This is not representative of us

NO!!!!!!!

Compliments of Craig's List.

Labor Daybor (A Blatant Theft)

Who caught our final preseason game against the Jets? I, was unable to, as I was knee deep in a fantasy draft. Not to mention Heineken cans as well. I was able to catch some of the pre-game show on 94.1 WSYP, and now I am doing a little catch up reading. But here are some things that I have heard that pertain to last nights game, and just some random news from around that league.

Lets go Eagles first. Because we all know that they are really what matters!

The first cut is the deepest. While driving to draft my championship caliber fantasy team, there were 2 commentators were discussing being cut for the first time, and how nerve racking it was. I myself have been cut (Junior High Basketball), and I took it pretty hard. They continued on about how players savor the last moments on the team, and they put into a perspective that I had never really put too much thought into. Pro athletes, for the most part have been immersed in their sport since childhood. Guys grew up playing football in Pop Warner, High School, College, and the pinnacle (NFL). I can't even imagine how nervous the guys that played last night are right now. They are hoping that they don't get that call. So, to all the Eagles players that are praying to avoid those final 22 cuts, this ones for you!

In last nights 27-20 loss to the Jets Kevin Kolb received top marks for his starting performance. The Eagles blogosphere was pleaseed with his performance too, and suggested that we will be in good hands when he takes the reigns. Jerome McDougle is on the bubble, be remains confident. Two years ago I was lobbying the Eagles to cut ties with under-performing defensive end, but he has shown during training camp that he can be an effective pass rusher. I've changed my tune about him, and think he has earned his spot. Besides, I wouldn't want to see him lining up as an NFC East rival. Tony Hunt was under the microscope last night as well. Some see the glass as half empty. I have been harping on this topic a lot lately. He's not a fullback, and it saddens me to think that he will be picked up off of waivers by another team. He should be the heir apparent to Correll. DeSean Jackson got the night off. I read an article yesterday about how the Eagles are making a concerted effort to prevent him from getting a big head. Good job coach, sitting him last night with all the starters really put him in his place!

This just in, Eagles trim roster to 67.

In news around the league:

L.A. will be the home of an NFL franchise in 2009. The possibility of franchise moving to the City of Angels bothers to no end. Yeah, of course it's a huge market, but it's a FAIR WEATHER FAN city. People go to sporting events to be seen, and make some headlines. There aren't really a loyal fan base. Unless you are winning. Who's going to be their official A-lister? The Lakers have Nicholson. The Dodgers have Milano (insert prrring sound effect). Here's my suggestion. The Rams relocated to St. Louis, and the Raiders went back to Oakland in 1995, due in part to the lack of attendance. This left the second largest TV market void of an NFL team. That's not my problem. A team moving to Los Angeles is going to be a fab, because it's a new and getting a lot of publicity. Then, when all the hype begins to dispearse, so will the fan base. History has a tendency to repeat itself.

LenWhale is throwing his hat in the ring for Hater of the Year. These not really anything to say about this. I just saw that headline, and found it amusing.

That Carson Palmer had better keeps his hands off my 85! I don't know if this is true, or not. I do know that I love Chad's (dare I say it) SHENANIGANS!!!! Dude may be facing a season ending shoulder injury, and he's having his name legally changed. He's keeping it Dade fo' sho'.

Adam "Don't Call Me Pacman" Jones loooooooves Hooters, but he better not love it too much.

That's all we have time for today. You stay classy, and enjoy your labor dabor weekend.

GO BIRDS!!!

It's Do or Die Time

Ladanian's Air Force One isn't even on our level!

Final game of the preseason tonight. Eagles vs. Jets at 6:30 pm. It doesn't appear that there will be any starter action. It's time for the guys at the bottom of the roster to showcase their talent in hopes of grabbing a roster spot. Two of the more recognizable names that you will see tonight are Tony Hunt and Jerome McDougle.

Might post later, but I have to get my draft in order, and possibly do some work.

GO BIRDS!!!

Tony Hunt, meet Michael Bush

There's not a whole lot going on right now, so I will give you a rundown of the stuff that I can find.
Here we go,

This is probably beating a dead horse, but Tony Hunt and Michael Bush have a whole lot in common. Both have the football pedigree, and are frustrated about being moved from runningback to fullback.

We are down to 75, and have another 22 to go by the end of the day Satuday.

Reggie Brown is eager to get out there and play, but isn't making any promises.

Donovan McNabb graces the regional cover of Sports Illustrated. Allegedly there is a curse that goes along with being on the cover of SI, but I don't know its ramifications. Here's Donovan's take on making the cover.

Off season acquisition Chris Clemons won't be playing in Thursday night's preseason finale against the Jets.

That's it for now, I'm off for my morning pick me up.

GO BIRDS!!!

The 75th Man

All 32 NFL teams must be down to a 75 man roster by 4 pm today, and 53 by the weekend. The Eagles currently have 77 listed, but Reagors locker has been empty since Sunday.

Right now, there isn't a whole lot to report. So, with that in mind I scoured the Redzone (a personal favorite for NFL news) for some ish' to discuss. This is what I got.

Enjoy,

Should the Eagles have considered taking Favre? That's a gimme question. No way, should we have taken Favre. Everyone (including myself) in the Philadelphia area has harped on Donovan at time or another. But the fact remains that he has withstood everything that we have thrown at him, and done nothing but churn out winning seasons and pro bowl numbers (when healthy). He's going to be our quarterback, and he deserves it. Eagle fans have to admit it. We love Donovan McNabb! Donovan is perfect for us. He takes our criticism and then asks for seconds. We don't know how well Favre would handle this city. There are too many x-factors that would accompany bringing in Favre. McNabb has done all that. He is tried and true.

Is Tony Hunt Ready to be the Eagles starting fullback? It would appear that I'm not alone on this one. Hunt's ability to carry the ball is almost irrelevant in the Eagles offense, historically speaking. Only 49 running attempts have been made under Andy Reid's regime. The big key to being the fullback is blocking, and offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg indicated that he has room for improvement. If the Birds want to convert him to a fullback they are going to need more time to do so.


Glecko??? Who's this Glecko? Oh, you mean 3-time Super Bowl champion Dan Klecko. Jim Johnson has indicated that he will make the 53 man roster as the 4th defensive tackle behind Mike Patterson, Broderick Bunkley, and Trevor Laws. He was originally brought in to play fullback and special teams.



Defensive end, who will be the odd-man-out? The Eagles have a tough decision ahead of them at the defensive end position. The battles for the last spot looks to be between Darren Howard and Jerome McDougle. I thought that we should have cut ties with the oft injured McDougle in 2006, but he has shown improvement this year. Howard has the ability to play both end positions, but hasn't been the pass rushing force that was expected. Eagletarian gives a great assessment of the roster situation related to the defense.

Bounty Bowl tee's off on the "blathermonkeys." He's spot on!

Unrelated: These are just some stories that caught my eye, and are from PFT.
Is there a Culpepper conspiracy??? It's really an interesting question. Why hasn't he been able to latch on with another team? What he is looking to do doesn't sound unreasonable. I would consider him a better quaterback than Byron Leftwich. There are plenty of teams that could use a veteran quaterback on their roster too.

Shawne Merriman, team player, or just insane? So, apparently Merriman does not want to take "No," for an answer. He intends to do everything possible to play in this 2008 season. The San Diego Chargers aren't counting him out this season, but 3 experts are. That's why Merriman is in Miami seeking a 4th opinion on his knee. So far the consensus has been that he needs to have reconstructive surgery on it, and that will cancel his playing this season. I have read that he wants to play, because he has taken some heat from Charger's General Manager A.J. Smith for agreeing to a weekly spot on a sports show that will require him to travel. I don't question the fact Merriman loves playing football. So shouldn't Shawne want to do anything that will allow him to prolong his career? Shawne has been told by 3 different experts that this is a career ending injury, and can be avoided with reconstructive surgery. I would not be surprised if he is feeling pressure from Smith and Turner to play, because they want to win now. I acknowledge that Smith is a great G.M., but he's a controlling d-bag. Needless to say I'm a Marty advocate. Norv Turner doesn't really command much respect in my book either. Turner inheritted a super talented team, and is getting all of the credit for it's success.

Nolan suffers from foot in mouth disease. Now, Niner's coach Mike Nolan has to do a little damage control with his quaterback Alex Smith. Alex smith hasn't lived up to the billing of being the #1 draft pick in 2005, and is likely going to lose his starting job this season. I'm still pulling for Smith to succeed, although many appear to written him off.

Go Birds!!

Monday Morning Quaterback

I really wasn't able to watch the game in it's entirety, and thus am unable to give any real substantiative perspective. However, from the what I have read, and the little bit that I was able to watch, it was a solid performance. The Eagles defeated the Patriots 27-17.

Special teams looked good. Demps returned a kickoff for a touch down. Jackson took a punt return to the house too.

We didn't look bad on offense. Jason Avant caught a 7 yard TD pass from McNabb. Donovan looked good. DeSean Jackson had 4 catches for 67 yards. All of the receivers contributed equally.

In some related Birds news:
Winston Justice is a Voodoo Priest, and knows a little about the Voodoo Doll!
Eagles cut their roster to 77.

Go Birds!!

What to watch for

Tonight we take on the the Cheat (I mean Patriots) at Gillette Stadium in Foxboro. Usually week 3 and 4 of the preseason are reserved for guys trying to make the rosters, and not all that interesting to watch. However in this match up there is reason.


Tony Hunt is going to play fullback. A converted halfback with just a week of practice under his belt will be starting. Donovan had better be light on his feet, if Hunt's pass protection isn't there.

Receivers, Receivers, and more Receivers. With Reggie Brown not playing due to a Hamstring injury 2nd round pick DeSean Jackson is getting the nod. The guy has been impressive so far. Let's see if that continues to be the case tonight. He's going up against the starters, and is going to have a lot more on his plate. Then there is the juggling act that is Greg Lewis and Hank Baskett. They are going to filling in for the herniated Kevin Curtis. They are going to step up in a big way, and it needs to start right now!

There could be a "Big Kid" Shawn Andrews sighting. Andrews has missed a lot of practice time due to his depression. Now he's going to be playing conditioning catch up. Hopefully tonight he'll look close to being ready for opening day.

Last, but definitely not least look for Heather Mitts! She's hot, and a Gold medalist. Hopefully she'll bring her friend, Teammate, and smiter of Greg Ryan. Not sure if "smiter" is even an actual word, but who cares.

Be on the look out for Tom Brady. Actually, just bo on the look out for his girlfriend. Apparently he doesn't do preseason.

Monday will be the recap. Until then, Stay Frosty.

Since when did adequate replacements instill confidence?

Andy Reid doesn't think that we should be alarmed that our best receiver from a year ago will miss "be out for a while," due to a sports hernia. Really??

Yeah, were going to have to agree to disagree on that. We should be alarmed, and for a number of reasons.

Hank Baskett and Greg Lewis will be filling in for Curtis. Two is not better than one, at least when it comes to replacing Kevin Curtis. Andy Reid has stated that Baskett and Lewis will share the responsibility of replacing him. Baskett and Lewis' numbers combined don't add up to Kevin's.

Reggie Brown is suffering from a hamstring injury. It's my observation that hamstring injuries are nagging ones, and that they are very difficult to get rid of. It's no secret that Reggie Brown is a late starter when healthy. Without Curtis in the Lineup he is going to have to step his game up big time, and we have yet to see him do that. Coach Reid says that he will be ready on opening day. Let's hope that he can shake off his injury, and start the season off strong.

DeSean Jackson will be called upon to make another transition from backup to starting receiver. He's slotted to replace Brown in Friday's game in New England. Jackson has really impressed me so far this off season as a receiver, and I hope that he continues to improve. However he is not truly NFL tested yet. If he is called upon to step in, and replace Brown during the season how will he handle it.

The West Coast Offense is a passing offense, and requires solid receivers. That's why the Eagles were so active in the offseason trying to land Moss or Fitzgerald. They needed another receiver.

I like that the guys are confident that they can step up, and do what is neccessary to win, but I have my concerns. We weren't able to land a big name receiver in the offseason, but we picked up a potential gamer in the draft. Now we are missing 2 of our starting receivers. We need their productivity in order to compete within our division. Let's hope for the best!

Go Birds!!!!

Resources:

Andy Reid isn't concerned.

Dreaming of Boldin.

Eagles receivers use "Moto."

I Love...... Me Some Me

"Do you hear that, Mr. Anderson? That is the sound of inevitability. " - Agent Smith

I knew it!!! It was only a matter of time before T.O. publicly criticized someone or something within the Cowboys organization. Over the past two years I have watched, and waited patiently for Owens to lash out after back-to-back 1st round playoffs losses. All I received were emotional press conferences in which he defended the honor of his quarterback, and team. This enfuriated me to no end. Where was the T.O. who called his quaterback gay? Where was the T.O. that called out his quarterback for throwing up in the huddle, tearing a locker room apart, and acting like an ego maniac? With a great deal of skepticism I conceded to the fact that somehow, T.O. had become a model teammate. A fact that made me hate hi even more than before. Then this morning, a gem of redemption gleamed from my monitor. He feels that he was misused in last years playoff loss to the Giants!!!!

Now, I acknowledge that this is a far cry from his previous antics, but public criticism of your team is a slippery slope to walk on. Could another 1st round knockout, send T.O. realing, allowing him to revert into his previous ways? I don't expect that this is going to jeapordize the Cowboy's season, but it could very easily end up just like it has before.

Today's Source:

PFT.com

Fullbacks

Yesterday I had posted that Philadelphia can waive goodbye to Tony Hunt, and that moving him to fullback was a bad idea for the Eagles and Hunt. It would seem that I am in the minority on this one. People think that moving Hunt to fullback is a great idea, and they have a number of reasons for it. I didn't really explain why I think that it is a bad idea. Today I will explain the reasoning behing my position on the matter.

Before going any further I believe that it is necessary to elaborate on the fullback position in the Eagles offense. It's a thankless and brutal position. To quote Bloghead "Fullback is an entirely different beast." former Eagle Jon RitchieTheir primary responsibility is pass protection. Then run blocking. On rare occasions they might be called upon to catch a pass out of the back field or run it up the gut.

Here are some reasons why moving Tony Hunt to fullback is a bad idea. He is going to have to put on more weight. Pass protection is a very physical aspect of the game, and takes a very serious tole on the body. Being that his primary role as a fullback would be to pick up blitzers, he would need to bulk up in order to withstand the physical demands of constant blocking. Then there's the possibility that he would lose some speed and agility due to his increased weight.

If the Eagles plan is to have Hunt replace Buckhalter in the coming years, then sign him to the practice squad. His ability is not going to be utilized at the fullback position. When was the last time you saw a fullback take a handoff, and the cut back across the field, and then outrun the defense for a 51 yard touchdown? This is would appear to be an attempt keeping him on the team. They like what he has done on Special teams, but we don't keep 4 running backs, so they are giving him a chance to make the team at another position. No one so far has been a clear choice at the position. In summation Tony Hunt's talent would be severly under utilized as a fullback, and possibly eliminated by the need increase in size.

Sources:

Tony Hunt isn't surprised!

Klecko is no longer a fullback

"He's a fullback," said Hunt. "That's an entirely different position."

Tony Hunt:

Ht: 6'1"

Wt: 233

Age: 23

Experience: 2nd Season

College: Penn State

I'm sure that this wasn't what he expected his NFL career to be like so far......

He's got the college football pedigree. Star runningback at a Big Ten conference school (Penn State). Second on their all time yardage list. And now he's taking snaps at Fullback.

That's right, the 2nd all-time leading rusher in Penn State history is taking snaps at Fullback with the first team offense with the Eagles. He's got decent size for a fullback, but I'm pretty sure that he would need to bulk up some more in order to assume the position. In the Eagles offensive scheme the Fullback is for intents and purposes nothing more than a blocker. They need to be able to pick up the blitzer, or clear a hole for Westbrook to run through. They occassionally catch a pass out of the backfield, or run the ball up the middle, but not with regularity.

I had made a passing comment about moving Hunt to fullback in a previous post, but he's a halfback, and he showed it in the last Thursday preseason game with Carolina. Especially in the 50 yard TD run to take the lead. Hunt took the handoff over the right side, and then cut it back all-the-way back across the field, and took it to the endzone. However he hasn't shown very much of that ability since being drafted. Besides, It would appear that the Eagles roster has been filled at runningback by: Westbrook, Buchalter, and Booker. Leaving Tony Hunt and Ryan Moats as the odd men out. However, Hunt has been getting noticed on special teams. Combine that with the the fact that no one has stepped up to assume the role of fullback, and that explains why he has been given the opportunity to make the 53 man roster.

Tony Hunt is an every down kind of halfback, and gets better as the games moves on. This doesn't make him a fit with the Eagles, and so I say to you, Tony Hunt, "Happy Trails!" I just don't see him being able to make the transition to fullback from halfback, and he shouldn't have to either. He's better suited at halfback, and should get picked up by another team if let go.

I had never seen him play in college, but from what I have seen of him, and read (albeit very little) ton Hunt seems to be opposed to the switch. This could be recipe for disaster for the Eagles, and Hunt.

Quick Recap

I missed most of last nights preseason game against the Carolina Panthers, because I was playing a stormy round of golf. However I di. Here are somdn't miss a whole lot. Here are just a few observations on Kevin, Kolb, Tony Hunt, and DeSean Jackson from last night.

1.Kevin Kolb didn't look very good in the game against the Steelers, nor did he look very good last night either. However, Kevin did showcase a little of his machismo! Late in the game the Panthers middle linebacker came uncontested right down the middle, and barrelled into Kolb, but he put the ball right on the money. Unfortunately Hank Baskett wasn't ready to make the catch. He stood there knowing he was going to get hit, and made an excellent throw. Then in the fourth quarter Kevin Kolb hit Greg Lewis for a thirty yard TD strike. It was a perfectly thrown ball. I'm still not sure that he should be the second string guy yet, but I'm not the coach.

2.Tony Hunt can take it to the house. Last night in the fourth quarter the former Penn State standout took a hand off to the right side, busted into the secondary, then took back across th field, and in for 6. I was watched this in complete aww. I have heard very little about Hunt, but the little that I have heard hasn't been promising. If this is any indication of his potential, I could see him being Buckhalter's replacement.

3.Last, but not least is Mr. Jackson. Apparently the rookie prospect played the entire game, and the radio, and tv commentators had nothing but positive things to say about our 2nd round draft pick. He continues to win me over, more and more.

I caught the highlights of the fake field goal this morning. Thank god it was a preseason game.

Steagles

Hey guys, I have some observations from Friday nights game between the Eagles, and our PA bretheren Steelers. There were a few things that came out of the game. Brian Westbrook got his deal, and some grass stains. Did Brian Dawkins show his age? How did the offense look? DeSean Jackson: He's not just returning punts.

In the first quarter "Big" Ben hit Santonio Holmes with a quick hit, and he took it 19 yards to the house on Brian Dawkins. Was that an indication that Dawkins is over the hill? It was just one play. It was the first preseason game. I think that it is too early to tell. Dawkins gave Holmes the sideline, and he took full advantage of it. He took a bad position, and got exposed. Perhaps a few years ago Dawks could have chased him down, but he's a smart guy. I would be extremely suprised if that happens again.

On the brighter side of things. The Eagles first team offense looked good. McNabb completed passes to 6 different receivers for 97 yards, and a touchdown. The running game wasn't dominant, but it looked strong. What really stands out to me is that the first team offense was missing: Westbrook, Curtis, Brown, and Andrews.

Amidst the offense I had the opportunity to watch DeSean Jackson at receiver. He had 5 receptions for 51 yards, and played most of the game. What impressed me was his elusiveness. He definitely has the potential for being a big play receiver.

Fat, Drunk, and Stupid is no way to go through life

And the Commissioner thinks that it's no way to attend a NFL game either!

What??????

The NFL has approved a fan code of conduct, that will hand out some Goodell fashion punishment for its violators. Perps will be removed from the stadium, and banned from further attendance. Some of the violations are as followed:

-- Behavior that is unruly, disruptive, or illegal.
-- Drunkenness and signs of alcohol impairment that result in irresponsible behavior.
-- Foul or abusive language or obscene gestures.
-- Interference with the progress of the game, including throwing objects onto the field.
-- Failing to follow instructions of stadium personnel.
-- Verbal or physical harassment of fans from the opposing team.

The Fan code of conduct is intended to improve the "game day experience." Teams have the ability to add additional violations as needed.

C'mon Roger. Isn't most of this part of the "game day experience?" People drinking and tailgating in the parking lot before the game. Heckling the opposing team's fans. Give it a rest. These are all very much a part of the game day experience.

It's a marketing strategy to draw more sponsors. Get rid of the fat guy with no shirt, painted face, and foam doam helmet, and replace with the beautiful people, and watch the sponsorship dollars fly. This isn't about a better experience for fans, it's about money for the league. I feel that policies like this and playing regular season games overseas will start to alienate the fans who truly love their teams, but aren't not be from the upper echelons of socio-economic society.

L.A is a perfect example of what an NFL team shouldn't be. They never cared about their team. They go to games to be seen, and not because they love the game.

Am I crazy?

What's the scenario?

Steve Smith was suspended for 2 games by the Carolina Panthers, for punching cornerback Ken Lucas in the face. Lucas suffered a broken nose, and is listed as day-to-day. Smith has since apologized for the incident. As an Eagles fan why should here are 2 reasons why we should care.

1. 2009 First Round Draft Pick
Bleeding Green Nation brought up an excellent point that the Panthers termoil is to the Eagles benefit. We have the rights to the Panthers first round pick next year. The worse they do the better the pick we receive. The higher the pick the more options become available to Reid, and Banner come draft day.

2. Division Rival
If the Carolina Panthers (organization, team, and fans) are tired of his outbursts, he could feasibly be on the move. ESPN has rumored that Steve Smith's name has been brought up in discussions at Cowboys training camp. Jerry Jones made attempts at signing Chad Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, and Roy Willams this off season. He would seem to be looking for another receiver to compliment Owens.

Like the Cowboys we shopped for a wide receiver too. If Carolina decides move Smith, it would to our benefit to at least try and get him. If we did land him it would improve the chances of Carolina doing poorer, Prevent a division rival from adding another weapon to their arsenal, and a certain rookie could learn some things from the guy he's been compared to.

Peyton Manning? Who's Peyton Manning?

Eli, you are "The Man!"

Who in the picture above looks more mature, and poised to win another Super Bowl?
My money is on the guy on the right!


"Fly Eagles Fly" EAGLES Fight Song
Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory. Fight Eagles Fight, Score A Touchdown 1-2-3. Hit 'Em Low. Hit 'Em High. And We'll Watch Our Eagles Fly. Fly Eagles Fly, On The Road To Victory. E-A-G-L-E-S, EAGLES!!!

Thank you to the good people at KSK for brightening my day.

Weapon X

Take a long look at this picture..... Then ask yourself the following:
1. Can Dawkins return to "Weapon X," form?
2. Is Brian Dawkins done?

There are some who feel that Brian Dawkins has passed his prime, and cannot return to form. Then there are those that are paying tribute to him as if he was already gone. Indulge me for a momment as I romanticize the notion that Brian Dawkins isn't done just yet!

At age 34 (35 by midseason) Weapon X has 13 years of NFL experience. In NFL years (which are like dog years) 30 is old. Which means that Dawkins is, "over the hill." In 2006 he was 33 going on 34, and played in all 16 games, 93 tackles (77 solo, 22 assisted), 1 sack, 4 interceptions, and made the Pro Bowl. That seems pretty good for someone who's, "Over the hill." Donovan McNabb is 31, and people believe that it's possible for him to play for another 6 0r 7 more years, barring injury.

Injury shouldn't be a huge concern for him Dawkins either. In 2007 he lost a significant amount of time normally used for training to attend family issues, but all the reports have been that he has been working harder than ever this off season. He's highly tuned machine. In his 13 NFL seasons Dawkins has missed only 29 games. Of those 29 games missed 16 of them were from the '03 and '07 seasons. During the seasons between Weapon X played in all but one game.

Brian Dawkins has hinted that this may be his final season, but that doesn't mean that he is done. He's going to return to his form from 2 years ago. That's my prediction. When he decides to hang it up he will be greatly missed, and hard to replace.

Note: I went through the Historical Players at DB on NFL.com, and found that were quite a few guys that played, who's careers spanned more than a decade.