Better than last week

But not by much. This week's fake Eagles game was played slightly better overall (they even won!), but was actually worse to watch than last week thanks to the terrible Eagles announcers and terrible ETN production. Once again a lack of meaningful replays, neglecting to actually call the game, miscalling the game, misidentifying players even on replays and highlights, predicting plays and being wrong every single time (Herm Edwards), adding a special pain to cliches - I'd love to hear Herm Edwards' lockeroom pep talks, I'm sure they were inspiring - and just all around saying stupid ass things. The play by play guy is a special kind of idiot whatever his name is. Yes it was worth wondering why Vick wasn't in the game at the end of the 1st half with 36 seconds to go, no timeouts and the ball on the 3 yard line.

Ok, the actual game. The Vick experiment went pretty much exactly how I thought it would. He comes in and throws off the offense more than the defense. The only surprise was it never cost the Eagles a timeout. I'm sure it'll be a lot different in the regular season because Andy Reid is so smart.

McNabb was his usual self. Making a terrible throw, then making a great throw, then making another terrible throw, etc. The offense was its usual self too. No running game at all and failing miserably in the red zone. Wait, make that failing miserably with a first down from inside the 5 zone, at least in the first half. The first time, with the play from the 2 yard line that turned into a Jaguar TD was a horrible call and was McNabb's fault in the execution. Instead the announcers blamed McCoy and made it like he gave up on the play. The second time at the end of the half was just laughable and predictable. When Kolb came in he played ok and led the team to the comeback win.

The defense played a little better than weeks previous, but still wasn't anything special. The pass rush was better, there was better coverage and there were even some big hits - Asante Samuels even knocked a guy out. They still get eaten alive by screens though.

Special teams were still weak, but Akers made the last second field goal to win the game instead of lose it this time.

Other notes:

• Guys that played well - Avant, Jackson, Samuels, Cole, and McNabb sometimes.
• I just LOVED Dave Shildaro and Swoop shilling for the PA Lottery's Eagles branded lottery tickets with a giant Eagles logo all over them.
• Jason Peters sucks.
• Eagles linebackers suck.
• Kyle Eckel is getting cut.
• Hugh Douglass is right, Maclin is now scared.
• Does anyone on the Eagles know how to line up in a LEGAL formation?
• At least Reid got pissed at the players' stupidity. Has that ever happened before?
• The end of game hook and ladder/lateral play was worth a good laugh. Thanks Jacksonville.
• Yes, I watched till the end.

And The Dumb NFL Continues...

To get their way.... Sports betting on individual games delayed by the Federal 3rd Circuit Appeals Court today.

Dumb Beat Writers

DUMB Eagles beat reporters for the Inquirer? Why is this a riddle? Detmer was the "#2" behind McNabb in 2005 when he went down even though McMahon was really Reid's #2 backup (Note, McMahon started the rest of the season's games that year). That's because Detmer was valuable on special teams in any one game and they didn't want to lose that by naming McMahon an active player. In the event DMac couldn't start the NEXT game, then McMahon was the #1 and Detmer was still the #2.

Is it really that hard to figure out? Vick will be the #2, DMac the #1. If DMac goes down in a game, that means Vick will run the remainder of the game - or that Kolb could be activated if AR really desired at that point to shelve Vick (note, in 2005, McMahon was actually activated for the last drive to come in as the #3 QB after McNabb went down). Good gracious, this writer is stoopid. Oh, and THREE whopping years of Kolb learning the offense vs. Vick actually running it as a starter for how many years in Atlanta in real live games? C'mon, is Kolb really that much more familiar with the Eagles version of the WCO than Vick would be after playing in a WCO in ATL?

How do people like that get off with writing jobs? This doesn't seem like rocket science to me.

Whacky Game

Following the previous post headline, today's Phils game was one of the whackier ever. The starting NYM pitcher got rocked for two 3R HR's in 2/3rds of an inning, before being yanked when running the count to 3-0 against Pedro, LOL. His pitch count was ridiculously high too: 47 total pitches. Add to that an inside the park home run by the NYM in the same inning, an overturned triple, a ninth by the Phils with dubious plays/errors (one by Howard, two by Bruntlet) to put two on with no outs (the winning run at the plate) and Wild Thing Lidge on the mound, and you've got a crazy finish that the Phils are ready to just blow the game. Well, Bruntlet then turns an unassisted walk-off triple play. Amazing stuff.

Go, Phils! (Do games like this mean anything supernatural? Things are rolling too well.)

Pedro Update: Not to bad. 5 Ks in 6IP, scattering a not-so-wonderful, but tolerable 7 hits (only one BB). He was clocking the fastball in the low nineties. No Moyer in long relief today, though.

Horrible game

This fake game was bad and painful to sit through. The Eagles were bad. Bad plays, bad drops, bad offensive line, bad defense, constant parade of bad penalties, bad special teams, and bad play calls. Representative of the Eagles futility and stupidity was their last play of the first half - a dump off from around the 20 yard line with 11 seconds to go and no time-outs. Idiots. Will anyone on the Eagles ever learn?

Other notes:
Maclin so far has been unimpressive and I'd even say, "bad."

Tracking Second Best

Another gem from C. Lee: A complete game, 2H, no BBs, and 11 K's. WOW! A Sub 1.0 ERA w/ the Phils so far AND he's hitting, LOL. Sure, all this may not continue as it is now, but Amaro is looking like a genius right now. Add to that the fact that Happ is still in our rotation (and Drabek in the system), and he also got Pedro (verdict still out on him, although I'm liking the Pedro/Moyer thingy), and WOW!

But, forget Amaro, and forget the immediate hype around C. Lee. In the big picture, will the Phils repeat again? The bats are popping AND the pitching is arguably the best staff in the league (credit Ruiz quite a bit - the guy is BRILLIANT behind the plate). The ONLY thing scaring me right now is our bull pen closing situation. Otherwise, Philly or not, I'd guarantee a repeat.

Moyer Starting Out of the BP

Excellent performance last night by Moyer, throwing 6 out of the BP. I actually think he's a powerful long reliever to have in the BP, a virtual extra starter. And, if it happens to be after a RHP starts, the lineup will be all messed up for the opps, not to mention the complete change of pace/pitching style. Hope Moyer starts eating up his new role.

More Football Funniness

I guess Brad Childress, from the school of the Championship-less Gold Standards, doesn't have any self-dignity either and just wants to win / save his job at any costs at this point. More of the never-ending Favre slobbering coming up from ESPN for at least ANOTHER year. Long sigh. Wish I could get that cash. Amazing.

I'm getting closer and closer to being completely done with the NFL. Favre + Vick as an Eagle + NFL's anti DE betting = unsatisifed customer, about as thrilled with the NFL now as I was baseball after the 94 strike.

Howard is popping!!!

Three home runs in this short series. He owns the Braves with HRs every ten at bats. Unreal cummulative stats against them too. Glad Lidge could come in and get a save on 1/3rd of an inning with a 3 run lead. Excellent.

Happ didn't look great with only a few Ks and 6BBs if I recall correctly (and I saw the HBP too). But, he managed through some pretty sticky situations and maintained his excellent ERA, lasting into the 7th with 115+ pitches. Glad we didn't trade him (and Drabek)!

Thinking through that character issue in a recent thread, here's some more recent stuff on Myers! Which story do you buy? (Neither is an option.)

So...

Should I call Eskin and ask about taking Vick for my fantasy team?

Like I knew would happen, sportstalk is 100% unlistenable. I could only take 2 minutes this afternoon before I started longing for the days of Wingbowl eating stunts.

Akers blows it

The first teamers left the field with the Eagles in a big hole. The second team, lead by Feeley and rookie running back, Buckley, got the Eagles back in the game only to see Akers blow a game winning field goal with less than a minute to play. Weak.

First teamers that had a good game were Sheldon Brown with a knocked down pass and interception, rookie back McCoy with several good runs and displays of lots of quickness, and new fullback Weaver with lots of good runs and catches. McNabb looked terrible to start but got warmed up a little bit later. He didn't have much help from his weak offensive line whose pass blocking was pretty bad, especially with Peeters doing his best Winston Justice impersonation.

The anemic first team offense was matched by the first team defense who also did not look good.

The ETN network also did a pretty bad job. Lots of player misidentification, not when the scrubs were in, but when the first team was in, lack of meaningful replays, and all around shilling including Dunkin Donuts ads superimposed on the field during PATs. And after the initial shock of learning that the Eagles signed Vick, by the second half they all had their talking points and started to hype him as a weapon that will make the Eagles offense even more dangerous, avoiding any real questions about him. Why did the Eagles sign him? What will he actually do? Where does he even fit in? Will he play QB? Who is the odd man out? How can they do this, making sportstalk radio completely unlistenable for the next 3-4 weeks or more right when I want to start listening a lot again.

I only half paid attention to the game, so if you noticed anyone else playing especially good or bad, leave a comment.

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagle?!?!

The Philadelphia Eagles signing Michael Vick was seemingly so far from the realm of possibility that I'm stunned it has happened. This from the organization that has placed such an emphasis on acquiring players with "character" — to an almost ridiculous level at times. And to now sign the most controversial, maybe unlikeable figure in professional sports at the moment is just mind-blowing. Wow.

My initial reaction is that while I'm not opposed to Vick returning to the NFL — despite the rampant scumbaggery of his past deeds — I don't want him on the Eagles. If for no other reason than Birds fans are now in the position of having to root for him should he take the field for the Eagles.

Also, does this mark the end of the Kevin Kolb clipboard era?

Let the venting begin ...

Cycling

On a professional level, there's not much local about cycling. But, recently, bikers in Delaware have been ducking blow-dart attacks by some knucklehead or heads. Ain't that precious?

After you grasp that, then you can lighten things up with this You Tube Special. Pretty hillarious. Man, makes me want to get back on the bike more... except for those blow darts. Sheesh.

Go, Pedro! Up 12-3 in the Sixth. Looks like he won't be getting a loss, although 7 hits in 5 with a walk and 5 K's isn't outstanding. JRoll is a rollin' again for sure!!!

Dropping Like Flies! Sports Betting In DE

Our wonder TE pick, Cornelius Ingram, who was drafted in the 5th round is now likely out for the season with a torn ACL (same knee as in his last season at FL). I guess there's a reason why folks drop in the draft (ala Winston Justice). Who's next to exit for the season?

On a completely unrelated note:
Meanwhile, those sports leagues are taking on the State of Delaware's sports betting now on a Federal level, claiming Delaware is violating Federal Law by allowing Single Game bets, something they hadn't been offering back when they received the exemption from the then created Federal Law. Early this week, the Federal Court did not issue an injunction against Delaware's moving forward, despite the attempt by these Sports Leagues to file and request one. Immediately after that, the NCAA then stooped and declared that no NCAA Championships can ever take place in DE if they offer single game bets. Nice. Trying to manipulate the state as pawns of the NFL and who else? Hypocrisy, as the Delaware betting laws prohibit betting on on Delaware teams. NCAA = frauds... as they continue to EXPLOIT students for millions and millions with no direct compensation. Talk about hypocrisy. Enslavement with repayment only possible in the "professional" leagues (like the NFL). No wonder they are in bed with them and acting like children.

For The Love Of...

Whatever.... Can we please not move Happ to the bullpen? 10Ks. A shutout CG. An 8-2 record. Why in the world would we put him in the bullpen and move up Martinez? So he can come out of the bullpen and clean up the mahem behind either Martinez or Old Man Moyer? Please, Happ belongs in the starting rotation and Moyer ought to head to the BP.

And for whoever thinks Happ could just return to the rotation for the playoffs, what is the point of that? To get him out of rhythm in the BP and then suddenly have him start starting again come Sept/Oct? Dumb. And, I'll go so far as to say if they're going to do something dumb like this, they may as well have traded him and Drabek and gotten Halladay too.

A rotation of C. Lee, C. Hamels, J. A. Happ, and Blanton seems pretty darned fine to me w/ Martinez (or Moyer) mixed in as needed to keep the mileage off of those guys. Good gracious, Happ to the bullpen?????

Please, put us out of our misery

Either somebody at WIP tell Ike Reese nobody wants to hear his interminable, unfunny monologues that make up 80% of his tiresome show or replace him. I once compared him to Steve Fredericks, but Reese is actually worse. There are plenty of people at WIP that know how to actually host a radio show that have way more interesting things to say, even when it comes to the Eagles - Reese's lone area of expertise. Give one of them the 7-11 pm slot and give Reese the fill-ins at 11pm after most people go to bed.

[end dumb rant]

///

Maclin finally signed tonight. Will Reid punish him for his "insolence" and make him a non-factor for the season to the detriment of the team? Probably.

///

The question on WIP came up for the millionth time today - is this a football or a baseball town? All you have to do is look at WIP to answer this dumb question. Planned programming during the Eagles season includes Football Fridays, The Football show on Saturday morning followed by Ray Didinger, Eagles expert, talking about the Eagles and football for another 4 hours. Then on game day hours of a pregame show and then hours of a post-game show. Then the day after there is another 4 hour show with an Eagles player as a co-host. This leaves out all the non-programmed show content that is dominated by football and the Eagles. And would Ike Reese have solo 4 hour show in prime time if this wasn't a football town?

Also take into account everything on 950 ESPN and the local TV stations focused on the Eagles. Where is the baseball equivalent?

Down Goes One!

Stewart Bradley out with a torn ACL? While everyone else is so positive on this Birds' season, I continue to be less and less excited about it. I just don't see it. This isn't gonna help. The D has taken three major hits now. How does a team recover from that? The draft??????