Eagles move up to grab Cox

The Eagles were aggressive once again during the draft and traded up to 12 in order to get Fletcher Cox, a 6'-4" 298 pound defensive tackle from Mississippi State. Many beat writers and radio hosts predicted this pick as it was unfolding because the Eagles let it be known that they loved Cox. The fans also seem happy with the pick for a change. Some comments regarding his play:

"He's quick hitting the hole and quick penetrating... Good push up the middle and has great tools. 'Total package.'"

Ray Didinger considers him to be the best defensive lineman in the draft.

More to come as the draft progresses.

Finished them

Sigh

After the Flyers become the 5th team in history to blow a 3-0 series lead, I won't delude myself that they will win the Cup the next year to wipe away the disgust and bitterness.

Hope the Eagles draft someone good on Thursday.

Pathetic

Being a long time Philadelphia sports fan I could feel this one coming in my old bones. Fans were extremely overconfident just like they were before other disasters. And the lame and poorly executed Daily News cowardly penguin cover along with the Flyers free t-shirt giveaway that singled out Crosby for ridicule instead of touting the Flyers orange crushedness or something were also reliable indicators that something really bad was going to happen. Most thought and acted like the series was over. Don't you people remember you live and root for Philadelphia teams?

And the team played like they thought it was over too.

The Giroux goal was the first time the Flyers scored first in the series and it was the Duce Staley TD vs. Tampa Bay all over again. We won! Let the celebration begin!

When the game finally ended the Flyers were annihilated and embarrassed 10-3 and didn't score in the 2nd or 3rd periods. And it wasn't just a terrible loss with a terrible effort, terrible goaltending and terrible defense. It was a game that gave the Penguins life, confidence, momentum and also allowed them to right themselves. By the end Fleury could make a save again and Malkin was no longer missing the net. This series is going 7 as most originally predicted and the Flyers will probably blow 4 straight games. The goaltending is not going to improve. The sucky Sievegalov is back and he can't move post to post.

Also, the refs suck for calls on both teams.

3-0 vs gutless Penguins

The old sports cliche of teams taking their cues from their captain appears to be very true for the Pittsburgh Penguins. A tweet by @FlyGoalScoredBy summed up today's game:

Gutless Rankings:

1. James Neal
2. Byslma
3. Asham
4. Crosby
5. Person who was born without guts

But strangely I was not that irate by all the penguins punk moves because the Flyers were again crushing them on the scoreboard by putting up another 8 goals. Fleury and his ridiculous soul patch has been absolutely terrible and the main reason the Flyers are up 3-0 in the series. His lowlights include a Bugs Bunny backhand by Talbot that was probably the worst goal I've seen allowed since Dempsy scored vs. England during the World Cup. The effort vs. Read was bad and the goal by Simmonds that everyone in the building knew was going to be a shift to the backhand finally put him on the bench.

At the other end of the ice though, Sievegalov has made his return. Bryz let in goals that in my view were all imminently stoppable. The first allowed was awful and the fourth even worse. The Neal goals in between were shots through gaping 5 holes. The best sign though was the Flyers did shut out the Penguins in the third.

Let's see now if the NHL hands out any suspensions. Asham is probably guaranteed, but probably not for Neal despite his late, interfering, leaving his feet hit on Couturier and his head hunting hit on Giroux a minute later because that's how the NHL rolls.

Flyers need to end this series on Wednesday.

Imagine if the Flyers played all 3 periods

Flyers had the usual pathetic first period (which never fails to anger me), but they fought back from 3-0, got some big breaks and prevailed in OT, 4-3, on one of the weakest efforts by an opponent you'll ever see. Nice play Letang!

And nothing is more satisfying than seeing Crosby's pouty, crybaby face at the end of the game. Because he sucks.

Holmgren's trades are looking better and better...

First round matchup

Crosby sucks and is the biggest crybaby in sports. Penguin fans are the stupidest and most clueless in sports. Pittsburgh announcers are simply the worst. Pittsburgh is the team I currently hate the most.

Flyers better win.

Phillies drop 2 of 3 to Pirates.

The Phillies lost twice to the Pirates on baseball’s opening weekend, confirming fans’ fears about the team: Philadelphia’s hitting is anemic; there will be plenty of close games this season; and the bullpen will be called upon to save about 50 one or two run games. Also confirmed: the starting pitching is great, though the Pirates are hardly an offensive juggernaut. Below are my takes on the games, based on hearing bits and pieces on the radio and watching highlights.

Game 1:
Pitchers Roy Holiday and Jonathan Papplebon were great, the offense was awful, but the Phillies win 1-0 thanks to timely plays by Mayweather and Chooch.

Game 2:
Pitcher Cliff Lee and most relievers were good, the offense was awful, and the Phillies lose in 10 innings. Lee’s wild pitch led to the Pirates’ first run and underscored just how razor thin the starter’s margin of error will be this year.

Game 3:
The Phillies offense was better this game, starting pitching was strong, but the bullpen blew the game after being handed a 4-1 lead, with an error in the 7th inning being quite costly. Hunter Pence and Juan Pierre had good games.

Some issues remain undecided after the series- namely who will lead off and who will play first base until Ryan Howard returns. Victorino lead off for two games, with Pierre batting first on Sunday. Pierre seemed to do a better job. The Phillies started three different players at 1st base (Wigginton, Nix and Thome) and really all that was decided was that Thome can still turn a 3-6-3 double play. Perhaps Mayberry will get a chance at first base soon, so he and Pierre can be in the line-up at the same time.

Next up for the Phillies are the revamped and renamed Miami Marlins in the home opener.

When it rains, it bores

The name of the Portland Timbers' goalkeeper is Troy Perkins.

I only mention this because if you watched the Union lose to the Timbers 3-1 Monday night, his name didn't really come up. He did pick the ball out of the back of the net after new Union midfielder Gabriel Gomez sent a free kick straight in. (There was a slight deflection, but it was going in anyway.) The stats say he had a save at some other point in the game, but I'm struggling to remember it.

That all would suggest some pretty pathetic offense from the Union, and indeed this was the case. Watching the scoreless first half, it was obvious there were goals to be had by both sides. Unfortunately it was the Timbers finding them in the second half as Philly wasted chances and had possession break down in the final third.

The strategy from Union Manager Peter Nowak was obvious, especially considering the team's defensive strength last season. They left newly signed striker Lionard Pajoy up top to hold up the ball while five midfielders clogged up the middle. Pajoy was game, working hard to keep possession and challenge the Timbers defenders, but he was outnumbered and delivered diminishing returns as the game progressed. And for all his work, he didn't produce any serious goal chances.

The defensive/clog up the middle/look for breakout offense strategy worked for a half if you consider the score, I guess. But it always looked like goals were coming.

Minutes after going up 1-0, Union keeper Zac MacMath let in a howler on a flicked-on free kick, and the flood gates opened up. Or they would have, had MacMath not made a bunch of really good saves to limit the score to only 3-1.

A snap reaction might say the Union's absent offense is down to the team trading previous face of the franchise Sebastien Le Toux to Vancouver in the offseason for some sweet, sweet "allocation money," which I think it's safe to assume went toward acquiring multiple players the team adds up to more than one Le Toux. They hope.

We have to give that one time, as I'm sure the Union will play more positive at home, probably with Danny Mwanga starting up top with Pajoy, and with Jack McInerney getting more time. But here's my thing about playing positive at home and conservative on the road: Who gives a shit if you're on the road? If you're good enough to play aggressively at home, you should be on the road too. Anything less is gutless. If your defense is that good — and it gave up the second fewest goals in MLS last season — then go for goals on the road and rely on that defense.

Anyway, while assessment of the Le Toux trade is TBD (and FYI, he scored and was involved in another goal in Vancouver's first game), something even more annoying threatens my enjoyment of this season: Freddy Adu.

ESPN's announcers said Nowak told them he was most excited about Freddy Adu going into this season. This despite the fact Nowak, seemingly Adu's biggest backer (He had him at DC United as well), barely played him down the stretch last season.

Adu appeared to parlay two good performances for the U.S. national team into a mid-season move to the Union last season after floundering in Europe, but I've seen nothing since suggesting he'll be an impact player. Again, we'll have to wait and see, but I'm not holding my breath. I think the Union have better options.

NOTES:

• What do you think of the new uniforms? I'm OK with the lightish blue for a change of pace, but that wide stripe on the front of the jersey is a huge mis-step. Maintaining a single vertical stripe makes sense as a team trademark, and a wider stripe in the mode of Ajax would be fine. But the tapered, wide to thin/top to bottom effect on these new jerseys is terrible. If it wasn't broke, why fix it (badly)?

• The Timbers fans sing the National Anthem themselves, which was both funny and laughable Monday, if you get my meaning. Probably sounded more impressive in the stadium.

• Jack McInerney now looks exactly like Eric Wynalda. At least their haircuts are identical.

• If the Union play defense like a 1980s Italian team and win everything 1-0, no one will mind a lack of offense. But no goals is bad for marketing, bad for making anyone want to watch the game, and the defense isn't good enough to always win 1-0 anyway.

• Home opener is Sunday vs. the Colorado Rapids.

MARCH MADNESS!

Bracket registration closes at tip off of the first game of Round 1 on Thursday, March 15.

I set up "team" willweeverwin over at Yahoo! again. First go to Yahoo's Tournament Pick'em page and click the "Join a Group" button. On the next page click the "Join a Group" button again. If you have a Yahoo account, login. If not, follow the instructions and get one. Once logged in, enter the info below.

Group ID#: 98783
Pass: check the comments of this post

Where it says "Bracket Name" is where you would put your bracket's name. I am "ronscrappypicks" again. Finish filling the required stuff out and make your picks by the first game on Thursday. I decided to use the default Yahoo! scoring system again because it's simple.

This year's winner gets to watch political ads for the next 8 months.

Seravalli's bold Predictions

Most of the hockey world’s attention this weekend is focused upon Ottawa, where festivities that culminate with the soporific NHL All Star game are taking place. The Daily News’ Frank Seravalli took the opportunity of a lull in the Flyers’ season to make 5 bold predictions about the team. Frankadamus states that

Sean Couturier will win the Calder Trophy.
Matt Carle will not sign an extension.
The Flyers will trade for a defenseman.
Jagr will be quiet.
Bryzgalov will find his groove.

Servalli has a different definition of bold than most. The idea that Flyers will trade for a defenseman is a forecast that rivals The Pope is Catholic in level of riskiness. Similarly milquetoast is the idea that Jagr will be quiet, what with Jagr being 39, years removed from playing a full NHL season, and having been out on three different occasions with an injured groin.

Carle not signing an extension is predicated on what defenseman the Flyers acquire in a trade. If it is either Shea Weber or Ryan Suter, the Flyers will attempt to sign the player to a long term deal. And there won’t be enough money left over for Carle to get paid as well. If the Flyers sign say, Tim Gleason, then I think Carle could be coming back.

Sean Couturier winning the Calder Trophy is a bold prediction. It is also wrong, but as with any award it can always be argued that such and such a player should have won. However, barring long term injury, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins is going to easily win the award. Courturier is not going to gain enough ice time to put up the stats he needs to win. And no one has ever won the Calder because of their excellent penalty killing skills.

That Bryzgalov will find his groove is the most controversial opinion. Seravalli bases his prediction on Bryz’s body of work and the idea that he will be starting the majority of the Flyers games during the Spring, which will allow Bryz to elevate his game. But didn’t Bryz start the majority of the Flyers game’s this fall and winter? I have little faith in the goalie play of either Bryzgalov or Bobrovsky, but hope to be surprised.

Boston defeats Flyers in a shoot out

This was a huge game for the Flyers. Philadelphia was coming off a rare victory over a playoff team (the Devils), and Boston was coming off an overtime loss to the NY Rangers. Boston destroyed the Flyers in their last meeting. It was also a huge game for Bryzgolov who got the call in net for the Flyers.

The Flyers replaced Jagr, Rinaldo and Briere in their line up with Zolnierczyk, Seiesto and Holmstrom. I am not sure if Rinaldo was injured in yesterdays game or if this was a coach’s decision. Jagr and Briere are hurt. Marc Savard and Brad Ference were out for Boston. JVR remains out for the Flyers.

First Period Highlights

Typical weak start by the Flyers as they give up a breakaway within the first 30 seconds.

Bruins score a goal a minute in. Good work by the Bruins on this goal as Patrice Bergeron tips in a crossing pass from Marchand, even though Bergeron has Wayne Simmonds draped all over him.

Tom Sestito fights Milan Lucic off a face off. I am surprised Lucic takes this fight, since the Bruins are up 1-0 on the road and it is against AHL call up Sestito. The fight is a draw.

Flyers tie the game: Max Talbot scores when Seidenberg tips his crossing pass past Thomas.

Scott Hartnell is playing hard thus far with a lot of hits.

Max Talbot has a scoring chance thanks to a lucky bounce off the end boards. Tim Thomas makes a good save.

Flyers penalty- a slash by Sean Couturier who was back checking. This is a bad penalty by Couturier.

Flyers are doing well on the penalty kill but somehow pick up a too many men on the ice penalty to give the Bruins a two man advantage. Bruins utilize an unusual, close-in umbrella style set on the 5-3, which proves useless and the Flyers kill the two man down time.

There are coincidental minors for Talbot/Krejci from a dust up by the benches.

Breakaway for Rich Peverley is saved by the “telescopic leg” of Bryzgolov and the Flyers kill off the remaining power play.

Flyers penalty: Voracek for tripping. This is a bullshit call.

Bruins score a power play goal by Seguin, thanks to the hard work of Bergeron who steals the puck behind the Flyers net and passes to the wide open Seigen who buries it behind Bryzgolov.

Sestito has a big hit, but loses a tooth on the play.

Schenn has a bigger hit and then is challenged to fight by Kelly who cuts Schenn badly in the fight. Flyers get a PP from the confrontation. Flyers have some pressure but do not score on the power play.

Lucic scores for Boston from above the face off circles. Lucic benefited from a pick by Horton on Coburn, but this is a soft goal by Bryzgalov.

Bergeron stirs the pot by bumping Bryzgalov after a stoppage. Bryzgalov explodes and attacks Bergeron and receives a roughing penalty.

Flyers are doing well on the penalty kill and on a 2 on 1 Chara bats the puck out of the rink and receives a delay of the game penalty so there is 4 on 4 hockey.

Flyers on the power play but the best chance goes to Marchand who is stopped one on one by Bryzgalov.

Talbot stirs the pot.

Flyers roll out the feared Zolnierczyk/Sestito/Shelly line who has a good shift pinning the Bruins in their zone.

Schenn is back on the ice.

Second Period Highlights

Sestito hammers Horton who looses his cool and crosschecks Sestito. Bourdon attacks Horton, but the Flyers emerge with a power play.

Thomas makes a fantastic save on a Hartnell rebound shot.

Hartnell scores a power play goal. There is some real nice puck movement proceeding this goal. Giroux with the assist.

Hartnell hammers McQuaid on a hit.

Quick whistle on a Flyers scoring chance started by a Matt Carle rush. Schenn could have easily scored if play continued.

Schenn has a good hit to cause a turnover, leading to a Hartnell goal. Giroux again with the assist.

On the ensuing draw Shelly and Thornton fight. Fight is a draw.

Sestito has a huge hit on Chara.

Boston Penalty- Seguin high stick on Bourdon. Bad penalty by Seguin. Flyers produce good pressure on the power play but do not score.

Boston Penalty- Lucic for interfering with Giroux on a Flyers 2 on 1. Good work by Giroux to draw this penalty.

Hartnell scores another power play goal for a hat trick. Same exact play as the 2nd Flyer goal.

The second period ends early since there are a thousand hats on the ice.

Third Period highlights

The last 46 seconds of 2nd period is played.

Boston Goal. Krejick deflects a Peverley shot past Bryzgalov.

Flyers have a 3 on 2 where Read blows an empty net goal when he
cannot control the puck.

Campbell stuffs a goal past Bryzgalov on a feed by Paille from behind the goal. The Flyers defense was weak here, but is Bryzgalov even capable of making a game saving save?

Time out by the Flyers.

Thornton negates an icing but the linesman blows the call.

A wild sequence where Giroux drives the net for a scoring chance and Schenn is buried by Thornton when he went for the rebound (should have been a penalty). Hartnell then crushes Kelly with a hit when Kelly goes to play the puck, leading Thornton to pummel Hartnell. The Flyers get a power play out of all of this.

Flyers goal- Carle with a point shot that is deflected by a Boston defender or Max Talbot in front.

Bourdon with a big hit on Kelly

Boychuk takes a lazy penalty as he trips Schenn. Flyers cannot score on the power play.

Kelly takes a holding the stick penalty behind the Flyers net! This is such a dumb play by Kelly, but the Flyers cannot score.

Overtime Highlights

Read has a good scoring chance on a redirection.

Giroux looks exhausted.

Quick whistle for the Flyers’ failure to play the puck on a delayed played by high stick call. This keeps the draw in the Flyers’ zone and leads to a penalty. Timonen held Krejci, this was a good penalty as Krejci was alone in front of the net.

Boston power play is all Chara shots, the majority of which are blocked by Max Talbot.

Fake hockey highlights

Bryzgalov can’t save a single shot. Boston wins.


Takeaways:

Wayne Simmonds cannot stick handle.

Bryzgalov is a bust.

Sestito is a better player than Shelly and probably just as good at fighting- why not bring him up and play him when you would play Shelly?

Bryzgalov is a bust.

Giroux needs some rest. He looked exhausted in OT. It is too bad he is playing in the all star game.

Bryzgalov is a bust.

Great games by Hartnell, Schenn and Talbot.

Poor shoot out by Bryzgalov. He is a bust.

Andy Reid, back for 14ths

Eagles owner Jeff Lurie held a press conference today to announce the inevitable - Andy Reid will be back. But before letting us all down softy, he made it seem like there was an actual chance that Reid would be fired. He said he was angry and frustrated and he called the season "dismal" and the result "unacceptable" and he even called the last 4 wins "fool's gold." I don't think he was intentionally being devious though, I think he just wanted the fans to really know that he too felt bad about this season and heard their complaints so he went overboard in trying to appease us. But of course in the end he was so disgusted with this unacceptable season that he didn't change a thing.

Flyers blow Winter Classic

Flyers handily controlled if not dominated the first 2 periods of this game. They were getting to every loose puck, winning battles, coming out of their own zone with ease and speed, and were controlling the faceoffs and as a result were winning 2-1 going into the third. Then early in the third goaltender fill-in Bobrovsky let in a goal softer than the Eagles, and the Flyers folded like a cheap umbrella. After that awful goal they never recovered, were quickly scored upon again and ended up losing 3-2 in a game they should have won.

After blowing the lead early in the third, the Flyers only really threatened in the last minute with the goalie pulled. In a "goalmouth scramble" Briere (I think) pushed the puck through Lundqvist and a Ranger fell on the puck in the crease as it was headed toward the goal line. This saved a goal but also awarded the Flyers a penalty shot. Giroux was on the ice at the time, but Laviolette gave Briere the golden chance to redeem his team's blowing a 2-0 lead. He went 5 hole but hit the 6 hole instead. Weak.

The result of this game pissed me off. The Flyers blew it and bad goaltending as usual was a primary reason. Bobrovsky didn't have to "stand on his head" or steal a game, all he had to do was make the routine saves and he failed. And after he blew it the rest of the team melted down and looked entirely different than it did the first 2 periods.

Other notes:

• Bryzgalov needs to give up the Yakov Smirnoff Jr. act. Ha ha you suck! Hilarious! You're not funny at all, dude.
• The refs this game sucked. Yeah, nothing new.
• Intermissions were extra long, right?
• NBC's coverage was pretty good I thought.
• How do they time those jet flyovers?
• How do the Flyers let a total scrub score 2 goals on them? And nice Sieg Heil, dumbass in your pathetic attempt to mock Jagr.
• Why did no one hand him a beatdown?
• One positive: The last time the Flyers blew a Winter Classic game they went to the Stanley Cup finals. And then blew that.

Somehow I stayed awake

Eagles beat the Redskins 34-10 at the Linc in golf weather, which foreshadowed both teams immediate futures. This game was awful with both teams doing what they did best all season - suck. The Redskins of course sucked more all season so they sucked more today and lost.

Even though they won and Vick had good stats and a 100+ QB rating, Vick held the ball too long and also made the usual poor decisions that has been his and the Eagles undoing all season. He was responsible for a typical Vick stupid fumble and an even stupider interception today which capped off the Eagles NFL high 38 turnovers for the year. We're #1!

Other teams would be trembling if they made the playoffs.

I supposed the defense played well again, but it was also against another terrible QB who repeatedly threw to covered receivers while the ones wide open were ignored. Rex Grossman is terrible.

Other notes:

• Happy New Year!
• Please clueless announcers (the Z team), shut the F up with your chastising of the fans for wanting Reid gone. Did you not notice you were calling the game of a mediocre, underperforming 8-8 team and one who has gotten progressively worse the last 3 years?
• Reid's teams continue to blow timeouts, but I have to admit he has gotten a lot better on challenges this year. Bring him back!
• I did enjoy the time management stupidity of the Redskins at the end of the first half. Way to honor the master in his presence.
• I enjoyed seeing the Jets meltdown vs. the Dolphins and finish out of the playoffs.
• Why were Eagles stomping around after hits and overcelebrating their catches today? Clueless idiots.
• Fire Reid.