Kolb Salad

This pick makes NO SENSE on every level. I understand trading down after EVERY safety you had been targeting was taken (amazing that it looked like the Eagles would get at least one of their options – Griffin, Merriweather, Nelson, etc. and then all of a sudden there was a run on them and they were all taken.)

 

But with a team with glaring defensive needs, I don’t understand not taking Michigan LB David Harris, or big multipurpose back Brian Leonard. Even darkhorse candidates like Dwayne Jarrett or CB Eric Wright would have been understandable.

 

A QB?!!?!?!

 

I’m a realist. The McNabb era will eventually come to an end. But it’s too early to take a QB – in years and rounds at this point. They just signed Feeley to a 3 year extension and they got Kelly Holcomb as a throw in with the Bills/Spikes trade. They’ve got veteran qbs in case McNabb’s knee rehab is delayed.

 

McNabb is signed through 2012.  Guess he’s not going to complete that contract with the Eagles.

 

Now I suppose that Kolb is insurance if McNabb turns out like Culpeper after his knee. So maybe it’s a smart pick in that regard. And I’m tired of people citing McNabb’s injuries as being “injury-prone.” It’s not like he pulls a hammy every four games (see Stallworth, Donte). Broken ankle, sports hernia, ACL. Maybe if Reid didn’t pass the ball 65% of the time, McNabb wouldn’t be at risk of so many injuries.

 

This is a team that was 3 points from the NFC championship. Why draft a project when you’re time to win would appear to be right now?

 

On the other hand, the Eagles/Reid track record in 2^nd round picks (Barry Gardner, Quinton Caver, Matt McCoy) is so bad that McNabb might be the QB by default through 2012.

Didn't Take Long

The Eagles just cut Dhani Jones. I guess Gocong and Stewart Bradley will battle it out for strongside LB –with Spikes perhaps in the mix.

 

Among the free agent signings, heavy on safeties and WRs.

Reid the Text

As of yesterday afternoon, Phil Sheridan reports, Andy Reid has not spoken to his franchise QB after leaving him a voice mail telling McNabb that the team was drafting a QB in the 2^nd round.

 

Over on ESPN, broadcaster Michael Smith said he had text messaged McNabb after the pick was announced for his reaction, which he then shared with the viewers.

 

Maybe instead of trading phone calls, Reid and McNabb can text message each other.

Bye, Bye, Bobby

The Phils learned that in the case of Bobby Abreu, trading him was addition by subtraction. Perhaps the Yankees are now thinking the same thing. For as hot as Abreu was for the Yanks in the second half of 2006, he was absolutely killing them in their recent 7 game losing streak. Despite hitting behind Jeter (.337) and in front of the hottest hitter on the planet, A-Rod, Abreu is 1 for his last 27.

Draft Disaster

Bewilderment, frustration, anger. Those were my immediate reactions to the Eagles pick of Kevin Kolb with the 36th pick overall - their first pick of the 2007 draft.

Up to that point, I was pretty pleased with the Eagles trading down after every single safety they had been reportedly interested in was taken just before their pick at #26.

I figured they would take Michigan LB David Harris, Rutgers RB Brian Leonard, maybe even USC WR Dwayne Jarrett, or even darkhorse candidate UNLV CB Eric Wright.

Never in a million years did I ever envision them takinga QB?!?!? with that pick.

It's an utterly wasted pick. This guy will be on the practice squad the entire year. The Eagles have needs. QB wasn't one of them. They are also a championship-caliber team right now. They were 3 points from the NFC Championship game. So why are they selecting a player with their highest pick that will contribute absolutely NOTHING this year?

Commentators have focused on the impact on McNabb. In my mind, this pick speaks volumes about Feeley. Why did they even bother signing him to a 3-year extension recently?

Reid also said he was the highest rated player and QB on their board. Higher than Stanton, Edwards, and Beck? Really? Please!!

This pick is bizarre and inexplicable. It's Matt McCoy and Jabar Gaffney all over again. Reid and the Eagles erroneous talent evaluation and trying to outthink themselves and be too cute by half.

(The only thing saving this draft from being a total, unmitigated disaster is the Eagles eventually trying to fill their needs by taking a strongside LB from Nebraska and Tony Hunt.)

All You Can Eat?!

I can’t decide if this is insane or the greatest invention in baseball since the Phillies frank. I am certain that it highlights how overpriced the concession fare is.

“The Los Angeles Dodgers are converting their right-field pavilion into all-you-can-eat bleachers. Takers will have access to as many hot dogs, peanuts, popcorn, nachos and soft drinks as they want. ‘Instead of paying cash, fans ask for whatever they want, and they get it. There are going to be some self-service parts, buffet-style, as well,’ said Dodgers executive vice president and chief operating officer Marty Greenspun. Around 3,000 seats right-field seats will be sold for $35 in advance and $40 on game day with the all-you-can-eat special. Left-field tickets, meanwhile, will sell for $10,” reports ESPN.

And here’s a review of the all-you-can eat pavilion.

Linebacker puzzle

This Les Bowen article on Chris Gocong highlights the absolute mess the Eagles LB corps is. Takeo Spikes continues to insist that he will be playing weakside LB, presumably replacing Omar Gaither who was the only encouraging bright spot of all the LBs last year.

 

There’s a lot of talk about Gaither moving back to middle LB and restoring the big picture plan where he eventually replaces Trotter as the starting MLB. Is anybody else concerned that the 235 lbs Gaither is, uh, a little small to play MLB?He’s 30 lbs. lighter than Trotter. Gaither at MLB makes an already small defensive front seven even smaller. Why is nobody talking about this? Does anyone else remember the Mark Simoneau experience?

 

And then there’s strong side where Dhani Jones is clearly not getting it done (and in the process has become the most hated Eagle starter). Seriously, everyone I know has a strong dislike for Jones these days.

 

Anyway, Gocong is supposed to replace him. Caution flags have to be waved here because of 1) Gocong’s neck injury last year 2) he’s making the transition to LB from DE and 3) Heckert is now suggesting that Gocong could be moved back to D-end. Hello, ND Kalu! The Eagles ruined what had been a promising Kalu by shifting him back and forth from defensive end and linebacker. It didn’t work out well for the Eagles, either. They didn’t get an effective Kalu at either position.

 

Spikes gives the Eagles some options at LB – moving to the middle on passing downs, for instance. Maybe even playing some strong side if Gocong doesn’t pan out. But where he plays most consistently is the key to the Eagels LB puzzle. Here’s betting its not weakside.

Biggest Andy Reid Draft Bust?

Which player has been the biggest draft bust of the Andy Reid era? The four players below are the primary contenders. By their very nature, a bust has to have been a high draft pick. So while Billy McMullen, Bobbie Williams, and Matt Ware never panned out, as 3^rd round picks they were mere disappointments for not being able to crack a starting lineup. Picks in the first two rounds, however, should become contributing starters (not mere role players), especially those picked in the first round. And more specifically, one would hope players picked in the top 15 would see at least one Pro Bowl.

Vote for who you think is the biggest Andy Reid draft bust in the comments section of this blog.

Meet the candidates (or add your own nominee):

Quinton Caver, LB, 2^nd round (55^th overall), 2001 – in my opinion, this pick had significant long-term repercussions on the defense. In theory, Caver could and should have replaced Trotter at MLB. He didn’t. And this pick was worse than the Gardner pick if for no other reason than the Eagles were already in damage-control mode after realizing, "holy crap, Gardner's never going to start for us." They took a second shot at getting Trotter's heir apparent and missed again, resulting in an increasingly desperate attempt to fill the gaping hole in the middle of their defense that developed when Trotter left (a hole never filled till Trotter returned to the team). Not sure what Caver’s problem was – intelligence? Discipline? He appeared to have physical ability but was never able to pull it all together. He gets points for still being in the league, and playing for KC and now Dallas.

Barry Gardner, LB, 2^nd round (35 overall), 1999 – undersized LB from Northwestern was neither big nor fast. His inability to fill the void left by Jeremiah Trotter left the Eagles annually scrambling and in search of stop-gap solutions such as the mammoth Levon Kirkland.

Freddie Mitchell, WR, 1^st round (25^th overall), 2001 – neither fast nor physical and with unsteady hands, Mitchell was a glorified possession receiver who talked like he was Randy Moss. Of course, he did haul in the pass that converted the 4^th and 26 vs. the Packers in the divisional playoffs. Oddly enough, he also caught the other most famous pass of Donovan McNabb's career -- the 14 second, 60 yard scramble against Dallas on MNF. Then again, his lack of development/ability forced us to endure more Todd Pinkston and James Thrash than is healthy for any fan. Maybe if he had gotten open more often, Trash and Stinkston wouldn’t have been manhandled in the Panthers championship game.

Jerome McDougle, DE, 1^st round (15^th overall), 2003 – Only the Eagles could pick the one edge rusher from a major Florida University (Miami, FSU, UFla) that wasn’t incredibly sleek and quick and strong. Moreover, McDougle’s been star-crossed since his start here. He endured serious hip, knee, and ankle injuries in the final preseason game of his rookie year that kept him off the field for half the season. Then, of course, he got shot leading up to another Eagles’ training camp. After recuperating from that, he developed appendicitis. He’s the only player on the team that could conceivably have an acme safe fall on his head. I would be surprised if he made the 2007 opening day roster. He loses additional points cause the Eagles traded up to get him. Fortunately, the emergence of Trent Cole and the opportunity the Eagles had to get LJ Smith in the 2^nd round (who they had projected as a 1^st rounder) helped avoid this pick/player from being a total disaster.

Bloody Schilling?

I’m a huge Curt Schilling fan from his days with the Phillies. There’s no better big-game pitcher playing in baseball. And now the issue of his bloody sock has been raised again.

C-Webb: C=con

“You have to love a league in which somebody making $20 million a year can stink to the degree that his team asks him, "Hey, what if we paid you 95 percent of your salary money to play somewhere else, is that something you'd be interested in?" ... and then that same player goes to a contender and miraculously becomes good again. Watching C-Webb in Detroit has been like watching the last scene in "The Usual Suspects" for three straight months; all that was missing was Billy King dropping a coffee mug in slow motion,” says the Sports Guy.

 

I really can’t believe more hasn’t been made out of this in Philadelphia or nationally. Such is the state of the NBA where guys get $30 million from teams just to go away so the team can eventually get out of salary cap hell. It’s definitely the dark side of guaranteed contracts. Contrast that with the NFL where LaVar Arrington returned millions of his signing bonus (i.e., the “guaranteed” part of his contract) so the Redskins would release him and he could sign with another team (the Giants, for less than what he would have made in DC.) Note also Skins safety Adam Archuleta considered a similar giveback to Dannyboy Snider to get out of his contract.

It was only a matter of time till the Eagles got swept up in the “throwback” jersey hullabaloo. The 75^th anniversary seems as good a time as any and on Sept. 23^rd the Eags will wear these blue and yellow jerseys vs. Detroit. Unlike the throwback jerseys worn by Detroit, Green Bay, San Diego, and Dallas – to name but four teams – the Eagles throwback unis have absolutely no relationship to the current color scheme, so we’ll see how well these things sell in the gift shop.

 

On that note, if any good can come out of this throwback exhibit on 9/23 it might be that it limits the Eagles to only wearing their “black” jerseys (how original) in only one other home game this year since league rules stipulate that “alternate” jerseys can only be used twice in a season.

Interesting take by Fox Sports on Eagles draft possibilities. What i found most intriguing was the analysis that the Eagles have an heir apparent for B. Dawk in Sean Considine who, Fox's Inside Slant suggests, is more suited for FS than strong safety. the other suggestion that perhaps the Eags would move Sheldon Brown ("give it to me, Sheldon") to safety and draft a corner is not something i have seen before but is interesting. Brown is a physical corner in the mode of Troy Vincent who recently made the move himself to safety to prolong his already stellar career. In fact, as a short-term solution would or should have the Eagles been interested in re-signing Vincent as a safety as insurance. he knows the defense and is a proven team leader.

Classic

Middle of the 8th inning, the Washington broadcast feed (MASN) shows the Philadelphia skyline (btw, on an earlier re-entry shot of City Hall I used the view as a "teachable moment" for my daughter and taught her that the name of the man-statue on top of city hall is named, "Billy Penn." My five year-old then explained to me that "city hall" must be called "hall" because of all the halls, which she knew, she explained because of all the windows on the building, suggesting rooms and, thus, halls. She's a freakin' genius I tell you, certainly smarter already than Charlie Manuel).

Anyway, the 8th inning shot shows the PSFS building with the text scroll on the very top of the building spelling out the.......the Eagles' fight song. Classic! The Phillies in a must win game/series vs. the Nationals and the Eagles to draft in 96 hours, and the focus is on the .... Eagles. Thank you Bill Giles! Your baseball acumen has turned the 5th largest city into a FOOTBALL TOWN.

You can bet that with the Phillies inimitable timing that if they were swept this series (or even lose it) the thousands of TVs in the Delaware Valley would be metaphorically switching to Eagles training camp and to hell with the May and June Phillies.

Speaking of which, congrats to the Phils for putting up a 3 spot in the 8th to break open a tie game. That is putting the hammer down on a weak team.

Now maybe this is sacrilege in the wake of the win, but with Utley on first and no outs in a tie game and the Nats so overplaying the Howard shift to the point where the 3B was playing SS, would it be totally out of the question for your clean up hitter and reigning NL MVP from dropping down a bunt down the 3B side to advance the runner. Does it matter that Howard has a gimpy knee? Does it matter that he is only hitting .211? Or is that just not done? Cause his "psyche" is so fragile that public acknowledgment that his best contribution to the team at the moment is a sac bunt is the best play? Let him swing away for a strikeout.

Relatedly, Nunez batting .143 pinch hit for the pitcher in the 7? to be fair, it was a nice bunt that advanced the runner, but if i were manager all my pitchers would be bunt proficient so i wouldn't have to waste position player on bunting to advance a runner.

BTW, i've had 4 sierra nevada's (thanks TD) and half a bottle of wine. so my posts tonight may be a little skewed.

Must Win? Yes!

Kind of silly to think that the Phillies might have a must win game tonight or a must win series this early in the season since we’re not even out of April, but….

 

The fact is the Phillies have dug themselves a deep hole in the first three weeks of the season by falling more than 6 games back.

 

Fortunately, the listing ship appears to be righting itself.

 

A sweep of the lowly Nationals would go a long, long way to helping avoid the disaster April was becoming for the Phillies. Win these 3 and suddenly the Phils are 10-11 for the month.

 

The Nats are the worst team in the league. If the Phils have any hope of winning the division or the wildcard then taking care of pitiful teams like this is a must. (which is why the extra inning loss last week in Washington was so disappointing).

 

Championship-caliber teams put the hammer down on teams like the Nationals. We’ll see if the Phils are up to the task. But there is not denying the importance of this series either way – if the Phils win it, or lose it.

King on Bonds- Irrational

Not to pick on King, but his Tuesday edition of MMQB includes perhaps the best example of the MSM’s bizarre and irrational reaction to Barry Bonds.

 

Aaron of Toronto asks King: "Will your boycott of an alleged steroid cheat extend to confirmed cheats such as Shawne Merriman?''

 

To which King responds, “No. Merriman was tested, caught, and suspended. Barry Bonds was not tested, not caught, not suspended ... for years.”

 

Being an NFL beat writer, King may not be aware that steroids were not actually illegal in MLB until the past 2 (3?) years. Thus, there would be no reason for Bonds to be tested. And if Bonds wasn’t tested, then he of course can’t be “caught.” And certainly not “caught” for something that wasn’t against the rules. So why is King holding it against Bonds that he wasn’t suspended when he wasn’t tested and wasn’t caught?

 

King’s attitude takes a bizarre turn when he seems to dismiss Shawne Merriman’s proven violation of the NFL steroid policy. Somehow, King is ok with Merriman cheating – in a sport and with a drug that is exponentially more important in football than baseball – since Merriman was “punished” with a four game suspension. Presumably, everything would be hunky-dory with Bonds in King’s view if Barry had sat out at least a handful of games as a form of punishment.

 

The anger Barry Bonds generates among fans and most obviously in the press is astounding. Mark McGwire, Jose Canseco, Sammy Sosa don’t seem to engender the same vitriol combined.

 

What is it about Bonds that gets everyone’s dander up? Is it that he is going to break Hank Aaron’s all-time home run record? That there is such deep suspicion that Barry used performance enhancing drugs and that he didn’t get caught? (and really, if that is the case, isn’t that anger misplaced and should instead be directed at MLB that looked the other way in what is now becoming known as the “steroids era?” Is it the media’s attempt at payback since Bonds is by all accounts an unpleasant personality and has treated the press with such open contempt? Is it because Bonds is black?

 

One other example of the media’s frenzied frustration with Bonds. Tom Loverro of the Washington Times has said he and others should boycott watching Bonds’ campaign to break Aaron’s record because, in essence, Bonds lied to a grand jury.

 

Since when did that become the standard for appreciating a player’s performance? More to the point, like King, Loverro fails to admit or acknowledge that Bonds has NEVER been charged with perjury. Maybe he will. But he hasn’t as of yet. So it is ridiculous to suggest that we should boycott Bonds for something that he has never been officially accused of (other than Loverro’s own conviction as judge and jury.).

Peter King Calls Accused Rapist "Seductive"

Quick, someone at Sports Illustrated please assign an editor to Peter King, pronto.

 

The lack of an editor or King’s own internal alarm system is the only way to explain how his MMQB column wound up describing an accused rapist “seductive.”  “I know Eric Wright is the most seductive player in this draft. Wright is a corner from UNLV. He transferred from USC after being accused of rape (the charges were later dropped)...” wrote King.

 

Next thing you know, King will be reporting that NFL scouts love the fact that Wright “lays the wood” in the secondary; “is quick to fill the whole;” easily overcomes “opposing stiff arms;” is “physically aggressive;” “is not to be denied.”

 

With regard to Wright, some say his off the field problems have scared some teams away, but he is intriguing or, as King notes, “seductive” because he is a hybrid CB/S. The Eagles are known to emphasize “character” players, but are willing to take a flyer on players with problem incidents if their due diligence indicates it’s not a chronic problem (see Winston Justice and gun on campus).

McCoy a Safety?

On the eve of the draft and with the Eagles projected to take a safety in the first or second round -- to groom as heir apparent to B. Dawk or as insurance/to press Sean Considine -- it is time once again to consider Matt McCoy.

Taken as a 2nd rounder by the Eagles 2 years ago, this SI site projected him as an undrafted free agent. But I come not to slam McCoy, hey is it his fault the Eagles totally, totally overvalued his abiliites (on a Mike Mamula-magnitude)?

No.

But it is interesting that at 5'11", 200 lbs. some draft experts thought he would play safety in the nfl since he's an undersized LB. (Surely the Eagles were gambling that he would turn into a Brian Urlacher type player, a quick LB/Safety hybrid that could morph into a fast hard-hitting pro LB.) I'm not sure how fast he is for the secondary, but if the Eagles are looking to shore up the safety position, maybe they should give McCoy a look. It's not like they'll miss him at LB.

On the other hand, before he left I was also in favor of a similar position reversal for S Michael Lewis. They could have traded positions. McCoy could have become a safety and Lewis an LB. (in fact, after Lewis lost the starting strong safety job, J. Johnson did seem to convert Lewis into a coverage LB in passing situations.)

Raising Rowand

Well, whaddya know. Ole Charlie Manuel managed to look at his stats sheet and come to the conclusion many fans - and this Eagleseye post -- arrived at two weeks ago. To wit, maybe the player with the highest batting average on the team (Rowand, .345) should be hitting higher in the batting order than the 7/8 spot he had been relegated to.

Voila, Rowand moves up to #2 and goes 1 for 4 with a run and an rbi in the Phils' 4-1 win vs. Cincy.

Bucky gets stuffed by the Nebraska State Supreme Court.

More Manuel

When your hitters are struggling to move runners and bring them home, as a Mgr, you need to do everything you can to manufacture runs and make good baseball decisions. When the 1st 2 guys at the bottom of your line up get on base, and you know you'll have a pinch hitter on deck, you MUST bunt to ensure you get at least 1 run (infield back), or even 2 with just a single (PH and then Rollins batting).

Then the other night against the Mets, top of the 8th, 5-4 game and you let Geary (pitched to 1 batter in 7th) lead off and HIT? Guess what happened in the bottom of the 8th w/ Geary in... 3 guys get on, bases juiced with 1 out. We end up losing 11-5. You let Geary hit??? Ever heard of a double switch Charlie? Even the announcers seemed confused on that one...

Granted the team sucks and is batting/ pitching horribly, but Manuel's basic decisions aren't helping any.

Why Isn't Rowand Batting Higher?

Aaron Rowand leads the Phils on base percentage (.456) and batting average (.348).

So why isn't Rowand batting higher than 6/7 in the order?

With your two big bats in bad slumps (and now Howard out with a strained quad), Rowand should bat 3rd and, dare I say, Burrell 4th - and Utley 5th and Howard sixth till those to get their stuff together.

But of course Manuel will stick with his book, even if it is child's play.

new position

Tom Gordon has now defined a new position in baseball. Enabler -
enabling other teams to win ballgames....this guy is past it. He plunks
the first batter he sees in the 9th...As a friend's wife mentioned while
watching the Gordon's 9th inning vs. the Nats, "he's in the wrong line
of work"

Charlie Manuel must be fired!!!

11 games into the season and it's tough to watch. If he lasts until the 20th game I may not attend another Phillies game all year, including "roof top Thursday's"... even if it's 80 degrees with cheap drinks and beautiful chicks.

Latest "Charlie of Mayberry" basic strategy mix up. Phils have 8 runners LOB after 5- the usual. Down 4-1, bottom of the 6, first 2 guys single (1st and 2nd), w/ no outs, and Ruiz coming to the plate (w/ Pitcher up next and having a PH). Instead of bunting the guys over, 2nd and 3rd, 1 out and having the PH come up... He elects to have Ruiz hit, ends up being an 0-2 count, and he grounds into you, guessed it, a double play, w/ a guy left on 3rd. Pinch hitter lines to left. 9 guys LOB after 6.

Beirut Champ

if you play the beer pong game, make sure you never play this guy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wFZevw1AHZs

 

Funny montage of NY Jets draft picks and the fans’ disappointment with the selections. Sometimes the fans do know more than the team executives (i.e., Sapp vs. Brady).

Kiteman

During his tenure as managing partner of the Phillies when he ran the team (into the ground), Bill Giles earned a well-deserved reputation for penury, ineptitude, and incompetence.

 

But having given up control of his beloved Phillies some time ago, he is trying to rehabilitate his image as a baseball elder and wise sage. Who are we to criticize him for trying to color his Phillies career with rose-tinted glasses? There’s certainly no denying he is likely the most influential Phillies leader of the last quarter of the 20^th century..which may say more about the Phillies lack of leadership than anything about Giles.

 

Still, I’ll give him his due as a baseball lifer and keeper of the Phillies’ flame (though I still don’t forgive him for his overly leveraged buyout of the team from the Carpenter’s that had the Giles’ ownership group crying “small market” for twenty years while owning the franchise in the 4^th largest city in the country).

 

Still, this story of the promotional stunt for the 1972 home opener will probably have you laughing as hard as I was.

 

Phillies fans of a certain age – like myself – will remember the “zany” stunts that seemed to be all the rage in the 1970s – or maybe it was just with baseball, or even specifically to the Phillies. And Kiteman is right up there in the Phillies’ list of “Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time” ideas, along with signing Lance Parrish, Larry Bowa as manager, and a multipurpose stadium that can host football AND baseball games.

 

More Eagles schedule

My friend PK has analyzed the Eagles schedule and offers this analysis:

 

Assuming no disasters -- No. 5 blowing another ACL, Andy reclaiming the play-calling and designing a no-huddle/70-pass-per-game-offense that kills the D -- I think that we're 7-4 heading into the home stretch. And that's being conservative.
If they don't start 3-0, Andy should be fired. Then they go to Meadowlands, a possible/probable loss. That's followed by a 2nd straight game, albeit with a break for the bye, at the Meadowlands, this time against the Jets. That game could be oddly significant in the season, the way that bizarre 62-yard field goal helped determine their seeding last season. Beat the NYJ, and 12-4 is possible, lose, and 9-7 becomes possible.

 

And check out this link recounting the final minute of the recent Kings-Nuggets basketball game. Decide for yourself if the fix was in and, if so, who was in on it.

 

http://www.theangryt.com/article.php?id_art=140

 

Fare Thee Well Bledsoe

Now that he’s announced his retirement, the debate over whether Drew Bledsoe is worthy of admission to the Hall of Fame will begin in earnest.

 

Indeed, that was the subject of this morning’s sports talk radio, and the judgment was decidedly mixed.

 

On the one hand, Bledsoe is ranked 7^th all-time in passing yards, led a team to a Super Bowl, was a top 5 QB in the mid to and won a ring with another Patriots team. (For those who discount the ring by pointing out that Brady was the starter, the Bledsoe camp counters that Bledsoe did start games in the first half of that season, and more importantly, came into the AFC championship game (vs. Steelers) after Brady went down with a  knee injury when Lee Flowers hit him low and won the game.) Regardless, I think the whole “won a championship” thing is wildly overrated in determining Hall credentials.

 

Then again, Bledsoe detractors suggest that he threw a TON of interceptions, never really had a truly stand out year, and never gave of that “winner” vibe. Personally, I think some of this is forgetfulness and a perception colored by his last couple of seasons: Bledsoe was a premier QB back in the day and he obviously struggled his last years in Buffalo and finally being so shaky that Parcells finally had to bench him for Romo.

 

But the most interesting thing to me about this entire debate, is the surprising amount of divisiveness Bledsoe’s name produces. People either like him, or more people hate him. I don’t understand where this animosity comes from. Bledsoe’s never been in trouble with the law, no TO antics on or off the field, no controversies, so what gives? Sure, he’s a bit of a diva, QB prima donna, but that can hardly be the reason for the anger towards him. I don’t get it.

 

The Phillies Way

9 games into the season, the Phillies are 5 games back.

 

That sentence succinctly sums up so much of the Phillies recent history.

 

But near term future prospects? We’ll see.

Eagles schedule

Schedules out. Monday night opener kind of stinks, especially to then
have short week back to back home games (from the fans perspective). We
then go a month without a home game. (9/23 - 10/21).

And those Seattle and Dallas home games in December would appear to be
prime games to be moved to Sunday night (great). - Tough stretch from NE
on, but thankfully we don't have a home game on that Sunday after
Tgiving.

Eagles Schedule

Sun., Sept. 9, at Green Bay, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Mon., Sept. 17, REDSKINS, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sun., Sept. 23, DETROIT, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Sept. 30, at Giants, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)

Sun., Oct. 7, Bye

Sun., Oct. 14, at Jets, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Oct. 21, CHICAGO, 4:15 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Oct. 28, at Minnesota, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Nov. 4, DALLAS, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)

Sun., Nov. 11, at Washington, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Nov. 18, MIAMI, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Sun., Nov. 25, at New England, 8:15 p.m. (NBC)

Sun., Dec. 2, SEATTLE, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Dec. 9, GIANTS, 1 p.m., (FOX)

Sun., Dec. 16, at Dallas, 4:15 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Dec. 23, at New Orleans, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Sun., Dec. 30, BUFFALO, 1 p.m. (CBS)

Pain & Suffering Index

Lucky us - 2 of the top 4 for Philadelphia – and 3 of the top 25.

 

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=schoenfield/070328&lpos=spotlight&lid=tab7pos2

 

 

 

 

More Draft

Riffing off of my brother’s point, with so few spots open on the Eagles roster and 7 picks, why wouldn't you trade 2 picks for a proven player.

 

Would the Eagles 2nd and 5th rounders to get Denver  middle LB Al Wilson? Your 5th rounder might not even make this team - regardless of what position they are - so essentially you are "drafting" a proven NFL starter with your 2nd round pick. If the Eagles 2nd round pick this year started immediately who wouldn't take that deal?

 

I like either Spikes or Wilson, both are proven players. And LB is one of the few positions that the Eagles really don't evaluate talent really well (McCoy, Jones, Richmond, Wayne, Gardner, and this list goes on).

 

I just don't see how they draft any interior linemen on the offensive or defensive sides. if they, do it would likely be a wasted pick.

 

I would like to see a couple LBs taken and hope one of them hits (though chances are they won't be starting much this year) - indeed, we're hoping Gocong who is projected as a starter after having taken everything in this year won't be a total bust.

 

I would like to see a safety or two as heir apparent to B. Dawk. In fact, i think at #26 in the first round the Eagles could grab just such a player/position.

 

Oddly, i wouldn't mind seeing a D-end. I presume McDougle will be cut. But i'm a little leery of relying too much on Kearse this year after he's had three ligaments reattached (ACLs are always a 2 year recovery. you can get on the field in year 1, but it isn't till year 2 where you regain past form). That leaves only Cole, Thomas, and Howard.

 

Take a flyer on some WR with speed in the late rounds. And, of course, a big back to get tough short yards.

 

Also should probably look at picking up a TE in case they can't resign LJ.

 

Looking back, why in the world did they waste a draft pick on QB Andy Hall? i mean, did they really think he could make the team?

 

What i also like about the Eagles is that they are willing to trade a later pick to move up in the earlier rounds if they see a guy they really want (Andrews).

 

i presume they'll take best available at 26, as long as it isn't a lineman. i also like they're very forward thinking picks. Everyone questioned why they were taking 3 DBs (Lito, Brown, Lewis) when they already had 2 pro bowl CBs - but they knew exactly what they were doing and they moved seamlessly from replacing 2 pro bowl corners with 2 other pro bowl corners.

The Draft

From my brother –

 

are there 7 open spots on this team?

 

The top 5 from last year couldn't sniff the field.  I assume they still think all or most can play so that eliminates OL.  With Kearse/Howard/ThomasCole + Reagor/Patterson/Walker/Bunkley is there any DL room + Lajuan Ramsey from last year (I imagine Rayburn and McDougle are gone).  If you take a receiver then is Lewis gone?  You're not getting rid of Avant and Baskett yet.  As for DB - you have James as the nickel so you're really looking at dime DB and w/ Mickel re-signed you're looking at maybe a 4th safety.  I'm for upgrading plenty of places, but when you talk 3/4/5/6 rounders - I just don't see how many/any can even dress on Sundays.  These are good problems to have.

 

 

The more you look at it you look like you should draft 5 frickin' LB's and hope 2 work out

 

 

Burrell in Times?

Pat Burrell gets a shout out in the NY Times op-ed section!?!?

Jaws In, Theismann Out

Theismann is terrible as the color guy. Adds little, tends to state obvious, uttes useless clichés, and then often contradicts himself during the same telecast.

 

The fact that he was able to hold one of the premier sports telecast jobs, with the premier sports broadcast channel, for the nation’s foremost sports league for so long speaks volumes about the sad state of sports announcing in this country.

 

Honestly, we all could do a better job than Theismann. I really think one of the networks should take the sports guys advice and pair a professional play by play guy with two regular fans – one from each of the teams playing – and see how it works out. Maybe things are significantly different when the red light goes on, but it certainly would be an interesting experiment.

 

 

 

 

---

 

Lineup change for 'Monday Night Football'

 

 

BRISTOL, Conn. (AP) - ESPN is changing quarterbacks. Joe Theismann will no longer be part of the network's "Monday Night Football" booth and will be replaced by Ron Jaworski, the former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback. "This new lineup will enhance our presentation of 'Monday Night Football,' our most important property," Norby Williamson, ESPN's executive vice president for studio and remote production, said Monday. "Ron has covered the NFL from many different perspectives, and he is totally tied into the issues and trends from around the league." Theismann, a former Washington Redskins quarterback, will be offered another analyst job with the network, Williamson said. Jaworski is known for his studio analysis and ability to break down game tape for viewers. He will join play-by-play announcer Mike Tirico and analyst Tony Kornheiser in the booth. Suzy Kolber and Michele Tafoya will handle sideline reporting. NFL games on Monday night moved from ABC to ESPN last season.

 

so far, so good?

 

ESPN looks at Eagles off-season so far, and likes what it sees for the most part.

 

“The Eagles have some holes, but overall, are in awfully good shape for this time of year,” says the Worldwide Leader.

 

Um, does this mean Stallworth will not be coming back?

I must admit the Stallworth signing does now puzzle me. Basically it's a
$3.6 million, one year contract. I can't believe the Eagles wouldn't
have paid $4-5 million for a one year deal with him. I read that
rosenhaus did not give the Eagles the chance to match and that
Stallworth became upset at the Eagles initial offer (supposedly they
made one).

Losing LB Fowler is also a blow. What the hell is it with the Eagles and
announcing deals prematurely. Last year it was LeCharles Bentley. This
year it's Fowler who now looks like he's going to the Titans.

C'mon!

phillies payroll

The Inquirer published the Phillies 2007 payroll yesterday (see excerpt below).

 

Looking at it causes so many things to come to mind. Among them, why don’t all players hire Pat Burrell’s agent, at $96 million the Phillies can’t be called cheap anymore, four of the team’s best players’ salaries combined don’t equal burrell’s (Myers, Hamels, Utley, Howard), with all the projections as the Phillies a favorite to win the East this year Gillick was really wrong when he suggested last year they couldn’t compete till 2008.

 

Garcia, Lieber, Myers, Moyers, and Hamels isn’t a bad rotation as long as Garcia can eat innings – and if they don’t trade lieber for bullpen help.

 

Looking at the money they still Thome, when was last time the Phillies signed a big-time free-agent to a big-time contract that worked out for them.  Pete Rose?

 

Without Howard's contract, the projected payroll stands at about $95.66 million. Here's how it breaks down:

Pitchers (12 pitchers worth $48.43 million). Freddy Garcia ($10 million), Adam Eaton ($7.875 million), Jon Lieber ($7.5 million), Tom Gordon ($7 million), Jamie Moyer ($7 million), Brett Myers ($5.25 million), Ryan Madson ($1.1 million), Geoff Geary ($837,500), Antonio Alfonseca ($700,000), Cole Hamels ($400,000), Fabio Castro ($383,000), and Matt Smith ($380,000).

Catchers (two catchers worth $2.88 million). Rod Barajas ($2.5 million) and Carlos Ruiz ($380,000).

Infielders (six infielders worth $19.54 million, not including Howard). Jimmy Rollins ($8 million), Chase Utley ($5.5 million, plus perhaps $1 million of a $2 million signing bonus), Wes Helms ($2.55 million), Abraham Nunez ($2.1 million), Ryan Howard (unsigned), and Chris Coste ($385,000) or Greg Dobbs ($385,000).

Outfielders (five outfielders worth $19.31 million). Pat Burrell ($13 million), Aaron Rowand ($4.35 million), Jayson Werth ($850,000), Karim Garcia ($700,000), and Shane Victorino ($410,000).

Other (1). Jim Thome ($5.5 million).

 

buddy ball

They should have jettisoned barman & kept buddy

 

 

On Ryan’s Farm, Memories Fresh and Fading

By JOE DRAPE

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. — Each morning at 5 a.m., Buddy Ryan’s day begins in solitude, mucking out the stalls of his horses. He has 17 of them, and three mares in particular are named for milestones in his colorful and sometimes cantankerous lifetime.

There’s FortySixBlitz, named for the 46 defense that Ryan conjured as a defensive coordinator, and which the 1985 Chicago Bears executed in brutal and brilliant fashion during a championship season. There’s FiredForWinning, a reminder of how his head-coaching career with the Philadelphia Eagles came to an end in 1990 despite a 43-38-1 record and three consecutive playoff appearances.

But his favorite is Bayside Girl, named for his wife of 36 years, Joanie. Ryan met her in Queens in 1968, after Weeb Ewbank brought him to the Jets as an assistant. She was a high-strung New Yorker; he was a steel-willed Okie.

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/02/03/sports/football/03ryan.html

 

Not so Super Speech

Dungy's post-game speech perhaps most disappointing part of the day.

I liked that he and Lovie are good Christian men and have players with
integrity and character. You know, people like Tank Johnson.

Makes you wonder

The news about Andy Reid's kids coming in the same week that we can't help but note that Tony Dungy's Super Bowl win was a nice thing for a man who 14 months ago lost a son to suicide has to make you wonder if the price of being a good NFL coach has become too high.

  

Offseason

Anyone else excited that Wade Phillips interviewed fro the Cowboys job and Norv Turner may also interview?

 

Regardless of what happens in offseason from here on out we are certainly the pick for the division – Eli who is struggling and no more Tike and more Coughlin.  Jason Campbell looks pretty good, but still very young.  Romo came back to earth and no more tuna which means T.O. will probably be more of a circus (and it's his 2^nd season which we know is likely to end badly).

 

 

I would say we are prohibitive preseason favorites to win the division. The only thing that could stop us would be a 3-ring circus like the '05 season, except it's driven by Angelo and the 'IP guys calling for Garcia to start.

i just can't imagine how could this offense could be if McNabb is 95% of what he was in Sept and Oct, and with Marty calling the offense, and with Stallworth, Brown and the others at the wideouts.

 

Hard to imagine how good that offense would be.

it's really simple, actually, what the Eags need to do on the offensive side of the ball. And it's really very little that they need to do. The most work in the offseason that they had to do is rebuild the defensive front 7.

 

Garcia vs. McNabb

Garcia ain't a McNabb, and the odds of converting a 4th and 15 with Garcia are far worse than 4th and 26 with McNabb.

 

It's impossible to overstate how much of an impact there was by taking the play-calling away from Andy and giving it to Marty. Seriously, we have to make sure that Marty comes back as offensive coordinator. That's probably the single biggest, most important thing we have to do in the offseason.

The whole season changed, even clock management, in game 9, when Marty started calling plaqys. That was the Skins game at home when we ran out the clock the final 8 mins with a drive that was all running.

So, the point is, I think there's a decent chance we win 4 of the final 6 games with anyone passable at QB. Not to shat on Garcia, he was great, but Marty was the key to the resurgence.

It's incredible to think what Donovan could do in a full season with him calling the plays and No. 5 making the plays.

Seriously, does anyone doubt this assertion by me: we would be in the Super Bowl if we had No. 5 under center all season.

 

How Dumb Can the Eagles Be?

I saw something today that said the preliminary plan is to move Gaither back to MLB and begin phasing out Trotter, reinserting McCoy back at weakside and Gocong at strongside.

 

Gaither is only 235 pounds, 25 lbs. lighter than Trotter. Add McCoy back in and it is possible that our starting LBs will be even smaller than the ones that started this year.

 

Stallworth wants to sign with the Eagles. But they just won’t do it. Amazing. Also, since Gaffney had a break out post-season should we be questioning Eagles’ evaluation of him and decision to cut him?

 

Not how i thought the Forsberg Era would end

My brother says that he’s heard the looming Forsberg trade is a rent a player deal and we would try to re-sign him after the season.  He apparently likes Philly and would like to re-sign here.  Send him to contender and then get him back next season. That’s really not bad.

 

No Stallworth?

My gosh, they’re really not going to make much of an effort to re-sign Stallworth. They’re content on going with Brown, Baskett, G. Lew, and Avant. What a disaster. Stallworth, Brown, and Baskett is a respectable receiving corps. I love Brown as #2 and Baskett #3. Without Stallworth, though, it is weak…I mean, Greg Lewis as your 3^rd WR? Please. There goes the deep threat.

 

Is Andy Reid trying to ruin McNabb?

 

BTW, did you see the size of the Aussie rules football punter we signed? 6’5” 243 lbs. He’s bigger than most of our linebackers!

 

 

 

Real Clock Management

Rewatched the Colts winning drive last night. Speaking of clock management. Do you realize they got the ball back with 2:17 to go and managed to run 4 plays before the 2 minute warning!!!!

 

In fact, in that span they drove 69 yards – from their own 20 to the 11. admittedly 12 of those yards came on a penalty, but that is remarkable.

 

They then ran the ball 3 times – with the patriots calling 1 timeout in that stretch – after the 2 minute warning. They scored with 1:00 to go.

 

They ran 7 plays and drove 80 yards in 1:17 – and without calling a single timeout. Impressive drive, impressive clock management.

How far hockey has fallen

Just noticed tonight that the nhl allstar game was on LAST NIGHT.  Yes, a wednesday night. Not on network tv, but the Versus channel.  What a shame. This sport is dead in America.

 

It's That Simple

Until his injuries in '05 and '06, no QB had won more games this decade than McNabb.

It's that simple. All he does is win. Period.

The problem is WIP and their need to gin up controversy. Simply put, the problem in '06 wasn't McNabb, it was Andy Reid -- and that's what the 2nd half of the season proved, going 6-2 with Morninweg calling plays.

It's just that simple. With Donovan at qb, I really don't doubt that we'd be in the Super Bowl.

 

McNabb and the Saints Game

One example of the difference w/ McNabb and which drove me crazy about what people said after the Saints game.

 

I was talking to a friend when the Eagles had 4^th and 10.  Then when it was 4^th and 15 I said I had no problem punting.  Citing that we had 2 timeouts left – which as we know was a miracle considering our clock management over the past 5 years.  I commented this is why you save your timeouts – or something like that (I was about 12-14 vodka tonics into the night).  Afterward everyone is up and arms and brings up this is the same team that converted a 4^th and 26.  What?  No it’s not. That team had a QB with a cannon as well as a remarkable ability to make the impossible play.  Completely different team.  McNabb is a playmaker.

 

If Manning wins – the argument changes to – good thing Indy didn’t run him out of town for not winning in his first few years.  Same goes for Cowher in Pittsburgh.

 

McNabb's rep denies report

Regarding Bob Brookover's article in yesterday's Inqy, I have a hard
time believing that Trotter and Runyan are in favor of Garcia over
McNabb. maybe they said they were in favor of "keeping" garcia - as the
backup - and the press turned it into a controversy.

in other news, Harbaugh got "promoted" from special teams coordinator to
defensive backs coach. is that promotion? from special teams to a
position coach? if so, it's taken a long time for harbaugh who has been
one of the best special team coaches in the league for 9 years.

Excerpt: Reid: McNabb stories were made up

By Bob Brookover
Inquirer Staff Writer

Reports of Donovan McNabb's discontent with the Eagles aren't just
greatly exaggerated, they are entirely fabricated, according to coach
Andy Reid and the quarterback's agent, Fletcher Smith.

"I think people are making a lot of things up here that aren't true,"
Reid said yesterday in a conference call from Mobile, Ala.

"None of it is true," said Smith, also in Mobile attending Senior Bowl
workouts.

Since Reid canceled a McNabb news conference that had been scheduled for
Friday, Internet and newspaper reports have said the quarterback is
unhappy with the Eagles. One said McNabb was in "a squabble" with the
team about his rehabilitation from the knee surgery that cut short his
2006 season.

A rumor reported on a football Web site said that McNabb was, at some
point, behind in his rehab and that he blamed trainer Rick Burkholder.
The Web site said, "There's a school of thought" that Reid canceled
McNabb's press conference, in part, because of "concerns that McNabb
would blab about the brouhaha."

The report also said veterans such as Jeremiah Trotter and Jon Runyan
had expressed support for Jeff Garcia to remain the Eagles' quarterback
next season.

Eagle Fans Start Early

My nephew. He actually thinks "Uncle" Donovan McNabb is a family relation. And no, i can't compare to that kind of Uncle competition.

24

One of my favorite shows – in addition to Prison Break, which I highly recommend just before 24 on Monday nights.

 

From the show the other night:

 

 

Graem = earphone = loser

 

Jack = flip cell phone = American hero

 

 

   -- either way great product placement for Sprint
 

 

Manning Protects McNabb...So Far

Along those same lines as my earlier post on the whole McNabb craziness, I would really like to see Tony Dungy win the super bowl. Just a kind, decent gentleman. But that would mean Manning wins too and not only do i care less about Manning winning, Manning’s lack of post-season success has been a terrific defense for those of us who defend McNabb. When the naysayers argue McNabb stinks and they want a new QB – a “winner” - they always point to Manning – which allows us to point out that Manning has a demonstrably worse post-season record than McNabb. That would not necessarily be true if the Colts win next week. (Of course, by the nonsensical standards of Wolffie and his ilk, the only two QBs worth anything are Brady and Roethlisberger since they are the only recent ones to win SBs. And you’re not going to be able to land Brady or Roethlisberger for the Eagles.)

 

Ugh!!! This drives me crazy!!!!

McNabb as Unhappy as his Detractors?

 

ESPN has a report (excerpts below) taken from the Trenton Times.

 

I am, seriously, on the verge of being unable to talk about this issue rationally. The Eagles have a franchise QB who has been over the past 7 years one of the top 10, perhaps even a top 5 player, in the entire league and a vocal group of idiot fans are going to run him out of town….because he’s “only” won one championship game and taken them to 3 others and didn’t win the one super bowl he was in. To be replaced by a 36 year-old journeyman with a candy arm?

 

This is insanity.

 

At some point, from the McNabb viewpoint, I think it becomes a fair question. Why would I want to play with this team and for this city if this is the way I’m going to be treated? I understand his contract makes any kind of trade nearly impossible, but Philly fans better be careful they don’t get what they wish for.

 

 

“McNabb Reportedly Has Several Gripes with the Eagles”

 

Citing people close to the injured star quarterback, The Trenton Times reported Tuesday that McNabb is unhappy with several things that have happened with the Eagles since his season ended with a torn ACL in his right knee.

Some of McNabb's reported gripes:

• McNabb reportedly is unhappy that Eagles coach Andy Reid didn't allow him to travel with the team to New Orleans for the team's playoff game against the Saints. The Eagles have a rule that players on injured reserve don't travel with the team.

• McNabb also reportedly might be getting the feeling that some with the Eagles might prefer Garcia as the team's starting quarterback after Garcia led Philadelphia to the playoffs and a postseason victory after McNabb's injury.

• And McNabb also reportedly isn't happy with how his mother has been portrayed in the media and by Eagles fans for comments on her blog on his Web site. She wrote that watching the Eagles win without McNabb was "bittersweet."

 

Eagles playoff scenarios

With all these mediocre NFC teams bunched up at 6-8 and still playoff eligible, I started thinking about the NFL tiebreakers. Rather than use best net points in conference games (#9 tiebreaker), or even common opponents (#4), why not settle it in steel cage matches with one player from each team. Who would be selected? Probably a bad-ass lineman for sheer brute force, or more likely your middle linebacker for the combination of size, speed, and nastiness. Imagine settling the AFC North with a match up of Ray Lewis vs. Joey Porter. The matches could be held over New Year's weekend in conjunction with the major college bowls. All-time steel cage players would be Ray Lewis, Reggie White (plus he'd have God on his side), and LT (assuming you could get him all coked up and in that "Let's go out and play like a bunch of crazed dogs!!" attitude, and not the "Frank, your wife is pretty hot" mode). But the all-time best would have to be Chuck Bednarik, right? He's not the athlete that Lewis is -- none of the older players would be -- but he was tougher and meaner than any, just ask Gifford. Who would you take of current and former players for a mano a mano match to get your team into the playoffs?

Lurie and Banner

Bob Brookover had a good article recently on Lurie and Banner’s impressive track record, and yet the city’s odd lack of gratitude toward them. But one thing in his article that Joe Banner said stuck out at me, and I think it is why there are still reservations about the owner and team president. Banner said, “I don't think there's another owner who would have kept this team in Philadelphia for the economic deal we got on our stadium. I'm not trying to belittle the public contribution, but as it relates to what other cities did and other offers we had from other cities, I can't imagine many owners that would have come from someplace else and had the kind of loyalty that he demonstrated to these football fans and this city and the history of the franchise. I don't think anybody recognizes that. I don't think anybody thinks of that."”

 

Now, I certainly don’t dismiss the financial imperatives that drive today’s NFL, but Banner’s comment encapsulates so much about team management and disregards certain realities:

 

1)      Even if Lurie wanted to move, I doubt Paul Tagliabue would have allowed it so soon after the public relations disaster of the Browns abandoning Cleveland.

2)      The stadium deal the Eagles got was pretty good. Not as great as some cities, not as bad as others.

3)      Regardless of the details of the eventual stadium deal, the Eagles franchise is worth more now than it would be if it had moved to another city. Either Forbes or Fortune ranked it in the top 5 professional sports franchises, nearing $800 million in worth. So the tens of millions they (may have) lost out on on the Linc has been more than made up in the hundreds of millions in increased value because Lurie owns the most popular team in one of the most populous cities with some of the passionate fans in the country. Does Banner seriously think the Eagles would be worth $800 million in San Antonio? Please.

 

I don’t doubt that Lurie felt some loyalty to the city. And I, for one, appreciate his determination in keeping the team in Philadelphia. But Banner more than anyone should know that aside from loyalty, the decision to keep the team in Philly was a very smart and very profitable business decision. To suggest otherwise, or to downplay the financial angle, is just disingenuous on Banner’s part.

My brother's thoughts

Take away the Jags game and the Titans game –

 

McNabb – 8 games – average just over 28 points per game

 

Garcia – 6 games – just over 25 points per game.

 

 

Take out their best and worst

 

And McNabb still at 28 points per game

Garcia drops to just over 23 points per game.

 

 

I say we are in for about 21-25 points.

 

Think about Dallas – we styioll only scored 23.  Skins 2^nd game – 21 points.

 

If D can get some stops and Garcia can be efficient enough to keep Brees/Bush et al on sidelines then maybe we hold them to 20 and pull it out.

 

Obviously the biggest thing will be TO’s and Red zoine effectiveness – 7 not 3!!!! 

 

That’s what I think.

Experts

I take some solace in that all of the SI “experts” are picking the Saints to win. That is like Jimmie Johnson saying that the Eagles had no shot vs. Dallas and the entire nbc crew taking cowboys before xmas game.

 

Here’s hoping for some timely turnovers.

 

Also, for some odd reason. Garcia plays better on the road? Pressure, or lack thereof? If they can get a score early and quiet crowd that would be very helpful.

Saints

I’m  worried.  My friend likes Eagles this weekend – said he like ML bet.

 

I did like the saints are 4-4 (4-3) at home.  I think we have to play pretty well to win.  No TO’s on our part.  Stopping Brees will be hard – 18 sacks all year.  They are the NFC Colts and we didn’t fare too well against the Colts.

 

Playoff experience should help and we need O-Line to DOMINATE.  Saints only 23^rd against run in league

 

What scares me most is our offense is efficient.  That works well when defense is playing well.  We don’t have dominant D anymore and the saints are the exact type of team we should have trouble with – 3 step drops, get the ball out quick.  Tough between the tackles running and the game breaking speed guy.

 

If we had McNabb I’d feel much much better –because the offense can be explosive with him and it’s just can’t be with Garcia.  We might need high 20’s to 30 to win and Garcia doesn’t get us that.  Be back with stats to that effect soon.

 

BCS Game - 1 Yard!

Did Eagles fans enjoy the BCS halftime exchange Emmitt and Jimmy had last night when discussing Tressel's strange decision to go for it on 4th and 1 on his own 29. Emmitt said, "It reminded me of a play we ran in Philadelphia when I was a Cowboy."  To which Jimmy quickly responded, "Not when I was your coach!"  Somewhere Barry Switzer was cursing them and screaming, "One damn yard!  I wanted to get one damn yard!"

 

Andrews and B-Dawk all-pros...Future Hall of Famers?

Nfl all-pro team came out – 2 Eagles….Shawn Andrews & Brian Dawkins.

 

For what it’s worth, Peter King of SI also voted for Jamaal Jackson for all-pro. The Bears’ Olin Kreutz won, but King said that these two guys are the best centers in the NFL. Funny, and to think we tried to land LeCharles Bentley in free agency. Sometimes the best move you make is the one you don’t.