Eagles Out

Another friend writes:

every single offseason move by Chip so far stinks. 
This guy took Andy Reid's offense and instantly made it the best in the NFL in 2013. He is a genius. 
He is quite simply a horrible evaluator of talent and doesn't understand how the rest of the NFL evaluates talent. 
If he wanted Bradford so badly, he could've gotten him for a couple of late round draft picks. Instead chip mortgaged the future for it. If he wanted Alonzo as his inside LB, he could've gotten him for practically nothing because he has no knees left. 
We turned over football operations to a guy who not long ago was the coach for University of New Hampshire. 
His knowledge base is of organizations where every team turns over their rosters year in and year out - college football. 
He now has the offensive personnel that he personally recruited and wanted. 
He will be back in the PAC 10/12/whatever it's called next season. 
And before you ask, I had 1 beer watching that game. 
The rest of the NFL is laughing now at us. 
We've given away our future for players who can't perform in the present. 

Redskins Eagles

A friend writes:

Receivers need upgrading, line needs upgrading and D needs a new coordinator.
I think what gets lost in chip gm getting blasted is e's the coach who did not fix the mistakes.   Last night we continued to make bad penalties, mistakes at the wrong time, etc.   the coach at some point has to have the players improve in the mental part.  Just too many mistakes.  Did we set a record for most illegal shifts/procedures in a season???
Now the question is what do you pay Bradford.  Despite pk's 9/14 email it is clear he is an nfl QB (and that Sanchez is clearly not) and is going to make big bucks this offseason.
And is Kirk cousins good?   Did he grow as a QB and is now good?   I am confused because he looks really good but I still don't believe.
I still believe chip is an offensive genius.   So he should be able out how to make Murray work.   I think Murray's 400-500 touches last year played a part (history in the league said it does).  So does our shitty line (which is chippers fault).

Clueless Coughlin

I love how awkward Collinsworth and Michaels are each week having to talk about a non-football related football story. First it was Greg Hardy a couple weeks ago. Tonight it's Beckham (with several oblique references to Peterson's lengthy nearly season long suspension last year - but they don't ever mention why he was disciplined). Their ramblings made no sense - do they think Beckham's behavior was inappropriate? The suspension too harsh?

The shocker for me was them explaining that Tom Coughlin did not understand what the uproar was about and the Giants PR director having to put together a video montage of Beckam's plays vs. Norman the next day.

Coughlin is the NFL version of Matt "I didn't see my closer choking my MVP rightfielder at the other end of the dugout" Williams. Coughlin didn't know his WR was out of control after the 1st, 2nd or 3rd personal fouls of the game? I'm pretty sure Coughlin has never had another player get more than 2 personal fouls in one game. Does Coughlin not care how many 15 yard penalties any of his players gets?

Home Field Disadvantage

Per Tom Boswell:

Since the Eagles got their new stadium, they are the only team in the NFL has MORE wins on the road than at home. (It's only ONE more win on the road, but that goes against a major NFL trend.) So, I wouldn't count on the Philly home crowd being a huge plus. (Gee, I don't know why.)

the ski cap debate

Really? It's come to this? Scrutiny of Demarco Murray wearing a knit cap on the sidelines and whether he was ready and able to be put in the game? Please.

is this what passes for "journalism" now in Philadelphia?

yes, Murray didn't play. yes, he clearly is 3rd on the RB depth chart. Yes, he probably should have been in the game on the Eagles fourth down play at the end of the first half. Yes, he hasn't lived up to expectations. Yes, he's got a big contract. No, the size of the contract shouldn't determine your playing time. Yes, he touched the ball 400+ times last year and that has usually meant a decline in production the following year. No, no one ever brings this up, preferring to ignore the physical toll it takes on RBs and preferring instead to suggest Murray isn't a "good fit" for the Eagles. 

Will Murray return to form next year after having a less taxing 2015 season? We don't know. But maybe somebody could at least start asking the question.

Beckham, the NFL and Concussions

Odell Beckham Jr.'s helmet to helmet hit on Josh Norman is one of the most vicious hits of the year.

Beckham dove at Norman. Helmet to helmet. Intent to injure. Incredibly, Beckham was not ejected from the game. In fact, the end result of that play was offsetting personal fouls on Beckham and Norman. It is utterly inexplicable that there was essentially no consequence for what Beckham did.

If the roles were reversed, and it was the defensive player who did what Beckham did to a WR, the DB would have been ejected. An interesting NFL double standard. They're so concerned about protecting the WRs they're gutless when it's the offensive player who is delivering the blow.

I also find it really interesting that having taken a huge helmet to helmet shot to the side of the head - that staggers him (take a look at the replay) - that the NFL's vaunted "concussion spotter" didn't buzz down and require an examination of Norman.

Once again, we see so clearly how unseriously the NFL takes head trauma. The response today will be telling. Will Beckham merely be fined or will he be suspended? Given the NFL track record on this, most likely fined.

Sam Bradford - A Tale of Two Halves

How bad is Sam Bradford in the first half of games this season? And how much better is he in the 2nd half?

My friend delves into Bradford's 2015 splits (courtesy of Pro Football Reference):

Everything is dramatically different in the 2nd half, when he is good, or slightly above average, not great, but ridiculously better than in the 1st half, when he is the worst QB in all of football.

Scroll down quite far and you'll see his 1st/2nd half splits. The most important stats:

1st half completion % - 55.4        2nd half completion % -- 69.9

1st half yards per attempt - 5.2    2nd hafl yards per attempt - 8.1

1st half TD passes -- 3                2nd half TD passes -- 6

1st half INTs -- 5                         2nd half INTs -- 5

1st half QB rating -- 62.9             2nd half QB rating -- 93.4

Look deeper at those stats, and it's really troubling. He's a horrific QB in the red zone -- 40.6% completion percentage, a QB rating of 49, 3 INTs, and worst of all, his yards per pass attempt: 1 yard.

He's also a horrific QB on 3rd down, with an overall rating of 54.0 on 3rd downs, but look deeper, and it doesn't even matter the distance -- 3rd and short, 3rd and long, he stinks.

So, this is the issue, the guy simply cannot perform in the 1st half of these games. He's wretched, beyond bad, horrible, downright putrid.

But in the 2nd half, he becomes a pretty decent QB. Why the hell is that? Why isn't anyone talking about this? Why can't Chip address this issue? Even when they had a bye week, Bradford came out and pitched a disastrous first half against Dallas, in a game when the O-line actually gave him time to throw the entire game.

Headers

Big move by youth soccer to eliminate headers for kids under 10. The ban should probably apply to kids older than 10- to like 12 or 13, but at least it's a start. And an admission by a youth sports league that the play and rules for young kids can and should be different than adolescents and adults.

Next Four Games

A friend writes about the Eagles' November schedule:

Dallas (2-5), Miami (3-4), Tampa (3-4), Detroit (1-7) -- those are the next 4 opponents.

In the previous 2 seasons, I'd expect us to go 4-0 over that stretch. I'll settle for 3-1, which would get us to 6-5 heading into Foxboro. Which leaves us 6-6 afterward, and needing to go 3-1 in the final 4 games after that to win the division.

But, this is a big but, if we go 2-2 over this next stretch of games, leaving us 5-6 heading into Foxboro, the season's probably over.

If in a parallel universe we actually win all 4 of those games, 7-4 heading into Foxboro, we should be in really good shape, as the Giants, now 4-4, play their next 3 on the road, including one in Foxboro.

I would add that we really need the Cowboys game to be one of the wins.  To bury them at 2-6 rather than tied with us at 3-5 (and they get the tiebreaker).  When they get Romo back they will be good again.

We have lost our opportunity to "blow" a game.   We have done that 2-3 times already this year (Washington, ugh.) already.  You just can't do it too many times in a season.  With parity you can lose a few you should win. We have hit our limit.

You need to get to 9-7 at minimum and 10-6 probably avoids tiebreaker.  We are 3-4.   7-2 is a stretch considering at Foxborough and the aforementioned parity.  So if you are going to go 6-3 (which .667 football) then you can't lose tiebreaker and this need cowboys game.    That said - if we lose then we must have Cowboys fall big time so only tiebreaker is Giants and we beat them to end season.

Cheers

Eagles fans the third drunkest in the NFL, new study finds.

Blue Hens vs. Wildcats

Good article on the rivalry. I'm glad there's no more Villanova talk about being a 'national program."

I'm somewhat amazed to realize that Andy Talley is STILL 'Nova's head coach.

BTW, I did not realize Dave Brock was the head coach of the Blue Hens. He was the best friend of mycousin growing up in Moorestown, NJ.

Small world.

Deflate-gate

I gotta say, I'm surprised that the NFL investigation actually came to the common sense conclusions about Pats' deliberate attempts to deflate their game balls and Brady's awareness (and likely encouragement) of it, notwithstanding the absence of a smoking gun video of McNally actually letting air out of the balls.

I just finished reading the report. Reading between the lines, it looks like the Pats equipment guy routinely let air out of the balls while in the officials locker room after the balls were checked and while the refs were out of the room, but that w/ the championship game there were so many people around he had to do it in the private bathroom just inside the tunnel.

I'm still struck by the brazeness of it all. The Pats knew they were under the microscope about the air pressure based on Colts regular season game and the complaints by the Ravens following their playoff loss the week before the AFC championship. And yet they still deflated all their balls - in the conference championship game!

What do you all make of this? Is it a big deal or much ado about nothing? Given the Pats history with spy-gate, it seems like another deliberate attempt to circumvent the rules requires a pretty stern punishment. I'm also pleased//hopeful that Brady will finally have to answer some hard questions.

Hey, at least Goodell didn't classify the report and destroy all the footballs and pressure gauges. So that's progress.

NFL Draft 25 years Later

A devastating look at the toll professional football wreaks on players by the NY Times. But perhaps the most surprising thing in the entire article is to learn that Cortez Kennedy is in the Hall of Fame?

Decline of LL baseball

this story recounting the decline of little league participation was on the front page of today's Post.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/nationals/baseballs-trouble-with-the-youth-curve--and-what-that-means-for-the-game/2015/04/05/2da36dca-d7e8-11e4-8103-fa84725dbf9d_story.html

I have a couple thoughts on this very topic having seen it up close and personal. A lot of my son's friends bailed on baseball after the 9 year old season.

1. The growth in youth lacrosse is hurting baseball because of the scheduling conflicts - spring sports. But i think the growth in lacrosse hurts football more in the long-term.

2. As bad as it is for little league baseball, the decline in youth football is even worse and likely to get worse.

3. Again from personal experience it's not just that single parents can't/don't play catch with their kids. It's that two-parent families don't do it/don't have the time either. When I was coaching I could only work with the kids so much and told the families you've got to throw/catch with your kids on days we don't have practice (which was most days).

4. Baseball is one of those sports very hard to just pick up and you have to have some skill development to be an active participant. Kids don't play pick up games like we used to.

5. I absolutely think the super specialization and how the best baseball kids get creamed off into better teams/leagues is a big impact. The converse is also true. The mediocre kids get shunted aside and aren't given the time to develop or play in a skill-appropriate level. They wind up quitting rather than keeping with it.

It's a shame cause I loved playing baseball as a kid, my kids love playing it, and there is nothing more american than little league.

Huh?

While the McCoy - Kiko trade makes sense upon closer examination (overpaid, overworked RB for an emerging stud LB (albeit with a repaired ACL)), this Foles for Bradford trade is inexplicable - especially now that it comes out that the Eagles are also sending 2nd and 4th rounders to the Rams for a 5th rounder.

A second straight trade where the Eagles trade a skill position starter for a player who missed all of last season with a reconstructive knee injury.

This trade has to have some sort of secret agreement where the Eagles and Rams swap 1st round picks, right? Isn't that the only way it makes sense?

Please someone help me out here!  In 5 days we've gone from a starting trio of Foles, McCoy and Maclin to Bradford, Sproles, and Cooper.

And if the rumors really are true, and Chip Kelly covets Mariota...why not cut out the middleman and just trade Foles and McCoy to the Titans, Jags or Raiders for their #1 pick. They could even sweeten the deal by throwing in the Eagles #1 pick too. Sure you don't get Kiko in this alternate transaction, but you also don't wind up with Sam Bradford's $12 million contract and you get to keep your 2nd and 4th round picks.

This free agent period - Gore backing out of his deal, Jake Locker retiring, Chip Kelly's every transaction -  has taken a turn to the bizarre.

Old School

I'm watching the Ravens-Steelers game and am just amazed that with all the concussion attention, premier announcers like Collinsowrth and Al Michaels continue to show themselves as old school believers of a tougher, former NFL.

On consecutive plays in which Roethlisberger and then TE Heath Miller are taken to the sidelines with possible concussions, Collinsworth is incredulous that the players might be taken out of a PLAYOFF game over concussion concerns. He seems to say that the league is serious about concussions and player safety during the regular season, but will a groggy Ben Roethlisberger really be held out in a Wild Card game?

The answer, apparently, is no as Roethlisberger soon returns after Michele Tafoyar reports that Steelers sideline personnel have treated Big Ben for neck and spine issues. #7 then immediately throws an interception in the endzone and Al Michaels says, with no sense of awareness or outrage, that he thinks Roethlisberger was still a little "groggy" when he came back into the game.

Incredible.

Rivalry

With apologies to San Fran and Seattle, the raven-steelers rivalry is still the most physical in football.

Sam Now?

With the new word that Trent Cole has suffered a broken hand and is doubtful at best for the Skins game on Saturday, it would seem to make even more sense for the Eagles to at the very least take a look at last year's SEC co-defensive player of the year, Michael Sam, as a backup DE/LB to help bolster the Eagles increasingly depleted front seven.

Sam I Am

Speaking of Matthews, I thought it was telling that even when he went out Marcus Smith our 1st rounder still didn't get into the game. 

Whether Matthews can play the rest of the season or not why haven't/why shouldn't the Eagles taken a look at Michael Sam for LB? He played DE in college but i thought the understanding was he would probably have to play LB in a 3-4 in the pros. 

Matthews is 6',1" 245 lbs. Sam is 6',2" and 260 lbs. Maybe Sam was pegged as an OLB but couldn't he help as ILB with the Eagles given his size? Again, at the very least wouldn't you want to take a look especially since your #1 pick looks like a bust. 

Coincidentally, Smith is very similar to Sam: listed as a college DE and 6',3" 251 lbs.

Breaking Right Till Wrong

Things were breaking the Eagles way most of the afternoon - Packers loss and the Seahawks losing to the Niners at the half. Then it all came undone. Seattle winning and the opening kickoff and then blowing the lead late.

They basically would have won the division with a win and now are likely to miss the playoffs. And to add insult to injury, they could easily be 11-5 at the end of the season and miss out.

Ugh.

Matthews Bell Ringer

Since the new emphasis on concussions, I don't think I've ever seen a case like Casey Matthews where the player gets taken into the locker room to be evaluated and actually comes back out and plays! That was shocking.

Fare thee Well

Adieu to the best shortstop in Phillies' history. Jimmy Rollins was a leader and a winner and the straw that stirred the drink of a team that won two pennants and a World Series title. From the moment he uttered the now famous observation "we're the team to beat," the Phillies actually were the team to beat for five glorious seasons.

Finding their religion

Playoff committee excludes both christian schools - TCU and Baylor - from football playoff. Bias? College football worships money over all else.

Why the Wait?

The Washington Post h has a funny piece about the scene at FedEx Field yesterday as the skins went  on to defeat.

What really got my attention was both his report and several of the pictures about the crush of fans trying to clear "security" and get into the game. The Post reporter didn't get in till 1:20 pm.

This seems to be a recurring theme in Philly and Dc (other cities?) about the choke points that needlessly delay fans from entering a stadium.

Good Deal

Les Bowen and the Daily News offer great insight and clarification about the lack of a fine and even whether Baker should have been penalized for his hit on Nick Foles.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/sports/eagles/Chip-will-ask-NFL-to-clarify-why-Baker-hit-was-legal.html

It seems as if the arrogant Troy Vincent, who said that people who "know" the rule, understood his ruling (or lack thereof), doesn't actually know the rule and, for some inexplicable reason, chose a microscopic interpretation.

All of this highlights the fact that the NFL rulebook is not publicly available and begs the question why it isn't.

Huh? Baker hit "legal"

The Post reporters need to do a better job of clarifying the issue. Baker is not being fined for his hit on Nick Foles after the INT (subsequently overturned on a challenge), but as I read the Post article it appears as if Baker shouldn't have even been penalized.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/football-insider/wp/2014/09/23/baker-wont-be-suspended-nfl-rules-his-hit-on-foles-was-legal/

It's a whole other issue of how stupid the rule loophole is about hitting QBs after INTs. The genesis of the rule/penalty was the Hugh Douglas playoff hit that knocked Jim Miller out of the game in the divisional game vs. the Bears. But that was a hit on his shoulder not his head or neck. I can't believe the NFL still allows defenders to cream QBs after INTs so long as they don't hit them in the head or neck.

You could make the case that the penalty should have been unnecessary roughness since the ball carrier was in the process of being tackled and Foles was away from the play.

Crazy, stupid.

Letting Kids Play Football

Former NFL LB and NFLPA rep Scott Fujita has a column where he admits he used to counsel families to not let their kids play football but has since had a change of heart where he now declares that the answer isn't no, but it isn't yes either. Merely that since he doesn't have boys, thank gosh he doesn't have to make that decision.

Confused? So am I.

Football Tragedy

Football, especially for younger players, can kill you.

Toyota

I guess it's impolitic for the Washington Post to even mention what Eiji Toyoda did during WWII in his obituary.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/eiji-toyoda-former-toyota-president-and-founders-cousin-who-helped-make-toyota-way-dies/2013/09/17/fdbc46fa-1f5a-11e3-9ad0-96244100e647_story.html

Awesome Eagles video

City of Brotherly Love indeed.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuJ_8_bSvsQ&feature=youtu.be

Run/Pass

So I did a quick count of the plays the Eagles ran in the first half on Monday night and a couple of things jumped out.

They actually ran 55 plays but because of penalties 2 didn't count. Still, I counted them for purposes of looking at Kelly's playcalling.

In total, there were 25 passes, 29 runs, and 1 scramble (not sure if this was a designed run or aborted pass).

Early in the game, there were more passes. As I was going through I was surprised at the number. But then the ratio evens out.

Later in the half, more runs are called.

And as the game progresses, what really caught my eye was the number of consecutive plays. There are periods where he calls 3-4 straight running or passing plays. Interestingly, it looks like the passes got called consecutively early and the runs a little later.

Amazingly, - I didn't recall this – Kelly ends the Eagles last 1st half possession with 7(!) straight running plays – culminating in a touchdown – Vick's 3 yard dive. Note, I realize some of these calls are Vick's reads but still.

In the 2nd half, the Eagles passed very little. In fact, they only passed twice in the 3rd quarter! A sack and an incomplete.

For the game, the Eagles ran 49 times and passed 25 times. We're a long, long way from Andy Reid's 70% passing/30% running.

Here's the list of Eagles first half plays:

pass

pass

pass

run

pass

run

run

pass

run

Pass

pass                 

run

run     

run                   

run

pass

pass

pass

pass 

run

pass      

run                   

Pass

Run

Run

pass     

scramble

pass     

run        

pass                 

pass     

run

run

pass      

run 

pass     

pass      

run

run       

Pass

Run

run

pass                 

pass      

run        

pass 

run        

Pass 

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

Run

55 

25 passes, 29 runs, 1 scramble

Opening Night Reviews

It's still hard to process what we saw on Monday night from the Eagles. The speed, the pace, the imagination, the daring (going for it on 4th and 1 without hesitation).

A lot has already been written this week on the after-effects. To wit,

* What happened in the 2nd half?

* Can the Eagles sustain that pace for an entire game?

* Can the Eagles sustain this pace for an entire season?

* Can the Eagles go even faster? (Chip Kelly seems to think so)

* Can and how quickly will defenses adjust enough to stop things?

What follows are snippets of conversation between my brother and friends during and immediately after the game.

Loved Jackson's emotion.  He had to let the d hall thing go but he played like he was happy and invested.  It was like back when he was chest bumping big red    Good sign!!

the most important -- emotionally anyway -- regular season win since TO's return to the Linc as a Cowboy?

odd moments where they had the play called but didn't get the play off/barely got it off, well, that felt oddly familiar. I'm fearful Vick pulled something and will have a nagging injury. Regardless, any win in the division is great, and on the road, even more amazing.

Hall should have been flagged for the horse collar tackle AND late hit out of bounds. Would like to see Foles in too. For ball security and to reduce# hits on Vick in In garbage time.

Skins Game

My brother writes:

great article in philly.com today on eagles various formations Monday.
What amazed me was the down and distance of some of the plays.  2nd and 10 – run, 2nd 14 – run, etc.  all these runs, but they were on 2nd a long.  We ran it I think twice (at least ) to pick up a 3rd and 3 or 4.  Of course he went for it on his first 4th down of the game.  And ran it on 4th and a short 2.  I think mccoy had 20 carries at halftime.
Great run game, but not exactly our parents smashmouth run game.

Unbelievable

On the anniversary of the 2008 financial crisis, former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson gets all retrospective and offers this nugget about whose fault the near financial meltdown was. Hint: not Wall Street, Countrywide, WaMu or any other private sector company or person.

No, the financial crisis was the... government's fault?!

From the NYTimes' story:

"I believe that the root cause of every financial crisis, the root cause, is flawed government policies," he said. 

NFL draft

Andy Reid's draft strategy lives.

Gotta love Reid stretching on the #1 overall pick.

Luke Joekel was the #1 rated lineman for 18 months, dominating the most competiive conference in the country.

Reid decides to take Eric Fisher, a late bloomer with a potentially higher upside but from a mid major program that played the likes of SE Missouri state this past year (though they did upset Iowa).

Well done, Andy. I wonder if Fisher will be the Matt McCoy to Joeckel's Kirk Morrison. 

Contagious?

3 fumbles in four plays? Bryce Brown's case of the droppsies is contagious.

Simply Unbearable

The key point from Phil Sheridan's column today that will resonate throughout Birdland.

But this smaller stuff - outsmarting themselves with unnecessary gimmickry - was irritating even when the Eagles were winning. Now it's just unbearable.

Rank Incompetence

Reid should probably be fired for rank incompetence for having McCoy carrying the ball with less than 2 minutes to go in a game they had lost, but he should be fired immediately if he tries to bring McCoy back at any point for the remainder of this lost season.

http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/inq-eagles/VickMcCoy-stuck-at-Phase-4-Patterson-has-pneumonia.html

Another Take

My brother writes:

I think we learned well before last night and this past Monday that fumbles are really bad. Brown wiped out all his good with this fumbles.  Possibly losing us 2 games.  Vick cost us one.   Flacco fumble coat the ravens last night - although those types of fumbles are more reasonable than brown's or Vicks. Collinsworth basically predicted it early on about brown.

Play of the Year

Criticize Castillo all you want, but it was kind of half assed (and unfair) to install him as your D-coordinator but force him to operate a defensive front scheme he didn't necessarily agree with.

I'm ok with letting Washburn go.

The defense has been a disaster since Castillo was fired. If he were still running the D they probably win the Carolina and last night's game which means they are right in the playoff hunt (as crazy as that may seem).

The play of the year was Vick's fumble into the endzone on their opening drive vs. the Steelers. they score there and don't turn the ball over and they likely win the game. With that win, Castillo doesn't get fired after the Lions game. and the rest of the season doesn't implode like it has. Not saying that we'd be leading the division but we would be in playoff contention (again, as crazy as that may seem).

Cowboys Post-Mortem

So Washburn has been fired and Foles looked legit last night.

 

The key graph from Bob Ford's article today.

 

'Using a well-balanced combination of solid running plays and high-percentage pass plays, the Eagles marched up and down the field against the Cowboys despite doing the marching without their starting quarterback, starting running back and best wide receiver."

 

26 rushes, 35 passes.

 

Ford asks the question - why not have similar balance all the time, not just when you're playing rookies at QB, RB, and have a patchwork offensive line. BTW, was it the playcalling or Foles' quick decisions - but either way the line didn't look nearly as porous as it has in previous games with Vick getting knocked around - and that was against DeMarcus Ware last night.

Where 3-5 Is

I will give Reid a pass on the line. Any team that is playing 4 of 5 second string linemen can't be good and the depth only goes so far (historically, Reid has been good with linemen line Jamaal Jackson stepping right in for Fraley, etc.).

I thought Gruden's most telling observation was "everytime the Eagles go empty backfield, the Saints blitz and the line can't block them all." Uh, maybe the Eagles shouldn't go empty backfield.

I think the red zone problems aren't that that hey aren't running the ball, but that they can't run the ball in such close confines with the lousy line they have.

The Castillo firing just becomes more terrible by the day. BTW, the knock against Castillo was that he had never "called" the defense on game day before last season (overlooking that he did it for 16 games last season and 5 this season). Only to be replaced by Todd Bowles who was never a defensive coordinator himself before getting the promotion and thus also never having "called" the defense.

Let's not forget that Andy Reid's son died of a heroine overdose in August. Can a coach be so singleminded that he can compartmentalized that unspeakable tragedy.

I was struck by Reid's appearance in the presser after the Saints game. He's always been phlegmatic, but he looked incredibly worn and exhausted. Maybe some of it is that unadvised growing out of his Wilford Brimley mustache, but judging by the look of him i wonder if Reid is close to physical and emotional collapse.

Also, Mike Vick is a tough son of a bitch. Maybe too tough. I worry that Vick brain is getting beaten to a pulp.  Is it me and my fixation on concussions or are there multiple times per game where Vick takes a hit and he looks a little foggy getting up and getting back to the huddle?

More Post-Saints

My brother's take:

The fact that we have no depth is appalling.  We NEVER have had depth.  Our line simply can't block.  How about Gruden at one point saying – "well that guy there just didn't block anyone on that play".  then he just killed Bell for being lousy.
 
I believe the red zone problem is just a fundamental problem with the offense.  We could run, but partly because of our deep threats.  Inside the 10 there is no longer a deep threat.  Vick can run and extend plays to go deep – not inside the 10 because there is just too much congestion.  This problem will never go away as we are currently designed. 
 
Have we ever tried a fade to a wideout?  I mean it's been 14 years!!
 
Wasn't Maclin good at one point?  Is he still on the team??
 
Doesn't the kick return embody everything you need to know about this team.  It was carefully constructed, it was unique, it was fantastic and pretty much worked, but didn't and we began our drive on the 3 yard line.
We are a team of bobby abreu's.  For you non-philly guys – that's not a compliment.
 
We have one of the best running backs in the league.  At a time when running backs could be one of the least valuable things on a team.  That's just unfortunate.
 
I think we were inside the 25 6 times.  6 times!!! And that got us 6 points.
 
We actually held drew brees to 21 points.  Despite looking terrible on D we held them to 21 points.  That should beat the saints every time with their D.
 
Outside the falcons game our d hasn't been terrible (and maybe saints because they were dreadful at times last night).  Yes – 5 minutes against the lions and the final Steelers drives, but that's it.  Just no one ver makes a play.
 
Lastly – raise your hand if you knew the eagles were going deep on first play.  I looked at my son and said.  They have 2 TE's in to block they are going deep to Jackson here.    I said "he always does this on Monday night".

Post-Saints

My friend PK writes:

Final thought: the great football-ism of the last 15 years is, we are what we are. 
After the NYG last-second FG attempt, we were 3-1 in complete control of our destiny. As good a start as realistically possible. But we all noted we were 3 plays away from being 0-4. The assumption then was, we are what we are - a 3-1 team because good teams win close games. Now we've lost 4 straight games and we are what we are. 
We're 1 or 2 plays against Pitt and Det from being 5-3. We're also just a couple plays from being 1-7/0-8. Instead, we pretty much are what we are: a team playing good enough to only win 6 or 7 games.

Saints game in review

Just an endless loop of nightmares: 2 timeouts burned early in each half. Had 1st and goal 3 times, they have 6 points to show for it, but also gave 7 to the other team in a pick six, so we're a -1 from our 1st and goal situations, in which for some reason we just can't run the ball. 

And just a defensive meltdown that continues.

A Keystone Weekend

My brother, two friends, and I went to the Eagles Steelers game this past weekend.

We got to Pittsburgh around 830 Saturday night, checked into our hotel downtown, the Westin, and then hit the city. We heard fatheads was great, and it was, unfortunately too packed for us to get in or at least to be seated for dinner in a reasonable time. We wound up at the Pittsburgh steak company restaurant where we polished off some 24 oz ribeyes and four bottles of wine. We hit a couple other bars, watched North Carolina State upset Florida State and called it a night at some point.

 

Woke up the next morning and started walking to the stadium around 9 AM. Downtown Pittsburgh was kind of deserted on a Sunday morning except for the occasional SUV that was parked on the street and had guys tailgating out of - which was kind of an odd sight. Weather was overcast in the low 50s.

Both the baseball and football stadiums are across the river from downtown and have a whole bunch of bars around them. We stopped at one for breakfast, beers, and bloody's. As we were leaving they put our last order of beers into plastic cups so that we could take them out of the pub. On the street they had some vendors just selling beers out of coolers and we were told it was okay to walk around in this area with open beer bottles on game day. It still felt a little weird, especially as we walked by some police, and we were wondering if the Pittsburgh waitresses were messing with us Eagles fans but we didn't have any problems.

Stopped at another bar, the tilted kilt, great place where the chicks are in push-up bras, tiny blouses and plaid skirts for the slutty Catholic girl look. The whole area was bustling but not particularly crowded. We got into every bar with no wait. To me it seemeds like every Steelers fans down there was wearing a jersey – like nearly EVERYONE, the overwhelming number of which were Polamalu's 43. I'd say for every 10 jersey seven were Polamalu's, one was either Hines Ward or Roethlisberger, one was Lambert, and one was a random player.

Eventually we headed over to the stadium where almost by accident ran into the official Steelers tailgate party 300 feet from the stadium's gates, which was rocking with this great band,  Tokyo Radio. Weirdly, it was only about 10% full even though they had cheap beer, no lines and plenty of bathrooms.

Heading into the stadium it was interesting there was no security perimeter, several vendors were right on the curb next to the stadium selling fairground food. We got some good natured ribbing from Steelers fans we were mingling with all of whom were incredibly nice and gracious wanted to know where we were from in Philadelphia and were making connections with the cities and neighborhoods we mentioned. Interestingly, the Steelers tickets didn't have a picture of any player on them but featured pictures of fans taken by fans with their name and hometown wearing their Steelers gear. For the Eagles game, the Steelers fans on the ticket were a father and son from Cinnaminson New Jersey of all places.

 

Our seats were great. We were under an overhang so when it started raining late game we didn't get wet. Even though we were rows up it felt like we were really close to the field had a great view of the entire action. The stadium seats I guess about 65,000 but it felt a lot more open and smaller than the Linc. A surprising number of empty seats midway through the game (but before the rain). I'm not sure if the weather chased people away or what even though it didn't start raining until their fourth quarter that was consistent with the entire day not feeling very crowded. Heinz Field has only one Jumbotron which is at the open ended end of the stadium which is really all you needed. We also noticed that the stadium and Jumbotron didn't bombard you with advertising and solicitations like they do at the Linc during every stoppage of play. Over the scoreboards are two ketchup bottles, and when the Steelers get inside the 20-the red zone-the ketchup bottles tilt over slightly and their caps open and the score board "fills" with red ketchup.

 

After the game we walked back to downtown, stopped at a restaurant to eat some gyros, headed back to the hotel picked up her car and headed out. It was about two hours after game time and even with a smaller crowd we were shocked at how bad traffic was at that time leaving the city. Once we finally broke free from the traffic it was two hours to Breezewood and then another hour and a half home from there.

 

Pittsburgh's a great city for a weekend sports visit, compact downtown within walking distance to the games, good nightlife neighborhoods, great stadium area, and a relatively short drive away. The Steelers fans couldn't have been nicer and the Rooney family clearly goes out of their way to make a fan and family-friendly environment without all of the commercialization and hostility we've become accustomed to in Philadelphia.

"simultaneous catch"

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

A final word on the replacement refs

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

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

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

Friedman

The nut graph of Tom Friedman's column today.

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

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

Castro Brothers

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

My brother's take

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

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

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

Predictions

My friend PK writes:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Are you ready for some football?

Here's my take on the Eagles' season.

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

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

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

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

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

Weird

I was just looking at the NL standings and while the Dodgers and Giants are tied for the NL West division, whatever the tiebreaker is neither runner up would be a wild card entry.  http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/standings/wildcard.jsp?ymd=20120814

Awkward

August 21st is Hunter Pence bobblehead day at Citizens Bank Park. At least they're not playing the Giants.

The Year that Was

Whether the Phils make the playoffs or not this year, it seems that this little post-all star break mini-surge was a reminder to Cole Hamels of how could this team was and can be. The legacy of the 2012 team may be that it kept Cole Hamels here  for the rest of his career.

 

Having said that, this is already getting kind of interesting. I don't want to get too far ahead of ourselves, but the Phils are now "only" 9 ½ games out of the wild card. Sure they've got a ton of teams in front of them which is the much bigger problem than just the number of games back but if they could cut it to 7 over the next week then things would really get interesting. With the Braves series this weekend, anything could happen.

Freeh meh

The Freeh report is not the final word on the investigation of what happened at Penn St. so why has there been a NCAA rush to judgment? The sanctions are predicated on what Paterno, Spanier, Curley, and Schultz did or didn't do. None has had their day in court yet nor had the opportunity to present evidence in their defense. The NCAA like it has in the past, acted prematurely and extrajudicially with no concern for due process.

Hamels

Was yesterday's standing ovation for Cole Hamels' departure an appreciation for a tough game or for a career well-served in Philadelphia?

What Might Have Been

A pity that Obama wasn't willing to take on the banksters and Wall Street in any meaningful way (remember his impotence in agreeing to the reward and retention bonuses at AIG?). He gets the worst of both possible worlds. Fewer campaign contributions from the 1% and the anger from the Democratic left. 

Elizabeth Warren's fundraising numbers show that small donors are willing to contribute to a candidate that has their back.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/07/21/us/politics/liberal-donors-finding-a-home-in-elizabeth-warren.html?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=edit_th_20120721

The Next 2 Weeks

so having had the opportunity (or misfortune) to catch several Phillies game prior to the all-star break, i was ready to throw in the towel on the season after such desultory play.

But hope does spring eternal.

They have to go 50-25 just to get to 88 wins, which may not be enough for that second wild card spot. More improbable is a team that is currently languishing at a .427 win percentage suddenly becoming a .666 juggernaut. Having said that, I guess we should give them the champs their due and the next two weeks to show that they could do it. While everyone is focusing on the final record, don't they really have to go 10-5 over the next five series in order to avoid a RAG sell-off? They're now 1-1 in that pursuit.

(And if they don't/can't do it, the first order of business (besides giving Hamels' the 6th year on the contract he so desperately wants) is to trade Victorino and bring Brown up for an extended look for the rest of the season.)

Eagles Ranked 3rd

Eagles have 3^rd most cap space of any team in the league. But what's less heralded is how much more cap space the Skins and Cowboys would have if the NFL hadn't screwed them for violating the league's collusion agreement last year.

http://bleacherreport.com/tb/d7QzL?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=philadelphia-eagles

Congratulations!

You know, when the Flyers' signed Ilya Bryzgalov last summer I thought the chances of Mike Richards and Jeff Carter winning the Stanley Cup increased dramatically. I just never envisioned it being with the Los Angeles Kings, along with Simon Gagne. Congratulations to all, though, for beating the stinkin' Devils.

The Natural

In the wake of the unsurprising yet still disappointing news that Roy Halladay is headed to the DL with a shoulder ailment - and the no answers to the questions as to why if it was apparent that something was wrong with Halladay from spring training, why no one bothered to look any closer or at least perform an MRI earlier in the season - a friend writes:

My best guess on how the decisions were made to keep starting Halladay, in my make-believe exchange as it went all spring:

 

Charlie Manuel: You know my mama wanted me to be a farmer.
Roy Halladay: My dad wanted me to be a baseball player.
Charlie: Well you're better than any player I ever had. And you're the best God damn pitcher I ever saw. Suit up. 

What the 1% Doesn't Get

See the two blurbs from Politico's Morning Money email today. The real issue isn't what MorganStanley did wrong with the Facebook IPO. The problem isn't what was illegal about all of this, but the crime is what is legal - and how the general investor gets screwed and the 1% take care of themselves..

 FACEBOOK LAWSUIT MIND-MELD: MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING? - A top corporate lawyer forwarded a WSJ commentary (excerpted below) that makes the argument that despite its poor early stock market performance, there is nothing to suggest that there was anything wrong with Facebook's investors prospectus nor illegal about communications between the company's bankers and big investors. ... From the lawyer: "The WSJ piece really makes it clear that the Facebook IPO was done 'by the book' and the issue - if there is one at all - is what the current law provides. I suspect Congressional interest in this deal is likely to shift elsewhere soon - either to changes in the law going forward, or back to Nasdaq and the very odd technology glitches it faced. We may see more on that topic next week when Nasdaq's Chief Information Officer testifies before the House Financial Services Committee in a previously scheduled cyber-security hearing."
FROM THE WSJ PIECE by Ronald Barusch: "[A]t least so far, there is no indication that anything is wrong with that prospectus. ... If you bought Facebook in the IPO at $38 per share, presumably you realized that you were buying shares based on a market capitalization of the company of around $100 billion. And for that you were getting a company that has less than $14 billion of total assets ... And that last year your company had just $3.7 billion of revenue and during the last five years ... "But what about those research analysts changing their estimates? It probably could not have worked any other way under our current regulatory scheme. Analysts who work for underwriters are prohibited from publishing their research prior to an IPO. They are permitted to talk to their clients and give their views" http://on.wsj.com/MLPAPn

Hamels appreciation

A friend writes:

Setting aside that Hamels is now 7-1 with a 2.17 (or 2.18) ERA, he has literally saved the 1st 1/3 of the season. His performances in DC and then tonight in Philly, slapping down the Nats as if they're his bitches after they dominated the Phils 2 straight nights, holy shit.
If we lose tonight's game, we're 6.5 games out and just got bitch-swept by them. Instead, we're 4.5 games back, 1 game below .500, allowing ourselves to think about how/when things will turn around.
Give him whatever $$$ that he wants.

HBP?

It sure didn't look like Jake Diekman hit that Cubs' batter in the 9th inning last night. Not even ticking his loose jersey. It was telling that the Cubs announcers on WGN quickly shut up while watching the replays.

The Gay Greek Police

This photo of Athens police dealing with protesters which appeared in the NYTimes is rife with comedy, since it looks like the law enforcers captured here are a modernized version of the fashion police what with their berets, boots and sunglasses. 

Beat Boston

Watched the tail end of the Sixers-Celtics game last night, mainly cause my middle son likes to play basketball and is really getting into Philadelphia sports. ( I didn't have the heart to tell him the Sixers are low man on the family Philly sports totem pole).

 

Anyway, two thoughts jumped out: 1 – incredible officiating in the 4^th Q. Kevin Garnett was called for a travel while shuffling his feet to set for a jumper, a couple possessions later Evan Turner was NOT called for traveling when he took 5 steps and also may have committed a self-pass, and then on the Celtics' decisive offensive possession, they called Garnett for an offensive foul on a moving pick. Wow. In Boston

 

2 – it's the first time the Sixers have beaten the Celtics in Boston since game 7 of the 82 Eastern Conference finals, a game the Sixers won 120-106, and the game I believe was most memorable and incredibly cool for a kid growing up at that time for the Boston fans chanting "Beat L.A." to the Sixers as the clock wound down. Neat.

Hamels and Harper

On the Hamels thing:

 I don't understand why Hamels said he tried to hit Harper.

But I really don't understand everyone coming out criticizing Hamels and how ripped the Nats are. Just watched the espn guys all say that Pence better watch out vs. the Nats.

3)      Why isn't anyone mentioning that Hamels got hit later in the same game. According to the Nats' view, it's gutless to throw at their guy but not our guy?

Why hasn't anyone asked Zimmerman if he tried to hit Hamels? If Nats' GM Mike Rizzo expects the same rule his team goes by, if Pence gets hit by Strasburg than Strasburg should expect to get hit later in the same game.

Halladay

A friend writes about tonight's game:

He simply doesn't have any stamina anymore. He can't go deep into games. This is the 3rd straight game that he's melted down in the 5th or 6th inning, after great starts. He got to 2 outs and 2 strikes in the 6th inning -- after having retired 13 straight batters -- and then he simply fell apart. 

I would add that thought Halladay looked tired and laboring in the 4^th inning! After only throwing 44 pitches. He was cruising but looked spent, but I wasn't sure if that just wasn't the normal Halladay look.

 

And crap, now Papelbon just gave up a 3 run HR to blow the tie.

 

Bad loss

B Dawk

Can there be any higher praise for an Eagle than to be described as "Jim Johnson's 'go-to guy.'"

Next Stop, Canton

Congratulations to Brian Dawkins for a spectacular, Hall of Fame career. 

4 plays immediately come to mind:

1. The interception of Brett Favre in OT that lead to the game winning FG in the 4th and 22 divisional playoff game.

2. The turnover against the Cowboys at Dallas on Christmas in a must win game for the Eagles that led to a playoff spot.

3. The heat seeking missile who stopped Mike Vick on the goal line in the divisional playoff game against the Falcons at the Vet.

4. The flying leap, strip and fumble recovery against the Steelers. My kids were watching that game with me and when they showed Dawkins leap over the lineman and go horizontal -  with his arms outstretched it really did look like he was flying. My kids asked, "Daddy, is that Superman?" 

Yes, children. Yet it was. You got to watch Superman play for the Eagles.

Phillies Preview - A month late

so i was watching a long ago taped version of espn's 30 clubs/30 days preview about the Phillies.

2 things jumped out.

1. Shane Victorino bats 70 points higher when he is 2 (.306) or 5th (.308) in the order compared to lead off (.236)

and 2. baseball prospectus projected the following records for the NL East this year

88 wins

Phillies and Braves

87 wins

Marlins

83 wins

Nationals

71 wins

Mets

The Best for Howard?

My friend also writes:

Meanwhile, assuming that he can come back from the Achilles injury and again become a 35-homer guy, or more, for a few more seasons, let me say something controversial: The Achilles injury is the greatest thing to happen to Ryan Howard since we won the World Series.

Here's why: When he grounded out to end the 2011 season against StL, 96% of the Phils phans blamed one person and one person only: Ryan Howard.

Now that we've started out this season so incredibly sluggish offensively, 96% of the phans are blaming one thing: Howard's absence from the middle of the lineup.

A Tale of Two Teams

A friend writes:

I think it's unequivocal what's going on here -- 1 team with a long history of having a very good eye at the plate, the Phillies, has lost its marbles; another team with a history of having a terrible eye at the plate, the Nats, now has one of the best in MLB.)
 
HITTING
Team batting averages:
Nats, .249
Phillies .248
Team slugging %s:
Nats .334
Phillies .331
Team home runs
Nats 6
Phillies 6
Team stolen bases
Phillies 12 (caught 1 time)
Nats 7 (caught 2 times)

PITCHING
ERA
Nats 1.92 (best in NL)
Phillies 2.48 (2nd best)
BB
Nats 39 walks issued (best of teams that played 13 games so far)
Phillies 24 (best of teams that played 12 games)
WHIP
Nats 1.01 (best in NL)
Phillies 1.10 (3rd best)

So, these are two insanely balanced teams. The Nats have an almost negligible difference tipped in their favor offensively; pitching wise, their ERA is better, clearly, but the Phils are walking far fewer people. Anyway, these are 2 teams that are incredibly balanced and -- by all these measures -- should have roughly the same record. They don't. The Nats are 4.5 games ahead of the Phillies. Why is that case? For one reason, and one single reason alone: they take pitches and walk.
HITTING
Bases on balls:
Nats 57 walks (No. 1 in NL)
Phillies 20 (tied for last with Pirates)
OBP
Nats .335 (tied for 2nd)
Phillies .284 (14th)

http://mlb.mlb.com/stats/sortable.jsp#sectionType=st&playerType=QUALIFIER&statType=hitting&page_type=SortablePlayer&season=2012&season_type=ANY&sportCode=%27mlb%27&league_code=%27NL%27&split=&team_id=&active_sw=&game_type=%27R%27&position=&sortOrder=%27desc%27&sortColumn=avg&results=&page=1&perPage=50&timeframe=&extended=0&last_x_days=&ts=1334859863229&tab_level=child&click_text=Sortable+Team+hitting

Scheduling good news

Remember this now.

The Phillies play 6 of their last 9 games of the season against the Nationals. And with Stephen Strasburg limited to 160 innings this year, it's practically assured that the Phils' won't have to face the Nationals' ace at all in the homestretch.

Stat that may be of interest only to me

How is it that Shane Victorino didn't attempt a bunt the entire 2011 season?

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20120228_Pierre_leads_Phils_in_the_art_of_bunting.html

3-4

Wow, Utley-Howard didn't even make the honorable mention in Jayson Stark's column about the best 3-4 lineups in baseball while discussing Fielder's new contract.

Not sure if it's cause Howard's hurt or Utley's been struggling.

http://espn.go.com/mlb/hotstove11/story/_/id/7500071/miguel-cabrera-prince-fielder-pack-powerful-3-4-punch

Media elite

John King = Bernie Shaw?

Newt Gingrich shows Mike Dukakis how to answer a personal debate question

TO?

The Patriots hiring of free agent coach Josh McDaniel last week in the middle of their playoff run had plenty of people chiming in about the appropriateness of a coach, particularly a former head coach for the team the Patriots are playing, joining a staff just prior to the playoff game. Some tried to equate it with free agent players joining teams during the post-season.

Of course, that is the reason why player contracts run through March - to avoid this possibility. But there are players that have been released who aren't contractually bound by these restrictions. 

And then there is one player who wasn't even under contract this year and could conceivably still join a team.

How crazy would it be if the Niners won tomorrow's game and then signed Terrell Owens for the super bowl?

TO is a former Niner. The Niners need help at WR. And with the two week super bowl break, he would have time to learn a fair amount of the plays - certainly way more than if he had only a week to prepare.

Truly circus maximus.

Wierd only to me?

NFL referee Gene Stenatore is also a college basketball referee?!?

Nice Al

Al Michaels just referred to the Saints 4th quarter TD as a "kill shot" touchdown. Nothing like referencing gun violence and murder - in New Orleans no less - to the nation's game.

Flag?

Congratulations to the University of Michigan for winning last night's Sugar Bowl on a field goal in overtime. The announcers didn't mention it - other than to marvel at the ability of the Michigan kicker to make the field goal after a stutter first step BEFORE THE BALL WAS SNAPPED.

My question is shouldn't the kicker have been flagged for illegal motion or a false start because of his stutter, false step just before the snap?

It's ironic that some football plays are endlessly scrutinized and reviewed in slow motion to determine if a pass was actually caught, but a kicker can commit an infraction in front of the world (and the refs) and not a word is said about the lack of a penalty call.

Revival or Collapse?

One of the things (among many) that is driving me crazy about all the articles now being written about whether Reid keeps his job or not is this (and this is a question the reporters should be asking themselves before they write the story as well as Lurie should ask himself): What is the purpose of firing Reid? Is it to "punish" him for a poor season that was the result of some of his pre-season moves? Or is it that there is a belief that another coach can make the team more of a success in 2012? And if it is the second, then the follow up question is who is that coach?

My own take is that we're the 2008 Saints (or the 2009-11 Packers - lost a playoff game one year (to those same 2008 Saints), then snuck in to the playoffs as a wildcard (what the Eagles almost did this year - sneaking in), and then dominating the league the following season).

There's too much talent on this team to "blow it up" and "rebuild," though as my brother has long noted there is no such thing as "rebuilding" in the 21st century NFL.

We lost a lot of close games, some on flukey plays (Ronnie Brown's goal line "pass" vs. the Niners, missed FGs, and others on turnovers).

On offense, you've got a franchise-caliber QB, an all-pro RB, a couple of skill position playmakers and a solid O-line.

The D improved steadily throughout the season as much as the Juan Castillo haters hate to admit it. And he did it with a bunch of lousy LBs, terrible safety play, and an at times non-existent DRC (and Nnamdi for that matter). Let's face it, Samuels was the best corner on the team this year, and they're probably unloading him this offseason. I've come around enough to believe Castillo deserves another year as coordinator. Related to the questions above re: Reid, who are they bringing in to replace him? I don't believe the Spags rumors.

I guess the larger answer to your question is that this team is on the verge of a revival. Now where they are next year depends entirely on Vick and whether Reid gets an heir apparent to groom between now and then.

Revival or Collapse

My friend PK asks the question:

I've been a bandwagoner for how this was the 2008 Saints, that we're a super talented squad that will bounce back from 8-8 (just as Saints were in '08) and go 13-3 (as they did in '09). What's more intrinsic to us as Eagles fans, I think, is whether this is 1991 or 1994.
In '91, we had the greatest D ever but no QBs, as Randall and McMahon got hurt. We finished 10-6 and missed the playoffs. Bounced back the next year to make the playoffs and beat Bobby Hebert in NoLa. In '94, however, we had that amazing start and then folded, missing the playoffs. While we scratched our way into the '95 and '96 playoffs, the truth is, we never were contenders for anything with Mr Holly Robinson and Koy Detmer's older brother as our QBs. Truth is, our "era" ended with the collapse of '94.
Where are we now? On the verge of a revival or complete collapse?

Best Move

Lesean McCoy is inactive today vs. the Skins, one of the best decisions Reid has made all year.

The fact is that this game is utterly meaningless to the Eagles 2011 season. All actions now are geared toward making the 2012 playoffs and Super Bowl. So, just like playoff teams right now are resting their starters in preparation for this year's playoff push, the Eagles should be resting their starters to avoid injuries that could in any way impede next year's playoff campaign.