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Eagles Win Likely Means Little

While the national media can’t wait to fawn all over Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid after yesterday’s 48-20 victory against Arizona – including one dope named James Walker on ESPN reaching all the way back for the classic Santa Claus reference as if the Eagles ridiculous play of late was the fault of fans – the fact is that yesterday only proved how obvious it is that Reid needs to go. Reid isn’t a genius because he suddenly realized that running the ball is a key to winning in the National Football League. The whole town has been screaming for the Eagles to run the ball for years. It hasn’t been since Rich Kotite that fans could legitimately say they were smarter than the coach. The saddest thing may not even be that Reid destroyed this season simply because he didn’t feel like running the ball until now. The saddest thing may be that it will be a one week aberration, and the Eagles will try to re-invent football yet again by throwing the ball 50 times a game next week. Not only have

NFL Thanksgiving Tradition of Bad Football Needs to Go

I’m all for traditions. I look to nurture them in my own ways, which is pretty difficult as a single guy with no children. But is the NFL kidding? Here’s your offering for Thanksgiving Day: Cardinals vs. Eagles Seahawks vs. Cowboys Titans vs. Lions What, the Bengals were busy? Regardless of how the “tradition” of Dallas and Detroit playing every Thanksgiving started, it’s time to end it. I even get the TV-created notion in years gone by of Dallas being “America’s team” – you know, the nationwide excuse front-runners all over the country clung to in the ‘70s and ‘80s. But Detroit? When’s the last time they were good for an extended period? Besides fantasy guys that wanted to watch Barry Sanders for a decade, what was enticing about them? I can’t even give the NFL credit for adding a third game. Yes, it’s generally the best game, but we’re only getting to watch it this year because it’s the Eagles and we’re still allowed to watch the home team for free . . . for now. It’s on the NFL Netw

McNabb Benched

The end came sooner than expected, or at least sooner than most expected. Of course, it may not actually be the end, and it may not even be the end that’s needed. Donovan McNabb was benched at halftime of today’s loss to Baltimore. He wasn’t hurt, he was unequivocally benched for Kevin Kolb. After throwing 2 interceptions and gaining just 59 yards through the air in the first half, along with plenty of poor play this season, McNabb certainly deserved the benching. Although I’m not sure Kolb deserved to start his career against the Ravens followed by a short week. While the “Guv” (Ed Rendell) and the idiots of ESPN’s NFL Sunday Countdown chose to be sanctimonious, separately admonishing Philadelphia before and after the game to essentially “be careful what you wish for,” the fact is this has been a long time coming. Their pathetic arguments, a weak attempt especially by the ESPN guys to curry favor with McNabb and other stars in the league, go something like: it might be years before P

Utley News Says Plenty

When the biggest sports news of the week in late November is about the second baseman of your city’s baseball team – even if they are World Champions – things aren’t looking good for the winter squads. Those holding on to the Phillies to get through the pain of a suddenly putrid Eagles season got a kick in the gut with the revelation that Chase Utley needs hip surgery and may not see the field until June. The good news is Phils GM Ruben Amaro Jr. appears pretty confident Utley will be ready to go by early April, if not opening day. The news, which didn’t really shock anybody except in regards to the extent of the injury, only makes what the guy did in the World Series run all the more impressive. Utley was a very realistic candidate to win the MVP early in the season, and while he tapered off in the second half of the season, no one in Philadelphia doubts that we’re still looking for a parade without him based on his playoff performance. If he makes a full recovery – and indications ar

Era Ender, Part II

Apparently one of the reasons McNabb and Reid failed to show any urgency at the end of yesterday’s game is that they didn’t comprehend that the game could end in a tie. McNabb after the game: “No, I didn’t know that. When the [Hail Mary] play was called, I kind of figured, ‘I guess there’s ties in the NFL.’ . . . I’ve never been a part of a tie. I never even knew that was in the rule book. It’s part of the rules and we have to go with it. I was looking forward to the next opportunity to get out there and try to drive to win the game.” In case your head hasn’t exploded yet, he continued: “I hate to see what happens in the Super Bowl or I hate to see what happens in the playoffs. You have to settle with a tie.” Not to be outdone, Reid offered this: “I’ve never been in a tie before, but I know it’s not a win. I don’t know how this works in the standings. I know it’s not good enough. We need wins and this is not a win.” Why these two idiots still have a job today is simply beyond me. This

Era Ender

In case anyone had any doubt, the successful portion of the Andy Reid era as the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles has ended. No, he hasn’t actually been fired after his team tied the second-worst team in the NFL, the Cincinnati Bengals, 13-13. I have no idea what it will take for the Eagles to fire Andy Reid. But it’s clear to me that this team is not going to win under him any time soon. Reid is one of, if not the, most successful coaches in franchise history and it simply doesn’t matter any more. The era of success, if there really ever was one, under Reid has ended and today proved it’s never coming back. The Bengals are now 1-8-1, and there’s no reason to believe they are worse than the Eagles. In fact, there’s reasons to believe they are better than the Eagles. The Bengals started a quarterback that went to Harvard today. The Eagles started a former All-Pro. Which team would you rather rebuild? I’m just guessing here, but before answering another factor to consider is that th

Classic Andy Reid Helps Birds to Big Loss

Not even in the box score. Brent Celek does not even appear in the box score of last night’s Eagles 36-31 loss to the Giants. That would be the same Brent Celek who caught 6 passes for 131 yards – the most yards ever by an Eagles tight end in a regular season game – just last week. But this week L.J. Smith, the regular starter at tight end and a major disappointment throughout most of his career, was ready to play after a concussion. So, he started and caught 3 passes for 36 yards. And you thought Andy Reid couldn’t adjust. No, I don’t think Celek is the second coming of Keith Jackson (my best reference for an Eagles pass-catching tight end), but I know for damn sure Smith is not. I also know the Eagles had a chance to win a game that would have put them one game behind the Giants for the lead in the division, and that maybe a tight end making some plays throughout the game could have made a big difference. By the way, I’m not pulling that out of my butt the way Reid does with answers

Will Philly fans boo less now that the Phillies won a World Series?

I tried a few polls on my old sports blog with little response, but with increased hits thanks to the Philly.com Sports blog roll I thought I’d try another one. Besides, I’m genuinely curious about this topic. With the Phillies’ championship parade a week in our rear view mirror, I’ve been wondering if Philadelphia fans will be a bit less ruthless. So, as you will see to your right at the top of the blog (through about noon on November 14th per Blogger), here’s the poll question: Will Philly fans boo less now that the Phillies won a World Series? A) Yes, the weight of a 25-year championship drought is over. B) Yes, but only until the Eagles have an ugly loss. C) Maybe we’ll boo the Phillies less, but the other teams don’t get any break. D) Boo less? Why? My best guess is “C” - Maybe we’ll boo the Phillies less, but the other teams don’t get any break. Emphasis on the maybe, though. I just think too many fans have grown-up booing, and see it as either a birthright or a badge of honor a

Eagles Back in Playoff Hunt After Beating Seahawks

Yesterday in Seattle the Eagles may have represented Philadelphia better than they ever have. They looked a bit disinterested in the first quarter, but soon realized they weren’t the Philadelphia team that had just won a world championship and got back to business in time to beat the hapless Seahawks, 26-7. Fans can be forgiven if, like me, this game wasn’t doing much for them as they came down from celebrating the Phillies. Since they actually won, I guess the Eagles can be forgiven too. But if Jeffrey Lurie ever wants to do anything besides loan out space for a parade, the Eagles need to finally figure out how to manage a clock. The Eagles ran a quarterback sneak right after the 2-minute warning in the first half. They did not run another play until there was 1:17 left – after a timeout by Seattle. The Eagles were only at Seattle’s 34, so this wasn’t a case of milking the clock. It only got worse as they took another timeout due to apparent confusion after a 26-yard pass to Kevin Cur