Eagles Fever

Philadelphia Eagles Cut Amon Gordon, Walter Mendenhall, Adam DiMichele

2009-07-07T23:08:00.000-04:00

The Eagles have made some room on their roster. They can only carry 80 players into training camp and had 82 signed, with Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy still to go.

The three players released today were injured defensive tackle Amon Gordon, running back Walter Mendenhall, and quarterback Adam DiMichele (who most people didn't even know was at the OTAs).

The Eagles will still need to cut at least one more player heading into camp and I would imagine it to be local punter from East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania, Ken Parrish.

The Implications of Amon Gordon's Release

Unfortunately, Gordon required what is definitely a season ending, and possibly career ending, surgery to repair a ruptured achilles tendon. The Eagles were going to need to cut some talented players, but this is not the way anyone wants to see a player depart.

It also looks as though Philadelphia took two rookie free agents to compete for the vacant defensive tackle position.

Jervonte Jackson, 6'5", 300 lb from Florida Atlantic and Trevor Jenkins, 6'1", 287 lb from Middle Tennessee State have an outside opportunity to make the team as a fifth defensive tackle if they can impress.

I would think it likely that these guys represent nothing more than training camp bodies, and if the Eagles really want a fifth tackle, they may very well look to the waiver wire.

For the Eagles to keep just four defensive tackles fits the mold pretty well, as their defensive scheme calls for sliding a defensive end into the interior on passing downs for more quickly developing pressure and pursuit.

The Implications of Walter Mendenhall's Release

I had very high hopes for rookie free agent Walter Mendenhall as an Eagle. Many fans were looking forward to the promise of a 6'0", 225 lb running back, but it is not to be.

Unfortunately, Mendenhall never had an opportunity to strap on the pads and really show what he could do. I must assume that he had a falling out with, or just never really held serious interest from, the coaches.

I have a feeling Mendenhall will be a guy who finds a home and some success in the NFL, but not as an Eagle in 2009. McDaniel will probably sign him in Denver.

Sometimes these guys come around again when the practice squad starts to take shape. I can hold on to my hopes for that.

In the end, what it does mean?

Much to the chagrin of many Eagles fans, it is a much more promising outlook for returning third string running back Lorenzo Booker.

Andy Reid has remained consistently resolute regarding his confidence in Booker's ability. He does fit the mold for Reid's system very well, but his two-yards-and-change average per carry in the 2008 regular season lost him a lot of fan support.

It is premature to dismiss Booker based on his average, when he didn't have a statistically significant number of carries with which to arithmetically average in the first place.

Booker had his moments of shine in the 2008 training camp and preseason, so we will have to see if running backs Eldra Buckley and Kyle Eckel can challenge him in training camp in 2009.

Hopefully, Booker is not lingering around strictly because of the investment of the 2008 fourth round draft pick.

I am going to give Andy Reid and company the benefit of the doubt here, as they have been amazing this off season, and I'm sure Booker is much better than his 2.5 yard per carry average would otherwise indicate.

Who is Adam DiMichele and Where Did He Come From?

I think this guy snuck past security and found his way onto the practice field wearing a Ron Jaworski jersey or something. That's the rumor, at least.

O.K., that's not true, but local Temple Owl alumni Adam DiMichele's stay with the Eagles didn't last very long. No big surprises here, but it would have been nice to find a young diamond in the rough at quarterback to challenge for a back-up role—especially a local kid.

Breaking Down the Philadelphia Eagles for Fantasy Football Players

2009-07-07T22:57:00.003-04:00

By Leo Pizzini: It's a bit early, but I'm going to make a fantasy football analysis of the Philadelphia Eagles. There is a ton of upside to all of these players. Some will be drafted before they probably should and some will be great values in later rounds.

There will be free agents that may emerge as solid mid to late season fantasy options. Players like Maclin may get drafted and released only to have a great middle to late season.

McNabb, Westbrook, and the defense look like the fantasy "stand-outs" at this point.

DeSean Jackson should have a solid year and the rest of the receivers will likely split a lot of targets.

I believe Curtis will be strong for the first half to two-thirds of 2009 before the rise of Jeremy Maclin at which point I expect Curtis to split slot duty with Avant.

McCoy, Weaver, or Celek may be surprise sleepers.

PLAYERS PROJECTIONS

QB: Donovan McNabb: 3,900 Yards Passing, 34 TD, 12 INT, 2 FUM | 150 Yards Rushing, 2 TD

McNabb is a top 10 fantasy quarterback every year. This year McNabb stands to be a bit more productive in fantasy leagues with improved protection and more offensive weapons.

McNabb looks like a top five quarterback in 2009. Start him with confidence. McNabb will probably make a fourth or fifth round steal in most drafts.

RB: Brian Westbrook: 1,250 Yards Rushing, 8 TD, 1 FUM | 350 Yards Receiving, 4 TD

Westbrook has been a solid fantasy back always managing to compile points by yardage or scoring. He's a feature player in this dynamic offense and he is healthy. Expect him to be very productive as some of the attention will be taken off of him.

Westbrook looks like a top five running back in 2009. He's a safe early pick. A must start. Westbrook will be a steal, possibly slipping until late in the first round or maybe early second round in some drafts.

RB: LeSean McCoy: 400 Yards Rushing, 2 TD, 2 FUM | 150 Yards Receiving, 1 TD

If you get Westbrook, you have to handcuff LeSean McCoy. If Westbrook gets hurt McCoy looks to be able to fill in nicely. He will be more productive as a rookie fill in than Correll Buckhalter was in 2008.

LeSean McCoy is a handcuff to Brian Westbrook. Fantasy Owners may need to be careful not to wait too long to pick up McCoy if they select Westbrook.

FB / RB: Leonard Weaver: 200 Yards Rushing, 3 TD | 100 Yards Receiving, 2 TD

Leonard Weaver will steal some goal line touches from Westbrook and break a couple of third down screen passes, but this season is going to be a Westbrook dominated running attack.

WR DeSean Jackson: 1,000 Yards Receiving, 6 TD | 100 Yards Rushing

DeSean Jackson will continue to emerge, but the depth and talent of the receivers will manage to cut into his production.

Jackson is a low end No. 2 or high end No. 3 receiver with lots of upside potential.

Jackson may go a bit higher than he should. He seems to have a pretty big buzz going about him. He'll likely go in the fourth or fifth round, but is a better value as a late fifth to early seventh round pick.

WR Kevin Curtis: 700 Yards Receiving, 5 TD

Kevin Curtis is going to be a big contributor on this offense in 2009. Unfortunately for his fantasy stats, there are too many young receivers on this team that are hungry and deserve the ball.

Curtis will be a good number three receiver or reserve with some upside. Curtis is a good late round flier pick, but may go a bit early.

WR Jeremy Maclin: 500 Yards Receiving, 5 TD

The Eagles figure to work Maclin in slow. Fantasy owners will want to take a close look at the developments in training camp. He will most likely make a late season surge.

Maclin is a good reserve with a ton of upside and possibly some late season heroics.

Maclin will score points inconsistently, but may close strong. If he somehow sneaks into a bigger role, he could light it up. Maclin is a good late round flier pick, but will probably go a bit early.

Pay attention to the waiver wire for a possible steal on Maclin.

WR Hank Baskett: 300 Yards Receiving, 4 TD

I love Baskett as a player, but Maclin would seem to be a fantasy buster for Baskett. He will have big plays and contribute, but I think he will be marginalized by the offense for at least one more season.

Baskett has upside. If he somehow sneaks into a bigger role, he could light it up. Just pay attention to the free agency list as the season goes on.

WR Jason Avant: 300 Yards Receiving, 2 TD

Jason Avant will continue to make clutch plays for McNabb working the slot. If Maclin comes on, Avant will battle with Curtis for the slot. Avant will likely not be a productive fantasy receiver.

If he holds the slot position firmly in preseason and early on, Avant could be a worthy third receiver.

TE Brent Celek: 400 Yards Receiving, 6 TD

Celek will be a solid tight end in 2009.

McNabb loves to use his tight ends when they are effective and Celek has been effective. McNabb and Celek appeared to be finding a rhythm as the season developed. Although Celek will get lots of looks and playing team, the Cornelius Ingram receiving threat looks to cut into Celek's production a bit.

Celek is a solid reserve tight end or a low end starter that has a ton of upside. Celek will likely go undrafted in most 10 team leagues with a traditional format. If you are stuck on a tight end late, he's a great option.

TE Cornelius Ingram: 100 Yards Receiving, 2 TD

Ingram is definitely going to make a big play or two this season. It will be difficult for the offensive coaches to get everybody in the game, so I figure Ingram's production will be limited in 2009.

Just pay attention to the free agency as the season goes on.

Defense: 17 Interceptions, 15 Fumble Recoveries, 50 Sacks, 5 TD, 285 Points Surrendered

The linebackers were improving in coverage and the defensive line was stiffening up and creating pressure as the 2008 season was concluding. This is a young group that has played well and are expected to improve in 2009.

The secondary has new ball hawks that should make them the most elite part of the team.

The Eagles defense look to be top five in 2009 for fantasy owners. They will likely be taken in one of the last two or three rounds and are a very good value at those picks.

Players to Watch: Walter Mendenhall (possible goal-line back), Eugene Bright (interesting short yardage tight end)

Off Season Review: The Making of the 2009 "Green Dream" Philadelphia Eagles

2009-05-15T10:19:00.007-04:00

By Leo Pizzini: The goal is the Championship. There is no doubt about that.

Five NFC Championship games and one Superbowl appearance has served as an expectational appetizer to the lofty goals of the Philadelphia Eagle's emotionally charged fans. Never have we seen such an exciting offseason.

While the Broncos stole away our heart and soul, Brian Dawkins, we became impatient with the front office's decisions and lack of a sense of urgency in signing quality free agents by the bunches.

TJ Houshmandzadeh was asking for some brotherly love and the memories of future Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison streaking down the sideline appeared to be logical solutions in providing McNabb the tools necessary to ultimately bring the Lombardi hardware to Lincoln Financial Field for the first time.

The front office had other plans.

The Stacy Andrews signing went largely regarded as not enough. The front office snuck in some quality depth at safety to help offset the loss of our ultimate warrior, Dawkins.

We signed our first big back since Herschel Walker in Leonard Weaver who also serves as our first true fullback since the John Ritchie days.

Then in our final move before the draft we made the blockbuster deal for the monster left tackle to replace Trae Thomas on McNabb's blind side with the perennial talent of Jason Peters.

The book ends and run blocking were in place and everything was beginning to feel right.

Doubts about Westbrook's durability were still lingering. We felt little while LJ Smith was shopping himself around and we shared an excitement regarding the youngster Brent Celek.

Still, the fans were justifiably clamoring for some depth at running back and tight end as Tony Gonzalez signed with the up and coming Falcons. Above and beyond the calls for depth at running back and tight end was the call for the main ingredient almost everyone craved, that elusive game changing wide receiver.

While many fans were optimistic about the potential and depth of the wide receiver ensemble, rumors of trade viability for the likes of Boldin, OchoCinco and Braylon Edwards permeated the collective consciousness of Eagles fans everywhere.

It was however, not to be.

It wouldn't have been like Philadelphia if we didn't face a bit more uncertainty and drama. Accordingly, weeks before the draft day, Sheldon Brown, our bone cracking veteran corner back, expressed his disenchantment with the organization and demanded a trade.

Perfect last minute drama as it would otherwise have appeared that the missing pieces of the puzzle would most likely find resolution through the draft.

With nothing but a championship caliber team in mind we entered the draft feeling under dressed in the wide receiver, running back, tight end and corner back positions. Weakness at these positions left an unsettling feeling in the core of most die hard Eagles fans.

The mock drafts picked either Moreno or Pettigrew falling to the Eagles at pick 21 and largely the debate was hot and heavy as to who would serve the better use.

Moments before the draft, the wizard Mike Mayock, predicted Jeremy Maclin, a top 10 prospect from Mizzou, to fall to the Eagles. Fan expectations were Moreno to wear Midnight Green until the Broncos yet again stole our wind and ripped him from our grasp with the 12th pick of the draft exceeding nearly all draft projection rankings.

Surprisingly, the highly rated receiver and return man Jeremy MacLin continued to slip and as the Giants were expressing their interest in trading up to acquire the hot prospect, Reid made a stunning move up the board to grab the speedy, highly touted receiver.

Having traded their second of two first round picks to Buffalo in the Peters deal, the later rounds would have to fill the remaining Eagle needs. With Donald Brown and Beanie Wells falling off the board in the first round attention turned to the very Westbrook-esque LeSeanMcCoy.

Amazingly, the virtue: patience, rewarded the 53rd pick with the dangerously elusive running back stand out from PITT as if it were destiny itself.

Sensing the remaining depth at tight end, Reid shrewdly traded a third and one of many fifth round picks to New England to acquire a former teammate of Assante Samuel in Ellis Hobbs, a stand out kick returner and young veteran corner.

Rounding out the best of the draft, in the fifth round, our Eagles grabbed a tremendous athlete at tight end in Cornelius Ingram who had definite first round talent had he not missed his senior year at Florida due to an ACL tear. Also in the fifth Reid selected Victor "Macho" Harris, a stand out, hard hitting and explosive corner from Virgina Tech who also seems destined to make the team with a likely transition to the safety position.

Without a doubt the 2009 draft was the most popular and fan enthused of the Andy Reid era.

The draft did not disappoint and neither did the rookie free agent acquisitions of Vanderbilt safety Reshard Langford, Purdue Converted tight end Eugene Bright and Illinois State running back Walter Mendenhall who have been the buzz among avid Eagle bloggers.

The first post draft minicamp had Eagle's fans drooling in anticipation of watching our Eagles soar this season.

Expectations are high for returning offensive weapons, Desean Jackson, Kevin Curtis, Jason Avant, Hank Baskett and Reggie Brown.

This wide receiver group along with the newly acquired Jeremy Maclin is possibly the most explosive in Eagle's history and moreover the offense as a whole is truly loaded with speed at the skill positions and power on the line.

The returning defensive backfield, Samuel, Brown, Hanson, Mikkel will be challenged by Ellis Hobbs, Jack Ikeguano, Victor Harris, Rashad Baker, Sean Jones, Reshard Langford, Quintin Demps and company.

Linebackers, Gocong, Bradley and Jordan will be pushed by Mays and Gaither. Trent Cole is complemented by the likes of Darren Howard, Victor Abiameri, Jaquan Parker, Chris Clemmons and Bryan Smith.

The interior line of Bunkley and Patterson are supported by young Trevor Laws, Amon Gordon and Dan Klecko. All are capable starters. What has become apparent is that managing to cut this incredible pool of talent down to the 53 man active roster will be a painful, but luxurious task.

Reid has amassed all of the offensive weapons necessary to conduct his West Coast symphony. Pass catching full backs, tight ends, dangerous running backs and receivers combine with a super sized athletic offensive line that have all been gathered with the veteran leadership of Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook to complete an offensive arsenal full of youth and veterans in compliment.

Along with last years third rated defense returning ten young but mature starters, including the returned to normal form Sheldon Brown and the ever resilient Coordinator Jimmy Johnson, Andy has built a team that will not only make a championship run in 2009, but 2010, 2011 and more.

Despite the very stiff competition of the NFC and fiercely competitive NFC East, opposing teams will have more than their hands full as this team charges for the Division, Conference and Lombardi for the foreseeable future.

I have officially dubbed this Eagles roster, "Green Dream".

Are the Philadelphia Eagles the Most Underachieving Team in NFL History?

2008-12-05T13:28:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would see the day when the Eagles became a national joke.

The McNabb/Reid era was a long and fruitful one, but one that I knew would have to soon come to an end. The Philadelphia Eagles, a solid franchise with an excellent fan base, would just fizzle out after a good many years as one of the league's forefront teams, albeit with no championship to show for it.

They would go into the rebuilding process like many other teams before them—the Rams, the Seahawks, and the Chiefs, among others.

But instead, the Eagles went down a different route.

Refusing to rebuild, the Eagles started to cut established veterans like Jeremiah Trotter, Hollis Thomas, and Jevon Kearse, all the while bringing in young playmakers to take their spots.

The Eagles' ruse of transitioning new players into important skill positions while cutting veterans was one that had been used before, primarily by the Patriots...with admirable success.

As players like Trent Cole, Stewart Bradley, and DeSean Jackson settled in, the Eagles' Front Office subsequently received praise for keeping together a competitive team all the while maintaining their steady corps of tallent—Brian Dawkins, Donovan McNabb, and Brian Westbrook.

However, their distinctly average 29-28-1 record over the last three-and-a-half seasons did not show any evidence of any front-office success. Frustrated Eagles fans even started to demand a thorough rebuilding process, not the half-baked version that the Eagles were apparently unsuccessfully offering.

But the path that that the Eagles chose to go down was a smart one, and probably turned out much better than the organization could have ever expected. The fans, for the most part, had no inkling of this success.

In fact, according to FootballOutsiders.com's statistical formulas, the Eagles are ranked as the third-best team in the NFL! The two teams in front of them, the Tennesse Titans and the New York Giants, are respectively 10-0 and 9-1.

"We have them ranked as the third-best team in the league," said editor in chief Aaron Schatz. "They were second until this week."

Schatz also remarked that the Eagles had underperformed relative to their statistics for the third straight season.

"We've gone back to figure out out what's going on," he said. "We've had complaints from our readers. It's an example, some people say, that our stats don't work. But anything we try to do to fix the model has to apply to all 32 teams," and the Eagles have proved a stubborn exception.

"Some of the Eagles weaknesses are clear," Schatz added: "David Akers no longer has the leg for long field goals, and the offense struggles in the fourth quarter of close games, particularly in converting third-and-short runs."

But those factors still do not explain a 5-4-1 record this season. Instead, even more damning, is the fact that the Eagles have the third-best point differential in the NFL at 7.1, again behind the Giants and the Titans!

And yet, nothing to show for it.

"I've given up on them," Schatz said, when asked about the Eagles possibly making a run for the playoffs. "I just don't understand the Eagles at all."

Neither do Eagles fans, which is so unfortunate.

As an Eagles fan, I once in a while feel obligated to criticize the organization. But, if the statistical formulas that Glatzer researched are correct, they dictate that the Eagles have one of the best teams in the league!

Little do Eagles fans know how successfully the front office navigated the rebuilding process. In fact, they skipped it...the Eagles are a great team now!

The Eagles are the most confounding team in the league.

Roy Williams to Philly? Don't Rule It Out

2008-10-08T12:03:00.002-04:00

It seems like it may be an old obsession for Eagles fans, but once again I found a new reason the Eagles may bring in a dynamic play-making wide receiver. During the off-season, it was McNabb, Reid, and one last dance for the Eagles. Now, what with young DeSean Jackson, most people have forgotten all about it.

It may be just nostalgia, but thinking about it recently brought up several logical points for the rest of the Eagles' 2008 season.

The Eagles' recent loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday signalled another wasted season for many Eagles fans. The disappointing 2007 campaign was brought up fresh in fans' minds as the vicious NFC East fell out of sights for the Eagles, at least for a few weeks. The Eagles, at 2-3, were by no means close to the likes of the Redskins and Cowboys, both at 4-1, or the Giants, at 4-0.

It almost seemed unfair.

Hadn't we waited so long for this season, only to be disappointed? Could it really turn out as bad as last year, or worse? We were told it would be a new season, a fresh start for the Eagles. Instead, starters like Brian Westbrook and Shawn Andrews are injured and out of action while Donovan McNabb struggles to silence the critics in what was supposed to be his one last year as a Philadelphia Eagle.

The truth is, it is not the defense or offense that has struggled outright, but instead McNabb's -- and the offense's -- consistency. One brilliant game could be soured in the next. of course, there are ways to help the cause -- like firing Andy Reid, or bringing in somebody new.

Somebody new? Like who?

Now, to my point: Although Roy Williams was one of the wide receivers the Eagles reportedly pursued this past off-season, the GM who dealt with them is now fired. What with Matt Millen out the door, and the recent blowout to Chicago, the new GM knows that he needs to shore up the defense as well as get draft picks so that the franchise can rebuild.

Now remember, the Eagles have both of those commodities. They have Lito Sheppard, a Pro Bowl corner who hasn't been seeing the field much anyway, and they have not one, but two first round draft picks that the Lions would potentially be interested in. Lito Sheppard, especially, could help them now -- the Lions currently have the worst overall defense in the league, allowing 147 points over five games, which is over twice more than that of seven other teams in the league.

Additionally, Reggie Brown could potentially be packaged in the deal, because the new second rounder, DeSean Jackson, has already pretty much taken over his place.

Now, as I have just explained how sweet this deal would be for the Lions, what would the Eagles get in return? First of all, it looks like Westbrook may have an injury-plagued 2008. Without Westbrook in the backfield, which potent receiver on the Eagles will be charged with carrying out Andy Reid's pass happy offense? DeSean Jackson? Kevin Curtis?

Besides, Roy Williams would bring experience to a young Eagles' receiving corps, as well as make everyone around him better. Also, need not be mentioned is the fact that Roy Williams would not only help Andy Reid's and Donovan McNabb's credibility, but bring consistency to an offense and a quarterback which direly need it.

With Roy Williams aboard, I am fully confident that his swagger would affect a newly rejuvenated Eagles team and lead them to contention in the tough NFC East.

So, will the Eagles make this trade before the October 14th deadline? I wouldn't rule it out!

It's Official: Philadelphia Eagles Fans Are Crazy

2008-10-06T22:13:00.001-04:00

Yeah, as if we didn't know it before. What with television, ESPN, every sports magazine in the country, and the Internet repeating it over and over again, you'd think we as fans might be just a little whacked.

But it was only this week when I finally fully understood why Eagles fans are called crazy. I finally understood why we're considered the most die-hard fans in the country. Lastly, I finally understood what it really means to be an Eagles fan.

It was Sunday, October 5th, 2008 -- two days ago. The Phillies had, for the second year in a row, and for only the second time in 15 years, won the N.L. East division. They had, in the playoffs proven that they were not going to go out so quickly as last year, when they were swept.

They won Game One handily, behind Cole Hamels' miraculous two-hit outing. In Game Two, they beat possibly the best pitcher from the last decade in the reigning Cy Young award winner, C.C. Sabathia -- and in doing so, hit the first Grand Slam in Phillies playoff history.

In Game Three, they were turned down behind veteran Jamie Moyer's rocky start. The Phillies wre to play one more game in Milwaukee before having to face C.C. Sabathia again in a potential Game Five. Knowing that the season was on the line, the Phillies went out to give the Brewers a ball game, advance to the N.L.C.S., and look towards possibly the first World Series berth since 1993.

There was, however, one tiny little problem.

The Phillies would be playing Sunday's game at 1 PM, exactly the time the Eagles would be playing. One question was going through my mind: Who will Philadelphia be watching? The question resonated through all the Sports Radio stations in Philly, in the newspaper, and even on Philly's popular blogs.

As the game approached, I became more and more curious. I already knew who I was going to be watching, but I was hoping that most people would be going the other way. I, the nutcase, was planning on watching one game on Sunday and that was...

The Eagles.

Sure, the Phillies were going for the N.L.C.S. Sure, it might be a once in a lifetime experience (as it later proved to be). But for some inexplicable reason, an unexplained force in me had me glued to the TV set, watching the Eagles square off against the Washington Redskins.

The Eagles jumped out to an early lead, as did the Phillies. Jimmy Rollins slammed a home run in the game's first at-bat, setting a tone for the game. But I didn't want to have anything to do with it, yet.

You know the rest of the story -- the Eagles lost in one of the worst games I have ever seen them disgrace themselves in, and there's been a lot. The Phillies, on the other hand, had advanced to the N.L.C.S. and were looking to break Philadelphia's streak of 25 years without a championship.

And I missed it.

In fact, I don't even regret that I did, because despite whatever anyone says, this is a football town through and through and that is one thing that will never change. Not the Phillies, not the Flyers. Definitely not the Sixers.

After the Eagles game, I couldn't even appreciate what the Phillies had done. The Eagles were all that mattered to me. I was depressed.

In the end, the weirdest stat of all was that not only did the Eagles dominate in the overall ratings, but even at the end of both games -- when the Eagles couldn't stop the Redskins from getting first downs as Brad Lidge closed out the ninth in Milwaukee, the Eagles still won out in the ratings.

I now know what it mans to be a true football fan in the beautiful City of Brotherly Love.

The Eagles Can Still Prove They Are the Same Team of Old: But How?

2008-10-04T11:41:00.000-04:00

The Eagles, Philly's favorite team, are just not the same any more. 2008's slackers -- DeSean Jacksons, L.J. Smiths... other personality names like Dave Spadaro do not bring back memories of the Eagles of old.

If you are a longer tenured Philadelphia Eagles fan, you remember Randall Cunningham, and Reggie White. You probably watched the Body Bag game against, who else? ...The Washington Redskins. You may even remember -- even further back, Ron Jaworski. Yup, he's the same dude from those Aamco commercials, but everything was different back then.

Perhaps, if you had started following the Eagles only a short time ago, you must of course remember the glorious Terrell Owens days. Admit it, those were the good times. We rallied back from heart-breaking defeats back then, and the Eagles were always a true contender.

Now, it's the Phillies making all the noise. It's the Phillies in the mix to make and win the NLCS. It's the Phillies who everyone is talking about and the reason is that the Eagles have changed. They are simply not the same.

So, what is it exactly which is different in our modern Eagles? The way they play? Their record? It is certainly both of those things, but they also seem to not play with the same heart, the same vigor.

Can the Eagles ever get back on track and become the Eagles team of old? The answer, again, is simple.

The Eagles can get back on track, but only once we see them starting to win those 3-point games. Only once we see DeSean Jackson not skip out of bounds, but instead fight for an extra yard. Only once we see L.J. Smith actually catch a pass over the middle as advertised, and only once we see Donovan McNabb drive down the field with one last effort, reliving the glory days.

We do not want Dave Spadaro's annoying optimism. We do not want people telling us that we are still good enough to win the Super Bowl. In true Philly fashion, we first want to see it all happen. The way it hasn't been happening in 25 long years.

Is that why Philly's attention is now adverted to the Phillies? Is is because truly, simply all we want is a Championship, and the Phillies have the best chance of getting it? Or is it because the Phillies fight back, showing the resilience that Philadelphia has always loved.

If the Eagles prove that they do not have "it," Philadelphia may very well become a baseball town. It is an impending reality, as well as a pattern that only the Eagles can change.

Simply put, they need to win. Win and win again. Nobody wants to see them pull off an upset, just to be surprised by a lesser team the very next week. Philly wants gritty wins, we want dominating wins. We want them to defeat every team -- but if that's not going to happen, we at least want to see the Eagles fight.

Fight like the Phillies. Fight like the Philadelphia Eagles team of old.

The Eagles Could Learn a Thing or Two from the Phightin' Phils

2008-10-02T22:40:00.001-04:00

When was the last time you saw the Eagles drive down the field with two minutes remaining and score the TD to come within one point, then go for the two point conversion and complete a comeback for the ages?

OK—that might be pushing it—but when exactly was the last time you saw the Eagles actually get into the touchdown when it really counted, at the end of a long and frustrating game, and given four downs to do so?

Lastly, can you even remember the last time they won a game decided by three or less points?

I can't.

Yes, that's how frustrating Philly's favorite team can be; but on closer look, Philadelphia's other beloved team, the Phillies, tends to be quite the opposite.

While I, like many Philadelphians, am as die-hard an Eagles fan as there are in any major league sport, I do enjoy turning on a Phillies game whenever I get a chance. And what do I see?

I see comeback after comeback—clutch hitting, ninth-inning homers, crucial hits, outstanding defense—so, yeah...the team just doesn't quit. In fact, had Phillies games ended after the seventh inning all season long, we wouldn't be seeing a division-leading playoff team, but instead a third-place Phillies, seven games back of the hated Mets.

Year after year, the Phillies are near the top of the league in come-from-behind victories. They play well when they need to, they can go on a hot streak when all seems lost—they play all twenty-seven outs of a game, and make opponents' bullpens pay for it. They always seem like they can be in it—not because of sheer talent, but instead a willingness to play and keep fighting with a heart unmatched by any other baseball team of the modern era.

However, from a statistician's point of view, the Eagles may be one of the best teams on paper in the NFL. Still, they could go from a sure playoff contender to the "best" 2-2 team (like they are now), to the "best" last-place team, to the "best" team to not make the playoffs—and go absolutely nowhere, all while still being the best at doing nothing of any importance.

More specifically, however many wins Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb may have together (175 to be exact), in the last quarter of the game, with everything on the line, the Eagles came up short on four downs. This, in my opinion, epitomized the Eagles of the last decade. So close, but no cigar.

Yesterday, it was a glorious Sunday for the City of Brotherly Love. For the second straight year, and just the second time in fifteen years, the Phillies had clinched the N.L. East and were on their way to the playoffs. But that night, the Eagles went nowhere and took another tough loss, reminding beleaguered Eagles fans of the disastrous 2007 season.

No matter what may happen to the Phillies in the upcoming weeks, they have earned Philadelphia's respect for the second straight year. Meanwhile, the Eagles—who had played with no passion whatsoever—were, like the Mets, coming home again to lie low until the next game, whenever that would be.

Were they deserving of the loss? Absolutely.

In retrospect, everything was the way it should be.

Who Should Eagles Fans be Worrying About?

2008-09-14T21:36:00.007-04:00

Granted, one game doesn't mean too much. But Eagles fan know -- or hope they know -- the 2008 Eagles team.

With that said, lets take a quick look at the other three teams in the NFC East and their order of finish.

Dallas Cowboys

Even I'll admit that the Cowboys are probably the best team on paper in the NFL, but unfortunately for the Cowboys, paper match ups don't exactly win games. Of course, if things go horribly wrong, they may not even end up in first place at all. The Cowboys went 13-3 last season -- largely unaffected by injury -- but like the 2005 Eagles, they may soon be in for a reality check. Other than that, bar any major injuries, they seem to be even better than last season, and are of course huge favorites in the NFC.

New York Giants

The Giants are an interesting team which I do not want to count out of anything. Nobody expected them to win the Super Bowl last season, but I get the New York Times and just about every day the headlines of the Sports Section are screaming about the Giants still not getting the respect they deserve. My gut feeling coming into the season was that the loss of their two best DEs would do them in. I expected them to limp to a sorry 8-8 or 7-9 record and miss the playoffs. On the other hand, they may still be better than we think, and a 2-0 start is a good way to kick off the 2008 campaign.

Washington Redskins

Another interesting team, but one that I actually do not have too much confidence in. Last season, the Giants showed us how important the ends are, and I know that the Redskins have got a pretty good pair. So it's not the defense I'm worried about, but instead the offense. I never did think that switching offenses on a young QB like Jason Campbell would do them any good, and so far it surely hasn't done them any help. As the season progresses, Cambell will probably become a detriment to an otherwise solid team.

All said and done, this could leave the Eagles anywhere from third to first place, all depending, of course, on injuries. The showdown in Dallas tomorrow night will be big in terms of setting standards in the division; if the Eagles are to somehow take first place, they would have to do so by winning tomorrow's prime time match up. Ultimately, in my mind, there's no way the Eagles will miss the playoffs two years in a row, so this season I see the Redskins being the odd team out.

With that said, ARE YOU READY FOR SOME MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL?! E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!

Watch Out Cowboy Nation: The Cowgirls Are Two Injuries Away from a Losing Season

2008-09-13T23:59:00.005-04:00

Yup, I said it. The Cowboys really aren't as good as everyone thinks. Sure, they got all those staple names -- Tony Romo, Terrell Owens, and Jason Witten, among others, but there is one very real reason why the Cowboys may just end up sucking this season. And no, it's not because of Jessica Simpson. I'll be very straightforward with it -- if the Injury Bug hits the Cowboys, they will not survive. True, they went 13-3 last season, but then again, last season they got really lucky with injuries.

If you don't believe me, just take a look at the Cowboys' good friends, the Philadelphia Eagles. In 2004, they went 13-3 -- like the 2007 Cowboys -- and made the Super Bowl. The very next year they went 6-10. How did that work?

Well, simply put, the Eagles weren't prepared for injury. Like the Cowboys of '08, they had very little depth at key positions. McNabb went down. Westbrook didn't play. The list goes on and on. And then, of course, there was that whole messy thing with Terrel Owens... But, in retrospect, it was really injuries that did the Eagles in.

Now, what about the Cowboys? Before they set their eyes on the Super Bowl, they should probably remember the '05 Eagles. Most people don't think that having depth is so important -- but once a starter goes down, it aint called depth anymore. It's called reality.

OK, let's take a quick look at the Cowboys' offensive depth chart:

QBs: Tony Romo, Brad Johnson

Even if you're not Jessica Simpson you'll have to admit that Tony Romo is pretty good. An undrafted free agent signing turned Top Five QB is a pretty impressive transition. Sure, he throws a lot of interceptions, but give him some time in the pocket and anything can happen. But enough of Romo, his backup Brad Johnson wouldn't exactly make a Cowboys fan too confident: Drafted 227th overall in 1992 and since then cut twice without ever having been a starter for any long periods of time.

WRs: Terrell Owens, Patrick Crayton, Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, Isaiah Stanback

Quite frankly, other than Terrell Owens and Patrick Crayton, the Cowboys have some of the worst depth at wide receiver in the league. Sam Hurd, Miles Austin, and Isaiah Stanback are all injured, so should either Owens or Crayton (more likely the latter of the two) go down, the Cowboys will be really screwed over at that position.

RBs: Marion Barber, Felix Jones, Tashard Choice

This group is, well, interesting. Nobody can deny that Marion Barber is a powerhouse at RB, but his carefree running style makes me wonder how long he can last. He already injured his ribs in his first game vs. the Browns, but he should be back in time for this week's Eagles-Cowboys prime time matchup. However, if he is injured for any extended periods of time, two rookies will be backing him up.

TEs: Jason Witten, Martellus Bennett, Tony Curtis

Again, another prominent starter in Jason Witten, but backing him up is a rookie and a free agent signing who was already released once during his three year tenure. Like the other three positions I just elaborated on, little or no depth here should be a reason for concern.

The Cowboys may get lucky with injuries like they did last season, but I'm starting to think that before long we may be seeing the Injury Bug rear it's ugly head. On paper, the Cowboys' starters could win them the Super Bowl, but on the other hand, Cowboy Nation may be in for a rude awakening when it's the backups taking the field. Take the warning from one fan; the nightmare is just beginning for the Patriots...

Baskett, Jackson, and Lewis: The Fearsome Threesome

2008-09-09T20:59:00.000-04:00

Arguably, no fans are as loud as Eagles fans, and these past few weeks were no exception. It is indisputable that no fans screamed louder, gnashed their teeth in frustration, or publicly ripped their team more than Eagles fans did this past off-season in their vain attempt at a No. 1 wide receiver.

How ironic.

Now, with Week One in the books, we can look back and laugh. Because, which ever way you slice it, here are the facts:

1. The Eagles were the only team in the league to have three receivers who each had 100 yard games.

2. It was only the second time in franchise history the Eagles’ wide receivers accomplished such a feat.

3. It was the only time in league history a combination consisting of or anything like two undrafted free agents and a rookie reached that prestigious goal.

4. It was also the first time a trio of these likes each had a play for over 45 yards - Hank Baskett for 90, DeSean Jackson for 47, and Greg Lewis for 76.

Wow.

Wasn’t it just a couple of day ago that we were complaining about the Eagles wide receivers? Wasn’t it us who said they had no big-play capability? So much for that. So what if it was against the St. Louis Rams, a team with one of the worst pass defenses in the league. It won’t be the worst team the Eagles will face this season, nor do they have the worst pass defense.

Now, with the forthcoming returns of Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis, the Eagles’ wideouts suddenly become a position of depth, a noticeable strength. And hopefully they can prove themselves once more against Dallas, when it really counts, and chase away any last shreds of doubt in the minds of Eagles fans about the current Eagles’ wide receiving corps.

Top 10 Most Pathetic NFL Fan Bases

2008-09-05T17:27:00.000-04:00

Bring up the topic of NFL fan bases and you'll always get an argument as to why a certain team’s fans are the best. But bring up an accusation against a team's fan base and you might just get beer poured on your head (although if you're stupid enough to do that, you probably deserve it). In any event, since everyone has an opinion on these things, I'll present you with mine. I'm up for a debate, so bring it on!

Note: The following rankings are extremely unscientific and unabashedly biased.

10. San Diego Chargers

In truth, the only reason the Chargers are up here is because of the simple fact that they are one of the most dominant teams in the NFL, as they have been for a long time.

Unfortunately for them, their mostly laid-back fans have never fully embraced the franchise, and their 30 consecutive sellouts aren't all that impressive.

9. Carolina Panthers

While Panthers fans are, for the most part, a motley bunch, they do have a few die-hard fans, and I will give them credit for that. Their stadium is pretty quiet year-round, though.

8. Cincinnati Bengals

Most people will put Bengals fans way further down this list, but I'll cut them some slack because they remind me of Eagles fans. Unsurprisingly, Cincinnati fans have been disenchanted with the franchise for a long time, considering that the team has had only one winning season in the last 17 years.

7. Houston Texans

It's not that Texans fans won't sell out their stadium or apply for season tickets, it's just that the vigor and energy is not there. Definitely one of the quieter stadiums in the NFL.

6. Miami Dolphins

Again, another fan base that most people will consider to be one of the worst, but I'll give them some credit for actually showing up once in a while; even if it's just to show off their tanned bodies.

5. Arizona Cardinals

Arizona had always supported a healthy Cowboys fan base before the Cardinals moved there in the 1980s. The Cardinals were never quite able to claim most of those fans, mostly due to their losing habits. However, their new stadium will probably help.

4. St. Louis Rams

The Rams have fans who, for the most part, support their team when it's doing well, but have absolutely no interest in it when the franchise is floundering. A meager two consecutive sellouts tell the tale.

3. Atlanta Falcons

Atlanta has always been a baseball town, but of late fans have been paying even more attention to their college teams than their NFL team, which I think is pathetic.

2. Detroit Lions

The Lions do not have the worst fan base in the NFL for several reasons. One, you have to give respect the die-hards who do show up every week—despite the team's long history of losing—and two, even though games tend to be completely silent, they do sell out quite often.

1. Jacksonville Jaguars

This may come as a surprise to most, but the reason I have the Jaguars fan base as the worst in the NFL is quite simple. Unlike most other teams up here, this franchise is actually quite successful lately, so their fans have no excuse for not showing up. The numbers prove it: zero consecutive sellouts.

I know many of you will disagree with my rankings, but I think it is worthy to note: In no way am I disrespecting any of the true fans who show up for every game through thick and thin. I am merely judging a given team's fan base as a whole. Plus, as I stated earlier, some of my rankings are slightly biased. Hey, it's a free country!

Could Kevin Curtis's Injury Ultimately Benefit the Eagles?

2008-09-04T12:52:00.003-04:00

I know, I know. You looked at the title and said to yourself: "Michoel Botwinick, you heartless S.O.B., Kevin Curtis is unquestionably the Eagles best wide receiver and is extremely vital to the team.

But is he?

True -- he's been the Eagles best wideout since T.O., but what exactly has he done in terms of creating match up problems, or stretching the field for D-Mac? While Donte Stallworth didn't exactly put up the numbers that Curtis did, he did make the other receivers next to him better, and why? Because he spread out the field, created match up problems, and generally took some of the pressure off his fellow wide receivers. Remember, that was the year in which Reggie Brown had a breakout season.

In other words, he made the whole corps better, something that Curtis did not do.

Furthermore, Curtis would be a second or third wide receiver with most teams, where he be largely ineffective. Remember St. Louis when he played behind Torry Holt? And those years were supposed to be the prime of his career.

But still, what does Curtis's injury do in terms of helping the Eagles' already shoddy wide receiver corps? Here are the top three possibilities:

1. First of all, DeSean Jackson will have to be utilized more. I know Andy Reid has an unpleasant habit of not playing rookies, but how can you ignore this guy?! Already a standout wide receiver at Cal -- in addition to his electrifying punt returns -- he is clearly the play maker that McNabb has been asking for. And the more touches that D-Jax gets, well we'll see... But I see great things coming.

2. Reggie Brown came to the Eagles with high hopes three years ago, but hasn't quite been what he was cracked up to be when the Eagles drafted him in the second round in 2005. He did, however, have a great year in 2006, playing behind Stallworth, but received diminished attention with the arrival of Curtis in the next year. Now we will see what he can do in a starring role, and if his college tapes prove correct, he may be in for an excellent year. The talent is definitely there, that's for sure.

3. Unless you hadn't been listening to Philly sports radio around the time of training camp, you may have heard rave reviews about Hank Baskett's red zone capability. I mean, you look at a guy who is 6'4 and can jump 7 feet high and you see the potential. While he may not be a major factor in the offense other than the red zone, he can definitely be a huge asset in terms of getting 6 points on the board.

The basic premise of these three points is that by the time Kevin Curtis does come back, in about a month or so, Donovan McNabb will have greater confidence in his current set of wide receivers. And then McNabb will depend on Curtis less, spread the field more, and correctly implement the West Coast offense.

And if not...

Well, one of these two things will have to happen:

1. The Eagles will have to finally get a true No. 1 wide receiver. And that's always a good thing!

2. The Eagles will have to give the ball to Westbrook more. Which, of course, is fine with me, as that would mean a more balanced attack. Just makes you wonder how much longer Westbrook can accommodate being the centerpiece of the Eagles offense...

Or...

The injury plain sucks. Another wasted season. Oh well.

However, with the recent game against the Rams, I doubt any Eagles fan will have to worry about another wasted season. Especially with DeSean Jackson, Hank Baskett, heck, even Greg Lewis playing the way they did! Now lets just see if they can keep it up against the Cowboys...

Trent Cole Is the Most Underrated Defensive End in the NFL

2008-09-04T10:25:00.000-04:00

By Christain Karcole: Do you know who Trent Cole is? Well, you probably do. (If you don't, shame shame, you need to watch some more football.)

But that's not the point of this article.

I know almost everybody knows who he is, but do people think of him as an elite defensive end? Not to my knowledge.

So my mission is to inform the readers of how good Trent Cole actually is.

Cole was drafted out of the University of Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 2005 draft by the Philadelphia Eagles.

That season Cole recorded five sacks in his first four games. He ended up appearing in 11 more games and his total number of games played ended up at 15. He started seven of those games. But in those next 11 games, Cole didn't record a sack.

So after his stellar start, he didn't do a thing, sack-wise, for the rest of the year.

Then in 2006, the Eagles had signed left end Darren Howard, so Cole was not going to be able to play left end. But Jevon Kearse went down with a leg injury in Week Two, so Cole got his chance at right end.

He finished that year starting 14 games, appearing in all 16 games, while recording eight sacks and 62 total tackles and one interception that went for a touchdown, and the interception was against the Giants, which makes it so much more satisfying.

And then last season, Cole started all 16 games. He recorded 12.5 sacks (sixth in the league), 70 total tackles (fourth among all DEs), and four forced fumbles (seventh among all DEs, ninth overall). He also made his first Pro Bowl appearance.

No defensive end finished higher than Trent Cole in all three categories (sacks, tackles, and forced fumbles). So averaging the three categories together, Cole finished first last year ahead of every other defensive lineman in sacks, tackles, and forced fumbles all together.

(If you read this before, you might have seen me have DeMarcus Ware in here, but I took him out. Why? He's an outside linebacker...I noticed my mistake, went to NFL.com and made sure. Took him out.)

Am I saying Trent Cole is the best defensive end in football? Not at all.

My point is just that Trent Cole is one of the best up-and-coming defensive ends in the league (behind Mister Mario Williams), and he could be a top five defensive end in a few years. He's only 25 and is only going to get better.

This season, I'm expecting big things for Trent Cole.

I'm expecting 13 sacks, 80 total tackles, and three forced fumbles.

And if he can do this he should gain another Pro Bowl appearance.

And then if he can maintain this for the next few years, he will be in the conversation for the five best defensive ends in the league.

I know you all likely know who Trent Cole is, but I just wanted to show you that he is a better defensive end than people give him credit for.

Go Trent Cole!

Philadelphia Eagles Turn Down Offer for Lito Sheppard

2008-09-04T10:09:00.001-04:00

By Christian Karcole: According to Philadelphia's 610 WIP radio, the Philadelphia Eagles have recently turned down a trade for Lito Sheppard.

ProFootballTalk.com has supposedly confirmed that a team (unknown as of now) did offer a trade for Lito Sheppard, and the Eagles turned it down.

The Eagles have been supposedly looking to trade Sheppard ever since they signed Asante Samuel. They reportedly were trying to trade him and a draft pick for Larry Fitzgerald a while back, but nothing ever came of it.

So if this is true, I am waiting until I see the offer and the team to decide if they should have rejected it or not.

Lito Sheppard is their third corner back behind Samuel and Sheldon Brown, and Sheppard has only played in fourteen games over the past three seasons. But in his time on the field, he has been a very good corner.

With that said, his value is pretty questionable. It all depends on who is going after him. If a team likes him, his value is obviously higher to them, and if they don't like him that much, his value is obviously lower to them. All depends on the team.

The Eagles reportedly want another offensive weapon (mainly WR), and are willing to part with draft picks as well, shown in their attempts for Larry Fitzgerald.

What would I do if I were the Eagles?

Well your corner backs would be weaker without Sheppard, but your wide receiver situation is brutal right now, so I would do exactly what he Eagles are doing right now; Lito and a draft pick for a wide receiver.

That's all for now. Updates will come when that are released.

- - - - - - - - - -

Well lookey here, I have an update!

Philadelphia's Comcast SportsNet has reportedly also looked into the matter, and they say no offer was even offered to the Eagles.

Interesting...

- - - - - - - - - -

Another update!

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, Sheppard's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, claims the Eagles received an offer from a team and expects Sheppard to be traded in a few weeks.

From RotoWorld.com:

Agent Drew Rosenhaus said in an e-mail to the Philadelphia Daily News Tuesday that "at least one team has made a recent trade proposal" for Lito Sheppard and the Eagles would not accept. "The Eagles didn't like the compensation and turned it down," said Rosenhaus. "I will not identify the team at this time. I think there is a very good chance Lito gets traded in the next few weeks." Sheppard has voiced his frustration with the organization during much of training camp. He feels unwanted with the addition of Asante Samuel.

Interesting...

What Will the Philadelphia Eagles' Defense Roll Out This Year?

2008-09-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

By Jameson Fleming: This is a preview of the Eagles' 2008 style of play and how different skilled players will be used.

To put this simply, the defense the Eagles will put on the field on opening day is a top-seven defense. If things can gel, it's a top four or five.

The secondary will be one of the premier secondaries in the league, the defensive line will be above average, and the linebackers, albeit young, are very talented and have shown great potential during the preseason and training camp.

The strength of the defense, as mentioned just above, is the secondary. With three top cornerbacks, a Hall of Fame free safety, and an average strong safety, the Eagles boast one of the most dominating units in the NFL.

In short-yardage situations, three or four backs can be on the field and lock onto single coverage. This will allow Defensive Coordinator Jim Johnson to put an extra lineman or linebacker on the field to stuff the run.

In medium-yardage situations, Coach Johnson can use the basic lineup: the 4-3-4.

Anything over 3rd-and 7, Coach Johnson will most likely move to his nickel and dime packages. Corners Asante Samuel, Sheldon Brown, and Lito Shepard will all be on the field with safeties Brian Dawkins and Quintin Mikell.

Coach Johnson says he also isn't afraid to consistently use all five defensive backs on first-down situations. If he decides to do this, Coach Johnson says OLB Chris Gocong will be the linebacker that loses playing time.

Jim Johnson isn't afraid to use Lito Shepard's size, much like Arizona's Adrian Wilson, who sometimes almost doubles as a free, roaming linebacker and corner.

The Philadelphia secondary will allow other changes in the Jim Johnson defense. His signature style is lots of blitzes, but those blitzes have waned in past years. A strong secondary means fewer open wide receivers early in plays.

Best way to exploit that?

Send a lot of members of the front seven after the quarterback. It'll force quick throws to receivers that aren't open.

So, the best way for the Eagles to exploit their strength is to go after the QB with an increased number of blitzes that Coach Jim Johnson definitely knows how to deliver.

Coach Johnson will have the right personnel to consistently keep constant pressure on the man under center.

The Eagles have also had a history of rotating a lot of defensive linemen in and out of games in order to keep them fresh. This year will be no different, and the Birds are deepest on the line in years.

Defensive ends Trent Cole and Juqua Parker combined for almost 20 sacks in 2007 and have great backups.

Chris Clemons got to the quarterback over a half-a-dozen times in 2007 for the Raiders and will come off the right side for the Eagles in 2008.

Veteran Darren Howard will also see somewhere between 10 and 20 snaps at DE. He's had a strong training camp and given his limited role, he should be able to exert maximum effort each time he goes down into the three-point stance.

The Eagles will use those four linemen in nickel situations, when Coach Jim Johnson wants to really get at the quarterback. He's openly said that he will be using four pass rushers in nickel instead of two defensive ends and two defensive tackles. He says he's willing to risk the run in order to go after the QB.

Johnson's plan is not an insult to the defensive tackles, but it's a way to play to the strengths of the overall defensive unit.

The DTs will be very solid, with established players Mike Patterson and Brodrick Bunkley plugging the holes. Rookie Trevor Laws will get into the mix at some point and newcomer Dan Klecko has a motor that never stops.

So overall, the Eagles' defense should be an above-average unit, with the potential to be, once again, a premier defense in the NFL. The defense will keep the Eagles in more games and will also win more games than the offense will.

The Birds' pass rush and strong secondary should create turnovers in bunches against inexperienced quarterbacks and lackluster offensive lines.

Philadelphia Eagles Season Opener: Which Eagles Team Will Show Up?

2008-09-03T10:31:00.000-04:00

By Christian Karcole: Over the past few years, I always go into a game and say "Which Eagles team will show up? The high scoring and elite offensive team that runs away with the game, or the low scoring offense and bend but don't break defense that doesn't create turnovers but still keeps the Eagles in the game?"

I hate to say it, but I always think the second team I mentioned will show up.

The defense usually has that "bend, but don't break" mentality, and I love it at times, but hate it at times. I hate it because I hate seeing other teams hold the ball and run down the field, but I love it because I love seeing the Eagles stop them and make sure they don't get any points. And then the defense doesn't create any turnovers, and they get tired.

Then you have the offense.

What's good with the offense is you can usually tell what's going to happen that day for the offense from the first series.

If Donovan starts out terrible, that's the way he will play. If he starts out great, that's the way he will play. He's a head case and he always plays like his first drive.

Also, some days Kevin Curtis (well he's out for a while, so he doesn't matter for Sunday) just is not effective. And the same thing goes for Reggie Brown (but he's doubtful, so he might not matter as well) and L.J. Smith. They'll either be open all night and catching everything thrown to them, or they will be dropping passes left and right and will not get open.

Hopefully DeSean Jackson can bring some reliability to the offense this season. But right now, Brian Westbrook is the only sure player on the offense to do something.

So what team do I think will show up this Sunday? The great offensive team with a good defense, or the terrible offensive team and the bend but don't break defense?

Honestly, I think it will be the latter of the choices. DeSean Jackson and Brian Westbrook may be able to have good games, but that doesn't mean the Eagles offense will. I don't like Donovan's chances these first few weeks, especially since he's number one receiver is most likely Hank Baskett now that Reggie Brown is doubtful for Sunday.

The Birds' defense will give up the run at the beginning of the Rams' drives like they always do against guys like Steven Jackson, but they will then stop the Rams once they go to the pass when they get into Eagles territory.

So as I said in my predictions, I do think the Eagles will win this game, but it won't be pretty. Westbrook will succeed against the 20th ranked run defense in the league last year, and DeSean Jackson will have an impressive debut. But the defense will be a little shaky and Donovan won't be on his game.

I hope the better Eagles team shows up, but I doubt it.

Now it's your turn. Do you notice the same thing I do (two different Eagles teams week in and week out)? Or do you think they always play the same way?

Will This Be Donovan McNabb's Last Dance With the Philadelphia Eagles?

2008-09-02T10:35:00.001-04:00

By Christian Karcole: If you listen to anyone who knows and follows the Eagles, they will tell you know how much they love Kevin Kolb. They love Kolb even more than they loved Donovan McNabb when he was just coming into the league.

But what does the Eagles' love for Kolb mean for McNabb?

Well, my inside connections have told me that the Eagles were actually planning to let go of Donovan this past off-season. They did not do so because things look like the team could go somewhere this season.

So they held on to Donovan, not quite ready to move on.

The same source says that it is almost certain inside the organization that this is Donovan McNabb's last year with the Eagles since they decided not to let him go this off-season.

So you could say this is their last chance to bring something big home for the next few years until Kolb develops.

But let me go further into the love the Eagles have for Kevin Kolb.

I'll start off with this: the Eagles think of Kolb so highly that they look at him like Joe Montana. Of course they don't think he will be Montana, but they think he has so much potential that compares to Montana and others.

They love his poise he has shown. They love his football knowledge even more; he has already shown how much he truly knows about the quarterback position and the game of football. He also has shown off his great arm strength. Finally, the Eagles love the fact that in all the action he has been in in practice and the pre-season, his receivers have not been dropping his passes, and his receivers say he throws very "catchable" balls.

So does all of this really spell the end for Donovan?

I say yes.

The Eagles were supposedly done with Donovan last year, but changed their mind for this season because things look promising. But I do think the Eagles are done with McNabb after this season.

I say that because of the inside source I have, and because of all the rave for Kevin Kolb from the Eagles.

It is truly time to move on, and after this season Donovan may not be the only one to go.

It's also almost certain that Brian Dawkins will not be with the team, either due to retirement or a lost roster spot. And the same will go for Jon Runyan, and maybe Tra Thomas.

Also, Brian Westbrook will not be able to continue what he is doing for much longer, so you will need another running back very soon.

And while most of the defense is young, the safety position will be a big need this off-season, along with offensive-line, and especially the wide receiver position.

That's why I think you will see at least three offensive lineman drafted by the Eagles this year, and at least one safety taken. You will also see a few wide receivers taken, and maybe a running back (but I think they will wait one more year to draft that running back).

Looking at all I just said, it looks like this is the Eagles' last year before their rebuilding year.

If all this happens, will it take long for this team to get back to form?

I say no.

If Kolb can play like the Eagles think he will, and if they draft the right running back, offensive lineman, wide receivers, and safeties over the next few years to fill the shoes of those leaving, they will be a very good team within two years of the rebuilding year.

So Eagles fans, let's try and cherish this year as much as we can, as it may be our last year with a good team for a few years.

Philadelphia Eagles: What to Expect from the Eagles' Offense

2008-08-27T15:09:00.005-04:00

By Jameson Fleming: This is a preview of the Eagles' 2008 style of play and how different skilled players will be used.

Injuries to Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown have derailed what the Eagles appeared to be planning on doing on the offensive side of the ball. The Eagles were going to look to air things out more than last year, taking more shots downfield. The addition of Lorenzo Booker and DeSean Jackson would have allowed the Eagles to be more aggressive because their new weapons would have made second or third and long situations a little easier to convert.

Not having Kevin Curtis's overall solid wide receiver skills will force the Eagles to use the individual talents of the remaining members of the offense. Philadelphia will be forced to use Lorenzo Booker more as a slot wide receiver or pass catcher out of the backfield. He's shown an ability in training camp to get downfield, get open, and haul in passes.

Without Curtis's big play ability, Hank Baskett's jumping ability is going to be showcased. The Eagles will be forced to dink and dunk a little more than they like which means more opportunities from inside the ten yard line. 6'4'' Hank Baskett can jump real high. Like really high. Like winning his state title in the high jump high. That'll come in handy... preferably in the corner of the endzone against a 5'10'' cornerback.

Jason Avant will also prove to be an important piece to the Eagles offensive puzzle. He's not been afraid to go over the middle of the field and take a hit.

Of course then there's always Brian Westbrook. Kevin Curtis's injury will have a negative and positive affect on both the offense and Brian Westbrook. Teams are going to try to hone in on Westbrook, make him beat them. Whether this means blitzing an extra lineback or playing tighter on the edges, the Eagles have the capability to beat it.

DeSean Jackson can stretch the field if the corners play tight. Lorenzo Booker and Brian Westbrook can both get outside very easily and exploit a linebacker trapped in the middle of the field on a blitz.

The Eagles also have two in-house additions; both being dramatic improvements in health.

It's become obvious Donovan McNabb wasn't healthy in 2007. Why the world thought McNabb could come back from his injury as fast as he did and be healthy doesn't make sense. How everyone was duped that badly is hard to fathom.

That being said, McNabb looks very limber, more accurate than in the past, and still the great arm-strength. He's going to make more plays himself than he has since the Eagles run to the Super Bowl.

Of course if he doesn't stay healthy that's all going to fly out the window, but for now, it looks like McNabb is going to play very well in 2008.

L.J. Smith is also fully healthy. He's showed flashes of exceptional play over the past several seasons, but injuries have hampered his development. Smith can be a top five or six tight end in the NFL. He's got good hands, has improved his ability to secure the ball, and has toughened up as blocker.

The x-factor in the entire offense could be DeSean Jackson. Rookies usually take three years to fully understand and operate in Andy Reid's offense. Most wide receivers can't stick it out with the Eagles that long and that's why the Birds haven't developed a good WR in eons.

According to the staff and fellow teammates, Jackson is a very smart fellow. He's shown that early as he's been one of the better wide receivers across the league during the preseason.

He's shown a toughness to go over the middle, the precision to run his routes perfectly, and the speed to beat almost anyone downfield.

This offense could come down to his play. He excels and shows superstar capability this offense is going to take off. He plays well, the offense will be good, but nothing special. If he shows why he's a rookie and falls into the trend of past Eagles' rookie wide receivers, this offense could really struggle while Kevin Curtis is out.

Dialogue With A Dallas Cowboys Fan

2008-08-25T12:08:00.012-04:00

Recently, I got to conversing with a Cowboys fan on a site called Bleacher Report. His name was David Trollope and right from the outset we decided to exchange five questions about each other’s team, fan base, etc. These were my questions to him:

1. The radio talk show hosts here in Philly call Cowboys fans “weasels.” What do they call us over there?

I know some Cowboys fans call them the Philadelphia Iggles (I am sure there are fans who have different names). I am not in the Dallas area, so I don’t know what the radio hosts there call them.

2. Are you worried or happy about the Cowboys’ picking up Adam “Pacman” Jones? Will he behave himself or will he be a distraction?

I didn’t like it and still not a big fan of the Cowboys picking him up. He better behave himself if he ever wants to play again in the NFL. So far, I have heard him doing a lot of charity work around the Dallas area and doing what he needs to do to get ready for the season.

3. Last season TE Jason Witten posted career highs with 1,145 reception yards and 7 touchdowns. However, with Terry Glenn coming back healthy and ready to start, will Witten be eased of some of his workload?

I believe Terry Glenn can play, but until he signs that split salary contract with a waiver for the Cowboys, he won’t play.

I really don’t think Witten’s workload would ease. Witten is Romo’s life line if you want to call it that. I actually think Witten would cut into the other receivers work load.

4. How do Cowboys’ fans deal with not having won a playoff game in 11 years, despite at times having an excellent team?

As you can imagine, it hasn’t been fun. We were definitely aching and hurting for better at the end of the 90’s. I was always still supportive but yet so disappointed.

It has been extra difficult this past season, but the December “Bah Humbug” blues hit and it showed in the playoff game.

Again, the Cowboys have the talent this season, they just have to learn how to execute and FINISH!

5. Do Cowboys fans tend to hate the Eagles more than any other team in the NFC East division, and if so, why?

One reason that I can think of, is the fact that the Eagles became a dominant team in the NFC East when it seemed so long being the Cowboys. For so many years, it has always been the Redskins that the Cowboys fans hated more. There are still a few fans who still feel that way!

I also think a lot of the fans look at the Michael Irvin injury at Veterans Stadium that cut his career short. Some fans weren’t too pleased how the crowd reacted to his injury.

The NFC East is such a competitive division we all tend to beat each other up during the season!! I think this is the best division in the NFL.

For his Philadelphia Eagles questions and my answers, check out his fan website here.

Is DeSean Jackson the Next [Insert Name Here]?

2008-08-24T17:56:00.000-04:00

Much can be said about DeSean Jackson’s electric rookie preseason so far. In just three exhibition matchups, Jackson has already amassed a league-high 16 catches for 189 yards — an 11.81 YPA average – and established himself as Donovan McNabb’s go-to guy. In the absence of fellow wideouts Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, Jackson led the team to two consecutive wins as he proved able to stretch the field and create matchup problems for any opposing defenses. In addition, Jackson’s return game has been nothing short of outstanding, returning punts of 76 and 45 yards in his last game, including one breathtaking TD run.

Like Steve Smith and Brian Mitchell before him, Jackson started out returning punts after making considerable impact at that position in college. But after Smith’s rookie Pro Bowl appearance, he quickly developed into a reliable receiver. Mitchell, on the other hand, was outstanding as a running back even as he continued to break records as a return man.

Jackson, in comparison, though primarily a return man, has drawn even more attention for his receiving game.

More so, Steve Smith was a third round selection, while Brian Mitchell was picked in the fifth round. Neither was thought to become some of the most elite players to ever play at that position.

Neither was DeSean Jackson.

Selected midway through the second round, he was though to be too small to ever be any good and was therefore not selected until Pick No. 49 rolled around and the Eagles decided to give him a chance.

What Jackson did not know at that time was that, at 5′10, he was actually taller than Smith. And only one inch shorter than Mitchell. His build is actually similar to the two of them — stocky but powerful.

So, is it safe to start comparing Jackson to some of the league’s best? Perhaps the next Steve Smith or the multi-dimensional Brian Mitchell?

Not so fast, says QB Donovan McNabb.

“I don’t think it’s fair for people to look at it and say all of a sudden that he is going to be the next Steve Smith and compare him to some of the greats,” McNabb said. “You kind of have to give people an opportunity to get adjusted to this league.”

Yet in just a few short weeks, Jackson has already shown he has adjusted as a player. McNabb has shown confidence in him by threading difficult passes through coverage when he is under pressure — most of which are taken by Jackson for extra yardage. He is also possibly the only player since T.O. that could get open through any pass coverage, despite his size. Jerry Rice, his longtime mentor and friend, was already convinced that the rookie was the best route-runner he had ever seen.

McNabb, however, is still convinced that Jackson will have some work to do getting used to regular season press coverages and may even have trouble getting off the line.

Most teams we’ve played play coverages sometimes where they are not pressed and up on (receivers), and are pretty much vanilla.”

McNabb is wary of the hype surrounding Jackson, despite admitting that Jackson had stepped up and had been playing phenomenally up to this point.

“I think he has done a great job. (But) I have been here a while, so I’ve seen when rookies come in and catch a couple balls and everyone gets excited,” McNabb said. “All of a sudden the question goes out — “What happened and why isn’t he still playing or making a lot of plays?’

Based on McNabb’s comment’s, it seems that even if Jackson will encounter early career troubles at wide receiver, it wouldn’t be out of his reach to soon become one of the NFL’s premier punt returners. Besides as far as wide receivers go, doesn’t it typically take up to three years for the the new guys to find their niche in the league?

In any event, with three standout preseason games already in the books, the start of the regular season is right around the corner.

And with the season comes DeSean Jackson’s chance to prove that he deserves to be mentioned in the same breath as some of the best position players in NFL history.

From Undrafted Free Agent to No. 1 Receiver: Hank Baskett's Unlikely Story

2008-08-22T11:50:00.000-04:00

If you had told Hank Baskett three years ago that he was to be a future NFL starting wide receiver, he probably would have been surprised. But if you had told him that he was going to be a No. 1, he might just have told you that you were out of your mind.

It's players like Baskett who every year go undrafted, wide receivers like Shaheer McBride and Brandon "Bam" Childress, among others -- who spend their short careers on the training squad or as backups.

But Hank Baskett was different.

Originally signed as as a rookie free agent by the Minnesota Vikings in 2006, the Eagles showed interest in him by trading their 2003 third round draft pick Bill McMullen to Minnesota for a chance to take a look at the extraordinary young talent.

Although Baskett did not make the draft because of his perceived lack of speed, his 6'4 frame and New Mexico high school record 7'-0" vertical jump intrigued the Eagles. Since then, he has been arguably the Eagles' most physically imposing wide receiver.

His unimpressive college career, however, would not tell the story of his future NFL success.

Baskett's four years at the University of New Mexico resulted in just one standout season, coming in 2005. As a senior, Baskett posted 67 receptions for 1,071 yards and nine touchdowns on his way to earning All-Mountain West Conference honors.

Baskett took that momentum with him to the NFL, it seemed.

Baskett's real chance at training camp came with the departure of former Eagles' wide receiver Todd Pinkston. Baskett showcased his talent, catching nearly everything that was thrown to him and soon becoming one of McNabb's favorite targets. He went on to post giant numbers during the preseason, building the hype already surrounding him.

Come regular season, however, and it was back to the bench for Baskett. Despite Head Coach Andy Reid's unsavory history of not playing rookies, Baskett did manage to contribute as a third wide receiver. Although most Eagles fans were disappointed, Baskett did show that he was meant to be playing at the Pro level, and cemented in his role as an Eagle for years to come.

He finished the season strong, compiling 22 receptions for 464 yards (21.1 yards per catch) and two touchdowns -- a record for Eagles' rookies. He also had two 100 yard games against the Cowboys and the Falcons, and was awarded Rookie of the Week honors in both instances. Both his touchdown receptions in those games were of 85 yards or more, becoming just the second rookie in NFL history to have two or more such receptions in the same season.

His second NFL campaign was a disappointment, however. His offensive playing time largely diminished due to new wideout Kevin Curtis's presence, he also saw his YPA average drop down to a dismal 8.9 yards. Curtis went on to have a record season, posting 77 receptions for 1,110 yards.

Additionally, barely midway through the season Hank Baskett's role as third receiver was unofficially taken over by fourth round draft pick Jason Avant. It looked like the feel-good story of 2006 was becoming a disaster of a year for Baskett in 2007.

However, with the arrival of 2008 training camp, Hank Baskett was back at it, catching balls consistently and showing great ability to get downfield. In preseason he got barely no touches, as was expected, what with new arrival DeSean Jackson.

Things were going from bad to worse. Hank Baskett no longer seemed to have a place on the team, and all the new arrivals seemed to spell his inevitable exit. Everything pointed to the Eagles no longer needing him.

But Baskett wasn't done yet.

By the third preseason game, injuries had forced the Eagles' top two receivers out of commission. Reggie Brown had a strained hamstring, and Kevin Curtis had a sports hernia that looked to keep him out until the second half of the 2008 season.

The news, delivered on a nondescript Wednesday morning, came as a shock to everyone.

"We're going to mix it up with Hank (Baskett) and Greg (Lewis) over there," Andy Reid stated at his daily press conference. "You know, in place of Kevin."

It was official. Baskett, listed on the Eagles depth chart as their new No. 1, had made the long climb from undrafted to backup to starter. And now, he was the Eagles' starting wide receiver, the first guy, the offense's go-to receiver.

It had been an unlikely climb for the unlikeliest of players.

Eagles' Curtis Out With Sports Hernia, Jackson's Workload Soon to Be Increased

2008-08-20T19:12:00.004-04:00

As if the Eagles' shoddy wide receiver corps wasn't bad enough already, it just received (no pun intended) it's biggest blow so far this off season with an injury to it's No. 1, Kevin Curtis. Curtis, who sustained the sports hernia in last week's game against the Panthers, tried to play through the rest of that game and may not have felt the effects of his injury until earlier this week.

Curtis is scheduled to have surgery later this week, and Andy Reid said there was no timetable for a return.

"We're trying not to wait and do that whole thing," Reid said. "We're trying to get on it. We've identified (the hernia) and it's problem, and we're trying to get it taken care of."

It is estimated by personnel close to the situation that he could miss up to half a season, depending on the severity of the injury.

While the Eagles' Duce Staley and Sheldon Brown both played through it, L.J. Smith and Donovan McNabb were both seriously affected.

"They're all different and we've found out over the years here that they all tear a little bit more than others and some are less than others. They've got to go in (for surgery)," Reid said.

The news came in the midst of yet another wide receiver buzz in Philly, this time involving Arizona's disgruntled star receiver Anquan Boldin. Whatever the Eagles' actual interest in Boldin is, the case for acquiring him was certainly lent some credibility by Curtis's injury.

But earlier this morning, in response to a question about the Eagles' current wide receiver corps, Reid told reporters that the Eagles are still not actively looking into upgrading the position, either by means of free agency or by trade. However, the Eagles have been known to look into these things nonetheless, as shown earlier in this off season with Randy Moss.

The news and Reggie Brown's hamstring strain leaves the Eagles' wideouts looking like this for Friday's game against the Patriots:

No.1: Greg Lewis, Hank Baskett (Previously fourth and fifth WRs)

No. 2: DeSean Jackson (Drafted, most likely a second WR)

No. 3: Jason Avant (Still a third WR)

However, Donovan McNabb is likelier to throw to his latest favorite receiver if this is how things shape up, his No. 2 guy, DeSean Jackson.

The point is, if Andy Reid's stance on the Eagles' wide receiver don't change soon, this is probably going to be the group of wide receivers entering the regular season (with the exception of Brown, who should be back sometime next week). The mere though of it is depressing.

So either get ready for another mediocre season, or you better be hoping that #10 DeSean Jackson can step up and live up to everything he's hyped up to be.

Five Bold Predictions for the Philadelphia Eagles' 2008 Season

2008-08-18T13:07:00.007-04:00

By Jameson Fleming: 1) The Eagles will completely shake up their wide receiver corps by the end of the season.

Kevin Curtis will be the only wide receiver that begins the season in the same role as he began. Reggie Brown, who's currently the No. 2 wide receiver isn't going to catch 40 balls this year. He just doesn't fit well into this system. The Eagles will exploit the fact that the remaining wide receivers are all great at specific things, while Brown is not.

Jason Avant is a solid receiver that can go over the middle and make tough catches. Hank Baskett is going to be an absolute weapon in situations where the ball has to go to the sidelines and in the red zone. His large frame and great hands allow him to catch balls most receivers can only dream of catching.

Finally, DeSean Jackson has shown all training camp, and in the first preseason game, that he's going to be able to stretch the field. Jackson has also showed the ability to catch the ball in short-yardage situations and use his agility to have large yards-after-the-catch totals.

This all adds up to the Eagles saying "peace" to Greg Lewis.

2) The defensive line will be one of the most dominant in the NFC.

The Eagles' defensive line will, overall, be much improved from 2007 when the defense was good, but not great. The heart of this resurgence will come from the defensive line.

Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson is one of the best defensive-tackle duos in the NFC. They aren't the best, but they are right there. Backing them up will be Dan Klecko, who's undersized but has the best motor of any player on the defensive line. Rookie Trevor Laws will also provide depth.

On the ends, Trent Cole is again one of the best pass rushers in the NFC and should finish with somewhere between eight and 12 sacks. Darren Howard has shown some rejuvenation in his legs, as he enters his ninth NFL season. Juqua Parker has always been that typical "glue guy" on that defensive line.

Plus, the Eagles should get young stud DE Victor Abiamiri back at some point in the season.

Overall, the defensive line will put added pressure on the quarterback, taking some strain of a stellar defensive backfield. The Eagles' run stuffers will also help out the young linebackers, who have shown potential but are largely unproven.

3) The special teams will begin the season awfully, but will be much improved by the end.

There's a lot of turnover on the special teams' coverage units and the kick returners, which means special-teams coordinator Rory Segrest is going to have his hands full.

Lorenzo Booker has never been a kick returner in the pros or college, as he played behind Teddy Ginn in Miami and Leon Washington at Florida State. He's shown great agility and great vision of the open field during offensive drills, but there are questions about whether he can translate that to kick returns.

He should struggle early, but he's too skilled to struggle all year.

DeSean Jackson will have similar issues, from the standpoint that he has to adjust to the speed of the NFL. In the Eagles' first preseason game, he tried to do too much on several punt returns and lost yardage. In the whole scheme of things, that's actually good because he needs to learn his boundaries.

The kicking games will be fine from the start. David Akers is looking like a completely different kicker in camp this year compared to last. Sav Rocca should handle the punting duties just fine.

4) If the Eagles enter the playoffs will good overall health, they will play in the Super Bowl.

There's too much talent on this team, from Donovan McNabb to the veteran offensive line to the deepest secondary in the NFC, for this team to not make a run at the Super Bowl.

That's assuming they are healthy. If they enter the playoffs missing only one or two key players at most, they should be able to beat anyone in the NFC. The Cowboys would enter a potential playoff matchup as the better team, but the Eagles have the players to beat them.

5) 2008's training camp will be the last at Lehigh University.

There are a lot of factors at play here. Frankly, the fields at Lehigh aren't that nice. There's not a lot of traction and players are constantly slipping on the turf. Multiple times, guys have caught their spikes on the field, and it's only a matter of time until someone is seriously injured on that field.

Also there has to be a location closer to Philadelphia for this team to practice at. It would cut down on costs for the team and the media. It's a pain for the media to get up to camp everyday from Philadelphia, which is between 75 and 90 minutes away, depending on where you are coming from.

Finally, attendance is down. Way down. I don't have the numbers, but after being there two consecutive years, it's noticeable that there aren't as many fans in the stands. The main cause of this is gas prices. Lehigh is 60-plus miles away from Philadelphia, which means a lot of gas to see a bunch of players practice for two hours.

Last year, I would arrive at camp at the same time as I did this year, and it would take me 10-15 minutes to enter the parking lot, which was completely full by the beginning of practice. This year, I basically just drove in almost everyday to a partially-empty parking lot.

I've overheard rumblings from some of the Eagles' personnel about the attendance and hints that this could be it for Lehigh.

Anquan Boldin May Be Available, but Will the Eagles Pursue Him? Part Three

2008-08-17T10:08:00.000-04:00

To preface this article, I would like to note that certain teams usually have a characteristic way of dealing with potential problems or general business matters. I could mention many teams that have gone about potential problems the wrong way, including the Eagles during the 2005 season. The Bengals are also a good example (in my opinion, at least), but these things generally have to do with cap space and who’s in charge and not so much with the organization’s tendencies.

As for business matters, every team has a unique approach.

The teams that have won the Super Bowls are the teams who have done it right, like the Patriots in recent years — which obviously means that many teams have done it wrong. This, of course, includes the Eagles, who have never won a Super Bowl.

A particular example would be when they picked up big-play wide receiver Donte Stallworth just two and a half weeks before the start of the regular season. They made the playoffs and finished with a first place 10-6 record that season, and the Eagles had ample opportunity to give the young Stallworth a new, long contract at the beginning of the 2007 free agency.

Instead, they picked up Kevin Curtis and let Stallworth go. In many ways, Curtis showed he was the better wide receiver, showing good speed off the edge and a consistent ability to get open, as he became just the fourth wide receiver in Eagles history to have 75 or more receptions in a single season. Despite this, his measly 6 touchdowns clearly showed that he was not a No. 1 wide receiver and would play far better in the slot, similar to New England’s Wes Welker.

In Stallworth, however, they had a legitimate down field threat, as shown by his 19.1 yards-per-catch average. In fact, the only other wide receiver in recent Eagles history who was a serious threat in that category was Terrell Owens the year before. All in all, his ability to stretch the field was a huge boon to Donovan McNabb, who had great season in both years.

Imagine the Eagles now with both Stallworth and Curtis. Add Reggie Brown to the mix as your No. 2 guy, and you got solid one, two, and three guys.

Would I be writing this right now if that was the case? Definitely not. Would the exasperated Eagles fans be calling into the local sports radio stations every day to complain about the Eagles’ lack of a No. 1 receiver? Probably not.

But the point is, by adding Curtis and subtracting Stallworth, you’re back to where you started from. One step forward, and one step back.

And that’s how it’s been with the Eagles. Not only over this past decade, but over the long Eagles’ history in which they have never won a Super Bowl. Not one. And this is why. This type of management. This type of strategic absentmindedness, doing nothing when action is required. Going nowhere. Taking no legitimate steps in the right direction. There are no other ways to describe it.

I’m sure it’s not just the Eagles. It’s all the loyal football fan bases whose team always seems to be on the cusp of something great, and then…nothing.

And for the Eagles, it doesn’t end with the Curtis-Stallworth example. It hardly even begins there. The team’s unwillingness to believe that there is something, a piece of something important, missing and go out there and do something about it.

This article was supposed to be about Anquan Boldin, but I’m not even out of the preface yet. So I’ll just end here.

Just a shout-out to all the other tortured fans out there, of any sport, anywhere, who might be going through this kind of anguish. I wish you the best of luck.

And to the Eagles…well, in the grand scope of things, 8-8 isn’t so bad compared to, say, a 1-15 record. And besides, I could go on and say a million great things about Anquan Boldin or why the Eagles’ need him, but would that really matter? Isn’t it just stating the obvious?

Oh well.

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