Archive for October, 2011

Staff writer Steve Fini continues his look at Eagles who need to step up after the bye week. Number two on his list is quarterback Michael Vick. Michael Vick exploded onto the season last year, putting up big stats and leading the Eagles’ offense to big points. He had much to prove his you could almost see his desire on the field. Vick seemingly reinvented himself as a quarterback, becoming a more efficient passer, while still explosive with his legs. Then, he started to taper off in the second half despite playing solid football. But Vick seemed to be reverting [...]

No lie, I was going to go through this without making a joke, but there’s just too many good possibilities to pass up. And it’s been a while since we’ve gotten to pick on Casey. I can’t use the best ones because this is a family website, so let’s go with something like: “I wonder if he shied away from the screen during the scary parts like he shies away from ball carriers.” “Paranormal Activity 3–even scarier than Casey Matthews running your defense.” “An appropriate film for Matthews to see, given that he was a ghost on the field this [...]

Staff writer Steve Fini continues his look at Eagles who need to step up after the bye week. Number three on his list is middle linebacker Jamar Chaney. I wish I could ask defensive coordinator Juan Castillo why he didn’t go with Jamar Chaney at middle linebacker from the start of training camp. He’s obviously best suited to play in the middle, so one has to wonder what attributes Castillo saw in Matthews that made him think he was the right man for the job. I must have been right–his wife loves to watch Casey Matthews’ hair blow in the [...]

Well, we now know why Jerome Harrison failed a physical administered by the Eagles earlier this week. According to ESPN, Harrison has a brain tumor. It’s a shocking story, one that hopefully has a happy ending for the one-time Eagle. There’s no word on the extent of the tumor, or his long-term prognosis. ESPN’s Adam Schefter raised the point that had the Eagles and Lions not tried to make a deal, the tumor may have gone undetected. One can only hope that this goes down as the best non-trade in the history of professional sports.

Big things were expected for the Eagles this season after their summer shopping spree. Obviously, through six games, things haven’t gone according to plan. Let’s take a look at which players have worked out, and which haven’t. Since we don’t know how long this first guy will be around, let’s take a look at running back Ronnie Brown. When the Eagles brought in free-agent running back Ronnie Brown, he was expected to be the perfect compliment to LeSean McCoy. But Brown, a seasoned runner with a nose for the goal line, has been a virtual nonentity with the Eagles. He’s [...]

Staff writer Steve Fini continues his look at Eagles who need to step up after the bye week. Number four on his list is wide receiver Desean Jackson. I was listening to the radio the other day and Brian Baldinger, a guy who I feel really knows how to break down game film, raised an interesting interesting question. Should the Eagles get rid of Desean Jackson? He wasn’t talking so much about Jackson’s ability or that he’s lost a step–but the Eagles, for a variety of reasons, have had difficulty getting Jackson the ball this season. He’s tenth in the [...]

Well, this is going to be awkward. As we all know, the Eagles decided that Ronnie Brown was a big sack of dong, so they elected to trade the former Miami standout to Detroit for Jerome Harrison and a 2013 seventh-round pick. Seemed like a win for the Eagles, swapping two has-been tailbacks, while picking up a draft pick. As it turns out, though, it was the Lions who were getting a steal–because Harrison is hurt. No details have been made available, but the Eagles declared Harrison damaged goods, thus voiding the deal. Honestly, I don’t think this trade will [...]

Yesterday, Lions blogger Zac Snyder of sidelionreport.com hit me with a few questions about the Ronnie Brown Trade. You can read the transcript below, but be sure to check out the good work over SideLion Report, too. ZS: As Lions fans, we tend to focus on just the Lions side of the trade to acquire Ronnie Brown. With a trade being a two-way street, I wanted to hear from someone that follows the Eagles. I reached out to Philadelphia Eagles blogger Bob Wankel to get some insight into the other side of the trade. My thanks to Bob for answering [...]

Over the next few days, Steve Fini will be counting down the list of five Eagles who need to step up after the bye week if this team is going to make a legitimate postseason push. At number five on our list is cornerback Asante Samuel. Before the season started, the Eagles had to feel pretty good about their cornerback situation. They had three Pro-Bowl caliber guys in Samuel, Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and Nnamdi Asomugha. After the first six weeks, the group has certainly had its moments, but has also struggled at times. Part of that can be attributed to defensive [...]

I’ve gotta tell ya… This is a headline I didn’t think I’d be writing this season. Kurt Coleman, who was benched earlier this season for inconsistent play, recorded three interceptions of Rex Grossman last Sunday to earn NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. The former Ohio State standout was all over the field Sunday, making the crucial plays his defense had failed to make the first five weeks of the season. While Kurt Coleman isn’t suddenly going to pass for Ed Reed, this should be a big confidence boost for the second-year safety. Here’s hoping he can build on [...]

When free agent running back Ronnie Brown was signed by the Eagles this summer, it was one of many moves that had fans, analysts, and front office executives across the league in awe. The Eagles had added a player who was to become to best backup running back in the NFL. What a difference six weeks makes. Brown, perhaps the poster child of the Eagles’ free-agency misfires, has been traded to the Detroit Lions for a 2013 seventh-round pick and, wait for it–Jerome Harrison. In a way, I’m shocked. In a way, I’m not. Brown was utterly useless in his [...]

Despite talk of deals involving Asante Samuel, Vince Young and Juqua Paker, the 4:00 EST trade deadline has come and gone and all three are still with the Eagles. What’s this mean? Well, last year’s top-pick Brandon Graham is set to begin practicing with the team when the Eagles return from the bye week. If Graham is at full-strength and activated, it means someone is packing their bags. While cutting Parker is still a possibility, I’d imagine that safety Jarrad Page, who has struggled this season, will be the odd man out.