Are you kidding?

Bob Brookover can't be serious when he suggests that Josh McCown, Kurt Warner, or Jeff Garcia would be better backup QBs for the Eagles than the current players.

Is that a joke?

He points out that McCown is a free agent at the end of the season. True enough, but he's a starter now. Is he going to sign with Eagles to be the backup? Please.

As for Warner and Garcia, Brookover must not have seen them recently. Garcia's been terrible and has been benched in Detroit. I'll say that again. Garcia can't even start for Detroit. And Warner, like Garcia, has nothing left in the tank.

Give me Koy Detmer any day over the last two guys.

Wish List

Bob Ford takes his crack at the positions in which the Eagles need to improve and puts a little holiday spin on it with a "wish list" title.

The usual suspects are all here-- better backup QB, yardage eating RB (and not Buckhalter), an upgrade at LB, and an impact player at WR.

Two of his positions though caught my eye. Punter - maybe the beat writers know more about Dirk Johnson's injury then they are reporting, otherwise I don't understand why this is on there. Johnson had complications from his sports hernia surgery and was lost for the remainder of the season. He's a good punter when healthy. But why is there an assumption that he either might not be healthy or reliable next year? Is this a cause for concern about McNabb's hernia surgery?

The other position Ford lists, actually leads with, is defensive end. He's not the first to urge an upgrade at D-end. But here's my question about that. You're stuck with Kearse for the foreseeable future given his contract and the salary cap hit the Eagles would take in unloading him. On the other side is rising player Trent Cole.

So where and who would you get at defensive end? Are you going to platoon 3 ends? Is Kearse not going to play every down? Is someone new going to start over Cole? How much more can you afford to invest in defensive end given how much you've already got wrapped up in Kearse?

I understand Kearse has been a disappointment, and part of the reason why people want an upgrade at this position, but it seems to me that the financial reality - and Cole's encouraging play - is such that this is probably one of thee last areas the Eagles will significantly upgrade. I've seen John Abraham's name floated out there, but are the Eags really going to pony up the cash to land him, a premier free agent, when they have other pressing needs (ie, LB).

It's also why I've been arguing for an upgrade at defensive tackle more than end. My opinion is that Kearse will be better if the Eagles could get more interior pressure or push.

Also, if you want to take the long view, the Eagles really screwed up by not going after Ogunlye when Miami wanted to get rid of him. But that horse has left the barn, and now plays in Chicago.

Backup Quarterback, not being Koy

I don't understand the many Philly writers who insist that the Eagles have to upgrade the backup QB position - with the implicit understanding that the Eagles jettison Koy Detmer. And I would not be so quick to dismiss Akers' preference for Detmer as his holder as several writers have done.

First off, what kind of upgrade does anybody think we can get at QB? Here's a quick list of current backups off the top of my head: Sorgi, Davey, Tuiasosoppo, McCown, Romo, Ramsay, Rodgers, Dorsey.

Are any of those guys a significant upgrade from McMahon and Detmer?

But my bigger question is why everyone wants to cut Detmer, elevate McMahon to #2 and bring in a younger, better QB as #3.

Why?

Why doesn't the current arrangement work? Detmer holds for Akers and is the QB "on call" so to speak during the game in case McNabb gets hurt and can't play during a game. As we've repeatedly seen, Detmer can play and has the ability to move the offense.

should a McNabb injury require him to miss actual games from start to finish then McMahon gets the start and Detmer remains at #2 on the depth chart - still holding for Akers and ready to play in an emergency should McMahon get hurt. What is the problem?

The Eagles have a pro-bowl kicker. Given the Eagles' long history of futility at that position, it would make a lot of sense to keep that player happy and maximizing his potential to score. If that means keeping Detmer as the holder so be it.

Panic Example

Daily News columnist Paul Domowitch's 8-step plan for "turning around" the Eagles is typical of the knee jerk overreaction now consuming Eagleland. It's also a questionable analysis of the Eagles' needs.

Here's a summary of his 8 points.

1 -- Find an edge-rushing friend for Jevon

2 -- Get faster at linebacker

3 -- Add a wideout not named Reggie Wayne

4 -- Re-sign the right tackle

5 -- Sign/draft a big back

6 -- Find a blocking tight end

7 -- A better Plan B at quarterback

8 -- Get bigger at cornerback

I'll elaborate on this in later posts. But anyone can see the Eagles need a better pass rush. But is a complementary end to Kearse the answer? I say no. It would be better to get a stud d-lineman. The Eagles have absolutely no push from the middle of the pocket. Interior line also helps the running defense more than an end.

A faster LB? How about a better LB. Adams is a backup and stud special teamer, but not a starter for the Eagles. We need an upgrade there. A lot of friends are clamoring for an upgrade over Dhani Jones. Jones has a bigger, longer contract and is at leas serviceable although deserving of some blame for subpar play at times this year.

#2, #3 - we need a receiver. A professional receiver. Koren Robinson?

Runyan needs to be extended. i was surprised to learn that in the whole TO turmoil Runyan is a team leader that Reid solicits input from. With Thomas' back surgery, Runyan has to be kept to solidify the line.

Skipping to #7 and #8. These are the most questionable assertions. A better backup QB? Who does Domo think the Eagles can land? Has he seen who the backup are around the league? Aside from Brad Johnson in Minnesota, there are slim pickin's. In the modern day NFL, a team will go only as far as the starter can take them. Look at the backups in the NFC and tell who you'd want over Detmer (who, by the way, is eminently serviceable. Knows the offense, his place on the team, and always seems to move the team down the field when he comes into game. A weak arm, but somehow he gets it done.

Seriously, want AZ's Josh McCown? Aaron Rodgers in GB? Phil Shaky Simms? Jamie Martin in St.L? Please.

Finally, "get bigger at CB"

We had 3 pro bowlers last year and all the sudden they're not big enough to play. There is nothing so wrong with this secondary that a better pass rush won't significantly help.

I would be much more worried about the safety position. Dawkins has clearly lost a step. Fortunately, this means that while he's no longer an all-pro, he's still a legit starter and one of the best safeties in the game.

What the heck has happened to Michael Lewis???? Hopefully after the season they'll announce he's been suffering from some undisclosed injury or personal problem that could explain his plummeting level of play. Lack of pass rush, Lito's injury, Dawkins' lost step has all magnified Lewis' ineffectiveness.

Perhaps the Eagles should start grooming Dawkins' eventual successor (Sean Considine?) immediately and begin thinking about shifting B.Dawk over to SS.

Embarrassing

Tuesday was a day of embarrassment for Eagles' fans. I'm not talking about the blowout loss on national television the night before (although that certainly qualifies), but to the incredible sense of panic that fans and seemingly the entire region are in over the Eagles.

Their is a collective, and in my opinion wholely unwarranted, gnashing of teeth. A deep-seated fear that far from being a mulligan of a season that the Eagles are somehow on a long, inexorable slide back to mediocrity.

People! Snap out of it!

This is a one year aberration.

This season was lost the moment Donovan McNabb was not going to play the duration of the season without injury. At that point, the Super Bowl wasn't really a realistic possibility. Indeed, the playoffs were the best case scenario. It's rather remarkable that the Eagles were even in plausible contention for the playoffs untilthe Seattle loss.

What Eagles' fans should rejoice about is that given this was a lost year when McNabb got the hernia the Eagles have had an unvarnished look at all the positions (surprisingly many!) that they need to upgrade in the offseason.

If Reid and Company objectively analyze the play when the season is over and work to fill the holes and return to championship form in 2006 than this season - while lost - won't have been in vain.

Root for Dallas?

Conventional Wisdom says that Eagle fans have to root for the Cowboys to win out cause we'll never catch them for the division since they have a 3 game lead with 5 to play. In that thinking, we need the 'Boys to hand out losses to conference rivals so the Eagles can snare a wild card berth.

Here's my question/contention, though. Have you seen the Cowboys' schedule? The next 5 games are pretty hard. at Giants, at Redskins, at Carolina, home vs. KC and finish at home vs. St. Louis. They could easily lose 4 of those 5. Particularly the Giants and Carolina. Give them the benefit of the doubt with the 'Skins - Parcells owns Gibbs notwithstanding the last minute breakdown in game 2. The only "easy" game left for them is the Rams.

Giants also have a tough remaining schedule: Eagles, Skins, Cowboys, KC, and at Oakland.

Skins may have the easiest of the bunch: at Arizona, at St. Louis and 2 of the 3 division games at home. Fortunately, the Skins are tied with the Eagles.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, their crappy conference record (currently 2-5) puts them at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to tie-breakers.

With losses to, and games remaining with, the Giants and Skins who do we want to win? Probably the Skins cause they have the same record right now, right?

At some point after this week, we might have to switch who our division favorite is going to be.

All of which is to say that if the Eagles can just beat the Seahawks monday night and they would probably help themselves tremendously toward a playoff march. Certainly, at least, putting a little more destiny into their own hands.

Nutty Optimist Continued

Here's my response to my friend's comments about the Eagles' prospects for the rest of the year.

All I'm saying is that the Eagles
aren't eliminated from the playoff hunt just yet. That Monday's game is
huge in so many ways. I think if they win, their chances improve
disproportionately more than just getting the single W. If they manage
to get into the playoffs that it is a crapshoot as to how far they can
go because of the parity/mediocrity of the emerging nfc playoff teams.

I would be very happy making the divisional round. Ecstatic to GET to the
championship game. It is beyond expectations to go to the Super Bowl,
but even if they did I would fully expect them to be absolutely smoked
by the Colts. Like Denver smoked. 55-10.

This season was lost when McNabb got the hernia. End of story. It's a
letdown in the sense that there were high expectations coming off the
super bowl and given the mediocrity of the conference, but can you
really be disappointed with the season given the losses to injury? It's
a missed opportunity only if McNabb was healthy. In some weird way, it
may have been a blessing in disguise. They now see the deficiencies in
the team: d-line, LB, WR and can move to fix them in the offseason and
gear up for next year. All while getting some quality looks at young
guys now: Herremans, Hood, Moats, Brown.

Still. They've got a punchers chance to make the playoffs, which given
the season so far would be a terrific accomplishment in and of itself.

Also, my point wasn't they could get "hot." If they finish strong they
will have a 10-6 record. No matter what you say or how they got there,
that is a legitimate playoff record. Of the super bowl teams you cite,
the 2001 Pats had an 11-5 record. I think they did get "hot" when Brady
took over at QB and got some games under his belt. They only had #2 seed
cause they won tiebreaker vs. 11-5 Dolphins.

In 2002, the Raiders had an 11-5 record in a year where the AFC had a
lot of parity. They also started the season 4-4.

The 2003 Panthers were 11-5 but played in the wildcard round. They beat
dallas at home (an overrated dallas team) and then beat the Rams and
Eagles on the road!

I just don't see a dominant team in the nfc that would be a prohibitive
favorite in all of their playoff games. Favored yes. Likely winners,
yes. But not like 14-2 or 13-3 dominant.

IF - a big if - they could get into the playoffs I would probably equate
it to the year they beat Tampa and then beat a wildly overrated 13-3
Bears team. They lost the following week to St.L, but it was a fun and
somewhat unexpected ride. Do you remember the surprise at leading at
halftime?

Of course, this is all moot if they can't beat Seattle Monday. And the
Dallas game will continue to haunt them no matter what.

Mully's Big Head

Here's a shout out to local homeboy and fellow Villanova grad Jeff Mullin, who managed to score tickets to today's Oklahoma-Villanova game that put his big fat head right next to Dickie V's in TV shots of the announcers.

Well done, Mully. You're a world-class schemer so I would expect no less. Bonus points for making it to the Pavilion a week after your wife had her third baby.

Nutty Optimist

A friend responds to my recent delusions of playoff possibilities (Sleepless over Seattle):

Listen, you've got to get back to reality here. It would really be neat if for some crazy reason this team came together and rallied to win the final six games, went 10-6 and snuck into the playoffs and even won a game in the playoffs.

But, this is the National Football League. Teams that play bad all year and then catch a few lucky breaks and get "hot" at the end of the season, those teams don't ride that "momentum" to the Super Bowl.

This isn't the NHL, where it only takes a hot goalie to get to the Stanley Cup finals.
Remember how "hot" the Giants were at the end of the '02 season? Having beaten the Eagles on the final game of the year in OT to get to the playoffs, with Collins and Shockey in high gear. They couldn't even hold a three-touchdown lead against Jeff Garcia.

Motivationally, as a character building exercise, it would be wonderful to see this team win even five of the last six, go 9-7, having lost their two biggest offensive studs and seen a season in turmoil come to a nice conclusion.

but it will still be a MAJOR disappointment, a massive letdown and the biggest missed opportunity in Philly sports (considering how weak the NFC is and how easy it would have been to coast to a 12-4, 13-3 record if this team had been 90% of what it was last year) since the Sixers and their "We Owe You One" campaign in the '77-78 season.

Across the board, in every facet of the game, this team is demonstrably worse than they were last year. Although, their run defense is probably more solid and dependible. (not sure if that's the case statistically or not, but they have shut down some of the game's biggest stud running backs in impressive fashion).

but everywhere else -- the running game, the passing game, the defensive (non)pressure on the QBs, the defensive backfield, special teams -- we are far worse off than we were last year.

Because of that, there's just no way we can talk about the "potential" if we "just make the playoffs." This doesn't happen in the NFL. yes, sometimes a No 2 or a No 3 seed upsets a No 1 and advances to the Super Bowl, but go through the past 10 Super Bowls. Find me an example of a team that wasn't in the top of the league standings most of the year and got "hot" at the right time and rode that wave to the Super Bowl.

'04 season: Eagles v. Pats
'03: Pats v. Panthers
'02: Bucs v. Raiders
'01: Pats v. Rams
'00: Ravens v. Giants
'99: Rams v. Titans
'98: Broncos v. Falcons
'97: Broncos v. Packers
'96: Packers v. Pats
'95: Cowboys v. Steelers

Sleepless Over Seattle

huge game this week vs. Seattle. haven't given up on season yet. if anything, the mediocrity of the nfc has me salivating at the potential if the Eagles can just make the playoffs. The Bears scare you? their offense is terrible!

They beat the Seahawks and they will be on a roll going into the Giants game. those are the two hardest games left on the schedule.

Granted, the Dallas home loss will likely haunt them for the rest of
the season (imagine being 6-5, with a one game margin of error to get
to 10-6 - that should be good enough for the playoffs), but all is not
entirely lost. heck, even Troy Aikman yesterday was coming around to
the Eagles' possibilities by the end of the game.

Gotta root for Dallas, Carolina, Chicago and Seattle (monday night notwithstanding) to win every week.

Heck, even Troy Aikman wrote the Eagles off for dead at the beginning of the Packers game, but by the end had come around and was saying things like, "never underestimate the heart of a champion."

Heck

1-9?

One other thought about yesterday's game. How did the Rutgers Scarlet Knights go 1-9 with an offense that included at least three future pro football starters? McMahon, LJ Smith, and Giants o-lineman Shaun O'Hara.

8-8 Skinnies?

My washington friends are sullenly thining that 8-8 is now the likely final record for Gibbs' second year of Part II.

Which raised the point is 8-8 a good record for this team.

Relative to the mediocrity of past teams, 8-8 would be a good for this team. BUT

It would be very disappointing given how this season started for them and their record in the beginning. It would also be disappointing given the quality of competition in the NFC this year. The best the Skinnies could do is 8-8? That’s not very encouraging.

But worst, do you really expect the Skins to be more improved next year? With Brunnel at QB and perhaps Gregg Williams head coaching somewhere else?

Still a lot of football to be played and games to be won, but they are probably an underdog this week notwithstanding the cross-continent plane ride for the Chargers. And close with three straight division games. Since Parcells owns Gibbs, notwithstanding stealing that last game in Dallas, that would put them at 7 losses. Which means they beat the Rams, Cards, Giants, and Eagles to get a winning record.

We’ll see.

Farewell Bill Lyon

Great last column by the great Bill Lyon in Sunday's paper.

The nut graph that sum it all up for Philadelphia sports fans.

Our capacity for hurt is matched only by our capacity for loyalty.

another tough loss

Though Mike McMahon acquitted himself well. so too did rookie reggie brown.

Terrible pass interference call on Michael Lewis. It doesn't seem fair that the offense should benefit in a case like that where the ball is underthrown and the WR fights through the dback to get the ball cause the d has position, but somehow it is interference.

the mcmahon scramble was McNabb-esque.

with all the games that broke the right way yesterday that Cowboys game is just more and more of a killer. not to get too polyannish, but the Eagles would still be in the hunt at 5-5 if they had won last week.

which raises an interesting question. did Reid stick with a near-disabled Donovan too long? what would the offense have been like and the record be if #4 had been in there a couple of games earlier. Not a QB controversy in the slightest, just asking at what point a healthy backup is better than a hobbled star.

this team has problems at LB, d-line, o-line that need to be addressed in the offseason.

My former roommate Giant fans were none too impressed with their team's win. So unimpressive was the game that they declined to gloat.

Another week, another reminder of how close NFL games are. A blocked punt, a 4th and goal 1 yard pass, and a crappy 3rd and long hitch and go on a blitz were the difference makers.

Taking a Little Out of You

The great Inquirer columnist Bill Lyon is retiring after Sunday's column. In tribute, the paper is posting some of his old, classic columns online.

In reading the one the day after the Sixers 1983 championship, I came across a very interesting quote from Pat Riley about losing in the finals. Something the Eagles and Eagles fans should contemplate as far as the team's psyche and off-season moves.

But what Malone brought to the Sixers was a new attitude, best explained by Pat Riley, who watched his defending champions brutalized in four straight.

"When you keep losing in the finals," Riley said of the Sixers, "it takes a tremendous toll. You lose a little bit of your basketball life. They had a lot of guys who had tasted nothing but the pain, and that's bad.

"Getting Moses was the best move they could have made. It rejuvenated them. You could look at them and see they were more committed."

Uh-oh

Maybe the Eagles better reevaluate their options with TO after the 4-game suspension.

With McNabb likely out for the season, is it possible that there might be a groundswell of support in the locker room to bring #81 back to help the offense? That's the inkling I get from this article in today's paper by Bob Brookover, Time for Decisions and Revisions.

This would be an absolute disaster from a team chemistry perspective. this team in the long run will rise or fall with McNabb. Not TO. so why even take the chance or let this fester.

Cut TO. NOW.

Turn Out the Lights

Not to state the obvious, but the season is over.

Hard to believe that over the course of a 16 game season, or 60 minutes of a game, that three plays can define and impact an entire season the way the Terry Glenn TD, Roy Williams' INT TD, and Reggie Brown's drop at the end of the Dallas game did.

A spectacular crash

Has an athlete, not just a Philly player, been so high and crashed so spectacularly as Owens in the 18 months he's been here?

He was the long-awaited stud WR that turbo-charged last year's offense.

He was the faith healing ankle mender who made it back onto the field in six weeks and played against doctors orders.

He was a freakin' warrior in the Super Bowl, definitely coming to play, even if it was on one good leg/ankle.

If the Eagles had won the Super Bowl, Owens would have owned Philadelphia for longer than Dick Vermeil.

Alas, they didn't, and he won't.

soon after came the contract complaints and the incredible reserve of regional goodwill evaporated very, very quickly.

He's been digging himself a bigger hole every month, or every time he opened his mouth.

The wonder is why he didn't shut up and just play. If he had been a loyal teammate and produced even half of what he is capable of he would have put the Eagles into a corner by facing the public wrath of waiving him or paying him the $5 million signing bonus due in March. Owens, but more inexplicably the savvy and shrewd Drew Rosenhaus, should have realized that once the $5 million was paid the Eagles were committed to him for the long term lest they take the salary cap hit. and that would have meant some balloon-payment type base salaries in the out years. Shut up and play and he would have gotten his money. But they decided that was too long term and wanted an immediate renegotiation. Bad move. And it's now going to have longer term financial consequences for TO. He's now a bad teammate on two different teams. Who's going to risk a big investment in him now?

Such a shame, such a pity.

TOo Late

If only only Owens' contrite and somewhat sincere sounding apology had been issued Friday or Saturday, instead of Tuesday.

Too little, too late.

What a shame. TO is an awesome, AWESOME, wide receiver. But, alas, he is a world class jerk as a teammate. I actually feel bad for TO. Of course, I feel worse for the Eagles who have lost a gamebreaking playmaker whom they desperately could use as they try to stagger into the playoffs.

So many questions, and still so much speculation.

Where the hell has Rosenhaus been? It took him till today to get up to Philly and try to put out the conflagration that was TO's flameout with the Eagles? Where was he three days ago when this might have been salvageable. And by salvageable, i mean salvageable from TO's perspective. Had he apologized on Friday like he did today he would likely still be on the team. Maybe the team wouldn't have been happy, but he would be getting paid.

I guess the turmoil TO caused in the locker room was much, much greater than anyone realized. Not even the obvious stuff, like the Hugh Douglas altercation, but the slow, steady, and subtle undermining of the franchise QB and team leader, #5, and the divisiveness and egg shells players must have been walking on to avoid provoking the petulant Owens.

What the hell was Stephen Smith thinking when he wrote the ridiculous and nonsensical column on Sunday, "This Time, Owens' Isn't the Bad Guy," in which he absolved Owens, McNabb and everybody else but the Eagles management (aka whitey) for the latest Owens debacle.

How in the world did Team TO decide that giving anymore interviews on ESPN was going to be in any way helpful to TO's cause? Again, where was Rosenhaus? Did TO reject or ignore advice in this matter?

TO cost himself a lot of money. not just the fine and perhaps the recouping of the signing bonus, but what team in their right mind is going to commit big bucks to a ticking time bomb. He's going to be paid year to year. No big signing bonuses that can be amortized over several years. It means that in addition to a team willing to take the risk on him, it must also be a team that has enough cap room to sign him to a $5 million 2006 salary.

TO is not going to the Falcons. After torching Jeff Garcia and Donovan McNabb, what team in their right mind would allow him anywhere near a) a young, developing QB or b) a franchise QB in which you've invested your future? Mike Vick is both of those things. Plus, remember, the head coach is Jim Mora, Jr - San Fran's D coordinator when TO ripped that team apart.

What did Andy Reid see in the Redskins game that made him feel comfortable enough to sever ties with TO in mid-season. As Peter King reported on his site Monday,

"At 12:11 a.m. on Monday, Reid ducked out of his office and into the Eagles' somber locker room after their 17-10 loss to the Redskins. He went over to McNabb and said, "Come on and see me.'' He led McNabb, who played quite well on Sunday night (except for the blown spike play at the end of the first half and the interception on fourth down in the final minute of the game) to his office and closed the door. They stayed in the inner-sanctum for four minutes and McNabb came out smiling."

What did Reid see that gave him the impetus to jettison Owens? Reggie Brown's play? G. Lew? Just a more smoothly functioning offense? What

So many questions.

More Bronco Kicks

A friend writes:

I would have to say Manning would have to be up there and may break through this year with a Super Bowl win if their D is legit. Colts schedule has been soft so far.

Major concerns

1) McNabb can't move. If and when they pass they must max protect b/c everybody is sending the house on him. Let's isolate Owens and Lewis if they go man up on both of them. I'm confident in those 2 with some space to run.

2) Have to run the ball more. I fault Reid bigtime on the playcalling this year. Their first halves in time of possession and getting first downs in KC, Dallas and Denver have been a joke!! That tires the D which has been taken a beating here too. I understand you have to throw when you get behind but the first half is not a time to panic.

It's a November-December season in the NFC East at this point. Let's see if anything changes. If not, no playoffs.

Debacle in Denver

What a disaster yesterday.

This thing goes far, far beyond McNabb. Reid has a lot to answer for this year. His coaching and decision making have been disastrous.

What happened to the unstoppable offense from last year? Its not just McNabb isn’t mobile. Running plays have been nonexistent. The team has come out disorganized and discombobulated. How can you allow teams to score 20+ points on you in the first 1 and half quarters – twice! How can you be leading the Chargers by ten points through 3 quarters and wind up throwing the ball 50 times including 25 straight?!

McNabb has never been great in picking up blitzes and getting to his hot read. And now that he’s not mobile enough to scramble its become doubly bad. But really, how hard is it to throw it up and let TO or G. Lewis run after it? If he can’t throw across his body or downfield then he needs to sit, get the surgery, let Detmer and/or McMahon play – and get ready for the playoffs.

The saving grace – the only saving grace is that, realistically, the Eagles record is right about where everyone expected it to be. (maybe not how they got to that record, but the end result is in line). Rich Hoffman’s 11-5 prediction included losses at Atlanta, at Dallas, and at Denver. Some even had the Eagles down for a loss at KC. Hoffman also had them losing at NY and at Arizona.

Thankfully, the NFC as a whole isn’t a strong conference this year, but the East is becoming much harder than projected. The Giants defense is still suspect, but Manning looks like the real deal. I still don’t know what to make of the ass kicking Bledsoe…Bledsoe! gave us down in Dallas.

Huge game vs. the Skins this Sunday night.

Reid's Judgement

What a brutal game to watch. The only thing that kept it interesting was the knowledge that the Eagles were able to come back from a similarly deep deficit last week. It was not to be.

Hopefully, this was like the Pittsburgh game last year. A game on the road that was an anomaly in being vastly outplayed on both sides of the ball. Still, there are several questions that must be asked of Andy Reid:

Why not challenge the Cowboys' second TD, the one that went to Terry Glenn beating Lito Sheppard? Replays looked like Glenn's right foot landed out of bounds before his shoulder landed in the end zone. A huge play, that might have been overturned. It was the first half, so why not burn a time out in the hopes of keeping the Cowboys from a TD?

This is protecting Donovan McNabb?!@!??!??! Sending an obviously hobbled #5 back out on to the field with 5 minutes to go down by 23 points? Are you kidding me?! THe decision is even more nonsensical when you consider that McNabb finally was pulled with 2 minutes to go.

Speaking of which, why were Westbrook and/or TO in the game at the end either? It's garbage time. Maybe I can understand TO to pad his numbers and to keep him happy, but Westbrook? C'mon! Which reminds me - why did LJ Smith get put back in with less than 5 minutes to go!?!?! Guy has an ankle injury and is supposedly the #3 option in the offense. Why put him at risk when there is so little reward in a game that is totally out of reach.

More broadly, what is it about Reid and playing guys who are injured and exacerbating their injuries. First was the totally incomprehensible Akers debacle. And how about McNabb on a broken ankle and now McNabb with the sports hernia today.

The Eagles ultimate goal is the Super Bowl. Reid better think long and hard about having McNabb get the surgery this week so he's fully recovered for the stretch and playoff drive. What's the point of getting to the playoffs if you don't have a healthy McNabb? There is no breakout team in the NFC so even Detmer should be able to hold the fort and win some games till McNabb gets back.

Abreu's B

A friend writes:

I’m not upset that Abreu gets a “B”.

I think that’s all he’s worth, all he’s ever worth. He’s just not an “A” player, and I just grew so sick and tired of hearing the likes of Jon Miller/Joe Morgan/Harold Reynolds crowd calling Abreu the most under-rated, under-appreciated player in baseball. There’s a reason he’s under-appreciated, and it’s because he never put together the “A” sesason that all that talent suggests he should put together.

Yet lots of people now continue to OVER-RATE Abreu, which I think is something we should really try to take advantage of in the offseason. Let’s face it, who’s going to get more in return? Abreu, who people think is good and is around 30; or Thome, with his even bigger contract and recent injury problems and about five more years in age?

Making the Grade

re-signing Wagner is the immediate No. 1 offseason priority. Remember, he’s the guy who in some ways became a clubhouse leader, called out the team at some point in June or July, said something like, “If anyone thinks we’re a playoff team at this point, they’re fooling themselves.”
How many closers are clubhouse leaders? How many have the standing and are willing to use that standing to call out other guys on the team?

Surprisingly, Lieber turned out to be an all-right guy, 17-13 with a Milton-esque 4.20 era. Lidle is very OK, and Myers started to emerge. Christ, if you could throw a real No. 1 in that crew — any chance Schill wants to finish his career pitching for us? -- that would be a solid pitching staff.

But yes, the nucleus with Utley and Howard and Rollins (if the late-season transformation is real) is really solid. Bobby Abreu has 3 career post-season at bats, I just looked it up. They came in ‘97 for the Astros.

Yes, I think he’s a loser, and I think his attitude is just not a positive one.
Burrell, I’m not completely sold on, one way or the other. Plus, we absolutely have to have right-handed power, so we can’t get rid of him. And Lieberthal, well, he just sucks.

More on the Phillies Grade

I’m sure he (M. Hayes) is someone that said the 86 we got last year was a complete disaster and that we underperformed all year. My point – if 86 was a huge disappointment and underperformace it tells me we were a 95 win team last year. Without Milton and maybe 1 other player we were supposed to be 14 games were this year. No, No, No.

This team performed as it should with the possible exception of doing better because of the Thome injury. But, without the injury we probably have the same # of wins.

We have a nice nucleus of guys who know how to play (Utley, Howard, Michaels, Rollins – somewhat). The Phils need to go out and get more winners. I’m really coming around to that concept. Abreu, Burrell and Lieberthal are losers. Like A-Rod is a loser. Some guys just win. Lofton is a great example of that.

We really need to re-sign Wagner.

Do we have any minor league position players coming up (3rd base especially?)

It should be an interesting offseason, let’s hope we don’t have to focus on it until mid-february.

Philllies final grade

Philllies 2005 grades by position by the Inqy. REport by M. Hayes.

someone explain these two sentences to me:

“But consider this: He [Manuel] took a team that figured to barely contend for .500 to the brink of the playoffs and the most wins since 1993 - two more than Larry Bowa's 86-win seasons. Yes, a looser clubhouse mattered to the likes of Pat Burrell, Brett Myers, Ryan Howard, Jon Lieber and Aaron Fultz.”

Wow, Burrell hits for 33 more RBI than in ‘04, Utley turns in the greatest offensive season in the history of Phillies 2nd basemen (Samuel had one season that rivals it, with 28 hr and 100 rbi), the CF/No. 2 slot in the lineup becomes the most reliably consistent position in the line-up card, Ryan Howard turns in a vintage, Thome-esque half season of 22 HR and 63 rbi in 88 games, a couple of our starters completely outperform their expectations, Billy Wagner turns in the greatest closer performance in team history (38/41 in save opportunities, granted, 2 of those really, REALLY HURT).

And what do we have to show for it?

Two more wins. And how does Marcus Hayes justify saying that this was a team that “figured to barely contend for .500”? This was a team built to dominate the division, at least contend for the division title all season long.

Flags Flying

3 flags before the first offensive snap in yesterday's Raiders game!?!?! Are you kidding. And that doesn't even count the defensive offsides on the very first offensive play. Unbelievable.

I must say, there were more Raider fans at yesterday's game than any other opponent I've seen in the four plus years I've been going to home games. Of course, they were loud and boisterous during the game, but disappeared with about 9 seconds to go.

Weis as in Rockne

If nothing else, Charlie Weis is restoring the mystique and aura of Notre Dame football. Warning: tear jerker story attached.

Eagles Winner of Skins-Cowboys Game?

Is it just me, or is the celebration in this city about the Skins win way overblown? I think the team that has to be most encouraged by last night’s game is the Eagles.

Sure, they’re 2-0, but I saw a team that was incapable of mounting a sustained offensive drive; that has only scored 2 TDs in 8 quarters; whose 2 TDs came on bombs. Brunell is done. The win actually buys him several more starts. Thank gosh. Did Arrington even play? I didn’t see him near a play all night.

For the Cowboys, Bledsoe is similarly done. Questionable play calling; strange clock management.

The only thing both teams have going for them are some ferocious hitters in the defensive secondary.

Seriously, am I missing something?

Bird Fans Unfazed by Falcons Defeat

A friend was non-plussed by last night's performance.

He writes:

0-1. Yawn. Whatever.

I'm comfortable with the fact that.....

1) The Turner Gill offensive scheme will not work in the NFL in December and January never mind the entire season.

2) Gill, I mean Vick will get killed if he runs as much and will simply wear down over the 16 game NFL schedule. And their schedule is tough.

3) Dunn of the rushing trio DVD (original name by the way) is still 5'2" and 130 and can't have 2 successive healthy seasons back to back at age 30 and his running load

4) Trotter will play like Jefferson from Fast Times at Ridgemont High if we see these guys again in the playoffs. "First he's gonna s--t. Then he's gonna kill us."

5) Their WR's blow and Vick will not be an accurate QB without a T.O.

5) Will Jim Johnson have a difficult time stopping this intricate offense if they see them again??? Seriously was Vick drawing plays up in the turf.

Does this offense remind anyone of the Birds in the late 80's, early 90's minus a decent receiver and Pro Bowler Arkansas Fred? We had the Ultimate Weapon too! We know where that got us.

Half Full, or Half Empty

McNabb was scattershot with his passes, locked in on TO all night, gave up three turnovers and worse, was injured with a nagging? chest hit. The defense gave up 200 yards rushing, allowed Vick to roam free but only gave up 14 points. Our all-pro kicker missed two FGs. and the running game was practically non-existent.

Still, the Eagles only lost to the second best team in the conference, on the road, by 4 points. Is that an encouraging or discouraging sign? The game was there for the Eagles taking. Akers makes the 2 FGs and they win. But they won't go far unless McNabb can banish the return of the overthrows and the doinks into the ground we were accustomed to pre-TO.

McNabb's health is the primary concern, but just behind taht is the running game, or lack thereof. Most of the Eagles yardage came on a nifty inside handoff to Westbrook. Other than that, the Eagles couldn't gain three yards on the ground when they really, truly need it.

I understand Reid's offense is pass first, run second, but this is getting ridiculous. I fear the Eagles o-line will become "Colt-ized" where they get so used to pass blocking that they lack the attitude, will and physical force to push the d-line off the line of scrimmage. And I can't believe I even had to write that last sentence with Jon Runyan and Shawn Andrews on the right side of the line. Indeed, that fact is probably indicative of the overall problem and attitude adjustment (to say nothing of the play calling) that needs to be made.

Finally, let me point out, again, that Jim Johnson's defense performed to expectations and necessity. They kept the Falcons at 14 points. It's all on Reid as to why his offense can't score more than that with the weapons they have.

A win vs. Falcons is bigger than just one W

Jeez, when you go through the schedule like Hofman and some of my friends and I have, it dawned on me that this MNF game could have pretty huge implications for the Eagles season. if they win, they get a tie break on a conf. rival. perhaps more importantly, according to the record projections, it gives the Eags a margin for error to lose a game later on (rather than to the Falcs) that others might have as a win (San Diego? KC? GB? Denver?)

a win should also set them up as 2-0 (vs. SF) going into Raiders game. win that and you are 3-0 headed into Arrowhead.

I might switch out the losses Hofman had put them down for (Atlanta, Cowboys, Giants, Denver, Arizona) and shift one from the Gints to the Skins. Probably split with Cowboys, but I think Bledsoe is a guy the eagles can handle twice.

we also play the Rams in St. Louis. that looks like a tough game. and of course, we've always had our problems with the Cards in the Valley of the Sun.

I also don't like all the monday night games cause it shortens the following week against the Giants twice (that's right, we play the Giants after two of our MNF games.) and we have to fly out to Ariz. early for a Saturday game. Including the SF game following Atl, a quarter of our games are being played on short weeks. Not good.

I also wish one of our two games on the road vs. KC and Den. were at home. oh well.

It'll probably come down to injuries and which teams suffer them and which have depth to replace starters. Thankfully, knock on wood, the Eagles have been very good on that score. i don't think Hoffman or anybody else for that matter should write the skins off, especially since they usually play us tough (the spurrier years notwithstanding - even Norv's dead teams played us tough)

Best case 4-1 at the bye?

Eagles 2005 record, another prediction

This time my friend Paul offered his two cents on the Eagles chances in 2005.

Dudes, seriously, take a big step back and out of our negative, gun-shy Phillly fishbowl.

this is a 14-2 team, period.

they're not losing to anyone in the division, we're going 6-0 in the division. Worst-case scenario, we slip up and lose one game to a division rival late in the year (kind of the way we almost lost to the Cowboys and the Skins last year).

So we go 5-1 in the division. After that, we are a prohibitive favorite in every single game, and probably even money in KC.

Remember, KC is great offensively, and Priest Holmes scares the crap out of me, sorf of the way Ahman Green did two years ago. (And Vermiel's no dope like that idiot in G.B, he'll just keep giving it to Priest if he's running wild.) But their defense completely blows, and Donovan might throw for five TDs against them.

BUT, let's face it, we've gone 12-4, 12-4 and 13-3 the past three years, and you know what? We've have HORRIFICALLY BAD injuries in those years. Donovan missing the final six or seven games one season, TO missing three games and two playoff games, W'brook ending his season in a meaningless game at FedEx Field.

again, don't get caught up in the fact that we were 13-3 and the Falcons were 11-5 and what other teams RECORDS were.

We were two touchdowns or more better than every single team in the NFC last season. Go look at last year's box scores.

there are only two things preventing us from 14 wins this year: andy pulling the plug late in the year like he did last season, or a slew of injuries to Donovan, TO and every D-lineman.

More Eagles' Season Predictions

My brother chimed in in response to the Hofman crystal ball article.

I’m not sure they aren’t better on paper. T.O. is the x-factor, but on “paper” he should be counted as good as last year. Lewis/Sheppard/Brown should be better. Andrews makes them better, Patterson and Brown vs. Simon and Fredex?? Downgrade w/out Simon. Trotter starting all year. More maturity w/ LJ, Westbrook.

We may not be better, but I would say we are NOT worse.

The schedule is tougher this year (AFC West vs. NFC Central).

5 road losses is a lot for a team that has the best road record over the past few years (assuming the Giants and Cowboys losses are on the road). I see AT KC being difficult as well as the Broncos. The Cards would be devastating assuming he’s right and we are 10-4 going to Arizona for Xmas. 12-4 probably gets HF. BTW – the falcons got the bye last year at 11-5. Who is going 11-5 this year. Tice alone is worth 3 defeats. The Falcons are probably an 11-5 team which makes the tiebreaker important (next week is pretty huge). Seattle, St. Louis, Cards, Packers are all about 9-7 at best, possibly 10-6. That leaves the dreaded Panthers. Great coach, great defense, ball control offense.

Panthers concern me, but only one of the falcons or panthers can win division.

I always think the Vikes scare me (big D upgrades w/ Sharper and Smoot among others), but they were frickin’ 8-8 last year and Culpeper had a Manning like season. They will lose some games they shouldn’t. It happens to poorly coached teams each year (see Redskins losing to Cards every year at least once around ‘99/’00 – when they has atrocious special teams and would lose to the Cards and then beat the greatest show on turf). The Vikings will do no better than 11-5.

Every team that might be good in NFC is from a dome (sans Panthers) also. Don’t discount that come ’06.

5 straight this year!!!

Hofman says 11-5

Rich Hofman (see attached link) has the Eagles at 11-5 worst case scenario. Good enough for the playoffs, but not for homefield advantage. The only thing i disagree with in his analysis of the division is the Redskins, although his take that the Eagles aren't better than last year is debatable. With that defense, the Skins O has to only be marginally better and they could get to 10 wins. seriously, if Gibbs can't cant the offense on track then he will be gone after this season. That would also likely add a loss to Hoffman's projected Eagles record which gets them to 10-6. as my brother has long noted, the key is really not home field advantage throughout, but the first round bye. At some point, maybe it would be a good thing not to have the champ game at home if only to lessen the pressure on the team.

Hofman's predicted losses are as follows: "Give the Eagles a loss each to the Cowboys and Giants. Give them losses at Atlanta, Denver and Arizona on Christmas Eve. That would be 11-5, and it would give the Eagles a likely two-game cushion in the division. But it wouldn't give them homefield throughout the playoffs."

http://www.philly.com/mld/philly/sports/columnists/rich_hofmann/12578034.htm

One PO'd RB

Boy, the Eagles have one seriously disgruntled all-pro RB in Brian Westbrook. Aside from his bitterness and inferiority complex (3rd round pick, 5'8", small school Villanova grad) which have conspired to prevent him from cashing in on his NFL production so far, and which I can understand, the thing that I don't get is why contract talks were suspended and how a deal can't be done.

First let me say that the Eagles sometimes get grief for playing "hardball" in salary negotiations. But going all the way back to the first Trotter talks, the Eagles usually offer fair deals. Certainly not extravagant and over the top, but not low ball offers either. It's when the player doesn't come to terms that the hard hearted Eagles basically cut a player loose, which you really can't blame them for if the team and player can't come to a financial agreement. What is there left to say or do at that point?

It seems, if the source reports are true, the $12 million over 3 years deal ($9 mill signing bonus) that Domanick Davis got and which the Eagles are offering to Westbrook is a fair deal. I think Westbrook is slightly over inflating his worth by seeking LaMont Jordan money at $16 million/ 3 years.

On the other hand, aside from the frachise player in #5, Westbrook is the most valuable offensive player - TO included. The simple fact is that he's a game changer and that when he's played in the NFC championship, the Eagles have gone to the Super Bowl. When he has not been in the lineup for the most biggest most important game of the year the past couple of seasons, the Eagles have lost.

Sure, Westbrook isn't your prototypical feature back. But he is nearly perfect for the Andy Reid offense. If the Eagles can admit that, then maybe Westbrook can bring himself to appreciate how anomlous the Jordan deal is.

With the Eagles $15 million under the '05 cap, how can they not get a deal done with Westbrook right now? Go to $13 million over 3 years and give him $10 million up front as a roster bonus applicable to this year's cap. Hell, split the difference between Davis and Jordan and make it $14 million, 3 years, and a $10.5 million roster bonus.

Westbrook doesn't get $16 million, but he does get extra guaranteed cash which can be banked immediately and start earning interest rather than waiting on slightly more deferred money in 2006 or 07. Didn't Villanova's Commerce and Finance classes teach the young lad anything about opportunity costs? Plus, he's financially set for life. In addition, he starts working on fulfilling the new contract so he's that much closer to another payoff in 3-4 years if he is still producing at even a reduced level.

From the Eagles standpoint, they get a happy RB and fairly reward him for past and future performance. It still leaves them $5 million under this year's cap to extend other players (can you say Michael Lewis?), and gives them super insurance from a salary cap standpoint if Westbrook were to suffer a career ending injury. With the roster bonus, they won't take a hit on future salary caps if they have to release him in the out years. They can also start grooming Ryan Moats to take over in 2-3 years when Moats will be where Westbrook is now in terms of familiarity with the offense and league.

This compromise makes so much sense from everybody's vantage point I can't believe it doesn't get done.

Fitzpatrick's rant

What was with Frank Fitzpatrick's unprovoked rant in the Morning Byte's column earlier this week savaging the knowledge of the Philadelphia fans because the fans wrote off the Phillies in April and now the team is proving them wrong by playing meaningful games in September?

It was the worst kind of Philly journalism and beneath publication in the Inquirer. Worst of all, it just perpetuates the stereotype of the ignorant, knuckleheaded Philly fan that the national press loves to play up. That such a screed appeared in the Inqy was doubly hurtful.

Besides, Fitzpatrick didn't even have a valid point. First, his attack on the fans was published the same day as a front sports page story on Billy Wagner and how the closer supposedly lit a fire under the team by claiming they had no shot at the playoffs back in June. Did Fitzpatrick take exception to Wagner's erroneous statement, especially since as a member of the actual Phillies he would be presumed to be a knowledgeable baseball comentator?

Second, is this really what Philly sports journalists now define as success for the Phillies-- meaningful games in September competing for a wild card spot? Not making the playoffs, not winning the pennant, but competing in regular season games that have post-season implications?! Perhaps nothing says more about the sustained mediocrity of the Phillies organization since 1993 than Fitzpatrick's argument in that regard.

Finally, Fitzpatrick had the misfortune of running his piece just as the Phils were in the middle of dropping 2 of 3 from the staggering Nationals and then getting swept by the Astros to drop to 3rd place in the wild card standing.

Sure, Frank, the fans don't know, do they? But they do know as much, if not more than some Inquirer "journalists."

More Manuel Managing

From my friend Paul, some random thoughts on the sinking Phillies season, and a good question about the red/blue hats in the WS:


* the Phillies wear those red-and-blue caps during inter-league games. If by some random stroke of blind luck they were to go on an amazing run and win the NL pennant, would they wear those caps in the world series? Or would those not be considered "inter-league" games?

* Having the MLB package gives you great access to other teams' broadcast booths. Wow, the SF Giants have one of the worst combos in teh world. They have some guy who, whenever it's a likely fast-ball pitch, says to the audience, "He's sitting dead red on this one." I had never heard the phrase before, but other friends assure me it's acceptable -- but again, I stress that this guy says it roughly three times per half inning. This same guy referred to David Bell as "a guy who just keeps finding ways for your team to win games, he's a winnder." I believe Bell promptly grounded into a double play.

On the flip side, I caught some Mets games last week. Ross, you hear him more than I do, but the game I heard, wow, Keith Hernandez seemed great. I told other friends that he reminded of McCarver in his early, non-ego-driven days as a Phillies No. 2 or No. 3 color guy. Really sharp, insightful, and most importantly, retired long enough ago that he has no attachment to these players of today and is willing to call them out for being stupid.

Also, the Astros color guy was pretty decent last night. Not sure who he was, but he struck me as somone who migth have been a catcher because of his awareness of pitch selection.

Man-not so well Managing

A friend comments on Charlie Manuel's managing of two games from last weekend:


* I don't think Charlie Manuel is a good game manager, surely not for the NL anyway. I've now seen two games in little more than a week in which he let his pitcher come to the plate in a critical situation. One time, Lidle batted with the game tied in about the 6th or 7th with runners on base, I think. He hit a grounder that he furiously tried to beat out for a single -- and injured himself in the process of trying to get the single. Last night, down 4-0 in the 6th, he lets Brett Myers bat for himself and he's in the LEAD-OFF SLOT for that inning. Myers makes an out and is subsequently lifted after finishing the 7th.

Does he realize pitchers can be pinch-hit for before the 8th inning?

Also, in the 7th last night (Monday the 5th), down 4-1, with one out Tomas Perez, playing first for a resting Howard, comes up in the 8 hole and appears to be a sure shot to be pinch-hit for, probably by Howard. No, instead, Manuel has Howard pinch-hit for the pitcher in the 9-hole, coming to the plate with the bases loaded and the chance to put the Phils right back in the game.

However, it falls right into Phil Garner's wheelhouse, becasue he immediately counters by bringing in a lefty -- not just to face Howard, who is way below the Mendoza line against lefties, but also to Rollins, who when turned around and batting right-handed is hitting 30 points lower and lacks any power.

The lefty struck out Howard. Thankfully, J-Roll worked a walk to get one run in for the inning.
Leading to another complaint of mine: How can we still have Rollins hitting lead off? That walk that drove in the run, it was just his 36th walk of the season. Terrible lead-off hitter.

All this aside, the Phils still had a chance to tie it in the 9th, when Rollins, batting lefty against Lidge, pounded a two-out double down the right-field line against the wall.

In the most anti-Dale Sveum move I've ever seen, our 3rd base coach holds up our runner (THE GAME-TYING RUN) at 3rd. yeah, it would have been a close play, and we were hitting Lidge, but there were two outs and a good baserunner (a speedy minor leage call-up) was circling 3rd.

Oh, and our next batter up was Endy Chavez, who promptly struck out and ended the game with runners on 2nd and 3rd.

Even if our starting pitching holds up down the stretch, and even if David Bell decides to play like a Major Leaguer, I don't think we have the smarts in management to pull this off.

Huuuugghhhh! Boooooo!

Wow. Didn't see the Hugh Douglas cut coming. Jon Ritchie just didn't seem as surprising, which is strange given how many D-ends the Eagles had and how Josh Parry is the only other FB on the team.

It is doubly surprising given the leadership Douglas played in the locker room, a not insignificant consideration given the potential for TO to wreak havoc in there at any time. Still, I can't help but wonder if Douglas would still be on the team if Trotter hadn't ascended to the starting LB spot and returned to be the defensive leader. Certainly, no one the defense other than Douglas (or Dawkins) has that stature and status to command the respect of the defense and the team. Cole must have really outplayed Douglas for them to let him go. If the TO situation blows up during the season as expected, not having his gregarious and garrulous personality around to lighten the mood may be something Reid comes to regret.

WR help?

In advance of the final cut downs, three names caught my eye on the list of WR released this week. Troy Edwards, Darnerian McCants, and Peter Warrick. All have pro experience, and the Eagles should be familiar with McCants' abilities having played against him twice a year for four years now. Warrick isn't available yet, but is expected to be released shortly.

All of which is to say, there are some WR available to the Eagles right now, and probably a coupe of more recognizable names next week when teams cut down to 53 players. If they want to try to add some depth to the receiving corps. Now adding a power RB to the backfield, that is a whole different story.

Westbrook the Winner in Simon Slash?

By removing the franchise tag on Corey Simon, the Eagles have opened up $5.1 million worth of space on this season's cap. I would say its even money that this savings is applied to a contract extension for Brian Westbrook. With that kind of room, the Eagles can give him a signing bonus and, more importantly, load up this year's salary for cap purposes - a win/win for Westbrook and the Eagles. Westbrook gets up front money, the Eagles efficiently use their cap space, and the Eagles protect themselves down the road by reducing the future potential cap hit by loading up this year's contract rather than putting all the cash in the form of a signing bonus.

The other incentive for the Eagles is to send a locker room message. Westbrook wasn't happy, but he played ball. He signed the tender (he had no choice) and came to camp and played. He's been a model teammate. Just like the contract extension the Eagles gave Pinkston several years ago while dealing with the unhappy Duce Staley, I certainly expect a similar reward to B. Westbrook in the wake of the Simon parting.

Sayonnara Simon

Wow. The Eagles just don't mess around with disgruntled restricted free agent players, particularly disgruntled players. The whacking of Corey Simon is eerily similar to the cutting of Jeremiah Trotter several years ago. Even the timing of the action seems planned to put the player at max disadvantage. With Trotter it was after most of that year's free agents had been signed by teams and few had the cap space to make an offer. With Simon it comes as teams have made their second to last round of cuts and hard choices on rosters will be made on Monday as teams struggle to get down to the 53 man squad. Anyone interested in pro bowl caliber d tackle?

Vegas still likes the Eagles with the TO turmoil

Last week, I referenced an ESPN online poll about
what the general fan thought the Eagles should do about TO.
I dismissed it as rather meaningless, but giving the sense
of where public opinion and support lie.

There is another "opinion" poll that matters a little more,
if for no other reason than the opinion makers
are putting their money where their mouths are - The Vegas lines.

A friend suggested after TO was suspended that perhaps
a profitable wager opportunity may have presented itself
with the turmoil and uncertainty TO's camp suspension
had dealt to the predictions of the Eagles returning to
the Super Bowl. Indeed, three years ago the Eagles' odds
sank like a stone after McNabb broke his ankle
three years ago. But alas, I checked the online sites and
the Eagles' odds - amazingly - do not seem to have
budged.

These odds are from last Tuesday night, before TO successfully
(it appears) returned to camp Wednesday  morning. And by the way,
honestly, ESPN really is treating this entire situation like th OJ trial.

I mean ESPN is becoming just like Fox, CNN and MSNBC when
they get a story and just beat it to death with 24/7 coverage. Mike and Mike
ESPN radio morning show broke into their programming at 8:49 am to
get a live report from Sal Pal about the TO/Andy Reid meeting and the
fact that Reid walked onto the practice field at 8:46 and Owens
followed two minutes later. I kid you not.

Anyway, according to the "site" the Eagles and the Colts are the
favorites among ALL NFL teams to win the Supe. That's to win, not just
get there. They are both at 5 1/4 -1. The Pats are 5 1/2 to 1. The next
closest is the steelers at 13-1. (the skins are 40-1).

The Eagles, obviously then, are also the prohibitive favorites to win
the NFC Championship. They're a little more than 2-1 favorites. Next
closest are the Falcons and Panthers at 6-1, followed by the Vikings at
7-1 and then the rest of the teams are more than 10-1.

This year, something new, you can pick the division champs. Here the
Eagles are prohibitive, prohibitive favorites. They are 1-5 favorites.
That's right. Risk 5 to win 1. Cowboys are next favored at 5 1/2 to 1,
then the skinnies at 7-1 and the Gints at 8-1.

The People Have Spoken...the Bastards

The viewer poll run by ESPN last night could not have been comforting to TO or Drew Rosenhaus. More than 150,000 participated and 50% preferred TO and the Eagles part ways by selecting either one of the two poll options: traded or cut. 42% preferred status quo and only 8% thought the Eagles should renegotiate TO's contract. This poll, like all polls, doesn't mean a thing to the principals involved, but it does give a sense of where the public's sentiment is with regard to the TO vs. Eagles' management battle. Decisively on the Eagles' side.

Giving TO the Sports Guy Treatment

My brother and I were talking this weekend about the whole TO ordeal. We were trying to figure out the end game scenario-- how does this end? Trade? Being waived? Suspended?

I brought up the Sports Guy's (Page 2 of ESPN.com) suggestion on how to deal with the sulking Vince Carter when he was in operation shutdown in Toronto. TO craves the spotlight. How great would it be if the Eagles said after the next TO outburst - "you're too much of a distraction. We're going to put you on our practice squad. We'll pay you the money owed on your contract this year, but you're not welcome at team meetings, functions, etc." Wouldn't it kill him to not be the center of attention? After three weeks eveyrone would have moved on.

Eagles management just seems ballsy enough to do it. What could TO do? What could the players' union say? From the reports I've seen, a lot of the players are tired of his antics. And he is not helping his cause by ripping McNabb. #5 is the undisputed leader of the team. 4 TDs on a broken ankle. 3 championship games without TO and with the likes of pinkston, thrash and na brown.

We'll see how this goes when he returns on Wed. How many teams would trade for him at this point when he appears to be on the verge of a complete mental and emotional meltdown? Peerless Price for TO? Jerry Porter for TO? TO for Ricky Williams?

Players don't have to like each other to play well. And TO is basically going to have to perform since he's essentially in a contract year when the eags cut him after the season. But the Eagles hold the ultimate penalty card in dealing with TO.

Steelers' game initial thoughts

So the first 3 minutes of last night's game was TO's wet dream. But the rest of the quarter was OK. McNabb looked good. Reggie Brown looked really good. Heck, even Billy McMullen looked ok.

Ryan Moats looked like he might be even quicker than Westbrook. Still concerned about this offense's ability to smash mouth their way to 3 yards when they really, really need it, but I guess at this point that's what you are getting with Reid's offense. 3rd and short is a passing down.

Special teams was a disaster. That steelers return guy just ensured himself a spot on the team, right? As my brother said to me last night (and which the Inqy makes several references to today), who'd a thunk that Ike Reese would have been the biggest loss of the off season.

TO is on the brink, but if he were to pull a Hines Ward then maybe his season with the Eagles can be salvaged.

TO trouble

Here's a possibility in the whole disgruntled TO storyline that I haven't seen raised in any of the articles. Believe me, this possibility makes me queasy to think about, but realistically has to be considered.

Is the reason TO wants to be paid more in 2005 because his ankle is not as well healed as everyone has been led to believe? Under this scenario, TO knows he can make it to opening day, but perhaps by mid-season it will be clear to everyone that his injured ankle is totally hindering his play. He cashes his multi-million paycheck this year and retires at the end of the season (or the Eagles put him on IR and he retires). It would help explain why he is so hellbent on getting a big payout for this season.

Just a (sickening) thought.

To Jax or not to Jax

I have been agonizing over the decision of whether to travel to J'ville for teh Super Bowl this entire week. Understand that in no circumstances will I be going to the game. The price of tix are prohibitively high. But is it worth it to go down to the city just to be exposed to the atmosphere? Or would it be better (and cheaper) to watch the game from some venue in Philly?

What to do, what to do?

In defense of Pinkston

WR Todd Pinkston has been skwered over the past year + since he was abused by CB Ricky Manning in the 2003 Championship game. That led to a wholesale review of the entire Eagles WR corps and the subsequent acquisition of Terrell Owens. But here's the funny thing. Up to that game vs. Carolina (and McNabb's later plea for more "offensive weapons"), Andy Reid was quite content with Thrash, Pinkston, and Mitchell.

Here's the funny thing. The highly praised Pats' WR bunch is so highly praised for their "team" approach, yet their stats as an entity and individually are remarkably similar to the Eagles, sans Owens. Among Patten, Givens, Branch and Brown, only Brown has cracked 1,000 yards receiving in a season. All the rest haven't caught a sniff of that milestone. And all but Brown haven't come close to 100 receptions in a season either. Funny how Pinkston and Thrash and Mitchell were, well, thrashed for such pedantic receving numbers while the Pats group puts up similar numbers but are "celebrated" for their efficiency and lack of egos.

I'm not suggesting that the Eagles shouldn't have upgraded at WR last year. Clearly, Pinkston's performance, or lack of performance, and Thrash's nonexistence in that Carolina game (exacerbated by the absence of B. Westbrook) necessitated some sort of move. But it is interesting how perceptions are shaped. The contrast between two different receiving groups and their abilities' has never been clearer than in this contest. ESPN's John Clayton was moved to write about those "differences" in a recent story
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs04/columns/story?columnist=clayton_john&id=1982272

Interestingly enough, the ESPN stats page for players in teh super bowl lists Troy Brown's position as "cornerback." Which brings up a fascinating football philosophical question. Is it better to be known as the best receiver of a nondescript group of pass catchers, or the best WR cum nickle back in the NFL. Apparently, the answer is b.

More on TO

Here's the full article referenced in an earlier post about TO's "frustration" with his late season drop in production. You know an interview doesn't go well when Stephen A. Smith has to write an article in today's paper about how misunderstood TO is. Amazing the team has avoided a TO tempest all year and now they get one during the playoffs and while TO is hurt.

January 6, 2005, Philadelphia Inquirer

Stephen A. Smith | Owens says frustration clouded stellar season

By Stephen A. Smith
Inquirer Columnist

He had 14 touchdowns this season before a Cowboy came along and nearly squelched his championship aspirations. He was mentioned in the same MVP talk as Colts quarterback Peyton Manning before limping off Lincoln Financial Field while Eagles fans cringed, wondering whether their luck would ever change.

That's why Terrell Owens has the hyperbaric chamber just a few inches from the crutches that remind him of his debilitated state, while he reminisces about his stellar season and prays that the Eagles will remember those moments, too.

Still toned, chiseled and "ready to play in the Super Bowl," Owens sat in his house Monday night, television blaring, appearing as focused and determined as he is on the field.

He lifts towels with his toes now, part of his rehabilitation after ankle surgery that includes daily workouts in the NovaCare Complex pool.

Owens says that the Eagles' trainers are excited about his progress, that X-rays last week showed bone healing just eight days after surgery, and that he feels no pain when putting his foot on the floor.

Hope about returning during Super Bowl week has been replaced by confidence.

"It's looking better and better," Owens said, beaming.

Then he lowered his voice. His smile disappeared. He began reflecting.

"I reached a point where I didn't want to think about why this happened and just accepted it as God's way of telling me something," Owens said. "Maybe it was His way of making me appreciate the game more, because I've always said I really didn't like the game... that I just played it because God had given me the talent to play it.

"Maybe it's a situation where I was just frustrated; toward the end of the season, I was really frustrated as to how my production had gone down. And it wasn't due to a lot of double coverage.

"A lot of people may want to say it was double coverage, but if you break down the film and see where the balls are going and where I am, I tended to get frustrated."

Not getting the ball got to him, Owens said, "so maybe me being out right now is another way for [the Eagles] to see my value to this team."

He wasn't finished.

"I don't know what the reason was for my lack of production; I don't have a definitive answer for that," he continued. "And I definitely don't want to seem like the person who's never satisfied. But, dude, I know what I bring to the table. I know what I do when I get out on that field.

"You can't tell me I'm not open more than half the time when I'm out on that field. I don't care if it is double coverage.

"I think if a lot of people were to break down our game film and watch the actual game film instead of highlights from television, they'll see what I'm talking about."

Will they see Donovan McNabb looking in other directions? Will they see coach Andy Reid making the quarterback do so, to avoid a spandex moment?

Owens wouldn't say. In fact, he went out of his way to give both McNabb and Reid credit, intimating that his lack of production was "probably part of Coach Reid's game plan to prepare others for playoff competition."

But Owens' frustration was too obvious to ignore.

Despite adding a fifth consecutive 1,000-yard season to his resume while breaking the Eagles' season record for touchdowns by a receiver, he isn't satisfied.

"I could've done more and I could've said more, too," said Owens, who entered this season with 8,572 yards after eight years with the 49ers. "But this isn't San Francisco. We're winning here.

"And, believe it or not, we're a team in everything we do, in every sense of the word."

Yet that has little to do with the feeling of resignation he's experiencing.

Owens is resigned to missing the divisional playoffs, along with another potential NFC championship game for the Eagles. He believes that if the Eagles miss out on a trip to Jacksonville, Fla., everyone will blame his injury.

But he never was resigned to missing out on numerous touchdown opportunities, to other receivers' complaining about the number of balls that weren't thrown in their direction, and Reid, McNabb or somebody else's penchant for hearing the violins and failing to exploit the opportunities opponents handed the Eagles on many Sundays.

And now that the playoffs are beginning without him, Owens feels the need to remind everyone to "be careful what you ask for."

"A number of those guys have wanted an opportunity to get more playing time and more balls thrown in their direction," said Owens, who is concerned about some of those dropped passes. "It's no secret that [Freddie Mitchell] has wanted the ball more, that [Todd] Pinkston wants to be more involved in the offense, etc. So now these guys will get a chance to show what they can do - without me.

"Hopefully, it won't be a repeat situation of pre-T.O. But, God, I hope not," he said, aching at the thought of another missed opportunity.

Then he began his exercises, repeating "Super Bowl... Super Bowl" under his breath, relishing the thought of walking out on the field in Jacksonville on Feb. 6 and hoping that his teammates share his hunger.

Vacant?

How in the world is the second team All-Pro QB position "vacant." And why isn't this explained in news accounts that elaborate ad infinitum about Peyton Manning's unanimous selection to the first team? Was there a tie?Is there no 2nd place when the first teamer is unanimous? the Media is out to lunch on this, too bad too cause McNabb is a serious candidate for 2nd team.

Uh-oh, TO

TO's frustrated. What to make of this rather strange article/interview in yesterday's Inqy? TO's mad about his production dropping in 2nd half of season, but it seems unclear who he blames. It does seem somewhat strange (or silly depending on your viewpoint) that TO cracking 1,000 receiving yards and getting 14 TDs in 14 games would still be lamenting his stats and drop in "production."

Who'd a thought TO would be more of a problem/distraction while hurt than he would have been on the sidelines of an ugly Eagles' game? Or is this some sort of ingenious strategy to take the attention and pressure off the rest of the Eagles and place it on the one guy it won't affect? Or is this a petulant star's attempt to keep the spotlight on himself during the brightest part of the season?

http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/10575665.htm

Bye, Bye , Boo

Sheesh, with all this hand wringing over playing the second team and the second guessers who are maintaining how important it is to sustain momentum and routine -- you would begin to think how unlucky the Eagles are to have secured a first round bye. Too bad we're not the Seahawks or Rams who played playoff-relevant games in week 17 and now get to play in the first round. Please.

The importance of rest and the bye cannot be overstated. The Eagles will be fresh while their opponent will have been slogging through a grueling playoff push.

Alas, knowing the state of the region's mental state, I'm sure the anxiety will be palpable on Sunday the 16th. Let's not panic. And let's remember that McNabb usually starts games so hopped up he doinks his first couple of passes into the ground or sails them over the head of his receivers. This is not an indication of too long a layoff, but a typical McNabb start.

Reid really was damned if he does, damned if didn't, as far as resting his starters. But given the Eagles' injury history, how could he not err on the side of caution? Especially after TO went down? I mean, who else got nervous when Simoneau had to have his ankle x-rayed? Or when Michael Lewis was laying on the field vs. the Bengals? Or when Ike Reese grabbed his knee? Would you have liked to see #5 or #36 in that position? I don't think so.

The Eagles will be fine. Everyone take a deep breath and relax. And remember that Andy Reid is practically unbeatable after a bye and McNabb is a perennial slow starter (and has nothing to do with a lengthy layoff.)

Round 2

NFL playoff schedule is out. A bit of a change-up for those of us who presumed (and were led to believe the Eagles were a big ratings draw and would be playing on Saturday night (Jan. 15)). Eagles play 1pm on Sunday. Guess the Favre - Vick matchup was too good to pass up for Sat night prime time. GB will be playing a short week. They can't be happy about that.