What’s up Y’all

Been a long time coming since I’ve posted up on this here Philadelphia Sports blog.  But I’m back.  I’m working on moving the site to a new domain and hosting a philadelphia sports forum as well.  Here’s hoping ehh.  Hope I can find the time.

Anyway, Eagles… They got the Saints this weekend and god I hope we can shut down Drew Brees.  I hope the Eagle Defense doesnt get too flustered in going from one of the worst quarterbacks in the league, Jake Delhomme, to arguably the best, Drew Brees.   I think we can slow down their running attack which means more passing, and hopefully Sheldon, Asante, Quintin and the Macho Man can handle that shit.

That then brings me to the next not-so-fun point.  Kevin Kolb is most likely getting the start…. Kevin Kolb fuckin’ sucks.  Ok maybe he doesnt suck that bad, but damn he needs to show me something this week.  Hey, no pressure Kevin, this may be the only chance you get for a long time with Michael Vick in town.  So play your heart out bud.

Speaking of Michael Vick, I cannot wait to see what he brings to this Eagles offense.  Really trying to get some tickets to that this upcoming week.

Prediction:    Saints 24   Eagles 17.  I don’t see McNabb playing, Kolb blows.  Brees goes deep for 3.  Westbrook scores.

Did You Know…

That the Philadelphia Eagles have been eliminated from the postseason seven times during coach Andy Reid’s 10 seasons, and all seven games have been played in different stadiums.

The list:

• Giants Stadium in 2001
• Edward Jones Dome in 2002
• Veterans Stadium in 2003
• Lincoln Financial Field in 2004
• Alltel Stadium in 2005
• Louisiana Superdome in 2007
• University of Phoenix Stadium in 2009

McNabb’s Last Season with the Eagles

As Justin Timberlake and ‘NSYNC once said, ” BYE BYE BYE, BYE BYE!”

Donovan McNabb was pulled from a game for the first time in his career after two awful quarters of football in Sunday’s 36-7 loss at Baltimore. The Birds only trailed 10-7 at the time, but Big Red thought second-year backup Kevin Kolb gave the team a better chance to win a game it desperately needed to maintain its slim playoff hopes.  And at the time, I did too.  And right now, I still think it was the right move.  Donovan doesnt understand how awful he really is playing lately and has always been let off the leash easy because of his inseperable bond with his coach, Andy Reid.  Andy made the right call on Sunday after two quarters of gut wrenching, sickening and downright pathetic football to watch from a fan’s standpoint.

Unless Donnie comes out guns a blazing over the course of the rest of the season, I think he is gone and here’s why.

McNabb isn’t getting any younger or faster and turns 32 on Tuesday.  He is signed through 2013 and is scheduled to earn $9.2 million next year (with I think a bonus of about 900k – 1 mil).  Eagle Brass is exceptionally frugal with the checkbook as we all have seen over there years and in my mind there is no chance they will pay him that kinda coin to be a backup.  Even as a starting QB, I cant justify that Donovan’s performances have been worth anything near that number.  Not to mention the fact that he’s only 22-21-1 as a starter since leading Philadelphia to four straight NFC championship games from 2001-04.

With that, we bid you adieu Donovan.  This is a business first and foremost and right now YOU my friend are killing our bottom line.

What…..The…… _______________?

The end of an era?  The closing of a chapter in Eagles lore?  Add another one to the, what could’ve been?  Simply embarrassing? All of the above appear to be yes.  In what can only be describe as pathetic, the Eagles TIED the one win Bengals in a joke of an offensive performance, as Donovan McNabb missed on THIRTY OF FIFTY EIGHT PASSES yesterday.

And what is even more embarrassing then the 30 incompletions in one game, even more embarrassing then the fact that McNabb turned the ball over four times (and it easily should’ve been six), what is even more embarrassing then the fact that McNabb didn’t know the game was going to end in a tie at the end of overtime, is the fact that head coach Andy Reid called 58 pass plays, with arguably the best player in football as his RUNNING back, to which he only touched the ball seventeen times, fourteen of them on running plays.

Something needs to change.  Whatever the “philosophy” the Eagles are using is NOT working.  If everyone watching can see it EXCEPT the men in charge, something is wrong. “From watching film, other teams in the league have been successful against them,” said Bengal corner back Jonathan Joseph, “They may have a lot of yards or whatever, but teams have been successful getting them off the field. They have tendencies you can pick up on and you have a good idea of what’s going on….they run those 14-yard curl routes (over and over), they ran them like five times today.”

There is no more proof then that my friends that something needs to change.  The player callers, the game planner, the philosophy, something needs to change, because teams know what the Eagles are going to do before the play happens, how can you win when that happens?

Well, at least you can tie?

Times yours……

Shawn Andrews Out At Least 6 Months

Eagles All-Pro guard Shawn Andrews had surgey on his lower back yesterday will be out at least 6 weeks, with a possibility he’s done for the season.

Andrews had surgery to repair a herniated disc. The surgery was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins, who just also happened to operated the same procedure on fellow Eagles offensive lineman Tra Thomas in 2005.

The Eagles had sent Andrews to a number of specialists, trying to locate the cause of the problem. Watkins was the fourth opinion on the injury. Before Andrews visited Watkins early last week, coach Andy Reid said the team had not seen progress in his recovery after minimal improvement shortly after the injury.

Shawn has not played since injuring his back at Dallas in Week 2.  Max-Jean Gilles will remain in the lineup in Andrews’ absence.

Eagles Release Tony Hunt

And the great Tony Hunt fullback experiment ends not in a bang, but a whimper.  The Eagles have released Tony Hunt and signed journeyman linebacker/special teams player Tracy White (who?), reflecting continuing concerns about their special-teams play.

Hunt had four carries for nine yards this season so it isn’t that surprising however I am very shocked at this considering Andy Reid has a history of not going back on his draft picks.  Especially with the increase in time on the field Hunt has seen of late in the blocking game.

Could this be a little bit of foreshadowing down the road?

Is Andy Reid’s tenure as Head Coach in jeopardy?

B West Just Rest

Eagles’ coach Andy Reid revealed Monday that superstar running back Brian Westbrook fractured two ribs in the opening quarter of the Eagles loss to the Redskins on Sunday as reported earlier by my cohort, the 215 Sportsguy.  His status for Sunday’s game in San Francisco is uncertain at the moment but dont worry, we expect his little bro Byron Westbrook to release his diagnosis on Wednesday.

If it were my call; Do NOT play him.  We all realize that the Birds have already dug themselves into a hole, but unless they feel they are already in panic mode there is no reason to trot him out there.  And like the Bears match up (which is actually making me rethink this whole train of thought, shit put him out there, we’re already tanking) if the Eagles cannot beat the 49ers WITHOUT Brian why was there all of this Super Bowl or bust talk coming out of Lehigh?

Westbrook Breaks Two Ribs in Loss to Skin’s

Well it appears Brian Westbrook’s return to the Eagles’ lineup may be very short-lived.

Big Red said in his press conference Monday that Westbrook, who was back in the lineup after sitting out last week against Chicago with an ankle injury, broke two ribs on the eighth play of the Eagles’ 23-17 loss to the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

Westbrook went to the sidenline holding his chest after the play, but after a few stretches and some trainer assistance was back out on the field for the next series.  He managed to finish the game with 12 carries for 33 yards and six catches for 51 yards.

When Andy Reid was asked about Westbrook’s availability for next week against the 49ers, he was his usual “I’m not disclosing anything” – self:

We’ll see how it works out for him.

McNabb and Westbrook Expect to Play Sunday

Big Red said this morning that quarterback Donovan McNabb (chest contusion), running back Brian Westbrook (ankle), tight end L.J. Smith (back), fullback Tony Hunt (concussion) and guard Shawn Andrews (back) would all miss practice this afternoon.

McNabb said was still sore but expected to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. B West is also holding out hope that he’ll be recovered enough from the injury to his right ankle to play.

I’m optimistic about getting out there and being able to play.  I’ve been rehabbing pretty agressively, doing everything I can to be out there on the field Sunday night.

Brian Westbrook is Officially Day to Day

Andy Reid held a press conference Monday and updated the media as to the severity of Brian Westbrook’s injury, or lack thereof.  Westbrook left the Pittsburgh game after he stepped on his own teammate and landed awkwardly on his other ankle.  Although Westbrook limped off the field, it didn’t look too serious.

During the press conference, Big Red stated that there was no ligament or tendon damage.  Reid stated that Westbrook’s status is day-to-day.  The injury is being listed as a sprain and Westbrook hasn’t been ruled out for this Sunday night’s game against the Chicago Bears.

Personally, I think the Eagles play this one safe and plan for the Chicago Bears without Westbrook in the lineup and let him get back to 100%.  I think we can handle the Bears without him and this will give some key reserves the reps they desperately need.