Lots of talk this week about the Eagles season being on the line Sunday Night against Dallas. And to be honest, as much as I hate to say that any game in the first half of the season is a absolute must-win....I have to agree.
The Eagles are 3-4, the Cowboys 6-1 (Giants 6-2, Redskins 4-3)...A loss against the Cowpukes on Sunday, at home, would put the Eagles in a near-insurmountable hole: 4 games behind the 'Boys, with 8 to play and 0-3 (including 2 homes losses) against the NFC East. Even for an devout football optimist like myself...that is a bridge too far (as far as playoff hope goes).
But I tell you what. Dawkins will be back and that alone should give the Eagles an injection of emotion and energy. And another thing, 4-4, just two games back of the front-running Cowboys and Giants, with 8 to play....sounds a whole lot better doesn't it? Dawkins return will allow "Q" to return his special teams captaincy, so hopefully, those teams get a boost on Sunday Night as well. And let's face it - the Eagles will need to bring their "A" game in every facet to prevail in their biggest game of the year (so far). Well to be honest, they need to win Sunday just so that they get to have "big games" later in the season.
In other news:
The Eagles ended the Matt McCoy experiment this week. No big impact there. The idjit decided to level Minnesota's punter in the third quarter last Sunday, just as the Eagles were poised to take-over inside Viking's territory after nice defensive hold that forced the Vikes to punt from their own end-zone. So instead of taking possession at the Vikings 45, the Eagles were pushed back to their own 40. And Dawk was pissed. The cameras followed his raggin' out McCoy and then yelling "FUCK" on the sidelines after the call. Now Westbrook bailed McCoy out by delivering a 25yd+ screen on the next play, but the damage was done. More telling, no one, and I mean NO ONE, came to his defense. Dawkins was on 950 AM talk radio the next day discussing the "message" the coaches were sending. MESSAGE RECEIVED.
Of more concern - both of coach Andy Reid's sons are going to be spending some time in jail now. AR missed practice on Thursday to attend his sons' sentencing. Both got 23-month sentences. And judge laid in the Reid household as well: A judge who sentenced Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid's sons to jail on Thursday likened the coach's home to "a drug emporium" and questioned whether his adult sons should live there, given their drug problems.
Look, I don't give a crap about his private life. But I worry that this is going to be a distraction to the head coach right before the biggest game of the year. I mean, if we get out-coached, out-smarted, and do what we've done in our losses this year (you know the mantra: a stubborn lack of adjustments, poor clock-management, wasted time-outs) - then I don't know how there would be any other conclusion to come to other than: Andy Reid is distracted and perhaps he needs to step aside or shed some duties. The burden must be incredible. But I am not all that comfortable with the idea that my football hopes (as well as those of the greater Philadelphia metropolitan region) rest on a mind troubled by the drug-addled downfall of two of the head coach's sons.
Showing posts with label nfc east. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nfc east. Show all posts
Thursday, November 01, 2007
Sunday, September 09, 2007
Going On the Record About the NFC
Well my trials and tribulations with my primary PC have not ceased. Are they worse? Perhaps not, but the fucker isn't fixed yet, and it crunched my entire Sunday.
Its just a few hours before Sunday's 1pm Kickoff (that 2am Monday morning here in Japan), so I'll make this brief.
Predicted finish by Division:
NFC North: No team is strong enough to challenge the Bears
1. Chicago Bears - even with sexy-Rexy daring to be mediocre at QB, a helluva defense/special teams will keep the Bears in every game. The question week-in, week-out question: Will the Bears O show up and result rock the opponent or will Bad Rex emerge from the shadows and do his best to F things up.
2. Green Bay Packers - dunno why, perhaps it was little run last year, but if any semblance of a running game appears for the Packers, they should be able to beat out the Vikes and Lions for second best
3. Detroit Lions - so many weapons on Offense, the biggest question: will they be able to out-score their opponents week-to-week. Cause if not, that D is porous
4. Minnesota Vikings - Stalwart Run D, questions everywhere else. Still Adrian Peterson could/should establish himself as the division's Best RB. The problem: who is their QB?
NFC East: Two team race
1. Philadelphia Eagles - dees my boys! I will always pick the Eagles to win. ALWAYS.
2. Dallas Cowboys - Should field a strong team and appear to be Philly's primary competition for the division. Have a couple of players nicked-up early (CB Newman, WR Glenn) so hopefully they get to a nice plodding, slow start
3. Washington Redskins - Ok, for once they didn't go whole hog and splurge like addicts breaking into a pharmacy during free agency (they did make some hefty signing) and an end-of-training-camp youth movement should gives the Redskins some legs during the season. Is Jason Campbell for real? Skins fans better hope so, and this year should tell us a lot. I still see the 4skins as a year or two away though
4. NY Giants - Jeff Lurie, Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones ought to be sending Tiki Barber Halloween baskets, Thanksgiving turduckens and a shit-load of good wishes for Christmas because I have never seen a dude be a big a distraction to team after he left than Tiki...uh, well maybe MEO. The Giants just don't look like a good ballclub right now
NFC South: Talk about yer distractions
1. New Orleans Saints - yeah they got smashed on opening night. But seriously, who is going to challenge N.O.? Tampa? Carolina? It would take a major fall to retreat back to those levels.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Garcia is just what Gruden needs. If the Caddy doesn't have a flat (like last year) then the Buccaneers should field a pretty competitive team.
3. Carolina Panthers - don't trust Delhomme, have a feeling we'll be seeing David Carr before too long
4. Atlanta Falcons - injuries, new coach and Michael Vick oh my! Did I mention that Joey Harrington in now "the man" in the A-T-L.....we'll see how that goes over
NFC West: Toughest division to pick, by far, any of the 4 teams seems like they could put together a good season and win it.
1. Seattle Seahawks - I picked against the Seahawks last year and paid for it. I don't see them as that strong, but guess what, until someone proves otherwise - they own the division. I am not picking against Hasselbeck and Alexander or their home field advantage again
2. St. Louis Rams - Jackson, Bulger, Holt, Bruce, Bennett, McMichael. Oodles of weapons to power the O, if the D makes any strides the Rams will challenge Seattle
3. San Francisco 49ers - they just seems poised to put together a good year - don't they?
4. Arizona Cardinals - a chic darkhorse pick in recent years. I still don't trust them
Its just a few hours before Sunday's 1pm Kickoff (that 2am Monday morning here in Japan), so I'll make this brief.
Predicted finish by Division:
NFC North: No team is strong enough to challenge the Bears
1. Chicago Bears - even with sexy-Rexy daring to be mediocre at QB, a helluva defense/special teams will keep the Bears in every game. The question week-in, week-out question: Will the Bears O show up and result rock the opponent or will Bad Rex emerge from the shadows and do his best to F things up.
2. Green Bay Packers - dunno why, perhaps it was little run last year, but if any semblance of a running game appears for the Packers, they should be able to beat out the Vikes and Lions for second best
3. Detroit Lions - so many weapons on Offense, the biggest question: will they be able to out-score their opponents week-to-week. Cause if not, that D is porous
4. Minnesota Vikings - Stalwart Run D, questions everywhere else. Still Adrian Peterson could/should establish himself as the division's Best RB. The problem: who is their QB?
NFC East: Two team race
1. Philadelphia Eagles - dees my boys! I will always pick the Eagles to win. ALWAYS.
2. Dallas Cowboys - Should field a strong team and appear to be Philly's primary competition for the division. Have a couple of players nicked-up early (CB Newman, WR Glenn) so hopefully they get to a nice plodding, slow start
3. Washington Redskins - Ok, for once they didn't go whole hog and splurge like addicts breaking into a pharmacy during free agency (they did make some hefty signing) and an end-of-training-camp youth movement should gives the Redskins some legs during the season. Is Jason Campbell for real? Skins fans better hope so, and this year should tell us a lot. I still see the 4skins as a year or two away though
4. NY Giants - Jeff Lurie, Dan Snyder and Jerry Jones ought to be sending Tiki Barber Halloween baskets, Thanksgiving turduckens and a shit-load of good wishes for Christmas because I have never seen a dude be a big a distraction to team after he left than Tiki...uh, well maybe MEO. The Giants just don't look like a good ballclub right now
NFC South: Talk about yer distractions
1. New Orleans Saints - yeah they got smashed on opening night. But seriously, who is going to challenge N.O.? Tampa? Carolina? It would take a major fall to retreat back to those levels.
2. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Garcia is just what Gruden needs. If the Caddy doesn't have a flat (like last year) then the Buccaneers should field a pretty competitive team.
3. Carolina Panthers - don't trust Delhomme, have a feeling we'll be seeing David Carr before too long
4. Atlanta Falcons - injuries, new coach and Michael Vick oh my! Did I mention that Joey Harrington in now "the man" in the A-T-L.....we'll see how that goes over
NFC West: Toughest division to pick, by far, any of the 4 teams seems like they could put together a good season and win it.
1. Seattle Seahawks - I picked against the Seahawks last year and paid for it. I don't see them as that strong, but guess what, until someone proves otherwise - they own the division. I am not picking against Hasselbeck and Alexander or their home field advantage again
2. St. Louis Rams - Jackson, Bulger, Holt, Bruce, Bennett, McMichael. Oodles of weapons to power the O, if the D makes any strides the Rams will challenge Seattle
3. San Francisco 49ers - they just seems poised to put together a good year - don't they?
4. Arizona Cardinals - a chic darkhorse pick in recent years. I still don't trust them
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
What's in a Championship?
I'm going to put the "rings clowns" to bed once and for all. What are Rings clowns, you ask? Well they're trolls mostly - that is fans from team that who's primary response to most any argument about football resorts to: My teams has X (where X = the number of Super Bowl ring their team has won) rings, nyah, nyah, nyah - yours doesn't, your team sucks.
And yeah, its as juvenile as it sounds.
It is used most commonly in my experience, by Dallas and Steelers fans, who's teams have won 5 Super Bowl titles (and occasionally by Redskins fans who have three to their credit). But here the primary flaw in the argument - these douchebags deliberately neglect to account for football championships earned prior to the name change. Its as if the game went through some dimensional portal in 1967 (the first year the NFL Championship was called the Super Bowl).
This makes no sense (kinda of like most Dallas trolls on the Philly.com message boards)
The formal list of NFL Champions can be found here:
Let me save you the trouble: The Green Bay Packers have bragging right over everyone with 12; Chicago is next with 9, then the New York Giants 6, then Colts, Steelers, Niners, Cowboys and Redskins are next with 5. For the record, my team, the Eagles are tied with the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams with 3.
This is no about refuting bragging rights with the NFC East. Hell, if anything it irks me that some useless NY fans have it (better than braindead 4skins though, I guess) - its the repudiation of the idea that somehow only Super Bowls count...You see, I-like-it-up-my-bum Cowgurl fans make this point the most: probably because it lets them lord it over Redskin fans and the rest of the NFC East. But its fallacious logic to argue that a name change should be the basis for the creation of a new era in football. A new era which discards all the previous achievements. Its not.
A more logical breaking point for era within football would be the widespread implementation of the forward pass (going WAY back for ya)....Getting closer to modernity: a better division, say defining the "Current" Era we are all enjoying in football, would be the institution of a change that altered the landscape of football. I prefer Free Agency...(there's a little gray area here. Plan B Free Agency began in 1989, the Plan A wide-roaming Free Agency we know today began in 1993). Other era break-points? We'll that's an argument/discussion for another day.
Ok - so if you what to start calculating, who got this, we got that and all that malarkey. Do it from a more logical point, like that than from an arbitrary, hey-they're-calling-it-the-Super-Bowl-now? moment. Regardless, I find the use of the "rings" line tired and the tool of, well, tools who lack the brain power to muster a real argument.
So what does that all mean for NFC East fans? It doesn't change a thing: The Eagles still need to win a couple before they catch up total-wise, and I'm quit sure this post will do nothing to deter the mush-brained ambulatory lunchboxes who'll insist on spouting off about how many "rings" they got. If you break it at the formal beginning of Plan A FA - then the Cowboys are the only team to have won (twice in 1993 and 1995). If you include the gray-area back to 1989 - then the Cowboys have 3 and the Giants/Redskins 1 each.
But to be honest: the only team with current bragging rights is the Indianapolis Colts. Period. Said done. The next team to claim the honor will have to earn it in Arizona....
Go Eagles Baby!
And yeah, its as juvenile as it sounds.
It is used most commonly in my experience, by Dallas and Steelers fans, who's teams have won 5 Super Bowl titles (and occasionally by Redskins fans who have three to their credit). But here the primary flaw in the argument - these douchebags deliberately neglect to account for football championships earned prior to the name change. Its as if the game went through some dimensional portal in 1967 (the first year the NFL Championship was called the Super Bowl).
This makes no sense (kinda of like most Dallas trolls on the Philly.com message boards)
The formal list of NFL Champions can be found here:
Let me save you the trouble: The Green Bay Packers have bragging right over everyone with 12; Chicago is next with 9, then the New York Giants 6, then Colts, Steelers, Niners, Cowboys and Redskins are next with 5. For the record, my team, the Eagles are tied with the Oakland Raiders, New England Patriots and St. Louis Rams with 3.
This is no about refuting bragging rights with the NFC East. Hell, if anything it irks me that some useless NY fans have it (better than braindead 4skins though, I guess) - its the repudiation of the idea that somehow only Super Bowls count...You see, I-like-it-up-my-bum Cowgurl fans make this point the most: probably because it lets them lord it over Redskin fans and the rest of the NFC East. But its fallacious logic to argue that a name change should be the basis for the creation of a new era in football. A new era which discards all the previous achievements. Its not.
A more logical breaking point for era within football would be the widespread implementation of the forward pass (going WAY back for ya)....Getting closer to modernity: a better division, say defining the "Current" Era we are all enjoying in football, would be the institution of a change that altered the landscape of football. I prefer Free Agency...(there's a little gray area here. Plan B Free Agency began in 1989, the Plan A wide-roaming Free Agency we know today began in 1993). Other era break-points? We'll that's an argument/discussion for another day.
Ok - so if you what to start calculating, who got this, we got that and all that malarkey. Do it from a more logical point, like that than from an arbitrary, hey-they're-calling-it-the-Super-Bowl-now? moment. Regardless, I find the use of the "rings" line tired and the tool of, well, tools who lack the brain power to muster a real argument.
So what does that all mean for NFC East fans? It doesn't change a thing: The Eagles still need to win a couple before they catch up total-wise, and I'm quit sure this post will do nothing to deter the mush-brained ambulatory lunchboxes who'll insist on spouting off about how many "rings" they got. If you break it at the formal beginning of Plan A FA - then the Cowboys are the only team to have won (twice in 1993 and 1995). If you include the gray-area back to 1989 - then the Cowboys have 3 and the Giants/Redskins 1 each.
But to be honest: the only team with current bragging rights is the Indianapolis Colts. Period. Said done. The next team to claim the honor will have to earn it in Arizona....
Go Eagles Baby!
Monday, August 27, 2007
Staying on an Even Keel
Ok people. Let's try and live up to the idea of Philly having the most passionate AND informed fans. We know our football, but sometimes, whew, emotions take over and (gasp) we tend to over-react to everything (some big, some little).
Case in point: Just because the Steelers won Sunday Night does not somehow negate all possibility of the Eagles fielding a contending team this season. (Oh and for those who got some joy out of watching the Texans diss the Cowboys - that loss doesn't mean jack-shit either - the 'Boys are still going to the Birds biggest challenge in the NFC East this season.) Yet some folks want to scrap the D, hang-up the cleats and declare this season a guaranteed loser.
Um, fellas. The Eagles are going to be fine. Perfect? Unstoppable? Perhaps not. Competitive. Hell Yeah. A legit contender? Hmmm, my heart say FUCK YEAH, but my brain recognizes that they've got blemishes to clear up before they start planning the parade.
But hey, the Steelers were a crap-ass team before their run, and the Colts certainly had plenty of flaws....they got their respective acts together. Why not the Birds?
Case in point: Just because the Steelers won Sunday Night does not somehow negate all possibility of the Eagles fielding a contending team this season. (Oh and for those who got some joy out of watching the Texans diss the Cowboys - that loss doesn't mean jack-shit either - the 'Boys are still going to the Birds biggest challenge in the NFC East this season.) Yet some folks want to scrap the D, hang-up the cleats and declare this season a guaranteed loser.
Um, fellas. The Eagles are going to be fine. Perfect? Unstoppable? Perhaps not. Competitive. Hell Yeah. A legit contender? Hmmm, my heart say FUCK YEAH, but my brain recognizes that they've got blemishes to clear up before they start planning the parade.
But hey, the Steelers were a crap-ass team before their run, and the Colts certainly had plenty of flaws....they got their respective acts together. Why not the Birds?
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Some off-Season Thoughts
A Recent Post about the Eagles at Spliterati made some of the local message boards. Its basically about how the Eagles, in the NFC East, may have won the 'losing battle' because they didn't lose that much, talent-wise, in the off-season.
I think its a bit half-three-quarters-full type argument myself. We Philly fans have a tendency to sour quickly on players about to leave or already out the door. Now this is certainly deserved in some cases. I mean lets be honest, fans were calling for the ouster of Mr. Air Banjo, Dhani Jones, for quite some time, and his departure certainly fall in the "don't-let-the-door-hit-you-in-the-ass" category. As does former safety Michael Lewis...He went the Pro-Bowl, had a down year in 2005 (who didn't?) and then left his confidence/brain in the locker-room last year. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good, but he'd become a liability in the Birds secondary. Period.
As for some others who got no love from the other site. Hmmm. I liked Rod Hood and Jeff Garcia. Hood was a great success story, from undrafted free agent to very capable 3rd corner for the Eagles. If we could've kept him for back-up money, he'd still be in green. Fact is, he hit free agency at a very highly paid position, and the Arizona Cardinals stepped up with starters' money for him. His departure hurts (its NOT crippling), because he's not a guy who went from good to regular toast like Lewis. We just have to do what we've done several times before, groom a young guy to step up. Is it Joselio Hanson? Maybe...one of the draft choices? Barksdale maybe? Dunno....or will it be a guy like Hood or Al Harris (the other 3rd corner made-good after cutting-his-teeth with the Eagles)? I'll say this. They will find someone.
As for the rest of the NFC East:
The Giants - I'll say this. I am much happier facing a backfield of Droughens/Jacobs backfield than a Tiki/Jacobs backfield...that little TV-bound fucker was a thorn in our sides his entire friggin' career. As Eli continues to spin his wheels (and he best be spinning them fast, because the Giants didn't do a whole lot to fix the sieve-like Offensive Line), I am struck by this: a few years ago, the Giants future looked bright, they had a top-pick QB named Manning taking the helm, and the Cowboys and 4skins seemed content to play out seasons with recycled fossils at QB (Testaverde, Bledsoe, Brunell). Everyone acknowledged McNabb was the dominant QB in the NFC East and there really wasn't any team close to challenging that.
NOW - Eli continues his one-step-forward-two-steps-back "progress" and the its the Cowboys and Redskins that arguably have more hope for their young QBs than New York. I'm not a big Jason Campbell fan (but not a big detractor either), he's raw. Got some talent, but who knows how far he'll develop. It looks like he's destined for a coaching-change down Washington way as St. Gibbs wears out his 2nd-tour welcome with a rudderless team that hasn't learned how to win (but sure knows how to lose). As for Tony Romo. Well I will say this, the Pro Bowl nod was wholly and completely undeserved and he didn't provide Eagles fans with an ever-lasting moment to gloat with that all-time choke fumbled snap on a gimme-game-winning-FG against Seattle in the playoffs. And while he'd never live that down in Philly, I have a feeling that if he WAS an Eagle and had performed like he did in the REGULAR season, that there would be a lot of hopeful Romosexuals buzzing around Philly talking about how much potential our QB had.
So there it is, in two years, the team I considered to be our closest competitor and toughest foe for the NFC East has completely changed. Bye bye NY. Dallas is clearly the team the Eagles need to be most concerned about. How will Big D deal with Wade Phillips? Will MEO implode/cause another season of distraction? Who knows. Who cares. The 'Boys have talent and we need to take care of business.
I think its a bit half-three-quarters-full type argument myself. We Philly fans have a tendency to sour quickly on players about to leave or already out the door. Now this is certainly deserved in some cases. I mean lets be honest, fans were calling for the ouster of Mr. Air Banjo, Dhani Jones, for quite some time, and his departure certainly fall in the "don't-let-the-door-hit-you-in-the-ass" category. As does former safety Michael Lewis...He went the Pro-Bowl, had a down year in 2005 (who didn't?) and then left his confidence/brain in the locker-room last year. Maybe a change of scenery will do him good, but he'd become a liability in the Birds secondary. Period.
As for some others who got no love from the other site. Hmmm. I liked Rod Hood and Jeff Garcia. Hood was a great success story, from undrafted free agent to very capable 3rd corner for the Eagles. If we could've kept him for back-up money, he'd still be in green. Fact is, he hit free agency at a very highly paid position, and the Arizona Cardinals stepped up with starters' money for him. His departure hurts (its NOT crippling), because he's not a guy who went from good to regular toast like Lewis. We just have to do what we've done several times before, groom a young guy to step up. Is it Joselio Hanson? Maybe...one of the draft choices? Barksdale maybe? Dunno....or will it be a guy like Hood or Al Harris (the other 3rd corner made-good after cutting-his-teeth with the Eagles)? I'll say this. They will find someone.
As for the rest of the NFC East:
The Giants - I'll say this. I am much happier facing a backfield of Droughens/Jacobs backfield than a Tiki/Jacobs backfield...that little TV-bound fucker was a thorn in our sides his entire friggin' career. As Eli continues to spin his wheels (and he best be spinning them fast, because the Giants didn't do a whole lot to fix the sieve-like Offensive Line), I am struck by this: a few years ago, the Giants future looked bright, they had a top-pick QB named Manning taking the helm, and the Cowboys and 4skins seemed content to play out seasons with recycled fossils at QB (Testaverde, Bledsoe, Brunell). Everyone acknowledged McNabb was the dominant QB in the NFC East and there really wasn't any team close to challenging that.
NOW - Eli continues his one-step-forward-two-steps-back "progress" and the its the Cowboys and Redskins that arguably have more hope for their young QBs than New York. I'm not a big Jason Campbell fan (but not a big detractor either), he's raw. Got some talent, but who knows how far he'll develop. It looks like he's destined for a coaching-change down Washington way as St. Gibbs wears out his 2nd-tour welcome with a rudderless team that hasn't learned how to win (but sure knows how to lose). As for Tony Romo. Well I will say this, the Pro Bowl nod was wholly and completely undeserved and he didn't provide Eagles fans with an ever-lasting moment to gloat with that all-time choke fumbled snap on a gimme-game-winning-FG against Seattle in the playoffs. And while he'd never live that down in Philly, I have a feeling that if he WAS an Eagle and had performed like he did in the REGULAR season, that there would be a lot of hopeful Romosexuals buzzing around Philly talking about how much potential our QB had.
So there it is, in two years, the team I considered to be our closest competitor and toughest foe for the NFC East has completely changed. Bye bye NY. Dallas is clearly the team the Eagles need to be most concerned about. How will Big D deal with Wade Phillips? Will MEO implode/cause another season of distraction? Who knows. Who cares. The 'Boys have talent and we need to take care of business.
Monday, January 22, 2007
A Bird Leaves the Nest
So word trickled out today the long-time Eagles defensive assistant and most-recent linebackers coach, Steve Spagnuolo (no, not former Eagles TE John Spagnolo) was hired by Tom Coughlin to be the Giants Defensive Coordinator. I kind of feel sorry for the guy, honestly...TC burns through his assistants, and I fear that Steve is simply the latest of Tommy C's future scapegoats (along with newly promoted O-coordinator Kevin Gilbride).
My initial take: big, fat, hairy deal. Honestly, I just cannot get that riled up about the position coach for the absolute worst group on our defense leaving...but I guess it's a bit more than that...I've seen a couple of Giants fans trolling Eagles-related message boards, mostly asking questions about the guy, but some trying to quote New York media playing up the dude. Which is fine...they have to try and get the fans excited...but seriously if the Eagles had wanted to keep the guy all that badly, they just would've denied the Giants permission to talk to him...
I base this on the assumption that Spagnuolo was under contract with the Eagles. Contracts for coaches in the NFL seem to have some unwritten rules. They go something like this: with the exception of the top job, coaching contracts can/will be tossed aside if the coach in question receives outside offers that would effectively promote said individual. (In this manner, Position coaches can jump ship to become coordinators, while coordinators can take the big leap to head coaches). Technically the teams have to "ask permission" to do this, but in the vast majority of cases, teams will grant this permission so they don't look like they are a place that would obstruct their employees careers....Teams CAN say no, and in the cases where they do say no, it appears to often come with the (again silent) caveat that the team is "doing it" because they have their own plans for the guy (Like said guy moving up within their own organization in a year or two)....
So you know what they tells me, the Eagles were NOT planning on promoting Spagnuolo to replace current Def Coord. Jim Johnson in the next couple of seasons (as some Giants fans/media have reportedly suggested). If they were, he'd still be with the Eagles, methinks.
My initial take: big, fat, hairy deal. Honestly, I just cannot get that riled up about the position coach for the absolute worst group on our defense leaving...but I guess it's a bit more than that...I've seen a couple of Giants fans trolling Eagles-related message boards, mostly asking questions about the guy, but some trying to quote New York media playing up the dude. Which is fine...they have to try and get the fans excited...but seriously if the Eagles had wanted to keep the guy all that badly, they just would've denied the Giants permission to talk to him...
I base this on the assumption that Spagnuolo was under contract with the Eagles. Contracts for coaches in the NFL seem to have some unwritten rules. They go something like this: with the exception of the top job, coaching contracts can/will be tossed aside if the coach in question receives outside offers that would effectively promote said individual. (In this manner, Position coaches can jump ship to become coordinators, while coordinators can take the big leap to head coaches). Technically the teams have to "ask permission" to do this, but in the vast majority of cases, teams will grant this permission so they don't look like they are a place that would obstruct their employees careers....Teams CAN say no, and in the cases where they do say no, it appears to often come with the (again silent) caveat that the team is "doing it" because they have their own plans for the guy (Like said guy moving up within their own organization in a year or two)....
So you know what they tells me, the Eagles were NOT planning on promoting Spagnuolo to replace current Def Coord. Jim Johnson in the next couple of seasons (as some Giants fans/media have reportedly suggested). If they were, he'd still be with the Eagles, methinks.
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Its Almost Eerie...
Check out these blurbs from an MSNBC writer about an NFC East Team:
"They had it (the game) in their hands and dropped it, done in not by lack of effort or inferior talent, but by mistakes and undisciplined play."
"The role of (the) coach...in this collapse has been well-documented. He’s a stickler for detail, like arriving...early for meetings.... But on the field, his team is as disciplined as a boxful of puppies."
"You don’t win titles by taking dumb penalties. You don’t win by blowing coverages in the most critical moments in the game."
They funny thing is...the writer is talking about the Giants...not the Eagles....hee hee...the sad part is...so much of his criticism could be transposed to the Birds...Alright fellas, time to shut some folks up...
"They had it (the game) in their hands and dropped it, done in not by lack of effort or inferior talent, but by mistakes and undisciplined play."
"The role of (the) coach...in this collapse has been well-documented. He’s a stickler for detail, like arriving...early for meetings.... But on the field, his team is as disciplined as a boxful of puppies."
"You don’t win titles by taking dumb penalties. You don’t win by blowing coverages in the most critical moments in the game."
They funny thing is...the writer is talking about the Giants...not the Eagles....hee hee...the sad part is...so much of his criticism could be transposed to the Birds...Alright fellas, time to shut some folks up...
Break-Out the Kool-Aid! - NFC Pic Clears UP...
And the Eagles are right in the thick of it...IF they pull their heads out of their asses and beat Carolina tomorrow night on MNF...
The Rams, Vikings and 49ers all basically put themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball today by losing their games to the Cards, Bears and Saints respectively....I say that because I think 9-7 makes a final wildcard spot, and now they are all 5-7....I don't think any of those teams will make it. The Eagles, on the other hand, are granted another reprieve from oblivion, but ONLY if they can prove they can actually play defense...a win on MNF puts them at 6-6, and would give them the 6th sixth seed in the playoffs....
6-6 would tie them with the Falcons, Panthers (who would drop to 6-6 and lose the tiebreaker with the Birds) and Giants (who are now in official free-fall mode)..... Plus they'd have games against the Giants and Falcons forthcoming...
This is it fellas, time to motivate...time to bring your lunchpail...if you cannot get up for a huge game, on MNF, with post-season hopes riding on the line...well, then our faith in the 2006 Eagles will have been misplaced...
Just dream for a moment...Eagles manage to get hot....Dallas drops a game or two, and we get a chance to snatch the division away on Christmas Day....oh...could Santa McNabb and Co. leave MEO a nice fat lump of coal in his stocking....well its a sweet dream anyway...
The Rams, Vikings and 49ers all basically put themselves behind the proverbial 8-ball today by losing their games to the Cards, Bears and Saints respectively....I say that because I think 9-7 makes a final wildcard spot, and now they are all 5-7....I don't think any of those teams will make it. The Eagles, on the other hand, are granted another reprieve from oblivion, but ONLY if they can prove they can actually play defense...a win on MNF puts them at 6-6, and would give them the 6th sixth seed in the playoffs....
6-6 would tie them with the Falcons, Panthers (who would drop to 6-6 and lose the tiebreaker with the Birds) and Giants (who are now in official free-fall mode)..... Plus they'd have games against the Giants and Falcons forthcoming...
This is it fellas, time to motivate...time to bring your lunchpail...if you cannot get up for a huge game, on MNF, with post-season hopes riding on the line...well, then our faith in the 2006 Eagles will have been misplaced...
Just dream for a moment...Eagles manage to get hot....Dallas drops a game or two, and we get a chance to snatch the division away on Christmas Day....oh...could Santa McNabb and Co. leave MEO a nice fat lump of coal in his stocking....well its a sweet dream anyway...
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Favorite Anti-NFC Taunts
I just had to repost from the Eagles forum on Philly.com...
These are my current curses to use against opposing NFC East teams...
Jujoboys brought up a great name for New York (commonly called the Gints or Gnats) - but how about the GYNts. One week of the month there are going to be p.o.'d and pummel the team they play. The other 3 weeks they just lay down and get screwed.
Currently I am partial to calling Washington the Foreskins...not many folks out here in Hawaii have heard that before, but I gather from various other message boards that its pretty common, anyone got anything better?
As for Dallas and ME-O...there are plenty of things I love to slam them with...brokeback (yeah I know its not PC to use that, but its funny to see macho fans react to that)...cowgurls, cowpokes
I just got up and its 530 AM gimme a chance to think about something good to write...
These are my current curses to use against opposing NFC East teams...
Currently I am partial to calling Washington the Foreskins...not many folks out here in Hawaii have heard that before, but I gather from various other message boards that its pretty common, anyone got anything better?
As for Dallas and ME-O...there are plenty of things I love to slam them with...brokeback (yeah I know its not PC to use that, but its funny to see macho fans react to that)...cowgurls, cowpokes
I just got up and its 530 AM gimme a chance to think about something good to write...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
