NFL 2012 Playoff Preview: The Frequently Asked Questions

Will Aaron Rodgers and the Packers defend the championship belt?

The NFL playoffs are upon us and I’m still trying to get used to them starting without having to figure out when the Eagles will decide to kick me in the balls and go all R. Kelly on my dreams of seeing my favorite team win a Super Bowl. Though I must admit it is a relief to not worry about getting peed on.

But even though the Eagles aren’t in it (quick side note on the Eagles: they stunk this year and shouldn’t be in the playoffs, but that doesn’t mean they should have fired Andy Reid. You can’t name five better coaches than Reid. So unless Bill Belichick, Mike Tomlin, Mike McCarthy or Sean Payton is walking through that door [BREAKING: Sources say they are NOT walking through that door] there’s no reason to let him go. Teams are voluntarily keeping guys like Norv Turner and kicking the tires on unmitigated disasters like Josh McDaniels. So to all the moronic Eagles fans who chanted “Fire Andy” at the Patriots game and to the ones who have and will light up the talk radio stations to make up things about the last 13 seasons, shut the hell up. I stillgot your back Andy) and even though there are some legitimately bad teams in the playoffs (Bengals, Texans, Broncos and the total fraud Falcons), watching meaningful football is so much better than having to endure Bill Carmody’s continued assault on the beautiful game of basketball as Northwestern’s coach.

There’s a lot to get to and there’s no better way to do it than with the Frequently Asked Questions.

NFL Playoffs FAQ

The second best time of year is upon us, with Christmas easily being the best (thanks Mom and Dad!) and March Madness a solid third (would be first if so many of the games didn’t just become a three-point shooting contest). Or, as Eagles fans call it, the most agonizing, frustrating time of the year.

The NFL playoffs have finally arrived, which means we get to look back and forward at a pretty crazy season. And since the owners and players are arguing about how to split billions of dollars, we’re going to have to enjoy this one extra special. The only way to do that is with the Frequently Asked Questions.

How did those preseason picks turn out?

To quote Charles Barkley, tuurrrible.

I had three NFC East teams in the playoffs, and none of them named the Eagles (though to be fair, my Eagles pick had serious merit. Redskins? Not so much). I had the Cowboys and the Redskins both being good. Yikes.

I had the Bears 5-11, though to be fair, they kind of play like a 5-11 teams. That should be half points. If the Packers weren’t so decimated by injuries, they definitely could have gone 13-3.

I underrated the Falcons; I overrated the NFC West, big deal. I had the AFC North right and the AFC South almost right. I, like everyone else, believed in the frauds that are the San Diego Chargers. And I thought the Patriots were going to suck.

(Wait, you caught that last part? How could I think the Patriots were going to suck? Well, um, let’s just move on and pretend it didn’t happen. Alright, so I got it mostly wrong but their defense is bad.)

An Open Letter Apology to Andy Reid

Dear Andy Reid,

Consider this my retirement letter from ever criticizing you in the future. I submit to your vast football knowledge. I can finally say, with all certainty, that you actually know more about the game than I do in my finite experience with Madden and flag football.

If you recall (since, ya know, you’re an avid reader of The People Say Booyah), I wrote something not too long ago saying that you had no idea what you were doing anymore. I said your time was running out, that you had lost your touch.

Be happy Andy. We now got your back.

So open your eyes real wide to make sure you read this. You may even want to imagine my extremely annoying and sometimes high-pitched squeaky voice saying this, just for an added effect.

I was wrong.

In fact, I was so wrong I considered pretending to be Billy King for even extra effect.

A Lost Touch

With further apologies to Jason Whitlock, I will be cackling and rolling that blunt now.

After lamenting the fact that I couldn’t get on my high horse for Sunday’s Redskins/Eagles tilt, I’ve now jumped on Secretariat and told him to start bucking.

The good no longer outweighs the bad with Andy Reid.

Reid has always made mistakes in games: horrible time-outs, an inability to grasp the concept of going for two, and the whole playcalling thing are well-documented throughout the history of the internet.

But what happened Sunday, which resembled a Kanye West meltdown (you could see it coming minutes before it happened, as it happened you could believe it was happening, when it was over, you were searching for cheap excuses for why it wasn’t that bad, even though, it was bad), is cause for serious concern.

If there’s one thing you can give Andy Reid for Sunday’s game, it’s that he finds new and inventive ways to butcher the game clock. He never blows time the same way twice. Sometimes, its blowing all your timeouts in the first quarter, other times its calling plays that go to the middle of the field with only seconds left and no timeouts, so the clock painfully runs out and the team doesn’t score.

Then there was Sunday. Reid calls timeout before a fourth and one near the goal line with only seconds left in the first half to call a play, forgetting only one thing: calling the play. The team takes a delay of game penalty and has to kick a field goal. Though, with the way the Eagles have historically converted fourth and inches, it was probably better.

But this is what he always bungles. The Eagles are past-due milk bad at the end of halves. Always have been.

There has always been a tradeoff for having Andy Reid as coach/GM/czar/resident fat man (the fat joke is required for every blog post that mentions Andy Reid. It’s in the rules of the internet. I’m not trying to be unnecessarily mean. I’m not. Really. C’mon, believe me).

You had to take the bad clock management, unbalanced play calling and soft offensive line to get the shrewd personnel moves, above average drafting and regular playoff appearances (even if they have all ended in heartbreak).

Except now, as Sunday proved, you are getting none of it right now.

Instead, you have a confused Reid who is struggling in and out of the game.

Over the last few offseasons Reid and the Eagles brass has:
1. Tried to replace offensive line stalwarts Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan with Jason Peters, the Andrews brothers and Winston Justice. One was crazy (Shawn Andrews), one was oblivious to how much he sucked (Stacy Andrews), one is pretty average (Justice) and one is the worst left tackle in football (Peters). Not to mention, three have had bloated contracts (everyone but Justice) and Peters is currently in the midst of a 6 year, $60 million contract.
2. Tried to replace Brian Dawkins with Sean Jones, Macho Harris and Quintin Demps, and tried to do it with a straight face.
3. The major free agent signings since 2008: Asante Samuel, Chris Clemons, Dan Klecko, Rocky Boiman, Stacy Andrews, Sean Jones, Leonard Weaver, Marlin Jackson and Daryl Tapp. The major trades were: Lorenzo Booker, Ellis Hobbs, Will Witherspoon, Ernie Sims, and the giveaway of Sheldon Brown and Chris Gocong for Mike Holmgren’s fat trimmings. Only two have worked out (Samuel and Weaver, very well I might add), with everything else reminiscent of a Friday night with Jason.
4. Then, there’s the biggie: the Kolb/Vick/McNabb fiasco.

All of these things had a major impact in Sunday's meltdown: the offensive line resembles a bad M. Night Shyamalan movie. The defense doesn't have any real players outside of Trent Cole and Asante Samuel (though Nate Allen is promising). And then theres the quarterback situation

Reid was ready to stake his reputation and job on what Corn on the Kolb was selling. He sold it everyone all summer. He traded his quarterback away to a division rival. And it all came crashing down.

It’s not that Corn on the Kolb isn’t good. I still don’t think we know enough about him to really judge (though after watching his checkdown-fest on Sunday, the name Matt Leinart keeps popping in my head). It’s the way Reid was so quick to throw him aside after one half of play. Of course he was going to come into the game with no confidence and just check it down. Of course he was going to make the offense look like Mo'nique after a night at Roscoe's.

With that change Reid essentially said this to Kolb: “Look, I really messed up with that Donovan trade. I forgot one crucial thing about watching someone in practice all the time. Everyone is going to look good in practice. Taylor Swift probably sounds remotely talented in practice.”

There are two things that Reid really misjudged in this situation (yes, I am making ample use of the list feature. Yes, it is lazy. Yes, I don’t care): First, he was way too quick on the Kolb trigger. If you really believed in the guy (a guy you are paying over $12 million for this season because you did), you wouldn’t have yanked him so quickly because you usually give guys you believe in more than a half. How do you think Tiger and Elin made it as long as they did?

Second, he bought into all the Mike Vick hype. Look, I think Mike Vick has played really well. And I also really like him. But haven’t we seen this before? Haven’t we watched him prove to us that he can pass from the pocket? Hasn’t he had two good passing games in a row before? And at the end of the day, wasn’t he the exact same guy? Before we anoint Vick as the next Steve Young, let’s see him do it on a semi-consistent basis.

All this shows is that Reid is completely unsure of his decisions. He’s wavering. Does 2005 Andy Reid waver like this? I don’t think so. He picks his guy and he rides him (though let’s hope he doesn’t actually ride the guy).

And that’s what this Andy Reid has lost. For all of his stubbornness about the offensive playcalling and flat-out hatred of the clock, you could count on him to go into his office and make the right personnel decisions.

But now, without that stubbornness, without that conviction, Andy Reid resembles the typical college coach who doesn't know what he's doing. Yanking quarterbacks back and forth, not really assembling the talent needed to win at a high level, making serious mistakes in the game.

Somewhere, McNabb, B. Dawk, and Brian Westbrook are lighting up.

NFL Picks

It's Aaron Rodgers' world and we're just living in it.

This is really going to be a rare occurrence for the three regular readers of The People Say Booyah: a very short column.

I had a really elaborate plan to do the Frequently Asked Questions style column that I did for the NBA free agency review and then…I didn’t have any time. I’m too busy to throw 5,000+ words together in a coherent fashion.

This forces me to just do straight picks for the divisions and Super Bowls, while I will throw in a couple blurbs for the teams that deserve it (playoff teams in italics).

NFC East:
1. Dallas Cowboys (11-5): Please stop overreacting to preseason. It pains me to say but Tony Romo is really, really good. They have a defense with playmakers. The only concern should be this face.
2. New York Giants (10-6): If the defense is half-decent, the growth and maturation of Eli Manning over the last few years should propel them back to the playoffs.
3. Washington Redskins (9-7): I don’t care what their offensive line or receivers look like: Donovan McNabb wins and he wins no matter what is around him. He’s done it his whole career. With a solid defense, they’ll get the second wildcard.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (6-10): Don’t believe what Andy Reid or brainwashed Philadelphia radio hosts tell you: this team is rebuilding, and another thing: this team stinks. There are questions at quarterback, a horrendous offensive line, and a defense that struggled last year. Where are the positives? Look forward to the Aaron Rodgers air show in week one.

NFC North:
1. Green Bay Packers (13-3): Speaking of Mr. Rodgers aka Kevin Durant of the NFL aka my personal man crush, expect him to win the MVP. He may set records. I paid an inordinate amount of money for him in my auction draft. I had them going to the Super Bowl last year, so you can probably imagine how far I think they’ll go this year.
2. Minnesota Vikings (8-8): Brett Favre will return to his interception prone self without Sidney Rice.
3. Chicago Bears (5-11): Jay Cutler+ Mike Martz + a bad offense line= 5-11
4. Detroit Lions (3-13): Give them two years and they’ll be very dangerous.

NFC South:
1. New Orleans Saints (11-5): With Drew Brees, they will always be in contention. Especially in this crappy division
2. Carolina Panthers (7-9)
3. Atlanta Falcons (7-9): Don’t buy the hype: the defense is suspect and Michael “the burner” Turner is burned out.
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-14)

NFC West
1. San Francisco 49ers (5-11)
2. Seattle Seahawks (5-11)
3. Arizona Cardinals (5-11)
4. Rams (4-12)
Is this above scenario possible? Probably not but when you’re dealing with the worst division in the history of sports, ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! Whenever you are being Sold Derek Anderson and Alex Smith as the guys leading sleeper teams, something has gone horribly wrong. I pray this will be the last time I ever write about these four teams this year.

AFC East
1. New York Jets (11-5) I was really high on the Jets last season. Watching Rex Ryan on Hard Knocks only made it better. Having Revis Island in the fold makes it even better.
2. Miami Dolphins (10-6): Chad Henne is good and everyone will realize this.
3. New England Patriots (8-8): I know Bill Belichick is a genius but his defense has no talent and he’s not spying on anyone anymore, so how are they going to stop people?
4. Buffalo Bills (1-15)

AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (11-5): If they can play .500 ball without Big Ben, he’s going to come back and light the world on fire.
2. Baltimore Ravens (10-6): I don’t entirely trust Joe Flacco or Anquan Boldin’s health, but Ray Rice is a bad man. Oh, and they still have Ray Lewis
3. Cincinnati Bengals (7-9): Dear everyone: Carson Palmer hasn’t been good since 2007.
4. Cleveland Browns (3-13)

AFC South
1. Indianapolis Colts (12-4): The last time they won less than 12 games, America just gained independence from England.
2. Houston Texans (8-8): I like Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson and nothing else.
3. Tennessee Titans (8-8): They can’t run Chris Johnson on every play.
4. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-13)

AFC West
1. San Diego Chargers (9-7): AJ Smith is an idiot.
2. Oakland Raiders (5-11)
3. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12)
4. Denver Broncos (2-14): Josh McDaniels is a giant idiot.

Super Bowl Pick
Packers over Jets

The 4 Things the Eagles Need to Do to Win the Super Bowl

It has been more than a month since the Eagles pulled back to back losses, so I think I am fully recovered and ready to move on and think about next season. I think.

(Seriously though, how do you play one game, get completely manhandled, have your offensive and defensive gameplans turned inside out by a confused schmuck, shredded by Tony Romo, have your “Pro Bowl” left tackle get abused, then in the next game DO THE EXACT SAME THING. In what universe does this make sense? Deep breaths, deep breaths. Excuse me while I launch my body out of my 3rd floor dorm window.)

Now I think I’m over it. But even with all that happened to end the season, the Eagles still managed to roll off a 7 game winning streak to control their own destiny for the 2 seed in the NFC, find a potential superstar in Desean Jackson, develop talented secondary weapons in Jeremy Maclin, Brent Celek, Lesean McCoy who are all under 25 by the way, and learned that Trent Cole is a top 10 defensive player in the league, period.

But we also learned that the other three guys on the defensive line weren’t worth a cup of frothy urine, the linebackers were slower than Tony Soprano walking to get his newspaper and made fewer plays than Matt Forte (this is personal, he was on my fantasy team, and after touting him throughout the offseason as prime for a break-out and backing it up with the 4th pick in my draft, he proceeded to suck at levels that only porn stars have reached), the offensive line was an unmitigated disaster, and Sav Rocca made more crappy punts in more important situations than anyone in recent memory. It also served to reinforce Andy Reid’s utter disregard for calling timeouts at the right times, going for two-point conversions at the right times, challenging at the right time, basically doing anything at the right time, except for eating (that potshot is revenge for that horrendous gameplan at Dallas, therefore I feel I’m justified).

Clearly though, the Eagles are still very good, still on the cusp of being one of those elite teams, ready to win the Super Bowl, just in need of a few tweaks to the roster. But the very complicated labor situation and uncapped year hoopla could conceivably put a monkey wrench in those plans. Even though the Eagles can their New York Yankee on and spend as much money as they want on free agents, based on their finishing outside the top 8 (it’s very strange, explained better by Michael Lombardi at the National Football Post), many of the top free agents who may have been available may not be, based on weird years of experience rules that prevent unrestricted free agency and more franchise and transition tags (explained better here by John Clayton at ESPN), limiting the moves that the Eagles could make.

But before, I get into the 4 things that the Eagles need to get into the whole quarterback controversy, that won’t count as a solution because it’s too important.

The Eagles have three guys (Donovan McNabb, Kevin Kolb, Michael Vick), two are capable (D.Mac, Kolb), one is proven (McNabb). I know I advocated that the Eagles jettison the best quarterback they have ever had, right here, but I am feeling a little bit of buyers remorse on that blog. I wrote it in anger, I have now had the proper time to reflect. Donovan deserves one more chance at finishing what he started and win the good people of Philadelphia what they want most (sorry Phillies): a Super Bowl.

We in Philly are always so quick to blame Donovan for all that that goes wrong, and to a modest extent, he does have some blame to take. But no one ever mentions all the other failings from everyone else around him when the Eagles come up short.

When Peyton Manning comes up short (and that happens more often than you think) its “problems in protection” and Bill Polian rushes to the aid of Manning after he clearly blew the game.

When Dan Marino was playing, it was because he never had enough talent around him.

When McNabb loses a big game, he choked, again.

And yes, McNabb does come up small in some of the biggest of games, but it doesn’t relieve the offensive line from any responsibility (And I don’t see anyone consistently tossing aside very grown men with ease like McNabb does and throwing downfield, especially Kevin Kolb), the receivers who are always blanketed in big games (including in the Dallas games), and a defense that has never made a critical stop ever (In the Super Bowl against the Patriots when Deion Branch made every huge third down catch, the Cardinals last year, the Cowboys this year are the biggies).

I’m not saying that he is as good as either of those guys (he’s not, though is playoff record is better than both. Look it up and you’ll be surprised) you sign McNabb to another hefty extension, allow him to finish his career as an Eagle and try to find some kind of value for Kevin Kolb and Mike Vick this year. I am saying that you need to give Donovan a chance to finish what he started and built here in Philadelphia. If he wins it all this year, he stays: if he doesn’t, usher in the Kolb era. It is as simple as that.

I know the NFL has become so much more of a precision game. Quarterbacks, above all else have to be accurate. This was the biggest lesson from the Super Bowl. Is McNabb that caliber quarterback? Sometimes. When he hits those hot streaks, like in those two Giants games this year, he can be on the money with every throw. Then there can be the games where he's bounce passing and overthrowing everything. If he were to get hot at the right time, I unequivocally believe that he could lead us to a Super Bowl title.

The frustration level with McNabb in Philly has risen to such a high point that it would be hard to keep him beyond next year if the Eagles fall short in the playoffs again. I agree with that. But at least give him one more chance at one last hurrah, an opportunity to complete this mission. With his success and what he’s done for a franchise that hasn’t always done its best for him, he has earned it.

And the best way for the Eagles to do that, is to follow these suggestions (fantastic segue if I say so myself).

Solution #1: End the Andrews Experiment

No one person has decimated an offensive line, quite like the unreliable Shawn Andrews. I understand that he’s had injury problems, both physical and mental, but after a while, the guy has to get on the field and play, or you get cut. That’s how the NFL works. And the plan to bring in his brother, who stinks by the way, didn’t exactly work like a charm. I say cut them both, because we put so much into them being the foundation of our offensive line that it left us with a bunch of backups in important situations: not cool.

What the Eagles need to do is actually build the offensive line around something that they can depend on. The right side is a mess. Winston Justice is eh though he was recently extended so he’s not going anywhere, Max Jean Gilles and Nick Cole also don’t strike fear into opposing defensive lines. And it’s the pressure that comes from that side that really gets there (Anthony Spencer anyone?). Once you get rid of the brothers, than a real reclamation project can being along the offensive line. Herremans and Jackson are solid in the middle at left guard and center. The aforementioned Peters is one of the most overrated in the NFL, can’t pass block for anything though he is a good run blocker, sometimes, when healthy, but he clearly not leaving Philly after the price tag they paid for him. If the Eagles can manage to build some stability along the right side of the line, especially when it comes to pass protection, than they can build off the running success that they had last year, and keep McNabb from running for his life. The most important thing on the offensive line is continuity and reliability. The Andrews bring neither. Find some real guys who you can depend on and ride with them (right guard, right tackle, or preferably, both).

Solution #2: Switch to the 3-4 Defense

The front-seven frankly didn’t make enough plays and the defense seems really predictable on when they were going to blitz, who’s was coming and who was dropping back. There was never any kind of consistent pressure on the quarterback, or consistency in stopping the run, meaning that defense just wasn’t very good. I think the 3-4 helps a little, and I know because I run it in Madden and the old saying goes: “You don’t run on C.West”

And this is not some backhanded way to get Sean McDermott fired, even though he had plenty of struggles last year, things happened last year that were beyond his control (having to ever play Jeremiah Trotter, the underperformance of the defensive line, the midseason decimation of the cornerbacks, and the widespread infection of Mark Simonaeuitis or as it is translated, can’t tackle worth a damn). But I would like to see us bring in a lead assistant to help McDermott make the transition to the 3-4, preferably someone from Pittsburgh, Baltimore, or the Jets (though they can’t be as fat as Rex Ryan, we have met our fat coach quota already).

I just feel like the 4-3 is a little antiquated, most of the good quarterbacks really know how to deal with it (plus the best quarterbacks struggle against the 3-4 the most: Look at Brees against the Cowboys or Manning against the Ravens and Steelers, it gives them fits at times). The 3-4 gives more opportunities to make plays, more freedom for guys to do athletic things and make explosive plays in the offensive backfield. We need some more of that, plus we need to hide our weaknesses up front.

As defensive tackles, Broderick Bunkley and Mike Patterson have too much pressure on them to do what they don’t do well, which is really anything. They don’t really push the pocket on the pass rush and are constantly on skates going backwards in run situations. But you make them 3-4 defensive ends, it lessens their importance to the defense because now all they have to do is hold their ground relatively effective, and don’t get completely manhandled. It takes the pressure off those guys to be something they’re not (good to be exact) and puts it on the most important position in the 3-4, the nose tackle. You can hope that one of the better nose tackles in the league don’t get franchised (Casey Hampton or Vince Wilfork) or you can address it via the draft (below).

With those two guys as defensive ends, you can move Trent Cole to the 3-4 outside linebacker spot, and let him use his athleticism and playmaking ability in more versatile ways. I think he would be OK in coverage, though his main goal still would be to rush the passer.

Stewart Bradley is returning next year to provide stability in the middle at linebacker, and you could keep Will Witherspoon, who I liked last year, and play him inside with Bradley in the new defense, or try to find something early in the draft (linebackers seem to come in and make immediate impacts in the NFL nowadays. A guy like Sean Witherspoon sounds good to me. He killed it in the Senior Bowl). Filling that other outside linebacker spot, you could…

Solution #3: Sign Julius Peppers

When the Eagles really want someone in free agency, they get him, save Randy Moss (Jevon Kearse, Asante Samuel, Terrible, er Terrell Owens). Julius Peppers should be no different. It doesn’t seem like the Panthers will keep him. It almost makes too much sense.
First, he wants to play in a 3-4 defense and clearly (look above) the Eagles now do that.

Second, the only way you are stopping good offenses in today’s NFL, given the rules that say you can’t breathe on receivers and all that other garbage, is by hitting the other teams quarterback, and making it extremely uncomfortable for him to throw in the pocket. You can either blitz, or you can have great pass rushers. Looking at how the Giants won their Super Bowl (excuse me while I bang my head against the wall because Eli Manning has a Super Bowl Ring…OK, I’m done), you have to do it with an excellent pass rush up front and still having enough to cover people on the backend. Peppers gives you that, easy. Imagine Trent Cole and Julius Peppers on opposite ends (Eli is already starting to do his arm failing thing after a sack).

Third, YOU HAVE THE MONEY. THERE IS NO SALARY CAP. You can spend as much as you want. You already have a rabid fan base, who will clearly pay obscene amounts of money to watch Donovan bounce pass it to receivers and crappy halftime bands singing Lady Gaga covers (This really happens. Not exactly the crowd that seems to into Lady Gaga, but that’s just a guess. In an amazing surprise, they were booed, soundly.) Fork up the cash, be the highest bidder, and get a quality player to go along side Trent Cole in the front seven. There is no reason why this should not happen.

Solution #4: Repeat last year’s draft, only do it for the defense

I think that we have sufficiently fixed many of the offensive problems that come with the Eagles (although a little more balance wouldn’t hurt, we can’t be picky). But really, in the first two rounds of this draft, the Eagles have to come away with two impact players who can play immediately in the NFL. My strongest request is that their names not be Taylor Mays (a Roy Willams carbon-copy, except he’s a crappier tackler and just as awful in coverage) and Terrence Cody (because this is just stretching the definition of “athlete").

Excluding the very real possibility of St. Louis trading the first pick for Michael Vick so we can draft Suh (this is still in play when you have management as incompetent as the Rams), the Eagles look like they will be picking at the backend of the first round, though I still think there is some talent there.

The biggest needs are defensive tackle, linebacker, safety, in that order and if they were able to come away with two impact players at defensive tackle and linebacker/safety, it would be just as successful as last year.

I would personally like to see Dan Williams from Tennessee get picked at 24. He has the size (327 pounds) without losing too much quickness to be in the center of our newly formed 3-4. In the second round, I’d like to see a rangy coverage type safety to compliment Quintin Mikell in the secondary, allowing Mikell to maintain his at the line, physical style, or if a guy like Sean Witherspoon falls to the second round, snatch him up in a heartbeat.

I’m no draft expert, but something has to be done to address those areas, whether it’s those guys or someone better.


I think it’s pretty clear that the Eagles have to be in win-this-year mode. The Kolb era is looming. The McNabb era is fading. And I went a whole Eagles blogpost without mentioning Brian Westbrook (My thoughts: it doesn’t really matter what they do with him anyway. Lesean McCoy is better. He doesn’t have the same explosiveness he did and really would be a secondary option to McCoy and Weaver. I’d like to see them keep him because if this is the year, and I always think it is, he deserves to win a Super Bowl with Philly, a team he’s carried offensively for so long. The Eagles should do right by him and keep him one more year.) But I think the pressure has to start to get on the Eagles. The hapless organization that is the New Orleans Saints are the current Super Bowl champions. We were the winningest NFC team in the last decade and didn’t have a Super Bowl to show for it. I’ll gladly take it this year.

It's Time for Change in Philadelphia

I really don’t know how much more of this I can take. Even my optimism will eventually run out.

After years and years of constantly defending the Reid-McNabb era as always being right there, just a tweak or two away from a Super Bowl title, a break or two from finally breaking their string of coming up short in the big game, I can no longer do it. I’m officially done.

At some point it can’t be about what the Eagles don’t have and the breaks they haven’t gotten and the calls that the refs have blown. At some point it has to reflect on the two guys at the foundation.

I love Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb (most of the time). But I really can’t take any more of these playoff defeats. I need something new.

I should have known this day was coming earlier in the week when I had this feeling of impending doom surrounding this game, because even though I wanted to convince myself that the Eagles were going to come out with a different gameplan, that Jason Peters and Winston Justice would earn the money they don’t deserve and the secondary might considering jamming receivers instead of giving 8 yard cushions on 3rd and 3, I couldn’t do it.

So I was already preparing my generally logical assessment of the Eagles after their annual playoff loss around Tuesday: “I know that we are really one-dimensional with a defense that comes up small in the big games with a pretty inconsistent quarterback who likes throwing the ball at receivers feet and a coach who refuses to call timeouts, go for two, and go for fourth downs at the right time, but we are just 2 players away!” I think I’m going to stop lying to myself for once and say it loud, kind of like the Chappelle Show Black Bush skit.

“Can I be real son,” “Be real son,” “The Eagles cannot win a Super Bowl with Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb,” “Say it loud” “THE EAGLES CAN’T WIN A SUPER BOWL WITH REID AND MCNABB!”

I never wanted to be that typical Philly guy who called for the head of McNabb and Reid after every big playoff loss. I genuinely believed in this “process” and “system” and thought that we had what it took to get it done when it mattered most because all it takes is one time to get it done. And that they would eventually get it done because that’s what quality people like Reid and McNabb eventually do.

As successful as they have been in the regular season, all the wins they have accumulated, all that really means nothing. Because it is finally apparent to me that these two just don’t have the championship formula.

Something about the way they play (never running the ball, only being able to score off the big play, inability to stop the run or get pressure with the front four) seems perfectly suited to win in the regular season and just good enough to crush dreams in the postseason (As an unrelated note, there is nothing more annoying that seeing this from Donovan and watching him suck right after. Kinda like when he smiles at the defensive line right before he holds on to the ball too long before getting sacked).

If we were really content with being a 10 win team every year that loses to teams that it probably shouldn’t in the playoffs (Tampa, Carolina, Arizona are the ones that stick out to me. The Tampa game was the worst because that’s the Super Bowl they would have unequivocally won and that’s the game that closed down Veterans Stadium), then this foundation can continue until the end of McNabb’s career. But after a while, the disappointment just gets to be too much. I can only take being the early 90s Buffalo Bills redux for so long.

The consistent choking in the biggest of games has made it abundantly clear and this latest debacle against the Cowboys has only solidified the point. They made Jeremy Maclin, DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek look like a return to the Freddie Mitchell, James Thrash, Todd Pinkston days, while the run defense had me longing for the Darwin Walker, Dhani Jones, Michael Lewis core. It was a beatdown in its truest definition.

It came after a less-severe yet equally disturbing loss last week against the Eagles, which makes this week’s no-show completely unacceptable.

This Cowboys game was the quintessential Eagles stinker. A slow start caused by predictability on offense. They never stay on the field for more than two minutes and their defense gets gassed in the first quarter because they can’t stop the run and it’s pretty much over from there. Completely unable to get anything going on offense, this snowballs into the monstrous beatdown that occurred on Saturday night.

I know it’s unfair, not right, whatever. But in reality, you can only take so much of one thing before you snap. I snapped last night.

I don’t know what the answer is but Reid and McNabb aren’t working the way they should. I’m not campaigning for Kolb or anything like that (because I honestly don’t know because they guy has been wildly inconsistent in his appearances) but I know what I don’t want. I want no more of this losing in the playoffs. I want someone who can do something in the biggest of games.

They are great guys who have done a lot of great things and have taken this Eagles franchise to heights that they have never achieved. You think that if you keep plugging along and plugging along that you would eventually get to the promised land. They do so many things right, but do so many things wrong at the most critical times, and that’s what’s burned into your memory.

They cannot win a Super Bowl. And that’s really all that matters. Because whether you’re the hapless Detroit Lions or the Philadelphia Eagles, if you don’t win the Super Bowl, nothing else really matters. And Reid and McNabb, for all their talents, just don’t have what it takes. And no amount of optimism will change that.

Eagles Make Right Decision on Two Fronts

It has been a long, turbulent road for Michael Vick’s NFL career. We last saw him in an NFL uniform New Year’s Eve 2006 in Philadelphia, playing (and losing) to the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field. And while he didn’t have his best game ever that winter evening (8-14, 81 yards, 1 TD, 3 carries, 17 yards in the 24-17 loss) apparently, Andy Reid and the Eagles saw something that they liked.

With the announcement midway through the second quarter during Thursday's preseason opener that the Philadelphia Eagles had signed Michael Vick to a one year deal with an option for a second season, a long, ferocious circle had finally been completed. Michael Vick would finally be back to doing what he should be doing.

But before we can delve into the football implications, the mostly negative reaction by Philadelphia fans must be addressed. Flipping through the local news stations Thursday night and watching them get the average fan reaction as they walked out of Lincoln Financial Field, I can't say I was too surprised by the average fan reaction. One woman was near tears as she described her love for dogs and her utter disappointment in her Philadelphia Eagles that she might give up season tickets (unlikely considering it’s easier to get yellow cake uranium than Eagles season tickets). Another man was so angry about the signing, he would have been better suited yelling at his local congressman about health care reform (and let’s not forget the classy headline the Daily News had Friday).

That leaves us in the very rare situation where someone’s fame has completely worked against him. His public stature has put a face, his, on something faceless, something that was never at the forefront of many minds outside of those fervently involved with animal rights. Therefore, he has little chance of regaining a lot of peoples trust because they can’t forgive him, no matter what he does. He has created an undeniable link between Mike Vick and dog drowning and those are the moments that will stand out in a lot of fans minds. That is what has made it so difficult for Vick as opposed to other crimes. Murder doesn’t shock us this much. Drunk driving obviously doesn’t shock us as much considering we all do it at least once (I’m looking at you Bronson Arroyo). Individuals receiving insider tips to beat the stock market, bending the rules at the expense of the average American, we as a people barely blink an eye (cough Martha Stewart). So when Martha gets her daytime talk show back on and it’s like she was never in jail. I guess it’s the benefits of following Enron.

So Vick gets the distinguished honor of facing all of the negative fervor because he is the only guy you and I know who’s been involved in dogfighting. And that is not fair. Vick should not have his second chance rejected because of the novelty that is a dogfighting offender. No person deserves to have their entire life marginalized through a single period of time where they were not making their best decisions. He hasn’t been a guy who has time and again gotten into trouble with a girlfriend or hung out with “Pacman” Jones at the strip club. He’s not even like Christopher Columbus, who is celebrated with his own day by the way for "discovering" a land that already existed with inhabitants, despite the fact he forced labor and intentionally gave smallpox to those inhabitants of the New World. I just think we should be fair here.

That’s not saying that Vick should just be given free reign or anything remotely like that. Accountability needs to be a major aspect of this. He’s got a tremendous opportunity and if he continues to do the things that he has been going since May, namely listening to the Humane Society and Tony Dungy, he deserves the second chance. And I’m perfectly ok with the Eagles giving him one.

Now, to the football side of things, where it becomes, at least to me, more interesting than some second baseman’s wife not endorsing the signing.

First, Andy Reid said that they didn’t work out Vick which is interesting to me. I would think that you would work the guy out first but that’s neither here nor there. So just for a point of reference, let’s say he’s 70% of what he was in 2006. The amount of possibilities for things to do on offense could be mindboggling.

70% of 2006 Michael Vick is still faster, quicker, more agile that 97% of NFL players. Consider putting Vick and McNabb in the backfield at the same time and all the trick plays you could run. The kinds of things Kordell Stewart did as the original slash or Antwaan Randal-El did as the second slash in Pittsburgh are all things Vick can do, only better.

He can give you a little bit of slot receiver, maybe some tailback and the overused (but mandatory for anything concerning Vick) excuse of the Wildcat. But what would make me most excited would be McNabb in the shotgun, flanked with Vick and Brian Westbrook on each side with Desean Jackson lined up on the outside. Can you spell speed?

But even in my excitement there is cause for concern because he was in jail for almost two years (insert jail soap joke here) and since Reid hasn’t worked him out, I can’t say that Reid worked him out so he’s got to have something. It’s a real possibility that he comes back average and makes minimal to no impact considering he’s not going to take meaningful snaps at quarterback.

But, that’s ok. It’s the kind of calculated risk that won’t cost much if it fails but could make a magnificent impact if it succeeds. Considering what else this move is doing (someone’s getting a second chance at life), I’d call it a win-win.

Goodell Should Do Right Thing: Reinstate Vick

No one likes dogfighting. It’s not a neutral issue. It is universally hated (except by those involved in the dogfighting). It’s, more or less, a slap in the face to the core of American friendship.

So it’s perfectly natural that the purveyors of said dogfighting, guys like Michael Vick are completely vilified. The radical PETA fundamentalists protested at every Vick-related place possible. The more moderate Humane Society was disgusted. America, as a whole, wanted nothing to do with Michael Vick.

Vick’s actions represented nothing else but sheer stupidity. He lied to federal prosecutors, the Atlanta Falcons, and NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. He’s blown all his money and is now in bankruptcy court answering to his creditors. Bad decision followed bad decision and it ended with 20 months in federal custody.

Well yesterday marked the day that Michael Vick left federal custody. Yesterday marked the day that Michael Vick got to restart his life.

But the major impediment to his life being restarted lies in the hands of Roger Goodell and the indefinite suspension he imposed in 2007, the stern disciplinarian with a heavy hand usually ruling against the players whether or not the justice system has dealt with the player. If the justice system has dealt with a player, like in Vick’s case, it’s a virtual no-brainer for Goodell. Brandon Marshall, Adam “Pac-Man” Jones, and Donte Stallworth have all felt the wrath of a Goodell suspension. Which begs the question: should Goodell reinstate Vick from his indefinite suspension?

Yes. If I remember correctly, the old adage goes: hate the sin, not the sinner.

Should we really punish Michael Vick again and again with another suspension after 20 months with the feds? Michael Vick is not “Pac-man.” He isn’t a repeat offender who consistently runs afoul of the law. So does he deserve the “Pac-man” treatment, a one-year suspension? Probably not, considering Vick’s offenses were limited to one event as far as we know: and Vick’s never led to the paralysis of a man.

But as many dog lovers will contest, his offenses were so appalling that there aren’t any applicable comparisons.

The fact of the matter is, while what he did was wrong and shouldn’t be allowed to happen ever again, it is not a career-ending or season-ending offense, considering the price he has already paid. Vick didn’t order the Trail of Tears. He’s not the Son of Sam copycat. Let’s put things into perspective. Vick did awful things, but it doesn’t crack the list of the most horrific.

In a society built on forgiveness, does Vick get his chance at redemption disregarded because of a couple of PETA protesters outside the NFL offices? I really don’t think that we should make decisions based on the thoughts of PETA. They got upset when President Obama killed a fly.

Michael Vick is a football player. He should be allowed to play football. He has served his time, paid his debt to society and is ready to reenter our world.

Just ask Tony Dungy, a man better than me and probably better than you. Just ask Humane Society President Wayne Pacelle. If it’s good enough for them, it’s good enough for me.

The reality is that it is pointless to pile on the punishment after the person leaves prison. What good does it do anyone to continue to punish this man for his one crime? You’re not teaching him anymore of a lesson. You’re not making him feel more of this “remorse” that everyone wants to see. All you’re doing is stunting his development back into society.

He can only be taught a lesson by getting a chance to demonstrate what he has learned. He can only show remorse by being given a second chance and doing well with that second chance. Unnecessary punishment driven by ego and PETA makes sure no one wins.

Goodell should reinstate Vick before training camps open in a couple of weeks. Give teams the opportunity to sign him and get him in. Endorse the work he’s doing to stop dogfighting through the Humane Society. Give everyone a chance to be reintroduced to Vick on Sunday’s and allow the forgiving public to begin to accept him again. If you put yourself in his situation, you would want a second chance too. So give Vick the second chance that we would all want ourselves.