Monday Hangover - November 29, 2010

On Thanksgiving, I like to eat. A lot. And when I eat a lot, I undo my belt. That's right. I feel like a fat slob and I undo my belt and I lay down and go into a food coma. The turkey, the wine, the crappy football games all just put me into a Thanksgiving stupor. Apparently, I wasn't the only one as the three active Philly sports teams seemed to carry their Thanksgiving hangovers into the weekend. Well, maybe not the Sixers who actually won a game to move them to a 4-13 record.

Sippin' on Jay and Juice


If there's one thing to come out of this weekend, it's this: I hate Jay Cutler. The Chicago Bears quarterback seemingly "torched" the Eagles D. And by "torch" I mean dink and dumped them down the field while the Eagles couldn't tackle or make a play for most of Sunday's game. Cutler threw for four touchdowns but it was hardly a dominant performance. But why the hate? Well it stems from my reason of hating any quarterback. The same reason why both Eli and Peyton irk me so much. The "face". It's all about the "face". The "face" rears it's ugly....well... face... anytime Jay doesn't get a call or a receiver drops a pass or he gets a really nasty hangnail. It's that face that I just can't stand.

Jay "Veal" Cutler doing his best impression of his own "face".

Cutler made the face several times during the Bears 31-26 victory over our beloved Eagles. The face got so bad at one point during the game that the refs gave him a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct penalty even though they meant to say "Cutler face" penalty. And that's when the Bears were up big in the fourth quarter.

While not born with Jay's face, I was born with a deformity. I have no filter and I always enjoy word association. When someone says "elephant", I think "trunk". When someone says "mosquito", I think "bite". And when someone says "Jay Cutler", I think "douche-turd". It just happens. It is the most logical.

Like a Crystal Ball

You have to hand it to fellow contributor Zach P. He's like a soothsayer sometimes. When he says "beware the Ides of March", you better recognize and beware the ides of March because Zach P. knows somethings-a-brewin'. In Zach's Black Friday post, he set the table for an Eagles' "Letdown" as made famous by the pop-punk band Cartel. The Eagles definitely stirred up a letdown and the Madden NFL soundtracks are never wrong. Neither is Zach P., apparently. Perhaps the Eagles should heed another Madden soundtrack song of the 2007 variety for Thursday's game against the Texans. I recommend the fantastic number by Shorty da Kid "Get Loose". Even though the lyrics are up to interpretation I believe that at one point Shorty advises all of us to "Get Loose. And a wooly wool-ah..." Or something. Heed Shorty's words Eagles. Heed them now.

Jello Shoot-outs

While the Eagles struggled in the majority of their matchup and the Sixers don't show up to 75% of their games, especially in the fourth quarter, the Flyers have been a team of consistency. Not getting blown out and being tough in every game is a good sign. However, the Flyers are consistent in one way that has been tough for them in the first quarter of the season. The Fly Guys cannot seem to buy a win in overtime.

Hockey may be the ficklest sport of them all. On any given night, a so-called bad team may just be able to beat a so-called good team. One bounce of the puck here, one poorly timed penalty there could create such a swing. Well the Flyers saw this happen twice over the holiday weekend. Following a very tough shootout loss to lowly Calgary on Black Friday, the Flyers lost another shootout to the even lowlier (is that a word) division rival Devils Saturday afternoon.

The Black Friday game might as well have been called the black eye game because I can guarantee that Chris Pronger wanted to give the refs a few black eyes after that one. The Flyers had seemingly won the game in overtime when the refs called Pronger for an unsportsmanlike penalty and disallowed the supposed game winning goal by captain Mike Richards. Pronger was legally camped in front of the goalie and was trying to screen, a play that happens about a hundred times in each hockey game. Trying to direct his teammates, Pronger was waving his arm and then put his hands back on his stick. Richards goal found the net but the refs stated that Pronger directly blocked the Flames goalies' line of sight. A penalty was called, the goal disallowed, and the Flames took advantage in the shootout.

The next day, the Flyers offense sputtered and a scrappy Devils team took the shootout after four attempts. Not much to say about these two games except that the 2 points that the Flyers earned could have easily been 4. Let's hope that hosting the Boston Bruins will allow the Flyers to recaputre their early season magic. We all remember what happened when the Flyers last played the Bruins in last year's playoffs. You know the Bruins are still hurting over that.

Cause in the words of Cartel and Zach P., we hope that the Flyers don't "get up for the letdown."

Getting Up For The Letdown

As Turkey Day has come and gone, the push to the NFL playoffs has officially begun, and the Eagles are in a position few expected them to be in at the start of the season. They currently lead the division after a hard-fought victory over the New York Football Giants, and at 7-3, are just a game back of top-seeded Atlanta in the NFC. Football fever is in full force in Philadelphia, with Michael Vick leading what is arguably the most exciting young group of players us Birds fans have ever seen.

You would expect me to be just giddy about how the Eagles are doing right now - and I am excited - but a significant part of me is also very hesitant and skeptical. I've seen this routine too many times before, the Eagles cruising along, getting all of our hopes up, only to leave us shaking our heads and muttering and questioning why we still put ourselves through the torture of being Eagles fans come January. I am reminded of a lyric from a song of a classic EA Sports soundtrack (Madden '07) by the band Cartel, in which they warn us all that we're "just getting up for the letdown." If you want to enjoy this pop-punk masterpiece, feel free to indulge:



It's a well-known fact (at least between myself and R. Scott) that EA soundtracks hold many pieces of invaluable wisdom, and I'm worried that such is the case here. You can't help but get excited about this Eagles team, which is almost a lock to at least make the playoffs, and which has the national media (as usual) jumping all over their bandwagon. Who could forget 2002, when the Eagles were seemingly a lock to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl, playing at home in the NFC title game against Tampa in the good old sub-40 degree weather, only to leave the Vet with the lasting memory of Ronde Barber racing down the sidelines? Or 2003, when little-known Ricky Manning Jr. picked off Donovan McNabb three times in a game where the Eagles offense mysteriously declined to show up? How about 2004, when the Eagles finally broke the NFC championship game curse, only to waddle down the field on a touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter, wasting a ridiculous amount of time and killing any hope of a comeback against the Patriots?

Let's not forget 2008, when after a turbulent middle of the season that saw Donovan McNabb get benched, the team blazed through the rest of the season. Even after a disappointing loss to Washington in Week 16, they destroyed Dallas in the season finale and then upset the G-Men in the divisional playoffs, only to be bested by the underdog Cardinals in the title game. Then there was last season, when a six-game winning streak was abruptly interrupted by two back-to-back embarrassing losses to the hated Cowboys to end the season. It's just the way things go as an Eagles fan.

So, no matter how good things get down the stretch here for the Eagles, I will always have these haunting memories in the back of my head, reminding me that there's always another one waiting around the corner. Like most fans, I hope for the best and expect the worst, while trying to enjoy the ride along the way. I look forward to seeing what Vick and the Eagles do in another big matchup this weekend against a tough Bears team in what could be another huge statement game, cementing the team as a top contender in the NFL. But, as Cartel warns us, I always remind myself that I'm probably just getting up for the letdown.

Monday Hangover - November 22, 2010

Less than a week after dismantling the Washington Redskins, the Philadelphia Eagles won their biggest game of the season 27-17 over the Giants. Two big division wins in a row means the Eagles are in first place in the NFC East and as of late, look like the best team in the NFC.

Blue Crushacao
Michael Vick has emerged as an MVP candidate after his throttling and record-breaking performance in Washington last week. While his performance last night was not dominant, it shows that he still has the "it" factor to win a big game. Vick showed his composure and made the plays when he needed to. 'Nuff said.

Beating the Giants was huge. The way the Eagles did it was... well... "huger". A big comeback victory and some creative playcalling won the game for the men in midnight green last night. The Eagles have to feel pretty confident heading into the rest of the regular season. The schedule after the bye looked impossible for the birds but as the Vikings and Cowboys and Texans continue to self-destruct, the Eagles look like a team about to capture a division title and possibly a first round bye!

Eli-Xir
Can I just pause for a second and just state how much I despise Eli Manning? I'm so sick of him. He's terrible and he has the same face on at all times. Get a new face Eli. It constantly looks like you've just smelled a SEPTA bus full of dirty diapers. Stop whining and grow up.

I want to make a pair of glasses with a pair of earmuffs that filter out anytime the camera flashes to Eli or I have to hear him speak to reporters. I know that I'm not alone as many other Eagles fans would enjoy going all "Helen Keller" when Eli is on the TV screen.

Will the real Slim Shady please keep running?
Unlike Eli, I think I'm developing a man crush on LeSean "Shady" McCoy. He is quickly becoming the most exciting player on the team and I have so much fun watching him in the open field eluding tacklers and using his pure speed to beat defenders. His 50-yard touchdown run may be the biggest touchdown of the season and of his short career so far and I think he is the true key to our offense. By having McCoy be this dangerous in the running and passing game, it only opens up bigger plays to Jackson and Maclin for Vick to make.

Getting Iced
Besides the Eagles, those Philadelphia Flyers continue to impress. Yes, they did lose two straight. A shutout in Montreal was followed by a wild 8-7 loss at home to Tampa. But, the Flyers got back on track with a shootout win against the Caps on Saturday and will host the Canadiens tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. Still very early in the season to get too excited, but the Flyers offense looks solid and if they can sure up the goaltending mishaps as of late, the Flyers will be looking good come the new year.

Happy Hallidays
Our blog missed out on the opportunity to congratulate Roy Halliday as the unanimous winner of the National League Cy Young Award. Halliday was the man all year and it's great to get some recognition. Here's to at least two more great years from the Doctor.

Gearing Up for Big Blue

The Eagles will play what is easily the biggest game of the season so far tonight when the division rival Giants visit the Linc for a Sunday night matchup. Though there is often a deeper hatred amongst Eagles fans when it comes to the Dallas Cowboys, the proximity of the cities and the similarities between the Eagles and Giants and their fans make it a better rivalry in my opinion. The series was back and forth during the past decade, with the Eagles ending with a slight 13-10 advantage and currently having won the last four (including a playoff game).

The Giants had the Eagles' number for a while after their Super Bowl run in 2004, winning 6 of 8. Then, things changed, and its not a coincidence that the Giants haven't beaten the Eagles since Plaxico Burress was dismissed from the team midway through the 2008 season. Burress was an Eagle killer, and when the Giants had their running game going, he was a tough matchup for any defense. Though the Giants have picked up some other nice young receivers in Steve Smith, Hakeem Nicks, and Mario Manningham, none of them have the game-changing presence that Plax did, and with a less effective running game, the Giants have been easier to defend lately.

Of course, the Eagles D vs. Giants O isn't the part of the game that most of America is going to tune in to see. No, what they want to see is Michael Vick, coming off one of the best performances by a quarterback I've ever seen, against a much more formidable defense in the Giants. The G-Men are tops in the league in fewest yards allowed per game. The Eagles are 3rd in yards gained, and are 2nd in points scored. Something has to give. What isn't getting much press is the fact that the Giants actually have the second-ranked offense in the NFL based on yards gained, and will be a formidable challenge for the Eagles, but what can you expect when Mike Vick is on the opposing squad?

Vick will be facing a sometimes-dominating defensive line that has a combination of size and athleticism that the Eagles haven't seen this year. It will be a great test for a quarterback with a level of athleticism that has never been seen before in the game of football. Michael Vick has an opportunity to dispose of the "yeah, but who has he played" argument that exists when speaking about his success this season. If the Eagles handle the Giants and Vick has a big game, they can instantly catapult themselves to the favorites in the NFC, having already beaten the 7-2 Falcons, which is hard to believe considering what most of us thought of the team's prospects in the preseason. If not, there are going to be some doubts about whether this a Super Bowl caliber team as opposed to just a playoff team.

Everything is clicking right now on the offensive side of the ball (I know, brilliant observation on my part after they scored 59 points last week), and the Giants are coming off a terribly disappointing loss to a 1-7 Dallas team at home. As mentioned before, they haven't beaten the Eagles the last four tries. What does that mean? They're going to be fired up. Fired up to end the streak, to prove that last week was the exception and not the rule, and to do what no team thus far has been able to do - contain number 7. On top of that, it's a top tier division rivalry in the NFL. NBC must be giddy with excitement thinking about the ratings this primetime matchup will generate.

If the Eagles win the game, however, they will do it on the defensive side of the ball. I think Vick and the offense will score their points, but can the D contain what has been a very solid Giants offense this year? One thing that favors the Birds is the Giants' injury situation, as they are banged up to say the least. Among the wounded are O-lineman Shaun O'Hara and David Diehl, who, along with WR Steve Smith and FB Madison Hedgecock, will be out for the game. TE Kevin Boss was limited in practice, but is probable to play. Oh, and wait, there's one more; yes, our old buddy, Shawn Andrews is questionable with a (shocker) back injury. Boy, that sounds awfully familiar. Andrews, though, says he is "extra amped" about this one, as I'm sure he can't wait to exact revenge on the team that dealt with over a year of his injury drama, personal issues, and Michael Phelps songs before finally cutting him this past offseason. Andrews better be amped if he's in the game, because I'm sure there are some Eagles D-linemen who wouldn't mind teeing off on the guy who pulled the team through what seemed like a never-ending roller coaster ride over the past two years. While part of me is happy for the guy that he is able to play football with all the issues he's had with depression and his back, it's nice how he managed to pull it together AFTER the Eagles finally gave up and cut him.

So, with that all said, Sunday night promises to be a fun one. Plenty of storylines, first place in the NFC East on the line, and Michael Vick's true chance to show that he is back as an elite NFL quarterback. The Eagles are poised to thrust themselves into Super Bowl-contender status with a win, and to prompt a blog post from me featuring a classic Madden tune. Exciting, huh? Just another reason to hope the Eagles win.

Everybody Makes Mistakes

So said Donovan McNabb in the Redskins' post-game celebration after beating the Eagles in Week 4, after his spectacular 8 for 19 performance for 125 yards and a TD. Yes, that was completely sarcastic. He did nothing whatsoever after the first quarter, and despite the Eagles playing their worst game of the season, they were still a Jason Avant ridiculous catch away from snagging a win. But, of course, Donovan just couldn't resist getting a shot in.

Of course, that "mistake" the team made in trading him away has led to the "Michael Vick Experience 2: This Time He Can Pass" (in theaters everywhere). While McNabb and the Skins have fizzled out since that game, the Eagles have been nearly unstoppable with Vick at the helm. Despite this, some other Redskins felt the need to stoke the fire before the game Monday night, I guess thinking they could actually replicate their performance in the first matchup against a very different Eagles squad. According to several Eagles players, Redskins DBs Laron Landry and DeAngelo Hall were making sleeping motions, putting their hands next to their heads, taunting Desean Jackson and the horrific concussion he suffered a few weeks ago. Landry apparently had some verbal shots along the same lines, and while he of course denies it, this story has been confirmed by many players as well as an independent source, FOX's Jay Glazer. According to Desean, Landry specifically told him "I'm going to put you to sleep again."

Now, that's just wrong in any context, making light of a serious and possibly life-threatening injury, but what makes it worse is that Landry is an overrated glorified linebacker who is known only for his physique and occasional big hits, and is a total liability in coverage. He also seems to be lacking upstairs, because why you would try to fire up an Eagles team playing incredible football and coming in for a revenge game is beyond me. The entire team took note of the comments made to Jackson in the locker room after a skirmish on the field before the game, and the result was a first play that put Landry in his place, to say the least.

An 88-yard TD bomb from Vick to Jackson that left Landry sprawled on the Fed-Ex field grass. Though no one will outright say it, there are reports that some of these pre-game festivities led to the coaching staff's decision to pour it on rather than maybe let up on the gas pedal a little. Then again, why shouldn't they pour it on? These are professionals playing against professionals, so if the Redskins didn't like it they should have stopped it.

But back to McNabb. Eagles center Mike McGlynn (who was very talkative after the game, also claiming that Landry spit in his face twice during the game) alluded to the fact that McNabb's comments after the first matchup may have provided some added fuel for the Eagles, saying “We got fired up. Donovan had said some things after they beat us that fired us up, saying how they made a terrible decision and everybody makes mistakes. I think we’re happy with where we are right now.” In case you didn't see it, here's the clip of McNabb's speech (skip to about the 0:50 mark):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mD5JEkHw-0c

Ahh. Donovan, Mr. Class, just couldn't resist throwing that little barb in there, knowing full well that he was on camera and that the clip would be shown all over by the media. I don't have a huge problem with the comment, except for the fact that he had a horrible game, and if anything his performance served to justify the decision the Eagles made to trade him. You're right, Donovan, everybody makes mistakes. Especially people like Laron Landry and Daniel Snyder. But it doesn't appear the Eagles did. Things are working out quite nicely with #7 running the show, and if McNabb, Landry, and the Skins are smart, they might keep their mouths shut in the future.

Holy Shnikes! Did that just happen?

After his benching a few weeks ago, many thought McNabb's days in DC were numbered already. Nope.

As reported by Michael Smith at ESPN, the Washington Redskins just gave quarterback Donovan McNabb a five-year extension that is around $78 million with nearly $40 million guaranteed.

McNabb will enter tonight's game with his pants falling down because that is a crapload of money for a guy who will be 39 years old when the deal is done. The deal comes just two weeks after being benched for the last minutes of a game in Detroit. That set off a media firestorm that questioned McNabb's practice habits, his endurance, potential injuries and conjured up a mini-race debate that many journalists and pundits have been dragging out for years. While these journalists stated that black quarterbacks may not be intelligent enough to run an offense, McNabb just proved him and his agent are smart enough to steal money from the Redskins organization. Wow.

In other news, Jason Campbell is still crying. AS HE'S WINNING AND HAVING A STRONGER SEASON THAN MCNABB! BAM!

Monday Hangover - November 15, 2010

With the Eagles ready to square off against the rival Redskins tonight, perhaps it would have been better to have a "Tuesday Hangover" segment. But that's just ridiculous. And it still was a busy weekend in Philly sports despite the Eagles not playing until tonight.

White Russian
With the Eagles idle until tonight and the Phillies season over, has anyone noticed how well the Flyers have been playing? They've been on an absolute tear as of late and they owe a lot to their rookie goaltender Sergei Bobrovksy. "Bob" as he is affectionately known is 10-2-1 and stopped 34 shots out of 36 on Saturday against the Florida Panthers. Meanwhile, the Flyers offense has come alive. Giroux and Richards each had two goals on Saturday to lead the charge.

Again, Giroux seems to be coming into his own as he now has 9 goals and 9 assists in just 17 games this season. And it's good to see that Giroux will keep producing as a Flyer as he signed a three-year deal last Monday. While Jeff Carter was next with a huge 11 year deal for the Flyers, the Philly hockey team has three young players locked up long term. The next to be signed to an extension? Playoff hero Ville Leino. Leino is a free agent after this season but the Flyers are adamant about resigning the young winger. Leino has been impressive so far this season too. While he has just 3 goals, Leino has added 12 helpers and has played great on Giroux's line. He definitely is a playmaker the Flyers don't want to slip away.

I will actually be heading to the Flyers game tonight just a few rows from the ice as they take on Senators.

Not Gettin' Iggy With It
Unlike the Flyers, the Sixers haven't been able to buy a win as of late. They've lost three straight, now sit at 2-8 on the season and finish up a lengthy road trip on Tuesday in Cleveland. Elton Brand has gone back to Elton Bust and Andre Iguodala has looked shaky since returning from injury. This team needs to find a direction and fast. The Eastern Conference is no laughing matter anymore and a sub-.500 team may not make it to the playoffs this year. Which means, the Sixers could be losing a whole lot of games at this rate. The past few games, it seems like only half the team has shown up. Jrue Holiday is the one of a few players actually being consistent and providing the team an edge.

This may be a transition year for the Sixers but it is still very tough to sit and watch some of these games and the Sixers seem to roll over and die in the fourth quarter. Is it too early to make a trade or move or something to shake this team up?

Vick's Vapo Rub
Nothing like getting wasted off of Vapo Rub. Right Jamarcus Russell? Anyway, this has been one crazy season for our beloved Eagles. Who would have thought the Monday night showdown with McNabb would be a chance for the Eagles to tie for first place in the division?

And since the last meeting with McNabb, the Eagles went back to Kevin Kolb as quarterback due to injury, won a few close games, beat a top team in the NFC, gave Kenny Britt waaaaaay to much credit as a wide receiver, and got Michael Vick back to be the starter against McNabb on Monday night. And thanks to the new-look Cowboys beating up on the Giants, a win tonight at FedEx Field will have the Eagles and Giants tied atop the division. No one could have guessed this.

At halfway through the season, there still are a bunch of question marks on this team, but the next few weeks will tell the story of the Eagles 2010-2011 campaign as tough contests against the Giants, Bears, and Texans (oh my!) will show what playoff chutzpah this team may possess.

NFL Season Halftime Report

Monday Hangover - November 8, 2010

Well I'm back from all my little excursions to bring you yet another edition of Monday Hangover. With the Phillies season officially forgotten by now, I may or may not bring it back from the dead after my little trip to the place where you'll see the Phillies next... Clearwater.

But as the weekend progressed, Philly sports were back in full spring and after the last few weeks of disappointment (the Titans game, the Phillies losing) the Philly teams turned it around a bit this week.

Colt 45
Like the malt liquor referenced above, I, and many other fans as well, thought that this week's game against the Indianapolis Colts would leave a really sour taste in our collective mouth. Instead, the Eagles squeezed out a victory after a very sloppy and poorly officiated game.

First, I just gotta say that besides the Eagles' throwbacks, I think the Colts' throwback jerseys they wore on Sunday are the most amazing throwback jersey I've seen. My only questions is why didn't they wear the throwbacks at home? And if the Colts are in throwback, then why didn't the Eagles throw on the 1960 Kelly Greens. The world may never know.

The game itself was a frustrating one. Big plays led the Eagles to early scoring drives, but the birds still settled for too many field goals. It's very frustrating to have a 94 yard field goal drive.

To make matters worse, the Eagles got called for some pretty tough penalties. Now I'm not going to defend a team that committed 14 penalties for 125 total yards. A team like that should lose the game to a team like the Colts. But there had to be at least 3 or 4 of the 15-yard variety that were just plain unwarranted. When Austin Collie went down with a concussion, Eagles safety Kurt Coleman was called for hitting "a defenseless receiver". This topic and these types of hits have been all the rage in the NFL in the recent weeks. And Collie's injury is very scary but this hit did not deserve a penalty. Collie looks like he had his hands on the ball, started to turn, and was unfortunately spun around by two clean hits. Later in the game, the Eagles looked like they sacked and forced a fumble from Peyton Manning to officially seal a victory. Nope. Trent Cole gave Peyton's helmet the white glove test and the the Colts were awarded another 15 yards. Cole was clearly going for the ball and incidental contact to the quarterback's helmet should not be a penalty.

Regardless the Eagles were able to inch out of this one and get a well deserved victory.

Four Loko Brand
The Philadelphia 76ers opened the season on very shaky ground with big losses to Miami, Cleveland, and Atlanta, but have posted a bit of a turnaround as of late. They've won two of their last three and owe it in large part to Elton Brand. Brand, labeled by many, to be a huge bust since coming to Philly a couple of years ago, has had some huge games. He posted 25 points and 12 rebounds in a huge win over Indiana in the middle of the week and contributed 20 and 7 in yesterday's win over the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. With a young supporting cast and key contributions from Jrue Holiday, Evan Turner, and Lou Williams, Elton may be finally coming around. He's scored 20 or more points in the past four games and here's hoping that the Sixers can turn some of these performances into W's.

The Sixers have also been blessed by injury. Having Andre Iguodala out with an injured Achilles tendon has let Turner and Williams turn on the jets a bit. Giving these two guys more playing time is key to the future of this team. And I hope that Iggy's injury shows the Sixers front office the solution: Trade him. Soon. Get some young players or draft picks and move this team closer to resurgence. We already have a ton of capable guards and small forwards. There really is no point to having Andre on this team anymore.

Pretty Fly for a bunch of White Guys
Oh yeah and the Flyers just ended a nice little streak too. After starting a meager 3-4-1, the Flyers ripped off six straight victories before losing to the Caps last night in overtime. The offense is finally starting to click and it looks like this team is headed into the right direction. Claude Giroux, Jeff Carter and Mike Richards are living up to their billing as the offensive gurus, while rookie goaltender Sergei "Bob" Bobrovsky has played every minute of the winning streak. So far in the early going, "Bob" is 8-2-1 with a 2.19 goals against average and an impressive 92.6 save percentage. With starter Michael Leighton almost ready to return, veteran backup Brian Boucher may be the odd man out. When it comes to goaltending, you definitely cannot sit the hot hand (or glove). Look for the 22 year old Russian to continue his play as the Flyers visit the Canes on Veterans' Day.

I Can See Clearwater Now, the Rain is Gone
Yes, I just returned from a vacation in Clearwater, FL where I enjoyed the sun, the surf, and the sand. Too bad the sand was on the golf course. I also was able to stop outside the gates of Bright House Field and reflect on when I'll see my beloved Phillies again. In just a few short months, the crowds will once again start flocking to the stadium to see the 2011 version of the Phillies. So much hope was wrapped in the Phillies this year and it was tough to see the spring training facility as the San Francisco Giants won their first world series in over 50 years.

Monday Hangover - November 1, 2010

Ahh, November. The leaves are changing, the jackets are coming out, and...for the first time in what seems like forever, there wasn't an Eagles or Phillies game this weekend. It is quite depressing, especially considering that our last memories at the moment are Juan Uribe and Kenny Britt sticking daggers in our hearts. So, since there wasn't much actual sports action this weekend, this may turn into more of a rant than anything else, but who knows.

I hate baseball.

Yeah, that about sums it up. I didn't watch a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one cares. I have nothing against the Giants, even though they beat us, which is unlike me - I'll usually root against a team that beats a Philly team in the playoffs. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I also didn't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.

Kenny Britt is not that good.

But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' number 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt all day long. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air and Britt coming down with them. It sucks because this defense actually looks better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.

But there is a silver lining to this cloud...

Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts.

Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency, although a former Eagles backup QB who was on the team with McNabb mentioned that the one point the Eagles coaches continually tried to stress to McNabb was indeed picking up his tempo, which is critical in a West Coast offense. You don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan is seeing some of these qualities.

We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans. Maybe they should give some of us credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite his team getting the victory. That right there should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.

Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat up on yet again. It never gets old, Romo or no Romo, to see Dallas getting rocked, especially when they were the consensus pick to with the NFC East (even by me) and picked by many to go to the Super Bowl. Now, at an embarrassing 1-6, the team has become a punchline. The downtrodden state of the Cowboys will hopefully make it the perfect time for the Eagles to exact some revenge on them after being swept by Dallas in three games last season.

Orange and Black is Back

I guess I should also mention that the Flyers are looking good right now, having won four straight and sitting atop the Atlantic Division with 15 points after a 3-2 win against Carolina tonight. I don't know that there's been enough time yet to get over the Phillies to the point that I can get myself excited about the Flyers, but it looks like we have something to look forward to this season. Young goalie Sergei Bobrovsky (the "Bob") has been impressive so far, and the Flyers seem to be picking up where they left off with last year's magical playoff run. It's too early to start getting our hopes up too much just yet, but the Flyers are the one bright spot in the world of Philly sports right now.

R. Scott will be back next week, as he is again vacationing on the lovely beaches of Florida. Quite the life.

Monday Hangover - November 1, 2010

Ahh, November. The leaves are changing, the jackets are coming out, and...for the first time in what seems like forever, there wasn't an Eagles or Phillies game this weekend (tears). It is quite depressing, especially considering that our last memories at the moment are Juan Uribe and Kenny Britt sticking daggers in our hearts. So, since there wasn't much actual sports action this weekend, this may turn into more of a rant than anything else, but who knows.

I hate baseball.

Yeah, that about sums it up. I haven't watched a single pitch of this World Series, which really just means I have something in common with 99.99% of the country, because frankly, no one freaking cares. I don't even really care who wins, and I have nothing against the Giants even though they beat us, which is unlike me. They're a team who pitches well and plays scrappy ball, and they beat us straight up. No one on their team really bothers me, and of course I love Pat Burrell, even though it's really wrong that he may very well retire with more rings than Roy Halladay. I don't watch because every time I'm reminded of baseball, I want to throw the nearest fragile object at a wall. My frustration has subsided quite significantly by now, however, and the recovery stage is slowly beginning.

Kenny Britt is not that good.

But Ellis Hobbs may very well be that bad. I believe I mentioned something before the season about not trusting him as a starting corner and, well, I still lack said trust. I swear, every time anyone on the Titans made a big catch, and the TV camera would pan to the defender most responsible, it was good ol' 31 walking away. I give Nate Allen a pass because he's a rookie and he was defensive rookie of the month in September, and looks like he could turn out to be a really nice player. Hobbs is a veteran who was absolutely embarrassed by Kenny Britt. It got to the point where it was downright funny, with Kerry Collins looking more like he was playing a game of 500 just lobbing balls in the air. It sucks because this defense actually looks a lot better than I expected, but I still fear that the secondary will let us down big time in the end. Things aren't getting any easier throughout the remainder of the schedule, especially with the Colts next on the slate, so this group had better figure it out.

But there is a silver lining to this cloud...

Yes, there were a couple things that brought a little grin to my face this weekend. First was the Redskins benching Donovan McNabb for...and no, this is not a misprint...Rex Grossman. Yes, the great Rex with his whopping career passer rating of 69.6. Coach Mike Shanahan later revealed that he 1) isn't a huge fan of McNabb's practice habits and 2) doesn't feel that Donnie is in the greatest of shape (read here). Now, it's not that I hate McNabb, but as I've expressed before, there were things about the guy that we Eagles fans didn't like, but we were pounded into the pavement for expressing those feelings. Now, it appears that a very successful NFL head coach has similar thoughts. McNabb is a great quarterback, but he has a terrible habit of moving at a sluggish pace at the most crucial moments of a game, and not only that, he doesn't even appear to have a sense of urgency. McNabb lovers say he's "calm," but there are times in life when you don't need to be calm - see 4th quarter of Super Bowl XXXIX.

Shanahan's qualms with McNabb's practice tempo and conditioning don't surprise me one bit. McNabb strikes me as the kind of guy who got comfortable being Mr. Carefree on the Eagles knowing Andy Reid had his back, but his laid-back approach might be a little too much for his new coach. On the Eagles, it was always McNabb's team, which may have led to some complacency. A great quarterback might be able to get away with it on talent alone, but an elite quarterback will continue to work as hard as ever no matter what the situation. Of course this is all speculation - I haven't personally witnessed Donovan's workouts - but you don't have to do a ton of critical analysis to draw the conclusion that Mike Shanahan sees some of these qualities.

We shall see if the media comes to McNabb's defense as fervently as they have in the past now that it wouldn't also give them a chance to bash the Eagles and Philly fans, their favorite past time. Maybe they should give some of us some credit for thinking the time was right to trade McNabb, and for thinking that there were plenty of legitimate reasons to move on. And, maybe cows will fly. Oh, and if this wasn't funny enough, Shanahan actually is rumored to have considered benching McNabb AFTER beating the Eagles a couple weeks ago, despite the team getting a victory. That should tell you that it wasn't McNabb's effort that beat the Eagles, although, in typical Donovan fashion, he made the comment in the locker room post game that "they (the Eagles) made a mistake" in trading him. Yeah, boy, I wish we could have that one back.

Oh, and the other silver lining this weekend? The Cowboys getting beat on yet again. It env