"simultaneous catch"

What I found really interesting in watching the replay was Mike Tirico saying - in real time - that they "simultaneously" caught the ball - which, of course, was the call that the refs made
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0HiBEzPVP8

A final word on the replacement refs

Regarding Monday night's controversial call, the thing that really struck me was the criticism that the two referees were making two different signals. I think that is a function of them not working together for a long time. The real refs would never make such a mistake, not because the two saw the play differently but one of them would copy the other's  signal just for consistency's sake and to avoid just such criticism.

And let's face it, these replacement refs are under a microscope in which the real refs never are, which is kind of unfair. For instance, I think that simultaneous catch is actually closer than it appears. And some pundits are killing the refs for not calling Golde Tate for a pass interference shove on that final play, but that is a call that is never made in that situation

The referees really are damned if they do, damned if they don't.

Friedman

The nut graph of Tom Friedman's column today.

"That world is gone. It is now a more open system. Technology and globalization are wiping out lower-skilled jobs faster, while steadily raising the skill level required for new jobs. More than ever now, lifelong learning is the key to getting into, and staying in, the middle class."

Strip away Friedman's flat earth mumbo jumbo and what it really means is that you have to work harder and spend more ("lifelong learning") just to maintain the wages you currently have. Indeed, he recites all of the additional responsibilities of a NY Times reporter, presumably with no corresponding increase in salary.

Castro Brothers

Julia Castro and his brother look like those Chinese acrobatic twins. 

My brother's take

I don't see 7 losses. Thats for sure.

Mid season tough schedule. Giants to end september and then falcon lions steelers saints in some order.  Brutal.  That'why gotta win the first 2 of 3 aagainst the weak teams and maybe start 3-0 before hosting giants Sunday night sept 30.   2nd half Andy should be able to work his magic.  2 skins panthers, Bengals, bucs, cowboys.  Before ending in the meadowlands.  11-5 is where I am at.  The d line is impressive.  Nnamdi will be better

Time for some football!!   I expect eagles to be good. Ravena game huge litmus test.  Can start 3-0 if beat ravens. And get some mo.  In the words of e calvin lalouche we'll " announce our presence with authority'

Predictions

My friend PK writes:

I have a slightly different take on the season. I think the most important games are the Cardinals and the Lions, among the 1st 6 weeks. I have us coming outta that stretch going just 4-2, with losses to Steelers and Ravens. The worst-case scenario is 3-3 with those losses plus a loss to NYG.

So long as we come outta that stretch at 3-3, and so long as we haven't suffered some ridiculous season-ending injury to a key player like Vick or McCoy, I'm OK with where we go for the season. That's why I think the Cards/Lions games are soooooo important. Those are NFC games. We absolutely have to take care of business and beat them. Because those are NFC games. If we come outta the 1st 6 games 4-2, with only losses coming to the AFC teams, so be it.

Then we hit a bye week and, doubling down on Andy's good vibes, not only do we have a bye but we come out of it with a home game against a QB we usually beat, Matt Ryan. Then we go to NoLa for Mon night, at which point I firmly believe they will be a team in a downward spiral. We take them on Election Eve.

At that point we're rolling, and we take 3 of the next 4: Dallas, Skins, Panthers, Dallas.
So, frankly, I say we're either 8-4 or 9-3 at that point.

Of those final 4 games, I think splitting them is pretty easy.

I can make a case for a 12-4 season, but I'm standing down with a 11-5 prediction.

I don't quite understand why people like Peter King are so negative on the Eagles.

Are you ready for some football?

Here's my take on the Eagles' season.

Wins
Browns
Cardinals (though the Eagles always play lousy in Arizona)
Falcons (Eags usually beat Penn Charter's Matt Ryan when he comes to town)
Giants home
Cowboys home
Redskins - away
Panthers – unless Cam Newton has a breakout game.
Bucs
Bengals
Redskins home

Losses
Giants away
Cowboys away – if they win this one and the home one they will be in very good shape

Swing
Ravens – huge momentum if we win the home opener and go 2-0
Steelers – could be a classic let down game following a Sunday night game vs. the Giants.
Lions – not sure where I see the Lions going this year. Building on last year's playoff spot or regressing with a harder schedule?
Saints – maybe put this in the loss column since it's away but can't help but think the Saints hang tough early in the season but implode as the weight of bountygate takes its toll and the loss of the players, head coach and gm takes its toll as the season wears on – hopefully by week 9 when we play them.

So that's 10 wins, 2 losses, and 4 undecided.

Splitting the undecided (Ravens and Lions as wins since their home games and Steelers and Saints as away losses), that's 12-4. Even if you then allow for bad game (like the Falcons or Panthers) that's 11-5. And then if you go ahead and throw in that the Eagles go 1-3 against the undecideds rather than 2-2, that still leaves the Eagles at worst 10-6.