Dec 8th 2008 8:30AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Cowboys, Eagles, NFL FansFor 52 minutes and 45 seconds, it looked like the Dallas Cowboys were on their way to their third consecutive win, and more importantly, one step closer to securing a wild-card spot after a forgettable, Tony Romo-less four-week stretch earlier in the season. Instead, the Cowboys, who led the Steelers 13-3 midway through the final quarter, gave up 17 points in 7:15.

And in the time it took Stay Puff Marshmallow Wade to figure out what happened, Dallas had lost an eminently winnable game. Worse still: the Cowboys were facing the very real possibility of missing the playoffs, which, for a lot of people, was an unimaginable notion three months ago.

All is not lost, however.Continue Reading

Nov 27th 2008 5:45PM by Enrico Campitelli (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Eagles, NFC East, NFC WestDonovan McNabb’s play over the last few weeks was so bad that it allowed Andy Reid, a traditionally ardent supporter of his star player, to bench him in place of the young Kevin Kolb. The youngster’s performance somehow actually managed to be worse than McNabb’s and the Eagles limped to a pathetic defeat at the hands of the Ravens. Life has been rough for the Eagles coming into this Thanksgiving day.

And so it is for Eagles fans, that they find a team who was at the top of most experts’ power rankings coming into the season, on the brink of a new football era in Philadelphia. Many believe the final six games of this season will be the last we see of Andy on the sideline and Donovan behind center in an Eagles uniform. As a huge McNabb fan in the past, I find it both sad but a necessary reality. Andy Reid has lost this team coupled with Donovan’s gigantic cap number next season make a fresh start, and likely rebuilding period, that much easier to swallow. (a Phillies World Championship doesn’t hurt either)

The strength of the Arizona Cardinals is in their impressive receiving corp so the absence of Eagles star corner in today’s game could prove costly. This game is more about pride for the Eagles than reaching any playoff dream. The Eagles are coming home on Thanksgiving to play in front of a loyal fan base that has been embarrassed the past few weeks.

There’s been a lot of speculation in Philly about the kind of reaction McNabb will receive on this chilly Thanksgiving evening following his mid-game benching last week. In my opinion, the McNabb era is coming to a close in Philadelphia, we all realize this, but instead of booing the man who has given us a decade of wonderful football memories in Philadelphia, I believe the faithful at Lincoln Financial Field should cheer and support the man and give thanks for a career in which he brought us “to the appetizer but didn’t get [us] to the entree.”

It was a pretty enjoyable appetizer.

Nov 27th 2008 8:46PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: AZ Cardinals, Eagles, NFL Fans
There is nothing like two teams with birds as their mascots playing on a day we basically worship birds.

It is Thanksgiving, you are to the point where you hate your families and you probably have had one or two glasses of the funny sauce.

Join us for the Thanksgiving live chat-o-rama, which kicks off around , and should be more fun than cranberry sauce.

Donovan McNabb said he will at least be around for the first quarter.Continue Reading

Nov 24th 2008 12:39PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, NFC EastYesterday, Andy Reid said something after the game to this effect — “You sometimes have to take a step back to be able to go forward a thousand miles.” I have no idea if that is the exact quote because, frankly, it makes zero sense.

Well, that “step back” must have been benching Donovan McNabb and his sexy gloves before taking that “thousand mile” journey to their Thanksgiving game against the Cardinals, because Reid just announced Donovan would be starting this Thursday.

MDS over at PFT has the quote.
Asked if McNabb would be the starter for the rest of the season, Reid said, “Yeah, as I sit here right now he’s my quarterback. I’m telling you, he’s the starting quarterback. If I thought different then I’d start the other guy.”
I’ve been in turbulent relationships over the years and one thing I have learned is honest communication (I’m lying) is the only way to a successful relationship (I’m still single), so benching Donovan just to start him again in no way could be construed as mixed signals (me = bad at relationship advice).Continue Reading

Nov 23rd 2008 1:00PM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Bengals, Eagles, NFL Fans, NFL Rumors
Chad Javon Ocho Cinco is back with the Bengals after being deactivated for Thursday night’s Steelers contest because of a severe case of drowsiness. And while I’m sure Ryan Fitzpatrick will happily welcome his return, when you’re staring at 1-9-1, it doesn’t much matter who you trot out there for the next five weeks.

The real issue, however, is what will the organization do with Mr. Cinco after the season? Common sense might dictate running his ass out of town and getting whatever you can for him. Of course, the Bengals could’ve had a first-round pick (or two, depending on who you believe) from the Redskins last summer, but they weren’t willing to deal. In retrospect, yeah, they probably should have.

But according to CBS’ Charley Casserly, the plan — as of right now, anyway — is to keep Johnson in Cincy for 2009, too. It seems like an insane notion given all the trouble he’s caused in recent seasons, but nobody’s ever accused the Bengals of being smart.Continue Reading

Nov 23rd 2008 3:12PM by Adam Gretz (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles
After struggling mightily in the Eagles 13-13 tie in Cincinnati last week, Donovan McNabb went a dismal 8-for-18 in the first half of today’s game in Baltimore. In the process, he lost a fumble, ending the Eagles’ best offensive drive of the day, and threw two interceptions, including a terrible pass that was picked off by Samari Rolle and returned inside the Philadelphia five-yard line, leading to Baltimore’s touchdown.

Apparently, Andy Reid has seen enough, as the Eagles came out in the second half with second-year signal-caller Kevin Kolb lining up under center.

To this point, Kolb’s only experience this season has been mop-up duty in Week 1, and a series during the Week 3 game with Pittsburgh when McNabb sat out briefly with an injury. He went 1-for-3 on his first series today.

: Kevin Kolb finished the game just 10-for-23 with 73 yards and two picks, as the Eagles were drubbed 36-7.

Nov 23rd 2008 8:30PM by Josh Alper (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, Ravens, AFC North, NFC East, NFL VideoWhen Ed Reed of the Ravens returned an interception 106 yards for a touchdown against the Browns in 2004, it seemed like a tough record to break. The previous record was 103 and most picks in the end zone are best left unreturned since you get a free trip to the 20.

No one told Reed. The safety took a Kevin Kolb pass 106 yards for a touchdown to break his own record. The length is impressive by itself, but when you factor in the four tackles he avoids to get there it becomes one of the better runs you’ll see all season. Take a look:

If you enjoy the symmetry of Reed breaking Reed’s record, you might also get a kick out of the fact that no one may have suffered more as a result than a guy named Reid. Andy Reid, of course, whose seat may be getting warmer after another hideous performance by the Eagles.

Nov 24th 2008 8:30AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Browns, Eagles, Jets, Patriots, NFL Fans, NFL CoachingLast week, Donovan McNabb acknowledged that he didn’t know an NFL game could end in a tie. Unfortunately, he made the admission after the Eagles and Bengals playing to a … tie. If Philly fans needed to ship McNabb out of town, this would do nicely. And then Sunday happened.

The Eagles traveled to Baltimore, went through the motions for 30 minutes, and when they took the field for the second half, McNabb was on the sidelines, benched for the first time in his professional career. His replacement — for the day and, presumably, the future — 2007 second-round pick Kevin Kolb, was just as forgettable, which puts head coach Andy Reid in a predicament.

Of course, Reid’s detractors would point out that his troubles are self-inflicted; his loathsome disregard for the running game, and blind allegiance to McNabb, have everything to do with the Eagles’ current situation.Continue Reading

Nov 23rd 2008 10:30AM by Ryan Wilson (author feed)
Filed under: Bears, Eagles, Giants, Vikings
A guy plays like crap for a month straight, acknowledges he didn’t know an NFL game could end in a tie, and the next thing you know, EVERYBODY wants to run him out of town.

Actually, Philly’s love-hate relationship with Donovan McNabb is going on 10 years now, but the Eagles’ quarterback’s latest admission, coupled with some Koy Detmer-inspired quartbackin’ has led to this: the fans have seen enough. They’ve seen enough of McNabb, and they’ve definitely seen enough of head coach Andy Reid.

No idea what the future holds for either, but NFL Network’s Adam Schefter reports that McNabb shouldn’t have any trouble finding work, and the Eagles might already have a candidate in mind should Reid get the Richie Kotite treatment.Continue Reading

Nov 21st 2008 3:30PM by Matt Snyder (author feed)
Filed under: Eagles, NFC East, NFL Coaching, NFL Real TalkYou can tell he has it in him. Any man that big who acts like a teddy bear most of the time surely has some innate ability to let loose like a ferocious grizzly. This week, Andy Reid did just that to his Eagles, in a morning meeting.
Reid lit into the team Wednesday at the morning meeting and let everyone know that not only was the season on the line, there were on the line. “I guess he felt his normal mild-mannered self wasn’t working,” linebacker Omar Gaither said. “With Coach Reid, when the volume goes up and he starts turning red, you start paying a little more attention.”
I’ve experienced stuff like this before. Coaches who rarely yell get a huge reaction when they do. It’s like, “wow, he’s pissed at us,” and then you want to make that anger disappear by performing better. On the flipside, when you have some maniac yelling at you every single play, you learn to just stop listening and nothing he says carries value anymore.

So, yeah, I think Reid got the attention of his players.Continue Reading