SB Nation - Quintin Demps

Jason Peters out for today

JasonB — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:18:57 -0000

Left tackle Jason Peters is out for Sunday's game against the Chargers with an ankle injury. Left guard Todd Herremans will slide out and start at left tackle. Nick Cole will start at left guard and Stacy Andrews will start at right guard.

Peters didn't practice this week, but said as long as the cross country flight didn't complicate things he would play. Maybe it was the long flight... but regardless Peters is out. It's good have Herremans there rather than King Dunlap but it's obviously far less than ideal against a good pass rush.

To further compound the rash of injuries, Quintin Demps will also miss today's game with an ankle injury. Not only was Demps slated to be the return man in the absence of Ellis Hobbs, he was also expected to see time at corner where he played fairly well at times last year.

This is arguably the worst shape the Eagles have been in since the start of the year. Couple with that with a cross country trip against a decent team... Let's just say we need a big gut check performance to win this game.

State of the AFC West Week 9

Sam (sdsuaztec4) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:15:45 -0000

Well well well, here we are after week 9, a week I'd been looking forward to for awhile. I had a crazy day on Sunday which of course had a perfect ending. Last night's game was the proverbial "icing on the cake". The Chargers are now 1 game back at the halfway point of the season with 8 games to go. The Broncos still have the advantage with the 1 game lead and a win over the Chargers as a potential tiebreaker. As far as the schedules, of the 8 games remaining, 3 are easy division games (2 KC 1 OAK), but 4 are against tough teams (SD, NYG, INDY, PHI) and their game this week at Washington. On the other hand, the Chargers get the Browns and Titans, don't have to play Indy, but they only play the Chiefs one more time. As far as momentum, it is clearly on the side of the Chargers who have capped their three game winning streak with an emotional win at the Meadowlands. The Broncos on the other hand are riding a two-game losing streak that included two disappointing second halves. Oakland and KC are still out of the picture.

Jump the break for individual teams.

AFC West Standings

	W	L	PF	PA
Denver	6	2	150	124
San Diego	5	3	206	179
Oakland	2	6	78	201
Kansas City	1	7	126	205

(updated 11.10.2009 at 1:30 AM PST)

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders had a quiet bye week getting healthy and trying not to lose any football games. Running back Darren McFadden, wide receiver Chaz Schilens, left guard Robert Gallery and right tackle Cornell Green returned to practice Monday and are expected to play against the Kansas City Chiefs this week. So that's good news. Although Tom Cable won't be charged criminally, the NFL is evaluating the situation and sending out people to determine if Cable should attend anger management classes. The National League of Women (NOW) and other women's rights groups are calling for Cable's job. The Raiders next division match-up is this week's pillow-fight of the week in Oakland. Let the battle to determine the most dysfunctional team begin, too bad nobody will see it because it will likely be blacked out.

Oakland Raiders Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Cornell Green	calf	11/09/2009
Tony Stewart	chest	11/09/2009
Gerard Warren	toe	11/09/2009
Jon Alston	shoulder	11/09/2009
Ricky Brown	ankle	11/09/2009
Robert Gallery	fibula	11/09/2009
Tommy Kelly	elbow	11/09/2009
Chris Johnson	groin	11/09/2009
Chaz Schilens	foot	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
John Bowie	knee	09/30/2009
Oren O'Neal	ankle	10/14/2009

Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs played a close game against the Jaguars which inevitably ended in another loss. As the Chiefs march toward another top 5 draft pick, the big story is still the rapid fall of Larry Johnson which ended in his release from the Chiefs. Although they will probably end up paying him a lot of money since I doubt anyone will pick him up, this gives Jamaal Charles more opportunity to play and gets rid of a clubhouse cancer. Chris Chambers seem to have rejuvenated their offense, at least for the moment, with two TD passes. The addition seems to have helped the Chiefs and the Chargers at the same time, and Chris will probably be happier too. As already mentioned, the Chiefs next division game is at Oakland which I'm sure will be terribly exciting.

Kansas City Chiefs Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Jon McGraw	thigh	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Devard Darling	knee	09/01/2009
Jarrad Page	calf	11/04/2009
Jackie Battle	shoulder	10/14/2009
Colin Brown	undisclosed	09/05/2009

Denver Broncos: Will the real Broncos please stand up? Are they the 6-0 team or the 0-2 team? Are they the second-half juggernaut or the second-half duds? Is Kyle Orton the QB who threw one INT in 7 games or 3 INT's in one game? Are they a punishing opponents on the lines or the team that didn't get ONE rushing first-down against the Steelers? The answer is probably somewhere close to the middle. Teams are starting to key on the Broncos weakness and adjusting their game-plans as such. Kyle Orton looks nervous as opposed to the pillar of strength he looked like earlier in the season. Either way, the Broncos are much better than everyone thought but they still aren't an elite team. The Steelers were clearly the superior team last night, even at Mile High. The Broncos have lost some momentum going forward but they are still healthy and still have the advantage over the Chargers. Now is the time for Josh McDaniels to adjust to the adjustments that other teams are making. Going forward, we will see if the Broncos and McDaniels are studs or duds. The game at Washington this weekend may tell us a lot about the Broncos. Their next division match-up looks to be a huge game with playoff implications at Mile High against the Chargers.

Denver Broncos Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryan McBean	knee	11/10/2009
Peyton Hillis	other-excused	11/10/2009
David Bruton	groin	11/10/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Nick Greisen	knee	08/05/2009
J'Vonne Parker	knee	08/08/2009

San Diego Super Chargers: The Bolts are flying high after an emotional victory at the Meadowlands and gaining the momentum in the AFC West race if not the advantage. They are finally getting healthy, emotionally and physically, as well and it looks like All-Pro center Nick Hardwick will make his return to Qualcomm Stadium this weekend against the Eagles. The Chargers are still a little banged up at the linebacker position; SP95 was injured in the Giants game and Kevin Burnett and Tim Dobbins are still ailing. It looks like Phillips and Burnett will play this weekend while Dobbins will sit. LB Jyles Tucker is also most likely out this weekend. It looks like the Eagles are having the same problem the Chargers were earlier in the season: inability to keep anyone healthy. If Westbrook is out and the Eagles must depend on the passing game, the Chargers could win big with improved pass rush from Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips. The Chargers are also only 2-2 this season and they need to improve their play at home. The game is already sold out so we know it will be loud this weekend. Our next division match-up is Week 11 at Mile High Stadium.

San Diego Chargers Injuries

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Tim Dobbins	knee	11/09/2009
Nick Hardwick	ankle	11/09/2009
Kevin Burnett	ankle	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Ryon Bingham	arm	09/05/2009
Jamal Williams	triceps	09/19/2009
Antwan Applewhite	hamstring	10/20/2009
Brandon Hughes	knee	09/02/2009

Philadelphia Eagles Injuries

Probable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Max Jean-Gilles	shoulder	11/09/2009

Questionable

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Victor Abiamiri	knee	11/09/2009
Chris Gocong	other-excused	11/09/2009
Akeem Jordan	knee	11/10/2009
Brian Westbrook	ankle	11/09/2009
Quintin Demps	ankle	11/09/2009

Out (IR / Out / Suspended / Physically unvailable)

Player	Injury Type	Injury Date
Shawn Andrews	back	09/15/2009
Stewart Bradley	knee	09/01/2009
Omar Gaither	foot	10/22/2009
Cornelius Ingram	knee	09/01/2009
Fenuki Tupou	chest	09/05/2009

The Aftermath: Eagles Week Nine Injury Report

Bob_Q — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 01:11:57 -0000

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP

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As if losing to the Cowboys at home wasn't bad enough, the Eagles now have a lengthy injury list to deal with during the coming week. Probably the most worrisome loss is that of weakside linebacker Akeem Jordan, who suffered a hyperextended knee and a bone bruise. The Eagles have had a very rough season at linebacker so far, and with Jordan's status labeled as "uncertain" the defense will have to rely on backups Jeremiah Trotter, Moise Fokou, Tracy White, and Joe Mays, none of whom have performed very impressively so far. Let's hope Jordan gets better soon so he can bring his tenacity back to the field.

Another potential major loss comes in the form of an ankle injury to one Jason Peters. Peters' ankle has been giving him trouble all season, and while Todd Herremans is certainly a capable fill-in at left tackle, the last thing the Eagles offensive line needs is for another starter to miss playing time.

Leonard Weaver, Ellis Hobbs, and Quintin Demps all made the injury list as well. Fortunately, Weaver's sprained ankle is not expected to cost our valuable fullback any practice time. However, the same cannot be said for cornerback/kick returner Hobbs, whose neck injury will require further evaluation. Demps' ankle sprain should limit his practice time this week, but there is a chance he will play against San Diego this Sunday.

But not all is lost, Eagles faithful. This week we get to witness the return of three and a half starters: Brian Westbrook, Victor Abiamiri, Chris Gocong, and Kevin Curtis. According to Andy Reid, all four players are expected to practice this week. Not a moment too soon, either. The absence of Gocong was certainly felt last game, as rookie backup Moise Fokou drew two very costly penalties, including one that negated an Ellis Hobbs return TD. The return of Westbrook and Curtis will certainly help our offense by giving Donovan McNabb more options to throw to, but don't expect to see Curtis take back his starting job from Jeremy Maclin. Curtis has been out the entire season and will likely have a lot of rust to knock off.

Gameday Lincs - Eagles vs Cowboys

JasonB — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 21:00:36 -0000

via cdn2.sbnation.com

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PhillyBurbs.com: Under Andy Reid, Eagles own Cowboys
Andy Reid has probably told the story a dozen times since he got here a decade ago. He was at McDonald's near the NovaCare Complex picking up breakfast soon after becoming the Eagles' head coach when an 80-something woman cornered him and said that nothing else mattered, "Just beat the (expletive) Cowboys." And he has. Reid has defeated the Cowboys more than any coach in NFL history.

NFL Preview - Dallas (5-2) at Philadelphia (5-2) - Football - MiamiHerald.com
Sole possession of first place in the NFC's East Division will be on the line when the Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles renew their spirited rivalry with a Sunday night showdown at Lincoln Financial Field to highlight the Week 9 schedule.

Keys to winning: Dallas Cowboys must avoid Eagles' Sheldon Brown
Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo hasn't thrown an interception in three games, the first time he has ever done this in his short starting career. To continue that streak, he'll have to throw away from Sheldon Brown, who has 21 tackles and 3 interceptions, while having the lowest completion rate against him of any other cornerback in the NFL.

Final Word: NFC East - NFC East - ESPN
The Cowboys believe they can attack the Eagles' defense in the middle of the field. I just returned from Valley Ranch, where two Cowboys offensive players said they thought the middle of the Eagles' defense would be vulnerable. In particular, the Cowboys believe Eagles safeties Sean Jones and Quintin Mikell could leave some holes in that area of the field.

More after the jump

S.A.'s Demps overcoming ‘growing pains' with Eagles
Eagles free safety Quintin Demps' first career interception couldn't have come at a better time for the Roosevelt graduate. In addition to sparking a scoring drive, his theft of an Eli Manning pass in last week's 40-17 thumping of the Giants restored Demps' confidence in himself. "It let me know that I still got it," Demps said.

Dallas Cowboys Blog - Cowboys-Eagles key matchups - ESPN Dallas
We'll look at one matchup from both sides of the ball:

Brent Celek earning status as an elite tight end in NFL -- latimes.com
For years, the Philadelphia Eagles didn't have to look far to find some of the best receiving tight ends in football. They just had to glance around the NFC East -- Chris Cooley in Washington, Jason Witten in Dallas and Kevin Boss with the New York Giants. Now, the Eagles have one of their own.

Steve Young: Cowboys/Eagles Preview - ESPN Video - ESPN
Steve Young: Cowboys/Eagles Preview

Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid knows how to beat the Dallas Cowboys
Of all the coaches throughout the history of the NFL -- from Hall of Famers Vince Lombardi and Joe Gibbs to Don Shula and Bill Parcells -- guess who has beaten the Dallas Cowboys more than anyone else? If you said Andy Reid, go get a glass of pickle juice and start the game with an onside kick.

The VRR: Cowboys (5-2) @ Eagles (5-2)

Aaron Novinger — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:05:51 -0000

More photos » by Carolyn Kaster - AP

The Dallas secondary could try to bump DeSean Jackson out of Andy Reid's gameplan.

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How do you defend the hottest receiving threat in the NFC East? Both the Dallas and the Philadelphia defenses could be asking themselves this very question all the way up to the Cowboys @ Eagles matchup on Sunday Night Football.

It could be tough for us, fans, to relax and watch the day games without twiddling our thumbs in anxiety over such thoughts as, "will Miles Austin's touchdown streak continue?" or "can the secondary stop DeSean Jackson?" Certainly, there are many other stories to the game to focus on, but lately it has been the continued emergence of these two weapons that has greatly increased the threat of these teams' respective offenses.

When that first ball kicks off, though, we will forget this week's headlines and get caught up in the hard-hitting, well-balanced contest that this should turn out to be. Playing physically has helped put the Cowboys where they are today. Continuing to do so could help produce on the scoreboard, and better yet, lead to a 6-2 record come Monday.

Can the physical play of Mike Jenkins stop DeSean Jackson? Eagles' safety Quintin Demps says, "no".

"Just be physical," Jenkins said Wednesday. "Go out and hit them in the mouth."

If that means playing press coverage, Jenkins might want to re-think that stance, Philadelphia safety Quintin Demps suggested in a phone interview.

"I've never seen a guy that fast and quick at the same time," Demps, a Roosevelt graduate, said of Jackson. "And he's smart. He knows how to play off of leverage and get off press coverage."

More Cowboys @ Eagles after the jump.

If Miles Austin and DeSean Jackson get voted into the Pro Bowl, it would be the first time a WR from both teams make it to Hawaii since the early 90s.

Now our guy Adam Schefter has unearthed the interesting nugget that a Cowboys and Eagles wide receiver haven't gone to the Pro Bowl in the same season since Michael Irvin and the immortal Fred Barnett both made it in 1992. Before that, you have to go all the way back to Tony Hill and Mike Quick.

Former Dallas defensive coordinator, Brian Stewart, may have not have much insight to offer Andy Reid in regards to Wade Phillips' defense.

Philadelphia coach Andy Reid tried to downplay the importance of having former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart on his staff. Reid said whatever insight Stewart offers in advance of Sunday's game would be offset by coach Wade Phillips' ability to be unpredictable with his defense.

"Wade is a pretty creative guy," Reid said. "We have talked to ... [Stewart], but at the same time I know they've made changes."

Since taking over the Cowboys, Phillips is 2-2 against Reid. For his career as a head coach and defensive coordinator, Phillips is 4-5 against Reid.

Roy Williams had two of his best games in Philadelphia.

Going to Philadelphia could rouse Roy Williams from his funk. With Detroit, he had nine catches for 135 yards and two touchdowns at Philadelphia in 2004 and nine catches for a career-high 204 yards and one touchdown in 2007.

S Brian Dawkins is a tough presence to replace in the Philly secondary.

The Eagles have used a three-man rotation his place: rookie Macho Harris, Sean Jones and Quintin Demps. Harris started the first six games, but Jones replaced him for last week's win over the New York Giants. The Eagles have not committed to a starter against the Cowboys.

LB Chris Gocong is doubtful, but Brian Westbrook will be ready.

In other injury news, running back Brian Westbrook was held out of practice on Friday after a strong two days of practice by Reid, but he is expected to play and contribute in a significant manner on Sunday night against the Dallas Cowboys.

Wide receiver Kevin Curtis is the only player listed as out.

Rookie seventh-round pick Moise Fokou will start as the strongside linebacker if Gocong is unable to go. Coach Reid said he had plenty of confidence in Fokou to get the job done.

"He's worked hard," Reid said of Fokou. "Even when Chris was healthy, he worked in there during practice."

Cowboys @ Eagles injury report, courtesy of philadelphiaeagles.com.

CuJo and K.O. to play against the Eagles?

Based on the special teams practices all week, it appears linebacker Curtis Johnson and wide receiver Kevin Ogletree will both be in uniform for Sunday’s game in Philadelphia.

Marion Barber's quad is inching closer to being at full strength.

It could take up to 10 weeks for Barber to be 100 percent, according to the Cowboys. But Wade Phillips said Barber is getting better every week and starting to show some of that old explosiveness.

"He’s got a little more juice," Phillips said. "It’s an injury that you lose strength. It’s not something where you’re going to get injured again. He lost some power in one leg. He could play, and I thought he had his best game last week. He looked good today. I think more and more we’ll see the Marion Barber that we know and love."

Barber blogged about getting ready for the Eagles on his website.

My left thumb is still a little bit jammed from our game in Kansas City. I jammed it pretty good during pass protection but it's alright now. It doesn't affect my ability to carry the ball or anything.

Miles Austin has been coming up big for us recently and it's no surprise to anyone on the team. He's been balling out there and he's gonna continue to do so. We have a lot of guys who can produce and it's a great feeling. We have three guys in the backfield who are all dangerous too. That's a big plus for us because we work really well together. Nobody worries about who gets the touches, we all just want to win. There's no jealousy.

Stephen Bowen's hard work and athleticism are really starting to show this season.

Bowen, who carries 306 pounds on a 6-foot-5 frame, started playing football when he was 7. He said his height was average until the ninth grade, when he had a growth spurt that continued until he was big enough to move from linebacker to defensive line at Hofstra.

Bowen also played running back in high school. As a senior, he amassed 565 yards of total offense and scored four touchdowns.

"A lot of guys think I have good feet, and it's because I wasn't always big," Bowen said.

Bowen's athleticism was on display when he batted down Hasselbeck's pass on third-and-10 from the Dallas 25-yard line during Seattle's opening possession. Had the ball found its way to running back Justin Forsett, he likely would have scored on a perfectly set up middle screen. Instead, the Seahawks had to settle for a field goal.

With his impressive leg strength, David Buehler will reassess what his touchback goals are for this season.

No other team has more than 13 touchbacks. Buehler, who came into the season, with the goal of leading the NFL in the category said it's time to revise his goal.

"Instead of leading the league in touchbacks," Buehler said, "I can try and push past everybody and be in a league of my own."

The series history between these two clubs:

The Cowboys hold a 53-43 advantage in their all-time regular season series with the Eagles, including a conventional split of last year's home-and-home. Dallas won a 41-37 home thriller when the teams met in Week 2 of last season, but as previously mentioned, were drilled by a 44-6 count with a playoff berth on the line at Lincoln Financial Field in Week 17. Dallas last won in Philly in 2007, coming up a 38-17 winner in a primetime game there.

In addition to their regular season advantage, the Cowboys have a 2-1 edge in the postseason series. The Eagles were 20-7 winners in the 1980 NFC Championship, while Dallas won NFC Divisional Playoff games over Philadelphia following the 1992 and 1995 seasons.

Eagles head coach Andy Reid has a career record of 14-6 against the Cowboys. Dallas' Wade Phillips is 3-2 all-time against both Philadelphia and Reid all- time, with the first of those wins coming in the form of a 26-0 rout for Phillips' Bills over the Eagles in 1999.

Raf breaks down the key matchups in his post here.

Here is the NFL Game Center for the Dallas Cowboys at Philadelphia Eagles.

If you're away from the TV, but have access to a computer Sunday night, you can watch the game live here.

Vote for some Cowboys to make the 2010 Pro Bowl here.

You've got 21 days left to vote Emmitt Smith on Van Heusen Fan's Choice.

The Banged-Up Bucs: Week 5 Pre-Game Injury Report

Bob_Q — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 22:04:50 -0000

More photos » by Reinhold Matay - AP

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We all know the good news headed into week five is that everyone's favorite Eagles, Donovan McNabb and Brian Westbrook, are back and ready to kick some tail. Returning with them against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be several familiar faces: FS Quintin Demps, CB Ellis Hobbs, OG Max Jean-Gilles, RT Winston Justice, and CB Dimitri Patterson. WR Kevin Curtis is listed as questionable while battling a knee injury, meaning that rookie Jeremy Maclin could get another chance to earn a permanent starting position opposite DeSean Jackson. LG Todd Herremans is still out with his foot injury, but is recovering could make it back on the field as soon as next week. All in all, the bye week gave the Eagles a great chance to get the majority of their team healthy and back on the field.

On the other side of the ball, the Bucs look a little worse for wear. After going 0-4 in their first four games, Tampa Bay is limping into week five without their starting center, Jeff Faine, without whom the offensive line has fallen into disarray. This should provide several nice opportunities for Trent Cole and company to put some serious pressure on young QB Josh Johnson. Rookie DE/DT Kyle Moore is also out with a knee injury, and backups RB Earnest Graham and CB Torrie Cox are listed as questionable, depriving the Bucs of some of their depth. Most importantly, though, are the potential losses of starting DE Gaines Adams and last year's leading receiver Antonio Bryant, who are both listed as questionable. In his three games played this season, Bryant has caught 7 catches for 79 yards and a touchdown - the only touchdown thrown by Josh Johnson this season. Adams has started all four games and recorded 10 tackles and a single sack.

McNabb Doubtful for Sunday, 3 Other Eagles Out

Bob_Q — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:54:24 -0000

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According to a report on PhiladelphiaEagles.com, Donovan McNabb (cracked ribs) is still listed as "Doubtful" for this Sunday's game against the New Orleans Saints. McNabb has missed all of this week's practice so far, although Andy Reid has already stated that the quarterback is "capable of playing and playing well without the benefit of practice." Still, it is looking more and more likely that backup Kevin Kolb will receive his first start as McNabb continues to rehab. The official definition of the "Doubtful" injury label means that there is at least a 75% chance that the player will not play.

Three other Eagles have been listed as "OUT," meaning they will not be taking part in Sunday's game: offensive guard Todd Herremans (stress fracture), free safety Quintin Demps (hamstring strain), and middle linebacker Joe Mays (shoulder sprain). Defensive end Victor Abiamiri is listed as "Questionable" (50-50 chance of playing) after sustaining a groin injury during this week's practice.

To cover the gap at offensive guard, Reid has said that he will rotate three players though the two guard spots: Stacy Andrews, Nick Cole, and Max Jean-Gilles. Andrews has been reported as saying that he will not be starting over Jean-Gilles because he still needs time to improve his comfort with the Eagles' offensive scheme.

Abiamiri's potential loss shouldn't hurt the deep and talented defensive end position. It could also mean that preseason hero Jason Babin might be able to sneak in a regular season rep or two.

The temporary loss of Demps and Mays should not effect the defense much. Omar Gaither and Macho Harris are both performing well as starters and there are far worse backups than Sean Jones and Moise Fokou.

Gameday Lincs - Eagles at Panthers

JasonB — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 10:00:26 -0000

More photos » by Matt Rourke - AP

Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook looks on during practice at the team's NFL football training facility in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2009. The Eagles open the season on the road against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday, Sept. 13. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

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Who's picking the Eagles? | Philly | 09/12/2009
A overview of a number of national pundits making picks on the Eagles/Panthers game.

Didinger's Eagles-Panthers Scouting Report
Breaking down Sunday’s game between the Eagles and the Carolina Panthers.

The Canadian Press: Michael Vick will get taste of Eagles road trip with game at Carolina
"This gives him an opportunity when he steps back in to be familiar with how we do things," Reid said Friday. "It gives him an opportunity to go through the whole travelling process and the meetings, and I think that's important for where he's at right now."

Opposition spotlight: Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles won at the beginning of the century's first decade, and after a late=season push to the NFC Championship Game last January, they're poised to win at its end.

There's a Panthers Season Opener Here? On Sunday? - Cat Scratch Reader
There seems to be a lack of buzz in Charlotte about the Panthers and the start of the NFL season.

More after the jump including the enigmas, Peppers and Andrews, and a note about the Eagles' special teams.

About the special teams | Philadelphia Daily News | 09/12/2009
DeSean Jackson will be the punt returner and Ellis Hobbs and Quintin Demps both could potentially see time returning kicks, although Hobbs seems like the likely favorite.

Which Julius Peppers will Eagles face? | Philadelphia Inquirer | 09/12/2009
Julius Peppers: Enigma. The story continues for the Carolina Panthers.

Philadelphia Eagles' Shawn Andrews will miss opener; Michael Vick traveling - ESPN
Shawn Andrews has more free time to wear sunglasses and tape his wacky, musical YouTube videos.

Chiefs Still $7 Million Short of Salary Cap Minimum - Arrowhead Pride
Here's an interesting situation, the Chiefs need to spend another $7 million just to reach the salary cap minimum. I think they have until.. now? If they don't, they have to split the $7 mil amongst every player who attended training camp for them.

Macho Harris beats out Quintin Demps for Eagles starting free safety job

JasonB — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 00:16:04 -0000

by Bradley C Bower - AP

Apparently Macho was really listening to his new boss. (AP Photo/Bradley C Bower)

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Today it was all but confirmed that rookie Victor "Macho" Harris has beaten out second year man Quintin Demps for the Eagles starting free safety job. While it hasn't yet been officially announced, Harris was practicing with the first team and Quintin Demps basically confirmed the news when he spoke after practice.

"I'm disappointed in myself," Demps said. "I just have to come out and be ready to play my role. I'm on special teams and we're still competing. I'm going to come in and compete every day. I have to help Macho out as much as I can and be humble about it," Demps said. "It's the National Football League. I had an opportunity, I didn't take advantage of it and I have to take it for what it is."

Demps acknowledged that his comments from last week may have also contributed to his demotion.

"You gotta watch what you say," said Demps. "You can't let frustrations get to you. You have to learn from your mistakes and move on."

He also admitted that he hadn't played with enough consistency throughout the preseason and credited Harris for playing "like he had nothing to lose." I do have to credit Demps for handling his demotion with a lot more professionalism and class than he handled things last week.

"We're all men. We all could tell that I wasn't being consistent enough," Demps said. "There's no sugarcoating it in the NFL. It is what it is. We're still competing. It's still a competition. I just have to go in there and compete everyday. Keep it moving."

Harris was a cornerback at Virgina Tech last year, but obviously has made the transition to safety in the NFL rather well so far. That said, he's still clearly a work in progress and will be a guy to keep a close eye on. If he continues to work as hard as he did in preseason and play with the same intensity, there's every reason to believe he'll be a good safety in this league.

Macho Harris reacted to the news via his twitter,

I'm def living my dream! and I'm blessed to be playing a childs game for a kings ransom!... that's a quote from Sean Taylor btw! One of my Favorite Players of all time!

Quintin Demps "irritated" at not being named starter yet

JasonB — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 13:00:15 -0000

This certainly doesn't sound like the humility you'd expect from a second year player hoping to win a starting job...

"It’s getting kind of irritating, man," Demps said. "It’s too close to not have a starter already. I just feel like we should already have a starter. I don’t know how to explain it, but it’s getting irritating."

"Right now, I’m the starting free safety, but there are so many games being played that it’s getting irritating," Demps said.

The "games being played" are called competition Quintin. You'll face it every year in the NFL. Very few guys on this team or this league have so much job security that they don't even have to compete for a job. I think it's fair to say that every second year player with little starting experience are fighting for jobs in this league.

It seems that Demps thought he'd inherited the job when Dawkins left, but he's quickly learning that's not how it works.

“If I had known it was going to be like this, this late, I would have probably worked extra. It’s kind of been a carousel for me, but I’m just going to go out this last game hopefully and just open some eyes and put it in cement that I’m the starter.”

Great players always work extra. He doesn't need to look any further than his own teammates in the secondary for that. Asante didn't turn himself from a 6th round pick into one of the premier corners in the game by not "working extra." Quintin Mikell never assumed he had a starting job, he's always worked like he was fighting for a job.

We can only hope that he takes this as a learning experience. That you can never take anything for granted in the NFL... but complaining to the media that he's irritated that he hasn't been named the starter yet doesn't seem to indicate that he's "getting it."