NFL FanHouse

Brian Westbrook Reportedly Out Sunday

Chris Burke — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Giants, NFL Injuries

All indications out of Philadelphia this week were that running back Brian Westbrook would play on Sunday night against Dallas, a little less than two weeks after suffering a Grade 3 concussion. The situation appears to have changed, though.

According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, Westbrook will not play against the Cowboys so he can have another week to recover from his rather serious head injury.

Westbrook was hurt in the Eagles' Week 7 Monday night win at Washington, when he slammed his head into Redskins linebacker London Fletcher's knee on a running play. Westbrook lost consciousness and said later that he had no memory of the play.

He did participate in Eagles practice this week, but sat out Friday in what was dubbed a precautionary decision.

If Westbrook's out of the lineup, the Eagles will once again turn to rookie LeSean McCoy to carry the load. That would out fine for Philadelphia last week -- McCoy rushed for 82 yards and a touchdown, fullback Leonard Weaver pitched in 75 yards rushing and a TD, and the Eagles routed the Giants, 40-17.

Philadelphia plays at San Diego in Week 10.

Brian Westbrook Reportedly Out Sunday originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles

R.J. White — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East, FanHouse Previews

When the Eagles and Cowboys step on the same field, you know you're in for a battle. This will be the 100th meeting in the series, with the Cowboys entering the fay with a 55-44 lead in the previous 99 games. The Eagles have the leg up in recent years though, culminating in a Week 17 beatdown last year that wound up earning Philly a playoff berth over Dallas. (Not that Tony Romo would have done much had he made the playoffs anyway.)

Both teams are 5-2, and with the Giants losing to both these foes in recent weeks, this game will determine who has the inside track at winning the NFC East. So if you though this would be just another regular ol' 100th meeting between hated rivals, think again.

More Coverage: Westbrook Reportedly Out for Eagles
The Once-Over: Breakdowns of All Week 9 Games

Three Key Questions:

1. Can Miles Austin be stopped?

2. Will the Eagles second line of defense at linebacker be able to contain the Dallas rushing game?

3. Can Donovan McNabb's offensive line keep the pressure off their quarterback?

Player in the Spotlight: Brian Westbrook. He's often been labeled a fragile, injury-prone player, and that stigma has come to pass this year. He received 13 carries in each of his first two games before missing Week 3. He then returned after the bye to take six carries in each of his next two games before suffering a concussion early in Week 7. He missed the Giants game last week, but looks ready to go for this important contest. Which is great for the Eagles, as he's routinely been trouble for the Cowboys, and his presence will be key to an Eagles victory.

Dallas's Path to Victory: The emergence of Austin has brought Romo's A-game back, but with the Eagles likely to take away the deep threat, this game will come down to how well he connects with tight end Jason Witten, who's having a quiet year by his standards. If those two aren't on the same page (and it's probably foolish to think Romo and Roy Williams will be clicking), then Romo will start forcing balls to Austin. If that happens, the Eagles will take full advantage. The Cowboys aren't likely to contain the Eagles' passing game, so keeping up with them will be essential to making this a game. Dallas must be able to keep the running game in play in the second half, and it'll take a few defensive stops and smart decisions by Romo to get them tere.

Philadelphia's Path to Victory: It'll be tempting to stick to the air against the Cowboys secondary, but mixing in the rushing game will be crucial to making sure the Dallas pass rush doesn't tee off on McNabb. Luckily for Philly, the ground attack came out in full force last week, rushing for 180 yards thanks to big efforts from rookie LeSean McCoy and fullback Leonard Weaver. With Westbrook back, Philly will try to run a balanced offense to slow down the rush and count on the defense to capitalize on any Romo mistakes. Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott will keep the pressure on Romo and try to expedite the process.

Prediction: This game should be close at halftime, but I can see the Eagles pulling away in the third quarter and maintaining a two-score lead in the fourth quarter. Once Dallas's offense goes pass-happy, this game is over. I like the Eagles to take a one-game lead in the division, but as we see time and time again, anything and everything is in play in this matchup. Eagles 31, Cowboys 24.

FanHouse Preview: Cowboys at Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 08 Nov 2009 10:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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John Harbaugh: Cowboys Are Everything That's Wrong With the NFL

Josh Alper — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, NFC East

On the eve of a Sunday night NFC East showdown in Philadelphia, the Cowboys have gotten some bulletin board material via a comparison of their franchise and the Eagles. Strangely enough, the inflammatory statements weren't made by anyone with current ties to the Eagles, but by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh.

Harbaugh, a former Eagles assistant, was asked for a new book what made the Eagles more successful than the Cowboys over the last 10 years. Matt Mosley of ESPN.com shares the answer.

"Why is that? Because what Andy Reid and his program stand for is the opposite of what the Cowboys stand for. The Cowboys are a star system. It's all about building around individuals first and collecting talent, collecting great players. Andy has always been about building a team. And over the long haul, it's a team sport, and one of the greatest examples of that is what's happened with the Eagles and the Cowboys over the last 10 years. The Cowboys stand for everything that's wrong with the NFL."

Yee-owch. No one can accuse Harbaugh of pulling his punches, but is he right?

He's certainly right about the Eagles having a better decade than the Cowboys. It's not even particularly close. They've been to five NFC title games and a Super Bowl while the Cowboys are looking for their first playoff win since 1996. Even the most diehard Cowboys partisan would have a hard time accepting that part of the argument at face value.

Parsing further, however, doesn't do much for Harbaugh's thesis. Building a team is about collecting talent. That doesn't mean buying great players as if you're buying trading cards, but finding the line between the two is awfully difficult. Presumably one of the players that fits Harbaugh's star system dig is Terrell Owens, but he was Reid's before he was Jerry Jones's. Why does one side get credit for the move while the other gets slapped in the face for it? And where, exactly would Michael Vick fit into the reckoning?

Furthermore, the ultimate prize has eluded both the Cowboys and the Eagles. All of those trips to the playoffs have resulted in the same number of Super Bowl wins that the Cowboys have picked up in the last 10 years. Whatever missteps Jones has made in the last decade, and there are many to choose from, he's got three Lombardi Trophies to look at when another season ends in a bitter defeat.

Stockpiling talent, be it through the draft or with veteran acquisitions like Charles Haley, and developing stars certainly worked out for them in those days. The Eagles have had a very good run and Harbaugh may well be right about the reasons why, but that doesn't make the Cowboys everything that's wrong with the NFL.

The Cowboys are relatively successful on the field and fabulously successful at the box office. That doesn't superficially look like everything that's wrong with the NFL, and deeper digging doesn't do much to support the point. Does Harbaugh really think the Lions, Raiders or Redskins, to name three examples, have exemplified what's right about the NFL more than the Cowboys?

I'd guess not, because Harbaugh's a smart guy who probably went a bit too far in trying to pay Reid a compliment.

John Harbaugh: Cowboys Are Everything That's Wrong With the NFL originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 06 Nov 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Explosive Eagles Could End Up Among League's Elite Offenses

Dan Graziano — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Quarterbacks, NFL Analysis

PHILADELPHIA -- You don't think of the Eagles along with the Saints or the Colts or the Patriots in terms of the number, the variety and the explosiveness of their offensive playmakers. Teams like that set the standard, and the Eagles don't feel like they fit into that kind of conversation. And that's fine, because they're not there yet.

But if you watched the Eagles score on big play after big play Sunday afternoon against the Giants, you got the feel that they might very well be there soon. Andy Reid's Philadelphia offense remains a work in progress, but with the number of different weapons he has at his disposal on any given play, we could soon be talking about the Eagles as one of the most exciting and dynamic offensive teams in the league."I think we're just kind of touching the surface," Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb said after the 40-17 victory over the Giants. "I really feel like the sky's the limit for us."

What strikes you about the Eagles' offense is its quick-strike ability. Philadelphia scored five touchdowns Sunday, and the shortest of those was a 17-yard pass to tight end Brent Celek. The other four TD plays measured 23, 41, 54 and 66 yards.

"We're all for the big plays," offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said.

Equally impressive was the fact that those five touchdowns were scored by five different players. Fullback Leonard Weaver broke a 41-yard touchdown run to get things going. Then McNabb's TD pass to Celek. With 1:38 left before halftime, DeSean Jackson got open for a 54-yard TD catch -- his sixth touchdown of 50 or more yards this season. Rookie receiver Jeremy Maclin caught the 23-yarder right before halftime. And in the fourth quarter, rookie running back LeSean McCoy raced 66 yards for the game's final score.

Notably absent from that list is starting RB Brian Westbrook, who missed the game with a concussion. And remember when the team signed Michael Vick to give it another athletic offensive weapon for the wildcat formations? Well, Vick wasn't on the field much Sunday, but if Reid isn't saving some sort of Vick-related trickery for the second half of the season, then it's hard to imagine why they brought the guy in.

Point is, this Eagles offense right now is a thrill-a-minute. And this while it's still finding itself.

"Putting up 40 points against the Giants is more of a message to ourselves," Maclin said. "We can do that against anybody. And I don't think this is the last time we're going to do that this year."

McNabb is gaining trust and confidence in Maclin. He loves throwing to Jackson, because he knows great things can happen once he has the ball. He threw six times to Celek, the reliable safety valve. McCoy doesn't just look like a good Westbrook replacement -- he looks like a Westbrook clone. And he was one of two Eagle running backs, as Reid pointed out, who gained at least 75 yards on the ground in this game.

"Offensively, it's always big when you can spread it around," McNabb said. "Being able to establish the running game and the screen game opens up a lot of things. Today we were very balanced and we were able to pick upo big plays all throughout the drives, and that led to touchdowns for us."

An offense with a penchant for big plays, playing with a defense that leads the NFL in takeaways with 21, is a frightening combination for the rest of the league. And if it hasn't yet become obvious how frightening this Eagle team can be if its offensive line holds up and McNabb is making his throws, then it will be obvious to everybody soon enough.

Explosive Eagles Could End Up Among League's Elite Offenses originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Football, Baseball and Brotherly Love - Philadelphia Is Sports Heaven

Dan Graziano — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Giants, NFC East, NFL Fans

PHILADELPHIA -- Mike Alvarez is a lifelong Philadelphian with a Cole Hamels haircut and a vintage maroon Phillies cap who spent his Sunday in a parking lot. Alvarez didn't have tickets to the Eagles-Giants game in the afternoon. He didn't have tickets to the Phillies-Yankees World Series game at night. What he did have was a parking space for his truck, a seemingly bottomless supply of beer and enough slightly slurred wisdom to know that there was no place he would have rather been than this particular parking lot on this particular day, surrounded by his fellow Eagles and Phillies fans.

"They got flat-screens over there," Alvarez said, waving his beer can in the direction of a nearby RV. "Everybody's grilling food. I've made a ton of new friends. What more could you want?"

This was around 5:30 pm, an hour and a half after the Eagles had finished throttling the Giants and about three hours before Joe Blanton drilled Alex Rodriguez in the back with a first-inning fastball. It was the chilly intermission of one of the great days in Philadelphia sports history. An NFL rivalry game in the afternoon and then, across the parking lot, a World Series game under the full moon. Big, bad New York teams the opponents in both. Sure, it ended in disappointment, with the Yankees coming back to win the baseball game, 7-4, to take a 3-1 lead in the World Series. Still, for a day this city got to feel like the center of the sports universe. And the beauty part was, pretty much everybody behaved themselves.

That may be the most amazing thing about what's happened here, in a sports town famous for having booed Santa Claus and having taunted Michael Irvin as he lay injured on the artificial turf at old Veterans Stadium. Somewhere along the line, as the Eagles began consistently fielding playoff teams and the Phillies somehow turned into a mini-dynasty, Philadelphia sports fans appear to have shed some of the anger and bitterness that always defined them. Now, they find themselves able to look around on a day such as this and appreciate how special it is.

"I think the town feels like there's a lot to appreciate," said Joe Butkus, who was grilling in the drizzly morning with a mixed group of Philly and New York fans. "Look around. How can you not love this?"

Alvarez told a story of when he was a young boy at an Eagles game at the Vet. It was a cold, icy day, he said, and fans were walking the concrete ramps to the exits at the end of the game, and a woman in a Giants jersey fell and injured herself. As Alvarez tells it, the Eagles fans that day offered no sympathy -- just walked right past her and said, "That's what you get for wearing the wrong colors."

"That's what it used to be like," Alvarez said. "But we're polite now. We have that old reputation, but really, we're a lot more polite now than people say."

Of course, just as he was saying that, a guy walked by wearing a Michael Vick Eagles jersey and carrying a stuffed dog with bandages around its head and legs.

Didn't exactly help Alvarez make his point.

"You're always going to get a couple of nuts," he said.

And, of course, there were on both sides. A fan in a Yankees jersey got into a fight with two minutes left in the first half of the Giants-Eagles game, prompting loud boos and a "Yankees suck" chant from a crowd that had no reason all afternoon to be anything but deliriously happy. A guy in an Eagles jersey, lugging a cooler, tore through a crowd of anti-Vick protesters shouting obscenities and telling them to go away. And even the tamer interactions were designed to let the visitors from the Big Apple know who was boss.

"A guy with a green beard told me, 'You're in for a long day,'" said Vince Gilligo, who came from Hamilton, N.J., wearing a Giants cap.

Considering the setting and the circumstances, the proceedings leaned hard toward harmony. Gilligo was walking peacefully around the packed parking lots with his friend, Chuck Costello, who was decked out in Phillies gear. Tom Gussen and his son Maxwell parked their car early, while the lot was still somewhat empty, got out and started throwing a football around -- father in his green Stewart Bradley Eagles jersey and son in a blue Eli Manning number. Jose and Stephanie Torre, New York natives who now live in Northeast Philly, grilled side-by-side -- him in his Gaints garb and her in her Eagles wear, talking trash with smiles on their faces.

Kenny Kortright was part of a crew of Giants fans who drove in from Long Island. They were just going to the football game, not both. Kortright is a Mets fan, so this year's World Series matchup is a special sort of personal pain for him. After some soul-searching, he said he decided to root for the Yankees, because the Met fan in him sees the Phillies as "arrogant" and he likes too many of the players on the Yankees -- Teixeira, Sabathia, Jeter and Rivera to name a few.

But Kortright and his pals were in town to see the Giants, and as of 11 a.m. they were feeling pretty good about things.

"I'm gonna say 40-17, Giants crush em," Kortright seriously predicted.

And then of course the Eagles won, 40-17, dominating the visitors from the outset and turning the parking lots into a place where Eagle fans could drive by Giant fans flapping their arms out the window and taunting.

"I got the score right," Kortright said between games. "But wrong team. Very disheartening."

In a way, the lopsided football score contributed to the peace that pervaded the late-afternoon portion of the tailgate extravaganza. With an outcome so decisive, what arguments were there to have? What, exactly, was there for the Giants fans to say?

"Go Yankees?" Larry Riefenberg offered.

Oh yeah. Larry Riefenberg. Of Danbury, Conn. If there was a dude who summed up this day, it was our man Larry. He and his friends rented an RV, hired a driver and left at 6 a.m. They hit no traffic and pulled into the parking lot between Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park around 9:30. They set up their grills and their beer coolers and their washer-toss game and settled in for a tailgate with their Philly-based attorney friends, who got them the tickets. As of 11 a.m., Riefenberg and Co. only had tickets to the football game, but they were at work on making it a doubleheader. As soon as they arrived, they connected with a ticket broker and began negotiating a price on some World Series Game Four tickets.

"Got to," Riefenberg said. "How many times do the stars align to where you're going to have a football game here and a World Series game 100 yards away?"

At 5 p.m., with the sun starting to go down and the chill starting to bite, Riefenberg snapped his cell phone shut and said, "We're in. We got 'em." He and two of the other guys in the RV had scored their Series tickets. They knew they were going to the game.

They didn't know much else, though. Like, where they were going to stay after it was over. Or how they were getting home. See, the rest of the RV crew was heading home. The vehicle pulled out of the lot at 6 p.m., bound for Danbury, with three of its original passengers grinning happily as they swigged Bass Ale and marveled at their good fortune. Riefenberg's friend, Arnie, was bemoaning the fact that he was now required to spend as much ($350) on his wife's birthday (Tuesday) as he did for his ticket. And there was some chatter about those little nagging issues of how they were going to find their way back to Connecticut. But all of that was drowned out by the fact that these guys were going to the World Series, and they were fired up about it.

"How can you not?" Arnie said, open arms raised to the red brick baseball stadium across the street from the RV's spot. "I mean, it's right here!"

Right here in the sports complex section of South Philadelphia. Which, for this Sunday at least, was the sports capital of the world.

Football, Baseball and Brotherly Love - Philadelphia Is Sports Heaven originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 02 Nov 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles, Donovan McNabb Dismantle Struggling Giants

Matt Snyder — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Giants, NFC East

Next week there will be a game between the two best teams in the NFC East, and it's not going to involve the defending division champion New York Giants. In beating the Giants to a pulp Sunday, 40-17, the Eagles -- and the Dallas Cowboys, who beat Seattle at home -- have sent the G-Men back to third place. New York has now lost three straight games, while the Eagles won their second in a row after an embarrassing loss in Oakland.

Leading the way for the Eagles was Donovan McNabb, who barely broke a sweat in destroying the Giants' patchwork secondary. He completed 17-of-23 passes for 240 yards and three touchdowns. He continues to show a strong chemistry with DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin and Brent Celek, who combined for 11 catches, 186 yards and three scores.

More: Check Box Score | Cowboys Batter Seahawks | Rams Get It Done

Not having starting running back Brian Westbrook wasn't a problem for Philly, either, as fullback Leonard Weaver got loose for a 41-yard touchdown and shifty rookie LeSean McCoy added 82 yards and a 66-yard touchdown on 11 carries.

Eli Manning had a rough day for the Giants, completing just 20 of his 39 passes while throwing two interceptions. He was missing Mario Manningham and you have to give the Eagles' defense credit for playing a nearly flawless game against a quality opponent. Still, Manning was clearly the second-best quarterback on the field Sunday.

As I alluded to earlier, the Eagles square off against the Cowboys next week in a battle that will determine the division leader in the very competitive NFC East. The Giants will look to stop the bleeding against the Chargers at home.

So, let's see: the Eagles beat the Giants, Pearl Jam is playing The Spectrum and Game 4 of the World Series are all in one day in Philadelphia. While it may not always be sunny there, Philly is a pretty solid place to be on November 1, 2009.

Eagles, Donovan McNabb Dismantle Struggling Giants originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 01 Nov 2009 17:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Should Sit Brian Westbrook

Chris Burke — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Injuries

If the Eagles want to do what's best, both for themselves and Brian Westbook, they'll sit the banged-up running back Sunday against the Giants.

Westbrook took a scary hit Monday night in Washington and left Philadelphia's win with a concussion. Eagles coach Andy Reid confirmed later that Westbrook both lost consciousness and had no memory of the play, where Westbrook's head slammed into the knee of Redskins linebacker London Fletcher.

Art Bartolozzi, the former team physician for the Eagles and the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers, told the Philadelphia Inquirer that injuries like Westbrook's are serious.

More Coverage: Goodell Discuss Head Injuries on Capitol Hill

"If he was unconscious, he is probably out at least a few weeks," Bartolozzi said. "The brain is like a computer. Amnesia means the hard drive has been shaken. If you lose data, it tells you something is wrong with the computer."

Westbrook's symptoms are consistent with a Grade 3 concussion, the most severe concussion that can be sustained. Bartolozzi told the Inquirer that Westbrook would likely have to sit out both this week and next in order to be in the clear.

Friday, Reid listed Westbrook as questionable and said he'd be a game-time decision.

But why risk it? Even if Westbrook somehow gets cleared by Philadelphia's team doctors, it would only take another knock to the head to shelve him for the season -- possibly longer.

The NFL has spent most of this season addressing its treatment of head injuries. On Thursday, commissioner Roger Goodell spent several hours before a House Judiciary Committee on Capitol Hill, defending the league's handling of head injuries and denying that those injuries lead to brain damage later in life.

"There's been a cultural change in all the sports," Goodell said. "But in particular, I'm responsible for the NFL, and there's been a significant cultural change in the seriousness of these injuries, and how to treat them. And the fact is, they should be treated on a very conservative, careful basis."

Forcing Westbrook to sit for a couple weeks would be consistent with Goodell's stated plan.

Benching Westbrook would hurt Philly's offense, of course, but with rookie LeSean McCoy around, the Eagles could potentially get by for a bit without their veteran back. McCoy is expected to start Sunday against the Giants if Westbrook is held out.

Part of this has to do with the NFL mindset -- Westbrook no doubt wants to get back in the lineup as soon as humanly possible. NFL players are expected to play through injuries, even those that would shelve athletes in other sports.

At some point, though, the risk has to outweigh the possible reward. Plenty of ex-NFL players have come forward lately stating how much their lives have been altered by the lingering effects of concussions -- there's no reason for Westbrook to join that group if it can be avoided.

Eagles Should Sit Brian Westbrook originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap

Bruce Ciskie — Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Lions, Giants, Packers, Rams, Vikings, NFL Live Blogging

He's back, and it's stealing all of the headlines. It's going to be a highly emotional Sunday for many NFL fans, as former Detroit Lions defensive lineman James Hall makes his return to the Motor City as a member of the St. Louis Rams.

Oh, and Brett Favre is back in Green Bay. Not sure if you've heard about that one.

&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;altcast_code=8769b3a7a6" &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;

NFL FanHouse Week 8 Chat Recap originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Monday Night Football Live Chat: Eagles vs. Redskins

Adam Gretz — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Redskins, NFC East

The Jim Zorn watch is officially on, and Monday night we get to watch the drama unfold as the Redskins host their NFC East rivals from Philadelphia. As always, we'll be discussing all of the action in our Monday Night Football Live Chat, and the fun starts at 8:30 PM ET, so please stop by and join us.

&amp;lt;a href="http://www.coveritlive.com/mobile.php?option=com_mobile&amp;amp;task=viewaltcast&amp;amp;altcast_code=36697eb279" &amp;gt;Monday Night Football Live Chat&amp;lt;/a&amp;gt;

Monday Night Football Live Chat: Eagles vs. Redskins originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 19:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Suddenly Slumping Giants Slip Back to NFC East Pack

Dan Graziano — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:05:00 EST

Filed under: Cowboys, Eagles, Giants, NFL Analysis

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- This was to have been the Giants' get-right game. Sure, New Orleans beat them up last week, but the Saints are an undefeated team that was coming off a bye week and playing at home. The Giants spent the week shrugging off that loss and promising to be better this week at home against the Cardinals. The defense promised more blitzing and less trepidation. The offense promised to be sharper. To a man, the Giants were certain they'd come up with a big win Sunday night over the reigning NFC champs...and then they lost.

"For whatever reason, we've had two weeks in a row now where one area has not performed very well," Giants coach Tom Coughlin said. "So, back to the drawing board."

And back, whether they like it or not, into a three-team NFC East tussle where there's no clear favorite -- not even them.

More: Cards Flip the Script on Giants | Eagles Look to Close in on First Place

Through five weeks, the Giants stood 5-0 and appeared to be in control of the division. Preseason predictions about the Eagles as a serious threat and the Cowboys as sleeper faded. The Giants weathered injuries, showcased their depth and simply crushed second-rate opponents such as Tampa Bay, Kansas City and Oakland. Safety Kenny Phillips went down. Defensive end Justin Tuck played hurt. Brandon Jacobs dealt strangely with some confusing an undefined emotional issues regarding his running style versus Ahmad Bradshaw's. But it was all okay, because the Giants looked like a team built to handle all of it.

But with Week 7 just about in the books, the picture looks a lot different. The Giants are now 5-2. The Cowboys are 4-2. And once they plaster the sad-sack Redskins tonight in the Eagles will be 4-2 and ready to host the Giants next Sunday in the first game of a NY/Philly football/baseball doubleheader sure to set records for profane Northeast sports fan trash talk.

"Am I concerned?" Tuck asked. "I'm not the kind of guy who gets concerned in Week 7. The last time we lost two games in a row this early in the season, we ended up being Super Bowl champs."

There remain enough players in this Giants locker room from the 2007-08 title team that they feel they can trade on that. The Giants carry themselves with a champion's confidence because, well, a lot of them are champions. They're entitled to the perspective that comes with that.

The problem is, this year's Giants team has yet to prove anything. The 5-0 record was a mirage. They opened with a shaky win over a terrible Washington team. They gave up 250 rushing yards to the Cowboys in Week 2 and would have lost but for a couple of dumb late Dallas decisions. And then they rolled three of the worst teams in the league. Now that they're playing teams like New Orleans and Arizona, the shortcomings are showing up:

-The young receivers, Mario Manningham in particular, still drop too many passes. Teams continue to crowd up front to stop Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw, daring Eli Manning to beat them in the passing game. Sunday night, Manning couldn't do it. Sometimes he struggled with his reads with safeties in the box. Sometimes he hit a guy in the hands and saw him drop it. Three times, he couldn't get the play off in time and got called for delay of game. Other than a miracle play on which rookie Hakeem Nicks caught a deflected pass and ran it in for a 62-yard touchdown, the passing game did nothing Sunday night. And the running game, thanks to an aggressive Arizona defense that was determined to stop it, remained stuck in the mud.

-Teams are able to gain yards down the field against the middle of the Giants' defense. Phillips' absence is being felt, as are those of defensive tackle Chris Canty, linebacker Michael Boley and cornerback Aaron Ross. The defense made more plays Sunday than it did the week before in New Orleans, but it didn't do enough to stop the Cardinal receivers and, perhaps more distressingly, rookie Cardinals running back Beanie Wells.

-The punting game was off! 84-year veteran Jeff Feagles had a rotten game, averaging just 34.3 yards per punt. Coughlin took the blame for that, saying he instructed Feagles to make sure to kick the ball out of bounds and away from Cardinals return man Steve Breaston, but Feagles said he always tries to kick the ball out of bounds and needs to do a better job.

It's all part of a weird and surprisingly substandard vibe the Giants are giving off the past couple of weeks. After two years as a dominant NFC force, they have looked lately like a team that still has a ways to go before we can call it a Super Bowl contender.

"We have to find a way to rebound and get back to where we were at the beginning of the season," defensive end Osi Umenyiora said. "This was a game we should have won."

The Cardinals, who have won the NFC title more recently than the Giants have, beg to differ. And the Giants' next six games are against the Eagles, Chargers, Falcons, Broncos, Cowboys and Eagles again -- teams whose combined record is 20-9. The Giants suddenly look vulnerable. They've succeeded in turning the NFC East into a real race when they didn't have to. And they enter Week 8 of the NFL season with just as much to prove as any other team in the league.

Suddenly Slumping Giants Slip Back to NFC East Pack originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Mon, 26 Oct 2009 12:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Kevin Curtis' Career in Danger?

Chris Burke — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Injuries

Philadelphia wide receiver Kevin Curtis been dealing with swelling in his knee since training camp, a problem that's kept him out of the Eagles' lineup since Week 3. Making the situation worse, though, is that doctors have not been able to determine the cause of Curtis' problem.

Head coach Andy Reid said that Curtis has undergone multiple tests and MRIs, which have revealed no structural damage. Curtis finally had his troublesome knee scoped this week -- and beat writer Geoff Mosher of Delaware Online speculates that, not only is Curtis' season likely finished, but his career might be as well.

It's early to call for Curtis to hang 'em up -- especially if his recent surgery also failed to find structural damage -- but the seven-year vet finds himself a bit in the weeds here. Curtis is reportedly due a $1 million roster bonus this offseason, and assuming his knee doesn't progress rapidly and allow him to be a major contributor again, it's hard to imagine a scenario where the Eagles don't release him.

That means that Curtis, at 31 years of age and coming off a potentially season-ending knee injury -- would find himself scrambling to find a team.

In that case, Curtis' career would be in a much more tenuous spot.

Curtis played his first four seasons out of Utah State with the Rams, combining for 100 total catches in 2005-06. His best pro season came in 2007, his first year with Philadelphia, when he hauled in 77 catches for 1,110 yards and six touchdowns. But Curtis played just nine games last year and made it through only two in 2009 before heading to the sidelines.

Prior to the year, Curtis looked like he might be a top-two WR for Philadelphia, but with Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson developing and Jason Avant continuing his solid play, his role had diminished anyway.

Is Kevin Curtis' Career in Danger? originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Struggling to Utilize Michael Vick

Chris Burke — Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Quarterbacks

Michael Vick's addition was supposed to add a dynamic dimension to an already stacked Philadelphia offense -- the Eagles experimented with the wildcat, with Vick and Donovan McNabb on the field together, with Vick playing wide receiver.

None of it has panned out yet. In Philadelphia's stunning 13-9 loss at Oakland last week, Vick was on the field for just two plays. So far this season, he's accounted for 1 yard passing and 13 yards rushing. So what's going on here? If Vick can't even get on the field when the Eagles are struggling to move the ball, then what's the point of having him around?

More Eagles Coverage: WR Kevin Curtis' Career Over?

"We signed him as a backup quarterback," Philadelphia head coach Andy Reid said Monday. "We have gotten probably a little bit more out of him than I thought we would have out of our other backup quarterbacks."

That's easy enough to say, but hard to believe -- with all the attention that Vick's brought to Philadelphia with him, it's nearly unfathomable to think that the Eagles planned to just sit him behind McNabb all year. There are plenty of capable backups out there. Heck, Kevin Kolb played fine in place of McNabb earlier this season.

Eagles offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg said Friday that situations to use Vick extensively didn't present themselves against Oakland.

"Every game is a little different," Mornhinweg said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. "[We] had Michael ready for certain situations. Those situations didn't come up. They do in most games."

I'll have to call shenanigans there -- Vick's heaviest action came in his Week 3 debut against Kansas City when he saw the field for 11 snaps (0-of-2 passing, one rush for seven yards).

"His presence is a threat," Mornhinweg added.

Maybe, but doesn't he need to be on the field for that threat to be worthwhile?

"The Michael Vick from two years ago was used to being a starter in this league and used to being in the limelight, being the guy who takes all the snaps," Vick said. "It's different, but I can adjust. I can adapt to any situation, and this was one of them."

McNabb, for the record, was 22-of-46 against Oakland, and the Eagles rushed for a whopping 67 yards. A situation to try Vick out at quarterback "didn't come up" during that mess?

Instead, it seems more likely that Philadelphia's banged-up offensive line and Vick's slow readjustment to the NFL are contributing to his lack of snaps here. McNabb doesn't want to see his snaps cut into, and the Eagles don't want to put a rusty and unsure Vick onto the field behind an offensive line that can't protect him.

All things considered, this once-exciting union has become pretty ho-hum. Vick's almost certainly not going to be back in Philadelphia next year, the Eagles won't be able to convince any team to break the bank in a trade for him, and barring a major injury to McNabb, his playing time will stay sparse.

For all the sound and fury surrounding Vick's return, he's bringing next to nothing to Philadelphia right now.

Eagles Struggling to Utilize Michael Vick originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sat, 24 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Acquire LB Will Witherspoon

Bruce Ciskie — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Rams

The Philadelphia Eagles have been battling depth issues at linebacker all season. Starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley was lost in training camp, and things got so bad that former Eagle Jeremiah Trotter was brought back.

Trotter was awful against the Oakland Raiders Sunday, and head coach Andy Reid apparently has seen enough. Tuesday, as the NFL's usually quiet trade deadline approached, Reid pulled off a deal to add a solid veteran to the mix.

The Eagles picked up starter Will Witherspoon from the Rams. This isn't your normal deadline deal with little impact.

Instead, Witherspoon could be a significant acquisition for the Eagles, as they aim to clean up their defense, especially in the middle of the field. Omar Gaither suffered a foot injury against the Raiders, which necessitated Trotter playing as much as he did. The team doesn't know yet how much action -- if any -- Gaither will miss.

Either way, Witherspoon's presence should take a lot of heat off Gaither.

One of Witherspoon's strengths in the past has been pass coverage. He had six interceptions and 20 passes defended in his final two seasons with the Panthers, which are both high numbers for a linebacker. He had one interception and one sack last season with the Rams, but does not have a sack or an interception this season.

The Eagles have an extra day to prepare for a Monday night game against division rival Washington. It's uncertain at this point if Witherspoon will be in the lineup.

Philadelphia sends wide receiver Brandon Gibson and a draft pick to the Rams to complete the deal.

Eagles Acquire LB Will Witherspoon originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Lay Egg in Defeat to Raiders

Nancy Gay — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Raiders

OAKLAND, Calif. -- Maybe it was all a mirage, that 3-1 record the Philadelphia Eagles built through Week 5 that saw them take down struggling teams such as the Panthers, Chiefs and Buccaneers. Teams with a combined record of 1-14.

You could explain the undefeated New Orleans Saints routing Donovan McNabb and his Eagles by 26 points. But how can coach Andy Reid justify a 13-9 loss to the suddenly empowered Oakland Raiders, a team that came into Sunday's game at a blacked-out Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with the NFL's last-place offense (192 yards per game) and 31st-ranked defense (382 yards allowed per game)?

He didn't.

More: Russell Finally Comes Through | Vick Protesters Flock to Coliseum

"All in all, the Raiders outcoached us and outplayed us, in every phase of the game," said Reid, whose team surrendered 325 yards to a 2-4 Raiders team that had just dropped three consecutive games by at least 20 points for the first time in franchise history. "My hat's off to them; they did a heck of a job and we didn't. It's that simple."

Said right guard Max Jean-Gilles: "We just weren't prepared."

The Raiders had the game's only touchdown when quarterback JaMarcus Russell threw a 10-yard screen to tight end Zach Miller that turned into an 86-yard scoring pass late in the first quarter. Miller ran behind wide receiver Louis Murphy's blocks for the touchdown.

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Philly's terrible showing in Oakland capped a bad day all around for NFC East teams - the Giants were destroyed in New Orleans, while Jim Zorn's flailing Redskins were trounced by previously winless Kansas City.

"All the way around, I thought they did a nice job," Reid repeated when pressed to explain why his supposedly elite team - second in the NFL in points per game (31.8) -- was manhandled so thoroughly by a Raiders' team that played most of the game without All Pro cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (right eye injury).

"I thought they blocked better. I thought they tackled better. I thought they blitzed better. They did it all," Reid said. "They coached better -- No. 1, they coached better."

While it's easy to surmise Philadelphia's pass protection was lacking once massive left tackle Jason Peters limped off the field in the first quarter with a sprained left knee injury -- he did not return and underwent an MRI -- the Raiders seemed to have a blitz package ready that neutralized everything McNabb tried to do.

Pressured by the Raiders' unbalanced pass rush and defensive coordinator John Marshall's blitzes, McNabb completed only 22-of-46 passes for 268 yards and was sacked six times. In four previous games, Philly had surrendered six sacks total.

"It's hard to get the ball out when you've got guys on you," said McNabb, who conceded he had trouble getting the ball to running back Brian Westbrook (six carries, 50 yards) because of the Raiders' attacking defense. But the quarterback tried to shoulder the blame for a loss that no doubt leaves Eagles' fans stunned and Raiders' fans -- some of whom turned out to boo Michael Vick, who was listed as the No. 3 quarterback on Sunday -- elated.

"It's just communication," McNabb explained of his offense's myriad breakdowns. "Obviously, being the quarterback of the offense, making sure the guys understand what they're seeing and being able to block -- I put all the pressure on my shoulders."

"All in all, the Raiders outcoached us and outplayed us, in every phase of the game."
- Eagles coach Andy Reid Besides the indignation of losing to one of the NFL's worst teams, the Eagles also left Oakland with several key players nursing injuries: Peters was joined in the MRI room by linebacker Omar Gaither, who sustained a sprained foot. Defensive end Victor Abiamiri also left with a sprained knee. All three will be further evaluated on Monday, Reid said.

Vick -- who never saw the animal rights activists protesting his appearance in Oakland, where many of his dogfighting pit bulls were sent for rehabilitation -- was in for only two plays and had zero impact on the contest. He lost four yards on a reverse, lined up wide as a receiver. On a play with 35 seconds left before halftime, Vick's last-second entry into the lineup cost the Eagles a 5-yard delay of game penalty.

Raiders defensive end Richard Seymour, who had two sacks, said his team expected to see much more of Vick.

"We were prepared for Vick in the game. And I think he came in and did a little reverse or something like that. We were prepared for the Wildcat, for anything they could do," Seymour said. "Hats off to the coaches this week. I think my head was spinning anyway with all of the things we had in. If you're playing Philly, you've gotta be prepared for everything that they do offensively."

Vick didn't complain about how little he was used, and he said he understood why his presence caused Bay Area animal rights groups to denounce him.

"I'm trying to do the best I can, to help more animals than I hurt," Vick said of the protesters outside the stadium. "I really am trying to move on with my life. But I understand that people want to do that, and I'm still going to try to do the best I can to be the best ambassador in the community I can be."

Oakland's embattled head coach Tom Cable, who is facing the possibility of criminal charges from the Napa County, Calif., district attorney for his role in an alleged altercation with an assistant coach, finally got a laudable effort from a maligned team that the Giants' Antonio Pierce said was little more than a scrimmage opponent.

"Sure, you use it for that reason [for the victory] but as I said to you guys time and time again -- stop looking to write negative things or worry about all the BS," Cable said. "Let's develop a team and an organization that has struggled to win the last few years. You don't just flip a switch and do that overnight. You don't wake up the next day and everything is rosy. There's a process to get there.

"Someone saying we didn't have great leadership offensively last week or whatever that is. So be it. It's still about what goes on between the lines in our locker room and our practice field. It's about us."

And the Eagles were forced to admit they were caught unaware by a Raiders team that overcame a record-setting season of mediocrity with four quarters of playmaking.

"I don't think Jason [Peters] really factored in to the blitzes that they brought," Eagles right tackle Winston Justice said. "They did some things that we weren't really expecting, some stuff that they didn't really show the first couple of games. And we were caught by surprise. But that's what practice is for, and we'll go back to the drawing board and get better from this."

Eagles Lay Egg in Defeat to Raiders originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 22:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Vick Protesters Flock to Oakland Coliseum for Eagles-Raiders Game

Nancy Gay — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, Raiders

OAKLAND, Calif. -- About 30 animal rights protesters gathered outside the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Sunday, waving signs decrying dogfighting in response to Michael Vick's arrival with the Philadelphia Eagles and drawing mostly praise from Raiders fans entering the stadium.

Oakland has been the happy ending for many of the animals rescued from Vick's dogfighting and gambling operation in Virginia. Ten of the dogs in Vick's pit bull collection -- the ones that could be saved and rehabilitated -- found new lives in San Francisco's East Bay, fostered and treated by the group BAD RAP (Bay Area Doglovers Responsible About Pitbulls).

On Sunday, a plane circled the Coliseum, trailing a banner that read "Dog Fighter Go Home! BAD RAP.org" and sign-carrying activists from groups such as In Defense of Animals carried signs that read, "NFL ADD DOGFIGHTING TO YOUR CODE OF CONDUCT."

California animal rights groups had pinpointed this game between the Eagles (3-1) and Raiders (1-4). Last week, representatives from BAD RAP offered Vick an opportunity to visit his former dogs in a setting that would not violate terms of his probation agreement. Vick declined.

The Eagles' controversial quarterback/receiver remained in the visiting locker room throughout the pregame warm-ups, and Philadelphia officials said he did not see or hear the commotion around him, or in the sky above.

Pit bull owner and rescuer Megan Collison, 38, drove four hours south from Albion, Calif. to denounce Vick. "I feel very strongly. I have a pit bull at home and she was abused," Collison said.

She and other protesters withstood some heckling and arguments. Gary Marshall of Turlock angrily debated the seriousness of Vick's crimes with Collison. "What Vick did was mild compared to child molestation," Marshall told her.

Jeff Blagg, 42, from the East Bay city of Martinez, stood in support of the Vick protestors and barked over and over to gain attention outside the stadium. "I am a dog owner!" he said loudly, adding that he is angry to see Vick in Oakland wearing an NFL uniform, even after serving time in federal prison.

"No. He got back too soon," Blagg said. "It bothers me that he's in the NFL, period. That's what bothers me. It doesn't matter where he plays. He's playing too soon."

In the always boisterous Raiders' pregame parking lot, a lone Vick supporter wore an Atlanta Falcons jersey for his guy.

"It's been a little hostile, but it's not too bad," said Charles Wright, 44, a burly tow truck operator from Oakland. "Maybe if the Raiders win a few more games, it wouldn't matter, you know?"

Wright chose a Falcons' Vick jersey, "because I wanted to get the original jersey; this is like a throwback now. So I'm wearing my throwback today."

Why did Wright feel compelled to show his support for an athlete so many people despise? "It's like this: sooner or later you're going to have to forgive the guy anyway," he said. "So you might as well get it out of your system and let him play ball."

On the field, Vick's first action came midway through the first quarter, when he lined up wide as a receiver but lost four yards on a reverse. Kirk Morrison's tackle led to a smattering of dog-barking sounds from fans at the Coliseum, which did not sell out in time to avoid a local television blackout.

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Michael Vick

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles hugs head coach Tom Cable of the Oakland Raiders at the end of an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick;Tom Cable

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles talks with JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders at the end of an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick;JaMarcus Russell

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks on from the bench against the Oakland Raiders during an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick

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Protesters demonstrate an appearance by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Megan Collins, center, joins other protesters demonstrating against an appearance by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

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OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 18: Donovan McNabb #5 of the Philadelphia Eagles talks with teammate Michael Vick #7 and JaMarcus Russell #2 of the Oakland Raiders at the end of an NFL game at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on October 18, 2009 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Donovan McNabb;Michael Vick;JaMarcus Russell

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Philadelphia Eagles' Michael Vick stands on the sidelines during the Eagles game against the Oakland Raiders at Oakland Coliseum in Oakland, California, on Sunday, October 18, 2009. (Dan Honda/Contra Costa Times/MCT)

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Megan Collins protests an appearance by Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick before an NFL football game against the Oakland Raiders in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Oct. 18, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar)

Michael Vick Protesters Flock to Oakland Coliseum for Eagles-Raiders Game originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 18 Oct 2009 17:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Soft Schedule Helps Forgotten Eagles

Dave Goldberg — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:10:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFC East

The NFL and the networks certainly didn't intend it this way. But when they drew up the 2009 schedule, they turned the Philadelphia Eagles into an early-season afterthought, an asterisk following the Giants in the NFC East and the Giants, Saints and Vikings in the conference. Because that schedule is one reason those three teams are unbeaten.

It wasn't that way before the season.

Those folks who didn't think the Giants would win the division favored the Eagles with a few odd votes for Dallas. But the Eagles dropped off the map a bit when Donovan McNabb hurt his ribs in the opening week and the Saints then blew them out on the same Sunday that New York spoiled the opening of Jerry Jones' Dallas palace.

But that's been the only blip for Philadelphia, which, like its rival 90 miles to the north, has been cruising through the opening five weeks of the season against the softest part of their schedule. The Eagles' wins include a 38-10 opener over Carolina, now 1-3; that McNabb-less loss to the Saints; and lopsided wins over two winless teams, Kansas City and Tampa Bay, who they beat 33-14 on Sunday.

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The Giants have been getting attention because they're unbeaten and they've won two division games: the first two over the Redskins and Cowboys. But they've just finished a similar stretch to Philadelphia, running over three almost winless teams (Oakland plays like it's winless) -- Tampa Bay, Kansas City and the Raiders -- by a combined score of 95-23.

So basically, the Giants and Eagles are even -- New York next goes to New Orleans and will probably be an underdog, for no other reason than for its status as the visitor. The Eagles have their second bye -- or rather a trip to Oakland, the team that flew coast-to-coast to lose 44-7 at the Meadowlands Sunday in a game that wasn't that close.

After that, the real season starts: the Eagles are at Washington and play host to the Giants the next two weeks, while the Giants are home to Arizona before they go to Philly.

What we've really had is a five-week exhibition season in which both teams played short. Philly was allowed to get McNabb healthy by using Kevin Kolb against patsies. Ditto for New York, which has a bunch of guys banged up and a couple on injured reserve, out for the year.

But what else we've seen that makes these teams so much more threatening than Dallas and Washington is the development of young receivers that make both offenses more dynamic than they've been in a while.

For Philly, it's Jeremy Maclin, who was the 19th overall pick in this year's draft. On Sunday, he had six catches for 142 yards and two TDs. With second-year-man DeSean Jackson becoming one of the NFL's prime long-distance threats, Maclin gives the Eagles someone else for opponents to double cover.

The Giants, of course, were supposed to have no wide receivers after the release of Plaxico Burress following his gun possession arrest and the decision not to re-sign Amani Toomer. (Folks kept writing they had "lost" Toomer. No, he just got old quickly, as 35-year-old wideouts are prone to do.)

Instead they have Steve Smith, a third-year man who going into Sunday's games led the league in catches, yards and receiving touchdowns. He had three catches for 70 yards Sunday, then sat down at halftime with the Giants holding a 31-7 lead.

They also have second-year-man Mario Manningham and rookie Hakeem Nicks (29th overall), each of whom had TD catches on Sunday. Nicks, who missed two games with a foot injury, now has two TDs on seven catches and is averaging 17.2 yards per reception, a different kind of deep threat than Burress.

An aside: both Maclin and Nicks (as well as Tennessee's Kenny Britt, 31st overall, demonstrate how dysfunctional the Raiders were to use the seventh pick of the first round on Darrius Heyward-Bey. Maybe the seventh pick of the second round or much later for a guy who has more names than catches (two). (Someone else's line, by the way.)

And maybe Myles Austin (10 catches, 250 yards, two TDs) in Kansas City might give Tony Romo a real No. 1 target and allow Dallas to stay with the Giants and Eagles in their division.

More likely, the Cowboys will just be a troublemaker -- more for Philly than New York since the Giants already have won in Dallas.

In any case, when folks do rankings (a silly exercise at all times), give some love to the Eagles. Their explosive offense deserves it.

Soft Schedule Helps Forgotten Eagles originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 23:10:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jeremy Maclin Helps Make Donovan McNabb's Return Easy

Matt Snyder — Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFC East, NFL Injuries, NFL Quarterbacks

Donovan McNabb had been watching and waiting. After sustaining a broken rib in Week 1 against Carolina, McNabb watched Kevin Kolb become the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two starts. In Week 4, the Eagles had a bye and McNabb had to wait one more week before returning to action.

Jeremy Maclin had been watching and waiting. The rookie first-rounder from Missouri didn't even see action with McNabb in Week 1. He caught six passes for 45 yards in the next two weeks, though the Eagles racked up over 700 yards through the air. He had to have been antsy to get into the mix, especially watching second-year wideout DeSean Jackson put up big numbers.

Watching the McNabb and Maclin duo slice through the Buccaneers' secondary with ease Sunday, ultimately earning a 33-14 win, it was apparent the two had watched and waited long enough.

On the Eagles' second play from scrimmage, McNabb hit his rookie receiver in stride for a 51-yard touchdown pass. He would close another two-play drive with just over 1:30 left in the first half on a 40-yard touchdown strike to Maclin. All in all, the 21-year-old Maclin hauled in six passes for 142 yards and the aforementioned pair of scores. It was a career day in just the third game of his career -- one in which the future looks bright enough to foresee many more days like this.

McNabb wasn't hitting just Maclin, though. He picked through the porous Buccaneers defense as if he was yawning at times, connecting on 16-of-21 passes for 264 yards and three touchdowns with nary a turnover. He also gained 30 yards on the ground on just two carries. The best news of all, though, was that McNabb never looked apprehensive about taking a hit to his hurting ribcage, once again proving himself among the toughest competitors in football.

Sure, one could take the angle that the Bucs don't provide much opposition. After all, Tampa is now 0-5 and has allowed 140 points thus far. The Eagles can only play who is put in front of them, and they'll have another easy test next week when they visit the hapless Oakland Raiders, who have been outscored 96-16 the past three weeks.

A healthy and confident McNabb was firing on all cylinders with a large arsenal of weaponry, now including the explosive Maclin, who is obviously fully entrenched in the Philly game plan.

It's just good news all around Sunday in the City of Brotherly Love -- perhaps it continues later when their Phillies play in Colorado?

Jeremy Maclin Helps Make Donovan McNabb's Return Easy originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Sun, 11 Oct 2009 17:20:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Michael Vick Re-Signs With Nike

FanHouse Newswire — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:05:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFL Media Watch

NEW YORK (AP) -- Michael Vick is back with Nike two years after the company severed ties over the quarterback's involvement in a dogfighting ring.

"Mike has a long-standing, great relationship with Nike, and he looks forward to continuing that relationship,'' his agent, Joel Segal, said Wednesday.

Segal would not reveal terms of the agreement. Nike did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The deal was announced during a panel discussion at the Sports Sponsorship Symposium by Michael Principe, the managing director of BEST, the agency that represents Vick.

The endorsement is the latest step forward for Vick as he seeks to rehabilitate his career and his image after serving 18 months in federal prison. On Sunday, Vick played his first regular-season game since December 2006.

"It is quite evident that athletes that run afoul of the law are by no means relegated to obscurity when it comes to pitching products,'' said David Carter, a professor of sports marketing at the University of Southern California.

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Michael Vick

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick speaks about dogfighting at Covenant Baptist Church in southwest Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

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Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick speaks about dogfighting at Covenant Baptist Church in southwest Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick listens during his introduction to speak about dogfighting at Covenant Baptist Church in southwest Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States, left, and Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, clap during the introduction for Vick to speak about dogfighting, at Covenant Baptist Church in southwest Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, left, signs an autograph for Khristen Avery, 18, of Indian Head, Md., second from right, after speaking about dogfighting at Covenant Baptist Church in southwest Washington, on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2009. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick (7) throws a pass in the second quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs defense, including linebacker Jovan Belcher, right, and Demorrio Williams, center. The Eagles defeated the Chiefs, 34-14, Sunday, September 27, 2009, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (David Eulitt/Kansas City Star/MCT)

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles throws a pass during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Quarterback Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles rolls out of the pocket during a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick

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PHILADELPHIA - SEPTEMBER 27: Michael Vick #7 of the Philadelphia Eagles talks to team mates in the huddle against the Kansas City Chiefs on September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Michael Vick

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Vick signed with the Philadelphia Eagles on Aug. 13. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell gave him his full reinstatement Sept. 3, saying he could return to the field in Week 3.

Vick participated in 11 plays, accounting for 30 total yards, in the Eagles' 34-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, as Philadelphia tries to use him in a variety of ways as a backup.

Nike, which signed Vick as a rookie in 2001, terminated his contract in August 2007 after the Atlanta Falcons star filed a plea agreement admitting his involvement in the dogfighting ring. At the time, Nike called cruelty to animals "inhumane, abhorrent and unacceptable'' and halted release of his fifth signature shoe, the Air Zoom Vick V.

Back when Vick first signed with the Eagles, Carter had said he was "too toxic for most companies to even consider taking a chance on him.'' What's changed? As Carter noted Wednesday, there has been little backlash to the quarterback's return to the NFL.

Protests have been limited, and the Eagles' sponsors have stood by them. That experience could make companies less wary about adding Vick as an endorser, though the biggest determinant might be no different from any other athlete: how well he performs on the field.

Retailer Dick's Sporting Goods said earlier this month that it wasn't carrying Vick's Eagles jersey in any of its 300 stores as a business decision.

Vick signed a $1.6 million deal with the Eagles, with a team option for the second year at $5.2 million. He was once a corporate star - holding multimillion dollar deals to market everything from sneakers to sports drinks. But those millions are long gone.

In July, Vick filed for bankruptcy protection while serving his sentence, saying he owed between $10 million and $50 million to creditors.

To Carter, Nike likely made a calculated business decision that the benefit of sales tied to Vick outweighed any potential public outrage.

Vick must still have some selling power if the company is getting behind him, he said. "Nobody understands their consumer and has their finger on the pulse of their consumer like Nike does.''

By Rachel Cohen, AP Sports Writer

AP Retail Writer Sarah Skidmore in Portland, Ore., contributed to this report.

Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.

Michael Vick Re-Signs With Nike originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Eagles Release Jeff Garcia, Bring Back Jeremiah Trotter

Matt Snyder — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:40:00 EST

Filed under: Eagles, NFC East

Coming off an easy victory in Kansas City, the Eagles have made a pair of roster moves involving big names. Jeff Garcia, who was brought in as quarterback depth after Donovan McNabb fell injured, has now been released. In a corresponding move, the Eagles have brought back linebacker Jeremiah Trotter for a third stint in Philadelphia.

The move to release Garcia isn't all that shocking. The Eagles lost McNabb after Week 1. At the time, Michael Vick was still suspended and Kevin Kolb had never started an NFL game. Now, Vick is back and Kolb became the first player in NFL history to throw for over 300 yards in each of his first two career starts. Plus, with a bye this week, it's likely McNabb will be ready to start in Week 5. There was simply no need to carry four quarterbacks.

It will be interesting to see where Garcia lands -- and you know it will be somewhere. He would be an upgrade as a backup for many teams, and several could use him as a starter almost immediately -- Cleveland, Oakland, Tampa Bay ... maybe even Miami, St. Louis or Carolina. That's all conjecture at this point, though.

With Trotter, the Eagles have a need for linebacker depth after having lost Stewart Bradley to a knee injury. With the quarterback situation finally settling itself, they had more of a need on the defensive side of the ball. Trotter was a solid player in two different stints for the Eagles. He hasn't played since 2007, but he's only 32. He has battled injury woes throughout the later part of his career, but when he's healthy, he's productive -- as evidenced by his four Pro Bowl trips for the Eagles.

Eagles Release Jeff Garcia, Bring Back Jeremiah Trotter originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 16:40:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hangartner's Snaps Left Edwards Running for His Life

JJ Cooper — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST

Filed under: Bills, Browns, Chiefs, Eagles, NFL Analysis

This year I'm logging every sack and taking notes along the way. Here's some plays that jumped out while watching the Week 3 games.

o. Center Geoff Hangartner is one of the few veterans on a young Bills line, but he was the one who looked out of place late in the Saints game. When the Bills got the ball with under three minutes to play needing two scores to win, Hangartner helped ensure it didn't happen.

On second down, Hangartner gave Trent Edwards a bad shotgun snap -- it almost scooted on the ground -- then compounded his error by being driven back by Sedrick Ellis. Thanks in part to the snap, Ellis was able to grab Edwards for a sack.

On third down, Hangartner's snap hit the ground halfway to Edwards. Thanks, in part, to having to bring his head down to find the ball and scoop it up, Edwards didn't get the ball off before Charles Grant beat right tackle Jonathan Scott for a sack.

And then on fourth down, Hangartner again snapped it to Edwards' feet, although Edwards was able to get rid of this one for a short gain that turned the ball over on downs.

o. When quarterback Jim Everett was a Ram, his reputation for softness really seemed to solidify when he ducked down for a sack one time when no one was around to hit him. It wasn't that bad, but Browns quarterback Derek Anderson came close to pulling an Everett against the Ravens. After driving the Browns down to inside the red zone, Anderson dropped back to pass and was given plenty of time. But with no one around him yet (Trevor Pryce had just been pushed past him), Anderson pump faked, then ducked and fell to his knees. He tried to get up, but by that point Pryce was able to come back from Anderson's back side for one of the easiest sacks of his long career.

o. The more sacks I watch, the more I think that max protection is usually a bad idea. The best example of this came in the Chiefs-Eagles game. Facing a third and 25 early in the game, the Chiefs decided to keep a pair of tight ends in to block. Philadelphia sent only four rushers, so Kansas City had what would seem to be an advantage--seven blockers to block four.

But because the blockers were all coming from the outside what actually happened was the Eagles managed to get two pass rushers running past tight end Sean Ryan on one side while Juqua Parker beat tight end Brad Cottam on the other side. While this was happening both Chiefs offensive tackles were left with no one to block. The play turned almost comical. As three Eagles pass rushers come flying past the tight ends for pressure, four of the Chiefs five offensive linemen are blocking no one. By going max protect, the Chiefs did force the Eagles defensive ends to take a wider path to the quarterback, but in return they got to go against significantly worse pass blockers, which is a trade the Eagles will take.

Parker got the sack although an unblocked Trent Cole played a big part in it by forcing Matt Cassell to scramble.

Hangartner's Snaps Left Edwards Running for His Life originally appeared on NFL FanHouse on Tue, 29 Sep 2009 08:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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