Quite A Homecoming

For Jaromir Jagr and Max Talbot, tonight was a very important game.  Not only were they facing their former team, but they were returning to their former city.  From the get go it was obvious that the Pittsburgh fans were sure to let know Jags just how they felt.

To start the game the Flyers gave up a costly turnover in their own zone and the Penguins took an early 1-0 lead.  Minutes later the Penguins got a power play but luckily the Flyers were able to kill it off and keep it a 1 goal game.  After failing to cash in on their first man advantage, the Flyers capitalized on a tripping call on Malkin as Kimmo Timonen cashed in on his first goal of the year.  The rest of the first period was filled with a lot of opportunities for both teams.  The Flyers made an unbelievable empty net save against Neal, and Marc Andre Fleury made a ridiculous save against Matt Read to keep it a 1-1 game.  It was overall a very fast, physical, and exciting first period.

In the second, amid a nasty downpour of boos, Jaromir Jagr scored on a backhand goal and proceeded to salute his former city.  After hearing it from the fans all night it had to feel good for Jagr to cash in on the go ahead goal.  From there the Flyers added a late second period goal compliments of Matt Read to go ahead 3-1.

In the final period the Flyers defense came up huge with Sergei Bobrovsky leading the way with some key saves.  Unfortunately Bob was unable to stop a laser from Tyler Kennedy which made it a 3-2 game.  But after a few key defensive plays, Max Talbot was able to fittingly seal it with the empty netter to give the Flyers a huge 4-2 victory.

It was a great win not just for Jagr and Talbot against their former club, but also for the whole Flyers team  as well.  After dropping 2 straight the Flyers were able to pull it all together and get a big win heading into the Winter Classic.  Jagr, Giroux, and Read all had great games offensively.  And after giving up a quick early goal, Bobrovsky responded well and only allowed one goal in the remainder of the game.

The countdown to the Winter Classic begins now.  The Flyers come in off a big win and will be seeking revenge on the hated Rangers.  Stay tuned to the blog for previews on the Classic and much more.

Eagles Finishing With Honor

The scenarios are done.  Mathematically our beloved Eagles are eliminated from the playoffs and you can officially stick a fork in them.  But even though this year was a major disappointment and the Eagles didn't even reach the post season, you have to love how they are finishing the season.

After receiving the news that the Giants had defeated the Jets and their playoff hopes were done, the Eagles very easily could have come out and given in against the Cowboys.  They could have packed it in and taken the easy way out.  But they didn't give up and they played their way to a 20-7 victory.

Sunday's game was a microcosm of the Eagles season.  Even when everything was stacked against them, the Eagles still played hard to the end.  While there were definitely some games this season in which fans and experts truly questioned the effort of the Eagles, there is no questioning the heart surrounding this team in these final few games.

And even if the Eagles lose this Sunday to the Redskins, this little win streak here at the end all but solidifies Andy's return to the Eagles for at least one more year.  The Eagles definitely have a solid foundation of players, and with a few upgrades at key positions, they could very easily be Super Bowl contenders come next season.

At this point you  are probably tired of hearing about the "shortened off season effect".  But given the way the Eagles are playing here at the end, there is no questioning that the shortened preparation time definitely had some affect on the Eagles' early struggles.  The verdict is still out on how good this team can be with a full off season of preparation.  

So even though the Eagles won't make the playoffs, they are at least playing hard in these final few games and giving us all something to look forward to.  Hopefully the Eagles can carry their recent success into next season.

A Return Home

            Tonight is the 2nd meeting this season between the Flyers and Penguins. The game tonight also brings two current Flyers back to their original team. Jaromir Jagr was drafted 5th overall back in the 1990 NHL draft. Jagr scored 1,000 points in 806 games as a Penguin and is second in every offensive catagory as a Penguin only behind Mario Lemieux, the only catagory he is not second in, is points per game which he is trailing Sidney Crosby and Lemieux. As a Penguin, Jagr compiled 439 goals,640 assists, and 1079 points.
            Tonight is also the homecoming for Max Talbot. Talbot was drafted in the 8th round 243rd overall in the 2002 NHL draft. As a Penguin Talbot compiled 52 goals, 56 assists and 108 points. Talbot was loved by Pittsburgh fans and is most remembered for his two goals in game 7 of the 2009 Stanley Cup finals,which propelled the Penguins to their 3rd Stanley Cup.
            The Flyers are coming off a 5-1 loss against Tampa Bay on Tuesday. The Flyers will be looking to rebound by beating their interstate rival. Tonight Sergei Bobrovsky will be in the net. Bobrovsky is 7-2-1 record. this season and Flyers rookie Sean Couturier will be in the line up. Sidney Crosby is out of the lineup for the Penguins tonight, so the Flyers have one less offensive threat to worry about. Flyers should pull out a win in a close game today.

Should The Phillies Bring Back Ryan Madson?

With the recent trade of closer Andrew Bailey from the Athletics to the Red Sox, filling the hole vacated by current Phillies closer Johnathan Papelbon, it appears that the last of the teams whose offseason priorities resided in the back of the bullpen have found solutions. There does not seem to be a team remaining that is looking to spend big money on the market for a closer, and, for the most part, there really aren't any big name closers remaining on the market. An exception to this case though, is ex-Phillie Ryan Madson. Madson had been heavily rumored for the jobs in both Boston and Philadelphia at the beginning of the offseason, yet for reasons unknown, both teams rejected these whispers and went in other directions. It appeared as though he knew this was coming, however, as there was even rumored to be serious consideration within the Scott Boras-led Madson camp to accept the Phillies' offer of arbitration and come back for one year. After the deadline to accept came and went, the team could breathe easy, knowing that they would not be committed to another huge salary for the late innings.

"SCOTT! Get me a deal dammit!"

While the team was most certainly not looking to overpay Madson to return for one year as an 8th inning man, there is no reason to become deluded and believe that they would not love to have him back. Their approximate $9 million dollar arbitration offer is not an excessive salary for a closer, but was a bit much for an 8th inning man on a team who does not label payroll flexibility as a strength. But now that the market has thinned to its bare bones, there is a chance that the Phillies could bring back Madson at a reduced rate for one more season. Similar to what happened in the case of Jimmy Rollins, his bargaining power has steadily decreased, and the upper hand has folded to the organization that drafted him and allowed him to flourish into the late innings stud he has become.

The move would actually make a lot of sense for the team as well, as even though they possess a wealth of talented youthful arms including Antonio Bastardo and Michael Stutes, there is no guarantee that they will excel once again, and with Papelbon residing as the only capable veteran arm, it would be nice to have an insurance policy in case of injury or regression. And this would be one hell of an insurance policy. Madson has been nothing short of a beast since 2007, and has spent most of his time as a set-up man, posting ERA's of 3.05, 3.05, 3.26, 2.55, and 2.37 with a 21-13 record over that span in 310 games totaling 329.2 innings of work. Those numbers alone justify a spot closing games out, but when you have a weapon like this in front of perennial all-star John Papelbon, it makes for a tandem as tough to touch as any in the majors. 

While there are still a few teams with holes that Madson could fill, most notably the Reds and Cardinals, it does not appear that they are currently interested in pursuing a long-term solution, which makes the prospects of a homecoming for Madson that much more realistic. Hopefully we have some more answers sooner than later, but with some major names still out on the market (see Prince Fielder), it could be a bit of a wait before this all shakes out. Madson's return to the Phillies makes sense, but only time will tell how things play out.

Is Jrue Holiday A Superstar?

The NBA is a superstar league.  If you want to win, you have to have a superstar, it's that simple.  Looking at the current Sixers roster it's hard to pinpoint a "superstar".  In fact you could argue that the Sixers haven't had a superstar since Allen Iverson's initial departure.  Elton Brand is good but not great, Andre Iguodala is a good all around player but is definitely not that go-to guy especially in the clutch.  One player that I think has to potential to rise to the level of super star status is young point guard Jrue Holiday.

After averaging 8 points and 4 assists per game in his rookie season, last year Holiday improved to 14 points and over 6 assists per game.  His jump shot looked better and his overall knowledge of the game increased as well.  Especially toward the end of last year Holiday really looked to be coming into his own.

But is Jrue a "superstar"?  I think this year will be the ultimate test for the young point guard.  If he can steadily increase on his assists and points per game, and come through with the game on the line, Holiday could potentially rise to the level of superstar status.  I really think that we have yet to see the best of Jrue Holiday.  This will be his third year in the league but more importantly his second year under Doug Collins.

Collins absolutely loves Holiday, and given the fact that he was a point guard himself, I definitely see Holiday developing more and more in the upcoming year.  Whether or not he develops into one of the premiere point guards in the NBA remains to be seen.

One thing is for certain; in his first two games this year, Holiday looks like is picking up right where he left off.  His jumper looks solid, and he looks good in transition.  Another thing that I'm really liking from Holiday in the early going is his ability to take it hard to the rim and finish.  He is taking it strong to the rim and not taking no for an answer.  He can pass, he can shoot, and he can take it hard to the rim and overall it will be exciting to watch Holiday continue to grow this year.  

Eagles Positives Heading Into The Offseason

The season turned out the way everyone wasn't thinking of, the so called "dream team" will not be in the playoffs and they will not be winning the Super Bowl.  This season was about a horrific defense at times and an offense who became turnover happy, but there are things to smile about at the end of this year.  Yeah it sucks that the Eagles are not going to be in the playoffs, but we have to look at the positives as the season winds down.  The Eagles are currently on a three game win streak and are finally starting to like they were supposed to.  This team is going to take that momentum into next year and build off this late season success.

This Team Will Stay Intact

Most likely besides for a few tweaks this will be the team that you will be watching next year.  With a lot of young players and new signings from last year this team has a lot of players signed for next year and that is a good thing.  This Eagles team is finally coming together and the way they are playing now is how they will be playing next year.

This will be the team that takes the field in the 2012 season and for that fans should be happy.  Fans still have bad memories have the horrific 2011 season that had such high hopes, but this team will have high hopes just not as much attention as 2011.  The Philadelphia Eagles are finally clicking and this team will be looking better as they continue to develop chemistry with each other.

Michael Vick Has Become A Complete Quarterback Again


Vick was showing that he could be a complete quarterback last year and had an MVP-calibar year, but this year was not the same.  He had a really rough start to the 2011 season.  He was knocked out of two games in the first three weeks and missed three more games after suffering a rib injury.

It has been a tail of two season for Vick, and finally the good part has arrived.  In his first nine games of the season he 11 interceptions along with 3 lost fumbles, but he has only 2 turnovers in his last three.  In those three games he has racked up 775 yards and 5 total touchdowns, including his first rushing touchdown of the year.

Vick is still not the quarterback that he was last year, but he is not turning the ball over anymore and that is all the Eagles need.  With the talent this team has Vick needs to protect the ball and let him and the rest of the playmakers help him make plays.

Younger Linebackers Showing Potential 


The linebacker position been a major shuffle this year, it seems like they pick out of a hat a new starter every week.  They Eagles have shuffled five different linebackers into the starting job and early on it was a major mess.  Brian Rolle, Moise Fokou, Akeem Jordan, Jamar Chaney and Casey Matthews have all been in the mix.

The linebackers have been playing a lot better now.  They seem to have found a good system with Rolle and Jordan on the outside and Chaney in the middle for base formations, while Matthews and Kennan Clayton are playing in the nickel formations.  The new rotation of linebackers appear to be exactly what the doctor has ordered.  Matthews who struggled as the starting middle linebacker has thrived in the nickel, he has finally shown what everyone thought he could do.  His new role allows him to run around rather then taken on offensive lineman.

Chaney who struggled against the run is now starting to look a lot better as he is not playing in the nickel anymore.  He has started to miss far less tackles and has been taking better angles as well.  Chaney has been able to focus on stopping the run more instead of everything involving the defense.  This new rotation of linebackers has shown a lot of promise in the last three weeks.  Awhile ago it seemed like a lock Andy Reid would be drafting a linebacker, but now it is unclear.

For now this rotation is looking good, but who knows if the Eagles will look linebacker early or give this rotation another year to show what they can do.

Offensive Line Will Be Even Better


Coming into the season many wondered how this offensive line would play.  You had a rookie center and a left guard switched to right tackle as they opened the season.  The Eagles brought in Evan Mathis to take over at left guard and eventually start another rookie at right guard.  When you hear this it sounds like a major mess, but it has been the complete opposite.

Howard Mudd a legendary offensive line coach was brought in and has done a tremendous job.  Mudd opted for a leaner more athletic offensive line and the results have really shown.  The Eagles have been one of the best screen and draw teams in the NFL.

The offensive line has become the strength of the offense and probably this whole team.  LeSean McCoy has had a career year and established himself as one of the best in the league thanks to this offensive line.  This is not bad for a line put together just a couple days before the season started.

This five offensive lineman will also be here to stay next year.  Another year to develop chemistry and another year with Mudd means the line should only get better.  Jason Peters has played like the best offensive lineman in the league and everyone has raved about his play this year.  Rookie center Jason Kelce and rookie right guard Danny Watkins have shown tremendous potential.  Todd Herremans and Mathis are having the best seasons of their careers.

The best strength of their team hasn't even spent a full season together and they are due to get even better together.  A full offseason together as a unit should help them become the one of if not the best in the NFL.

DeSean Is Making Noise For A New Contract


DeSean Jackson has not had his best year as an Eagle.  He has been waiting for a new contract that hasn't come and he has been called out on many occasions by the fans.  He has been known for worrying more about not getting injured and making the big bucks this year, then going out on the field and doing what he needed to do.  The fact is it seems like that might be all behind Jackson now.

There may be little truth or there may be a lot of truth to the rumors, but who knows.  The only thing I see right now is that maybe Jackson is committed.  Of late he has been playing a lot better and now he has shown that he is in fact able to still play at a Pro Bowl level.


He hasn't had flashy numbers, but they have been better of late.  In his past three games he has hard 11 receptions for 177 yards and one touchdown.  Not flashy, but definitely more consistent then he has been this year.  He has made plays down the field and across the middle and is finally looking like the player everyone wanted.

Andy Reid and Jackson must have worked something out and he has finally had a big factor in this offense again.  His deep threat might not be working for him, but it is helping the offense by the threat that he could have a quick score.  It seems like he might not get that superstar type of deal he has allegedly wants, but the Eagles seem ready to give him a nice deal that he will like.

According To Report: Spagnuolo To Be Eagles Next Defensive Coordinator

Accroding to Kevin Acee of the San Diego Tribune,

"League sources have said for weeks that Stan Kroenke (Rams Owner) plans to clean house after the season, firing both head coach Steve Spagnuolo and General Manager Billy Devaney. League sources also said this week that it is all but certain that Spagnuolo will join Andy Reid’s staff in Philadelphia as the Eagles’ defensive coordinator."

The report also indicates that the Rams plan to hire Jon Gruden as their next head coach.  Sources close to Gruden say that he is interested in returning to coaching in 2012 and he will in all likelihood be the next head coach of the St. Louis Rams.

While Castillo has done a lot better in the past few weeks, it would be a major mistake by the Eagles to think that the defensive situation is completely fixed.  The Eagles have played bad teams in the past few weeks and Castillo is not the long term answer at defensive coordinator.  Steve Spagnuolo, who is a student of Jim Johnson, is a long term solution and will bring back Johnson's defensive schemes!

I've listened to multiple interviews done with Spags and I can tell you that he loves the city of Philadelphia.  He understands the passion of the fans and I think he would love to return to Philadelphia even as a defensive coordinator.  In my mind the job of Eagles defensive coordinator is not a demotion.  I think Spags would love the opportunity to utilize guys like Asomugha and Samuel and accept the challenge to piece together all this talent.

As for Castillo, I don't think the Eagles will outright fire him.  He is a good football coach and has been with the organization for a very long time.  I'm sure that the Eagles will find a spot for him else where on the defense.  But this report is definitely exciting and it will be interesting to see if it turns out to be true.

Can Utley Still Play At A High Level?

Chase Utley is such an amazing ball player because with the flick of his wrists, he can put one in the seats.  At times, he makes hitting look easy and can change a game with that quick compact swing.  But after a mysterious knee injury that sidelined him for the better part of the 2011 season, Utley clearly is not the same player.

This is most clearly supported in Utley's decline in power numbers.  After hitting 20 or more homers from 2005-2009, Utley hit just 16 homers in 2010, and only 11 last year.  What's worse is the fact that after driving in around 100 runs in that same time frame, Utley drove in just 65 runs in 2010, and a mere 44 last year.  Now a lot of those numbers are down due to injuries.  Utley played in 130 or more games from 05-09 versus playing in 115 in 2010 and 103 last year.  But even with a smaller sample of games, Utley's power numbers are still undoubtedly decreasing.

The main reason for Utley's recent string of injuries is due to the fact that he plays the game at 110%.  He hustles down the first base line, and is constantly willing to take out a second baseman or shortstop to break up a double play.  As much as the fans of the city of Philadelphia love a guy like Utley, his play is clearly beginning to take its toll.  His knee is a big problem, and getting plunked every other at-bat doesn't help the overall well being of his body either.

So what does this all mean for the 2012 campaign?  Is Chase Utley really done?  In my opinion I believe Utley is going to bounce back and have a monster 2012 season.  There is no way that Chase Utley, who is such a fierce competitor, is going to let himself and his team simply fade into oblivion.  The Utley era is far from over and I think 2012 will be his year.

Having said that I still think Hunter Pence is the more logical choice for three hole hitter.  I think the best place for Utley is in the 2 hole where he can do alot by just making contact.  Utley clearly doesn't have the same power that he used to, but I think he still has the ability to hit for a high average.  Having him hit right behind Rollins at the top of the lineup will open up endless possibilities for the offense.

Chase Utley's remarkable career is far from over.  Hopefully he has been training hard this winter and will be able to contribute significantly once the season rolls around.    

Jimmy Is Here To Stay

I'm Here To Stay!!!!!!!

About a week ago, Jimmy Rollins signed a 3 year deal with a vesting option for a fourth year to remain a Philadelphia Phillie through the 2015 season.  I've let the deal sink in for a little while now, and I have reached the conclusion that ultimately I'm happy with the deal.

Initially, I kind of wanted the Phillies to move on from Rollins.  While he is undoubtedly one of the best defensive short stops in the league, I thought the Phillies could use a change in the lineup.  I thought that a change at the top of the lineup would benefit the Phillies offense in the 2012 season.

But ultimately I feel that the deal is a huge plus.  Rollins gives you stability defensively, and he is still a catalyst in the lineup.  He has the ability to spark guys around him and get things going even when everyone else is slumping.  Plus he has power which is something the Phillies will need if Ryan Howard isn't able to go by opening day.

But for next year, Rollins needs to realize that as one of the leaders of this team he needs to have better discipline at the plate.  He can't go up there and have short 2 pitch at bats.  He has to set the tone by going up there and having good long at bats.  That means taking pitches and playing small ball.  If the 2011 season taught us anything it taught us that the Phillies can no longer rely on the long ball.  This team has to rely on small ball to generate runs in 2012 and it starts with the lead off man Jimmy Rollins.

As for what the lineup should like next year, I think you still have to keep Jimmy as your lead off man.  He knows what it takes to be a lead off hitter and I just don't like Shaner leading off.  But I think changes need to come with the rest of the lineup.  Last year Charlie kept Chase Utley as the three hole hitter.  But Utley no longer has the power to hit in the three spot and I think you have to bump him up into the 2 hole.  From there you bring Pence into the three spot and have either John Mayberry or Shane Victorino batting 5th behind Howard.

Overall I'm gad that Jimmy will be a Phillie for years to come.  He was a vital part of the 2008 World Series run and he will be a vital part of this team for years to come.  

Eagles Cowboys Final Prediction

Ready or not, today is an all out football day.  In all, 13 games will be played today but Philadelphians are only concerned with the outcome of two particular games: the Giants Jets game, and of course the Eagles Cowboys game.  Here are my predictions for today's games.

Giants vs Jets 1:00 PM 
Honestly this game is a complete toss up.  For the Giants, you are either going to get MVP Eli Manning, or I can't even get a first down Eli Manning.  For the Jets, you are either going to get a ferocious stingy defense, or an entire team that looks like they don't want to be there.  But I feel that both teams are going to show up today and that it will be an extremely close game.  Extremely close as in it will be tied 17-17 with about 4 minutes to go and Eli will be given another chance to play the hero.  But this time I think he comes up short and the Jets force a huge turnover and turn the reigns over to Mark Sanchez who is pretty good with the game on the line.  In the end I think the Jets win a close one 20-17.

Of course that prediction is completely biased considering I'm an Eagles fan, but I really see both teams showing up to play.  Both teams can't afford to lose, and I think we are in store for a very entertaining football game.

Eagles vs Cowboys 4:15 PM
Are the Eagles going to come out and completely run over the Cowboys like last time?  As great as that would be, I don't foresee that happening.  You have to remember that when the Eagles completely trounced the Cowboys earlier this year the Eagles were coming off a bye and nobody was taking the "dream team" seriously.  Now the Cowboys know what the Eagles are capable of and I think they will come into this game better prepared.  Having said that, I still think the Eagles win this game regardless of the out come of the Giants game.  I think the Birds will jump out to an early lead and the Eagles will be able to utilize their pass rush to stifle the Cowboys passing attack once again.  In the end I think the Eagles win 27-17, with the Cowboys making a late surge.

No matter what happens today, it's important to enjoy it.  This could be the last weekend of competitive football for a very long time and it's important to have fun with it.  Win or lose, you have to love the manner in which the Eagles are concluding their season.  Every one counted them out, but the Eagles simply aren't going down without a fight.

Flyers Fall To Rangers

Friday night's Flyers Rangers game was a pretty peculiar game to say the least.  After a scoreless first period, Derek Stepan deflected a goal past Bryzgalov to give the Rangers a 1-0 lead.  Shortly there after, Ruslan Fedotenko scored on a weird goal that popped in the net, and the puck immediately deflected out making it look like it hit off the top cross bar.  But upon review, the goal was confirmed, and the Rangers had a comfortable 2-0 lead thanks to some weird goals.

In the third, the Flyers got goals from JVR and Meszaros but it wouldn't be enough as the Rangers went on to win by a final of 4-2.  Even though the Flyers lost to the hated Rangers, you really can't get too mad.  After last Saturday's embarrassing 6-0 defeat to the Boston Bruins, the Flyers responded well this week.  They brought Monday's game against the Avalanche to a shootout, and they got a big 4-1 win on Wednesday night against the Dallas Stars, totaling 3 points on the week.

Unfortunately the Flyers will have to let this loss burn for a little as they will not play again until December 27th against the Tampa Bay Lightning.  Amazingly enough, the Flyers only have 2 more games until the Winter Classic, one in Tampa and one in Pittsburgh against the Penguins.  Both games should be interesting match ups and should also prepare the Flyers for their important game against the Rangers on January 2nd at Citizens Bank Park.

As for the Winter Classic, preparation is officially underway.  While NHL officials have been building up the rink for quite some time now, today they officially began work on the ice.  20,000 gallons of water were needed to fill the rink, and it's a matter of mother nature as well as other forms of technology to help keep her cool.  It's amazing to think that the Flyers and Rangers will be facing off where Utley and Rollins turn double plays.  It's going to be exciting and I'm glad that it's only a little over a week away.  So while the Flyers may have lost to the Rangers tonight, they will surely have a chance for revenge come January 2nd.    

Eagles Cowboys Preview

Even at 6-8, heading into tomorrow's game against the Cowboys, the Eagles are still very much alive and could easily land a playoff spot.  But instead of focusing on the much larger playoff picture, I want to specifically talk about what the Birds need to do tomorrow to beat Dallas.  Here are my keys to an Eagles victory.

Forget About Jets Giants Game
When teams need help from other teams in order to make the playoffs, I love how players say that they don't pay attention to the other games going on around them.  Don't give me that.  With the amount of technology we have today, the Eagles will know the outcome of the Giants Jets game when they take the field against the Cowboys at 4:15.  Regardless of the outcome, it will be important for the Eagles not to let it affect the outcome of the game.  Go out there and play hard and beat stinkin' Dallas even if you are mathematically eliminated from the playoffs.  Show some pride and beat the Boys.

Don't Underestimate Dallas
Even though the Eagles absolutely destroyed Dallas earlier this year, it's important for them not to underestimate them come tomorrow afternoon.  The Cowboys are a good team and the Eagles can't take them lightly.

Balanced Attack
Tomorrow, the Eagles have to give Shady his touches but they can't forget to give Vick his fair share of plays as well.  Vick looked very comfortable last week against the Jets, and the Eagles need to make sure to give him a good amount of opportunities.

Pass Rush
As with any football game, the pass rush is key.  The Eagles defense has stepped up in the past few weeks mainly because the Eagles have been able to get after the quarterback.  Romo is a great quarterback when you give him time to make plays and the Eagles have to do everything they can to disrupt his timing.

Turnovers 
The Eagles have to protect the football, especially in the redzone.  I think this game is going to come down to the final few minutes, and the Eagles can't afford to give the Cowboys extra opportunities.  More importantly, the Eagles have to come away with points every time they go into the redzone, even if it is only a field goal.

Overall I think the Eagles will win.  They are playing at an extremely high level, and regardless of what happens in the Giants game, I think the Eagles will totally route the Boys and give us all an early Christmas gift.    

The Eagles Can Make The Playoffs, Crazier Things Have Happened

Imagine this crazy scenario for a second.  It's late January and the Eagles are taking on the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field in the NFC Championship game.  It's bitter cold, and the Eagles are down by a field goal.  They are on the Packers 5 yard line and time is running out.  The offense hurries up to the line and Mike Vick fires a strike to Desean Jackson for the game winning touchdown.  The Eagles have pulled off the impossible and beaten the Green Bay Packers and Merril Reese announces, "The Eagles are going to the Super Bowl!"

Now for this to happen, the Eagles of course would have to first make the playoffs.  And for them to make the playoffs they have to beat the Cowboys, the Giants have to lose to the Jets, the Eagles then have to beat the Redskins, and the Giants have to beat the Cowboys in the final week.  So basically the Eagles need four things to happen, two of which are in their control.

For all of my skeptics out there I have compiled a list of 3 teams, all in recent memory, who have made the playoffs on the last day in their respective sport, and all went on to achieve greatness.  The first team up is a team you all remember well: the 2010 Philadelphia Flyers.

2010 Philadelphia Flyers

In 2010 the Flyers' playoff hopes came down to the final game of the regular season.  Going up against the New York Rangers, the winner of the game would advance to the playoffs and the loser would go home empty handed.  After three periods, it was tied 1-1, and after a scoreless overtime, the game headed to a shootout to determine the winner.  Danny Briere and Claude Giroux both scored for the Flyers, and Brian Boucher came up with a big save against Olli Jokinen to give the Flyers the victory and send them to the playoffs.

The rest is history.  After beating the Devils in the opening round, the Flyers pulled off the improbable 3 games to none comeback against the Bruins and eventually made it to the Stanley Cup.  Unfortunately, the Flyers fell short of the ultimate goal and lost to the Chicago Blackhawks in 6 games.

Even though the Flyers didn't win the Cup, they went deep into a post season that they weren't even supposed to be a part of in the first place.  It happened for the Flyers and it can happen for the Eagles.

2010 Green Bay Packers

I hate to bring up the 2010 Packers because they eventually ended the Eagles magical run.  But they too made the playoffs on the final day of the regular season.  They beat the Bears on the final day and finished with a 10-6 record the same as the Giants.  It came down to a tie breaker over the Giants to send the Packers to the playoffs.  From there the Packers beat the Eagles, Falcons, and Bears all on the road and eventually beat the Steelers in the Super Bowl for the title.  It came down to the last day of the regular season, and from there the Packers achieved greatness.

2011 St. Louis Cardinals 

As much as it pained me to write about the Packers, it pains me even more to write about the Cardinals who beat my beloved Phillies in the opening round of the most recent MLB playoffs.  But to even have an opportunity against the Phils, the Cardinals needed some help to make the playoffs.  Going into the final 3 games of the year, the Braves held a slight 1 game lead over the Cardinals.  The Braves dropped their final 3 games against the Phillies, and the Cardinals took 2 out of 3 against the Astros to squeak their way into the playoffs.  From there the Cardinals beat the Phillies and Brewers, and miraculously beat the Rangers to win the World Series.

I bring these three teams up to remind you that even when it looks as if a team isn't going to make the playoffs, sometimes all the right pieces fall into place and it just happens.  And once that team is in, it's a completely new season with new opportunities where anything can happen.  For the Eagles, they can't start thinking about the playoffs just yet.  They still have to take care of business against the Cowboys and Redskins and they also need help from other teams.  But the Eagles can make the playoffs on the last day and still be successful.  It happened for the Flyers, Packers, and Cardinals and it can happen for our Eagles as well.  Just keep the faith and remember that on any given Sunday, anything can happen.

Eagles Playoff Scenarios

The fact that I even have to write an article describing the different things that need to happen in order for the Eagles to make the playoffs is really pretty pathetic in itself.  They need this team to lose, that team to win, this team to beat that team in this week.  It's all pretty confusing and tiresome and it's overall extremely frustrating.  But I have broken down the scenarios for the Eagles to make the playoffs into two simple categories: division and wild card.  I will try my best to break down each scenario as clearly as possible and try to explain exactly what needs to happen for the Eagles to reach the post season.

Division

Scenario #1: Both Giants and Cowboys Win
Tonight the Cowboys will travel to Tampa Bay to take on the Bucaneers.  If they win, coupled with a Giants win over the Redskins win tomorrow, the Eagles can't win the division.  With victories this weekend, the Giants and Cowboys would both be 8-6, and by virtue of the fact that they play each other in the final game of the regular season, one of the two teams will get 9 wins.  Unfortunately, even if the Eagles win their remaining three games, the best they can finish with is 8 wins.  Wins by both the Cowboys and Giants this weekend, means no division title for the Birds.

Scenario #2: Cowboys Win, Giants Lose
Scenario number 2 involves the Cowboys beating the Bucs, and the Giants losing to the Skins.  If that were to happen, then we would need to beat the Cowboys next week, the Giants to lose next week to Jets, and then the Giants to beat the Cowboys in the final game of the regular season.  This scenario isn't too far fetched when you think about it, and is probably the most likely to happen.  As much as I would love for the Cowboys to lose to the Bucs tonight, I don't see it happening.  The Bucs are currently in the midst of a 7 game losing streak including an ugly 41-14 defeat last week to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars.  Simply put the Cowboys should beat Tampa.  But the Giants have a much tougher game against the Skins.  Although Eli played out of his mind against Dallas on Sunday night, look at what the Redskins did against the Patriots.  They played them tough and lost by a close final of 34-27.  And a division game is never easy so the Giants very easily could fall to the Skins.  Then we would beat the Boys like earlier this year, the Jets, who would be coming off a crushing defeat to the Eagles would be desperate, and they would beat the Giants, and then we beat the Skins, the Giants beat the Cowboys, and we are in.  I know that's a lot of if's, but the importance will be to take it one game at a time.

Scenario #3: Cowboys Lose, Giants Win
You just flip flop teams in this scenario.  Coming off a loss to the Bucs, we would obviously still have to beat the Cowboys next week.  But in this scenario we would need the Cowboys to beat the Giants in the final week.  The Giants in this scenario beat the Skins and then drop their final 2 games to the Jets and Boys respectively.

Scenario #4: Cowboys And Giants Lose
Given the fact that they face each other in the final week, both teams can't lose out.  But if the Giants and Cowboys both lose their next 2 games, the best either team can finish will be with 8 wins.  And if the Eagles win out, they have the tie breaker which will give them the division crown.

Wild Card

Scenario #1: Detroit Loses Out And Eagles Win Out
If Detroit loses out and the Eagles win out, the Birds can nab the final wild card spot.  This scenario is not too crazy.  The Lions remaining schedule includes a tough matchup this week at the Raiders, next week at home vs the Chargers, and a tough tough road game in the final week against the Green Bay Packers.  The Eagles would also need the Bears to lose 2 of their last 3.  In the end, the Bears, Lions, and Eagles would all be 8-8.  According to Tim McManus of phillysportsdialy.com,

"It's dependent on a several team tie going on in which it would come down to strength of victory. Undecided who wins that."

In addition to Tim McManus helping me sort through this playoff confusion, I also had the help of one of my twitter followers @CrazyCurtPhilly helping to uncloud the confusion.

"If Lions lose out and Eagles win out they both have 6-6 Conf record.  Both teams would be 2-3 in common opponents Bears, Falcons, Cowboys, 49ers.  It then gets convoluted after common opponents.  Then its strength of schedule which is combined win% off all teams beaten.  The Lions have wins over TB, KC, MIN (x2), DAL, CHI, DEN, CAR, and the Eagles have wins over STL, WAS (x2), DAL(x2), NYG, MIA, NYJ.  If you look (current) combined win% of the teams each team has beat Eagles hold slight edge over Lions 3307/ 3000."

So basically it's confusing and unlikely, but the Eagles still have a shot at both the wild card and division.  Of course for any of these scenarios to work the Eagles have to win out.  They have to beat the Jets this weekend, the Cowboys next week, and the Skins in the final week of the regular season.

It's unlikely but the Eagles have to take everything one game at a time.  Crazier things have happened and it will be interesting to see how everything plays out.

Phillies Resign Jimmy Rollins

According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com,

 "Jimmy Rollins has agreed to 3-year deal with #Phillies with vesting option for 4th year, says BB source.  Rollins didn't have much leverage with Phillies. The Brewers made an offer, but he ultimately wanted to stay home."

Last time I posted about Jimmy re-signing, the rumor turned out to be false. But Jerry, a writer for ESPN.com, seems to be a credible source and this seems like a legitimate deal.  And unlike last time, this deal has been confirmed by both Todd Zolecki and Jim Salisbury.

I was kind of on the fence about whether or not I wanted Jimmy back.  While he is one of my favorite Phillies, I  was kind of hoping that the Phils would change the makeup of their team and give the lineup a new look.  But ultimately I'm totally in favor of Rollins staying in Philadelphia.  He is the spark and motor of this team, and he is still defensively one of the best short stops in the league.

Also according to Jerry Crasnick,

"The Philadelphia Phillies have reached agreement with shortstop Jimmy Rollins on a three-year, $33 million contract, according to a baseball source.  The contract also contains a vesting option for a fourth year worth $11 million, the source said." 

Welcome home Jimmy.

Flyers Bruins Preview

The Flyers will have to put all of their off the ice distractions aside as they attempt to gear up for an afternoon game today at the Wells Fargo Center against the hated Boston Bruins.  The rivalry between the Bruins and Flyers dates back a long way, but over the past few years the rivalry has definitely been renewed and intensified due to some key playoff matchups.  After the Flyers came back from a 3 games to none deficit in 2010, last year the Bruins got revenge and swept the Flyers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals en-route to the Stanley Cup.

This will be the second time the two teams meet this year as the Flyers won the season opener against the Bruins 2-1.  The Bruins are currently in the midst of a 3 game winning streak; their most recent win being a 5-2 victory over the Ottawa Senators.  Meanwhile the Flyers are on a very impressive 7 game winning streak.  

With 41 points, the Bruins trail the Flyers by just two points for the conference lead, and today the two teams will battle it out for the conference crown.  Simply put, this would be an enormous win for the Flyers.  While a 7 game winning streak is definitely impressive, a big win against your rival with the conference lead on the line is perhaps even more impressive.

Hopefully the Flyers can come together today as a team as they have done so well in the past couple of weeks.  No matter what obstacle is thrown their way, it seems like the Flyers always come together as a team and find a way to get the win.

I'm expecting a big game from goalie Ilya Bryzgalov as well as great individual performances from Talbot, Jagr, and Simmonds.  I think the Flyers will win 4-2 and retain their spot as best in the Eastern conference.
 

For Flyers, Good News Bad News

The Flyers are currently on a 7 game winning streak.  Their star goaltender is no longer lost in the woods.  And on top of that, the Flyers are currently starring in the HBO series 24/7 as they gear up to play in the Winter Classic.  Life is good right now for the Flyers, right?

Well, sort of. Just a few days after Giroux's bad news, today the Flyers announced that defenseman Chris Pronger will be out for the remainder of the regular season and post season with post concussion symptoms. Here is the official statement.

 “After consultation with respected concussion specialists Dr. Joseph Maroon and Dr. Micky Collins, it is the opinion of both doctors that Chris is suffering from severe post concussion syndrome. It is the recommendation of Doctors Maroon and Collins that Chris not return to play for the Philadelphia Flyers for the remainder of the 2011-12 season or playoffs. Chris will continue to receive treatment and therapy with the hope that he can get better.”

So while a lot of things are going right for the Flyers in terms of wins and losses, the growing injuries both to Giroux and Pronger are definitely bad news for the team in the long run.  But the Flyers continue to win and you really have to give a lot of credit to Peter Laviolette and this team, and the tremendous effort they put forth against the Canadiens tonight.

Andrej Meszaros told Coatsey after the game that he didn't know about the Pronger news during the game, so I'm assuming that all of the guys found out about Prongs after the game and it didn't affect their play.  But it was still impressive that the Flyers were able to get it done in just their second game without Giroux.  Everyone played hard and contributed, and the Flyers came away with a tough road victory, and extended their win streak to 7 games.

The Flyers just keep overcoming obstacles.  Whether it's a untimely penalty at the end of the game, or a season ending injury to a star player, the Flyers find ways to make things happen and win hockey games.  And for those of you that watched the 24/7 special on HBO last night, you know first hand that this a young, hard working group of guys that really want to win and have fun.  There truly is something special about this team, and it is amazing to watch them overcome any obstacles that are thrown their way.  

Giroux Out Indefinitely With Concussion

More bad news for Flyers fans.  On top of Pronger's uncertainty, today Flyers GM Paul Holmgren remarked on the status of Claude Giroux:

"Claude reported not feeling very good today. Over the past few days, his symptoms have gradually gotten worse. He will be out indefinitely with a concussion"

This really couldn't have come at a more inconvenient time.  While there is never a "good time" to lose your top goal scorer, Giroux's injury comes just when the Flyers were beginning to really click on all cylinders.  The offense was playing good, the defense was strengthening, and the Flyers had pieced together a five game winning streak to show for it.

The Flyers will definitely face their toughest challenge of this season as they attempt to adjust to hockey without both Chris Pronger and Giroux.  Bryzgalov, Timonen, Briere, and Jagr are just some of the guys that are going to have to play even better with the departure of Giroux.  And maybe Giroux's injury will give JVR more opportunities.  While JVR certainly hasn't been bad this year, he has had a pretty quiet season while guys like Jagr and Giroux have seemingly stolen the show.

One thing the Flyers have is a lot of depth, and I think they will do just fine without the services of Claude Giroux.

Phillies Sign Dontrelle Willis

According to Jim Salisbury of csnphilly.com,

 "The Phillies have an agreement on a one-year deal with Dontrelle Willis, pending a physical, according to source."

 The deal is reportedly worth under 1 million dollars with incentives. I don't really understand the deal mainly because Willis has been awful over the past four years. He has posted an ERA of 5 or more in each of his last four seasons, and he clearly isn't the young and exciting pitcher that he used to be during his time with the Florida Miami Marlins.

 I do like the fact however that the Phillies signed Willis to be a relief pitcher.  Willis will be a valuable lefty reliever and will definitely add depth to the bullpen.  Also, given his track record as a starting pitcher, Willis can step in and be a starter if the Vanimal or Joey B get hurt, and he can also be a mop up innings eater in a blow out or rain delay.

But the stats certainly aren't promising and there is no telling if Willis will be effective out of the pen.  Something tells me Ruben is not done in his wheeling and dealing.  

Sixers Re-Sign Hawes

The Philadelphia 76ers have officially signed Spencer Hawes to a one year deal worth $4.6 million. By signing this deal Hawes will become an unrestricted free agent next season. We all know what kind of player Hawes is so thankfully they didn't sign Hawes long term and only have one more season of him left. It is expected that Spencer will start at the center position again this year. His spot in the starting lineup could be in jeopardy if rookie Nikola Vucevic shows that he can be more productive at the center position. We can only hope for this because I can only deal with doses of Spencer Hawes and his inconsistent play. With the signing of Hawes the Sixers now have 14 guys under contract for the upcoming season. It is being rumored that the Sixers are actively shopping big man Marreese Speights and it seems inevitable that Speights will not be in a Sixer uniform this season. Hopefully Hawes got tougher over the long offseason and improved his game to a level where he can compete defensively against some the better centers in the league, because that would be a huge addition to this Sixers team.

Flyers Finding Their Stride

In the beginning of the season, the Flyers went through a lot of ups and downs. One night the defense would show up and only allow one or two goals, but the offense would be non existent. The next night it would be an offensive explosion, but the defense wouldn’t be able keep the puck out of the net for anything.

 Early on, the Flyers basically struggled to find a consistent offensive and defensive attack, and I think a lot of their inconsitency had to do with the youth of this team. The Flyers currently have 7 rookies on their roster and while the rooks are certainly promising, they were also at times inconsistent in the early going. I think the Flyers as a team were also struggled early due to the fact that they had a lot of new free agent acquisitions to accommodate, as well as a new goal tender. Bryzgalov spent a lot of the first two months getting used to his new team and he still is trying to gain confidence with every game. The entire makeup of the team was changed and as a result the Flyers needed some time to adjust.  Lastly the Flyers clearly sorely missed and still are missing the leadership of their captain Chris Pronger.

But after a big win Thursday night again the Pittsburgh Penguins, the Flyers are now currently in the midst of a 4 game winning streak. Attribute it to the improved play of goaltender Ilyz Bryzgalov, or the surge of the offense from guys like Claude Giroux, but it’s obvious the Flyers have clearly found their stride. With 37 points the Flyers are now in first place in the Atlantic division and the Eastern conference. Everything seems to be clicking right now for the Flyers and they seem to be getting stronger with every game.

 Just look at the end of Thursday night’s game. The Flyers were able to hold off the Penguins and survive an absolute barrage of last minute shots. The defense was able to get key clears, and offensive guys like Jaromir Jagr were able to produce good, long possessions to kill some clock. And after being “lost in the woods” in the early going, the Bryz is 9-1-1 in his last 11 games and is showing definite signs of improvement. The time off Laviolette gave him is clearly paying off, and Bryzgalov and the rest of the team are hitting on all cylinders right now.

 The Flyers will have to continue their success without their leader Chris Pronger. Paul Holmgren reported some unfortunate news today on the captain.

 “While Chris’s knee is improving, he has struggled with other issues that are concussion-like symptoms. Chris will see Dr. Joe Maroon and Dr. Mickey Collins on Wednesday, December 14th in Pittsburgh for further evaluation. Chris will be out indefinitely. I feel bad for Chris. He’s a very experienced hockey player that still wants to play the game at the highest level. I know this last year for him has been very frustrating, with the injuries he had last year and to have to deal with what he’s dealt with this year. He’s frustrated.” 

Holmgren also stated that Brayden Schenn is out with a mild concussion. But with Pronger, I think there is definitely something weird going on. At first they called it a virus, now they are calling it concussion-like symptoms. This is definitely not a good sign for Prongs as he continues to try and rebound to full health.  But the Flyers will have to fight onward without their leader as they get set to host the Tampa Bay Lightning and try to put together a 5 game winning streak.

The Case For Andy Reid

Most people, just after seeing the title of the article, probably won’t even take the time to listen to what I have to say in this post. For those of you that are taking the time to hear me out on why I think Andy Reid should remain as Eagles head coach, I thank you and I encourage you to keep reading.

 To start, I’m not going to sit here and mention the 9 winning seasons, the 7 NFC East division titles, the 5 NFC Championship Game appearances, the Super Bowl appearance, or any of that other track record junk. Because as an Eagles fan myself, I know that you are fed up with the fact that the Eagles are 4-8 in what was supposed to be a Super Bowl year, and the one man that can and should be held responsible is still gainfully employed as head coach. I know that you don’t want to hear about what Andy Reid did for us in the past, rather you want to know what he is going to do to get us a Super Bowl championship in the future. And in Philadelphia we live by the “what have you done for me lately” mentality, and when it comes down to it Andy Reid hasn’t done anything for us ever. But please hear me out, and listen to my case for Andy Reid to remain as head coach.

 I want to first clear the air and let you know that I have heard just about all of the arguments from Eagles fans everywhere on why the Eagles should fire Reid:

-He can’t clock manage
-He can’t run the ball
-He’s had 13 years and he hasn’t won it
-He hired Sean McDermott and Juan Castillo
-Ever since Jim Johnson passed the Eagles haven’t been the same
-The Eagles are 4-8, get him out of here 

The list goes on and on as to why the Eagles should fire Big Red. The arguments for his firing in fact are probably too numerous for me to even list in this article. But I wanted to make sure that before you continuing reading this article, you realize that I’m not a naïve Eagles optimist that blindly thinks the Eagles are going to win the Super Bowl every year. While I do go into every year with a positive outlook, I realize that there are a lot of holes on this team and a lot of them start up top with Big Red.

 But let me drop a little knowledge on you. The Eagles shouldn’t fire Reid primarily because he is so much more than just the head coach. Listen to a lot of former players and coaches and they will almost laugh at the notion of firing Andy Reid. Reid is so embedded in the organization both personnel and strategic wise, that in my opinion if the Eagles were to fire Reid, it would take 3-5 years for this team to be in contention for a Super Bowl. Reid handles a lot more than he probably should, and for that reason, any coach that were to replace him would have a lot on his plate and would be playing catch up for at least a few years.

 Which leads me directly into my next point: who would Reid’s replacement be? Jeff Fisher? Bill Cowher? John Gruden? I love how Eagles fans think that any replacement the Eagles bring in is going to be a flawless coach that will lead our beloved Birds directly to the promised land. The possibility of hiring Fisher is just dumb because he never won a Super Bowl. And Cowher, it took him 14 years to win a Super Bowl, and while Gruden certainly won a championship he also had 3 losing seasons during his 11 year head coaching career. The point is that any replacement the Eagles bring in will have flaws just like Reid. But at the end of the day, Reid is still one of the best coaches in the NFL. Bringing in another head coach just for the sake of change is not going to magically cure this team and bring this city a Super Bowl; it just doesn’t work like that. A lot of fans look at what Gruden did with the Bucaneers as a model for which the Eagles should abide by. But that was a special situation in which the franchise was built up by Tony Dungey, and Gruden came in and pushed the right buttons and won a Super Bowl. But that is extremely rare, and given the structure of the Eagles franchise as completely Reid’s team, I don’t see that happening for the Eagles.

 Also take into consideration the magnitude of this past off season. The Eagles acquired a multitude of new players and coaches, and I’m simply unwilling to give Andy just one year with this “new” team. The Eagles had a shortened off season which is also playing a major factor in the current 4-8 season. If after a full off season of preparation he can’t right the ship, then I would be fine with pulling the plug on the Andy Reid project. But one shortened year with all this talent is not enough time for me to call for Reid to be fired.

Another thing a lot of Eagles fans aren’t considering is the 29 turnovers the Eagles have commited this season. One of the reasons Tim Tebow has been so successful this year is because he doesn’t turn the ball over. What ever your opinion on Tebow is, you have to respect the fact that he only has 1 interception on the season. To put that in perspective, Vick and Young have combined to throw 22 interceptions on the year, and combined with 7 fumbles, the Eagles altogether lead the NFL with 29 turnovers. Good teams don’t turn the ball over. Just look at the Packers who have just 11 total turnovers on the year. Just think about that for a second; 29 turnovers. That’s 29 drives cut short. 29 scoring opportunities lost. And also remember that a lot of the Eagles’ turnovers come in the red zone which is seemingly more detrimental than a typical turnover outside the red zone. You can’t blame Big Red for turnovers. Turnovers are execution mistakes, plain and simple.

 Lastly, the love and admiration players have for Reid is unquestioned. McCoy loves him, Vick wants to win him a Super Bowl, guys want to play for Reid and love him as coach. So while the fans may not be too crazy about him, the players like him and are willing to go out and play hard for him.

Overall I realize the pain and frustration of my fellow Eagles fans, and I get why they want to get rid of Reid. But sit down for a minute, look over the facts, and you will realize that keeping Reid is in the best interest for the team in the future. Changes need to come no question. But I will continue to defend Reid and it’s a shame that we are treating the best coach that this football team has ever had like absolute trash. Chanting for his firing in the house that he helped build is simply inexcusable. It’s time to give Andy some respect and see what he can do in 2012.

Phillies Close To Deal With Jimmy Rollins

According to Bucks County Courier Times reporter Kevin Cooney, "Phillies and Jimmy Rollins have agreed to terms. Announcement expected later today."

And Jim Duquette a MLB network analyst, reported that the Phillies and Rollins agreed to a deal. 

Obviously nothing is official yet and we will keep you updated if we hear anything further or hear anything official from the Phillies.  

Update 5:23 PM: 

Jayson Stark recently tweeted, "Sources denying reports of any Phillies agreement with Jimmy Rollins."

Update 5:27 PM:

Jim Salisbury of csnphilly.com tweeted, "Sources on both sides say no Rollins deal yet."

I would say once Sailisbury confirms the deal can be declared "official".

Update 5:34 PM: 


 According to John Finger of csnphilly.com, "Source close to Rollins says report is false."

Stupid twitter and false rumors....


Still more coming....

Phillies Hot Stove Update

There are a lot of rumors swirling around the MLB Winter Meetings which are currently being held in Dallas.  Most of the talks surrounding the Phillies are focused on the possible Gio Gonzalez trade, Ryan Madson, and the possible Jimmy Rollins signing.

In regards to the Gio Gonzalez trade,  according to Jim Bowden, a reporter for ESPN, "Phillies and A's discussed a Domonic Brown -for- Gio Gonzalez package deal."

The move would mean the Phillies could then trade Cole Hamels who is is a free agent after next season.  Jim Salisbury of csnphilly.com puts it this way,

"Hamels, who turns 28 this month, is eligible for salary arbitration for the coming season. After that, he will be eligible for free-agency. The Phils would like to sign Hamels to a contract extension, but Gonzalez could be a cheaper, under-control left-handed alternative if the Phillies believe Hamels’ price is too high. The Phils plan to turn their attention to Hamels later this winter, but sources say they’ve already gauged his desires with his representative. It is likely that Hamels would seek a multi-year deal with an average annual value that could approach $20 million."

In my opinion, trading Cole Hamels is in the best interest for the Phillies.  After this season the Phillies will have three pitchers in Halladay, Hamels, and Lee making well over 60 million dollars.  60 million dollars for the starting rotation is not worth it especially given the Phillies recent seasons.  The Phillies had a dominant pitching staff both in 2010 and this past season, and it didn't result in a World Series championship.  Pitching clearly isn't the answer and the Phils need to get back to bolstering up their offense which is what ultimately won them the World Series back in 2008.

In terms of Madson according to Nick Cafardo, a Boston reporter, "Red sox won't give Ryan Madson "crazy money" according to one team official but remain interested."

Madson in affect could end up accepting arbitration from the Phillies in which he could probably make more money.  Madson and Papelbon in the back end of the bullpen sounds pretty good to me.

As for Jimmy, there are conflicting reports out right now.  Ken Rosenthal recently tweeted, "Phillies not close to re-signing Rollins. Still could happen, but not imminent." Meanwhile, Chris Singleton of ESPN tweeted, "Got a pretty encouraging report from a Phillies person that a deal will get done with @JimmyRollins11 soon."

Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt supported Singleton's tweet and said, "Brewers hearing that Jimmy Rollins is staying with Phillies, so looks like he’s out as possible SS option.”  Right now we will just have to wait and see how everything shakes out.  But in a nut shell, that is what is currently going on with your Phillies at the MLB Meetings in Dallas.  Stay updated to the blog as we will be sure to bring you any more news that comes out.

Update 3:37 PM:

According to Danny Knobler a writer for cbssports.com, "While Phillies tried for Gio, they're definitely out now. Never planned to trade Hamels. Would have dealt Kendrick or Blanton."

But a conflicting report came out from Ken Rosenthal,"Phillies made early run at Gio, were thwarted. Still persistent, one source says."

While the Phillies could still land Gio Gonzalez it looks as if they are set on keeping Cole Hamels in a Phillies uniform.

The only update from Rollins came from Danny Knobler who tweeted about an hour ago,"Phillies don't have deal with Rollins, but seems everyone expects it eventually."

Rollins is expected to be back in Philadelphia next year, but for how much and how long remains to be seen.

Eagles Defense Lacks An Identity

Would Assante Samuel even think about doing this?

Last week, Ndamukong Suh, a defensive tackle for the Detroit Lions, displayed a terrible act of sportsmanship when he bashed the head of his opponent into the ground, and then proceeded to stomp on his arm.  While the act was terrible on every level and Suh was eventually suspended for two games, one thing you have to admire about Suh is that he plays the game with an unbelievable amount of intensity.  Suh is like Chase Utley in that he only knows how to play the game at a 110% full motor on every play.  Again I'm not condoning Suh's actions, I'm merely high lighting how his intensity gives his team mates an identity on defense, and his full motor mentality is something that guys can easily rally around.

Another guy that plays the game of football with an extreme amount of intensity is former Eagle Brian Dawkins.  When the Eagles didn't resign Dawkins, they were left with a big void not only in terms of X's and O's, but they were also left without a real sense of direction on defense.  For years Dawkins loomed in the secondary, ready to "pop" anyone that dared to make a catch.  He also was relentless in getting after the quarterback and making key fumbles and interceptions.  He gave the Eagles a very intimidating, hard hitting identity that everybody on the team and around the league knew about.  Dawkins was also a terrific leader and he gave the guys around him a physical identity with which to play by, and anyone that failed to play up to Dawkins' standards would be force to answer directly to number 20 himself.  The Eagles management is usually pretty spot on in terms of determining when a player is done.  The Eagles were right with guys like Westbrook, McNabb, and even Jeremiah Trotter.  But the Eagles made a crucial mistake when they didn't resign Dawkins because they were left with a defense that is still to this day searching for an identity.

There is no getting around the fact that this current Eagles defense is extremely soft.  They don't tackle well, they don't blitz, and they certainly don't come through with bone jarring hits that can change the overall momentum of a football game.  The Eagles defense doesn't have a leader that they can turn to like a Brian Dawkins or a Ndamukong Suh that in affect remind the players of how they should be representing their football team.  Who on this current Eagles defense is a leader?  One could make the case that Cullen Jenkins gets it in terms of playing physical, but he is clearly not the overall "captain" of this defense.  And it's certainly not Assante Samuel because he doesn't know how to tackle.  The truth is the Eagles don't have that leader that guys can turn to for direction.  The Eagles don't have that leader with which other guys can model their game after.  The Eagles defense is just a bunch of guys doing their own thing, following the defensive scheme of a guy who clearly knows nothing about being a defensive coordinator in the NFL.

For next season it won't be enough to simply add a linebacker here or plug in another guy there and in a sense "patch" up the holes on this defense.  The Eagles tried that this past off season and it clearly failed miserably.  For the Eagles to be successful defensively in 2012 they will need massive changes.  First off they need to get rid of defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.  Under normal circumstances I would like to give a guy more than just a year to prove what he can do.  But these aren't normal circumstances and the window of opportunity that the Eagles currently have is fading fast.  The Eagles need to bring in a defensive coordinator that has a solid reputation as being a defensive coordinator at the NFL level.  The Eagles need a guy that players aren't going to second guess.  The Eagles need a defensive coordinator that brings with him a scheme that the players will fully buy into.  Some possibilities could include former Eagles defensive assistants Leslie Frazier and Steve Spagnuolo.  Both are currently head coaches for the Minnesota Vikings and St. Louis Rams respectively, but due to terrible seasons, they could find themselves unemployed at the end of the year.

In addition to adding a new defensive coordinator, the Eagles need to bring in a player who has intensity, character, and the ability to give the Eagles an identity.  Whether or not that player exists or is available via free agency, the draft, or a trade remains to be seen.

This defense is truly lost in every sense of the word.  They don't have a leader, they don't believe in the defensive scheme, and they overall don't know who they are.  In my mind the Eagles still have a very potent offense, so this off season is going to be crucial for the Eagles to make the necessary changes on defense.

Nightmare In Seattle

When I got my work schedule last week, I was pretty bummed when I saw that I got scheduled to work during the Eagles Seahawks Thursday night game.  Even coming off of a pathetic loss to the Patriots, you still have to watch the Birds no matter what.  But after receiving a text from my uncle telling me that Vince Young had thrown an interception on the Eagles first offensive play of the game, I quickly knew that I wouldn't be missing much.

From the various highlights, post game interviews, and expert analysis I've gathered since last night, I think everyone is truly questioning this team's effort.  I sincerely hope that the Eagles were giving it all they had last night and not putting forth a weak effort.

While you clearly can't blame last night's 31-14 debacle on any one player, a lot of the blame is going to be directed toward Desean Jackson.  Jackson looked non-responsive during a sideline encounter with Vince Young, and he walked out on a post game interview after being faced with some difficult questions.

"I'm not gonna sit here and listen to those questions," said Jackson. "My teammates know what it is ... God ... Ya'll need to get out of my face before I go off. Ya'll crazy."

Jackson's immaturity is beginning to show more and more.  He is quickly turning into a typical wide receiver diva and he is also becoming a locker room cancer.  I've said it before and I will continue to say that it's time for the Eagles to part ways with Jackson.  And I truly believe that Jackson sealed his fate with the Eagles after his childish antics last night.

As for Reid, I guess you can blame Reid for the 4 interceptions thrown by Vince Young, and the sheer pitiful performance put forth by the entire team.  While I agree that it's a coach's job to motivate his players, at the same time those guys have to go out there and execute.

Eagles running back LeSean McCoy firmly stood up for his coach.

“As a team we know [Reid will be back]. We have a lot of trust in him, a lot of faith in him, and the franchise does too. They know they have a good coach. If you ask around the league, he’s by far one of the top coaches in this league." McCoy went on to say, "If you look at this game, I don’t see where it’s Andy Reid’s fault.  Turnovers, Andy can’t control that. Lack of doing your assignment — he doesn’t have control over that — that’s us as players. He puts us in the position to make plays and do the right things…He takes blame for a lot of things that he shouldn’t.”

I have a feeling that a lot of the people calling for Andy's head are going to quiet down after last night.  There is only so much a coach can do and at the end of the day the players are the ones that have to execute on the field.

At 4-8, the Eagles are all but mathematically out of it.  The Birds still have 4 more games left and I can only hope that they show more effort than they have in the past two weeks.  Hopefully Vick's return to the lineup will help spark this team, because right now, the Eagles are an absolute laughing stock and I desperately need them to show me something as we head into the final month of the season.

Future Of The Eagles: Vick Still Franchise QB

This year has certainly been frustrating and disappointing for Eagles fans everywhere, but all of the blame can't be put on quarterback Mike Vick.  Even though Vick is 3-8 in his last 11 starts and his turnovers are beginning to mount, there are glaring holes on this team that are contributing to their 4-7 record.  Vick is still the quarterback of the future as he is a terrific talent and he still has that deep desire to win a Super Bowl.

Fortunately for Vick, the blame for the season is being pinned on the coaching staff and Vick's job security, especially with the contract he signed this year, is by no means in jeopardy.  For me personally I feel that Vick is not satisfied solely with just being a starter in this league.  I think Vick is still highly motivated to win a Super Bowl for Andy Reid.  The upcoming off season is going to be crucial for Vick and his future success.  Vick will have to be diligent in his training and film studies to take himself and the Eagles to the next level.

Tonight, Vick will miss his third game and if you have your doubts about Vick's endurance as a starter, you worries are certainly justified.  Vick plays with a reckless abandon and I honestly don't think he knows how to slide.  But the fact that Vick is missing his third straight start tells me that he is fine and the Eagles are just being cautious with their franchise quarterback.

As for the backups, Vince Young is going to walk at the end of this year.  He signed a one year contract at the beginning of this year to help improve his image and learn the craft of being a quarterback under Andy Reid.  All of the starts Young makes this year are essentially "auditions" for him to use to attract teams to sign him after this season.  I think Young has certainly improved his image but he is still very immature.  After the loss on Sunday, Young remarked, "I think I played pretty good."  In my mind even if you throw for 500 yards and 10 touchdowns, if your team lost, then you played awful.  Young's comments signify that he still has some growing up to do.

So with Vick as the starter and Young gone, the Eagles will in all likelihood make Mike Kafka the official back up.  Kafka is a great student of the game and he looked pretty good this year against the Falcons.  And if it wasn't for a dropped ball by Jeremy Maclin late in the game, Kafka and the Eagles might have beaten Atlanta.  Look for the Eagles to make a late draft pick or sign a veteran to fill in the vacant role of third string quarterback.

Overall the position of quarterback for the Eagles in the future is very stable.  And after this disappointing season, MV7 is going to come out next year even more hungry and desperate to win a Super Bowl than ever before.