammer time, indeed.

Free LJ Smith from special teams!

In light of TE Kellen Winslow, Jr's season-ending broken leg suffered while trying to recover an onside kick, I think it's fair to ask when the hell Andy Reid is going to get LJ Smith off of special teams!?!

This guy is an emerging star. He's got size and speed (which is probably why he's on the sp. teams to begin with). But, c'mon. He's going to supplant Chad Lewis any day now as the starting TE. He's a terrific weapon. So why not move Lewis to special teams, where his loss would not be as devastating to the offense?

Schilling Cy Young Watch

Curt Schilling pitched 8 shutout innings vs. the Orioles the other night, but Keith Foulke's blown save cost him win #21. Of Foulke's 6 blown saves this year, 3 have come at Schilling's expense.

The failure to lock down win #21 considerably dimmed Schilling's chances for the Cy Young. Johan Santan is having a phenomenal second half (he's undefeated) and is leading the AL in strikeouts (Schilling is 3rd) and in ERA (where Schilling is .4 behind).

I figure at this point the only way Schilling can get the Cy Young is if he wound up with at least 3 more wins than Santana (making him 24-6) and helping the Sox catch the Yankees in the homestretch.

Even still, Schilling's season is remarkable. He's top 3 in the 3 main pitching categories and got to 20 wins for the third time in four years.

Eagles 27, Vikings 16

Lito Sheppard didn’t necessarily grow up last night, but his play certainly justified his selection as a first round pick three years ago. He was solid in coverage – where he was matched up with Randy Moss most of the night -- and he was surprisingly and impressively physical in making tackles and stopping runs. So can someone explain to me how come he wasn’t getting any props from the media on Tuesday morning? Randy Moss caught 8 balls for 69 yards. Let me repeat that to make sure it sinks in….8 balls, 69 yards. That, my friends, is essentially shutting down one of the NFL’s premier receivers (the premier receiver to hear Moss tell it.)

Heck, the whole Eagles’ secondary played well. Sure, Culpepper threw for 350 yards, but it sure didn’t seem like it. And the Eagles’ D limited the Vikings to 2 TD total, only one of which was a pass. All week leading up to this game all anybody could talk about was Randy Moss (and TO). So how come after the game, in which Lito and friends basically took Moss out of the game – certainly making him a non-decisive factor – there is so little praise, much less acknowledgement, of their accomplishments?

Sheldon Brown had a solid game too. And Michael Lewis! He brought the wood last night, flying around the field and hammering Culpepper on a key goal line stop. Dawkins was, well, typical Brian Dawkins…which is to say the standard by which all other free safeties in the league are measured.

My astute friend observed last night. Could Bobby Taylor or Troy Vincent have played better or been more effective than Sheppard last night? The answer is an emphatic no. Note to Philly media: the much maligned Lito Sheppard had a coming out party vs. the Vikings. A pity you didn’t notice..

Other thoughts and observations:

Dhani Jones had an outstanding game, seemingly everywhere on defense.

It was most likely the worst officiated game of the season, or that I’ve seen in some time. The “penalty” on the lateral to Freddie Mitchell and then the pass back to McNabb was further marred by the fact that it was initiated by Mike Tice’s challenge. He basically challenged a play cause the refs didn’t call the penalty. How can that be reviewable? Couldn’t you challenge holding on every play if that were true?

Mike Tice was challenge happy, but inexplicably didn’t challenge TO’s controversial TD “catch.” Was he out of challenges? On the flip side, Andy Reid strangely didn’t try to challenge Brian Westbrook’s fumble just before the half. Boy, you’d hate to lose a timeout in the first half on the off chance you might retain possession!

Jevon Kearse’s stats don’t tell even half the story of the havoc he wreaks on an offense. He lined up at end, interior line and LB.

The crowd was feisty and intense. The noise volume was noticeably high when the Vikings had the ball.

With regard to Randy Moss’ offensive pass interference: beyond it being a dumb, dumb play, it did highlight the need to make this penalty more punitive. Defensive pass interference is a killer penalty. Offensive pass interference is hardly equivalent. The league should also mandate that it results in a loss of down.

All things considered, getting home at 2:00 am wasn’t too bad. Traffic dissipated quickly.

I’ll give my friend TD the final word. Heard after the game, he said, “I don’t want to get caught up in the hype of a big win, but I think the Eagles could go 16-0.” Ummm, I think you just got caught up in the hype.

How is that the Vikings had the ball for 38 minutes – 38 minutes! – yet the Eagles only punted once?

There was no wind when Morten Andersen came up woefully short on his attempted 44 yard FG. Way short.

1 down - 15 to go

Wow! TO and Jevon Kearse played as advertised! 3 TD's for TO?! Kearse was all over the field. My favorite Kearse play was when he ran from across the other side of the field and caught Tiki Barber from behind. No wonder he has problems staying healthy! The guy is in on every freakin' play cause he's unGodly fast.

The Linc had a playoff intensity yesterday. And also that weird Philly feeling where you have such high hopes but secretly in the back of your mind are terrified the team is going to fall flat on its face (you know, like losing three straight nfc champ games.).

Unbelievable. Did Terrell Owens singlehandedly open up the entire field for the rest of the Eagles offense? Westbrook, Mitchell, Pinkston, Lewis, Smith all looked like they had plenty of space to operate. (BTW, what was Westbrook still doing in the game with 6 minutes to go and the Eagles up by 3 TDs?)

I know its the Giants and they're not very good, but is it possible that one game breaker can open things up for everyone else to the extent that he did in the Giants game?

Other thoughts and observations:

* I couldn't believe how thin Ron Dayne looked! Jeez, he actually looked quicker than the plodder we've all come to love (at least those of us rooting for rival teams in the NFC east).

* Tiki barber remains one of the few gints bright spots.

* Honest to gosh true story. Eagles get in the red zone for the first time. I think McNabb called a timeout just after they spotted the ball on the 20. My buddy sitting next to me says, "for all the hype surrounding TO and for as much talking as he does, Owens better score a TD here. On this play."

I say, if he scores on this play you've got to go buy a #81 jersey. My buddy says deal. Of course, the very next play McNabb hits Owens in the end zone. True to his word, he went out to the concourse and bought an Owens jersey.

Speaking of uniforms, there were an awful lot of Brian Dawkins jerseys yesterday. I would even hazard a guesstimate that I saw more #20 jerseys than #5, which as hard and as blasphemous as that may seem, appeared to me at least to be the case.

Also on the subject of the unis, those black "alternate" jerseys are ugly. And soooo original. Black. Wow. Like no team has a black jersey.

*Only a few of us suckers were there at the bitter end praying to God the Jints weren't going to score a garbage TD and cover the 8 1/2. Thankfully, McDougle(?) knocked Manning into next Thursday.

* What a pity for Shawn Andrews. He was playing like a veteran. Here's to a speedy recovery. Can't wait to see you next year. The injury will also have ramifications for next year. Did the Eagles coaching staff see enough of Andrews play to make an informed decision on the status of soon to be free agent Jon Runyan?

* Don't know if they showed this on TV, but after his 3rd td, they showed Owens on the sidelines on the jumbotron. The crowd is going wild. Owens sees himself on the big screens and puts his hand to his ear a la Hulk Hogan. The place went absolutely bonkers and ratcheted up the decibels even higher.

* Did anyone see Kearse start from the other side of the field and run down Barber in the 1st half?! Amazing!

* I know the Giants aren't very good, but they've always given the Eagles trouble. Still, a very encouraging start to the season. If the Eagles play like that vs. Minnesota, they'll be 2-0 and looking real, real strong.

2004 - Here We Come!

After three straight appearances in the conference championship and the acquisitions of Terrell Owens and Jevon Kearse in the offseason, Eagles fans can’t be faulted for believing that a fourth championship game appearance and, hopefully, a Super Bowl victory are within the team’s grasp this year. Unfortunately, preseason expectations of most teams too often don’t hold through the actual season. Just ask the Buccaneers, who looked like world beaters vs. the Eagles in the season opener last year but failed to even make the playoffs. That oblong ball has a funny way of taking unusual, game changing, season shifting bounces. There is simply no guarantee that the Eagles will make the NFC championship and even earn a playoff berth.

The return of Joe Gibbs is just another reminder that one of the keys of the Eagles success over the past three years is that they basically have had their way with their division rivals. The Redskins have been in disarray ever since Dan Snyder bought the team. Cowboys coach Dave Campo was incompetent,(in addition to having a roster with little talent.) And the Jints, while always tough, were perennially dealing with the fate of Jim Fassel.

All that has now changed. The Eagles will be lucky to split with the Skins. And the two games vs. Parcells should be tough (but winnable). Ironically, the toughest division foe of recent years, the Giants, should now be the easiest.

Moreover, the pressure is really on Andy Reid now. Not only does he have to get over the hump of the conference championship game, but for a team whose best player is on offense and whose head coach calls the offensive plays it has been the defense that has carried this team for his entire tenure. It’s time for the offense to carry the burden. One need only look at the final scores of the three championship games to discern the trend. The high powered Rams offense scored 29 points. The Buccaneers scored 20 offensive points (discounting Barber’s INT TD). And the Panthers scored 14 points. The Eagles defense has allowed less points in each of the three games.

Unfortunately, the vaunted Eagles offense has also scored less points in those three games. 25 vs. the Rams. Only 10 against the Bucs. And a measly FG put up against the Panthers. With the emergence of Westbrook as a triple threat out of the backfield and the trade for premier WR TO, Reid will not be able to avoid the blame if the offense fails to live up to expectations this year. This is particularly true since this is probably the weakest Eagles defense of the past three years.

Of course, we got a flashes of the offense’s potential potency last year, most notably in the high scoring game at Miami. Here’s hoping that it wasn’t a tease but finally comes to fruition in 2004.

NFC East predictions:
Eagles 12-4
Redskins 10-6
Cowboys 9-7
Giants 5-11


Game by game breakdown

Giants – If Eli Manning were starting this game, this game would be a blowout. Jim Johnson’s defenses eat young QB’s for lunch. Even still, this should be a win. Heck, the Eagles are 8 point favorites. It will be interesting to see how shell shocked Kurt Warner is. My own theory is that he took too many shots, especially blows to the head, while standing tall in the pocket and delivering pinpoint passes to fleet Rams receivers during the “Greatest Show on Turf’s” glory years. Those blows have caught up with him. Hard to believe the Giants were considered a playoff contender last season but begin this year in full rebuilding mode.

Vikings – I would have likely listed this game as a loss were it being played in Minnesota. It’s not, so it’s an Eagles’ win. C’mon, I mean, Mike Tice? This could be the game where Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown earn their stripes covering Randy Moss, or it could be the game that prompts a flood of calls to WIP Tuesday morning demanding the return of Bobby Taylor.

@ Lions and Bears, oh my! - These two North division teams get lumped together. Thankfully, the Eagles don’t have to play these teams in a year or two when they should be very tough. The Lions are still young and the Bears are rebuilding. These are wins. Even with a loss to the Vikings, worst case scenario is the Eagles enter the bye week at 3-1.

BYE

Carolina – Rematch of the NFC Championship game. The Eagles are a better, healthier team than they were then. Somehow, Jake Delhomme throws a twenty yard out that turns into an 80 yard TD in the Super Bowl and he’s the second coming of Archie Manning. We’ll see. Eagles win.

@ Cleveland – Tough game against an improving team. Should be a win, but is trap game coming on the road a week after the revenge game vs. Carolina.

Baltimore – Jamal Lewis may have broken Dickerson’s season rush record had he played against the Eagles last year. Alas, this is not last year. And did you see Kyle Boller in the preseason? He’s shakier than a Polaroid picture. The Ravens defense is still ferocious, so let’s hope there aren’t any serious injuries coming out of this game

@ Pittsburgh – See Cleveland above. Duce will have a good game. Win.

@ Dallas (Monday night) – If Vinny Testaverde is still upright when the Eagles come to Big D, he won’t be for long. If he’s not and Tony Romo’s the starter, this is definitely a win. On the other hand, Parcells inexplicably got 10 wins out of Quincy Carter.

Washington – The Eagles will split with Joe Gibbs’ team, so this home game is a win and their away game is a loss.

@ NYG – Eli Manning will likely be playing at this point. It’s a win.

Green Bay – Rematch of the divisional playoff. I think the Eagles will win this game, but for the sake of margin of error I’ll put it down as a loss.

@ Washington – See Washington above. If the Eagles can steal a win vs. the Redskins and sweep them, they’re probably on pace for homefield advantage in the playoffs. That’s a good thing, right?

Dallas – If the Eagles are going to lose a second game within the division, it will be against this team. This game in particular? Probably not.

@ St. Louis (Monday night football) – Although St. Louis might be a contender for the team with the highest expectations that falls flat on their faces, until the games get played and we see if it’s true, put this one down as a loss at the RCA Dome.

Cincinnati – Cincy will be much improved, but Carson Palmer doesn’t scare me and this is probably a meaningless game for the Bengals while the Eagles may be playing for playoff seedings, including a bye. Win.

For argument’s sake, you can assign another loss among one of the following games: Minnesota, Carolina, Baltimore, Dallas --- and the Eagles should still go 11-5 (10-6 at absolute worst). Good enough for the playoffs, maybe even a bye, but probably not homefield advantage. That’s ok, the most important thing is to get the bye. The rest will care of itself.

Howard Eskin's Rumorville

Wow, I always thought Howard Eskin's reports from "Rumorville" on George Michael's sports machine were intended to be tongue in cheek. But given the legal settlement reached between Eskin, WIP, and Allen Iverson's lawyer - it is fair to ask if Eskin just makes this stuff all up as he goes along. Sports radio and a lack of facts? Do you think?

"Howard Eskin, the afternoon drive-time host on sports talk-radio station WIP-AM (610), has been suspended for 30 days to settle a defamation lawsuit brought by Richard Sprague, a lawyer for 76ers star Allen Iverson." from the Philadelphia Inquirer, 9/9/04

A Last Look Back

Before posting predictions and projections about the upcoming 2004 season, let’s take one last look at 2003- and what might have been. Certainly the biggest lesson learned from 2003 is how fickle the NFL and the Eagles in particular can be. The season started off with so much promise, then descended into near unbridled panic, and finally wound up with the Eagles hosting the NFC championship game again. The other lesson from last season is how important momentum can be and how large single plays and certain games ultimately loom for both the Eagles and their opponents.

I couldn’t decide of whether to do two separate top 10 lists of the best and worst plays of the season or just to lump them all together. What I settled on was to do label it the most critical plays (both good and bad) and see how that turns out.

11. 1 LJ Smith drops the touchdown pass from Koy Detmer on 4th and goal vs. Tampa in the very first game at the Linc. Who knows how that game plays out if the Eagles actually go up 7-0 in the first quarter. As it was, they got shutout and gave a subtle hint at how anemic their offense would be in the early part of the season.

10. The onside kick to start the game in Dallas that backfired utterly when the Cowboys retuned it for a TD. It was the margin of difference in the final score, but spoke volumes of Andy Reid’s psychology. It was the onside kick that started the season vs. Dallas in 2001 that sent the unmistakable message that the Eagles were a team not to be taken lightly. The 2003 onside kick seemed to be an attempt to reclaim some of that magic and some of that swagger. Instead it highlighted that the Cowboys were now being coached by a professional and not Dave Campo.

9. The Eagles defense stuffs Stephen Davis on 4th and inches inside the red zone during the Panthers-Eagles game. Carolina didn’t score, but the play was a huge lift to a defense that had come under withering criticism for being unable to stop the run. John Kasay inexplicably missing 3 FGs and an extra point also helped the Eagles cause.

8. Brian Westbrook’s 62 yard TD run in Buffalo that sealed the win for the Eagles in the must win game of the season. That the must win game came in week 3 speaks to just how horrid the start was in the first two games of the season.

7. Eagles deflect Patrich Ramsay’s 2 point conversion attempt that would have tied the score with less than a minute to go as the Redskins late rally falls short, 27-25. I think much maligned Lito Sheppard was the one that defensed the pass, but can’t say for certain. The Eagles were comfortably ahead for most of the game and having Washington tie it, much less perhaps winning in OT would have been a disaster. Somehow, this play is kind of forgotten in shaping the Eagles’ season, probably because it came a week before Brian Westbrook’s punt return TD against the Gints. The loss knocked Washington into a tailspin from which they never really recovered.

6. The Eagles stuffing Green Bay on fourth and goal from the one in the divisional playoff. I believe it was Jerome McDougle who made the tackle, but Corey Simon? Who blew up the play with his penetration.

5. Koy Detmer’s INT at the goal line with five minutes to go in the game. In some ways, it was eerily similar to the pick McNabb threw the year before to Ronde Barber. In both instances, the Eagles were rallying on long drives that would have put them within one score in the last five minutes of the game and with the momentum shifting to the home team. Each pick was game, set, match.

4. DeShaun Foster breaking tackle after tackle, most of them Simoneau’s, before scoring the Panthers’ second TD in the champ. game. How different would the fourth quarter have played out had the Panthers only been ahead 10-3 instead of 14-3.

3. Freddie Mitchell’s 4th and 26 catch. ‘Nuff said on this fantastically amazing play. A pity the Eagles didn’t make the super bowl at which point this play becomes legendary as opposed to merely stupendous. It’s also worth noting that for a passer who experts say has questionable accuracy, McNabb threaded the needle on the pass with the entire season on the line.

2. McNabb being “tackled” by Carolina LB Greg Favors in the NFC championship, separating McNabb’s ribs and assuring that the Eagles’ best player would not be 100% healthy for the second straight championship game. For all of the league’s emphasis on protecting QBs, the fact that an LB was allowed to dive into a prone QB --- one of the league’s premier players in the second biggest game of the season --- without some sort of penalty being called, unnecessary roughness? remains mystifying.

1. Brian Westbrook’s game winning TD punt return in the last minute of the Eagles-Giants game. It’s hard to overstate just how bad and listless the Eagles looked during this game. Westbrook’s return shifted most of the focus on McNabb’s thumb (remember that issue?). The Westbrook play also had the twin benefit of dealing a severe blow to a division rival. Although the Jints won their next two games, its to ponder if NYG wouldn’t have gone into the nosedive they did if they hadn’t loss this game in such gut wrenching fashion.

A Pessimistic Preview

Here's SI's Peter King's negative thoughts about what happens if things go bad with TO in Philly appearing in this regular MMQB column.

Now, about Philly. I have the same questions all of you do. I just think many of you are thinking all the questions will be answered positively. I don't. There's too much risk in this team for me. Does Jevon Kearse make all the difference to the defense?

"He tilts the field when he's in there,'' his former defensive coordinator, Jim Schwartz, told me. When he's in there. Those are the key words. This is the ultimate speed rusher, and in the last two years he's missed 16 games with a broken foot, a sprained foot and sprains of both ankles.

I love Brian Westbrook, and my gut tells me he'll be more Tiki Barber than Amos Zereoue, a little back who can touch it 320 times and stay healthy. If he can't, Philadelphia's in big trouble, because I don't think Donovan McNabb's the kind of keep-the-chains-moving, eat-the-clock quarterback you need in a runner-weak offense. I've heard him counter my claim about him not being accurate enough at 57 percent in a passer-friendly offense (not that it's just me who's saying it) three or four times this summer. And McNabb's such a good guy I hope he proves me wrong. Maybe a very good receiver takes you from 57 to 63 percent. Think of it. If you throw 450 passes in a season, the difference between 57 percent and 63 percent is 27 completions.
The addition of Owens could do that, right? Well, the addition of Owens also means McNabb will likely be throwing downfield more than he has in the past. No matter how good, and how open, Owens is, I'm dubious McNabb can jack up the completions that much.

Now about Owens. I spent some time with him a month ago at camp, and I give him credit for doing so, because he knows what I've said about him. (Last year, in the midst of his Tour de Destruction of San Francisco, I said, "Terrell Owens is everything that is wrong with pro football.'') He and McNabb said all the right things about how Owens wouldn't be a distraction if he wasn't getting the ball, as long as the Eagles were winning. I guess I'm going to view that skeptically. Let me show you a little chart here (left).

So this is what was so hard to live with. This was what Owens just couldn't stomach anymore. When I sat with Jeff Garcia in Cleveland a month ago to ask him about it, I was surprised to find him so, so ... sad.

All he'd ever done is show up to work every day and worked his rear end off to be the best player he could be, yet his co-star kept dissing him in the press for his lousy arm. How lousy could it be? I mean, look at those numbers. For a four-year period, 2000-2003, Garcia-Owens was more productive than Daunte Culpepper to The Great Randy Moss, by 15 catches and seven touchdowns. Culpepper has the huge arm and Garcia the piddling one, right? Maybe not. The average Culpepper completion to Moss went for exactly 12 inches longer than the average Garcia hookup to Owens.

You're asking why I bring this up. Simple. If Owens found so much to bitch about in San Francisco catching 87 passes and 12 touchdowns a year, how's he going to feel in the Philly, where there's a chance he could have lower numbers in both categories? How's he going to feel going from a 63-percent career thrower (Garcia) to a 57-percent career passer (McNabb)? Will he grow alligator arms reaching for McNabb's errant throws?
I''m not predicting doom. I'm really not. I am raising the point that it's easy to be on an NFL honeymoon on Labor Day. Everything's beautiful today. I just don't know if everything will be beautiful two months from today.

I think there's a good chance Owens will be on much better behavior with a quarterback he respects and considers a good friend in McNabb. And McNabb is the king of his locker room, the way Derek Jeter lords over the Yankees' clubhouse. McNabb will be able to keep Owens in line if he strays. Probably. I emphasize "probably.'' There is much at stake for Owens, because he begged to come to Philadelphia. That's the biggest reason I think this has a good chance of working.

As that noted football philosopher Bill Parcells once said: "That's why they play the games.''

Levens Leaving

I'm not sure what is the most surprising thing about the whole Dorsey Levens experience.

1) That he was waived two weeks after he was signed to add some size and veteran experience to an otherwise thin and young RB corps?

2) That he was waived without a hint that it was coming and after getting a substantial amount of playing time in the Eagles game vs. the Jets.

3) That Andy Reid has decided to enter the season with Westbrook, Mahe, and Thomas Tapeh (Tapeh?!) as the front line halfbacks. (Hardly Staley, Buckhalter and Westbrook).

4) That Dorsey Levens, at 34, would have been the second oldest RB in the league!

5) That Andy Reid came to the same conclusion EaglesEye had two weeks earlier. To wit, Dorsey Levens was in serious decline as an NFL player.

Take your pick.

Right back at Huuuughh!

Hugh Douglas has always been a fan favorite so it's nice to see the admiration is reciprocal.

"The Philadelphia fans are the greatest," Douglas said.

Thanks. You're great too.

Schilling watch

I'm still a huge Curt Schilling fan, years after he stopped wearing Phillies' pinstripes and criticizing management.

I'm a nutty optimist, but I still hold out hope that #38 can get into the Hall of Fame. I figure he needs at least 225 career wins to have any shot at enshrinement. Even then, he will have to rely on a number of intangibles associated with his play. To wit, his World Series co-mvp award for one thing.

Along those lines, a Cy Young award would also help bolster his case immensely. He took a huge step toward that accomplishment last night with his 17th win of the season. He's now tied for first in the AL in wins, 3rd in ERA, and 3rd in strikeouts.

If he can get to 20 wins, maintain those other numbers, and if he helps carry the Sox into the playoffs, and particularly if they can catch the fading Yankees, then a strong case can be made for his first Cy Young.

Schilling watch

I'm still a huge Curt Schilling fan, long after he stopped wearing Phillies pinstripes. He's one of the game's premier big-game pitchers.

I'm a nutty optimist, but I still hold out hope that #38 can get into the Hall of Fame. I figure he needs about 225 career wins to have any shot of enshrinement. Even then, he'll have to rely on the intangibles associated with his candidacy. To wit, his World Series co-MVP award will help bolster his case.

What would also help tremendously would be if he won at least one Cy Young award (that would help address one of the criticisms that he hasn't even been the ace of his own last two teams). He took a big step toward that accomplishment with his 17th win of the season last night.

He's now tied in the AL for wins, third in ERA and third in strikeouts. If he were to get to 20 wins and helped the Red Sox get into the playoffs, and doubly if they could catch the fast falling Yankees, he would have a very strong case for that first Cy Young.

Bush Twins- Party Hearty

Even non-partisans can agree that the appearance/speech last night of Jenna and Barbara Bush was the most cringe-inducing event of the Republican National Convention. Maybe it seemed like a good idea to humanize the leader of the free world by showcasing his daughters (but really, First Lady Laura Bush would have sufficed in and of itself), but the Twins' five minutes of fame (it seemed painfully, painfully longer) was just downright bizarre.

The tag-team speech itself didn't help - an odd mix of homage and humor - and the girls' woo-hoo delivery merely confirmed their vapidness and party hearty reputation. This is the next generation of the Bush dynasty?!!?

Having shown little interest in world events or the family business for the past 22 years, the girls now want to participate in their dad's last campaign. Now we know why they've been AWOL this entire time. They're insipid dolts. They may want a role in the presidential campaign, but what good can they accomplish on the stump after that disastrous appearance?

BTW, did anyone else think it strange that while the President spoke to the convention via satellite after his girls' intro that the people in the background continued to play softball as the President spoke?