"Weak"?

Funny to think that the "weak" NFC East could send three teams to the playoffs. Guess strength is all relative.

Atlanta game

WIP is reporting that there is a 90% chance the game on New Years Eve will be moved to 4:15.  Eskin said his sources indicated that Fox has the 1st choice on the game, and there is no reason they wouldn't choose this game as their 4:15 prime time game.  I think this is the only game that guarantees a playoff scenario that weekend, no matter what happens this week.

 

If Fox doesn't choose the game, we will probably be the Sunday night game, which would blow.  I also heard Jody Mac say something similar. 

 

And yet, I thought a team could have only 1 game moved from the afternoon to sunday night - and the eagles already had moved once - the indy game.

 

A 4pm game or an 8pm game on New Year’s Eve. Great.

 

This could backfire on Fox or NBC if the Eagles win and the Falcons lose this weekend and the Eagles can’t improve their playoff seedings – why play the starters?

Blasphemy

A friend writes:

 

Are the Eagles a better team without McNabb?

 

Obviously the answer is no.

 

Playing the way he played the first 8 games of the year, he was one of the 3 best players in the league, meaning he was good enough that with him you had a puncher's chance of beating any team in the league.

 

So clearly, there are outer limits to where this team can go. They simply aren't talented enough with Garcia at QB to go into Chicago or go into the Superdome, or, for that matter, an inhospitable place like Seattle in the playoffs and win.

 

But let me posit this question: has the absence of McNabb forced Reid to become a better coach? And if so, has that essentially made us a better team, at least when playing the average teams of the league?

 

Yesterday's game may well have been our single best game of the season. Yes, defensively we were still a sieve against the run in the 1st half. And dear god we had an insane amount of penalties, and we're talking BIG penalties that cost us 1st downs on offense or gave the Giants 1st downs when it would

have been 4th and long.

 

But, and this is a big but, we played our most effective, most balanced game of the year on offense. We even won the time-of-possession battle!

 

And that, I think, was critical to the game yesterday, and essentially showed that Andy is willing to do things differently. Hopefully he's seen the light. The fact that the Eags controlled the ball so much in the 1^st half really helped the defense in the 2nd half.

 

Our defense was tougher and stronger than I've seen them all season in that 2nd half. Holding the Giants to those field goals in the 3rd quarter kept us in the game. And that, I think, is the credit to our commitment to the run early, and our success at doing it.

 

I just hope that this little run we're on -- in which Westbrook has been amazing -- is enough to convince Andy of what he needs to do next season.

 

McCoy Mistake

If you want to really depress your self go to the eagles and raiders sites and look up the bio on McCoy and Kirk Morrison (raiders).  They both went to SDSU and played LB together.  Morrison was drafted after McCoy by about 20 spots.

 

I'm really glad the Eagles out thought themselves on that one -and look at his college bio that's included -you couldn't tell who was better??

 

Hmmm. Morrison a two-time All-american. The first since Marshall Faulk. Or McCoy, a two-time 2nd team all-conference selection. Hmmmm.

 

But wait...it gets worse. Go to the sports illustrated draft site and look at the profiles of the two. They projected Morrison as a 3rd round pick. They projected McCoy as a possible backup safety in the nfl...and a free agent who wouldn't be drafted.

 

I'm going to be sick.

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/2005/draft/breakdowns/by_school/s.html

 

Eagles inactives

See the inactive list!!!  Our 2nd rounder and both 4th rounders from this year!!  How can Justice not be the back up at this point?

 

Gocong is on IR or he'd be here also.  That's 4 draft picks all 4th rounders or better as well as a 3rd rounder in Moats.

 

I thought we had a great draft, but how are Gilles and Justice not suiting up???

 

My take on the inactives is that the Eagles have a lot of offensive lineman so there are a disproportionate number inactive. I think they only keep two backups for the actual game, both of whom can play guard or tackle - with starters sliding over if necessary to fill spots, ie, if Runyan got hurt, Andrews moves to tackle and Cole comes in at guard.

 

Only suiting up Scott Young and Nick Cole allows them to suit up more players at DB and other positions. My assumption is that Justice and Jean-Gilles simply don’t have the versatility and understanding of the offense to be able to fill in for whatever position is necessary at this point – on the fly. I do expect Justice to be the starting left tackle next season.

 

I’m a little perplexed by Avant being inactive – how can Baskett and Lewis be better options, esp. Baskett who has the same rookie start time as Avant. Lewis looks tiny out there these days, though I hate to admit he’s made some nice catches past two games.

 

But I simply don’t understand what the deal is with Moats. He’s not even suiting up anymore. This guy was a 3^rd round pick last year, what don’t the coaches like about him? His quickness? Burst? Hands? Would be a great sub for Westbrook, especially the way they continue to work #36.

 

Gaither looked pretty good last night. McCoy is being made the scapegoat for a lot of other deficiencies on this defense (that’s you Dhani Jones). If Gaither is your new weakside LB then that means the Eagles have no viable heir apparents currently on their roster for Trotter (which is who I thought Gaither was going to eventual replace) and Jones. Isn’t Gocong a weakside LB too?

 

I actually saw Bunkley in on at least one play.

 

3-1 gets you into the playoffs (heck, even 2-2 might do it, since Panther and Giants play this week). Assume loss against Dallas and must win this week vs. Redskins.

 

 

 

.

 

-----Original Message-----
From: Jeff Griffith [mailto:jgriffith@tgacpa.com]
Sent: Tuesday, December 05, 2006 1:58 PM
To: David Griffith; 'PAUL KANE'
Subject: FW: Eagles Week 13 inactives

 

See the list!!!  Our 2nd rounder and both 4th rounders from this year!!  I'm

outraged - How can Justice not be the back up at this point?

 

Gocong is on IR or he'd be here also.  That's 4 draft picks all 4th rounders

or better as well as a 3rd rounder in Moats.

 

I thought we had a great draft, but how are Gilles and Justice not suiting

up???

 

Who are our backup linemen - I know Nick Cole is the Center??

 

--

Jeff Griffith, CPA

Toal, Griffith & Ayers, LLC

200 Harry S Truman Pkwy, Suite 110

Annapolis, MD 21401

 

ph - 410-224-0343 x203

fax - 410-224-0043

jgriffith@toal-griffith.com

 

IRS Circular 230 Disclosure:

 

As required by U.S. Treasury Regulations governing tax practice, you are

advised that, unless specifically indicated otherwise, any tax advice

contained in this communication (including any attachments) is not intended

or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of (i) avoiding

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penalties, please contact us at any of the above locations to discuss

whether we can provide you with a formal written opinion.

 

Confidentiality Notice:

This email is covered by the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, 18 USC

2510-2521 and is legally privileged.  This email and its attachments are

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-----Original Message-----

From: CBS SportsLine.com [mailto:mailer@mailer-relay.sportsline.com]

Sent: 12/05/2006 11:02 AM

To: davidg@nasbe.org; jgriffith@tgacpa.com

Subject: Eagles Week 13 inactives

 

------------------------------------------------------------

CBS SportsLine.com Fantasy Football Notification

------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles declared WR Jason Avant, LB Shawn

Barber, CB William James, OL Max Jean-Gilles, OL Winston

Justice, OL Pat McCoy, RB Ryan Moats and DT LaJuan Ramsey

inactive for Week 13 against the Panthers.

 

None of the players mentioned above are worthy of Fantasy

consideration.

 

This is an automated e-mail sent out from the

CBS SportsLine.com Fantasy  web site.

 

Go to: http://losr99.football.sportsline.com/options/alerts

to change the e-mail and/or wireless notifications you are

currently set up to receive.

 

 

 

wip fan finger

How retarded is this:

 

http://www.fanfinger610.com/

Philly sitcom?

Clickin thru channels and just saaw a guy on the fox sitcom Till Death with a flyers t-shirt. 1st time I can ever recall ever seeing that logo/team displayed on a show. Is it set in philly?

Michael Irvin's Racist Comments

One can only imagine the firestorm (and sacking) of a white commentator that said the same thing Michael Irvin did about Tony Romo’s ancestry and athleticism on Dan Patrick's ESPN radio show.

 

Amazingly, this has received NO attention - not even from the "Worldwide Leader In Sports."

 

 

"He doesn't look like he's that type of an athlete," Irvin said of Romo. "But he is. He is, man. I don't know if some brother down in that line

somewhere, I don't know who saw what or where, his great-great-great-great-grandma ran over in the 'hood or something went down."

 

"If great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great grandma pulled one of them studs up out of the barn, 'Come on in here for a second,' you know, and they go out and work in the yard. You know, back in the day."

Why, oh Why

?Westbrook had 27 touches - 20 carries and 7 catches. What the hell was he doing in the game on the last possession down by 24 points? does Reid want him to get hurt? and it seemed that he was getting the ball on every play at that point.

 

Had touches on 8 of the first 12 plays.

 

 

Here's the amazing stat:

 

Westbrook had 27 touches, the rest of the team had 21 (5 rushes, 16 receptions). LJ had 4 catches, a bunch had 2 each. Bucky had 4 carries. 6 incompletes.

 

That's 80% of the runs and close to 30% of the passes (completions).

 

And yet, at 5-6 the Eagles are one game out of the wildcard.

Still Hope?

Just when I think the season is over, Sam Donnellon lays out an encouraging scenario for the Eagles (excerpt below). If Garcia is serviceable could we be looking at a Lindros-type situation here if the Eagles were to make the playoffs and, heaven forbid, make a run without their injured star and leader (and would McNabb be banging Matt McCoy's wife on the side)?

 

 

“The bottom line is that the best teams in the division have six wins, and the Eagles have five. The bottom line is that three of the four contenders have replaced their quarterbacks for one reason or another and the fourth, the Giants, are not exactly enthralled by the performance of their guy right now.

 

Who was it who said the division winner would need 11 wins?

 

Oh yeah, me.

 

Scratch that.

 

I'm figuring nine might take it, and if there's two nines, both might go to the playoffs from a division that, with apologies to that premier quarterback Tony Romo and his new main squeeze Jessica Simpson, may be the worst in the NFL.

 

Yes, the Eagles have three straight divisional road games to end the season, but look at those games now: Washington is woeful, New York's injury list is oppressive, and the Cowboys... well, if that game on Christmas even has meaning, isn't that a conquest? Indeed it may come down to a last-game, New Year's Eve showdown at home with

hothouse Atlanta, whose quarterback Michael Vick - once perceived as the next model - was described as a "coach killer" in print this week.”

 

 

FW: hindsight

Here’s another eagles question in hindsight.

 

Why did they cut McCants and keep Lewis? Aren’t they wash talent-wise at worst – and McCants has actually produced for another team at WR. Add his special teams leadership/production and how did McCants get cut and Lewis not?

 

My friend says that Lewis made a nice long TD catch in final preseason game, and wouldn’t you think that coaches don't let one random play in preseason determine their decisions - erasing memories of several yrs of soft routes and dropped passes - but thinks that one catch sealed his spot on roster. 

 

They should just cut lewis and re-sign McCants to send a message. There wouldn’t be a dropoff in play.

Done?

My feeling is that the season is over for the Eagles. Even if they could make the playoffs, they are not going to the super bowl with Garcia (not that I’m against extending the season as long possible) and another reason McNabb’s injury is so devastating. The Eagles in the playoffs with a healthy McNabb could have gone all the way given the competition and some breaks.

 

Anway, Reid’s and the front office’s answer to the question I pose has profound implications for the off-season and next year. Maybe they’ll get a good hard look at some of these guys in the last 6 games and figure out who’s a keeper and who’s gotta be replaced. But if they don’t get a freakin’ quality LB in free agency I am going to lose my mind.

McNabb's successor

Don Banks of SI suggests that Donovan’s injury makes it time for the Eagles to draft a QB and begin planning the leadership transition. Interesting.

 

I would take exception to several of Banks’ points – though. McNabb is less of a runner and thus less “reliant on his legs” than is reality. He doesn’t run nearly at all anymore (some say not enough) and only takes off if he is flushed out of the pocket. His acl injury is less serious than Culpepper’s who also tore the MCL, or Palmer’s who shredded three ligaments.

 

 I would also argue that McNabb is just a better QB than Culpepper, injuries or no injuries.

 

Interesting, also, that McNabb’s statistical decline this season coincided with Stallworth’s inactivity due to hammy problems. As I mentioned to PK the other day, watching the Cowboys and Colts, and Stallworth – a solid pro but nothing special – I’ve realized the number of clowns that McNabb has had to work with at WR – Pinkston, Thrash, Greg Lewis, Charles Johnson. Some of these guys, in their best days, would be no better than situational 3^rd-4^th WR on other teams. Yet they all started significant games for the Eagles.

 

To really help McNabb, they need to sign a professional WR free agent – no drafting one and hope he develops, this player needs to be up to speed by the start of 2007, in addition to a big RB, and an LB.

MAC Attack

Out with a bunch of guys on Friday night and we got to discussing nfl qb's and counting which college conference has produced the most current starters. Some surprising results - most notably the MAC has a disproportionate share of starters – Gradkowski, Pennington, Roethlisberger - given its modest Division I status.

 

All of which is background to perhaps explain why the Eagles just signed Bowling Green's Omar Jacobs as the team's #3 QB to fill McNabb's roster spot.

 

here's the word on Jacobs

 

Mike Quick's poor choice of words

Commenting on Andre Waters’ apparent gunshot suicide:

 

"It blows your mind that somebody could do that to themselves,'' Mike Quick said.

Mike Quick's poor choice of words

Commenting on Andre Waters’ apparent gunshot suicide:

 

"It blows your mind that somebody could do that to themselves,'' Mike Quick said.

Messed Up

The Dallas Cowboys have the best QB in the NFC East.  Didn't think at the start of the season that would be the case.

Waters' Pain

Outstanding article by Phil Sheridan on Andre Waters’ death. I also suspected that perhaps the physical pain of post-NFL life may have been too much for Waters. Here’s Sheridan’s take with great points about the side of the nfl we don’t see after the player is gone and cheering subsides.

 

“I played because I loved it," he said. "I'm not looking for sympathy, because it's what I wanted to do. I just don't think people realize the players they cheer for wind up unable to walk or sleep because of pain."

 

What bothered him was that the sacrifice of his body didn't mean anything to the NFL the moment he couldn't play anymore. Jobs in scouting and coaching went to men who spent their 20s working a different career track and networking….

 

Maybe there were other reasons. Maybe something happened recently to drive Waters to suicide. Or maybe the pain - physical and emotional - palpable in his voice just kept getting worse. Probably, we'll never know.”

Answers?

Here’s a question that’s been perplexing me.

 

What are the Eagles?

 

• A true 5-5 team in a league of parity?
• A team that is a couple of plays, one 62 yard field goal, and a torn ACL from being 7-3 or 8-2 right now and the second best team in the conference?
• A below .500 team with significant weaknesses on defense and some questionable offensive skill players whose franchise-QB has helped them overachieve and mask these shortcomings?
• A flawed team in a flawed division and flawed conference that can still compete for a playoff spot at 5-5 even with a backup QB for the remainder of the season given the competition.
• A mediocre team whose entire fortune rises and falls on a single player-- more so than most other teams – the QB?

Missed 3 Cost Competitiveness

Would have been a lot more exciting final 5 minutes yesterday if the Eagles hadn’t botched their FG. An Akers’ 3 there makes the score 24-16 and makes the game a one possession game (with a looming 2-pt. conversion.).

Just a sloppy, sloppy game.

Devastating McNabb Injury

A swirl of emotion surrounding McNabb's knee injury- hopes of the Super
Bowl are out the window-obviously. They might still be able to make the
playoffs, but so what? They're not going to get very far.

With McNabb, anything was possible with this team. Amazingly, 5-5 still
leaves the Eagles in the playoff hunt. And they brought in Jeff Garcia
specifically for this very situation... to have a veteran QB that could
step in for McNabb if the unthinkable happened.

Some of my friends have tried to point out that too bad the Eagles
didn't win the Giants and Bucs game to give themselves (ie, Garcia) a
margin for error and give them a leg up in the playoff race.

Here's another thought: how much more devastating would McNabb's loss be
(if possible) they eagles had won those games and been 7-3 right now?
They'd be the #2 seed in the NFC, looking at a bye for the playoffs.
Losing McNabb in that scenario might have been even worse.

d-line

Eagles must really be pleased with the D-line’s play to extend another player there – this time Trent Cole, 2^nd year budding sack star out of Cincinnati – for 5 years

Eagles Extend Patterson

Guess the Eagles aren’t so disappointed at the play of their d-line, particularly their tackles, not to extend the contract of Mike Patterson for years.

 

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com/homeNewsDetail.jsp?id=58798

 

It didn't take long for the Eagles to realize that they want defensive tackle Mike Patterson to be a keystone of the defensive line for a long, long time.

Patterson signed a 7-year contract extension on Thursday, which will keep him in the midnight green through the 2016 season. We will have more coverage later in the day here on PhiladelphiaEagles.com.

The team's first-round draft pick in 2005, the 31st overall selection, started in seven games last season and led the defensive line with 66 tackles and all NFL rookie defensive tackles with 3.5 sacks. This season, Patterson has started in every game and has 36 tackles, 1.5 sacks and two fumble recoveries, one of which he returned 98 yards for a touchdown against the 49ers.

 

Are You Rah-Rah?

My God. Rutgers will be coming off a bye when they play Louisville, who should still be recovering from their war with W. Va this Thursday.

 

If they were to win that one…..could they be playing W. Virginia in the last game of the season (12/2) to go undefeated and get a BCS bowl berth?!?!?!!?

Our Eagles Beirut Table

Torture

More from Peter King, “I think the Eagles fan, already a tortured soul, must be really feeling it today. Imagine being tied 24-24, tied 24-24 and up 21-20, with 10 seconds left three times in the past month -- and losing every one of those games on the last play of the game.”

B-Dawk Talks the Talk and Walks the Walk

From Peter King of SI, “I really like how the Eagles aren't making excuses. I talked with Brian Dawkins after the heartbreaker in Tampa and he said, "We can't afford to think anything other than this is a bump in the road. We're too good a team not to. We've got to realize if we don't play a 60-minute game, anyone can beat us, and that's what happened to us.''

Down at the 1

In last night’s game, the Giants had one of the best special teams plays I’ve ever seen. They downed a punt at the 1 millimeter line. And the player who did it was careful not to have accidentally stepped on the goal line or in the end zone. So why did the refs then spot the ball on the 1 yard line, essentially giving the Cowboys an extra yard? ESPN’s troika of geniuses didn’t notice the play nor commented on the spot (I doubt even if they had they’d have had a rationale or coherent explanation. Why don’t announcers know the rules?).

 

Anyway, a friend suggests that perhaps on punts the ball is spotted where the downing player’s feet are, not where the ball is. If so, it is one of the few instances in football where it matters where the player is and not the ball.

Sunday Morning Massacre

Pretty good ESPN analysis of the clarke years. Shrewd trader early, not so much late. Always liked size over speed which is death in new nhl. Never got a goalie, which prob. Cost them 1 cup. & no mention of lindros- his greatest trade & nemesis

 

 

Highlights:

 

“As a GM, Clarke did a pretty good job. But, as he admitted on Sunday, he couldn't deliver the Stanley Cup. During his two tours of duty as Flyer GM,

his teams advanced to the Cup finals on three occasions. Each time, the Flyers couldn't get over that final hump.

 

During his long tenure, he made some good trades and some bad ones. He stole John LeClair and Eric Desjardins from the Canadiens in 1995. In recent years, however, the bad deals seemed to outnumber the smart ones. And, despite those many trades, he never could acquire a franchise goalie.

 

In the months after the lockout, Clarke made some bold moves, signing free agents Peter Forsberg, Derian Hatcher and Mike Rathje. Going into last

season, the Flyers looked like a serious Cup contender. But, they were undone by several factors. The club was crippled by injuries, losing 355

man-games (third most in the league) to injury and some of the big offseason signings -- namely Hatcher and Rathje -- proved less valuable in the "new" NHL. By the end of the season, the Flyers seemed old and slow compared to top Eastern Conference clubs the Hurricanes and Sabres.”

 

 

 

TO Reception?

Eric Allen is way off the mark. Hoge might be right, but Schlereth nailed it.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2611669

Questioning a Win

Don’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth, BUT…..

 

-          Why didn’t Akers attempt the 54 yarder just before the half? That’s makeable for him. Not guaranteed, but doable. Besides, the fake kick call made absolutely NO sense. 1 second left and they run that play? I would think a direct snap to your kicker and then a pass from him to the backup TE is riskier than trying the FG. And if you’re not going to kick it, why even bother calling timeout. Or if you reconsider during the timeout, why not have McNabb hiked the ball, take 3 steps back and take a knee.

 

-          Why didn’t Westbrook play? Hopefully it is because they could beat the Packers without him and gave him an extra weeks rest for the must win game vs. Dallas (must win to get one victory in the division).

 

-          Why doesn’t Moats play more? He is the heir to Westbrook, with his speed to the edge. I understand Bucky is listed as #2 on the depth chart, but he is more of a change of pace back to Westbrook. Moats only saw the field after Bucky fumbled twice, and even then didn’t get a lot of playing time in the 2^nd half. Last year, Moats didn’t see the field for quite a while after Westbrook got hurt. And when he did, he was electrifying, especially in the Giants game. So why doesn’t he play more? He’s a second year guy now. Can’t he pick up the offense? Is he a discipline problem? What’s the deal?

 

 

 

 

 

Defend this House

Hysterical story in yesterday's NY Times about how Giants’ fans got beat up by Eagles fans after the OT loss. Michael Irvin’s comments are too funny (and accurate… yes, Philly fans still hate you).

 

 

From the article: “Michael Irvin, who won three Super Bowls with the Dallas Cowboys in the 1990’s, listed Philadelphia, Oakland and New Orleans as the rowdiest stadiums he ever played in.

“Philly was just a horrible place to play,” Irvin said. “They’re still cursing me out whenever they see me, and I retired more than six years ago.”

Irvin also said, “Raider fans like to paint their faces and pretend to be crazy; Eagles fans really are crazy.”

Martocci, who has accompanied fellow Giants fans around the country since 1990, said that no stadium came close to Philadelphia’s.

“It’s sad,” he said, “because it takes the whole enjoyment out of going to a game.” “

 

Madden Curse Strikes Again

“League MVP Shaun Alexander cracked a bone in his sore left foot and will be lost to the Seattle Seahawks for at least a couple of weeks.

Alexander has had soreness and a bone bruise in his left foot since the season opener at Detroit. Coach Mike Holmgren said Monday that Alexander cracked a bone sometime during Sunday's 42-30 win over the New York Giants. Holmgren said the bruise in Alexander's foot led to the crack and Alexander was walking around team headquarters Monday on crutches,” reports SI.

Playoff Scenarios and Monday Night Football

From a Dodgers web site:

 

If Philadelphia finishes ahead of a tied Los Angeles and San Diego, there would be a tiebreaker game for the National League West title in Los Angeles on October 2.

 

If San Diego finishes ahead of a tied Los Angeles and Philadelphia, there would be a tiebreaker game for the NL Wild Card in Philadelphia on October 2.

 

If Los Angeles finishes ahead of a tied San Diego and Philadelphia, there would be a tiebreaker game for the NL Wild Card in Philadelphia on October 2.

 

If San Diego and Los Angeles finish tied ahead of Philadelphia, San Diego would be the NL West champion and Los Angeles the NL Wild Card.

 

If all three teams finish tied, San Diego would play at Los Angeles to decide the NL West champion October 2, and the loser of that game would go to Philadelphia to decide the wild card October 3.

 

Bottomline, if the Phils are involved in a wild-card playoff tiebreaker, the game's at Citizens bank.

 

Not only is it as Citizen's bank, but it will be held on Monday, October 2. And since the two most likely teams to play the Phils - the Dodgers or the Padres - are west coast teams, the game will likely be played Monday evening given the travel considerations of going cross country.

 

Which means that the Phillies would be playing for a berth in the post-season, while across the parking lot and at the same time the Eagles were thrashing the Packers on Monday Night Football.

 

My San Fran Prediction

Eagles 31
Niners 17

Play calling

I have no problem with Andy's play calling Sunday (save the empty-house backfield on that one 4th down, and yes I have checked with Ross, who loves the Giants but is still apoplectic over that call).

The problem was with the execution of the plays that were called and the inability - is it unwillingness? - to execute a power running game when it is needed.

It is impossible to play in the NFL without being able to kill the clock with a lead - that is the essence of the West Coast offense, what Madden so eloquently described circa 1982 as the Bill Walsh theory of throwing early in order to run late, which was revolutionary at the time. All great west coast offenses have had the pounde - roger craig, ahman green.

I didn't feel like we went conservative late in the game, we just didn't - couldn't - execute.

Tennessee?

Been thinking about that loss Sunday and I guess I'm not the only one
that's been thinking back to the similarities to the Tennessee opener in
2002, when the Eagles blew a 14 point lead after Reid started calling a
lot of running plays in the 2nd half (that were working, just that the
RB fumbled). Reid then promised not to make that mistake again and since
that time we've seen 75% pass, 25% run calls (or so it seems). Also,
some defensive breakdowns, etc.

Granted, it was on the road rather than at home, but still a collapse
against playoff caliber teams.

Below is what the philly paper had on the Titans game. Hopefully we can
bounce back and not come out flat against the Niners. Very encouraging
that for 3 quarters we dominated the Giants and moved the ball at will.
But then...

What he meant: "Hey, remember the season-opener in '02 when we blew a
14-point, second-half lead to the freaking Titans? We ended up winning
12 games that year and making it to the NFC Championship Game. And we
had James Thrash and Todd Pinkston as our starting wideouts and
320-pound ocean liner Levon Kirkland playing middle linebacker that
year. Things could be a lot worse."

whither sports radio in DC

Driving back to DC yesterday, one of the pick me up things my friend and I were looking forward to was the skewering the Redskins were going to take on sports radio – hey if we are miserable after that terrible loss at least we can wallow in similar misery with skins fans.

 

Didn't happen. Didn't really bother with the Redskins radio network, not going to get any good negativity there, but was astounded that 980 with Zaban and Pollin did NOT cover the Skins at ALL. After I dropped Pk off at the metro, these guys spent 15 minutes talking about what the Nationals needed to do in the offseason. It wasn't until 11:49 am, I checked the clock, that they made their first Redskins reference - and that was to Peter King's column about Brunnel and why Portis should have played in a must win game. Then they said Brian Mitchell would have more at noon during his show.

 

I'm guessing these guys came on at 8 am, or maybe even 6 since they went off at noon, but cannot believe they weren't talking Redskins. Is this a directive from the station since snyder's got his own network now? Are they able to get interviews and stuff with Skinns players, or has Snyder prohibited contact with the competition?

 

BTW, Zaban today called Philadelphia "the most rabid sports city in the country."

 

Bush League?

Man, this Reggie Bush thing seems like it could be very, very ugly.  This has the potential to be one of the biggest college sports scandals since SMU got the death penalty.

 

This is really damaging to Bush as a person — there’ve been way too many Christ-like comparisons for the kid, as if he’s the savior of New Orleans — and also will hurt Carroll’s credibility.

 

I also find it kind of funny that Yahoo! Sports is breaking this investigative story – a story that has blockbuster potential.

 

First, the home is the worst, but at least Bush had a claim of plausible deniability there (as Pete Carroll put it, how many college kids know how their parents pay the mortgage?).  Not a good argument, but plausible. Second, you need to read the Yahoo! Sports article. There is much, much more than what you cited.  Including stays for Reggie at the Venetian in Vegas, $1,500 a week payments to his parents ($1,000 to dad and $500 to mom) and a pimped out Chevy Impala to Reggie.

 

Of interest to me is how the ncaa prohibits payments/loans from sports agents to players but somehow allows players, as in the case of Bush, to intern in sports agencies. Talk about temptation.

 

Think about the potential widespread impact this could have.  Hell, it may already be the reason Houston passed on him and why the Saints apparently had to have a meeting the night before the draft to discuss taking him.  It could lead to Pete Carroll coaching in the NFL, the destruction of a program that just 10 months ago I was e-mailing had to be the #1 school that any stud athlete would want to go to.  Vince Young receiving the Heisman.  And an Oklahoma team that was humiliated in the Orange Bowl being deemed National Champions. And Leinart’s college years being put under a microscope by every investigative sports journalist in the country. I’m sure he’s thrilled about that possibility.

 

and those are just the obvious starters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Giant Sunday

Eags have proven nothing. Even if they beat the giants it may not prove a whole lot depending on how the game is played. Only saying that if he Eagles are to be contenders they need to beat their division rivals at home (especially since they have that brutal stretch in December playing them all consecutively on the road.). And that if the Eagles win it will be a very good start in division.

 

Regardless of play, maybe most optimistic thing is that Skins lost at home to a team many probably had them beating. Giants lost at home but many had that a toss up at best. For Cowboys, the good news is that they lost to playoff team on road.

branch

Did the patriots ploy of allowing deion branch to seek a trade with other teams blow up in their faces? Expecting no team to match the Pats’ offer – to say nothing of Branch’s exorbitant demands – it now appears that 2 teams – jets and seahawks – will show him the money. But now they have to work out a trade with the pats – who are asking for a #1 and middle round pick. Ridiculous request and now the pats are in the worse negotiating position. Trade him for less, pay him what the jets would or not trade and not pay – with branch not playing.

 

could they really cut gaffney?

I’m beginning to think the stallworth trade wasn’t about pinkston’s abilities so much as gaffney’s play (or lack thereof).

Bowen -- “The logjam at wide receiver might be the most interesting one needing to get sorted out before tomorrow. Let's assume Reggie Brown, newcomer Donté Stallworth, fourth-round rookie Jason Avant and undrafted rookie Hank Baskett are on the team. There probably are six spots. If Reid's words yesterday and other indications recently are any guide, you can make Lewis the fifth receiver. That means either Darnerien McCants or Jabar Gaffney is out of a job tomorrow.

Gaffney has a much more impressive resume, 171 career catches vs. McCants' 58, but McCants is a strong special-teams performer. Eagles special-teams coordinator John Harbaugh said this week that Gaffney hasn't had a special-teams role with the Eagles, and it didn't sound as if he was going to be getting one.”

Lee Suggs?

Couldn’t the Browns and Eagles make a deal.  At this point, Lee Suggs seems like an excellent option for the Eagles.  A guy with tons of potential, can be an every down between the tackles back and also has the speed and hands to be a third-down back and fill in for Westbrook.  Seems a perfect fit for the Philly offense.  The Browns could use some depth at CB and Andy Reid seems to have some expendable young talent at that position.  Just seems like a deal should happen here.

 

Suggs is about 6 feet, 210.  He is big enough to fill the Eagles’ big back role/need.  He runs hard and can carry the load as an everydown back.  He is not Duece Staley size, but I think at this point in the seasonthe Eagles are not going to do much better (when you also factor in the low cost and perfect fit for the offense).  The talk in NY is that the Jets failed Suggs on purpose b/c they thought they had a better deal lined up for TJ Duckett or Kevan Barlow.

to

Amazing that this was published before he’s ever played a game!!

 

“If the Cowboys release Terrell Owens before the start of the season, they could save $5 million and possibly use that money to make a run at disgruntled Patriots receiver Deion Branch.”
 -- Fort Worth Star-Telegra

The Temple Lock

Iron Clad Lock of the year - tonight is the worst College FB game of the year.

 

I have to think that this is a first.  The 2 worst ranked teams in College FB (Temple- ranked 119 out of 119) vs Buffalo (118) square off tonight. 

 

The Bisons (-6) tonight, but the golden era of Temple football begins tonight!

Howard and history

What this kid is doing isn't just cool and great, we're now on the verge of talking about it being one of the single greatest homer seasons EVER by someone so young. I can't even sleep I'm so blown away by what No 6 is doing (never thought I'd ever type/say those words and not be referring to Dr J).

 

A quick check of baseballreferencecom shows that there are only a hanful of young power performances that compare, in terms of age.

Arod at 26 - which has been Howard's age all season - hit 57 homers. Jimmie Foxx at 24 hit 58. Griffey Jr at 26 hit 56. Mantle at 24 hit 52. Hank Greenberg at 27 hit 58.

 

Then, the best ever: Ruth at 26 yrs old in '21 hit 59 and Maris at 26 hit 61.

(The 'roid crew - Luis Gonzales, sosa, mcgwire, bonds - all did their damage in the 30s, a sure sign of drugs.)

 

Yet some of these guys who accomplished so much so early had played several to many seasons by the time they were 26 - such as Arod's 26 in '00 or Ruth's 59 in '21.

 

This is Howard's 1st full year.

 

If he hits 58 homers, this is the greatest season EVER for a young slugger.

 

And 58 is basically now about what I expect.

Stallworth

It'll be nice to have a 2nd NFL receiver on the team

Avant looked good on Friday night. The man can catch a football.
If only LJ had his hands.

pain

Perhaps the most horrifying thing in this video is that the guys 2 friends (brothers?) continue to play after he hurts himself.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RjtPkDdvkBU

 

stallworth stats

Year Team G/GS Rec. Yards TD
Avg. Long
2002 New Orleans Saints 13/7 42 594 8 14.1
57
2003 New Orleans Saints 11/3 25 485 3 19.4
76
2004 New Orleans Saints 16/10 58 767 5 13.2
45
2005 New Orleans Saints 16/13 70 945 7 13.5
43
Career 56/33 195 2,791 23
14.3 76

stallworth

From the new Orleans paper. 10 questions about saints season. Check out these questions.

QUESTION 7: Can these linebackers play?

ANSWER: This remains an even bigger concern, as the Saints continue to mix and match even more.

They traded a seventh-round pick to Dallas for weakside linebacker Scott Shanle last week, then immediately installed him as the starter for Saturday's game against the Colts.

The Saints also are continuing to explore a possible trade for San Diego Chargers veteran middle linebacker Donnie Edwards. If San Diego is willing to accept a fourth-round pick for the All-Pro, a deal could be done before the season starts. If not, the Saints are hoping second-year pro Alfred Fincher can continue to step up and develop into that role.

QUESTION 9: Who will drop the ball?

ANSWER: The battle at wide receiver has turned into one of the most fascinating -- and positive -- story lines in training camp.

While Joe Horn has looked as strong as ever, the next 10 guys behind him are in a free-for-all for the remaining roster spots.

It appears as though veterans Donté Stallworth and Devery Henderson will win jobs based on their track records, while youngsters Marques Colston and Jamal Jones will win jobs based on their outstanding training camp performances.

stallworth

We're kind of thin at lb - even if no one likes simoneau. They must be
really high on omar gaither.

Do you think he starts immediately?

I think Gaffney makes the team. Can't believe they signed him as FA only
to cut him.

I think Pinkston gets put on PUP. And lewis and mccants fight for the
last spot.

It's a conditional 4th round pick. Have to pass physicals.

Stallworth was the 13 pick overall in 2002!!

6 ft. 196 lbs.

Stallworth recorded career-bests in receptions and yards and became the
most dependable wide receiver in New Orleans last season. A speedster
who can stretch defenses and make plays after the catch, Stallworth
should benefit from the addition of Drew Brees in an offense that has a
chance to be explosive

Burrell

It pains me to watch him swing, pulling off on every single pitch, then desperately extending/flailing his arms out because at the very last second he's realizing -- oh no, not again! -- that it's a low and away slider, desperately trying to just make contact with the ball.

 

The other favorite Burrell picture is the a$$ stick out on the inside strike.  It's uncanny how many times he gets rung up looking and the a$$ stick out is always there