EAGLES: Oh Michael, What Were You Thinking?

Let’s be honest, Michael Vick has not made the best decisions in life.

He paid his price for the dog fighting escapade by serving 18 months in jail. Since then, No. 7 has improved his public image during his rehabilitation process by giving back to the community and becoming an animal rights activist.

I don’t know how I haven’t seen this video until now, but it’s going to make you wonder what Vick (and his public relations rep) were thinking after answering this question: is there anything you would change about your life?

The answer will baffle your mind.

http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:video:comedycentral.com:382318

EAGLES: Michael Vick is…Jesus?

In case you didn’t hear it, Michael Vick’s latest media frenzy came the other day on a Washington D.C. radio station. Michael Muhammad, the chairman of the Southeastern Virginia Arts Association, has decided to honor Vick with an award later this month for his success off the field since being released from jail.

In an interview with WAVY-TV, Muhammed said:

“”People talk about the fact that Michael Vick was a convicted felon. Well, so was Jesus Christ, yet he was able to do things above and beyond the naysayers,” Muhammad recently told the station.

Not the right choice of words Mr. Muhammad.

First Vick is given the keys to Dallas, the most rivaled football city to the Eagles. Then he is asked to go onto Oprah, in which he ended up canceling last second. Now he is being compared to Jesus Christ?! Granted he brought all of this on himself with his actions of a few years ago, but can’t the man catch a break?

Here is a lengthier article from the Philadelphia Inquirer about Muhammed’s comments and reaction to the comparison.

EAGLES: ‘Birds Tweeting about the Super Bowl

Here’s a compilation of Eagles tweeting before, during and after the Super Bowl. If they really mean what they say, then they should have enough motivation to be there next season.

MikeVick Mike Vick

That game just motivated me to work a lot harder this off season

BrentCelek Brent Celek

Man I am so jealous of these guys

jmac_18 Jeremy Maclin

Jealousy should never be apart of a real man….lol! Just motivation! RT @BrentCelek: Man I am so jealous of these guys

Jamar51Chaney Jamar Chaney

What a day it would be if they were to win tonight.

Jamar51Chaney Jamar Chaney

Mann watching all this pre-game stuff leading up to the SuperBowl, is motivating me even more. I got to get there, Im gone get there!

Jamar51Chaney Jamar Chaney

RT @MikeVick That game just motivated me to work a lot harder this off season > same w/ me big bruh. Let’s Get It.

toddherremans Todd Herremans

Watchin this game is makin me sooooooo bitter but I gotta root for the Pack. #NFC

JonDorenbos Jon Dorenbos

“Wow. We were 1 play away from beating the Packers in the playoffs. Congrats to Aaron Rogers and the Packers. Next year boys!”

BGraham54 Brandon Graham

“Next year I’m trying to have a parade in Philly after winning the Superbowl!! I’m hating right now!!”

EAGLES: Vick franchised; What Does it Mean for Kolb?

To no surprise, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported today that the Eagles will franchise tag quarterback Michael Vick. Coming off a Pro-Bowl and MVP-caliber season, there’s no question that Vick is the right guy for the future of this team. Even though he slumped down the stretch, he brought the Eagles to another level and made them a serious contender in 2010.

The real news about the Eagles decision to franchise Vick is not only important to No. 7, but also to Kevin Kolb.

With Michael Vick being named the definitive started, the Eagles announced that they will entertain offers for Kolb. Considering the NFL lacks any significant depth at the quarterback position, Kolb could be a hot commodity for trade offers after the collective bargaining agreement is settled.

If the Eagles get a good enough offer, Kolb could be relocating next season

To many teams, it’s not only Kolb’s experience as a starter that is desirable, but also his contract.  He is signed through 2011 for $1.4 million, which would have many owners jumping to get the Eagles backup. Deservedly so, Kolb has been quite outspoken about being a starting quarterback in the NFL.

The biggest question facing the Eagles and Kevin Kolb is this: just how much can they get for No. 4? He has more experience than most backups in the NFL which makes him a viable option for teams looking for a starter. Even though he didn’t have the most impressive 2010 season, he still showed enough promise to be given a chance.

The following teams are in desperate need of a starting quarterback (or in my opinion, places that Kolb deserves to start)

Carolina Panthers- Jimmy Clausen, enough said.

Minnesota Vikings- Favre is done (I hope at least) and the organization clearly has no faith in Tavarius Jackson.

Arizona Cardinals- Matt Leinart is working his way towards one of the big-time draft busts in NFL quarterbacking history.

Washington Redskins- Seeing as they get rid of McNabb, which after this season seems likely

San Francisco 49ers- Depends on what they want to do with Alex Smith/ Troy Smith/David Carr combo under new head coach Jim Harbaugh

Miami Dolphins- Chad Henne- 15 touchdowns and 19 interceptions- doesn’t cut it in the NFL

Tennessee Titans- Although the front office chose Jeff Fisher over Vince Young; also depends if any team will trade for him instead of them releasing Young

If the Eagles can get a first round draft pick from any of these teams, then I think it is a done deal for the Philadelphia front office. The draft class is pretty solid, so I’m sure the Eagles would like something to happen before April 28^th (once again it depends on the collective bargaining agreement).

If they don’t get a first round draft pick, I don’t think the Eagles give up on Kolb. Seeing as Michael Vick tends to put himself in dangerous situations, Kolb could come into games if Vick goes down and not be a liability like most backups in the NFL. He knows the playbook and is comfortable with the players and coaching staff. However, if the offer presents itself, Kevin Kolb may get his wish as starting in another city sometime soon.

EAGLES: Michael Vick Living Large in Hawaii

Thanks to the NFL, Eagles quarterback Michael Vick is quickly forgetting about the last throw he made against the Green Bay Packers.

Vick, who was one of the leagues most outstanding players in 2010, was surprised with a luxury room in the presidential suite in the official hotel of the Pro Bowl. The room spans 4,200 feet in west Oahu, and it’s all for Michael.

Think back to two years ago, Michael Vick was enjoying the stench of smelly criminals and the defiant hint of iron from his jail cell. Now he is getting all-star treatment, better than all of the other all-stars. Not all 86 players in Hawaii are getting this sort of treatment, but rather a select few. It was Vick’s lucky day.

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Ashley Fox writes, “Think about it. Six months ago, few people expected anything from Vick. He was a gimmick, the Wildcat, a novelty. He wasn’t the Eagles’ starting quarterback. Vick wasn’t supposed to be a major contributor. He certainly wasn’t supposed to be a Pro Bowl starter.”

While everyone in Philadelphia is getting snowed in, Vick is on the beach. I doubt he is complaining much right now, while us Eagles fans wonder what the weather is like in Arlington, Texas. Once again we will have to wait another year until our Eagles are “too good” to be in attendance at the Pro Bowl.

EAGLES: Missanelli Slips Up on Vick Interview

If he could do it over, 97.5 The Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli probably would have chosen a different analogy when speaking with Michael Vick. In an interview with the Eagles quarterback, Missanelli described Vick’s connection with DeSean Jackson on the field when he said:

“What’s the story with DeSean?  Is he just a young pup who talks out of turn every now and then and you’re a wiley veteran now and have to hit the pup on the nose or what?”

Who knows exactly what Mikey Miss meant by the comment, but I have reason to believe it was a slip up by the radio host. Listen to the entire interview with Vick here.

 

EAGLES: What Did Vick Accomplish that McNabb Didn’t?

Last spring, the Eagles decided to part ways with franchise quarterback Donovan McNabb. The reasons were simple: the Eagles were young and McNabb was turning 34 years old. It was time to give three-year backup Kevin Kolb his chance to shine and transform the Eagles franchise.

Under the surface, however, McNabb was driven out of Philadelphia by the fans and the front office. Even though he compiled a 92-49-1 record as an Eagle, is the franchise leader in wins, pass completions, passing yards and passing touchdowns, led the team to five NFC Championships and a Superbowl, his inability to get the franchise a Super Bowl ring ended up being his biggest demise in the City of Brotherly Love. It all started when he reportedly threw up in the huddle against the Patriots in Superbowl XXXIX and spiraled downward whenever No. 5 came up short in the following years.

In 2010, the Eagles season took an unexpected turn when Kevin Kolb suffered a concussion from a Clay Matthews hit. Michael Vick, one of the most exciting players in NFL history, took over as the Eagles captain. His ability to change games with his arm and legs took the Eagles season from a rebuilding process to contenders in the playoffs. Even though he is not the most conventional quarterback, there was an excitement that Vick embodied that brought confidence to the city. Was this the year the Eagles finally got over the hump?

I think we all know how that one ended.

What seperates Vick in 2010 from McNabb?

What is it about Michael Vick that makes him that must more trustworthy than Donovan McNabb once was in Philadelphia? The Eagles went 10-6 under Vick in 2010, whereas McNabb guided the ‘Birds to a better record in six of his 11 seasons in Philadelphia. Granted Vick was only the starter for 12 weeks, but two of those 10 wins came under Kevin Kolb’s lead.

If we are truly going to compare what Michael Vick did in 2010 versus what McNabb did in his career as the starter, then we simply cannot look at statistics. Because in the end Philadelphia, isn’t it all about winning? Isn’t getting the hardware what truly defines who is better?

Both Vick and McNabb have anchored high-powered offenses. Michael Vick did it with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and LeSean McCoy. McNabb still was able to do it with Terrell Owens, Todd Pinkston and Brian Westbrook. Oh yeah, don’t forget about Freddie Mitchell. Both have made multiple Pro-Bowls. However there still is no Lombardi Trophy in Philadelphia.

Yes there is a bright future for Michael Vick and certainly a great opportunity to win it all with him at the helm, but does what he did in 2010 garner more appreciation than what McNabb did in his career? The main question I propose to Eagles fans is this: what did Michael Vick accomplish this season that deserves more recognition than what Donovan McNabb did in his career?

The answer to this may be that McNabb was unable to do it year after year. He was the starting quarterback for over a decade, yet never seemed to come through when it truly mattered. Don’t take into account that he was throwing to Todd Pinkston for five years, James Thrash for three years, Reggie Brown for five years and Terrell Owens, his best receiver, for only two years. McNabb was always the easy one to hold responsible.

Michael Vick was far from impressive in the Eagles playoff game. He completed just 55 percent of his passes and posted his second straight sub-80 passer rating. On the final drive of the season, Vick gave hope to Philadelphia when he drove down the field with under a minute to play. Then, with under 30 seconds to play, Michael Vick came up short under pressure. Isn’t that the reason Philadelphia fans were ready to end the Donovan McNabb era Philadelphia?

There is a certain likeability that many Eagles fans find in Michael Vick. Based on his past actions, the irony is quite comical. Maybe it’s the fact that he has rebounded so well after those life changing events. Maybe it’s that he is more intense in the huddle than McNabb. Whatever it is, the likeability has consumed this city.

If anything, this comparison goes to show that a quarterback cannot be the only one responsible in a loss. Both quarterbacks were capable to lead their teams to the Superbowl, but the nature of the sport tends to point all fingers at them. The main difference in this situation? All fingers are not pointing at Vick. They are pointing to Andy Reid or the defense. Why? Because Donovan McNabb is no longer in town to blame.

EAGLES: Packers End Eagles Season

Another Eagles season and another heartbreaking finish. This is really starting to get old in Philadelphia.

Back in training camp when the Eagles were preparing for a season of questions behind Kevin Kolb, many fans never thought the ‘Birds would have been in this position. However, just halfway through week one, Michael Vick brought a new sense of hope to the city of Philadelphia. He brought the Eagles from a rebuilding year to a contending year. Fifteen weeks later, the Eagles faced off against the Green Bay Packers at Lincoln Financial Field.

And that’s all she wrote.

For the third straight week, the Eagles were outplayed and outcoached. You could sense it in Lincoln Financial Field, as fans showed a cautious optimism that quickly turned to cautious pessimism due to the blitzing Packers defense and the relentless Green Bay offense.

Offensively, Marty Mornhinweg’s Eagles seemed utterly shocked by the aggressive blitzing scheme of Don Caper’s Packers. They quickly abandoned the run and put all the pressure on Michael Vick to carry the team on his back. Vick, who was often given less than four seconds to get rid of the football, faced many ups and downs offensive but eventually found himself in a position to win the game.

After a 28-yard pass to DeSean Jackson with less than a minute to play, the Eagles quickly rushed to the line of scrimmage. Facing a 1^st and 10 with 27 seconds remaining, many thought Vick would spike the ball and set up a play to the end zone. However, head coach Andy Reid advised No. 7 to go for the end zone and elected for a 4-go route, sending all receivers to the end zone. The play call is going to be debated until training camp next year, considering it cost the Eagles season and a potential come from behind win that echoed the Miracle in the Meadowlands a month before. Vick, who “went out swinging”, went for the end zone to Riley Cooper in single coverage. We all know where it went from there, as Tramon Williams used his positioning to intercept the pass and end the Eagles highly touted playoff run.

While it was the play that ended the season, it was not the sole reason for the Eagles loss. The Packers came to play at the Linc for the second time this season, and the Eagles came out flat for the second meeting. Between missed field goals, third down conversions, and a creative offensive scheme, the Eagles were fortunate enough to even be in a position to win the game.

For the second straight year, the Eagles failed to show up in the NFC Wildcard game. They have lost their last three playoff games, and sorry Eagles fans, there is no more Donovan McNabb to blame. Michael Vick, the replacement Eagles fans were looking for, also failed to do it. Now what changes do the Eagles need to make? I have a long list to come, but for now let’s look at the final report card of the season.

Quarterback: B –

Michael Vick dished out his second consecutive sub-80 passer rating and completed just 20-36 passes. For the seventh straight game, Vick tossed a an interception, and this one to Tramon Williams topped them all. He was criticized during the Vikings game for his lack of preparation and being unable to properly read defensive schemes. Vick was given an extra week off to prepare for the Packers, but still didn’t look 100 percent out there. He clearly seemed bothered by his leg contusion and failed to create any offensive consistency.

Fun fact: for the second time this season, the Eagles offense lost the football game despite winning the turnover battle. The only other loss occurred in the opening week against none other than the Green Bay Packers.

Why Shady did not touch the ball more is beyond me

Running backs: C+

One of the biggest problems I had with the game was that LeSean McCoy was not properly involved in the offense. Coming into the game, the Eagles offense averaged over 140 yards per game on the ground, but were held to just 84 against the Packers. McCoy has proven as much as anyone that he deserves to see more looks. He only had 12 carries on the night and most of them came early in the game. Granted he didn’t have the most productive yards per carry average (3.8), but everyone knows that Shady is always poised to break a big run. The Packers run stopping was the weakest part of their offense, yet Mornhinweg refused to make any changes and spice up the play call.

Wide Receivers: C

It certainly didn’t help that DeSean Jackson spent most of the game on the sidelines. He finished the contest with just two catches and the other Eagles receivers didn’t pull their weight to make up for the missing Pro-Bowler. Even though Jason Avant scored a touchdown, he also dropped a crucial pass on third down late in the game. Is it me or is it that Avant, the guy who was supposed to have some of the best hands in the league, seems to drop passes at the worst times?

Offensive Line: D –

The most crucial part of the Eagles success failed to show up on Sunday. The offensive line has been the Eagles biggest question mark all season and needed to hold their own against the highly aggressive Packers defense. However, they looked terrified on the line. Winston Justice tallied four penalties and miraculously managed to get two penalties on one play. Clay Matthews and B.J. Raji made Michael Vick’s day that much harder and it was quickly apparent on the opening play when Matthews sacked Vick for a loss.

If the Eagles want to have any success on offense next year (pending Michael Vick’s status), they are going to need to invest in some offensive linemen. Winston Justice, King Dunlap, and Nick Cole all showed that they can’t contain opposing defenses.

Defensive Line/Linebackers: F

I expected the front seven to have some trouble covering receivers over the middle, but never did I think the Packers would dominate the inside game. Rookie James Starks looked like Barry Sanders against the ‘Birds. He rushed for 123 yards, which was 22 yards more than he had all season for the Green and Gold. It was quite obvious that the Eagles overlooked the running game and focused solely on stopping the Packers passing game that ranked top-5 in the NFL.

Even worse than the run-stopping was the Eagles failure to stop Green Bay on third down. Led by Aaron Rodgers, the Packers were 7-9 on third down conversions in the first half. One their three scoring drives, Green Bay was 7-7 on third downs. This simply cannot happen defensively, especially when most of those conversions came on plays of more than five yards.

Donald Driver killed the Eagles on third down

Finally, the front seven did a terrible job getting to the quarterback. The Eagles only hit Rodgers twice, both resulting in sacks. When you give Aaron Rodgers all day to throw the ball, he is going to make you pay. The Eagles experienced that firsthand on Sunday night. Philadelphia’s “enforcer”, Ernie Sims, ran around the field aimlessly. He only had two tackles on the night, which is quite pathetic considering how many plays went over the middle.

Secondary: C

The Eagles secondary did a great job preventing the long ball, but still struggled when it mattered on big plays. Aaron Rodgers was 5-5 with three touchdown passes in the red zone, which is something the secondary has failed to improve on all season. On third downs, Rodgers completed 6-8 passes, all of which went for first downs.

Special Teams: F

David Akers, the longest tenured Eagle and one of the hardest workers, could not have picked a worse time to collapse. Granted there are reports that there have been some family issues, but that is no excuse when you are a professional football player, especially a kicker. Akers was having a career year, missing just two field goals heading into the game. However, No. 2 missed two gimmes that proved to be the difference maker. Is he the sole reason for the Eagles loss? No. But it certainly would have been nice to have those six points.

Gerard Lawson was absolutely terrible. Not only did he fail as the Eagles kick returner (averaged just 18 yards per return) but he also was called for a holding penalty on DeSean Jackson’s punt return at the end of the game. I have a feeling we won’t be seeing much more from Mr. Lawson.

As difficult as it is to not have a team to truly cheer for in the next month, the Eagles had one heck of an impressive season. Taking into account all of the drama that came with the quarterbacks and the injuries to the defense, it was quite impressive that the Eagles showed such signs of dominance in 2010. Even though most of us aren’t numb to this pain of losing and coming up short in big games, we still have a lot to be thankful for. There’s no need to call for the end of Andy Reid or Michael Vick because if I was a betting man, I would say there’s a bright future for both of them coming soon.

EAGLES: Lines will make or break the Eagles vs. Packers

The media will make this game a matchup between Michael Vick and Aaron Rodgers or maybe even Greg Jennings and DeSean Jackson. It could even be about Clay Matthews and Charles Woodson versus the high powered Eagles offensive. While both of these are quite valid, today’s wildcard game will be decided by the offensive and defensive lines.

In week one, Kevin Kolb clearly was not the answer for the Eagles. Number 4 getting injured proved to be the best thing for the 2010 Eagles, as Michael Vick tripled the production of Kolb in a quarter and a half. But let’s forget about the quarterback controversy so many like to point out in the opening game of the season. The stats about the lines say it all.

The Packers defensive line/front seven dominated the Eagles on September 12^th. Led by Clay Matthews, the Packers compiled six sacks. The Eagles had just three. The Packers hit the quarterback seven times, whereas the Eagles got to Rodgers just three times. Finally, the Green and Gold had seven pass deflections, three more than the Eagles four.

Can Winston Justice handle the blitzing Clay Matthews?

It is true that Michael Vick’s performance is going to be the difference maker. However, as shown all season long, his production hinders on the offensive line. The Packers are going to be blitzing all afternoon and Michael Vick is going to be scrambling. If Vick can buy enough time to force some linebackers to pick up receivers, then he can run all over Green Bay. However, if the Packers get to him just seconds after the ball is snapped, the Eagles stand no chance.

Defensively, the Eagles are going to have to be very aggressive. Unlike most games this season, Philadelphia does not need to focus solely on stopping the run. They don’t need to load up the box because Brandon Jackson and James Starks have not changed games on the ground. Instead, the Eagles are going to need to blitz and blitz often. If they can get behind the line of scrimmage and force Rodgers to make bad throws (like he did in the second half of week one), then the ‘Birds could limit the number of big plays that the Packers are known for.

Trent Cole is due for a big game. He has been somewhat invisible since Brandon Graham went down. Since the bye week, Cole has had just four sacks and one in the last four weeks. His success will take pressure away from Juqua Parker and Darryl Tapp, thus allowing them to contribute defensively.

The sad thing for the Eagles is that the Packers strengths are the Eagles’ weakness. Philadelphia’s banged up secondary is going to need to contain one of the deepest receiving cores in the league in Jennings, Donald Driver, James Jones, and Jordy Nelson. Outside of the 4^th quarter of the Giants game, the Eagles defensive line has failed to get to the quarterback in the last five weeks. They will make the secondary’s lives a lot easier if they force Rodgers to get rid of the ball early.

Here are some interesting numbers from Philly.com

And some key matchups

EAGLES: Many Questions Still Not Answered

Sitting players in a meaningless game makes sense for the Eagles. Realistically, why is it worth risking injury in a game that will not change the playoff scenarios? Michael Vick is banged up, LeSean McCoy has carried the load all season, and many other Eagles have been injury prone all season. So it seems like the right decision to give the players more than a week off heading into wildcard weekend, right?

 

Not in the Eagles case.

 

Which Michael Vick will we see against the Packers?

If you watched the same Eagles and Vikings game from week 16, you would know that the Eagles are far from ready to contend in the playoffs. All of their weaknesses were exposed on the chilly Tuesday night at Lincoln Financial Field. They were outplayed by a rookie quarterback and outcoached by an interim head coach. Michael Vick was horrible, strongly resembling the unprepared Vick of old that relied on his talents more than his preparation. The defense was steamrolled by Adrian Peterson and Joe Webb looked like a veteran at many times.

 

However, Andy Reid believes the Eagles are just fine heading into playoffs. Unlike Bill Belichick and Lovie Smith, who despite clinching playoff spots played their starters, Reid is comfortable with where the Eagles are at.

 

As Reid told the media, “It think it’s the right thing to do for us. Other people do it other ways, but this is what I believe in. It gives everybody an opportunity to rest up, in particular in the short amount of time we have here.” Sounds respectable, right?

 

He also justified his decision to bench all of his primetime starters by keying in on quarterback Michael Vick. Reid noted that Vick has been working with Marty Mornhinweg since before the Dallas game, studying the 3-4 defensive scheme by the Green Bay Packers. That’s all well and good, but wouldn’t it also be important for Vick to get more positive snaps and lead the offense like he has most of the season? If anything, Eagles fans saw just how bad it could be if Vick gets hurt after that performance by Kevin Kolb.

 

Philadelphia Inquirer’s Bob Ford makes a great point when he writes, “Beyond that, the message isn’t a good one. The message is that everything is just fine. We’ll get back to practice this week and suddenly a porous defense will get it together against an offense ranked among the top 10 in the league overall, and higher than that in the second half of the season.”

 

The Green Bay Packers are on a mission. They are coming off of back to back playoff-caliber wins over the New York Giants and Chicago Bears. In those two games they outscored their opponents 55-20, with quarterback Aaron Rodgers throwing five touchdowns and averaging over 300 yards per game.

 

But don’t worry because the Eagles defense, which has been oh-so reliable all season, will be well rested and ready for the test. By taking a break, they will figure out how to stop one of the most high-powered offenses in the league. And the Eagles offense, which was held to just 14 points (with Michael Vick recording a 74 passer rating, LeSean McCoy averaging 3.4 yards per carry, and DeSean Jackson being held to two catches) is ready to go in full force. They will be able to handle one of the most dynamic defenses in the league, led by a top-notch pass-rush, simply by being well rested. This is a big concern.

 

The combination of the question-marks surrounding the Eagles after the Vikings game and the Packers being red-hot could be detrimental come Sunday night. Let’s hope they are practicing hard.