Granted, this probably doesn't mean a whole lot.   But, draftcountdown.com rated Cornelius Ingram and Brandon Gibson as two of the best values in the NFL draft for where they were taken.  I think Ingram could be a pretty good player for the Eagles, but I was kind of writing off Gibson as a guy who probably won't survive the final cutdown.  Do you think Gibson has a better than average chance to make the roster? 

 

Draft Coundown Article

A. Q. Shipley from Penn State was a guy I would have liked the Eagles to have taken a  shot at with a late pick.  I would have rather seen them take Shipley instead of Fenuki Tupou.

I also thought it was kind of funny that the article also crapped on 4 of the Raiders' draft picks.

Talk about NFL draft insanity.  There is already a mock draft for 2010 on si.com.  I mean, cripes, can't we at least play the 2009 season before we start to even think about a 2010 draft?  Well, the good news is Andrew Perloff has the Eagles picking 31st, so they'll be in the Super Bowl.  Unfortunately he has them losing to the Chargers.  He also predicts that the Eagles will pick offensive tackle Ciron Black from LSU.  I don't know which is more moronic - projecting a 2010 mock draft when it's only April 2009 or the fact that he has them taking an offensive tackle.  We're already looking to replace Peters and Stacey Andrews??

Just to mock this mock draft, I predict the Eagles will trade up to pick a defensive end in the first round.  They'll take Carlos Dunlap, DE out of Florida.  Suck on that Sports Illustrated!

 

 

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/andrew_perloff/04/28/2010/index.html?bcnn=yes

If you sit in Section 108, Row 30, Seat 1 at the Linc, you'll be standing.  Five Villanova students were caught stealing the above mentioned seat and a sign from the Eagles stadium.  Sounds to me like some scavenger hunt type fraternity prank.  The pictures with the article were pretty funny.  I don't know which one was funnier - the picture of the sign in the SUV or the one of the gate propped up against the fence like a ladder with the lone seat sitting forlornly in the rain.

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20090415_5_out-of-staters_caught_stealing_from_Lincoln_Financial_Field.html

 

 

I know this may be a bit off topic, but I was just curious to see how many of you have season tickets.  I kind of had to laugh when I paid my season ticket bill online because the Eagles charged a $1 fee if you paid your invoice online instead of mailing it in.  I'm not bitching about it, I just thought it was humerous that there was an offer for a lower interest rate on your card if you paid using your Eagles Mastercard and they would charge you a buck for using a payment method that should be less work for them.

 

But mainly, how many of you have tickets?

Do the Eagles get a compensatory draft pick for losing L J Smith to free agency?  If so, about how high will the pick end up being? 

According to the Eagles website, they have two 1st round picks, one pick in eaco of the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th rounds.  Three 5th round draft pics after the Lito Sheppard trade to the Jets, two 6th round draft choices, and one 7th round pick.  The extra picks in the fifth combined with whatever possible pick they receive for the "loss" of L J Smith could allow them to either trade up in the second round or trade for an extra 2nd round pick.

 

It seems like he's been playing pretty well for the Eagles.  If I'm correct, he blasted a big hole for McNabb on the QB sneak for a TD against Dallas and got out in front for a nice block for Westbrooks' TD against the Vikings.  Do you think he could eventually become a full-time starter for the Eagles?  I do hope that Shawn Andrews can come back from injury and his problems with depression.  But, if he cannot or if the Eagles choose to let one of their tackles leave and move Herremans out to tackle, do you think Nick Cole would be very good as a starter?

From the Inquirer:

http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/20081225_Eagles_Notes___McNabb___I_think_I_ve_played_great_.html

I know you don't say, "I sucked" because he hasn't.  I wouldn't say he was great, but a better answer would probably be something like, "We're 8-6-1, I'm not satisfied with that."  An answer of  "I think I've played great" after this season sums up everthing that is wrong with this team and just grates on frustrated Eagles fans.  Overall, I do like Donovan McNabb, but too many times he just doesn't seem to get it. 

I may be wrong but this part of the article kind of pissed me off:

When Reid was asked if he plans to run the ball more against Dallas, he said, "Yeh, I think we're going to run it every down. Merry Christmas to you and the fans." 

In the past, I thought Reid kind of got it with the fans.  This is just a total dick head comment from him, especally after the past 2 seasons.  Sorry if you guys disagree.

I do not want to replace him with Brian Billick. Billick seemed a bit spent at the end of his tenure and even more arrogant than Andy. Cowher could be another Mike Ditka. Really good with is first team, but not so good the second time around. Plus, I'm not a fan of recycling coaches. So, here are my ideas:

1. Josh McDaniels - Offensive coordinator and QB coach for the Patriots. Was a personnel assistant in the Patriot's scouting department, so he has an ability to judge talent which really intrigues me. Personnel decisions seem to be a weakness with Reid and the Eagles seem to love to eventually give that responsibility to their head coach. It happened with both Reid and Ray Rhoades. He's been with the Patriots for 8 years, so he has experience with a winning pro organization. As QB coach, he seems to be doing a good job with Matt Cassel, and you have to be impressed with that.

2. Steve Spagnuolo - Defensive coordinator for the Giants. He's probably the sexy pick at this point. Do I really need to elaborate on this guy?

3. Rex Ryan - Currently defensive coordinator for the Baltimore Ravens. Earned 2006 NFL assistant coach of the year honors from Pro Football Weekly. Was an assistant on the Ravens' Super Bowl team. Has 22 years of coaching experience, including 12 in the NFL. The Ravens are currently ranked #2 in overall defense and have allowed an average of only 17 points per game. Plus, he's Buddy's kid, so there's something kinda cool about that.

4. Jeff Davison - Currently offensive coordinator for the Carolina Panthers. went throug a disaster at QB last season with the Panthers and managed to have a very good running attack. A coach who values the running game? Interesting.... Spent 1997-2004 as an assistant on the Patriots. Again, experience with a Super Bowl winning organization. He may not be a real head coaching candidate at this point. But, if Reid is brought back for next season, I'd definitely keep my eye on Davison.

For some ideas on assistants - I'm willing to bet that Marvin Lewis will be fired as the Bengals head coach. I'd love to bring him in as defensive coordinator. There's also a chance that Charlie Weiss will be available after this season. I'd be interested in Charlie as offensive coordinator, especially if Josh McDaniels would be the coach. Probably a pipe dream to get either if not both Lewis and Weiss but I can dream, can't I? If not, I know the Eagles are really high on Pat Shurmur as are some other teams. I'm also making a big push for Jerry Rice as receivers coach.

When asked what Donovan said when he was told he wasn’t playing, Reid said he hadn’t talked to him yet. Come again??? How does the head coach not tell a starting quarterback with the status that Donvan McNabb has attained, that he is being benched? You mean to tell me you let an assistant coach do that deed? That is just cowardly. What does that say about Reid as a coach? What does it say about him as a person? I know this is completely unfair, but you wonder how Reid’s kids got where they are. Reid could not tell McNabb he is benched? I totally believe it was the wrong move to bench McNabb at halftime. That point can be debated. But there is no debate that it was wrong to let an assistant coach break the news to him. I know I’m being redundant about this point, but it just unfathomable that Reid would do that. That is the type of move that makes every single player on your roster lose respect for you. How could you play for a man who isn’t man enough to tell you to your face that you are benched? The poor play calling, the poor handling of players, it all tells me that Reid will not be back next year. I’m starting to wonder if Reid will beat Banner and Lurie to the punch and resign. It seems like it has all broken him – the losing, dealing with the media, and the off-field problems with his family. I thought Reid was going to step down after the problems with his kids, and I was obviously wrong. But I can’t imagine him coming back. Not after all this. I was all for giving Reid two more years to turn it around. Not now. It’s over for Reid in Philadelphia. A tie to the Bengals and a thumping at the hands of your former assistant coach, now Ravens head coach, John Harbaugh tells me Reid is spent. He has no more magic left. So in the offseason, I have to hope that a real GM is hired and a coach is hired who believes in a balanced running attack. I hope the Eagles don’t make the same mistake again and give a coach too much power, like they did with both Ray Rhodes and Andy Reid. But I hope there are enough players on this roster that the rebuilding process isn’t too painful.

I read this article by Mark Eckel:

http://www.nj.com/columns/times/index.ssf?/base/columns-0/1226811917192100.xml&coll=5&thispage=2

I like Mark, but I really think he made this whole scenario up after a hard night of drinking and eating Doritos. While it's an interesting fantasy, that's all it is. A fantasy. I think it's pretty safe to say this cockamamie scenario won't happen. All that said, what are your thoughts on this article and situation?

I didn’t think things would go this bad - a tie to the Bengals.  The season has deteriorated to this.  It may be unofficial, but hope for a playoff appearance after this season is over.  I should have watched my NFL Films Pottstown Firebirds DVD.  Granted it is about a team that hasn’t existed for 38 years, but it would have been more entertaining and less frustrating.  Unfortunately, the Eagles have the same chance of making the playoffs as that defunct minor league football team.

 

Last week I was advocating keeping Reid for the next two seasons and trading McNabb because I want to see what Reid can do with Kolb at quarterback along with the two first round draft choices.  After this game, Reid is really making it hard to defend that position.  His play calling was just awful and utilization of his personnel was equally bad.  In the post-game press conference, among other things, Reid said they need to run the ball better.  You have to actually run the ball to run it better.  They only ran the ball 18 times.  I think they only ran the ball 6 times in the first half for 10 yards.  That is absolutely ridiculous.  For a coach who likes to spread the ball around, why would he only give the ball to Buckhalter two times the entire game?  Buck has shown he can be effective with the ball when he played well in Westbrook’s absence. 

 

Why did they call a timeout in the fourth quarter on 4th and 1 and then kick a field goal?  I mean, that kind of game management is downright Kotite-ian.  It’s further proof that Reid is bad with in-game decisions.  Though, that wasn’t the most controversial call Reid made.  It was his decision not to go for it on 4th and 1 near the end of overtime.  I actually didn’t think they could get the first down if they had gone for it.  The ineptness of the offense gave me no confidence and apparently Reid felt the same way.  I guess it was less embarrassing to tie than to lose, though I still would have been embarrassed by this game even if the Eagles managed to win. 

 

Reid looks like this season is wearing him down.  I honestly think he is dumbfounded that things aren’t working and can’t understand what is wrong with what he has done or that the players he selected simply aren’t good enough.  Would he actually step down after this season?  While I don’t know who you would replace him with, after the last two weeks I don’t think a change would be a bad thing.  If Reid doesn’t see that there are big problems with this team and simply “continuing to fire away” isn’t the solution, then I have to say it’s time for Andy to go. 

 

Eagles have signed FB Kyle Eckel, not to be confused with Eagles beat writer Mark Eckel. Better late than never, I guess. Reid has become a bit reactionary with some of his moves. While it is good to recognize a short-coming and address it, it is starting to become a problem with this organization. They seem a bit late in addressing problem areas. Think linebacker when they let go of Trotter the first time and punt returner last season, to name two glaring incidents. I'm not overly excited, but he has to be better than Dan Klecko. I was surprised that they did not promote Jed Collins from the practice squad.