EAGLES: Philly completes sweep of the Giants

The biggest game of the season on Sunday Night Football. The Philadelphia Eagles vs. the New York Football Giants for sole-possession of first place in the NFC East. If you were to look up “shootout” in the dictionary, this game would be a prime example. Most often recognized as a defensive battle with a lot of hard hitting plays ended up being quite the contrary. Both offenses were on fire, the game was full of big time plays, and it looked as if all the receivers and running backs lathered up in PAM before the game because no one could tackle anyone.

The Eagles were fired up for this game. DeSean Jackson is a freak of an athlete and even spread some of his athleticism to head coach Andy Reid. In case you didn’t see it, Reid successfully reached a personal record for a three inch vertical chest bump with Jackson after his second touchdown. Watch as Reid and Jackson share one of the most awkward chest bumps of all time.

With the win, the Eagles improve to 4-1 in the division and completing the sweep of the Redskins and Giants. Barring any setback, the ‘Birds have most likely solidified a spot in the playoffs and clearly established themselves as one of the sharpest teams in the NFC. Not something I thought I would say after losing to the Oakland Raiders earlier in the season.

A lot to say about the game, so let’s get to the grades.

Quarterback: A—

Donovan finally grasped something on Sunday night—when in doubt, look for the speedy little receiver wearing #10. McNabb had his fair share of sloppy moments against the Giants, but he also connected on a few huge plays. After Michael Vick set up the first drive with a great 32-yard pass to DeSean Jackson, McNabb finished off quickly with a great throw to Brent Celek. The offense was not on the field much in the first half due to a punt return touchdown by Jackson and a fumble return for a touchdown by Sheldon Brown. A majority of the 26 passes thrown by McNabb came in the second half, where he and Eli Manning traded off big plays. While on paper the lesser Manning looked to have a better game, McNabb had timing on his side and made the biggest plays when they counted.

Running backs: C

Credit the Giants defense for shutting down LeSean McCoy and Leonard Weaver. Clearly head coach Andy Reid doesn’t even have enough faith in the running backs to give them a chance at 2^nd and goal from the two yard line. Shockingly enough, that drive ended in a field goal, not a touchdown. The rookies need the confidence around the red zone with Westbrook sidelined and it worries me that Andy is a bit too pass-happy around the goal line.

Wide Receiver: A +

Jackson had every right to dance on Sunday against the Giants

Where do I even start with DeSean Jackson? He was without question the most dominant player on the field and is neck and neck with Chris Johnson as the most versatile and athletic player in the league. On his punt return that he ran back for a touchdown, it looked like time froze for a second and Jackson practically walked around the Giants’ special teams. I love his celebration, so long as it doesn’t result in another “dropping the ball before the goal line” incident we all saw last season. After his big plays Sunday night, Jackson joined the history books, tying the single-season record of eight scoring plays for over 50 yards. He deserves to be thrown to 28 times a game like Brandon Marshall was on Sunday. He is a playmaker, and the best playmaker that the Eagles have seen in a long time.

Oh yeah, that Brent Celek guy played pretty well himself. He had 64 yards and a great second-effort that resulted in the opening touchdown.

Offensive Line: A

The offensive line had one if its most dominant performances against the Giants. As a unit, the only allowed one sack and two tackles for losses. McNabb was given all the time in the world to find his receivers and he did just that. Great overall effort.

Defensive Line/Linebackers: B

The defensive line, mainly Trent Cole, played pretty well on the whole. They forced a few fumbles and Jeremiah Trotter should have had an interception in the first half. The biggest problem with the front seven was that too many passes were thrown over the middle. Eli Manning had way too much time to find his receivers. Darren Howard finally woke up from his long nap and came to place, recording two sacks and a tackle for a loss.

Secondary: D

The Eagles need to learn how to tackle

I’ve never seen worse tackling in my entire life. Asante Samuel looked like a fifth grader trying to bring down a senior in high school. He really needs to learn that throwing his 5-foot-10 185 pound frame is not going to knock down receivers with momentum. It goes back to the basic—wrap up his legs and slow him down. Eli Manning already gets enough undeserved attention as a quarterback in the NFL, so allowing his ten yard passes to stretch for 60 yards is only going to fuel that fire. Granted Sheldon Brown had a fumble recovery for a touchdown, but it practically fell into his hands and the hole opened up for him to practically walk in for a score.

Special Teams: A–

As I referenced earlier, DeSean Jackson’s punt return was one of the most impressive things I have seen all year. He made the Giants special teams unit look like a bunch of fools, tip-toeing down the sidelines and into the end zone. He just makes it look too easy sometime. On another note, the David Akers’ blocked extra point didn’t end up costing the Eagles, but it enabled the Giants to take the lead at one point in the game (31-30). Those are the little things that end up killing teams.

The Eagles head back to the City of Brotherly love for back to back home games. This Sunday they will take on the San Francisco 49ers, who are coming off their most impressive win of the season against the Cardinals on Monday night. The Cowboys have to take on the perfect Saints in New Orleans and the Giants battle the Redskins.

With the running attack of Frank Gore and the shut-down defense that the 49ers present, the Eagles will have their hands full on Sunday. Not to mention, Alex Smith’s favorite target is Vernon Davis. We all know how terrible the Eagles are at covering tight ends.

Have a good week. Happy Halladays to all those Phillies fans.

Quarter Mark Eastern Conference Power Rankings

I realize that it’s a little past the quarter point of the season, but nonetheless I have Quarter Mark Power Rankings for the Eastern Conference.  Here goes…

1.  Pittsburgh Penguins

• The defending Champs are well on their way to giving themselves an opportunity to defend their title.  They’ve had some early season injuries to players like Sergei Gonchar, Sidney Crosby, and Maxime Talbot, but this team is once again tops in the East.  It really pays to have back-to-back-to-back-to-back last place finishes. (Fleury, Malkin, Crosby, Staal)

2. Washington Capitals

• The Caps’ offense is scary-good.  Ovechkin has dealt with some adversity this season but it hasn’t translated to a drop in the team’s play, as many expected.  Washington is a confident group and will be trouble for whoever they match up with down the line.

3.  New Jersey Devils

• New year, same story.  The New Jersey Devils never cease to amaze me.  They have no true superstar offensively, but they have a legend in between the pipes in Marty Brodeur.  Brodeur is undoubtedly the greatest Devil ever and the only reason they are having so much success at the present.

4.  Buffalo Sabres

• I expected the Sabres to make the playoffs, but I did not expect them to contend for the division.  This is a relatively young group, but they are talented and they are finding their niche in this league.  If the Sabres keep up the intensity, and Ryan Miller is anywhere near his Vezina-like self the first quarter of this season, watch out for Buffalo.

5.  Atlanta Thrashers

• The surprise team of the 09-10 season in the East, without a doubt.  Kovalchuk and Co. have benefitted from the deepest Thrashers line-up in recent memory and strong goaltending.  Look for Atlanta to be a playoff team (and yes, I know that is a far cry from my pre-season prediction.  Give me a break!)

6.  Boston Bruins

• The Bruins started off the season horribly, but have rebounded impressively since.  It’s safe to say this group will be a playoff team, it’s just a matter of their seeding.  They should stay in contention to defend their Northeast Division crown.

7.  Ottawa Senators

• Another surprise.  The Sens have had a rejuvenation of Mike Fisher take place this season, and in turn have reaped the benefits.  I don’t think the Senators are a playoff team when it’s all said and done, but they will be a solid squad this year.  (Jonathan Cheechoo, where have you gone!?)

8.  Tampa Bay Lightning

• As the trade rumors begin to once again swirl about Lecavalier, it’s obvious that the people in Tampa aren’t expecting playoffs.  Hey, neither am I, but it’s been a good showing so far.  Go, Niitty, go!

9.  New York Rangers

• Team Marian Gaborik is just one small tweak to the glass-like Slovak to have all their hopes and dreams dashed.  It wouldn’t behoove them to see what kind of players are on the trading block.  They are a playoff team, but they need a couple more pieces to be a contender.

10.  Philadelphia Flyers

• Dis-a-point-ing.  There’s no other way to describe the first quarter of the season for the Orange and Black.  Here’s hoping Peter Laviolette can orchestrate a turnaround that everyone knows this team is capable of making.  FLYERS, I BELIEVE! DON’T LET ME DOWN! Their a playoff team when it’s all said and done.

11.  Montreal Canadiens

• The Canadiens have some great scorers (Gionta, Gomez, Cammalleri), but aren’t big enough as a unit to compete against the rigors of an NHL season.  Remember when this team was the #1 seed in the East 2 short years ago?  Seems like a century ago.

12.  New York Islanders

• The John Tavares honeymoon has ended.  The Islanders are somehow staying in the playoff hunt, but aren’t quite ready for the NHL’s second season yet.  Hovering around .500 should be considered an extreme accomplishment and an unbelievable turnaround from last season.

13.  Florida Panthers

• I will never support the Florida Panthers after they failed to make me look like a genius in picking them as a playoff team last season.  They won’t make the playoffs this year either, but hey, I don’t care.  I didn’t pick ‘em anyway.

14.  Toronto Maple Leafs

• “Losers since 1967.”

15.  Carolina Hurricanes

• Oh my god help this team.  U-G-L-Y.  When’s the draft lottery?

Eagles: Why Andy Reid deserves to stay

He might not be the best play-caller, the best with time management, or certainly the best looking. But Andy Reid sure knows how to win football games. I am one of the many that have yelled at the television screen in awe of his mistakes. I have called him names not appropriate for this website. But I do recognize that at the end of the day, Andy Reid can win football games and he is the best coach for the job right now.

Reid's 11 seasons with the Eagles is the second longest coaching run of active coaches behind Jeff Fisher of the Titans (15)

In case you didn’t hear, Reid was offered a contract extension that will keep him in The City of Brotherly Love until 2013. He has a contract that places him in the top 3 paid coaches in the league, making $5-6 million per year.

I understand that he does not have a Super Bowl ring. To many, a championship defines the success of players and coaches. I don’t buy that argument completely. Case point: Dan Marino. The fact is that the Eagles have gone to five NFC Championships in eight years, reaching the Super Bowl in 2004. They have only missed out on the playoffs twice in that span and only three times during Reid’s tenure.

In his 11^th season with the Eagles, he already has more regular season victories (105) and playoff wins (10) than any other coach in franchise history. With a win on Sunday against the Giants and barring any setbacks for the rest of the season, Reid could make his eighth postseason trip in his 11 years coaching. Not to mention the Eagles are one of only three teams to reach 100 wins during this decade. If that doesn’t deserve an extension, then what does? The man knows how to win.

As long as he continues to put his team in the playoffs, good things are bound to happen. The Eagles are coming together at the right time at this point in the season. They are winning without their most explosive offensive player in Brian Westbrook and the defense ranks in the top of the league. Donovan McNabb is Donovan McNabb and he is going to make the plays that he has made his entire career. But this Eagles team is young. He finally has receivers that have stepped up when they have been called upon. He doesn’t have to rely on Todd Pinkston, James Thrash, or L.J. “Fumbleitis” Smith. DeSean Jackson is a Pro-Bowl caliber receiver, Jeremy Maclin proved last week he can be a top receiver on the offense, Jason Avant is finally getting the looks he deserves, and Brent Celek is quickly establishing himself as one of the best tight ends in football.

So long as the offensive line can completely solidify itself as a working unit and the running game can be more consistent, I don’t see why the Eagles should be counted out of any game this season. They know how to fight and they can surprise teams. That is why people love the Eagles, because a 9-6-1 team can reach the NFC Championship game.

In football it is all about getting hot at the right time. The Eagles seem to finally be clicking at the right time and they rewarded head coach Andy Reid for his efforts with the young team. Andy Reid is here to stay and get ready for the Eagles franchise to remain one of the most consistent programs in the league.

PHILLIES: 2009 Winter Meetings Recap

For the first year in my young life, I was able to attend the baseball winter meetings.

Sure, I may not have had press credentials, but walking through the lobby of the Marriott Hotel in Indianapolis and seeing Peter Gammons, Ken Rosenthal, and Buster Olney huddled in a corner exchanging information while across the hall Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox, Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona, and Cleveland Indians manager Manny Acta were at a table eating breakfast together, you can imagine what a prospective sports journalist like myself was feeling.

In the three days I was there, while looking for jobs, I got to talk to some members of the Philadelphia media regarding the moves of the Phillies at the Winter Meetings. Thanks to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Paul Hagen and Andy Martino, and MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, I was able to find out that this was the most boring Winter Meetings for the Phillies in recent memory.

Great.

However, there is still some news regarding past, present, and possibly future members of the Phillies organization.

: Phillies have agreed to terms with Ross Gload, who led the MLB in pinch-hits in 2009 with the Kansas City Royals. In a strange coincidence, the Phillies also have Greg Dobbs on their roster, who led the league in pinch-hits in 2008.

: Former Philles 3B Pedro Feliz has agreed in principle to a 1 year, 4 million dollar deal with the Houston Astros.

: Soon-to-be former Phillies P Brett Myers has been in contact with both the Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds. Both Martino and Zolecki hinted that Myers could find a job with couple NL teams that would at least give him the chance to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.

: After getting in touch with the agents of both RP Latroy Hawkins and RP Brandon Lyon, both players signed with different teams. With them off the market, look for the Phillies to contact Jose Contreras.

: Phillies, as expected,  have been in contact with the Toronto Blue Jays in regards to trading for SP Roy Halladay. However, the Angels have emerged as the front-runner to obtain the rights of the former Cy Young Award winner.

: Phillies have been in contact with agents of both RP Chan Ho Park and SP Pedro Martinez in talks to bring them back to Philadelphia next season.

: If the Phillies cannot reach a deal with Martinez, they will fill the role of 5th starter in the rotation internally (Jamie Moyer or Kyle Kendrick) or sign someone else to a 1-year deal, in which John Smoltz is the name that keeps on getting brought up.

: Nothing new to report on the statuses of RP Chad Durbin and RP Scott Eyre. Both are free agents and are seeking 1-year deals with exclusively the Phillies.

As people come and go, updates will be given on this blog.

PHILLIES: Who’s In and Who’s Out

With the start of the winter meetings getting underway in the fine city of Indianapolis, the most interesting topic of discussion is where premiere talents such as Roy Halladay, Jason Bay, Matt Holiday, Jon Lackey will end up either via trade or free agency. However, for the Philadelphia Phillies, they didn’t need a hour and 15 minute flight to Indy to get started on putting the possible pieces of the puzzle together that will help bring a World Series parade back to Broad St. 

WHO’S IN

2B/3B Placido Polanco: Phillies fans might recognize this name. Or at least they should. Polanco, a former Phillie who played his last season for the Philadelphia in 2004, was signed to a three-year 18 million dollar deal to replace Pedro Feliz at 3B. While the Phillies will lose a potential gold-golver in Feliz on the hot corner, Polanco is a more than suitable defender (2 gold gloves at 2B for the Tigers), and will give the Phillies more dangerous bat as a perennial .300 hitter who hardly ever strikes out in a lineup that is already potent offensively.

C Brian Schneider: Usually considered a Phillies-killer in his days with the Expos/Nationals and the Mets, Schneider will finally get a chance to play for his hometown team, as the Allentown native grew up a Philadelphia sports fan. Schneider will make around 3 million this year, serving as the primary backup catcher to Carlos Ruiz and the emergency first baseman if both Ryan Howard and Greg Dobbs are unable to play.

OF Dewayne Wise: The player responsible for the arguably the greatest defensive play of the 2009 season (saving Mark Buehrle’s perfect game with a home-run robbing catch) was signed to a minor league contract by the Phillies on December 1st. Wise will report to spring training as a possible fifth outfielder option on the opening day roster, behind the three all-stars (Werth, Victorino, Ibanez) and Ben Francisco on the depth chart.

 UTIL Juan Castro: Another player signed to a minor league deal. Castro will be given ever opportunity in spring training to beat out incumbent UTIL player Eric Bruntlett for a spot on the opening day roster. If he can’t manage that, then shame on him.

WHO’S OUT

3B Pedro Feliz: A sad end to a solid two years with the Phillies for Feliz. Always solid defensively, Feliz hit over .300 with runners in scoring position out of the 7th spot in the order when he was with the Phillies. The only other player to do that for the Philadelphia over those two-seasons was Ryan Howard. That’s pretty elite company. However, the Phillies envisioned Feliz to hit 25-30 HR’s when they signed him before the 2008 season. When he didn’t come close to those power numbers, the organization decided to go a different way with the signing of Polanco. Look out for Feliz finding a home with an AL team who will allow him to play 3B and DH, with Baltimore being the early front-runner as a possible destination. 

 SP/RHP Brett Myers: The tenuous partnership between Myers and the Phillies organization is finally over. Just a week after the Phillies season ended, GM Ruben Amaro made it clear that he would not be renewing Myers’s contract, saying that he wanted to go in a “different direction”. I’ve always been a fan of Myers, but it’s hard to deny that he needs a change of scenery. Myers, even with a clouded injury past, is still projected as a starting pitcher by a handful of teams in baseball. Look for one of those teams, possibly the Texas Rangers, to end up with Myers.

OF Matt Stairs: In case of emergency, use the stairs. If you don’t believe that, just look into your time capsule and turn it back to Game 4 of the 2008 NLCS where Stairs single-handedly saved the Phillies season with a pinch-hit 2-run HR against LA’s Jonathan Broxton that after a year and two months still hasn’t landed yet. While he will always be a hero to Philly sports fans for that sole moment, his career is finished. Sadly, Stairs can no longer catch-up to fastballs that he is used to crushing out of the ballpark, which is unfortunate because Stairs is a dead-red fastball hitter. That’s not a good sign.

C Paul Bako: Another departure due to a free agent singing. Bako performed admirably in his limited role with the Phillies in 2009, but the Schneider signing marked the end of the Paul Bako era in Philadelphia. What a shame..

OTHER POSSIBILITIES 

SP Pedro Martinez= Will the Phillies bring Pedro back after the team was 8-1 in his nine regular season starts during his two-month stint in 2009? My guess is yes.

SP John Smoltz= If the answer to that last question is no, look for Smoltz to be an option to fill the fifth starter role for the Phillies. Age (42) is a question with the future hall-of-famer, but if the Phillies want to give phenom Kyle Drabek one more year in the minors and they don’t view Martinez as an option, look for Smoltz as a possible candidate.

RHP Brandon Lyon= Don’t like this one bit. There’s no question that Lyon has plus-average stuff, but he has struggled mightily the past two seasons both as a closer and a middle reliever with Diamondbacks and the Tigers. It’s not like the Phillies view Lyon as a potential closer, so if they sign him,  his role would be similar to Brett Myers’s during the Phillies 2009 post-season run. I’d personally have Myers.

SP Roy Halladay: A discussion for a different day…

Lastly, I will be present at the final two days of the Winter Meetings, so look for updates to this post.

EAGLES: it’s about time

Isn’t it a beautiful feeling to finally see four complete quarters of football? Isn’t it nice to see the Eagles win a key game without Brian Westbrook or DeSean Jackson? And isn’t it a good feeling to see that the Eagles didn’t necessarily blow all of that money when signing Michael Vick in the off-season?

The Eagles made the Falcons look like a JV high school team on Sunday. To be frank, the game was pretty boring to watch. There were two instances that I can remember really being pumped up when watching the game. First, when the Eagles had a goal-line stand that ended up being the biggest momentum swing of the game. The other time came when Michael Vick dropped back to pass. When he went back, it seemed as though everything stopped. Maybe I was just surprised to see him finally drop back far in the pocket and look around the field, but I felt myself slowly moving forward in my seat. Then Vick delivered a 43-yard bomb (a little underthrown, but that’s irrelevant) to Reggie Brown. Yes, I did just utter the name Reggie Brown in a positive note.

The Falcons only points of the game came on a last second hailmary to Roddy White. That play prevented the Eagles from their first shutout since December 1, 1996 under the wings of Ray Rhodes. Another interesting stat is that Sunday’s win marked the Eagles’ 100^th victory of the decade. Only the Patriots, Steelers and Colts have achieved that feat. Yes Eagles fans, Andy Reid does deserve a contract extension.

I’ll save the rest of my analysis for the grades:

Quarterback: A

Donovan was not really tested against the Falcons. He finished 14 for 25 for 238 yards and a touchdown. He spent the entire fourth quarter on the bench and seemed to be loving every second watching Michael Vick succeed.

It was a warm welcome for Michael Vick in Atlanta

So now here’s my rant on the infamous Michael Vick. I haven’t been a fan for the entire year. When I found out the Eagles signed him, I didn’t understand why. To be honest, I still don’t know why they signed him. Beside the point, as a sports fan there was a soft spot in my heart for Vick on Sunday. For him to come back to the city that he established his career in and to deliver his best performance of the year is exciting. He looked like a kid in a candy shop on the field and on the sideline. Whenever he entered the field, there was more cheering from the Falcons fans than when their offense was on the field. So the A on the report card was more for Michael Vick re-establishing himself in the National Football League than the actual performance.

Running back: A–

I knew that Leonard Weaver was good, but I didn’t realize how athletic he can be. With LeSean McCoy struggling to get anything going, Weaver stepped up and carried the load for the Eagles. However, Weavers biggest play of the game wasn’t on the ground. The catch and yards after catch in the first quarter illustrated athleticism that I never expected from the six-foot 250 pound running back. Donovan McNabb also showed some spurts of the past, rushing two times for 17 yards. Finally, for the first time this season I can actually compliment the play by Eldra Buckley. He converted a crucial fourth and one and showed how hard he can be to tackle. Great overall effort by the backs, but McCoy’s performance was not impressive.

Wide Receivers: B+

With DeSean Jackson out and Brent Celek bothered by a hand injury, I was definitely a little concerned about the receiving core. However, Jeremy Maclin stepped in to fill Jackson’s big shoes, netting 83 yards on four receptions. No question the biggest shocker from the receiving core was the emergence of Reggie Brown. Two seasons ago, Brown was the Eagles top receiver and now he is lucky enough to see a snap on the field. Brown only had two receptions, but they were both for big gains and pretty tough plays.

Offensive Line: B

Is Jason Peters the next Shawn Andrews? I sure hope note, but it seems like every week he is dealing with another injury. The Eagles offensive line is not deep enough to deal with consistent injuries. Both Todd Herremans and Nick Cole were forced to switch positions once Peters went down and Max Jean-Gilles filled his spot. The biggest concern on the offensive line on Sunday was from Winston Justice. He just signed a huge contract with the Eagles and has played back-to-back mediocre games since the signing.

Trent Cole provided a lot of pressure on Chris Redman

Defensive Line/Linebackers: A+

The goal-line stand in the second quarter was without question the turning point of the game, and potentially the turning point of the season. The Eagles seemed to respond to the four-straight goal-line stands with an impressive domination in the second half. Granted the Falcons were without Michael Turner, but the run-stopping defense was impeccable. They held the Falcons to 61 yards rushing on 22 carries, which totals to a mere 2.8 yards per carry. The defense totaled 11 pass deflections, which is due in part to the pressure of the line. Best performance of the year by the Eagles front.

Secondary: A

Similar to the linebackers and defensive line not dealing with Turner, the secondary had the luxury of defending passes by Chris Redman. And the secondary took full advantage of the opportunity. Sheldon Brown decided to wake up out of his coma and intercepted a pass for a touchdown. Sean Jones also recorded his second interception of the season. The Eagles can still improve on defending the tight end though, as Tony Gonzalez had eight receptions for 72 yards.

Special Teams: B

David Akers finally dropped back to earth after connecting on 17-straight field goals. He missed his second attempt of the afternoon, but responded by hitting another one in the second half. Rocca landed one within the one yard line and Maclin did a solid job returning kicks. Mediocre on all accounts results in a B.

The Eagles have their biggest game of the season against the Giants on Sunday. New York just took down the Cowboys and sits a game back from potentially sharing the division. With the game being played at the Meadowlands, it’s not going to be a walk in the park for the Eagles.

SIXERS: The Return of the Answer

The prodigal son has returned to Philadelphia.

Ladies and gentleman, the Answer, Allen Iverson, one of the greatest players to ever don a 76ers uniform, has returned.  He led the Sixers to their greatest season in recent memory, taking the team to the Eastern Conference title, capturing league MVP honors along the way.  He has three scoring titles, a plethora of all star appearances, and was the heart and soul of this city for over ten years.  However, in 2006, it was clear that a parting of the ways was necessary for both sides.  Iverson went to Denver, and in return we got Andre Miller, who took us to consecutive playoff appearances in 2008-09.  While he was very good for us, he could never fill the shoes of Allen Iverson.  The Answer failed to live up to expectations in Denver, failing to get the Nuggets past the first round for the two seasons he played in the Mile High city.  This led to him being traded last fall to Detroit for Chauncey Billups, who went on to lead the Nuggets to their best season in recent memory.  Iverson left Detroit, signed with Memphis, then retired, then came back to where it all started: Philadelphia.

So what does this all mean?

It means that attendance is going to temporarily skyrocket, something that is drastically needed, as it is becoming pretty embarrassing playing in front of a half empty arena every home game.

It means that the Sixers have a point guard for the time being while starter Lou Williams is on the shelf nursing a broken jaw.

It should mean that the team’s overall play will improve (it can’t get any worse, right?)

What it doesn’t mean is that the Sixers are going to completely turn the season around.  There are still a lot of issues, including the poor defensive play nearly every night.  There is also no way to tell how well Iverson will play.  He is not going to be the same Answer we once knew.  I still believe he can and will have something to offer.  What we can’t have is an Iverson who is going to bring a bad attitude.  He seems so happy to be here, back with the team and city that he built his legacy with, but then again his reputation preceeds him.  Who knows how he will take coming off the bench once Williams returns to the starting lineup?

For now, though let’s welcome back A.I. with open arms and pray he can deliver some of the magic of old.  He officially rejoins the Sixers tomorrow night against his former team, the Denver Nuggets.

FLYERS: Don’t Worry, Laviolette’s The Guy

The Philadelphia Flyers brought in the Peter Laviolette era with a bang last night.  Problem is, it wasn’t exactly the bang they were looking for.  In front of a sold-out Wachovia Center crowd, the Flyers dropped an 8-2 decision to the Ovechkin-less Washington Capitals last night.  Before everybody starts yelling for Laviolette’s head after the debacle 24 hours ago in South Philadelphia, realize that there’s absolutely no reason to worry.  Yes, the Flyers are 12th in the Eastern Conference, and yes, there are way more questions than answers concerning this team at the present time, but positive things are on the horizon.  

Laviolette is the 17th coach in Flyers history

 

Today marked the first full-team practice under Laviolette, and players were already commenting on the new coach’s tactics this afternoon, per Flyers On the Fly …

Mike Richards: “It is just a different approach to the offensive part of the game.  There is a lot of cycling, a lot of movement that’s what we’ve been working on. It is going to take a little bit of time to get our systems down. But, the pressure on the ice is going to be a lot better for us.” 

Ian Laperriere:  ”He is a lot more vocal. He gets into the drills. He does the drills with the boys. He was out of breath, so there you can tell he hasn’t coached for a while. It is good. He is in the mix and that is what we need right now. We need a boost. We need a spark, and if it can come from him, it would be great.“

Coach Laviolette is a no non-sense guy, something that will change the Flyers' mindset drastically

 

….It’s no secret that I wasn’t John Stevens’ biggest fan.  Now, maybe he wasn’t completely to blame with all the struggles that the Flyers were experiencing as a team, but he certainly was the focal point.  Laviollette is a no nonsense guy who is incredibly focused on a team’s main task in the National Hockey League: TO WIN.  He’s already switched up the lines to his liking, and has said that it will become a battle for the position of starting goaltender in Philadelphia.  Although Ray Emery will likely be the starter when it’s all said and done, expect Laviolette to make sure he earns his due in between the pipes in competition with Brian Boucher.  Offensively, Laviolette is all about a fire-power scheme.  He doesn’t plan an attack that goes around teams, he plans an attack that goes through teams.  With the potential explosiveness that the Flyers possess offensively, it’s reasonable to expect that the squad will thrive under Laviolette.  Also, let’s not forget perhaps the most important thing about the hiring of Laviolette: he’s won a Stanley Cup.  Having a coach come aboard with a ring is never a bad thing.  

Give this team time.  Give them time to understand Laviolette’s system, and give them time to move forward under his command.  He’s going to get the best out of these players, and he’s going to get them to play the full sixty minutes.  As a Flyers fan, I haven’t been so excited about a new headman since Ken Hitchcock was hired way back in 2002.  In fact, my excitement over Laviolette eclipses that of Hitchcock.  I cannot emphasize enough how important a strong coach is, and – finally – the Flyers have just that.  I firmly believe that the Flyers are poised to turn a corner and move forward in their push for June hockey, and Laviolette is going to be the focal point for that turnaround.  
Believe it, ladies and gentlemen.  The push for the Cup was put on hold, but it restarts, and it restarts now.  Flyers hockey is about to be restored and I think the thought’s universal in that it’s about time.  LET’S GO FLYERS.  The turnaround begins tomorrow night in Montreal.

EAGLES: Eagles down Redskins; injuries a problem

Who are these Philadelphia Eagles? Since when could the Eagles put together back to back clutch fourth-quarter drives to win a game? Let the motto continue for the 2009 ‘Birds: all that matters is the score at the end of the game.

But how long can the Eagles continue this grinding attitude? When will their lack of experience truly shine? O, the many questions that all Philadelphia sports fans are asking themselves today.

I’m pretty sure that I would have preferred to watch paint dry than the third quarter of Sunday’s game. The Eagles were outplayed by the very mediocre Washington Redskins. Not to mention, the injury bug continues to bring down the Eagles and the confidence of Eagles fans. DeSean Jackson left the game with a concussion and Brent Celek may have torn ligaments in his hand (he is still expected to play this weekend).

Now for the grades:

Quarterback: A –

I always like to defend Donovan McNabb when I can. Sunday’s performance against the Redskins might not look great on paper, but McNabb had a much better outing than his 80.7 QB rating shows. He completed 21 of his 35 passes on Sunday. Nothing to write home about, right? Wrong. The problem with just looking at the numbers is that 3 of his 14 incompletions were pass deflections and good plays made by the defensive line. Also, the Eagles wide receivers dropped four passes, three by Celek and one by Maclin. So you put that together and McNabb could have been 28 for 35, which would be an 80 percent completion rate. And who could forget the drive that he put together at the end of the fourth quarter for the second straight game. The man deserves more credit.

Running back: B+

The two point conversion run by LeSean McCoy was one of the most athletic plays of the season. I had to watch it more than once because I couldn’t believe how McCoy was able to keep his balance and convert on one of the biggest plays of the game. He averaged 4.5 yards per carry and is quickly making people forget about Brian Westbrook’s absence. Also need to credit the effort by Leonard Weaver because he has complimented Shady extremely well this season. Not a bad one-two rookie punch.

Maybe it was the black jerseys, but Jason Avant came to play Sunday

Wide Receiver: B --

It’s about time that I see Jason Avant lead the Eagles in yards. It looks like Andy is finally to come around on playcalling. It was a tough blow to the receiving core for the Eagles on Sunday, losing Jackson and Celek. As mentioned earlier, the receivers need to work on their case of butterfingers. McNabb throws a hard ball and not always a perfect spiral, but they are paid the big bucks to catch anything that hits their hands. And did I mention that it was nice to see Avant used more in the offense?

Offensive Line: B-

Straight off his new contract with the Eagles, Winston Justice looked like the scared lineman he was against the Giants two seasons ago. He looked shaky at best, recording two crucial penalties during the game. The first was on a third and goal on the Washington five yard line, where he was called for a false start. The drive ended in a field goal. Later in the game, he was called for holding on a long completion to Maclin. Not exactly the performance the front office was looking for after the contract agreement. On a positive note, I was really impressed with the play by Nick Cole and Jamaal Jackson.

Defensive Tackle/Line: C+

Early in the season, the defensive line was holding the team together. They were recording over three sacks a game and three tackles for losses. Now, it seems as though the opposing quarterbacks have endless amounts of time to throw the football. The Eagles only had one sack on Sunday, from the only player that has truly been carrying his weight on the line—Trent Cole. There is no reason for Jason Campbell to throw for over 230 yards on the Eagles. They need to pressure the quarterback.

Secondary: A –

The MVP of the day in my mind goes to Asante Samuel. Granted his one-hundred pound frame results in tackling difficulties, but the man can flat out cause turnovers. He is a playmaker and he can really change the style of the game. He might give up the occasional big play, but Samuel single handedly kept the Eagles in the game on Sunday.

David "Green" Akers is back to his old ways

Special Teams: A –

David Akers finally looks like the David Akers of old. Ever since his Pro-Bowl caliber year in 2004, Akers’ age seemed to finally catch up with him. He was missing a lot of crucial kicks that used to be automatic. This season though, Akers has come back to life and made his last 15 field goal attempts.

This weekend the Eagles go on the road to face the Atlanta Falcons. Quarterback Matt Ryan will not play due to a turf toe and running back Michael Turner is questionable. So it looks like the Eagles have a pretty good shot to win their third straight game, but it always depends on what Eagles team shows up on Sunday. This is also a crucial week for the ‘Birds because Dallas and the Giants square off. If New York wins, the Eagles will be tied with the Cowboys for first place in the division. So I never thought I would say this, but let’s go New York.

SIXERS: Two Straight Heartbreakers Puts Team at 5-10

HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!!! Hope everyone gets to eat plenty of turkey, stuffing, potatoes, and pie tonight. 

The Philadelphia 76ers are in a state of turmoil.  For those of you who do not know, the team is currently 5-10 and is struggling to compete with the teams regarded to be the worst among the league.  Case in point, the recent losses to the Memphis Grizzlies and Washington Wizards.  The Wizards game was a heartbreaking 108-107 loss that the Sixers had a chance to win at the last second but fell when Lou Williams’ shot came up short.  Last night was even more disappointing.  The Sixers played what might have been their most impressive game of the year against the Boston Celtics without Williams, who was sidelined with a broken jaw.  Elton Brand also was out with a hamstring injury, which in all honesty was probably a big reason they played great.  The Sixers led for much of the game, taking a six point lead into the fourth quarter at the Garden, only to squander it late in the game thanks to a late Celtic rally led by Paul Pierce, who scored 27 points and drew a key charge down the stretch, and Rajon Rondo, who led the comeback in the final minutes with six points, including a key jumper from the baseline to seal the game.  The Sixers lost to Boston on the road 113-110.  They played their hearts out last night but it wasn’t enough.  Despite the close score it’s still a loss, something the Sixers have been doing a lot of these days.  They have now lost four in a row by a total of 15 points.  They have been in every game but cannot close them out.  Two of the losses are considered “good” losses, as there is no shame in falling to both Cleveland and Boston on the road by a total of 9 points combined.  However, you cannot lose to teams like Memphis and Washington.  There is no excuse for it. 

So while the team has shown some life in the past few days, they have nothing to show for it.  You can play well against Cleveland and Boston but all that really matters is at the end of the game do you have more points than your opponent.  And for the past four games, the Sixers have come up on the short end.  The team stands at 5-10, 3rd place in the division only because the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets are two of the biggest joke teams the NBA has ever seen.  Coach Jordan is on the hot seat.  He came in and said this team will be better than last year under Tony DiLeo.  As much as I hate to say it, this team was better under DiLeo than it is under Jordan.  He needs to get this team back on track soon.  The good news is that it is still very early in the season.  We’ve played only 15 games out of an 82 game schedule.  The bad news is that the road is only going to get tougher when we start facing the Western Conference teams soon, and with injuries starting to pile on (Marresse Speights, out 6-8 weeks with a torn ligament; Lou Williams, broken jaw), it’s only going to get tougher, and if a turnaround doesn’t happen soon, the Sixers may be in a hole too deep for them to climb out of.