Birds Trade for O-lineman; Week-in-Review
The Eagles have traded for left tackle Jason Peters, giving up the 28th selection and a fourth-rounder in the draft plus an undisclosed pick in 2010 according to ESPN.com.
This is classic Birds, and doesn’t excite me a little bit. Yes, it’s the prudent move, but it just doesn’t get it done. I’ve already heard this takes the Eagles out of the running for Anquan Boldin, who the Arizona Cardinals have announced is available for trade.
The Eagles are like the stodgy parents that never give the kids what they want. No, you can’t have the shiny toy, we’re going to put the money towards college. Problem is, it just doesn’t work in the NFL . . . and the Eagles’ Super Bowl trophies total proves it.
This team needs to go get a stud receiver, and, once again, they’re not going to do it. It’s just their typical we-know-better-than-everybody-else mentality at work. It really does seem like they go out of their way not to make the popular move.
This move isn’t even an upgrade. They simply replaced what they lost in Tra Thomas (or William Thomas) and John Runyan. It’s not a bad move, it’s just more of the same from the Eagles who are very proficient at replacing older players that have served them well with younger players. That’s great, but they do it at the expense of making the move that puts them over the top to win a Super Bowl.
It’s not about the so-called “sexy” move. It’s about winning. They made the popular or “sexy” move once when they brought in Terrell Owens, and they absolutely dominated that season. Instead of just talking about it, they actually went to a Super Bowl.
Apparently, once was enough for this Eagles regime. Now, if they go out and get the receiver they need, I’ll be one of the first to praise them. I’ll even settle for a complimentary running back to Brian Westbrook. But I’m not holding my breath hoping that either is coming to the Eagles any time soon.
Here’s my second straight Week-in-Review:
• I can’t write about Philadelphia sports this week and not mention the passing of Harry Kalas. Certainly he was the voice of the Phillies throughout my life, and was the main – if not the only – constant I remember from the team after my brief hiatus as a Cardinals fan in the mid ‘80s. I never met the man, and cannot add to the many stories about him that have flooded the airways this week. The Phillies and the game will go on. From the stories I’ve heard, Mr. Kalas would be the first to say that. While I felt genuine sadness upon hearing of his death, I don’t quite understand the team holding a viewing at the ballpark on Saturday. It seems like that should be left to family and friends. But I’m happy he got to broadcast the World Series championship for the Phillies in his last full season, and quite some time will have to pass before it won’t feel like something is missing when watching the Phillies. RIP Harry the K.
• Another broadcasting giant will no longer be doing games as John Madden retired this week. Some loved his style as an analyst, some hated it. Many grew up playing the video game with his name on it, and never realized he was a head coach before he was an analyst. I’ll always remember that when I heard him and Pat Summerall do a game, it was a big game, and when it was the Eagles it was awesome. I still miss playing the video game with my brother, and will miss Madden in the broadcast booth.
• Did you hear the story about the guy suing the Yankees because he wasn’t allowed to use the facilities during the singing of God Bless America, and was eventually tossed out of the stadium? Of course, reports are the guy was drunk and cursing throughout the game. Either way, you just gotta love New York, eh?
• The level of excitement surrounding the release of the NFL schedule never ceases to amaze me. Doesn’t the NFL have a formula that spells out which teams play right after the season ends? The actual dates are exciting? The best part is the way pundits want to predict how many games a particular team will win. Most teams are still trying to significantly upgrade their rosters at this point.
• I hate the way baseball seasons start with a day off after every home opener. I understand they do it in case of rain (so they can play the make-up game the next day) for people who specifically bought tickets for the opener, but it causes so many starts and stops and re-starts the players have to struggle to get into a rhythm.
This is classic Birds, and doesn’t excite me a little bit. Yes, it’s the prudent move, but it just doesn’t get it done. I’ve already heard this takes the Eagles out of the running for Anquan Boldin, who the Arizona Cardinals have announced is available for trade.
The Eagles are like the stodgy parents that never give the kids what they want. No, you can’t have the shiny toy, we’re going to put the money towards college. Problem is, it just doesn’t work in the NFL . . . and the Eagles’ Super Bowl trophies total proves it.
This team needs to go get a stud receiver, and, once again, they’re not going to do it. It’s just their typical we-know-better-than-everybody-else mentality at work. It really does seem like they go out of their way not to make the popular move.
This move isn’t even an upgrade. They simply replaced what they lost in Tra Thomas (or William Thomas) and John Runyan. It’s not a bad move, it’s just more of the same from the Eagles who are very proficient at replacing older players that have served them well with younger players. That’s great, but they do it at the expense of making the move that puts them over the top to win a Super Bowl.
It’s not about the so-called “sexy” move. It’s about winning. They made the popular or “sexy” move once when they brought in Terrell Owens, and they absolutely dominated that season. Instead of just talking about it, they actually went to a Super Bowl.
Apparently, once was enough for this Eagles regime. Now, if they go out and get the receiver they need, I’ll be one of the first to praise them. I’ll even settle for a complimentary running back to Brian Westbrook. But I’m not holding my breath hoping that either is coming to the Eagles any time soon.
Here’s my second straight Week-in-Review:
• I can’t write about Philadelphia sports this week and not mention the passing of Harry Kalas. Certainly he was the voice of the Phillies throughout my life, and was the main – if not the only – constant I remember from the team after my brief hiatus as a Cardinals fan in the mid ‘80s. I never met the man, and cannot add to the many stories about him that have flooded the airways this week. The Phillies and the game will go on. From the stories I’ve heard, Mr. Kalas would be the first to say that. While I felt genuine sadness upon hearing of his death, I don’t quite understand the team holding a viewing at the ballpark on Saturday. It seems like that should be left to family and friends. But I’m happy he got to broadcast the World Series championship for the Phillies in his last full season, and quite some time will have to pass before it won’t feel like something is missing when watching the Phillies. RIP Harry the K.
• Another broadcasting giant will no longer be doing games as John Madden retired this week. Some loved his style as an analyst, some hated it. Many grew up playing the video game with his name on it, and never realized he was a head coach before he was an analyst. I’ll always remember that when I heard him and Pat Summerall do a game, it was a big game, and when it was the Eagles it was awesome. I still miss playing the video game with my brother, and will miss Madden in the broadcast booth.
• Did you hear the story about the guy suing the Yankees because he wasn’t allowed to use the facilities during the singing of God Bless America, and was eventually tossed out of the stadium? Of course, reports are the guy was drunk and cursing throughout the game. Either way, you just gotta love New York, eh?
• The level of excitement surrounding the release of the NFL schedule never ceases to amaze me. Doesn’t the NFL have a formula that spells out which teams play right after the season ends? The actual dates are exciting? The best part is the way pundits want to predict how many games a particular team will win. Most teams are still trying to significantly upgrade their rosters at this point.
• I hate the way baseball seasons start with a day off after every home opener. I understand they do it in case of rain (so they can play the make-up game the next day) for people who specifically bought tickets for the opener, but it causes so many starts and stops and re-starts the players have to struggle to get into a rhythm.
Comments
If you seriously think this offense was just as good as it was with TO, you're clueless. I don't care that the stats are comparable; the Super Bowl team practically took the last month of the season off because they had clinched home field and T.O. got hurt so they didn't want to risk anybody else. Look at the games -- they lost one meaningful game in the season to Pittsburgh, most were laughers, and lost the Super Bowl to the Patriots in the midst of what at the time was a budding dynasty...and probably should have won.
As for, "Games are won and lost in the trenches" ... gee, which announcer are you parroting? Besides, my point was that they merely maintained what they already had, which has resulted in ZERO titles. If that's good enough for you, knock yourself out.
I appreciate comments, but if you're going to come with a challenging tone...do better than that. And at least sign it with a nickname!
TO wasn't the difference? And the Super Bowl run started with Runyan signing...which you saw coming based on his signing? You sound like a dope.
Normally, I wouldn't respond like this, even to such moronic comments. But you came to my blog and initiated the discussion with a confrontational tone. That's fine too - but if you're going to come with that it will go back to you.
You say we NEED a T.O. caliber receiver (which Bolden is not) to win the Super Bowl which didn't get it done in 2004. Then you come back with "winning a Super Bowl is the only goal of a football team. You can't win it if you can't get there. " T.O. didn't play in the playoff games which are the games that get you there so the Eagles got to the Super Bowl without T.O.
Signed,
Eric B. Right
Happy now?
I'm glad I could teach you how to spell Super Bowl. Now, since you like stats so much, go look up the Super Bowl stats. TO led the Eagles by far in receiving. You're pointing out that they won two playoff games without him and lost the Super Bowl with him as if there is a correlation? I don't want to upset you, but that's just stupid.
If you want to say the Eagles got to the Super Bowl on those two games alone -- ignoring the fact that they had the best seed, a bye, and home field thanks largely to T.O. -- I can't help you with that.
Again, you're boring me. I'm done with this at least until future posts...I know you'll be reading me. Time to go read your fantasy football magazines til Labor Day.
Very weak comment. Yep - that's how to prove something, because correlation ALWAYS equals causation.
Look at the Redskins "Super Bowl total" under Snyder when they always make the splashy signing, or the Raiders Super Bowl total for the last 15 years as they sign huge name receivers and QBs but pretty much ignore their lines (and as a result both teams have generally sucked).
You know the Eagles have been damn close to winning it all - as in one or two plays in each of the 2001-2004 years. And if you don't know that you should.
Here's to hoping the Philly Inquirer stops adding links to your page.
- Merdinus
You essentially mis-used the quote; "it" referred to the idea of supposedly being prudent over going out and getting the guy that truly puts you over the top, even if it appears to be just the popular move. It's the right move.
Close to the Super Bowl? If that works for you, great. You're EXACTLY the type of fan they want. By the way, last season's playoff run was fun, but it doesn't mean they were close to a Super Bowl quality team; they needed a minor miracle to even make the playoffs.
I notice this on other blogs...why are people so rude when disagreeing with a post? What do you care that I have a link on philly.com or (the "other" anonymous) that I freelanced at the Inquirer? It's pathetic that you can't just disagree without trying to insult the blogger. The best part is that when the flippant tone is returned, you cry like li'l bitches.
You want to disagree and have a back and forth, great. You can even rip me. But don't cry about it and get ridiculous, or you just get deleted as above. Think of it as WIP hanging up on you...I'm quite sure you've had the experience. And if you don't like my blog, don't go to it.