2004 vs. 2007

I’m as big a homer as anyone at the Linc, but Dave Spadaro’s column suggesting that this year’s team could be better than the 2004 NFC Champs takes the cake. I bow to his superior boosterism.

 

I like many of the moves the Eagles made this offseason – especially the ones to address glaring deficiencies on defense, but the fact remains that there are major question marks on major contributors this year. Question marks that Spadaro either doesn’t address or answers in a resounding “affirmative!” Your best defensive player (Kearse) and your best offensive player (McNabb) are coming off of major knee injuries and, oh yeah, your pro bowl tight end just underwent sports hernia surgery. Might not be full speed till November. But as of right now, Spads thinks this team is a Super Bowl contender.

 

McNabb is the biggest concern since Spads correctly points out that the Eagles now have some depth at D-end (Howard, Cole, Thomas, and McDougle as an insurance policy on Kearse (I know that is a significant downgrade, but I am just counting bodies). He’s also willing to project Chris Gocong as a solid contributor even though he has not played a down yet in a year and a half.

 

More bizarrely, Spads analyzes the running back picture and writes, “Sure, you have to wonder about depth, but I haven't seen the Eagles this well stocked at running back, since, um, forever.”

 

Wait, he’s confused me. Do you have to wonder about depth or do the Eagles have the most depth at this position in franchise history? Spadaro must be suffering from short term memory loss since he can’t recall the Staley-Buckhalter-Westbrook “three headed monster” from only several years ago that certainly was more solid top to bottom than the current Westbrook-Bucky after multiple knee surgeries-Moats-rookie Tony Hunt backfield.

 

To be fair, Spads does correctly highlight the depth along the offensive and defensive lines – where many games are won or lost. Although he doesn’t reference what could be the most important development for the 2007 offense – Marty Mohrnineg calling the plays. But hanging over it all is Donovan McNabb’s recuperation. As goes #5, so goes the team.

 

 

 

 

Eagles Photo History

Interesting photo montage of the history of the Eagles in this You Tube video. Note the pictures are not exactly in chronological order.

The NEW! (and improved?) redesigned Eagles website is up and running. Upon first glance, it appears to be filled with content. Perhaps too filled. That front page is awfully busy – especially the bottom half of the page. The top half rearranges the previous offerings, making the “hot button” stories the top left feature and putting the multimedia right next to it. Company Man Dave Spadaro’s “On the Inside” column gets its own panel, albeit below the hot button frame. Below that it gets a little crazy with 6 ads, a fan poll, photo galleries, user registry, and the coming soon cheerleader calendar to name just several of the content options.

 

Still, I like that they’ve erred on the side of surplus content and leave it up to the viewer to navigate through it all.

Mohrninweg Slams Lions?

That’s how the Detroit press is interpreting Marty’s recent quote:

 

“I’ve been in four (NFL) organizations. Three have been great, top to bottom.”

Larry Johnson to the Eagles?

Uh, no. But on some planet other than Earth, Yahoo sports columnist Jason Cole raises the possibility of Philadelphia as a destination for LJ in the wake of his threat to hold out for a new contract.

 

Cole’s reasoning? The Eagles have more than $10 million in cap space. “Westbrook is nice, but he's no Johnson, who is a premier power back,” writes Cole. Did this guy miss the draft when the Eagles picked Tony Hunt, a very-LJ like runner, even down to the school from whence they came (Penn St), or not notice that Andy Reid prefers more versatile runners?

Another Kind of Football

US Soccer is going through a uniform crisis, says Slate Magazine.

A friend suggests that it’s a shame the photo essay doesn’t show the 1996/97 uniform worn in qualifying for the 1998 World Cup, what he calls a “tre-freakingmendous kit.”

Here’s a look at that uni, which is indeed sharp. Also note that these players are the classic US National Team lineup.

Across the back: Kasey Keller, Jeff Agoos (still hate him), Eddie Pope, Alexi Lalas, Marcelo Balboa, Eric Wynalda

Across the front: John Harkes, Thomas Dooley, Ernie Stewart, Claudio Reyna, Mike Sorber.

The "Founding Fathers" of US Soccer

What are the chances of two articles published on the same day with the headline, “Clock Ticking,” about Donovan McNabb? Pretty good, actually, if you read the Morning Call or something called the SBR Forum.

 

Of particular note is the comparisons Gordie Jones does between the Eagles QB situation now, and the transition that occurred in the mid-80s.

 

“It is in some ways similar to the situation the team faced in 1985. Ron Jaworski was the Birds' starting QB, and had been for eight years. But in the second round of the draft that year, they took Randall Cunningham.

And after the '86 season, Jaworski was gone.”

If the Eagles don’t want McNabb (or the fans don’t think he can’t win the Super Bowl), there is at least one team, or player, that wants him and thinks his team would win it all. Bears D-lineman Tommie Harris.

Guess Who Scares the Mets

“New York closer Billy Wagner, though, has a different conclusion. The slumping Mets are hearing footsteps, loud, thunderous footsteps like being stationed underneath the track at the Kentucky Derby, and Wagner doesn't hesitate when asked what NL East club scares him the most this summer.

"Philadelphia," Wagner says. "By far," writes CBS Sportsline’s Scott Miller.

 

Having worked for several politicians, I thought this quote by disgraced former Connecticut Governor John Rowland (in a recent Washington Post profile) best describes the how and why these elected leaders become such raving egomaniacs.

 

"From the time you arrive, the job of everybody in the office is about making you look good and feel good, and after a while you believe that is the way your life is supposed to be -- people doing things for you. The sun is rising with you -- that's what everybody believes. You end up believing it, too. The people in your office and the lobbyists, they're all saying the same thing: how great you are, and how hard you work for the state, and how much everybody appreciates you, and how you deserve to be rewarded. It starts there."

"Fixes" for the NBA

For all of professional hockey’s woes, of which there are many, I have come to think that it’s rich sister, the NBA, has been somewhat of a paper tiger when it comes to that league’s popularity.

 

The disappointment of this year’s NBA playoffs (terrible matchups and questionable seedings, the Spurs-Suns playing in the 2^nd round, the dismal ratings of the Cavs-Spurs finals, the entire Eastern conference, the mediocre play in general) have brought the issue to the fore of the mainstream media.

 

But the NBA may be in more danger than we think. One of the preeminent basketball writers in the country, the Inquirer’s own Stephen A. Smith, diagnoses the problem and offers some solutions.

 

The changes he is suggesting – at least implicitly - are chilling and unworthy of a legitimate sports league (to say nothing of possible violations of fraud, tampering, and interstate commerce).

 

Writes Smith: “The fact is that the NBA had better do something about all this quickly, whether through the draft lottery, playoff seedings or format changes, before it really starts losing fans instead of just worrying about it….And considering that the Finals were once on tape delay and mired in low ratings and that Stern used the ascent of quality teams in major markets as a foundation to build the NBA into what it is today, television ratings and the league's popularity go nowhere when a franchise-caliber big man like Greg Oden is set to be drafted by Portland instead of a big-market team.”

 

I read that as Smith’s admonition that either the league intervene to direct the most marketable stars to big market teams, or more subtly fix things so that, who knew, Greg Oden will be a Boston Celtic. Competitiveness be damned! It’s all about marketing and ratings. Actual basketball playing is secondary. And what does that say to smaller market teams? We’ll tolerate you in the league, but don’t expect any big stars on your roster…they’re going to be playing in NY, LA, or Chicago.

 

Of course, this mindset is simply part and parcel of the NBA where tanking games (think about that, purposely losing games) was such a pervasive problem that the league had to institute the lottery system to discourage it, and the practice is still openly talked about and speculated on. And that doesn’t even include the persistent rumors that David Stern fixed the 1985 lottery so that the New York Knicks could draft Patrick Ewing.

 

Again, for as bad off as the NHL is right now, the NBA may have been in a more precarious spot in the mid to late 70s when the “black league” was beset by drug and perception problems. Bird, Magic, Dr. J, Michael Jordan, and Nike saved the league and boosted it to previously unimaginable heights. But the marketing aspect of the league was almost on par with the play. It was an unholy alliance which the NBA has become overly dependent. Its unhealthy to the point where it prompts commentators like Smith to suggest that the operations need to be fixed to bolster the ratings. As a counterpoint, think for a moment if anyone would dare suggest that the top QBs should be sent to the biggest NFL markets? The NBA is on dangerous ground when it even tolerates such talk. This being the NBA, Stephen Smith won’t miss a beat.

Donovin Darius- Eagles Safety Help?

The Jags released Donovan Darius, a possible great short term signing with the uncertainty of
Sean Considine.  This would fill a major concern immediately (if DD is healthy, a major "if" coming off a broken ankle) since we haven't addressed S this year in the free agent or draft. A friend thinks Darius and McNabb are tight (played together at 'Cuse). Definitely a stop gap solution, a la Blaine Bishop, till a young safety emerges and proves themself.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=2904087

Garcia Beating Simms

Not surprisingly, Jon Gruden has announced that Jeff Garcia is beating out Chris Simms for the starting job in Tampa. Was there ever a doubt? Seriously, has anyone had more opportunities, less ability, and traded on his name and father’s reputation more than Chris Simms? I mean, besides George W. Bush?

Note to Editors

Note to the Allentown Morning Call sports editors: One should not use the word “swell” in the headline of a story about football players recovering from knee injuries, or what to expect upon their return to the playing field.

Stinkin' Phils

More amazing facts from the Times article on the Phillies approaching the 10,000 loss milestone – the most by any professional sports franchise in history:

* They lost their inaugural game on May 1, 1883

* They lost 23 consecutive games in 1961

* They had a team ERA of 6.71 in 1930

* From 1938 to 1942 they lost at least 103 games every year

* and of course they blew a 6 1/2 game lead over the final 12 games in 1964

* In the 27 seasons from 1919 through 1945, Philadelphia finished last in the National League 16 times and second to last 7 times.

* "The Phillies also have the dishonorable distinction of having had two owners banned from baseball for life."

The Losingest

The Phillies century’s worth of losing is starting to get national attention. Great.

Kiss and Makeup?

McNabb is featured on the first set of minicamp pictures on the Eagles’ website.

Scenes from minicamp

Good news! By all indications, Correll Buckhalter hasn’t blown a knee out yet in practice!

Scenes from minicamp

Let’s hope we see more of this in 2007…preferably turning the corner.

Scenes from minicamp

To work as a metaphor, shouldn’t McNabb being passing the ball to Kolbe?

Return of the King

Donovan’s reps on the practice field were great news for him, the team, and fans. It even made international news.

Career Limiting Moves

So which is the most reviled supporting actor/actress of a hit TV show in recent years? Is it Elisha Cuthbert as studly Jack Bauer’s whiny, inane, self-absorbed, insufferable daughter, Kim, in 24? Or is it Robert Iler as studly Tony Soprano’s whiny, inane, self-absorbed, insufferable son, A.J., on The Sopranos?

Seriously, the viewing public actively (and intensely) dislikes these two characters, and by transference, the actors themselves. How could this happen to them? They are, or in Cuthbert’s case, integral characters – family members for cripes sakes – to the main lead/title character.

Fortunately for Cuthbert, she’s a hot blonde is a babe and started to play to her strengths – T&A – in movies like the Girl Next Door. She should be able escape the Kim reputation and rebound to a solid career.

Like Tony Soprano, I’m a little more worried about Iler. He’s already slight of build and weaseley looking, and the wisps of pube hairs on his chin don’t help the situation. He’s going to have to be very careful in the selection of his roles and projects in the next couple of years. Otherwise, he could be forever typecast, all at the tender age of 22. Maybe he gets lucky on Sunday, and Chase gives him a good death scene and we can all cheer and bury AJ for good.

Whaddya gonna do?

Sixers Payroll

The Sixers payroll of “dead money” gets some notice in the Sports Guy’s column: “Jared B. in New York wonders, "I don't know if you've mentioned this, but did you ever look at how many guys are on the payroll for 2006-07 for the Philadelphia 76ers and not playing for them? They are paying Chris Webber, Jamal Mashburn, Todd MacCulloch, Aaron McKie and Greg Buckner. For a total of $45 million, too. There has got to be some kind of conspiracy theory here how Billy King still has a job."

 

I’ll say it again. I cannot believe the Sixers paying Chris Webber $30 million to just go away has not gotten more national attention.

We Know You Donte

Boston Globe profile of Donte Stallworth, noting that he could be the big loser in the Randy Moss acquisition since he’s essentially playing on a 1-year contract and Moss could take catches and yards away from him. On the other hand, perhaps his production could increase if defenses focus on Moss. We’ll see.

Big Game

Not to overstate the obvious, but this is a very big game for the Phillies tonight. It's the difference between picking up 3 games on the Mets, or only one. A sizeable difference, but even more so when you are 7 games out of first.

Luckily, we have Cole Hamels pitching tonight.

My friend PK has noted that the genius of Bobby Cox's managing over the years has been his ability to identify the regular season games that mean more than others - i.e., a potential sweep, a division rival, etc. - and manage accordingly. That is, manage as if it is a must win and or a post-season game. Putting the hammer down on a team. Like throwing Smoltz out there in a non-save situation because he doesn't want to even think about jeopardizing a 4 run late inning lead.

So that's, I think, what old Charlie from Mayberry should be doing tonight. Managing as if this is a post-season game, a must win game, and there is no tomorrow.

Of course, with the Phils they'll sweep the Mets and then drop the next three. Just like they did last week in sweeping the Braves and then getting swept by the Diamondbacks.

New low for the nhl

I have been a huge hockey booster over the years, defending it as one of the country's four "major" sports. But I can't do it anymore. The reality is that the NHL is now, at best, a second tier sport. It's sad for me to say, since hockey in person is one of the most exciting sports to watch – the speed, skill, and physical nature of the game. And of course, the Flyers were the one consistently good team during my entire time growing up (the one team/sport in which the financial competitive advantage favored Philadelphia and who had a team owner willing to exploit it).

 

In 1995, hockey was on the verge of "making the leap" as the Sports Guy might say. A terrific Cup series between Vancouver and Rangers, with some fantasticly exciting players Bure, Leetch, Messier, etc. was getting a lot of non-hockey people interested in hockey. I remember being captivated by the "Russian Rocket" and how freakin' fast he skated up and down the ice – speed that never, ever wore Flyers' orange. And then the strike killed the momentum, insane expansion diluted the talent pool (I mean, Columbus?!?!), and the last strike killed the sport.

 

Bettman should be fired immediately. He has run the sport into the ground.

 

Here's the most recent hockey lowlight. From the June 5 AP:  "The Stanley Cup finals have brought record low ratings to NBC for a prime-time program, sports or otherwise. Ottawa's 5-3 victory over Anaheim in Game 3 Saturday night received a 1.1 national rating and a 2 share, the network said Tuesday. That matched a rerun of "The West Wing" on July 23, 2005, which also drew a 1.1 rating. Saturday's rating was down 31 percent from last year's Game 3 between Edmonton and Carolina, which had a 1.6/3. The national ratings for Monday night's Game 4 declined less sharply from last year. The Ducks' 3-2 victory received a 1.9/3, down 5 percent from the 2.0/3 for Game 4 in 2006."

Curtis to Hook Up with McNabb

The Inqy profiles Kevin Curtis, but it’s the AC Press that breaks the story that Curtis will be flying to Tempe to practice with Donovan McNabb.

Buh-bye Bethel

That didn’t take long. WR Bethel Johnson’s time with the Eagles was even less than last year’s heralded WR FA signing Jabar Gaffney. Johnson was cut Tuesday after failing a physical due primarily to a fibula stress fracture – supposedly sustained in off-season training. The Inqy is reporting that “the unofficial word is that Johnson…should return to the Birds' roster at some point.”

 

Rayburn Trucking to San Fran

The Niners signed Sam Rayburn to a one-year, veteran minimum contract ($595,000).

Belly of the Beast

McNabb’s PR offensive is all-encompassing. Who else but Curt Schilling would have the cojones to go on WIP and answer questions about things such as the last two minutes of the Super Bowl, TO, the draft day booing.

 

Whatever #5 is paying Rich Burg, he should double it. McNabb’s charm strategy would appear to be working. Clearly, McNabb has seen how Philly sports management has undermined the public’s support and trust of popular players (Curt Schilling, Eric Lindros) with well-timed leaks, interviews, etc. as a prelude to dumping them and dampening the public backlash. Well, McNabb is going to try to not let that happen this time around.

My Sopranos Finale Prediction...

…Tony turns state’s evidence and he and the immediate family go into the witness protection program.

 

I didn’t think this would be a possibility earlier this season – given how “old school” Tony is - but I think all signs are pointing towards it now.

 

The FBI is going to have the goods on Tony after they get a hold of the paper trails and all the documentation they find at Sil’s crime scene. His bank accounts will be frozen and he will have little ready access to cash being on the lam and hiding from Phil. Plus, he could work a deal where the feds take care of Uncle Junior’s nursing home care costs. And, of course, he avoids being killed by Phil’s hitmen – and even gets revenge by fingering Phil and putting him back in prison.

 

It would be a fitting end. Tony lives, but has to live with the shame of being a rat, the worst kind of traitor as he has repeatedly declared, and Carmela is stuck with a middle class life and eternally isolated from all her Jersey friends and family. They are left alone, as a couple, to contemplate the wreckage their way of life has wrought on their children, family and close friends, future and their marriage. It will be sad, pathetic, and poignant.

 

Ready to Bloom

Very impressed with the Allentown Morning Call’s Eagles coverage, especially since we aren’t even close to training camp yet. Here’s a J. Bloom feature, and here’s his personal website.

Downhill racer

Likely the first time a Philadelphia Eagle has ever been featured or referenced in Ski Press Magazine.

Wanting Walker

A Bills’ fan’s plea and analysis as to why Buffalo should do a deal and extend Darwin Walker’s contract.

The Real Ticket Story

Rich Hoffman gives Eagles’ fans only half a loaf today in his look at the team’s ticket practices. In fact, much of what Hoffman writes is erroneous if for nothing more than the simple fact that he ignores the availability of personal seat licenses, or what the Eagles’ management calls “stadium builder licenses” (SBLs). In theory, the SBLs are completely transferable from an “owner” to a prospective season ticket holder (the SBL gives the holder the “right” to then purchase Eagles tickets.) Thus, someone truly desiring season tickets and unwilling to wait the “4,000 years” to acquire non-SBL seats (i.e., the upper, upper bowl of LFF) would only have to bid up a SBL to a level at which point someone would part with their SBL. The free market at its finest. In theory.

 

In theory, then, the Eagles really don’t even have to be involved, indeed, shouldn’t be involved in season ticket transactions covering roughly 40% of the stadium’s seats (the lower bowl and mid-field seats in the upper bowl.) Aside, that is, from collecting the season ticket payments and sending out the tickets (a responsibility that the team has had some difficulty doing in recent years and I will elaborate on in a future post).

 

In practice, however, is the bigger scandal that Hoffman doesn’t delve into. The Eagles ticket office is a mess. In fact, Hoffman would do fans a real service if he ran a follow up article on how a SBL owner goes about selling/transferring his license to a buyer. I’ve sought this information for 3+ years and have gotten nowhere, just like the guy wanting to know where he ranked on the “waiting list.” SBL owners aren’t given a certificate or any documentation of their “license” so it is unclear how one goes about transferring it. Calls to the ticket office usually wind up in a voice mail black hole that are never returned.

The Darwin Walker Return

The possibility that Darwin Walker could revert back to the Eagles if he doesn’t report to the Buffalo Bills has me wondering about the salary cap implications. For instance, is Walker’s contract still counting against the Eagles’ cap since he hasn’t reported, or is it currently included in the Bills’ calculations since he was technically traded?

 

Walker’s pro-rated signing bonus hit shouldn’t have been too bad for the Eagles – a hit they would take anyway if he returned and then proceeded to cut him. Still, I am also wondering of timing issues. For instance, at some point early in the off-season “dead money” can be applied to the upcoming season’s salary cap. After a certain date – I think maybe July 15 – cap hits can be put off a year and taken in the following season. Walker was traded relatively early in the off-season. The Eagles presumably took their Walker salary cap hit for 2007. But if he comes back in August does that negate the earlier accounting and/or do they get to apply the hit to 2008? And does it matter if they cut him immediately upon his return or whether they put him on the roster and suit him up in training camp?

 

The Eagles are one of the best teams at managing their cap and I can’t believe that Walker’s base salary (or even base + bonus) might put them over should he return, but it would be interesting if this all were occurring with a team with extremely limited cap space. I suppose ultimately the trade/non-trade temporarily opened up some salary cap room that would be gone should he return. An intriguing strategy for a team that wanted to temporarily make some cap room to sign their draftees and FAs but still wanted to retain a player – and have a player that ultimately wanted to return to a team and understood the strategy. Collusion? Maybe, but to the benefit of everyone.  

Eagles Killed by Predators

Not a good omen for the upcoming season. Or is it the fate of Lincoln Financial Field?

Though biologists suspect another bird (a falcon?) or raccoon, the Eaglet probably fell victim to a Bear or Saint. Maybe even a Panther.

Eagles Nest Fails

Terms

This is the first published account I've seen of the contract terms of Hunt and Bradley's deals.

"The Eagles announced that each agreement would last four years. The agreements with Hunt and Bradley are reportedly worth about $2 million apiece, including signing bonuses of $600,000 each," says the Allentown Morning Call.

Eagles LBs for Gore?

Last week's Time cover story on Al Gore had this nugget buried in the article. "'The slide show is a journey', says Gore standing beside his trusty screen in a Nashville hotel ballroom. It's mid-March, and he's addressing 150 people--students, academics, lawyers, a former Miss Oklahoma contestant, a fashion designer, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles. They've come at their own expense to learn how to give the slide show. There's an undeniable buzz in the room, the feeling that takes over a group that knows it's part of something that's big and getting bigger."


So which Philadelphia Eagle LB is a fan of Al Gore? Or is it the concern for global warming that has this pro football player attending one of Gore's presentations?

This, of course, sounds just like something the infamously intellectual Dhani Jones would be interested in. And the mid-March date mentioned in the story would mean that Dhani would still have been an Eagle then. The other possibility is Omar Gaither, a former U. Tennessee student (who now lists Charlotte as his home). The other long shot possibility is Tank Daniels, who lives in Arkansas, and is about a 5-6 hour drive to Nashville.

Should Bud Stay or Should Bud Go?

NY Times sports writer Murray Chase is conducting a poll on what MLB Commissioner Bud Selig should do when Barry Bonds breaks Hank Aaron’s all-time HR record.

 

Chass lays out the scenarios here:

 

“Bonds’s approach to the home run record has Commissioner Bud Selig in a quandary. Should he plan to be at the game in which Bonds breaks Aaron’s record? Or would he be justified in staying away, refusing to celebrate what most people believe is a chemically aided total of home runs?

 

Or should Selig be there but opt out of the on-field celebration of the feat?”

 

Email him at this address - mchass@nytimes.com – with these options: 1) Go,   2) stay home   3) Go but stay in your seat

 

For what it’s worth, my own opinion is for #1. Bud and his boys turned a blind eye to the steroids problem in the 1990s (with a big assist from the player’s union). For all of the public “evidence” and statistical anomalies, Bonds has never tested positive for steroids and never been indicted for perjury. Bud made this bed, and now he should be forced to directly deal with the mess.

 

But Bud being Bud, I’m sure the spineless, used car salesman weasel will beg off and be completely absent and incommunicado when the record is broken later this year.

Gocong Go?

The Allentown Morning Call hatin’ on Chris Gocong - Gocong may not be answer to Philadelphia's LB carousel

 

Darwin Walker Returns?

NFL.com’s Adam Schefter reports that Darwin Walker could be an Eagle again (since he’s never reported to Buffalo has he really ever left?) if he doesn’t get his contract extension and go to Bills’ training camp.

 

Says Schefter, “Buffalo and Philadelphia completed one trade this spring and, in another two months, the two teams could complete another.

 

It's the hidden Part II of the Part I trade completed in March, when former Bills linebacker Takeo Spikes and quarterback Kelly Holcomb were sent to Philadelphia in exchange for former Eagles defensive tackle Darwin Walker and a 2008 seventh-round draft choice.

 

While formulating the trade, the Bills and Eagles agreed that if Walker did not report to Buffalo for training camp by Aug. 5, then he would revert to Eagles property and the Bills would get the Eagles sixth-round pick in 2008.

 

It is a possibility that seems more real each day. So the sequel to the Walker trade could be just over two months away and it will depend, as so much in the league does, on a new contract.”

 

A pretty good deal for the Eagles how ever this plays out. Imagine Takeo Spikes and Kelly Holcomb for a 7^th rounder this year and a 6^th rounder next year.

 

Still, I can’t believe Walker hasn’t seen the moves the Eagles have already made on the defensive line and be too eager to come back to the nest. Rayburn was already shown the door earlier this month because of the crowd at D-tackle. Walker would just add to the congestion. So while he wants a new contract, there is some incentive on his side to make a deal with the Bills before August 5.

More on Stewart Bradley

Stewart Bradley’s first day at the office.

Patriot Stamp of Approval

Now, I totally understand Bob Brookover including the little nugget of info that the Patriots were going to take Stewart Bradley at #91 until the Eagles swooped in to snag him at 87.

 

“Perhaps the most interesting thing about Bradley's NFL career to date is that he was four picks away from joining the New England Patriots last month. According to the Boston Globe, the Patriots planned to take Bradley with the 91st overall selection in the third round but instead traded that pick to Oakland after the Eagles selected Bradley with the 87th overall pick.”

 

The Bill Belicheck, Scott Pioli, and the Patriots have proven themselves to be extremely astute talent evaluators. So the Patriots interest in Bradley would seem to validate the Eagles selection of him (both ability wise and pick/round/value wise). Still, and perhaps this is too nitpicky, the Patriots play a 3-4 defense, so their interest in Bradley does raise at least a slight question about which position they saw him playing in their scheme and whether it is equivalent to the role and responsibilities the Eagles will make of him at strongside LB.

 

Nevertheless, all in all, I like the Eagles to have players that the Patriots were interested in. (See Merriweather, Brandon and, unfortunately Stallworth, Dante). In fact, were the roles reversed in the 1^st round when the Pats took Merriweather who the Eagles were reportedly interested in one selection ahead of them?

More Greatest Ever

Dana Pettit O’Neils’ appreciation story on Howard Porter channels Eagleseye. To wit, “When conversation turns in Villanova circles to the greatest player to wear a Wildcats uniform, Kerry Kittles often gets a nod. Ed Pinckney earns his due. Younger fans wonder now where Randy Foye might stand when all is said and done.”

 

O’Neill continues, “But for those blessed with the luxury of long memories, two names usually are where the conversation begins and ends - Paul Arizin and Howard Porter. Now both are gone. Arizin died unexpectedly in December 2006.”

Overworked

Someone finally tackles the myth of the workaholic NFL coach.

Best Ever?

So what of the best ever Villanova basketball player?

 

Several friends commented on the nominees.

 

Arizin gets points for being a local boy, and also played his pro career with the Warriors. A Philadelphia guy through and through. And as the man who perfected the basketball jump shot, he holds a special place in basketball legend (in addition to being one of the NBA's 50 best).

 

What we’ve all come to realize is that – very quietly – EZ Ed Pinckney has a strong case for best ever. Anytime you're named MOP in the NCAA tournament (Porter, Pickney) you can make an argument as to the best.  Porter lost to UCLA's dynasty.  But

Pinckney did win the title!!! Against the Georgetown dynasty no less.

 

Perhaps Pinckney is often overlooked cause the 1971 team predates me and my peers and Porter is the only one known from that runner up team, while as good as Pinckney was we can all cite Gary McClain, Dwayne (D-train!) McClain, Jensen, and Pressley.

 

I could go on about Pinckney’s “backups” -  Chuck Everson and Wyatt Maker - which is just funny on its face to consider that they were even on the bench. They weren't backups, they were the basketball equivalent of the NFL's "disaster QB" as in, when Pinckney is totally unable to play - you put those two stiffs in. To be fair, though, Everson did have a special role to play in the ’85 championship game…the punching bag at the end of the half that gave Rollie the motivation to fire up the team for the second half.

 

Another Natural?

The Eagles love athleticism. A theme raised repeatedly in this profile of rookie CJ Gaddis. This is Jim Johnson’s MO when it comes to defensive players. Acquire athletes and polish them into football players. Look no further than former Eagle Clinton Hart who never played college football (leading to his comical self-introduction on Monday Night Football, “Clinton Hart, Safety, Central Florida Community College”), but who teammates nicknamed “the Natural” for his God-given physical abilities.

Myers and the "Kearse"

The Phillies’ boneheaded plays in the 9^th inning of last night’s game – mental miscues that needlessly prolonged the game – and forced Brett Myers to pitch longer than needed and subsequently got hurt, immediately called to mind the Eagles home opener vs. the Giants last year.

 

In that game, the Eagles squandered a double digit lead and eventually went into overtime during which Jevon Kearse sustained a season ending knee injury. Last night, we had Rod Barajas and Gregg Dobbs misplays that should have resulted in outs and ended the game, but didn’t. Myers had to pitch to hitters he never should have had to, and now he’s likely to go on the DL with a strained shoulder.

 

If there is any bright side, and this is a big if pending the results of a MRI, is that 1) the Phillies won the game last night while the Eagles lost and 2) Kearse was lost for the year while Myers hopefully is not done for the season (he maintains the injury is not serious as it looked when he clutched his arm last night). We’ll see.

dog fight

Everyone is trying to distance themselves from this evolving Mike Vick/dogfighting story. BTW, with 55 pit bulls on his property he sure looks guilty of something to me. Clinton Portis is apologizing for condoning dog fighting, Drew Rosenhaus is trying a PR campaign for his client – “next question!” – and says he’s a “dog lover.” Looks like they’ve all stepped in it and are trying to scrape it off their shoes.

The Best Ever?

So with Howard Porter gravely injured, most of the stories i've read call him "arguably the greatest basketball player in Villanova history."

Was he? He played before my time, but is he the best ever? There are a couple of other players that could definitely give him a run for the money.

What do you think of these candidates?

Paul Arizin - one of the NBA's all time 50 best.

John Pinone - a Villanova legend, a 6'8" center who looked like John Belushi (when Belushi was in his hey day). He was the cornerstone of Rollie Massimino's early success, which lead to....

Ed Pinckney - my brother was arguing for him last night. Villanova always has had 6'6" swingmen (see Dwayne McClain, Doug West) but never a legitimate center until EZ Ed. He's the one absolutely indispensable piece of the championship team - A big man to go toe to toe with Big East centers and Final Four rivals Patrick Ewing and Bill Wennington. Also, like Porter a winner of the NCAA tournament MOP award.

Kerry Kittles - First first team All-american since....?

Randy Foye - got lost in the shuffle of the 4 guard line up, and perhaps his playing days are still too fresh to appreciate with gauzy, sepia tinted hindsight, but he was also Big East player of the year, 1st team All-american, and outside of 1985, the most accomplished team (#2 ranking, first #1 seed, etc).

Honorable mention: Harold Pressley, Doug West, Alex Bradley, Chris Ford, Alvin Williams

Howard Porter

Sad news out of Minnesota where Villanova great Howard Porter is in grave condition after being beaten nearly to death. Porter, of course, is the star of the 1971 runner up that lost to UCLA. Porter, amazingly, was named outstanding player of the tournament for the losing team. The team and his accomplishments were stained and downplayed when the results were expunged from the record books after it was discovered that Porter accepted some ABA money during his senior season.

 

Rich Hoffman has a good column on Porter, the old Big 5 days at the Palestra, and a tinge of surprise and disappointment that such a great player could be forgotten and unrecognizable today.

 

I recall reading a retrospective several years ago about Porter and his pro career, such as it was. I believe he was drafted by the Bulls. Incredibly, he was a 2^nd round pick! (32^nd overall).  After a rookie camp, or maybe it was just regular training camp, the coaches and the scouts told the head coach and management something to the effect of “Howard can’t play.” It’s all very strange, but something about how Porter couldn’t pass and really couldn’t play when he wasn’t the most physically gifted player on the court. Then again, maybe there was something between the lines about his lack of motivation and the beginning of a drug addiction that would haunt him for years. Even with an “inability to play” he managed to kick around the NBA for 7 seasons, including stints with Chicago, Detroit, and ending with the Nets, though never coming close to rivaling his college career.

 

Still, when thinking of Porter I can’t help but be reminded of Fitzgerald’s description of Tom Buchanan in the Great Gatsby, “one of those men who reach such an acute limited excellence at twenty-one that everything afterwards savours of anti-climax.”

Gathering Moss

The Boston Globe’s Ron Borges, recently off a suspension for plagiarism, writes about the Randy Moss experience. Who knows if Moss will play hard every down (and practice) in Boston, or if he still has the ability to be a premier WR in the NFL? But check out this nugget from Moss’ time with the Raiders. Should make for an interesting season in Beantown:

“Walsh described a play in a loss to the Cleveland Browns in which a play-action pass was called and Moss was asked to run a square-in on the weak side. The linebacker was sucked up inside by the fake, according to Walsh, and Moss was expected to run the in-route behind him into the open area. As Walsh recalled it, "He runs a 9 [deep go] route.

"Andrew Walter was at quarterback. He makes the play-fake and a huge hole opens up for Randy in the middle of the field but he's running down the sideline. Walter nearly threw his arm out pulling the ball back. When Randy gets to the sidelines, [wide receivers coach] Freddie Biletnikoff says, 'What were you doing?'

"Randy told Fred, 'I didn't feel like running the 6 route on the dirt part of the infield.' That's the Randy I coached. There were some games where out of 28 plays he'd have 13 or 14 busts. Wrong routes, wrong reads. Dogging it. Whatever."”

 

Portis OK with Dog Fighting

Coming to Mike Vick’s defense is Skins RB Clinton Portis, who thinks dog fighting is ok and doesn’t understand the big deal, so long as you own the dogs.

Herman Edwards ist Deutsch!?

Peter King unintentionally reveals a bombshell in his column this week. In writing about the Chiefs playing a game over in Germany as part of the NFL’s continued efforts to expand their international presence, he writes about Chiefs GM Carl Peterson’s preference for a German game. “Plus, says Peterson, ‘My head coach is one-half German, and my defensive coordinator was born in Germany.’' Hmmm. Never knew that one-half-German part about Herman Edwards.”

Whoa!?!?!

King has the same reaction I did. Chiefs head coach (and former Eagles DB) Herm Edwards is “one-half German?”

Now, relying on the accuracy of Carl Petersen and Peter King for something like this is akin to using Britney Spears for parenting information. But if Edwards really is half German, it raises a host of interesting questions on the third rail of American politics and society….No, not Social Security, but race relations.

For instance, Edwards is a member of the Fritz Pollard Alliance, the ad hoc affirmative action group that promotes minority candidates for NFL coaching jobs and tries to influence the league’s hiring practices.

Not to point out the blindingly obvious, but people of German descent are the whitest of white people. The infamous Aryan race. Only the Scandanavians come close in whiteness, but they aren’t considered mainland Europe.

So how in the world does a “German-American” like Edwards qualify as a minority? Surely, the other half of the Edwards family is of African-american heritage. But all things being equal, and in Edwards’ racial makeup they are, why does he default to the African-american identity? Because it is advantageous for him to do so? Because the color of his skin? (that raises the issue of “blackness” and how dark does you skin have to be to be considered (or publicly perceived) as black.)

How much African-american heritage do you have to have in your family tree to be considered “African-american.” (and I realize that by even asking that question, I am treading dangerously close to the now discredited 1/8 blood standard.) Still, it would seem to be a fair question in light of Edwards’ Germanic background.

And what is a “minority?” Of the six “Fritz Pollard” coaches: Tony Dungy, Lovie Smith, Herman Edwards, Marvin Lewis, Romeo Crennel, and Mike Tomlin – all of them are African-american. Where are the Hispanics? Hispanics are now a larger percentage of the American population than African-americans, but there are ZERO Hispanic NFL head coaches. Interestingly, the Fritz Pollard Alliance says not a word about this disproportionate representation- - or lack of representation as the case may be.

The Freak

Jevon Kearse profile in a cross-state paper. Knee rehab is going nicely and he has an eye popping 1% body fat, but big concerns that Kearse is currently only 241 lbs. (though he plans on putting 10 lbs. on before training camp.)

Classic Philadelphia

A friend writes:

So I was in Philly for work yesterday and saw a bumper sticker
that screamed classic Philly:

"Good girls get fat, Bad girls get eaten"

Stay classy Philly!!

Carson or (gulp) Culpeper

NFL.com notes, “When the Eagles hold their first practice of training camp, it'll be exactly eight months to the day McNabb had reconstructive knee surgery. The season opener at Green Bay on Sept. 9 will be 9½ months post-surgery.

 

Quarterback Carson Palmer started Cincinnati's first game last year just eight months after he tore his anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments and dislocated his kneecap in a playoff loss. Palmer played every game for the Bengals, throwing for 4,035 yards, 28 touchdowns and 13 interceptions.

 

Daunte Culpepper's return from a major knee injury wasn't quite as successful. Culpepper tore his anterior cruciate, medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments in a game with Minnesota on Oct. 30, 2005. He was traded to Miami and started the season opener but clearly wasn't the same player and played just four games.”

 

Dems da Breaks

The Washington Post’s Paul Kane (and former Glenside/LaSalle HS homey) writes up the disappointing showing of Philadelphia’s two congressmen in the Philly mayoral race.

Homer Spadaro

As per usual, Eagles house organ Dave Spadaro looks at the Eagles 2007 front seven defense and LOVES what he sees, talking up every player currently on the roster, while subtly taking digs at recently departed players. Stay true, Dave.

Saints Alive

Rich Hoffman hit the nail on the head when he wrote that the Eagles’ obsession with the Saints, and specifically the Saints playoff loss “merely crystallized on one January evening the months of flaws and frustrations that the Eagles had been gradually uncovering all along.”

 

No power running game. An inability to stop the run. Lack of a strong-armed QB (in my opinion, the main reason Reid decided to punt and not go for 4^th and 15 late in the game).

 

Interestingly, there is some tantalizing info about Shawn Andrews wanting revenge against the Saints, presumably related to the neck contusion he suffered that caused him to miss the 2^nd half and be rushed to the hospital. Funny, your all-pro guard leaves the game, sent to the hospital, and subsequently has to miss the Pro Bowl because of a neck injury and there is still remarkably little information about what happened, how it happened, where it happened, and where the actual injury on the neck was (reportedly, his neck swelled so much it affected his breathing). Andrews had an MRI a couple of days after the Saints game, though Reid didn’t go into details of the findings.

 

Just another day in Eagleland.

The Plot Thickens

This Washington Times blog on the Redskins suggests that former Eagles PR man Rich Burg (and now personal McNabb flack) was fired from the team for arranging a press conference for Donovan McNabb late last year (the one Andy Reid unilaterally cancelled). Also note that McNabb was not available for a minicamp press conference, unlike Spikes and Dawkins (hey, he’s only the franchise qb!).

 

“To the surprise of the Eagles, McNabb coordinated his own interview blitz on Tuesday, talking to several Philadelphia-area media outlets. The blitz was coordinated by a recently-fired PR assistant who has been hired by McNabb. Rich Burg was reportedly fired for setting up a McNabb presser after the season -- it was cancelled by Reid. Having dealt with Burg a few times over the years, I've found him to be very helpful, along with the entire Eagles' PR staff -- in fact, I voted for them this year as the NFL's best PR department in a survey conducted by the Pro Football Writers Association of America. (Burg was McNabb's liaison for several years with the Eagles, just like the Redskins will likely have one person handle all of Jason Campbell's interview requests this season).” Says the Times.

Big Abiamiri

I must admit I did a double take when I read the following passage from today’s Les Bowen article about the Eagles defensive upsizing: “including the second-round drafting of 6-4, 267-pound Victor Abiamiri, who automatically became the team's biggest defensive end.”

 

Whoa. Can that be right? At 267 lbs, Abiamiri is already the heaviest d-end? Sure enough, a check of the Eagles roster indicates that McDougle is 264, Kearse 265, Marques Murrell (?) 246, and Juqua Thomas 250.

 

Now, Trent Cole is listed at 270 and Darren Howard is listed as a defensive end and at 275. So perhaps technically Abiamiri isn’t the heaviest d-end on the team (straight out of college, no less), but he’s very close. And the coaches project him to put on approximately 10 lbs and get up to the 275-280 range so if all goes according to plan he will definitely be the largest in the near future.

Vote No on Judge McCaffrey

What's more embarrassing:

 

That we had to have a judge installed in the Vet to deal with all the Eagles' hooligans?

Or the fact that Pennsylvania has this corrupt system of electing its judges and Judge Seamus McCaffrey is on the verge of being the next Democratic nominee to the state Supreme Court, with an ad campaign -- as evidenced in today's full-page ad in the Phila Inquirer with the headline "the judge who restored law and order to the NFL" -- based around his service as a judge handling drunken misbehavior?

http://judgeseamus.com/

 

I always thought McCaffrey did too much grandstanding with his Eagles court. We get it. You set up a court inside the Vet to mete out fines for disorderly conducts and public intoxication. But when he constantly hyped it brought discredit to the vast majority of fans who were law abiding spectators. (BTW, was this “court” – as a public venue, as was the publicly-owned Vet – accessible to the general public (and not just ticket holders) who wanted to witness the proceedings?)

 

He’s done pretty well for himself as a former Philly beat cop. But don’t let him become a state Supreme Court Justice at the expense of Eagles fans’ reputation.

 

McNair Gets DUI for being a Passenger

Steve McNair has been charged with drunk driving in Nashville based on what has to be the dumbest DUI law in the country. McNair’s brother-in-law was driving McNair’s car while impaired. Even though McNair was the passenger, he gets charged under Tennessee law because it was McNair’s car and he was in it.

Diverging Interests

What to make of the McNabb reaction to the Kolb pick?

 

First, McNabb is positively Alan Greenspan-esque in answering, or not answering, or offering obscure circumlocuitous  words to direct questions.

 

2^nd, for all of the ambiguous language McNabb utters, he knows how to convey a message to the audience he wants. Holding his press conference away from the NovaCare complex certainly got the attention of Jeff Lurie and Andy Reid.

 

3 – McNabb is getting serious about his public image and perception by hiring Rich Burg. In addition to getting a PR professional to advise him, Burg has the added benefit of having worked for the Eagles and knowing how they operate and think PR-wise.

 

4 – To wit, McNabb said all the right things in his PR blitz this week.

 

5 – Ultimately and most importantly, it is clear that McNabb now realizes that for the first time in his career with the Eagles that his fate and interests are no longer intextricably entwined with those of his head coach Andy Reid. That is a powerful realization. We’ll see if McNabb continues to be the loyal company man he has been (and been criticized for in some quarters). It will certainly usher in a new era in this evolving coach-franchise qb relationship.

Black Moses?

Donovan McNabb goes retro in sporting his 1970s Isaac Hayes look. I remain confident #5 can lead the Eagles to the promised land.

A Pit Bull Named Spike

Takeo Spikes’ encouraging attitude and intensity would seem to be marked contrast to the too cerebral Dhani Jones. Is there any question that Jones is doing everything he can to make himself and the Eagles defense the best that it can be? (Though the line about working from 8am through “lunch” was kind of funny. So much for sun up to sun down.)

Most Exciting 2 Mnutes in Sports

For the next two months, beginning with tomorrow’s Kentucky Derby, I am the biggest horse racing fan in the country.

Here’s racing guru Andrew Beyer’s take on tomorrow’s race.

 

I like Any Given Saturday and Street Sense in a boxed exacta.

Unthinkable in DC?

Have Skins fans stopped believing in St. Joe Gibbs?

McNabb - Still the One

My brother responds to the Sal Pal “Make or Break” year analysis for Donovan McNabb:

 

I know we never had a "future" qb the past few years, but wasn't 2004, 2005, 2006 and now 2007 make or break years for McNabb?  The media always had him having to prove something.  Can he finally win w/ a superstar WR? Can he overcome the last 2 minutes of the super bowl? Can he come back from the T.O. thing? Can he come back from ACL and prove he's STILL an elite QB?

 

I'm confident if healthy he will be the QB for a long time.

 

Anyone clamoring for Kolb should look 90 minutes north.  The Giants aren't bad, but not contenders and they have a #1 overall pick with the best quarterback genes in the nation, and he isn’t getting it done.

 

It's almost to the point where I want to give up.  It's beyond ridiculous at this point (it's been past ridiculous for some time now).

McNabb Haters

Wow. I just got off the phone with a friend who is a member of the “I Hate McNabb Club.”

 

I thought that maybe he and his fellow McNabb haters would be having second thoughts about their intense dislike for #5 and the long-term implications and repercussions for the team now that Kevin Kolb signals the beginning of the end of the McNabb era.

 

I thought wrong. My friend is unchastened, unapologetic, and can’t wait to get rid of McNabb after this season and usher in the Kolb era.

 

I’m truly astounded. I could maybe, maybe, understand this thinking if the Eagles had taken Russell or Quinn. But pinning your hopes on what some had as the 6-7^th best QB in the draft when you have one of the 5 best QBs in the league (albeit coming off major knee injury)?

 

I’m betting my friend has NEVER seen Kolb play in a college game. But it doesn’t matter. He’s not McNabb, so he must be better.

 

Sometimes I’m embarrassed by the stupidity of Philly sports fans.

Sal Pal, "Make or Break"

A friend writes:

 

Sal Pal's on ESPN last night reporting that this season was make-or-break for No 5 with the Eagles. Really?

 

If so, I'm gonna have to think about just giving up. I'm not ready to cheer for a team led by the next David Klingler or any of the line of "great" Houston Cougar QBs.

Anniversary and Stat that May Only Interest Me

Sunday marks the 70^th anniversary of the explosion of the german airship, the Hindenburg, in Lakewood, NJ. 36 people died in the fiery crash. The 36 died in the flames or the fall as they tried to jump out of the dirigible. NONE of the passengers that remained in the cabin perished.

Gone in a Flash

With Flash Gordon headed to the DL, it’s funny to think how things have played out on the Phillies pitching staff over the past two months. Lieber was going to be used as trade bait to get relievers to bolster the pen in spring training. That he was kept was insurance in case of an injury to one of the other Phillies pitchers, though I think everyone presumed at the time that the concern was an injury to a starting pitcher.

 

Now Lieber is filling in the starting rotation hole created by a pitching injury…only the injury was to a reliever, and the hole was created because the staff ace was moved to the bullpen.

 

Has there ever been another instance of an opening day starter finishing the same season as a team’s closer? Surely there has never been an instance of an opening day starter moved to the pen to serve as middle relief/set up man…4 weeks into the season!

 

Only the Phillies. Only in Philadelphia.

Rayburn Odd Man Out

The acquisition of former Bears tackle Ian Scott likely signals the end of the Sam Rayburn’s tenure with the Eagles.

 

Rayburn, a former truck driver, would appear to be the odd man out in the defensive line game of musical chairs - where there are 6 players, but only 5 seats.

 

Bunkley, Patterson, Reagor, and Scott would seem to be assured spots. That leaves Rayburn battling LaJuan Ramsey for the last roster spot for d-tackles. Indeed, that’s already the way it’s listed on the Eagles official depth chart. Though Ramsey is 12 lbs. lighter (303 vs. 291; both are 6’3”), he is younger and entering his second season and so can be expected to improve. With Rayburn in his 5^th year, what you see now is what you get. Ramsey also has the advantage of being drafted by the Eagles, while Rayburn was a undrafted free agent. All things being equal between two players, surely management would keep the one that was drafted in order to improve their draft “success.”

The Next Hank Baskett?

All the draft talk has been on who would be drafted and where. Now in the wake of the post-draft decompression, Fox sports’ Michael Schrager takes a look at the top 10 players who weren’t drafted – where Schrager had them projected to be drafted - and with which teams they’ve since signed free agent contracts.

Is it good or bad that in this top 10 are 2 players who Schrager had the Eagles selecting: ND WR Rhema McKnight (who remains unsigned) and Tennesee FB Cory Anderson?

Great Scott!

The Eagles continue to bolster their defensive line with players from Super Bowl XLI. First Colts d-tackle Montae Reagor and now Chicago d-tackle Ian Scott has just signed a 1-year contract.

 

At 302 lbs. he’s the kind of run-stopping interior d-lineman many have been clamoring for. Now maybe Trotter won’t find an offensive guard in his lap every running play.

 

ESPN’s Len Pasquarelli recently noted that Scott’s continued availability on the free agent market was a “mystery” and likely based on his poor game vs. the Colts. A one-year contract for a proven run stuffer is a steal for the Eagles.

Philadelphia High School

Are other cities like Philadelphia when it comes to sports soap operas? Or is the city of Brotherly Love unique for its sports neuroses, its fan man-crushes and frenemy relationships with its pro athletes, and truly bizarre behind the scenes developments? If so, is the press part of the problem, or merely a reflection of fans’ fixations?

 

The Daily Snooze’s Dana Pennett O’Neil expends nearly 900 words in a self-ironic piece about Donovan McNabb’s dad’s reaction to the Kevin Kolb pick.

 

Sam’s reaction? “No comment.”

 

Undeterred, O’Neil tries to generate some controversy by characterizing Dad McNabb’s statement that that he is “not concerned” about the Kolb pick and entirely accurate observation that “My son works for the Philadelphia Eagles right now and when he doesn't any longer, there are 31 other NFL teams he can play for" as a “grenade” launched at the Eagles.

 

Bizarrely, at the end O’Neil admits how inane this whole McNabb-Kolb controversy is and, by association, his (her?) very own article on the matter.

 

Sam McNabb explains that he doesn’t worry about things that are out of his control. And the Eagles draft and QB depth chart are, he says, out of his control. So why all the fuss? O’Neil concludes without a wink, “Well, because it's Philly, Sam. That's what we do.”

 

Unfortunately, this is not an isolated mania. Bob Brookover has a story today headlined, “Speculation Fueled by McNabb’s Silence.”

 

To recap. McNabb and Reid haven’t spoken since the draft…controversy! McNabb’s father says the issue is out of his hands but if the Eagles cut McNabb he could play for any of the other teams in the league….controversy! McNabb has not spoken about the Kevin Kolb pick…controversy! And you can bet when McNabb does speak it will be, you guessed it, controversial!

 

It’s the same old story with Philadelphia and its love-hate relationship with its sports stars.

 

First, we had the Eric Lindros ordeal. Lindros breaking down while accepting his MVP award because he wanted to win a championship for Philadelphia. The Red Wings sweep and the “choke.” Accusations the Flyers nearly killed Lindros by insisting that he be flown back to Philly from Nashville while suffering from what turned out to be a punctured lung. (Ponder that for a moment: has a similar suggestion ever been made regarding a pro athlete, much less one of the best in his sport? And why would the Flyers insist Lindros receive medical treatment in Philadelphia when he was in such medical distress in another city? Bizarre)

 

Throw in his and his dad’s feud with the Bobby Clarke, teammates taking sides, unpublished rumors about adultery, Roger Neilson suggesting that he wasn’t reinstated as coach after undergoing cancer treatment because management didn’t want a cancer survivor who liked Eric Lindros behind the bench, etc.

 

So it goes with McNabb now. The TO debacle (a nearly 3 year ordeal), Rush ripping McNabb, assigning blame on McNabb for wanting Garcia gone because his presence on the roster would undermine #5, Mama McNabb’s quote that it would be bittersweet if the Eagles won the Super Bowl and her son wasn’t the starting qb.

 

Now, we’ve got whole articles devoted to what McNabb’s dad thinks about the drafting of Kevin Kolb and why McNabb has not issued a statement on the matter.

 

My gosh, any contact Reid and McNabb have had since the draft, when and in what entrance each entered/exited the NovaCare complex, and if they talked about McNabb’s status with the team and the implications of the Kolb pick are being covered in the Philly papers like Fleet Street covering every movement of the royal family.

 

Certainly, most other cities don’t have this. There are only a select few who care that deeply and passionately about sports: New York, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland (an editorial in the paper about the Thomas/Quinn draft!).  Others?

 

But do even these cities experience such inanity and have media outlets that whip up such high school antics as who thinks who is cute, and who was seen talking to who in the hallways?

 

Actually, come to think of it. Boston might give Philly a run for its money in this department.

 

Eagle Fan Reaction to Kevin Kolb Pick

Tried to do this as a clip of the week, but for some reason it isn’t working. Anyway, here is the You Tube clip of on-site fan reaction to the Kevin Kolb selection. Reminds you of Jets fans.

What 11-14 Means...

… a big, big hole to be dug out of.

Stat of the week: The 1979 Pirates are the only team since 1935 to lurch out of April more than three games under .500 and survive to win a World Series.

At this point, I’d settle for just making the playoffs.

Who Called Whom?

I’ve noticed a glaring discrepancy in published accounts of the Eagles-Cowboys first round trade in Saturday’s draft. The contradiction raises the question of who initiated the trade? Bob Ford at the Inqy is the latest to report in that paper that it was “Owner Jeff Lurie who] was given the assignment of calling Dallas owner Jerry Jones and brokering the deal.”

 

On the other hand, SI’s Peter King says that “Jones got on the phone, calling every team after Kansas City. He took a stab at offering Philly owner Jeff Lurie, sitting at 26, the pick acquired from Cleveland (36th overall) plus third- and sixth-round picks. Lurie came back and said, ‘Give us your third and fifth and it's a deal.’'

 

Now, the reported inconsistencies may not amount to a hill of beans. In the scheme of things it probably doesn’t matter who called whom. But I am intrigued that apparently both camps are trying to publicly take credit for initiating the deal.

Why Did Eagles Move Down and Not Up?

Presumably the Eagles traded down to #36 because the 1^st round players they had been targeting were already off the board. I don’t think even Andy Reid would try to make the argument that they had their sights set on Kevin Kolb the entire time and intended on making him their very first pick of the 2007 draft.

 

So the question is why the Eagles didn’t trade UP to get the player/position they wanted rather than stand pat at #26 and miss out because teams ahead of them took their desired players. Certainly, Reid has shown a willingness to trade up in the first round to get the player they want, having done it with Jerome McDougle and Shawn Andrews. So what to make of their inactivity.

 

Sadly, we’ll likely never know since top management reveals internal workings and discussions as often as the Bush White House (in the first term, that is).

 

Having said that, here are my educated guesses.

 

1)      Miami LB Jon Beason and S Brandon Merriweather were the two players at the top of the Eagles’ board. They are also the two players taken immediately preceding the Eagles pick. Beason is a fast, Omar Gaither-sized LB (6 ft, 230 lbs) and Merriweather, of course, would have been B. Dawk’s heir apparent. It is conceivable that the Eagles figured one of the two would be available. What are the chances that Carolina AND New England would take both of these guys. Pretty good chances as it turned out. Not sure if Beason was actually under consideration since I’m not sure what a Gaither-clone would have gotten the Eagles, but the Merriweather pick being taken just under the noses makes this scenario plausible.

 

2)       Were the Eagles somehow spooked by having given up their 4^th round pick in the Stallworth trade  last year? If so, perhaps they wanted to move up to assure themselves of getting their player but couldn’t. Having already lost one 4^th round pick, I think they were reluctant to give up another mid round pick (a 3^rd?) to move up a couple of slots to assure themselves of a safety.

 

3)      Conversely, maybe they were willing to take any of several defensive players (Nelson, Griffin, Merriweather, Beason) but when none of them were available became focused on getting a mid rounder back to fill the Stallworth/4^th rounder hole and made up for it by dropping down from #26.

 

Of course, we’ll never know until Andy Reid, Tom Heckert, or Jeff Lurie publishes their tell all memoirs. But it is amazing to consider the vagaries of the NFL draft. It’s not enough to properly identify and evaluate talent. The other 32 teams impact your choices. You can only select the players that haven’t already been taken. Because New England took Brandon Merriweather immediately before the Eagles, they wind up with Kevin Kolb.

Smarter than the Average GM

Riffing off my friend PK’s theory about how NFL GM’s become raving lunatics on draft day to try to impress their peers with “visionary” (i.e., questionable) draft picks, I want to expand on another issue we’ve discussed (and I will elaborate on much more in the future). To wit, fans routinely know as much as the “professionals” when it comes to sports matters.

Watch the Youtube video of the Jets’ draft blunders. The fans are screaming for them to take Warren Sapp after he plummets down the draft order. The Jets wind up taking Kyle Brady and they lustily and deservedly boo (this becomes even funnier when you read the later stories from that season about how Brady says he had a TE position coach at Penn State, but doesn’t with the Jets and so feels adrift – sometimes working with the linemen, sometimes working with the receivers, but never working with the tight ends. Rich Kotite, Jets head coach and former tight end, explains that he’s got a lot on his plate but will work with Brady in the ensuing offseason).

This outsmart yourself mindset would also explain how the Eagles took San Diego St. LB Matt McCoy, a 2^nd team all Mountain West conference honoree, and passed on his teammate LB Kirk Morrison, the first SDSU All-American since Marshall Faulk. Guess which one has been a better LB in the pros? (Hint: Morrison started his rookie season and had 127 tackles last year. McCoy lost his starting job in his second year after being dragged all over the RCA Dome by Joseph Addai and Dominic Rhodes).

This would also help explain why the Ravens have done pretty well in past drafts. They discount combine workouts and emphasize what a player actually did on the field. They target certain players and stick with it and don’t try to “reach.”

When the Eagles stop being clever – in the later rounds – they usually wind up with some decent players – Brian Westbrook 3^rd), Todd Herremans (4^th), Derrick Burgess (3^rd), Omar Gaither (5^th), Trent Cole (5^th). And which is why I have some hope for Stewart Bradley and Tony Hunt.

Along those same lines I think a lot of teams overthought Quinn – especially the Dolphins. I mean, when your new head coach has to try to placate angry fans for not taking a potential franchise qb by pointing out how great the #9 overall pick will be as a punt returner, clearly we are in the twilight zone. Major props to Cleveland for seizing the moment and taking advantage of this ridiculousness.

The other part is, everyone wants to be the new Bill Walsh and Jimmy Johnson, in wheeling and dealing picks. At some point, after all the trades are completed, you still have to pick good players.

Don’t think. Just draft.

Draft Grade Compilation

ESPN compilation of team draft grades from a variety of “experts.” General consensus among analysts, except for the  Eagles and Bills – the only two teams to get A’s and F’s.

Superstitious?

Are the Eagles trying to catch lightning twice? The first time they drafted a 6 foot, 210 lbs safety out of Clemson, they got a future Hall of Famer. We’ll see if the 5’11” 206 lbs. safety/cb they selected out of Clemson a decade later can follow in those very large footsteps. If Gaddis is half the player of B. Dawk, it will be a solid pick.

LB Picture Gets a Little Clearer

Takeo Spikes has been yapping since he was traded that he was going to be the weakside LB, replacing rookie standout Omar Gaither. Well, now we have the first indication from management that this will be the case.

 

From the Eagles website announcing the departure of Dhani Jones comes this depth chart elaboration of the LBs.

 

“On the weakside, the Eagles traded for Takeo Spikes in March who will enter the post-draft mini-camp as the starter. He will be backed up by 2006 draft pick Omar Gaither, who was the starter at the end of last season, and 2005 draft pick Matt McCoy. In the middle, Gaither will back up veteran Jeremiah Trotter. And on the strongside, Gocong, Bradley and 2006 rookie free agent Tank Daniels will mix it up for the No. 1 spot.”

 

Spikes, Trotter and Gocong. With Gaither presumably platooning with Trotter on passing downs.

 

Interesting. Ironic that the linebacker playing the best at the end of last year has been demoted and isn’t even a starter at this point.

My friend PK writes:

 

First off, the Eagles draft: taking a qb who is a 3-year project makes absolutely no sense. None.

 

Quite simply the Eagles are in a position where they actually need to make short-term moves, not long-term moves. We are in a position to win the Super Bowl. We have already had a run of sustained greatness, it's no longer about 11-, 12-, 13-win seasons. We must make moves that are designed to win the Super Bowl. Drafting a qb who simply won't ever get on the field in 2007 and 2008, well, that makes no sense. (Particularly once you realize he's not rated very well by other scouts.)

 

Of course, this was the perfect example of my long-standing theory of how NFL executives are only trying to do one thing on Draft Day: impress their fellow execs with their "smarts". These guys are the most conservative sports execs alive for 364 days of the year, then that one day -- Draft Day -- they go batsh!t insane trying to prove how smart they are, making all sorts of crazy trades. Dallas made 2 trades inside of an hour on Saturday.

 

Just silly.