A Return to Glory?

For the newly revitalized and expanded Ches-Mont League? This was one of the premier football and high school sports leagues in the Philadelphia area back in the 1980s. Alas, it fell on hard times after some of the smaller schools – St. Pius X (always a tough opponent), Spring-Ford, etc. - pulled out in the face of a growing enrollment disparity among the Downingtown and West Chester schools, particularly Downingtown.

 

“Five of the new members - Great Valley, Kennett, Octorara, Oxford and Unionville - and former Del-Val League member Sun Valley will form the smaller schools American Division in football. Sun Valley, which will also compete this season in soccer, will join in all other sports in 2008.

 

Bayard Rustin, the newest school in the West Chester School District, will also join the American Division. Octorara will play only a junior varsity schedule the first year.

 

Avon Grove, Bishop Shanahan, Coatesville, Downingtown East, Downingtown West, West Chester East and West Chester Henderson will make up the big school National Division,” reports the Inqy. Alas, W. Chester East is not mentioned as a contender for the football title.

 

TO regrets McNabb relationship

Ten questions for Terrell Owens in Time Magazine. This one caught my eye.

 

“Do you regret how your relationship with quarterback Donovan McNabb turned sour in Philadelphia? David Sansone, PHILADELPHIA

 

You know what? I do regret some of the things that happened. Donovan is a great guy. Honestly, I do miss being around him. I learned some things from Donovan. It was a bad situation, and if there were a way I could go back and handle some things differently, I definitely would.”

Super Bowl or Bust for Eagles

So says the Sporting News. Great McNabb quote about “sealing the deal.”

Mama!

Yesterday afternoon’s thrilling bottom of the 9^th inning come-from-behind win (against Billy Wagner no less!) reminded me of another thrilling Phillies’ rally on Mother’s Day 1993.

 

On May 9, 1993, the Cardinals were winning 5-2 going into the bottom of the 8^th (Phillies starter Curt Schilling had left the inning before after giving up 4 earned runs and throwing 118 pitches). Cardinals starter Bob Tewksbury faced the heart of the Phillies order in the bottom of the 8^th: their 3-4-5 hitters.

John Kruk struckout to start the inning. Dave Hollins tapped back to the pitcher for the 2^nd out. But then Darren Daulton singled and Wes Chamberlained doubled, sending Daulton to third.

In came imposing closer Lee Smith to stop the nonsense. He walked Milt Thompson on a full count. The tying run was now on base.

 

Up came free swinging SS Mariano Duncan. He drove the first pitch into the left center field stands for a grand slam and the 6-5 lead. I can still recall all of this because my brother and I, along with several other friends, were over at our buddy Wolffie’s house and as the Phils continued to put runners on in the eighth (with two outs) our attention turned more and more to the game on TV. And when Duncan hit the grand slam I vividly remember the pandemonium in his living room with about 8-10 of us jumping up and down and high fiving each other like the Phils had just won the pennant. (Of course, it being the Phils, we had to endure a Mitch Williams 9^th. Though I can’t recall this part of the game nearly as well, the box score indicates that Willams got the first two outs of the inning (one on a deep fly to left center), and then allowed a single before getting Ozzie Smith to pop up to the hero of the game, Mariano Duncan.)

 

There was something about that game. It’s easy in retrospect to see it as a harbinger of that magical ’93 season. It was all on display that day: the clutch hitting, the contributions from every part of the lineup, the Wild Thing ninth’s, and the never say die attitude. That last part can’t be overemphasized enough: that team never felt like it was out of a game, even down by 5 runs in the 9^th  there was always a sense that they could rally. It was a feeling that became a self-fulfilling prophecy.)

 

But it wasn’t just in hindsight. There was something about that game AT THE TIME that gave every Phillies fan the feeling that there was something special about this team, something special about this season. And we all enjoyed the ride (well, right up to the 9^th inning of game 6 in Toronto).

I also think there was something about the collective experience of watching that game. A bond was formed with all of us in Wolff’s living room, with each other and that team. Call it karma or whatever you want, but there was some sort of psychic power harnessed by all of us that bore witness to the magic of that game. It’s hard to explain, but if you watched that game you’d know the feeling you had about the ’93 Phillies after May 9.

Fast forward fourteen years. Yesterday’s win was Mother’s Day 1993 all over again. For a team that has suffered through bad bounces and the body blows of continual injuries, the series against the Mets up to yesterday was a reversal of fortune. Seemingly every bounce and break started to go the Phillies way, from Aaron Rowand’s 40 foot trickler that nestled on the foul line to Marlon Anderson being called out for interference that transformed a tie game into a game ending double play win.

 

But all of that was a prelude to yesterday’s 11-10 slugfest. Here are samples of the string of emails I sent out to friends yesterday as I listened to the game on my work computer:

·         Phils up 5-0 in the 3^rd after Burrell hit a 2 run HR (his career 40^th and 101 RBIs vs. Mets) and then a HR by Rowand! Not to overstate the obvious, but a sweep is the difference between 2 games in the standings

·         Rowand just caught a Conine drive at the top of the left center wall.

·         Inning later, Werth just climbed the out of town scoreboard wall to rob Beltran. I’m starting to get a special feeling about the Phils.

·         The relay throw that would have nailed Carlos Ruiz by 15 feet as he tried to stretch a double into a triple just hit him in the back….safe. Everything is bouncing their way.

·         Mets 4 run 8^th (so far) gives them 9-8 lead, including stolen 3^rd base and score on dropped throw. Why replace Romero with Alfonseca? Why?! Why!? Why?!

·         Burrell just hit HR to narrow lead. Met killer indeed.

·         Jimmy Rollins might just end this game right now in the bottom of the 9^th.

 

Once again, everyone contributed, including guys like Taguchi, Werth, and Ruiz, there was clutch hitting galore, a high-wire reliever (take your pick, Gordon or Alfonseca, who couldn’t get a single Met out yesterday), and that “never say die spirit.” And like the Mother’s Day come from behind win against the Cardinals, this one too completed a series sweep.

 

But here’s the eerie part. A lot of people I know were either watching or listening to yesterday’s game live. My brother had it on his car radio on a drive up to Philadelphia. I had it on my computer. Our friend Crow, who was in Wolff’s living room with us in 1993, was actually at the game. My stepfather just happened to be home, turned on the TV in the late innings and became fixated by the drama. Even my Mom for some reason was listening to it at work. My point is, that a lot of people were following this game live, a surprisingly high number (albeit from my limited perspective) for a Thursday afternoon game. My point is this: This team just got sprinkled with the collective pixie dust. August 30. Mark it down. Anything is now possible.

2007 Projection

Texas viewpoint of Eagles potential.

Mets-Phils

Jimmy Rollins might just end this game right now in the bottom of the 9^th.

Ugh

Why replace Romero with Alfonseca? Why?! Why!? Why?!

 

I am a big fan of Romero – relative to the rest of the bullpen. I would like to see him get a more prominent role and be put in later in the game.

 

Burrell just hit HR to narrow lead. Met killer indeed.

Never mind

Mets 4 run 8^th (so far) gives them 9-8 lead, including stolen 3^rd base and score on dropped throw.

 

Gotta Believe?

The relay throw that would have nailed Carlos Ruiz by 15 feet as he tried to stretch a double into a triple just him in the back….safe. Everything is bouncing their way.

Phils-Mets

Rowand just caught a Conine drive at the top of the left center wall. Inning later, Werth just climbed the out of town scoreboard wall to rob Beltran.

 

I’m starting to get a special feeling about the Phils.

Phils-Mets

Phils up 5-0 in the 3^rd after Burrell hit a 2 run HR (his career 40^th and 101 RBIs vs. Mets) and then a HR by Rowand!

 

Not to overstate the obvious, but a sweep is the difference between 2 games in the standings

jfadklsfjsd;ouaid

Listening to the game on WPHT last night, the two announcers were incomprehensible for about 30 seconds during the attempted double play in the top of the 9^th. They were only able to offer a stream of gibberish intermixed with the roars of the crowd that drown everything out and signified at least that SOMETHING big had just happened. Finally, they were able to intelligibly bleat out “it’s a double play, the game is over, the Phils win.”

Considine is No Lewis

Sure Michael Lewis’ coverage skills were a liability last year (remember the Saints regular season game?), but Lewis always hit like a truck. Sean Considine, his replacement, is better in coverage and reportedly put on 10-15 lbs – presumably of muscle – to fill the Strong Safety punch lost by Lewis’ leaving.

If the Steelers game is any indication, Considine’s offseason workout results are disappointing at best.

Which of the two Considine plays stands out more?

The one where he tried to bring the wood to an exposed TE Heath Miller on a floating pass down the middle? Considine not only failed to jar Miller enough to prevent him from catching it, he literally bounced off Miller as the big TE rumbled down to the goal line.

But the more bizarre play was later in the game also down near the goal line. The Steelers RB was being tackled inside the ten and Considine came up to add another punishing lick to the runner. With the runner’s momentum nearly dead stopped (he was practically on the ground at that point), Considine lowered his head hit the runner and the Eagle tackler….AND CONSIDINE BOUNCED BACKWARD LANDING ON HIS CAN.

The two plays could be chalked up to fluke plays except for the physical manhandling the Eagles’ defense experienced, and which makes Considine “physicality” a looming problem. With Omar Gaither being manhandled in the middle, Considine’S less than imposing presence could compound a small and weak defense.

Simon Sighting

Maybe with Corey Simon still in the league, we can finally find out what his non-football related malady was.

Ole Gaither

Ok, anyone else more mystified by the release of Trotter and more concerned about middle LB after watching Omar Gaither – whose size made him look more like a D-back than a LB last night (no surprise, he’s only 13 lbs heavier than Michael Lewis) – get manhandled at the point of attack on numerous occasions last night?

 

If the Eagles coaches were so concerned about Trotter’s second half performance last year, why didn’t they make middle LB a draft priority in April? It would appear that LB should have been a higher priority than QB for the Eagles this year. Paul Posluszny and David Harris would have been a better pick – would certainly play more – than Kevin Kolb this season.

 

I don’t necessarily blame Gaither. He’s a weakside LB being put in a bad position for which he simply doesn’t have the size. I do blame Reid and Heckert for drafting Matt McCoy instead of Kirk Morrison, the repercussions of that highly questionable pick will be felt all season.

 

Spikes will be the middle LB by the 4^th game of the season.

 

Super 5

A friend writes:

Funny thing about Eags fans, those of us that live away from Philly - away from the caldron, away from WIP, away from Angelo Cataldi's morning show - we know that the only way this team wins a Super Bowl is on No 5's shoulders.
A great defense and a great Westbrook season gets us to the NFC championship, but McNabb's the one who can carry us across the finish line.

Sadly, too many inside the 215 area don't see it as clearly as those of us who get the extra vision of looking at it from a distance.

 

My Take on Trotter

Having time to process it, I think the Eagles were penny-wise and pound foolish…again. Please excuse the following lengthy rant.

 

I agree with all of Besty’s points – the most obvious that apparently NO ONE else is talking about is that for a defense that everyone was so concerned was undersized, you’ve now got a middle LB at 235 lbs. Even given Trotter’s lost 9 lbs, Gaither is 20 lbs.!! lighter than Trotter.

 

My only question would be regarding Trotter’s pride? Did he not want to be a backup? Did he not want to restructure? Was there an issue with him playing special teams? Did the Eagles even offer either of those possibilities to him before cutting him loose?.

 

I find it interesting that among all that talk last year about our defensive line being inadequate at stopping the run, there was not much talk about Trotter’s performance. Now that the decision is made we get Rich Hoffman and Les Bowen telling us that “Rumors started last winter that when the coaching staff reviewed film of the 2006 season, the biggest surprise was how slow Trotter looked, and how much teams had really targeted him in their game-planning. Officially, the word was that Trotter needed to lose weight, and that if he did, he would more or less split the job this season with smaller, quicker second-year linebacker Omar Gaither, who probably wouldn't start, but would play most passing downs.” (Bowen) Really? This a question for reporters. Bowen’s article suggests that he heard these “rumors” 6 months ago. Then again, it could read that Bowen is now merely publishing the Eagles’ coaching staff’s revisionist interpretation of Trotter’s play to justify the decision. Which do you think it is? And if Bowen heard the rumors last winter, doesn’t he have some sort of obligation to report it? It’d be interesting if his articles back then focused solely on Dhani Jones and Darwin Walker and the d- line and if they make any mention, even subtly to Trotter or the interior linebacker play.

 

And we get Rich Hoffman and the numbers don’t lie. “In 2005, teams threw at the Eagles on first down 38 percent of the time. In 2006, that went up to 47 percent of the time - a very big leap. The result was first down last year became the

Eagles' worst down, by far, when you look at the yards they allowed.”

 

Fine. I get it. Trotter was becoming a liability. But he would have been a nice security blanket if all these new LBs – and I include Spikes in that group – can’t play. Plus, AT THE VERY LEAST TROTTER COULD HAVE PLAYED IN GOAL LINE SITUATIONS.

 

And really, was a slow Trotter any worse than Kirkland or Barry Gardner? I would think Trotter’s presence in the locker room would be enough to justify $2.6 million this year. This is a team that in theory is a super bowl contender. I understand the move a lot more if this team were rebuilding and you were just cutting dead wood. God forbid Gaither or Spikes go down, or Gocong can’t play. Then we’ll see the likes of Tank Daniels and Matt McCoy in there. And Daniels is a perennial practice squader who the coaches “like” just as they did with Mike Labinjo and Greg Richmond, two other Trotter heirs apparent that never panned out.

 

(for this same super bowl contender reasoning, I think it would insane to get rid of Kelly Holcomb and keep Kolb as the #3 starter. Your “injury-prone” starter is coming of a torn ACL. If he goes down, you have AJ Feeley, which is as capable a back up as you get these days in the NFL, but then Kolb, an untested rookie is the backup and the Eagles are then scrambling to pull someone off the waiver wire – remember Omar Jacobs? On the positive sign, maybe they could re-sign Detmer, who could also hold for Akers. And why Feeley isn’t holding for Akers is a whole other email exchange for another day). Why not put Kolb on the practice squad and keep Holcomb as insurance? The man has played in playoff games, while Kolb hasn’t even played in a real game yet.

 

The fact is that since they drafted Trotter, middle LB has been a disaster when he wasn’t starting. Would the Tampa championship game have turned out different if he were playing instead of Gardner and Kirkland? Perhaps. Gardner, Kirkland, Caver, McCoy, Simoneaux, Jones, Wayne, #57 whose name escapes me – it’s the one position the Eagles do not evaluate well

 

Plus, Trotter’s relationship with the Eagles has been star-crossed for years now. Yes, Trotter was unrealistic to seek Urlacher and Ray Lewis type money after his first contract, but let’s face it, Reid really screwed him by franchising him and then removing the tag in early summer after most teams had filled their LB needs. There is a fine line between making hard personnel choices among aging veterans, and completely undermining them. Trotter’s return was a feel good story capped off by his pro bowl selection. Why put a damper on that feeling among the other players and the fans? (don’t discount the fans’ affection for Trotter, which I think Reid should have at least taken slightly into account. Sure, it’s a business, but it’s also a sport played on emotion, keeping Trotter – particularly if he could make a couple of plays a game – would have helped with that, certainly at the Linc).

 

Finally, sadly, his waiver is the continuation of Reid’s MO. One that I think is too often short-sighted. For instance, why cut Hugh Douglas, a clubhouse leader and McNabb booster, when you knew you were going to have trouble with TO in year 2? His worth in maintaining some order in the locker room would have been more valuable than the contributions he could have made on the field. And as an active player, his credibility would have been more enhanced than the “ambassador” role he played when he punched out TO mid way through the season.

 

Same thing with Ike Reese. A special teams leader, fan favorite, and Reid-disciple. Why not throw him an extra million or use the veteran exemption on him to keep him in Philly? Maybe he really wanted to try to be a starting LB, but I think if the Eagles had made even a halfway fair offer, he would have stayed. Sure the Eagles have a reputation for not overpaying old players, but giving each of these guys something would have gone a long way to blunting some of those criticisms and showing the locker room that the Eagles reward loyalty and leadership on occasion.

 

 Same thing with Trotter now.

 

All I know is that Tiki Barber said that Jeremiah Trotter was the guy that always hit him the hardest and left him most sore after games.

Axing the Ax Man

Comments and reactions from friends on the stunning departure of Jeremiah Trotter:

 

JG: Can't really go against Reid and personnel decisions too much.  I thought Trotter looked bad against Ravens.  Still slow.

I can't believe he's not better than Tank Daniels, but maybe the "emotional talk" they had dealt w/ backup role and Trotter still wants to start.  I've been going with that in my head.  That's why they cut him now so he can catch on w/ another team.  I hope that's not it because if it is then I say screw him - make him backup and give us depth.  I hope he really is done.

 

 

PK: Personally, I know it's tough to see a beloved vet go but this is part of the reason we're considered such a top notch organization, making those calls correctly. If Trotter was too old to play on anything other than 1st down or really short yardage situations, we couldn't afford to pay him the big $$$$. And also, this defense has been led physically and emotionally for 3 or 4 yrs by BDawk, clearly. Trotter was a leader on D, but Dawkins is The Leader.
That said, what's our plan to stuff the run this year? Do we have one? Crossing our fingers and hoping we're better? It's been the Achilles of Johnson's D since '04 (when Trotter got reinserted as a starter solely to stuff the run in the final 8 games). The Saints exploited this in reg season and in NFC playoffs last year - ending our season with clock killing precision against our helpless defense. (Only a Brees miscue gave us the ball back late in the 4th in playoffs.)
Is Omar Gaither ready to become the Trotter of '99-'00-'01?  Not sure.

 

MB: It was totally to save money.  Why else do you cut Trot and keep McCoy?   Trot's already been contacted by NYG.  So, up the middle on defense we have, Bunkley(essentially a rookie who's been a bum to date), Patterson(undersized), Gaither (never played the middle before, undersized), Dawkins (aging, has hardly practiced or played in preseason due to injury) and Considine(white guy, undersized). Our linebackers are Spikes (15 games in last 2 years), Gaither (see above), Gocong (never played linebacker in his life, NFL rookie).  They generally do make good decisions regarding older players (Vincent, Taylor), but they better be right, because their judgment on linebackers has been horrendous.  Outside of Trot, our other MLB's have been Gardner, Kirkland and Simoneaux.  They were only paying Trot $2.6 this year.  Not a ton, but a lot for a backup.  Why not ask him to restructure and see if he takes the offer?   Seems like quite a gamble for a team in the hunt in a WIDE open NFC.  In the interviews with Dawkins, he said all the right things about letting Trot go, but his attitude was, "I hope they're right." 

Andrews Watch

Getting a lot more concerned about Shawn Andrews' ankle injury. Les Bowen has a great, short story on the possibly much more severe condition Andrews could have, osteonecrosis.

www.philly.com/philly/sports/eagles/20070818_Sources__Andrews_injury_could_be_serious.html

It's all very conspiratorial. Reid says Andrews will be fine. Andrews is in tears talking about what could be a much more significant injury. Interestingly, as Bowen notes, Reid flatly denied the more serious possibilities of Andrews' injury. Would he do that if he had any inkling it could be much more serious. Doubtful, even for Reid. Stay tuned, and keep an eye on Max Jean-Gilles.

War Without Death

The Washington Post’s Mark Maske, the former beat reporter for the Redskins till owner Danny Snyder got him reassigned after threatening to pull his advertising cause he didn’t like the negative stories about mediocre on-field performance and dysfuncational team office leadership, has a new book out. It chronicles last season in the NFC East, called War Without Death.

Asking for Permission

Sorry, I just can’t help but wonder about such things…so how do you think Jenna’s suitor goes about getting an appointment with the President of the United States to ask for his daughter’s hand in marriage?

Rocket Tocchet

With the national attention on crooked NBA ref and O’Hara grad Tim Donaghy, how has this NHL gambling- involving former Flyer Rick Tocchet- been able to fly under the radar screen?

G'day Mate

Sal Rocca is built like a LB and can take a hit like an LB. Here’s a link to the vicious shot he took Monday night vs. the Ravens. Aside from it being a very cheap shot, the Raven should have been kicked out of the game for leading with the crown of his helmet in a helmet-to-helmet hit. Also, I’ll echo the announcers’ kudos for Gasperson for standing up for his punter.

Bunkley a Junkyard Dog

Les Bowen tackles the hound that didn’t bark concept with B. Bunkley’s play.

Tiger Take

After Tiger Woods won his 13th major yesterday without being seriously challenged, we’re left wondering if there is any contemporary competition for him. The answer may go a long way toward defining his legacy. It hasn’t gotten a lot of attention yet, but in his ongoing quest to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships surely questions will begin to emerge about the quality of Tiger’s competition.

Think about it. Nicklaus won 18 majors playing against some of golf’s all-time greats: Arnie Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino. Who, if anybody, is in that class among Tiger’s colleagues? Sergio Garcia? Please. Still hasn’t won a major. Justin Leonard? Remember him? Vijay Singh? Phil Mickelson, he of the man boobs? Be serious. Woody Austin and Bob May – journeymen he has beaten for previous championships? Maybe his most formidable rival will be Ernie Els. But revelations in yesterday’s broadcast make me skeptical. Tiger is playing for history and destiny. Els is playing, so said the CBS announcers, to win the “career grand slam.” (he’s got 2 of the 4 legs: the US and British Opens). It hardly seems a fair fight, they’re playing for two radically different goals.

It is worth noting that Tiger has more major championships than the rest of the top 10 players combined.

It sort of reminds me of the Larry Holmes era in boxing. Ali was champion in an era with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton and Ernie Shavers. Holmes (the Easton Assassin) was the subsequent champ who reigned over a mediocre (at best) heavyweight division in which Leon Spinks and Jerry Quarry were considered top contenders. Indeed, Spinks was briefly champion. It was so bad that Randall “Tex” Cobb and Ed Too Tall Jones took up boxing and were considered serious fighters.

Without a doubt, Tiger - along with Nicklaus – is of the two greatest golfers of all time. But in another major or two, hard questions are going to have to be asked about his reign. Is he pummeling the field into submission? Or is the field so bereft of talent – certainly less talent then when Nicklaus played – capable of making it a competitive contest.

Down the Crapper

What’s that noise in the bathroom? Just Will Heaton flushing his career down the toilet.

Game Preview

A Baltimoron view of the Eagles preseason game tonight in Charm City vs. the Ravens. “I love it when the Eagles come to town. It's the only time all year you're allowed to tailgate outside Central Booking.”

Incredible but true

My brother and friend are in Saratoga for the horse races. They have been betting on the local action, but also simulcasts from tracks across the country. They put a$1 on the superfecta on the 3^rd race at Louisiana Downs…and won! $8,000 schemolas. They got their picture taken when they cashed the ticket, but the OTB withheld two grand for taxes (they’re going to be getting 1099 forms.). So if you see two stumbling, drunken bums up in Saratoga today, they’ve got $6,000 in cash burning a hole in their pockets.

Incredible.

State of the Team - in Dog Terms

The NFL is, beyond doubt, the premier sports league in the United States. Because of the sport’s popularity, the teams’ owners are treated to ridiculous obsequiesness. The pompastic use of “Mr. Lurie” or “Mr. Rooney” in reference to the owner is the biggest case in point. And so, too is the presumptuousness of a “State of the Team” address. Please.

Worse is Lurie’s revisionist history during his address the other day. In regards to Michael Vick’s dog fighting charges, Lurie noted how in recent years Thomas Hamner and Damon Moore were found guilty of animal abuse and quickly discharged from the team. If that it were so.

Damon Moore was the starting strong safety in the 2001 NFC Championship game vs. the Rams. The only reason the team released him was cause he blew out his knee late in that game and was never the same. Message? Not that the Eagles abhor animal cruelty, but that if you can play, they will look the other way….until you can’t play anymore.

Afford to Lose

A friend is non-plussed by the Westbrook camp departure and suggests that “bigger concern is the B-Dawk achilles tendinitis.  That is said to be a precursor to Achilles tear.  They oughtta shut him down now.”

Vote in the poll to the right about the Eagle player the team can least afford to lose.

36 Emergency

Brian Westbrook has left camp for “personal reasons” and may not be back. Usually losing your star running back with such bizarre and ambiguous news would prompt some sort of investigative reporting or comprehensive coverage. Alas, all we get from the Inqy is a strange video of Eagles beat writer Bob Brookover’s reaction. Who cares about his reaction? Let’s get some info please!

But We're the Phillies

A good friend writes:

 

If I had any faith in the Phillies as a team -- as an organization, as a franchise, as a values system -- I'd think that Sunday’s 5-run rally in the 9th, capped off by winning in the 11th, is the spark that sends them marching into the playoffs. With other teams, that's what would happen. Think Red Sox-Yankees, late July '04, Varitek beats up ARod, no one on the New York bench defends their star, the Sox pound Rivera in the 9th, capped off by Mueller's homer to win it (or did he tie it and they win in extras?), sending the Sox on to a great August, September and October.

 

But we're the Phillies. Incredible wins like yesterday's do nothing to spur momentum to the very next day, it's amazing. Seriously, amazing. I sat through those 14 innings late last September, watching the Phils eek out a huge win over the Nats in RFK on a Wed night, with all momentum seemingly all on their side, then saw them come out and play one of their most listless games of the year the very next night when the game started at 11:35 pm and the only people in the stadium were 500 of the most insanely rabid sports fans ever assembled, just pure raw drunken lunatics, not a single one of them belonging on the public streets.

 

It's amazing how this team can sometimes play with all the fire in the world and then just sleep walk through games the very next night.

 

4th Most Starts

Hopeful sign for the future success of Kevin Kolb, courtesy of the Tuesday Morning QB.

“Gil Brandt of NFL.com showed a statistical relationship between college games started and NFL success for quarterbacks. On this basis he predicted Brady Quinn, with 46 college starts, has a strong chance of NFL success while JaMarcus Russell, with 29 starts, could be a star but might be a bust. Brandt also noted Kevin Kolb's 50 college starts at Houston are fourth-most ever, predicting success for this little-heralded player, while showing the high-drafted bust quarterbacks tended to be ones who did not start many college games. Akili Smith started 19 times in college, for example. Quarterbacking depends on "reading" the field situation, and it makes sense that the more experience a quarterback had at the college level, the more likely he is to handle the pros. Philip Rivers started 51 college games, and when he took the field for the Chargers, knew what he was doing. Brandt's theory here seems so simple and so well-backed with stats that it is a wonder the megabucks scouting departments of NFL teams did not figure this out long ago.”

Memo to McNabb

Memo

 

To: Donovan McNabb

Fr: Rich Burg

Re: Mike Vick

 

Shut up.

Clarify remarks on blog.

Shut up.

I See Lots of 5 Yard Penalties

I can see wide receivers, especially those from Florida St., Florida, and particularly Miami, taking a while to adjust to this new NFL rule change: “no longer will players be allowed to spike or throw the football in the field of play after a down has ended - except after a touchdown - without being called for a delay of game resulting in a five-yard penalty. The reasoning behind the change is to improve sportsmanship, and to decrease the amount of time wasted it takes in retrieving the ball.”

Training Camp Coverage

The AC Press is providing good reviews of the day’s activities.  

Darwin's Deal

Darwin Walker got the pay raise and contract extension he was looking for. Good for Darwin, a good guy. But call me skeptical about some of the numbers in the contract. Talk about funny money. The 5-year, $25 million deal includes $12.5 million in bonus and incentive money. That’s half the value of the contract. Say a $2 million signing bonus and I’m guessing the rest of those “bonuses” are roster bonuses in years 3, 4 or 5. His base salary this year is $2 million. So he’s guaranteed $4 million (this year’s salary + bonus). And he’ll probably get the $2 million in base next year (assuming no career ending injury in 2007). That brings him to $6 million in cash received. But he’ll be lucky to get the other $6 million to bring him to just HALF of the actual contract “value.” That’s the reality in the NFL today.

Running a College Program

The always insightful Rick Gosselin says “Andy Reid runs the Philadelphia Eagles like an elite college football program. He's willing to redshirt a good player in an effort to make him a great one.” It’s a great analogy.

A hallmark of Reid’s tenure has been to draft not for immediate needs, but for needs two or three years down the road. The result is that Reid is able to replace aging stars not with untested rookies (for the most part) but with 2 or 3-year veterans – think Lito Sheppard and Sheldon Brown for Bobbie Taylor and Troy Vincent. (Or, next year Winston Justice for William Thomas II, or gulp, Kevin Kolb for Donovan McNabb?)

Thus, Gosselin suggests, “the Eagles figure to be better in 2007 than the team that won a division title and reached the semifinal round of the NFC playoffs in 2006” because of the more prominent roles some of the 2006 rookies will be making.

Specifically, Gosselin cites Jeremy Bloom and Chris Gocong. Interestingly, he doesn’t mention at all Brodrick Bunkley. Considering only Bunkley saw the field and then only provided very limited contributions, taking into account how poorly Dhani Jones was playing, and the middling skills of Reno Mahe – anything these three can add is 1) a bonus and 2) performance above the 2006 baseline -  suggesting that the team’s play in their areas of responsibility will be net improvements this year. Improvements to a divisional round playoff team. Not bad.

  

For you Bonds Haters

As Barry Bonds staggers toward tying Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record (funny, no one ever mentions Sadahura Oh of the Japanese League, like we used to growing up - just to be smart-alecky), and the scorn and outright hatred continue to be heaped on Bonds I had a thought.

If Bonds really wanted to thumb his nose at the “purists” and all of those who didn’t say squat during the raging ‘roid era but are now coming out of the woodwork and are shocked – Shocked! players were using performance-enhancing drugs, perhaps the best way to get back at all of them – and truly enrage them…would be to not break Aaron’s record, but to tie it and then retire.

Think about it. In tying it and not breaking it, he dissipates a fair amount of anger at him for unfairly (supposedly) gaining a competitive advantage. Complaints would have to be tempered by the notion that he didn’t break the record, only tied it. He would also leave baseball on his terms, his way. Confident and comfortable in the knowledge that he would have broken the record if he wanted to. The gracious act would also earn him, I think, a tremendous amount of goodwill. But in true Bonds’ fashion, it would also be a supremely selfish thing to do. Not only for allowing him to take credit for a noble act, but also would forever link his name and deeds with one of, if not the most, pre-eminent baseball all-time great players and individuals. One could not talk about Aaron without mentioning that Bonds TIED his home run mark. One could not talk about Bonds without mentioning his connection to Aaron in the record book. It would be an ingenious way of embracing through history and the record book, a legendary player who wants nothing to do with him.

It’s so Bondsian, it almost makes too much sense.

Chicago Slant on Walker and Salary Cap

Fascinating take on the Darwin Walker trade to the Bear, about general salary issues, and the astute Eagles’ strategy being imitated now by other teams published in the Windy City’s Sun-Times. “It's an interesting cautionary tale for the Bears, who built their team by using the Philadelphia method of identifying young players and signing them to long-term contracts. It's a good deal for players because they get their money early and a good deal for teams because they write cap-friendly contracts that are below market value in the long run.

The problem is that the salary cap has exploded with the new collective bargaining agreement, and many contracts for players who signed early extensions are far below market value.”

The story also reveals that it was a 5^th rounder the Bears gave the Bills for Walker, and that Walker owns an engineering firm in Philly employing 1,000 people!? Which, if true, suggests that Walker is almost certainly earning more from his non-football business than he is from the $1.3 million/year he is making as a defensive tackle.

McNabb's Sal Pal

Sal Pal is going to cover the McNabb thing like a glove, so we can be sure the worldwide leader will have continual coverage of every McNabb utterance, Reid grumble, and Kolb rep from now till the end of the season. Still, it is slightly reassuring that at least someone well versed in Philadelphia sports will be the one to provide the coverage.

A couple of thoughts on the latest piece:

1)      Even with a slight salary increase next year, McNabb remains an outstanding NFL bargain at $5.5 million this year and $6.3 million next – a testament to the salary cap savvy of Joe Banner.

2)      This “NFL” = “Not For Long” is an overworn and inaccurate cliché. It needs to be put to rest.

3)      The scrutiny is such that if and when McNabb wears a knee brace or taking snaps from the shotgun formation are BIG deals.

4)      Sal Pal digs a little deeper to offer an insightful counter argument about McNabb’s MVP pace last year. The shock was in seeing in print that the Eagles lost 4 of the last 5 games McNabb played in last season.

5)       Of course Reid’s plan is to ensure McNabb is ready to start when the games begin to count on 9/9. Why would anyone expect any differently?

6)      McNabb’s first media availability with newly hired PR flack Rich Burg in May was a “rocky start?” How so Sal Pal?

Are you Ready for Some Football?

"Eagles are in training, Get your liver ready!"

Sign outside of Duffers in West Chester, Pa. I am not kidding.

Poll Question

Will Mike Vick play at all this season?

 

1)      Yes

2)      No

75% McNabb

Even a 3/4s complete McNabb is better than most of the NFL’s current starting QBs and certainly better than untested rookie Kevin Kolb at 100%.

Bill Walsh Dies

Football genius Bill Walsh has lost his fight with leukemia.

A More Public McNabb

The Donovan McNabb public outreach campaign continues with the unveiling of his new blog here. Great, just what Eagleseye needs, more blog completion and from someone with an inside the huddle perspective (literally). Very interesting, though unsurprising development, given McNabb’s moves over the past six months with respect to circumventing the official Eagles PR channels. Clearly this has been in the works for a while, and a fair amount of effort has gone into it if the first few entries  - with videos (!) -  from “McNabb camp” where he works with his receivers in Arizona are any indication. Unfortunately, the meager paragraphs suggest not a lot of depth or insight (“I invited the boys over for some food and to swim”) – certainly not like the voluble 38 pitches, but that may change as training camp and the season get underway. And the choice of hosting it on Yardbarker.com I find strange. Why not set up your own website/blog at donovanmcnabb.com? Why be just one of thousands of yardbarker bloggers? Is this some sort of trial balloon? Will he move over to his own domain if he likes it? Is he even writing these entries (actually, I find it hard to believe someone is currently ghost writing what has been written so far.) Stay tuned.

Jason Jennings "Pitcher"

Jason Jennings' stat line from yesterday:

39 PC, 0.2 INN, 8 HA, 3 BBI, 11 ER, 148.500 ERA, 16.500 WHIP, L

It takes at least 4 pitches to walk someone, but he literally gave up
one run for every 3.5 pitches, and everyone he put on base scored. On
the bright side, he's now fully vested in the MLB pension plan.

Walker to Bears

Interesting trade of disgruntled DT Darwin Walker from the Bills to the Bears. Does the Bills’ trade condition with the Eagles about Walker reporting/playing for camp or the Bills’ get a draft pick back from the Eagles’ convey to the Bears now? What pick did the Bills get in return and is it more or less than what was traded for the Eagles? With the Bears dearth of d-tackles, it would seem that Walker has a little more leverage in his contract negotiations. Finally, interesting round robin that has left the Eagles with former Bears tackle Ian Scott, and the Bears filling the hole left by Scott’s departure (and that of Tank Johnson) trading for Walker, who became expendable when Scott and Montae Reagor were acquired.

Touch for Attetion

This short NY Times piece about a possible Tim Donaghy fixed call unintentionally highlights the larger problem with NBA officiating, the huge amount of discretion they have, and the notion of letting the players decide the game.

 

“The Bulls-Warriors game of Feb. 9, played at Golden State and broadcast on ESPN, was tied, 112-112, with 23 seconds remaining,” explains the Times. “While a Bulls guard dribbled between midcourt and the 3-point shot line — clearly working the clock down for an attempt at a final shot — Warriors center Andris Biedrens stood in the lane without guarding anyone for about seven seconds, which is grounds for a defensive three-seconds violation.

Donaghy, stationed behind Biedrens on the baseline, clearly stepped forward and tapped Biedrens on the waist with 16 seconds left. Biedrens, by then at the edge of the lane, then immediately moved clear of the paint, and play continued… A veteran official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because speaking with the news media violates the referees’ collective-bargaining agreement with the N.B.A., said that in such a situation he would not have blown the whistle because the violation was too trivial in a crucial moment. “I would let the players determine the game,” he said… The official added that touching a player or providing any sort of a warning that a whistle is imminent — from either that referee or another on the floor — is forbidden.

I would never touch him — it would show up on tape,” the official said. “We used to be able to say something like ‘Get out! Get out!’ But they said that was cheating. We considered it game management.””

 

Got that? Players can camp out in the lane without fear of a 3-second violation because even the good refs don’t want their calls to determine the game. Donaghy’s big indiscretion in this instance was touching the player. Presumably, if he still hadn’t called the lane violation after, say, 15 seconds, that would still be ok with the league. Nobody, least of all the NBA, wants refs to enforce basic rules of basketball that might affect the game (sarcasm intended.). This could be one of the other big fallouts of the Donaghy scandal. Close scrutiny of officiated games is going to reveal that the calls, mindset and philosophy of the refs is, uh, uneven at best.

Hometown Boy

Starting to see stories noting that allegedly crooked NBA ref Tim Donaghy was a local boy. Cardinal O’Hara grad and Villanova alum. As if those credentials shouldn’t have set off alarm bells, there is the glaring fact that he is a Delco boy, the biggest mark against him.

Still, in the small world department it turns out that I have friends that know Donaghy as he used to live in West Chester. They say that Stern and the league failed utterly in their due diligence, bordering on willful negligence.

My friends tell me that Donaghy was a notorious hot head. Getting into fights with his neighbors, driving a golf cart into the water at Radley Run, etc. They all say he was certifiable. So how did the league not know that one of their refs was unstable? Shouldn’t a simple background check about whether he actually played varsity baseball at ‘Nova set off some alarm bells about the guys veracity?

Running Away from the Problem

It is telling how out of whack the Andy Reid-play calling offense has become when Inside Man Dave Spadaro writes that the durableness of Brian Westbrook, the return of strength and health to Bucky, and the intriguing potential of Ryan Moats, blah, blah blah suggest the Eagles will run the ball more. But then comes this from Spads: “The mix is likely to be in the range of 55 percent passing and 45 percent running, but I don't know that for sure. Game action dictates a lot of strategy after the first half.”

Huh? 55/45 is basically the ratio we endured under Reid’s playcalling. This is going to be the new commitment to the running game? And then the great out, game action dictating second half strategy. You know, like when the McNabb was suffering from his sports hernia and the Eagles were thrashing the Niners by 4 touchdowns…and Reid still felt compelled to pass the ball 45 times!

NFC East QBs

Two NFC East QB’s make this top 10 questions of the NFL season. #8 Donovan’s return from injury. And #9 will the real Tony Romo please stand up.

G. Cobb's Questions

So now Gary Cobb officially goes by the moniker “G. Cobb?” That’s how his byline reads in this Bulletin article about his key questions to the Eagles 2007 season.

Hint: McNabb’s knee, running the ball, and stopping the run. Really, aren’t those the questions every NFL team has – is your QB good enough, are you good enough to run the ball consistently, and is your defense good enough to prevent being run all over.

Nevertheless, G. Cobb does make some interesting suggestions – like running more no-huddle and letting #5 call the play at the line of scrimmage – and that if he were head coach Jim Johnson would be on a very hot seat. And this insight: “The Eagles could probably make the playoffs with A.J. Feeley starting - just on their running game. But they can't win the Super Bowl without McNabb because he's the only true playmaking quarterback on their roster, and he gives them a quick-strike capability.”

Asked and Answered?

Here’s your chance to get YOUR training camp question asked of Andy Reid, Donovan McNabb, et. al. Submit it to the Pocono Record here and “if they're insightful, fun and entertaining, I'll do my best to get answers for you.”

Kicking Dick Nixon

A fantastic presidential memo sent from Richard Nixon to his Chief of Staff regarding press portrayals of the notoriously aloof President is now available online – here. What a treat to read Nixon’s own ramblings, paranoia, criticisms and perceived slights. As a historical document and how Nixon viewed Truman, Ike, and Kennedy is fascinating. The irony of his citing personal examples of his warmth, and suggestions about ways in which to leak it to the press are hysterical.

 

My favorite lines from the Nixon memo:

 

“No President could have done more than I ha ve done in this respect and particularly in the sense that I have treated them like dignified human beings, and not like dirt under my feet.”

 

“All of this must be handled subtly and under no circumstances am I going to sit d own with anybody and start telling them all the good deeds I have done.” [as Nixon goes on to cite chapter and verse his good deeds]

 

“Again, such things, to be believable, have to be discovered, and one of the great factors that should be emphasized is that the President does not brag about and the good things he does for people.”

 

“There is a mystique which goes far beyond that which has to do with basic elements of character and, due to the fa ct that we have had no one on our staff who understood public relations, we have been utterly deficient in creating that mystique.” [this is a pretty savage criticism to the memo reader, HR Halderman, who was a noted PR executive before signing on with Nixon].

Be Afraid

Game 6 of the 2002 Kings-Lakers series

Game 7 of the 1993 Suns-Sonics series

The Knicks infamous Hubert Davis Game in 1994

Dwayne Wade in games 3 & 4 of the 2006 Finals

Game 3 of the Suns-Spurs 2007 series

 

Those are just a sampling of NBA playoff games in recent years that exhibited EXTREMELY QUESTIONABLE refereeing. Officiating so bad that many casual fans such as myself can cite the specific instances. For me, the foul discrepancies in the Kings’ series and last year’s invincibility cloak the refs put on Wade are the most obvious. Bill Simmon’s tackles the potential fallout of the burgeoning Tim Donaghy scandal as only he can.

But while even the great Sports Guy is missing the more immediate danger to David Stern’s league. It isn’t the evaporation of the last ounce of trust, respect, and credibility the NBA was barely clinging to. No, the real danger right now is that this thing could EXPLODE! At this point, David Stern’s mission is to do everything in his power to ensure that it all stops with Donaghy and everything is pinned on him. But the very real possibility exists that Donaghy could name names. Of other refs, of the unwritten league policy concerning playoff officiating (i.e., call whatever you have to to boost the ratings), perhaps even of players.

This is just the tip of the iceberg. You really think Donaghy was all alone in fixing games? The problem has been pervasive for more than a decade now. The league and mainstream press have been willfully ignorant of the questions fans have been asking about the integrity of its playoff games. Donaghy is now the hook to get the press and law enforcement to look at an issue everyone has tried to avoid. My gosh, the league’s credibility is so bad that there are still concerns that the 1985 draft was rigged. If I were an NBA fan, I would be afraid, very afraid of what might be revealed. And if I were Tim Donaghy, I would be fearful…for my life.

Taking a Knee

Interesting story on the mental aspects of McNabb’s recuperation from his knee injury.

The Worldwide Cheerleader

Finally, some news organization has finally noticed and written a piece on the rampant boosterism that now passes for journalism and commentary at ESPN. My gosh, the “espys” are the very embodiment of this self-referencing and self-glorificating culture in Bristol.

Writes Newsweek: “Some of this is inevitable. ESPN's lucrative partnerships with the NFL, the NBA, MLB and NASCAR, among others, have put its news operation, and "SportsCenter" in particular, in a unique bind. "Imagine The New York Times owning half of the Broadway theaters whose plays it reviews. Or imagine CNN paying billions of dollars for exclusive ... rights to cover the War in Iraq," wrote ESPN's own ombudsman, Le Anne Schreiber, in a May 10 Web column titled "At ESPN, Conflict of Interest Is Business as Usual." It has led to the occasional gaffe, like ESPN's decision to cancel its well-regarded drama "Playmakers" after the NFL complained about the show.”

The truth is, ESPN can no longer afford to bite the hands that feed it. Thus, we get schlock and jive from hosts such as Stu Scott and nary a word of criticism of the leagues with which the network has deals. Kobe rape trial? What rape trial? Tim Donaghy? Never heard of him.

2 Week Training Camp

When you have fancy training digs like the NovaCare complex, Lehigh University training camp can seem, well, amateurish. But only holding a 2 week training camp seems somewhat short-sighted. I’m not sure a fortnight at a remote Lehigh Valley location is enough time to bond teammates. Really, if it is only going to last for two weeks, it is probably fair to ask if all the trouble of uprooting the Eagles office and staff and equipment for such a short time. At this point, training camp from the fans’ perspective looks like nothing more than a PR stunt and publicity opportunity.

Jail Break

The Smoking Gun has a photo lineup of perp mugshots wearing their favorite team’s jersey. There’s even a guy with a Kearse uni. Not exactly the support the professional leagues had in mind. And why is it that most of those in custody are wearing either Denver Broncos gear or an NBA jersey. It’s FANtastic!

Justice and Jean-Gilles Issues?

Fox SPports rates the Eagles’ O-line as the 7^th best in the NFL. It rightly calls Shawn Andrews the best guard in the league. And while the analysis suggests that backups Winston Justice and Max Jean-Gilles are “great young talents” there “have been concerns about work ethic for both.” Say what? Is that why Justice never dressed for games last year? He dogs it?

That boy potter

for what it's worth, my prediction for the fate of harry potter. He lives, vanquishes voldemort, dumbledore is alive, & harry becomes the defense against the dark arts teacher at hogwarts.

---------------
Sent from Treo Verizon Wireless

Byrd Dogging Mike Vick

Good thing for Ron Mexico, er, Mike Vick that Senator Robert Byrd is not the NFL Commissioner. Here’s the story from Washingtonpost.com’s intrepid congressional reporter (and Eagles’ fan) Paul Kane:

 

In a floor speech Thursday, Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W. Va.) lashed out, indirectly, at Atlanta Falcons quarterback Michael Vick, who was recently charged with running a dog-fighting ring in Virginia. The speech might have seemed unusually apocalyptic to those who don't know how much the octogenarian senator loves dogs (view the video here).

In biblical terms, Byrd -- wearing a navy-blue tie spotted with dog images -- attacked animal cruelty in ways that only he can.

"It is a brutal, sadistic event motivated by barbarism of the worst sort and cruelty of the worst, worst, worst, sadistic kind," Byrd said in a 24-minute address on the matter. "One is left wondering: Who are the real animals? Who are the real animals, who are the real animals -- the creatures inside the ring or the creatures outside the ring?"

Byrd did not specifically address the charges against Vick, a graduate of Virginia Tech, a rival of the West Virginia University Mountaineers, but attacked the nature of Vick's alleged crime in soaring rhetoric usually reserved for war speeches or Supreme Court confirmation battles: "The training of these poor creatures -- weigh those words -- the training of these poor creatures -- weigh them -- the training of these poor creatures to turn themselves into fighting machines is simply barbaric. Barbaric! Barbaric! Barbaric! Let that word resound from hill to hill and from mountain to mountain, from valley to valley across this broad land. Barbaric, barbaric!"

Philadelphia Today

USA Today profiles the Eagles prior to their training camp start. The opening paragraph is as succinct a summary of the success Donovan McNabb has had as Eagles QB that I’ve ever come across, and a stern rebuke to the #5 naysayers.

“For the last seven years, the Philadelphia Eagles have averaged more than 10 regular-season wins a season and suffered one losing campaign. In that span, the Eagles have played in the NFC Championship Game four times and been to the Super Bowl once,” says McPaper.

Other interesting tidbits in what I think is a pretty accurate summary and analysis of the team (you never know what you are going to get from far-away journalists who just drop in to do the team snapshot):

·         A great quote summarizing Jim Johnson’s defensive philosophy:  "’I like to get as many players involved as possible,’ Johnson says. ‘I like rotating people. I like rotating tackles. If you have good depth, then I like playing six or seven defensive backs sometimes. I like matchups and I like to have as many players involved. They compete harder, they play harder and they're fresher.’"

·         The offensive line started all sixteen games together last year?!

·         Kearse is going to report to camp at 245 lbs! – 20 lbs under his playing weight.

·         Sean Considine has put on 15 lbs!?

Really, the only thing missing would be to note that Morhinweg has taken over the play calling duties, with an expected better balance between run/pass plays.

And I love his wrap up. One of the only national reporters I’ve ever read who correctly notes that the Eagles have endured significant injuries during their playoff runs (TO, McNabb, Buckhalter, Westbrook, Sheppard, Kearse) that have plagued the team during the Reid years. “The Eagles could be a dark-horse Super Bowl choice. Injuries have hit this team hard over the years; if the Eagles can ever stay healthy, watch out. Other than a home-run-hitting deep threat, this team has talent — young and old — everywhere.”

Let’s hope so.

Harry Who?

While the muggle world awaits the July 21 release of the final book of the Harry Potter series, men in the Delaware Valley and across the country are much more interested in the July 17 release of the Eagles’ Cheerleader calendar. Indeed, with their previous lingerie calendars they have set the pace for the rest of the NFL cheer babes and also surpassed the Dallas Cowhags for most popular sideline distraction.

Greg "Olden"

Would you card this college "freshman" if he were buying alcohol?

Makes Him Wanna Holla

The increasingly voluble B. Dawk just wants to holla. - about the return of the Freak and the addition of TKO. Heck, he’s even got me excited about his evaluation of Sean Considine’s off-season improvements and career arc comparisons between Tiki Barber and Brian Westbrook.

Old Oden

Clearly a clever ploy to continue the charade that Greg Oden really is a young college student and not the 40 year-old man he appears to be.

Dawk Talks the Talk...

…And walks the walk. B. Dawk thinks the Eagles are a Super Bowl-caliber team….If – the big if with any NFL team, really – if they can stay healthy.

The media focused on Jeff Garcia’s capable stewardship of the Eagles offense during the 2006 late season push. But lost amid that feel good story was #20’s play. The all-world and half of fame safety stepped it up and practically by sheer force of will improved the defense and made critical plays that helped decide games (i.e., forcing a Giants fumble and intercepting Romo in Dallas to name two). Indeed, the News Journal neatly summarizes the one man wrecking crew Dawkins was last year. “Over the last five games, Dawkins registered two double-digit tackle games -- including 16 against the Giants at the Meadowlands -- picked off three passes, forced two fumbles and sacked Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell on a critical third down to prevent a go-ahead touchdown as the Eagles went 5-0 to rebound from 5-6 and win the NFC East.” The article also gives props to Lito Sheppard whose play also was decisive, but notes that neither were really a factor in the Saints playoff loss. (the article does not note that Sheppard did not play due to an ankle injury.)

Interestingly, this is the first article I’ve seen that references the “personal issues” for which Andy Reid has excused Dawk from off-season activities. His wife gave birth to premature twin girls.

Blacks and Sports

Warning: the following link is to a somewhat racist column, yet contains several nuggets of truth which is perhaps why it is so controversial.

McNabb Best in East, Says Redskins Report

Say what you will about McNabb, but he is still the best QB within the division. Even the Redskins’ fan websites think so.

Sloppy Second Saints

The Eagles' LBs have been the weakest position among all on defense AND offense going on at least three years. So how bad must the Saints LBs be that they continue to take our castoffs...or is it sloppy seconds?

www.nola.com/sports/t-p/index.ssf?/base/sports-31/1183704532306690.xml&coll=1

Pat the "Bat"

Jim Salisbury tackles the Pat Burrell issue (i.e., he stinks and he's pulling in $13 million a year to be platooned in LF). Pretty fair article. Hits the disappointment (pun intended) and also fairly notes that everyone - everyone - thought the Phillies were very smart in locking Pat up on the verge of stardom. At which point, his career went off a cliff.

What really jumped out at me, though, was the stat that there have been only 74 MLB contracts worth $50+ million. I can't believe there have only been 74. That number seemed low to me.

Anyway, 55 of the contracts went to position players, the rest to pitchers. Burrell is one of only four +$50 million contracts to never have made the all-star team. The others are Eric Chavez, Adrian Beltre, and our friend J.D. Drew.

All of which means that in consecutive years the Phillies drafted two of the four most overrated players in history. Think about that for a while. And thank gosh Drew and his agent Scott Boras put the screws to the Phillies or we'd have more than $100 million wrapped up in these two outfield losers. Throw Bobby Abreu into the mix and it would likely have been the most overhyped/underachieving outfields of all time. The antithesis of the DiMaggio/Mantle outfield.

Incredible.

The Phillies: MIsevaluating talent since 1883.

More Eagles Schedule

The thing that gets me the most about the schedule – especially from a ticket holder perspective - is that the Eagles go nearly a whole month from late September to late October without a home game.

I quickly glanced at our division rivals’ schedules. The Giants’ is similarly quirky with only 2 of their last 7 games (though 3 of their last 8) against division foes, and they end the season with two straight against the AFC east (@ Bills and season finale at Giants stadium vs. the Pats).

The Skins and Cowboys each have 2 of their last 3 games vs. division rivals, partly cause they play each other and then each plays against the Eagles (Cowboys) and Giants (Redskins). For the Skins, 7 of their final 8 games are against NFC teams and for the Cowboys it is 8 of 9 vs. the NFC.

Off the top of my head, not sure what the ramifications of the schedule are then. It will be tougher to make up ground within the division late in the season since you won’t be playing head to head. On the other hand, early leads could evaporate as the common opponents basically swap in the middle of the season for Eagles/Giants and Skins/Cowboys. Also, it will be interesting as far as wildcard implications within the division and across the conference with all those NFC games in December.

I think the 3 game string in early October could very well determine the fate of the season: @ Giants, bye, @ Jets, Bears.

McNabb Update

From MSNBC. Includes a reminder that McNabb was putting up MVP numbers in the first half of the season and comments from one scout about concerns about the return.lingering effects of the knee injury.

Eagles' Schedule Quirky?

Nothing like losing 3 of 4 to the Mets to drop to 6 games out of first to turns one attention to the Eagles.

 

A friend writes:

So I was about to break down the schedule and really think about what kinda season awaits us -- but I couldn't even digest it, it's so weird.

Is there something going on with the NFL's schedule  this year? Or just a weird quirk with the Eagles? Of our final 7 games, there are just 2 against our division rivals.

Even weirder, we play 3 of those last 7 games against the AFC EAST!!! More games against the AFC than our own division.

It's nice not to have to go win 3 straight games on the road in December against division rivals, the way we did last year, but what the fuck? We're barely playing our own division down the stretch.

Random Weekend Thoughts

· Code Red for Lt. Kendrick. Big-time win for the LT yesterday in maybe saving the season. A 4 game sweep by the Mets would have been disastrous. Maybe Kendrick can counsel JA Happ, who clearly suffered from stage fright in the Fox national game of the week Saturday. Fortunately, once out of the 1^st inning, he seemed to calm down…a little.

· McCarver really seemed upset/angry in recounting the 1977 Game 3 LCS debacle vs. the Dodgers. He called it the “worst” or “most crushing” loss in Phillies history, which is really saying something. I needed to hear that like a kick in the nuts. Making it worse, I actually attended that game at the Vet back in ’77.

· Ryan Howard’s bomb. Distance calculations really should not figure from where it lands in the seats, but where it would have landed had it not hit the bleachers. Howard’s HR nearly landed in the third deck. It would have traveled a lot farther than 450 ft had it been allowed to come down.

· Speaking of Howard’s homers, how does Fox – in this day and age- not have video to show of Howards’ 505 foot shot earlier in the week that would have been perfect to run immediately after this homer Saturday?

· How/why did Comcast relent and allow some home Phillies games to be shown on the MLB package? My neighbor suspects the other teams got on the Phillies for collecting 1/30^th of the revenues, but not providing 1/30 of game contributions. Anyway you cut it, though, it’s nice to be able to hear/see Harry the K.

· Good FA signings by the Flyers. But I still can’t escape the nagging feeling that Holmgren wants Dave Schultz and Bob Hounddog Kelly players who take the body, when that game is no longer played in the NHL.

· Speaking of NHL, a 3^rd generation Sutter was picked in the NHL amateur draft. Just what the league needs, another 15 goal body checker.

Corey Simon Update

Here’s a story about the possible fate of Corey Simon, and the bizarre situation he is in. It’s all but certain that the Colts will release him, the only question is whether they would take his entire cap hit this year ($9 million!) or in two installments over the next two seasons. On the other hand, Simon has two pending grievances against the Colts, one of which is related to him being placed on the non-football related injury list last season. He’s 30 and out of shape (the Colts all-white uniforms were not flattering to Simon and may have accentuated his girth growth.).

The Colts signed Simon after the Eagles removed the franchise tag from him (a la Jeremiah Trotter). What’s remarkable is that, once again, the Eagles appear to have show some prescience in talent evaluation and investing in their players. I don’t blame them for letting Simon walk. What I do hold them guilty of (if people can even remember) is that the team clearly had no plan B when it let its biggest interior D-lineman (read: run stuffer) leave. The run defense has been downhill ever since, a deficiency the Eagles have only now rectified with Bunkley, Scott, and Reagor.

Michael Lewis Heard From

It appears that Niner fans are quickly warming up to former Eagles safety Michael Lewis and looking forward his play this year, if this fan Q&A is any indication.

 

Why I Love Elizabeth Edwards

From her pitch perfect response to the Cheney gay daughter flap during the Kerry-Bush debate (“they’re response suggests they’re ashamed”), to taking on Ann Coulter, Elizabeth Edwards is one of the most savvy and articulate Democratic politicos in the country.

 

Edwards Confronts Ann Coulter

McNabb Practice a "Stunt"?

The reps Donovan McNabb recently took at minicamp were nearly universally hailed as a very encouraging sign of his recovery from his ACL injury. Yet, the Philly Bulletin raises the intriguing question as to whether McNabb’s practicing was a Eagles stunt to garner good press, make a statement after the Kevin Kolb pick that this is still McNabb’s team, and whether either of those things was worth it to put McNabb at further risk of injury and not allow him another 6 weeks of recuperation till official training camp starts. An interesting proposition to be sure.

Who?!?

J.A. Happ, J.D. Durbin and 20-year-old phenom Carlos Carrasco are the top three candidates to fill the Phillies' two rotation holes this weekend, according to PhillyBlurbs.com.

Yuck!