Tournament

I thought Villanova would beat UCLA, but not put the beat down on them that they did. Wow!

Other random thoughts so far:

* I don't get it when people say Arizona's run shows that they "deserved" to get a bid over Mt. St. Mary's. Arizona's success speaks more about the other invited teams than it does about any of the others that weren't. To make a comparison to the Mount would require a fair evaluation of the Mount's tournament success which is impossible since they weren't invited.

* 5 Big East teams in the sweet 16?! It brings new meaning to "power" conference.

* Speaking of power conferences, for all of the selection committee's crowing about Arizona, they should be ashamed that only 2 of 7 ACC and Big 10 teams are left. Why did those weak conferences get as many bids as the Big East? And really, couldn't the ACC and Big 10 bubble teams have been excluded to allow the Mounties of the world into the big dance? I mean, would that have really been so bad for the tournament?

* The national media is asking some questions about the propriety of Villanova's home court advantage last weekend. A lot of funny stuff going on with the selection committee gaming the system for the name teams through seedings and pod placement. A bigger question than the Villanova situation is why #4 Xavier didn't play in Dayton but #8 Ohio State did.

Schilling Hall Worthy

The clock starts to tick on Curt Schilling’s five year wait for Cooperstown.

 

Are his numbers (see preceding post) Hall worthy? Should be interesting. He is right on the bubble. Another 10 wins (226 career) would have really helped his cause, me thinks. As it is, I think the three world series championships, particularly helping bring Boston their first in eons, and the legend of the bloody sock, will tip the balance in his favor.

 

Still, just like the player himself, Schilling’s candidacy will be much discussed and debated and provoke some intense feelings.

Schilling retirement

Curt Schilling announced his retirement today.

 

The best big-game pitcher of his generation.

 

216 wins

3116 strikeouts

3.46 ERA

3 20 win seasons

6 time all star

NLCS MVP

World Series MVP

2 titles

 

You Win Some, You Lose Some

So the Eagles (finally) acquire a real fullback in Leonard Weaver...and lose (finally) LJ Smith (Jim Harbaugh must have liked what he saw up close lo those years ago).

All in all, not a bad week for the Eagles.

V for Victory Indeed

Last night's Villanova game was, for most of it, a horrible reminder of their upset loss to Old Dominion back in 1995. Same deal, too. 'Nova a 3 seed, and the scrappy veteran 14th ranked squad from south of the mason dixon line hanging around, giving the Wildcats fits, etc..

In fact, I had the same sick feeling last night as I did back then. There was especially a moment in the 2nd half, about 18 minutes to go, where AU missed a big 3 that i thought would have blown the game wide open.  AU just ran out of gas at the end.

Really, the huge benefit Villanova had was playing at home and preventing a neutral crowd from tilting toward the underdog.

Someon (Phil Sheridan?) suggested that a loss last night would have been more devastating than the one in 1995. I completely disagree. The loss to ODU - in triple OT no less - was a HUGE disaster and watershed moment for Villanova.

Remember, the '95 squad had won the NIT championship the year before and was poised for big things in the tournament the following year. Indeed, they blew UConn off the court in the Big East tournament final - their rubber match with the Huskies that year - to win the conference championship only 5 days before.

The loss really exposed Lappas as a mediocre game coach, Eric Eberz as a big game choke artist (a role he reprised in the tournament the following year), really gave the whole team a tightness on the big stage that took years to undo, and prompted Lappas to take a flyer on the highly touted Tim Thomas, essentially bargaining that Thomas and his expected one year stint at the school was the missing ingredient to a Final Four worthy team and to avoid squandering Kerry Kittles', Jason Lawson's and Alvin Woodward's senior season. Instead, the Thomas recruitment  undermined the chemistry of the team and sowed confusion over who was the go-to guy, the Parade All-american and projected lottery pick, or the actual college All-american and one of the school's all-time greats.

Suffice to say i was a drunken mess the night of the triple OT debacle...which occurred on St. Patrick's Day no less. I vaguely recall switching to white russians after the keg was kicked and the game was headed into OT. Only to be tossing the empty barrel around the fenced in city patio after ODU had shocked the Main Line.

Andy Reid Speaks!

Funny, the mumbles don’t come through in the transcript.

 

Basically, the interview boiled down to explaining how and why Brian Dawkins left, the relationship with Donovan McNabb, and the status of Brian Westbrook post-surgery.

 

Here, I think is the most relevant question and answer of the interview, where Spadaro asks a surprisingly pointed question about why the Eagles didn’t just pay Dawkins some extra money to stay given how much room they have under the cap. Reid’s answer: the Eagles don’t overpay and “it’s just business.”

 

DS: Some fans wonder, though, why the Eagles, who have so much room under the salary cap, would not just do anything it takes to keep a player like Dawkins here. Why not go the extra mile and keep him here?

AR: "I understand that and we're obviously in a business where change takes place. You set the money aside and we did what we thought was fair and Denver did what they thought was fair and they did a great job with it. And we move on. That's how these things work. There is no animosity towards Brian. That's just business. I think Brian understands that, we understand that and you just go on."

 

 

Smith Elected New Union Boss

This is one of the biggest upsets since Douglas knocked out Tyson. An outsider with no NFL playing experience, Smith beat out player favorites Trace Armstrong and Troy Vincent for NFLPA Executive Director. That must have been one hell of a business plan Smith presented to the executive council.

LT Smith's Draft Value Continues to Plummet

At this rate, maybe the Eagles will be able to get Alabama tackle Andre Smith with one of their pick’s in the 20s. Then again, maybe it would be better if they didn’t draft him at all.

Its' Official

Tra Thomas signed with the Jaguars.

 

Major reshuffling of Eagles offensive line to continue.

 

With the departure of Dawkins and now Thomas, there is no longer anyone on the roster who played or was selected during the Ray Rhodes era.

Adieu G - Lew

After the TO debacle, now former Eagles WR Greg Lewis became a favorite fan punching bag as the personification of the team’s historic stance in undervaluing the WR position. In many eyes, Lewis was just the latest in a long line of receiving stiffs like Na Brown, Freddie Mitchell and the inimitable duo of Trash and Stinkston.

 

And yet, in the week leading up to the Eagles-Patriots game in November 2007, it was shocking to hear Bill Belichick praising Lewis as one of the Eagles’ offensive playmakers that his defense would have to stop. Greg Lewis?

 

Then again, maybe it wasn’t so surprising given Lewis’ 4 catches/53 yards and 1 TD in the super bowl vs. the Patriots.

 

What was surprising was that with AJ Feeley at QB in that 2007 regular season game, Lewis proved Belichick prophetic, leading all Eagles receivers in yardage with 4 catches for 88 yards and TWO touchdowns.

 

Now the most shocking thing is to realize that Belichick was serious and perhaps Lewis’ skills were underappreciated given the trade the Patriots just made to acquire G Lew.

 

Alas, I think I speak for most fans when I say he won’t be missed.

 

Note to Belichick – he can’t return punts.

We Are...Penn State

Here’s a link to the vote tally of the house of representatives resolution congratulating the USC Trojans Rose Bowl win over Penn State.

 

Five Pennsylvania reps – all Dems – voted against it: Altmire (PA-04)  Dahlkemper (PA-03)  Murphy (PA-08),  Doyle (PA-14), Carney (PA-10), and Kanjorski (PA-11) 

 

Interestingly, all of the Republican Pennsylvania members voted for it.

 

And I love the cross-border love W. Virginia’s Nick Joe Rahall gave to PA by voting against it too.

Amazing Stat of the Day

From the Times:

 

Since the mid-1960s, college men’s players have made about 69 percent of free throws, the unguarded 15-foot, 1-point shot awarded after a foul. In 1965, the rate was 69 percent. This season, as teams scramble for bids to the N.C.A.A. tournament, it was 68.8. It has dropped as low as 67.1 but never topped 70.

Brian Dawkins Reflection

As usual, Rich Hoffman gets it perfectly:

"...When they look at Brian Dawkins, what they see is themselves.

"Thirteen years. It is a long time to be carrying a municipal legacy onto the field every week. It is forever, in many ways - and Dawkins will be a forever kind of player for this franchise, cherished, remembered, all of that, long after the No. 20 is put away.

"Part of it is because he has been so good, a seven-time Pro Bowler, the best safety in the history of the franchise. Part of it is because of how hard he hits people, how he just pulverizes them, even now. Long after the details are forgotten, the visceral remains. You wince when Dawkins really launches himself at somebody. That is what people will always remember - the wince, and then the wow.

"But it is more than that - and, no, not that ridiculous, indescribable routine he goes through when he emerges from the tunnel and goes onto the field. It is simpler than that. It is visible passion, visible to all.

"No Eagles fan can possibly doubt that Dawkins cares more than they do. That's it. That is the connection between a man and a city. That is the bond."

More Dawk

Dawkins is a devastating loss personally. he should have retired an eagle. the team should have made a reasonable offer before he became a FA to keep him for his leadership. That being said, we all were severely depressed at the beginning of last season when even the casual fan could see that BDawk had lost a step. i think jim johnson rearranged his schemes to help cover it up - much as he did for Michael Lewis before - but it's important to remember that in all this.

i'm not surprised about Bucky. he wanted to play more and for some unfathomable reason, the Eagles never gave him the carries that his stats and success would have warranted.

Good riddance to Considine - though with Dawk gone perhaps the fans might have appreciated him a little more.

A Record of Mediocrity

Hope this helps Eagles fans feel better about the Skins signing of Albert Haynesworth. From Mark Mosely.

Anyway, this seems like as good a time as any to remind you of some of the defensive players the Redskins have "landed" over the years. Our trip down memory lane needs to begin with defensive end Bruce Smith and Deion Sanders. Smith will soon be inducted into the Hall of Fame and Sanders won't be far behind him. But they didn't do any resume-building with the Redskins.

That leaves us with Adam Archuleta, Jeremiah Trotter, Jesse Armstead, Dana Stubblefield and Mark Carrier. I know Smoot's been a decent player, but he hasn't justified the big bucks.

The Great Wall of Philadelphia

Is this the first time in league history that two brothers will be playing right next to each other on the line of scrimmage? Or at least the offensive line?

Eagles Don't Tamper, Lose Brown

Jason Brown's agent basically says that the Eagles played by the league's rules and didn't tamper with his client before he became a free agent. How else to take this Harold Lewis comment:

Brown agreed to a contract with the St. Louis Rams last night. His agent, Harold Lewis, said the Eagles were among the first teams to inquirer about his client when free agency started at 12:01 a.m. yesterday. But the Rams called first.

"The Eagles showed some really strong interest in Jason, but we had no inkling until midnight passed," Lewis said. "Who knows? Maybe if they'd have called first, they'd have had the first chance to talk. Jason is not the kind of guy who wants to take a tour."

You know, the Eagles didn't call until Brown was actually a free agent. Silly Eagles, they should have gotten in touch while Brown was still under contract. Like Dan Snyder did with Albert Haynesworth.

Farewell B Dawk

Looks like Brian Dawkins gave the Eagles one last chance to match Denver's two year contract offer...and the Eagles declined.

What else can you make of the earlier reports - which turned out to be false - that Dawkins had signed with the Broncos last night. It was a shot across the Eagles bow that he was serious about switching teams. Well, this afternoon - sadly - it's a done deal. The Eagles just didn't want him back that badly, notwithstanding the mancrush nearly every Eagles fan has with BDawk.

And Dawkins goes to a team where aging, hammer hitting, future Hall of Fame safeties play out their remaining days: Dennis Smith, John Lnch, Steve Atwater

Still, its not just going to look right with Dawkins in Denver blue and orange. Here's looking for the day two years from now when the Eagles and Dawkins do the one day contract so that he can retire an Eagle. The way it should have been all along.

Farewell, #20. Godspeed.

Oh Brother

The Eagles not only get younger at O-line if, as expected, they sign Stacy Andrews. But they also get an insurance policy on the happiness and mental health of their potential Hall of Fame guard Shawn Andrews, Stacy’s younger brother.

What the?

Given that offensive line is the Eagles primary need to upgrade, the team’s decision to allow Tra Thomas to become a free agent suggests that the Eagles will be going after one of the younger available linemen to replace the 11 year veteran. Aside from allowing Jon Runyan to test the market before re-signing him as a free agent, the Eagles don’t typically allow key players to become available.

 

The decision to let Thomas go on to the open market is surprising since many considered him the most likely of the two tackles to be kept since he had a decent year and has been a blind side stalwart for more than a decade. Indeed, Thomas’ quietly dominating play at left tackle is one of the most underappreciated things in the Reid era (though it was Ray Rhodes that drafted him).

 

For those same reasons, Brian Dawkins’ new status as a free agent is both jarring and dramatically increases the possibility he won’t be with the team next year.

 

As of right now, doesn’t this all mean that at least on the official depth chart that Winston Justice is the Eagles starting LT (yikes!) and soon to be second year man Quinton Demps is the opening day free safety.

Sweet Deal

Say what you want about Asante Samuel's play this year (notwithstanding the playoff INTs), but his deal is looking better and better from the team's point of view in light of the Raiders' insanity with CB Nnamdi Asomugha. His payout must be driving Lito bonkers one moment and then causing him to salivate at the the prospect of somehow getting a similar type deal in the future.

Reports the King:

The most interesting thing I learned at the combine actually had nothing to do with the combine at all. It had to do with the contract the Raiders negotiated with agents Tom Condon and Ben Dogra for Nnamdi Asomugha. Put simply, this is the kind of revolutionary contract that will reverberate around the league for this entire off-season. Maybe longer.

Taken on an average-per-season basis, Asomugha's contract is 62 percent higher than any cornerback contract in NFL history.

This is what one general manager with several important players to sign told me about the deal: "I've already told two agents that if they include that contract in all the contracts in our negotiations, I'm not listening. It's insane. It's beyond insane. I've never seen a contract like it. The Raiders guaranteed a cornerback more money than Tom Brady or Peyton Manning ever got guaranteed. So I'm not going to listen to any agent who tries to use it as leverage. It makes no sense.''

The richest previous contract signed by a cornerback (and I don't count the eight-year, $80-million Nate Clements deal with San Francisco, because it has two phony years at a total of $27.3 million stuck on the end of it, years both sides know will never be played out) came last year -- Asante Samuel's six-year, $56.14 million deal with the Eagles. Let's compare the Samuel and Asomugha deals:

Player Date Years Total Guaranteed Ave. per year Samuel 2-29-08 6 $56.14m $20m $9.36m Asomugha 2-19-09 3 $45.38m $28.6m* $15.13m

Asomugha's average pay per year is $5.77-million per year more than Samuel's, or 62 percent more than any cornerback contract ever. Good for him. And good for the Raiders in one way -- they don't lose their best player, and because they don't force a franchise tag on him, they don't have their best player grousing about what a bad team he's on ... at least for now. But in this economy? With the Raiders always lobbying for a more revenue-producing stadium?

* One bit of clarification on the Asomugha contract: The deal is for at least two years and $28.6 million. Then the Raiders have a choice. They have until the fifth day of the league year (approximately March 5, 2011) to decide whether to keep Asomugha or allow him to become an unrestricted free agent. If they keep him, which is highly likely in what could very well be an uncapped year, they will have to pay him a minimum of $16.874 million.

Top Eagle FA

Two Eagles crack the top 25 free agents available according to SI:

20. Tra Thomas, OT, Eagles: The 11-year veteran hits the open market after spending his entire career with the Eagles. As a tall athlete with long arms, Thomas relies on his athleticism to lock up defenders on the edge. He still has enough quickness to handle speed rushers and is crafty enough to offset the various counters used by polished rushers. Though his skills have started to decline, Thomas still ranks as one of the top tackles in the game.

21. L.J. Smith, TE, Eagles: The oft-injured receiver teases scouts and coaches with his big-play potential. His exceptional speed and athleticism make him a matchup nightmare. He has averaged nearly 11 yards a reception over six seasons and is one of the few tight ends capable of stretching the middle of the field.

Subtraction by Addition?

NY Giants RB Derrick Ward is hours away from becoming a free agent. Might the Eagles consider meeting his $2.5 million asking price? The move would bolster the Eagles backfield and simultaneously weaken a division rival. Ward is 29 but seemingly a "young" 29.

A Rookie Move?

Very interesting article. Some really good points. Though Sam Donnellon must live in some happy world and not in the Philadelphia area.

 

The reason for McNabb’s leaking is for plausible deniability. Imagine the criticism that would come his way if he did take this stand more publicly. Though I think many fans would support him since they are in general agreement on the need for upgrades, there will always be a vocal portion who will absolutely kill him for whatever he said and somehow twist it in some warped way to make him look bad (not a team player?).

 

Seriously, the wonder at this point is why McNabb wants to stay with the eagles at all – what with the lack of offensive playmakers and a fair share of the fans’ seething hatred of him.

 

 And I love the irony in the reversal of fortune where before this season many fans wanted to trade him or cut him, clear cap space and begin the Kevin kolb era. Now, there is a collective, uh-oh, let’s hope that McNabb doesn’t demand to be traded or cut and we have to begin the Kevin kolb era.

 

Mcnabb really is a fascinating story – an unbelievably star-crossed career here.

Special teams good and bad

The good news: Rory Segrest is no longer coaching the special teams, which, while improved this past season, have been the worst performing unit on the team since John Harbaugh left.

 

The bad news: Segrest is now the defensive line coach in the wake of Pete Jenkins’ retirement from that spot.

Super bowl prediction

The cards are more than capable of an upset and their big play potential could put the steelers in an early hole they can't dig out of, but ultimately the steelers are the better team, the cards don't play nearly as well away from- especially travelling east - and their defense is phenomenol.

Cards 17
Steelers 27

Never Saw It Coming

A friend writes:

Akers clearly got hurt on the extra point. It was very odd that Fox didn't mention it.

That shoulda made it a 27-24 game with our lead.

Still, the defense sucked today. I never saw that coming. Never.

Outcoached

mcnabb and jackson got the go ahead score but the D couldn't hold - ironically - on4th and inches and then in keeping to a FG.

Akers didn't help. missed a fg and tra point = forcing the 2pt. conversion.

Ultimately, eagles got outcoached. The Cards made adjustments from their last game with the Eagles and the Eagles didn't.

i'm crushed

i am literally at a loss as to what to think.

jim johnson's defense got abused the first half.

eagles offense stunk first half

mcnabb threw some terrible passes that cost the eagles plays - curtis, jackson, avant incompletes. and yet, lewis, particularly and others shoiuld have made some game turning catches;

mcnabb drove them down for the wining score but akers cost them 4 points.

o-lline  couldn't open up runninng holes but alllowed mcnabb 10 seconds on most pass plays - literally.

how many titles do the eagles have with fitzgerald?

i'm crushed

mcnabb and jackson got the go ahead score but the D couldn't hold - ironically - on4th and inches and then in keeping to a FG.

akers didn't help. missed a fg and tra point = forcing the 2pt. conversion.

ultimately, eagles got outcoached.

Prop lines

McNabb O/U 258 passing yards

Warner 265 passing

Westbrook - 66 1/2 rushing yards

James - 52 1/2 rushing yards

Fitzgerald - 6 1/2 receptions, 96 1/2 receiving yards

Jackson 60 1/2 receiving yards

Akers total points scored - 9

Over under final scores

Eagles 26
Cardinals 21

A New Defining Moment?

Could McNabb significantly remake/rehab his reputation with the know-nothings if he has a stellar game today?

Here's hoping 300 yards passing, 2 TDs, and one rushing TD today can and will cleanse some of the feelings from the past couple of years (the knee, the vomiting, TO, etc.).

Falcons- Eagles Revisited

At this time and on this day five years ago, we had already gotten a ride from a downtown Philly hotel to the airport parking lot from some guy that whiled away the time hand drawing patriotic bumper stickers like "KILL TERRARISTS!!"

We had persuaded an airport snow removal crew to use their front loader to clear a path for the RV so we were able to get it out of its spot regardless of the 6 inches of snow that had fallen the night before.

By this time five years ago, we had already gotten in to the tailgate parking lot because Baby Cogs had managed to save an extra spot next to a corner dumpster.

And by this time five years ago, we were playing Beirut on the Strapper-hand made playing table and it was so cold out that the beer in the cups and especially the foam was freezing during each of the games.

Perhaps the RV and the Eagles finest day.

Here's hoping the rest of that day is recreated again this afternoon.

More Burrell Appreciation

With the total flameout of Andruw Jones' talent (steroids, anyone?), its worth reflecting again on Pat Burrell's underappreciated stats.

From Sports Illustrated:

Yesterday the Dodgers cut ties with one of the greatest free-agent busts in recent history with the release of centerfielder Andruw Jones. The longtime Brave played just one season for L.A., hitting .158 with three home runs and 14 RBIs in 209 at bats. Jones still ranks third among NL outfielders in home runs since the start of the 2005 season, with 120. The only NL sluggers to hit more from an outfield spot are free agent Adam Dunn, who hit 146 for the Reds and D-Backs, and Pat Burrell, who hit 122 for the Phillies before bolting for Tampa Bay this offseason.

In other words, Pat Burrell is the top OF slugger since 2005...if not before then.

Prediction

So the Sports Guy clearly hates the Eagles (see 10 reasons why Cards will beat Eagles).

But why is he and alot of every other people so enamored with the formerly no account Cards? Why isn't the Eagles 3rd ranked defense - which absolutely shut down the Cowboys, Vikings, and Giants - not getting any respect?

Why is Kurt Warner getting props as a comeback player but Donovan McNabb is being overlooked?

Why is the Eagles ability to score against the Vikings and Giants defenses being discounted and the Cards ability to beat a rookie quarterback making his first start on the road and Jake Delhomme's 5 turnovers being made into a world dominating defense?

Admittedly, the Eagles have not traditionally played well in Arizona. But I'm almost happy that Anquan Boldin is going to try to gut out a hammie tomorrow. Please, by all means. Dress and play and perform at 70%. Please. It will make the Larry Fitzgerald double teams that much more effective.

The Eagles are going to #1 with a bullet as Dick Clark might say.

And much like McNabb's coming out against his hometown Bears in a divisional playoff in the Windy City seven (eight?) years ago, i expect a similarly stellar performance for his winter home neighbors tomorrow.

Eagles 27
Cardinals 13

Arizona

My brother travelled to Arizona yesterday. Is staying at a fancy Westin resort in Scottsdale, 45 minutes from the stadium in Glendale.

He got two tix for he and his wife online (not sure if it was ebay, craigslist or stubhub): lower bowl for $425 each - face was, i believe $190. but really, when you are already spending way more on airfare - $700 on Southwest! - both the resort and the game tix begin to look like a bargain.

Anyway, says the weather is great - sunny and 77 degrees. A far cry from the 1 degree that i awoke to this morning!

My Prediction?

Pain!

Hands to the Face?

If not a face mask,shouldn't this at least be illegal hands to the face on the part of Bradshaw?

Did Anyone Notice?

That with 9:09 left in the game yesterday the game clock stopped?

The Giants had the ball and ran two plays and the clock did not run.

Finally, Fox removed the score and time graphic from the screen, the time came back up and the clock was running, but it read 7:58. A lot more time than one minute 11 seconds had run off between when the clock was supposed to have started and when it finally did.

McNabb

everyone will say what they want about the benching, but it unleashed something in McNabb. Maybe that was when it actually hit him that he might not be back next year. Since then, the normally buttoned down "company man" seems to be playing loose and having fun - something we maybe have not seen since his first 2-3 years in the league - before all his other QB draft counterparts flamed out, he became the "franchise" and took on the crushing pressure of expectations (right after the Rams championship loss?).

Anyway, at the time i hated the phone thing yesterday when Mcnabb drew the personal foul and turned a 3rd and 1 conversion from ending the game into an impossible 3rd and 16 that gave the Giants one last shot. 24 hours later however, with the penalty not hurting anything, i see it as the play of a straight arrow guy that really is just having fun -  a 10 year veteran playing like a rookie. i find it very encouraging.

It is unbelievable that D stuffed the Giants on 4th and short TWICE on must have first downs by the Giants. INCREDIBLE!!!!!!!

I mean, on that Eli QB sneak (and what a disaster that play call was, why are you not giving the ball to Jacobs?), i don't think the refs even measured for the first after 4th down, there was no question he didn't make it.

part of me doesn't like having to go out to Phoenix, the Eagles don't' traditional play/travel there really well. The other part of me likes it cause it fits in with the fast, loose, and world against us nature of this team right now.

Defense

Patterson and Bunkley really shone yesterday in stuffing those 4th and 1s. what i really like is the depth and flexibility of this line. you've got huge guys run stuffing tackles like the aforementioned two. and Laws is being worked into the mix. and they've got speed rushing, athletic d-ends like Juqua and Cole. And they've got Howard that shifts to d-tackle in passing downs, Abiamiri, and the late season emergence of Clemons who is playing a lot like the old Jevon Kearse - did you see him dropping back into LB pass coverage yesterday?

good point about Jackson. It might have made sense when he was "only" a rookie and they wanted to get him in the game. but now that he is the go to WR, why is he fielding punts? especially when you've got a good experienced returner who is 3rd string d-back.

Unofficial 2nd Half Donovan Stats

An ink stained wretch writes:

In both games, we've now won basically because - in a game in which both defenses played hard - our QB made more plays, way more, than their QB.

Our special teams were also huge, huge. God, even Rocca's been punting well. But in 2 straight games Donovan's been great in 2nd half, the other team's QB has been terrible.

Roughly, I think Donnie's 2nd half numbers in 2 games are:
26-37, 320 yds, 2 TDS, 1 INT.

Best Eagles D?

My brother chimes in:

I would say this is the best LB group he has had.  Its youth is the only reason it's not credited like the others.  You are watching one of the best MLB's in football and barring injury we will see him in a pro bowl very shortly.  Bradley is unbelievable.  Gocong is a great SAM – as good as the Carlos Emmons era and big upgrade over Dhani.  What sets them apart is that they can play run and pass which we know Trotter couldn't (certainly not in 2^nd stint).

I'll also go with this d-line being deeper than Hugh's years.  Patterson and Bunkley are underrated because they don't play a lot on passing downs (not saying PK was not giving credit, just talking about in general you never hear much about them, but they are very solid).

Don't look now, but Abiamiri is quickly looking like a good draft pick.

Can't touch the 2001-2003 DB's.

Top to bottom this is his best D.  No real weak spots.  For goodness sakes Lito can't get on field!!

Did anyone notice Lito playing on punt return team.  I saw him out there.  If Jackson has become crucial to the offense why haven't they moved to put Lito back on punt returns.  I know Jackson is better, but there was a reason we removed westbrook from that duty a few years ago.  Lito was very, very good when he did it.  If he can't play D why can't he return punts.  I know it's worked out well and Jackson has been nothing short of great, but at some point you can't have your #1 WR returning punts (at least no one else seems to do that).  It's like having your starting QB hold for the kicker – see Cowboys 2006 season.

Historical thought –These next few weeks could prove vital in the HOF candidacy to Dawkins and McNabb.  Just huge.  Without SB rings I think both will have trouble getting in.  With them I think they are both in.

5 of his 10 years they have played in NFC championship (and 5 of last 8).  Please tell that to anyone/everyone that says McNabb can't win a big game.  That stat is incredible.

Eagles Best Defense?

A friend writes:

The defense is just soooo tough. I said it at the start of the playoffs, I believe this is probably the best unit Johnson has ever had. He's had years when his D-line was better (the Hugh Douglas prime of '01), he's had years with better LBs (Trotter in '01/'02), he's had better secondaries (those years of Taylor/Vincent/B-Dawk were sick).

But I think this D is probably, all together, as good as the '01/'02 squad, if not better.

To put that point into full view, in their last 4 games the Eagles have played 4 great offenses:

Redskins (10 points); Cowboys (6 points); Vikings (14); NYG (11).

And let's not forget that the Skins TD came on a short field after a McNabb fumble, and 2 of those FGs yesterday were on short fields -- 1 after the opening kickoff return, the other on the batted into the air INT and Mr Fatso running it down to the 30.

Paul Kane

to put that point into full view, in their last 4 games the Eagles have playe...

5:00 PM (3 hours ago)

Paul KaneLoading...

5:00 PM (3 hours ago)

Avant

A friend writes:

Has he come outta nowhere to become The. Go-To Receiver? Or have we wasted a few years on Reggie Brown instead of turning Avant into our No 1 receiver?
All Avant does is make clutch catches for 1st downs.

Eagles Analysis

Pretty funny… and accurate summation of the Eagles strengths and weaknesses and chances against the Giants.

Wes Welker Lite?

Says Jason Whitlock, “Philly did everything it could to keep Minnesota in the game. Memo to Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb: Kevin Curtis is not a deep threat on the edge. Curtis is a slot receiver, a Wes Welker Lite.

 

You expose Curtis to a playoff team's top two corners and he's highly ineffective. You put Curtis in the slot against a nickel and he can be a difference-maker.

 

When McNabb threw deep to Curtis on an important, late-game third-down play rather than dumping the ball to a wide-open Brian Westbrook in the flat, I wanted to turn the game off.”

Little Bro's Reaction

My brother chimes in:

I fear Deion could be right.  That and Lurie proclaiming they want McNabb - haven't we seen that before when they say publicly they want to keep him so later they can say - we tried and wanted to, but he didn't want to.  Total play for the media/fans.  It worries me.

The Defense is pretty f'in good.  Great 2nd half.  The big lapse was after Samuel's TD was bad.  They had chance to stop them and turn game into route. They did step it up in 2nd half though.

McNabb was great in 2nd half.  Moving the chains when pinned back - twice.  No points, but there was no chance the Vikes were going 90 yards on that defense in 2nd half.

I really like Avant.  Good hands.

Special teams were great.  Akers has been very, very good since about week 5.  Of course the meadowlands is like kryptonite to him.

Reid seemed to stick with run.  I can't believe they ran the ball once in 2nd half, but they kept doing it - with no success.  I'd like to see ratio, but I bet it was 60/40.  That's awesome.

Bucky is a quality backup.

Sheldon Brown, who I have always loved, has terrible hands.

GREAT, GREAT downfield blocking by receivers on the screen.  AND Nick Cole was out there knocking two guys down.

We had trouble stopping Chester taylor.  Worried about Jacobs.  Need Abiamiri back so Juqua Parker can sit his 245 lb body.

Very excited we're still playing.

Re-read the Sports Guy's picks.  He hates Philly.  We know that already. But he kills Reid and wants to put him in his manifesto as don't bet on Andy Reid ever.  Reid has 9 playoff victories and has won a playoff game every time he makes it.  He's won at least one playoff game in 7 of the last 9 years.  Yes, he mismanages the clock and can't challenge worth dog poo, but the guy wins.

We were 3-4-1 on road this year, but traditionally the Eagles have been very good on road.  Don't forget that.

McNabb Next Year

A friend responds:

Very difficult to see how Kolb could be under center next season. Today's game showed what happens with young QBs in playoffs. Deion, on NFL Net, is adamant in predicting McNabb will do all he can to go somewhere else.

McNabb 2009 Guarantee?

doesn't yesterday's win virtually assure McNabb now comes back next year?

I mean, is anyone comfortable with the concept of Kevin Kolb improving upon this team to take them beyond the divisional playoff round next year?

The Day After

Tough, tough win. The Vikings are actually pretty good - especially that defense - and Jackson managed the game pretty well till they needed to throw and then he was a disaster. Interesting other teams have flaws that their fans can see in preseason but the "professionals" (i.e., the gm and coaches) don't address.

for instance, with that defense a halfway competent QB should get them into the divisional round. But they started the season with Jackson and he ended their season today.

i just hope the Eags aren't too banged up from today's game for the rested Giants next week.

and they finally caught a break with the NFL scheduling and don't have to play on a short week like they did against New Orleans.

BTW, didn't Westbrook's screen TD remind you of the same long screen TD he had against the Redskins last year at FedEx field?

Reevaluating Eagles D

A friend, who had called the Eagles' defense and coach Jim Johnson "pathetic" in November, has offered up a helping of crow. He now writes, contritely:

Johnson's defense this year has possibly turned into his best ever. The D-line is still under-sized, but he's done a tremendous job with these young linebackers, turning them into the unsung heroes of this defense.

On another note, our special teams might have been the difference today. Akers went 4-4 and Jackson's punt returns set up a FG and also was a huge field position changer. Oh, and their punter sucked.

The Over the Hill Gang Rides Again

Joe Gibbs is gone and George Allen is dead, but the Redskins continue to squander draft picks on over the hill players.

Also from the Boston Globe:

The verdict is in on the Dolphins' trade of Jason Taylor to the Redskins for a 2009 second-round draft choice and a 2010 sixth-round pick. The winner: Miami. The Dolphins went from 1-15 to 11-5 and qualified for the playoffs, while Taylor - who was slowed by calf surgery in September - totaled a career-low 3 1/2 sacks with 8-8 Washington. Taylor is due $8.5 million in 2009, and given that high figure, it's possible he won't even be back with the Redskins next season.

Bye Bye

From the Boston Globe. Encouraging news for the Eagles:

Once thought to be vital in the quest for a Super Bowl title, the first-round bye isn't as important as one might think. Consider that each of the last three Super Bowl champions - the 2005 Steelers, the 2006 Colts, the 2007 Giants - all played in the wild-card round. Overall, six Super Bowl champions have played on wild-card weekend.

Statistic of Interest

During the Colts-Chargers overtime game, CBS displayed a graphic that said home teams were 12-12 in playoff OT games, but that they had won 9 of the last 13.

In other words, at one point in NFL history, road teams were a mind boggling 8-3 in playoff OT. I want to know more about all this. 1) How did the road teams have such success and 2) what has happened to give home teams such a streaky recent advantage, including San Diego's win yesterday which now makes home teams 10 for the last 14 in playoff OT.

Screen

Didn't Westbrook's screen TD remind you of the same long screen TD he had against the Redskins two year's ago at FedEx field?

Atl-Ari

I think atlanta is the most likely of the wildcards/favorites to lose this weekend.

The cards are much maligned but they do play well at home. In addition, the valley of the sun has historically been a tough road trip for east coast teams.

Add in that matt ryan is a rookie qb and there is no shame for a falcons team that made the playoffs even if they go one and out.

Falcon 13
Cardinals 31

How bout them utes

Utah is this year's Boise State, right down to the hook and lateral.

The BCS should (but won't) rethink its entire system after this Mountain West "power" took it right to the 2nd best team in the all-powerful SEC.

And there will only be one uundefeated team this year- and it didn't play in the championship game or even get serious consideration - Utah.

6 for 6

I am fascinated by this chart which appeared in yesterday's NY Times graphing the average points scored per NFL drive for drives starting at each yard line.

Understandably, drives starting at the opponents 1 yard line are the highest scoring starting points. But the next highest scoring starting position is not the 2 yeard line but the 7 yard line?!

What could account for the difference? Either the extra yards allow teams more/better passing options by giving defenses more territory to defend, or the 6 yard line gives offenses more options and defenses, conversely, more things to consider than if both teams were focused on running it in from, say, the 3 yard line.

Moreover, teams score more if they start at the 8 yeard line than if they start at the 3, 5, or 7 yard line.

Eagles Viking Prediction

SI's Peter King predicts a 24-23 Vikings victory, predicated on a lot of rushing by Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor.

I see things a little differently.

Eagles 23
Vikings 16

And it could be a bigger margin of victory if the Eagles get an early lead and force Tarvaris Jackson into throwing more and relying less on Peterson's legs.

A State of Interest Only to Me?

From the New York Times:

Players listed with thigh injuries wind up playing 69.2 percent of the time, according to Barnwell's research; those with hamstring injuries play just 54.8 percent, the lowest among all injury types. So listing someone with a hamstring injury could telegraph his likelihood of playing.

2009 Schedule

The 2009 opponents are now set based on the final 2008 regular season standings.

A couple of things jump out: too bad that Saints game is at home, that would have been a nice fan road trip to New Orleans. Here's hoping the Bears game is played early in the season in Chicago, as opposed to November/December.

The Eagles will have one opponent making a cross country trip (San Fran) but will have to make two trips out to the West Coast (Oakland and San Diego). Here's hoping one immediately precedes their bye. On a positive note, that means only two obvious 4pm games at home (Denver and San Fran).



Home:
Cowboys
Giants
Washington
Saints
Buccaneers
Broncos
Chiefs
Niners

Away:
Cowboys
Giants
Washington
Falcons
Panthers
Raiders
Chargers
Bears

More Playoffs?!

My friend expounds on his playoff analysis:

Prediction -- Look for the Colts to absolutely SMASH the Chargers this weekend. Please don't place bets based on what I'm about to say, but I think the Chargers are something of a fluke.

Further gaming out my breakdowns of divisional records when playing teams outside your division, the AFC West is the 2nd worst division in football: 11-29. And before you lay all the blame on KC and Oakland, know this: San Diego went 5-1 in the AFC West.

That means they went 3-7 against non-West teams. That's not the sign of a team ready to do battle against the hottest team in football. Also, in this "run" by the chargers, consider this: 3 of the 4 wins they've rattled off in a row are against AFC West teams (Oakland, KC Denver). The other win came against the imploding Bucs, who this past weekend couldn't even hold a 10-pt lead against the Raiders.

The Colts most recent wins are also fairly pedestrian (a Tennessee team resting, Jax, Detroit, Cincy). But, in November, they gutted out wins against NE, Pitt, Houston and SD.

The other AFC divisions, against non-division opponents, went like this: East, 26-14; South, 26-14; North, 19-22-1.

The poor Buffalo Bills just got whip-sawed in that division, going 1-5 inside and 7-3 outside. Also worth noting: the Steelers may be the biggest of all paper tigers in the playoffs. 

Pittsburgh went 6-0 inside its division, 6-4 outside. I would not be surprised to see them knocked out in the 2nd round, against Miami or Indy.

To which my brother adds:

Steelers 6-4 was against some top teams – NFC East was 4 of them + Pats and Titans.  The 6-0 includes Ravens (yes the other 4 games were jokes).

Steelers are also playoff savvy, I love Tomlin and AT Pittsburgh is no easy task.  No way Dolphins win there.  Colts could.

Agree with Charges/Colts thoughts.

The Chargers comments could be used to describe the Cardinals – just replace Chargers with Cardinals and you are right on (only difference is 6-0 in division instead of 5-1).

Falcons should win.

Playoffs?!

A friend offers this statistical breakdown:

I went through season-ending records and discovered this:

* in games outside their division, NFC East teams went 26-13-1; NFC South teams went 28-12; NFC Central, 13-27; NFC West, 10-30.

Basically, I think you could take the bottom 4 teams in the East and South - Dallas, Wash, Bucs, Saints - and they'd win the other divisions. Maybe the Vikes are good enough and better than those other 4 non-playoff East/South teams. Maybe.

The Vikes, fyi, had the best out-of-their-division record of any Central/West team, going 6-4 against non-Central teams. The Eags went 7-2-1.

Sign of the Times

The Eagles pass/run ratio is so out of balance - and such an anomaly in the NFL - it is hard to imagine a similar story appearing in another NFL city's major sports news. But there it is, Rich Hoffman actually breaking down the pass/run percentages of the Vikings opponents this year as a prelude to the possibility the Eagles may throw the ball 75% of the time this Sunday against the league's best run defense.

Most Disappointing?

As my brother pointed out Sunday, many were calling out Reid before the game for only getting to the playoffs "one time in the last four years." Well that stat has now changed to 2 playoff appearances in the past four years.

Which got me thinking about how some of the other NFL teams look after all the dust settles and everything is said and done. For instance, the Eagles at various points during the season were one of the most disappointing teams. (BTW, do you know they set a franchise record for most points scored in a season? Crazy, crazy stuff.)

Anyway, now that the regular season is over, who were the actual most disappointing teams in the league?

A run down of a few of the favorites:

A. Dallas- a preseason super bowl favorite who appeared to hit a speed bump when Romo got knocked out for a couple of weeks but finished meekly and with no satisfactory explanation vs. Ravens and the blowout loss to the Eagles?

B. The Buccaneers - who at one point were 9-3 and wound up losing their last four games of the season, including blowing a 10 point fourth quarter lead at home to the Raiders that killed their playoff opportunity?

C. The Broncos - who blew a 3 game division lead in the last three weeks of the season?

D. The Jets - who were 8-4 after beating the Titans but wound up 9-7 with Brett Favre at QB?

E. The Redskins - a playoff team last year and got through the hardest part of their schedule (Steelers, Saints, Cardinals and 3 division road games) with a 6-2 start but wound up at 8-8?

F. The Patriots - got to 11-5 after Brady's disastrous season opening/season ending knee injury with a career backup Matt Cassel. Alas, 11-5 was not good enough for the playoffs.

B. Dawk, Tony Romo and Jessica

The Eagles REALLY had their way with the Cowboys on Sunday...and possibly later that night. 

And Brian Dawkins is still THE MAN. And Tony Romo still isn't the man.

Stat of the Day

Eagles 21 pass attempts, 36 rushes.

B. Dawk

Brian Dawkins is THE MAN.

Anything?

Andy Reid on why he called 16 straight pass plays..."we were just trying for anything to work."

And yet, after 3 consecutive 3 and outs on 9 pass plays Reid wasn't really trying "anything." I mean, he wasn't trying running plays.

Kasay

How come John Kasay wasn't called for a false start on the field goal he missed at the end of regulation last week?

He stutter stepped towards the ball before it was snapped. At the very least, it was illegal motion since he was running toward the line of scrimmage before the snap.

Oddly, there was no call - what would have been a HUGE no call had Kasay it the 3.

Even weirder, neither Al Michael or John Madden made any mention of it. I mean, not even as a possible excuse for missing the field goal. You know, something like "his timing was messed up cause he started his kick before it was snapped." but nothing.

Do they watch the same game and plays as we do?

50-50?

Call me a happy optimist but I think the biggest challenge in the Eagles uphill battle to make the playoffs is to beat the Cowboys tomorrow. Surely one of the North division "leaders" will lose - I'm looking at you Minnesota (or you Kyle Orton in Houston) - and I have a funny feeling about Oakland at Tampa.

I don't have a good feeling about the Cowboys game. But if everything falls the Eagles way by 4pm tomorrow, everyone should be feeling stoked about the chance to beat the Cowboys, knock them out of contention and getting the Eagles ticket punched for a game vs. Arizona or Chicago.

Last McNabb Game?

Is tomorrow Donovan McNabb's game as a Philadelphia Eagle? 

Maybe. Maybe not.

In any case, my brother isn't taking any chances and is taking his five year-old son to the Linc so that he can see McNabb at least one time as an Eagle in person.

What Might Have Been

Astute Eagle fans will instantly recall - and regret - the long McNabb-Westbrook catch and run down the Redskins sideline last week as the exact same play the Eagles ran - and didn't convert - during the NFC Championship vs. Carolina.

On that play from the ghost of conference championships past, it was Duce Staley on the same "bubble" route whose outstretched finger tips the pass fell just past. Staley's number was called because Westbrook had ruptured his tricep (or was it bicep) tendon against, ironically, the Redskins at FedEx Field in the last regular season game of that season.

Oh what might of been. In that Panthers game, Staley would have had a long, long gain...if not a TD. It certainly would have tilted the field position advantage and been worth at least a FG. For those McNabb-critics who complain he came up short in all those title games, it's worth remembering that Westbrook didn't play in that one - and it probably cost them the game. it certainly cost them on the play in question. Five years later Westbrook is still making that catch. Five years ago, Duce Staley couldn't.

the rest, as they say, is history. 

After the Debacle

A friend writes:

 

All in all, this is truly the most wasted, useless Eagles season of the Reid-McNabb era.

They had plenty of defense and a few explosive weapons (Westbrook and Jackson), but they simply refused to admit to the other shortcomings, particularly wide receiver. On the final drive Reggie Brown caught a 1st down that was tight, and your brother said to me, "it would be just like Reggie to get 9.75 yards when we need 10." Little did he know what Brown had in store for later in the drive.

The question is simple organizational reality check - do they want to win or want to win the way they prefer to win? Belichik faced this issue after coming up short in '05 and again in '06.

Staring into the abyss, he completely, dramatically realtered his entire offense, jettisoning every receiver he had (save Jabar Gaffney) and bringing in an entirely new receiving corps and a new offensive scheme.  He knew what was wrong and addressed the issue. No, they didn't win the Super Bowl, but he bought his team several more years of being in the conversation of greatness.

It's frightening - and frustating as hell - how close the Eags were this year from being a 12-4 team. It was all dependent on offseason moves, it was all player personnel.

They failed to do those things. And now they're looking at 6-10 next year.

 

 

 

Passing Him By

i think the Eagles problems now go far deeper than just Andy Reid's mediocre player personnel moves.

An 80/20 pass-run ratio is absurd and insane in the nfl. but that is exactly what andy reid did today. what were he and Marty thinking?

TV said the wind was blowing at 17 mph with gusts of 30 mph. And this is the weather - to say nothing of the cold - that Reid decided to pass in all day long.

i'm not sure which is worse, the ridiculously unbalanced pass/run ratio or the fact that the Eagles didn't call a running play in the 4th quarter until their final drive. Put another way, the Eagles had 4 offensive series in the 4th quarter where they didn't call a single running play.

And this  pass-happy offense was missing two of its starting WRs in Kevin Curtis and Hank Baskett.

Reid's obsession with the pass is pathological. Today it couldn't have been more clear. And really, a new QB next year isn't going to change that bottom line.

Playcalling?

The eagles just ran 3 straight pass plays from their own 3 yard line. What the??!

Is andy reid calling the plays again? Sure looks like it. 

Prediction

My prediction:

Eagles 31
Deadskins 10

House party

A 4pm start on the first night of hannukah, an opponent only 120 miles away, and a demoralized fan base could add up to eagles fans taking over fedex field today.

Last month, about 25,000 steeler fans overwhelmed the skins and the same thing could happen this afternoon with pennsylvania's other pro football team.

Bummer Fact of the day

Cold Stone Creamery

Cookie Batter Ice Cream, "Gotta Have It" size (large)

900 calories

49 grams fat (26 g saturated, 1 g trans)

107 g carbs

81 g sugars

 

SUGAR EQUIVALENT: 4 Haagen-Dazs Vanilla and Almond Ice Cream Bars!

Kolb

A friend asks:

so another thought/question. Is it just me, or does Kolb just not look like an NFL QB?
Not sure if you guys were there at the game, and if so, whether you even watched his performance. But he just looked unsteady out there.
Sure, I can't put too much emphasis on garbage time when he hasn't been getting snaps during the week. But hey, he doesn't look like he's ready to come in to these games.
Let me cut to the chase. Why isn't Feeley the activated 2nd-string QB right now?
If we were to get to the Dallas game, a win-and-we're-in-situation, and McNabb got hurt in the 3rdQ, who would you want to see running out onto the field?

Notwithstanding Jaworski's assertions that the coaches love Kolb, based upon his limited play this year he doesn't appear to be a starting qb right now.
And my God, when did he get so fat?! that cutaway full frontal shot of him standing on the sidelines with his double chin and puffy cheeks was awful. He's only 24 years old. What the hell happened to him to blow him up like that?

Mad McNabb?

yes, of course he's pissed. he's been the loyal soldier for a long time. never really voiced his disgust at not getting top flight WRs. Drafting Kolb in the second round. Calling an obscene number of pass plays last year while he was playing on one leg while recovering from the ACL - (that Giants/Winston Justice game last year is criminal). and they wouldn't part with a 3rd rounder to get an all-pro TE (Gonzalez) 8 weeks ago. Cause they wanted to squander the pick next year on a player like Matt McCoy or Ryan Moats?

And after all that, he gets benched. The team stunk, the playcalling was atrocious and he got benched. If anything, i think the benching really, finally caused him to realize that they are probably getting rid of him next year.

Having said all that, McNabb really was stinking up the joint.

But he's just letting fly now.

Yes, these post-game interviews on ESPN and NFL network are VERY player friendly but is it me or does McNabb look like he is really, really loose. Like a thousand times more loose than we've ever seen him before?

8-5-1

A friend writes:

Is the most damning moment of the season the tie to the Bengals?

Or Andy lifting Donovan in Baltimore and just forfeiting that game?

I know, I know.

Take 1 step backward and move a mile forward. Or whatever he said.

Wow, as I type, McNabb sits down with ESPN's MNF analysts.

Here's Donnie's take on why they're playing better: "I don't go back to the benching, because I personally don't agree with the benching. ... We went back to what we know," he just told ESPN, insinuating that the play-calling "went back to what we know."

Holy shit, he just said this about the benching: "Why use me as a scapegoat? There are other ways to go about that."

Holy shit, he's still fucking pissed at Andy.

Here's more.

Steve Young: "Do people realize you're 32 yrs old? You've got 10 yrs left?"

McNabb: "I know that. ... I don't think I've got anything in particular to prove."

But Wait...There's More

Oh dear Lord it gets worse.

The Eagles are also selling - under their "gift giving" portion of their website - game used balls from the Ravens game.

Yes, years from now Eagle fans can look at this ball and fondly recall how Andy Reid panicked at halftime of a 10-7 game and benched the greatest quarterback in Eagles history which resulted in a second half shellacking and a final score of 36-7. In a must win game for the Eagles playoff chances. Good times.

If you're lucky maybe you will get the ball that Ed Reed intercepted and returned for a 108 yard touchdown setting an NFL record. Oh please, can I?

What are they thinking?

What in God's name are the Eagles doing selling game balls from the 13-13 tie at Cincinnati?!?!

Who in their right minds would want to buy/own/show a memento from a game that might likely keep them out of the playoffs? This is a game every Eagles fan (and player) surely wants to forget - and not ever think of again.

I mean, this was an Eagles away game. Why did the team even bother asking the Bengals for some of the balls to sell?

21st Century Hooverville

Senate Republican opposition to $25 billion in federal loans to GM,
Ford and Chrysler without huge wage cuts of UAW workers - while having
previously made no effort to trim executive bonuses at Wall Street
firms that are getting $700 billion - will likely be the defining
moment of what tipped this deep recession into a true global economic
calamity - a la "Smoot-Hawley" during the great depression.

So congrats Sen. Corker (r-tn) - well done.

If the Eagles could make the playoffs...

The could do some damage.

 

...Assuming the Eagles get in the playoffs if they win their next three contests, the gang in green could do plenty of damage come January. Whether a wild-card berth results in a trip to Arizona or Minnesota, an Eagles team on a five-game streak may even be favored by a point or two," notes the Sporting News

It's happened before - and recently .

 For three years and counting, a team viewed as a long shot to get to the Super Bowl entering the postseason has ended up winning it all. In each case, the franchise that claimed the championship got hot at the right time, overcoming a dark moment when all hope seemed to be lost.

A Big NIght for McNabb?

From the Cleveland Plain Dealer .

 If history is a guide, McNabb will post some eye-popping numbers in front of the "Monday Night Football" ESPN cameras. In 14 games on Monday night, McNabb has thrown 15 touchdown passes vs. five interceptions and has a passer rating of 85.7.

 

His record against the Browns is gaudier. He's played them only two times, throwing for 390 yards in a 2000 win and 376 in another in '04. Both times he tossed four touchdown passes. His career rating against the Browns is 125.3. 

Key to the DeRosa Deal

The Chicago Tribune reports :

The key for that deal to work is for the Phillies or Orioles to take Jason Marquis, with the Cubs agreeing to eat some of his salary. 

A Bad Recession

You know the economy is in bad, bad shape when the heretofore recession-proof NFL is laying off 14% of its workers .

Holy moly. First playoff ticket prices were cut and there is seemingly a sale on NFL merchandise everyday this holiday season . And now they're letting 14% of the league's staff go.

The American economy is even worse shape than anybody thinks if it is hurting the NFL this bad.

Falling Even Faster

The Skins starting left tackle is done for the year, other parts of the line are banged up and injured.... and now the star running back has launched a feud with the head coach. 

This team, already falling fast in the standings, is in disarray and will be lucky to win another game this season. 

Hello 7-9 Washington!

Enamored with the Eagles

Peter King is now back on the Eagles bandwagon:

B. Westbrook - offensive player of the week
J. Johnson - coach of the week
hixon - goat of the week
B. Westbrook - #3 in Peter King's MVP voting

Plaxico's absence - Kings

Giants fans can't be happy about this:

The other thing Burress' absence did to this game was allow the Eagles to be much more physical against the running game. You could see it right from the start. Brian Dawkins wrestled Kevin Boss like he was trying to impress Vince McMahon on one of the game's first snaps, a sign the Eagles were going to try to beat up the Giants. "No question about it,'' Johnson said. "We were going to be the more physical team today.'' The safety being in the box was hugely helpful.

Peter King Thinks Eagles Going to the Playoffs

Writes Peter King in MMQB:

NFC (Two wild cards to qualify)

Carolina: 9-3 overall (6-3 in NFC)
Dallas: 8-5 (6-4)
Atlanta: 8-5 (5-4)
Philadelphia: 7-5-1 (6-4)
Washington: 7-6 (6-4)
Chicago: 7-6 (5-5)
New Orleans: 7-6 (4-5)

How I see it: I like Carolina, but I don't trust the Panthers now as much as I do Atlanta, which is odd to say with the Falcons coming off a loss in New Orleans. ... The Panthers may have to win two of four against a tough slate to make it. ... I also don't see how Dallas recovers from that absurd loss in Pittsburgh. ... I see Philadelphia winning out (Cleveland, at Washington, winner-take-all with Dallas at home) and Atlanta edging Carolina on a tiebreaker for the other playoff spot.

Marty Ball?

It is maddening. but my friend is right. this looks like a Marty game plan/play calling... a la Jeff Garcia's last 5 games in 2006. if only Reid had given up the playcalling sooner.

Alas, we will probably never know who/what/how they call the plays.

But it is clear - this offense is demonstrably different the past two weeks. and it is working.

What Might Have Been?

If you thought today's win would dispel the negativity and resentment that has built up around Andy Reid over the last 5 games, you would be wrong.

A friend writes:

 

Something that's bugged me the past few hrs was the point during the game - late 3rd, early 4th - where the Fox guys gave us their insight from Reid. They talked about how Andy had recently gone back and done some research into how the great coaches handled games, and referenced how they threw-to-run, throwing early and softening the defense for clock-chewing runs in the 2nd half.

 

This was presented as if it were new info.

 

Really?

 

Is it possible that Andy just realized this now?

 

Is it just me or does this offense look a lot like the obviously Marty-led offense of late '06 with Garcia under center? What seems to have happened is that Andy really has surrendered play calling - and shockingly the team"s on a run. 

 

I really hope this is known and acknowledged by management in the offseason as they debate the future of this organization. I just want to know what's gone on the past 2 games, why they've done better, why they're now running way, way more often, and why it's effective?

 

Because that all needs to be known, out in the open, as this team's future is considered.

 

If this late surge is the result of Andy giving up calling plays, if this late run - if it continues - is the result of Reid not doing much, giving up power and letting subordinates do for him what he so previously mangled, Andy must not be given CREDIT for this when Lurie considers the team's future.

 

If anything, the last 2 weeks serves as an indictment of how Andy ran this team the previous 11 weeks. I don't think this validates his coaching ability. It shows just how bad a coach he's been fpr the most part.

Need a Falcons Loss

All of the sudden, the Eagles playoff hopes have life - lots of life - in the wake of their 20-14 pounding of the Giants today.

Everything broke the Eagles way with the Cowboys coughing up a 10 point 2nd half lead and then blowing the game outright, along with the Saints defeat of the Falcons. Don't look now but the Redskins just dropped below the Eagles in the standings and are in danger of completely free falling away - good news for the Eagles who play the DeadSkins in two weeks.

Anyway, the Eagles do not entirely "control their own" destiny just yet. They still have to win out. And while the Cowboys are only a 1/2 game ahead, that can be taken care of in the last week of the season.

The big problem is the Falcons, who are 8-5. The Eagles need the Falcons to lose one more - one of their last three games. And since their remaining games are against the Buccaneers, Vikings, and Rams, we all have to hope for a loss in one of the next two games.

Stupid Bengals tie. The Falcons is one of the only NFC teams the Eagles own a tiebreaker over and that is all shot thanks to that inexplicable tie.

Reasons

Eags coming off extra rest
Plaxico distraction- absence
Eags must win
And giants due for a loss

Eags giants

I have an oddly good feeling about this game for the eags.