THE NFC EAST IS OURS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/25
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

ap-carson-wentz-eagles-bears-firstdown

REPEATING as division champs in 2021 may have just gotten easier for the Philadelphia Eagles. With the NFL officially announcing the cancellation of the 2020 preseason, all teams will have to go from Training Camp and practices, directly to games that count.​

This means no team gets any dress rehearsal games to see who can and and who can’t play. Some like to cry about how this will affect fringe players, who traditionally need some tape to help them make other teams. This however, gifts the Eagles with some serious early advantages.​

2.7 New boss

The first advantage we get, is all three of our division rivals have new head coaches. We knew we’d have that months ago, but the advantage has stiffened for us. All of our opponent’s players are learning totally new systems, and will have to deal with the trial and ERRORS that come as a result of so much change.​

Some may argue that the Dallas Cowboys offense is an exception, because they kept their old system and coordinator. The knee-jerk reaction is that, at least their offense should be fine. However, it can be argued that in some ways, that may make things worse for them. Much worse.​

Rhythm counts a great deal in football. A new coach will call a game differently, making the familiar feel either, “refreshing” at best, or “foreign” at worst. Throw in a new C to QB exchange, plus a dip in TE run-blocking talent, and you have the makings of a seriously off-rhythm team, that becomes frustrated when reliable plays from the last four years, suddenly aren’t. Particularly in the early part of the season.​ 

The second advantage we get, is that we aren’t relying on “hope” anywhere. None of our starters are being replaced by rookies that we hope we can lean on early. None of our free agents have been out of football for years, hoping to make a comeback. We aren’t relying on someone to be reinstated, in hopes of getting a talent boost at a weak position.​ 

fake tits

Our rookies can be rookies, and our free agent acquisitions are all bonafide.​

The third advantage we get, is that our coaching staff and our roster, can trust each other already. We can literally pick everything up from the end of the 2019 season, and start building immediately off of that. No other NFC East team can claim that.​

The fourth advantage we get is, a division game in the first week, versus the Redskins. (That’s what I’m calling them, until they have an actual name.) The giants and Cowboys don’t see a division rival until week five. An early win over the ‘skins, puts us out ahead of any tied division record, and gets the team thinking like division leaders.​

If the Eagles can develop an early swagger like we did after that 61 yard FG in 2017… Yeah. we have some SERIOUS advantages going into 2020. Here’s to staying healthy this year. ​

Jake Elliott 9.24.2017

THE NFL’s 33rd TEAM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/22
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Conversations, NFC East, NFL, Players, Rants, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2019 Wentz is a gunslinger​
DOES anybody remember the Philadelphia Eagles? Last time I checked, that was the last team to win the NFC East division. Yet the national sports media scarcely acknowledges that Philly has a football team. Unless it’s a week where every team in a division gets a day.​

Oh wait! We did get some press after WR DeSean Jackson had a tweet that was viewed as offensive by some people. You may have heard of it? In any case, it was handled, and the rest of sports world forgot about the team again.​

Outside of that, when the Eagles do get brought up, it’s usually just a mention while being looked past. For example, despite taking the division directly away from the Dallas Cowboys, in a “do-or-die” second match-up last year, the national media seems to think that the Cowboys will win the division in 2021.​

2019 Sanders TD run

The Cowboys couldn’t beat the Eagles when they were more or less at full strength, and Philly was injury depleted. The Cowboys #1 ranked offense was held to nine points in that game. NINE. Versus an injury decimated team. And they’re still the favorites this year! With a new head coach!!​

We re-signed OL Jason Peters, immediately plugging a hole created by injury, and providing a gold plated insurance policy. Did that help the Eagles move into the favorite spot? Did it even invite a new discussion of how this would impact the Eagles, and thus the division?​

No. It did neither. No professional “journalist” wants to have those discussions. Instead, as expected, the national sports media delivered Jerry Jones his annual blowjob for wasting money, and producing more hype than substance.​

Mike Bolton Office Space disgusted
Whether being repeatedly overlooked, or listening to another year of empty Dallas hype, neither by themselves is even worthy of notice. However, when placed side-by-side, they create this weird effect. Almost like a prolonged feedback noise. A noise that usually lasts from April to October.​

Only four times in this New Millennium has the NFC East not gone to (9 times) or through (7 times) Philadelphia. That means that sixteen times in the last twenty years (TWO DECADES), the division couldn’t be decided without Philadelphia weighing in. Plus winning it twice as often as anyone else in the division, despite three head coaches over the span.​

Yet we barely rate a mention this time of year. Annually! It’s beyond annoying.

This year with the lack of other real football news, it’s worse than usual. It has me looking forward to the season for my salvation, because once the game count, and our winning starts, the Eagles cannot be looked past any longer.

2.7 New boss

GUARDED OPTIMISM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/15
Posted in: Coaching, Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, X's and O's. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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FINALLY! Not only have the Eagles signed eventual Hall of Famer Jason Peters, but they’ve FINALLY decided to move him from LT to G. I’ve been on about that potential move for YEARS now.​

To finally see it take place… I- I feel so much pride right now. I now know how Ms. America felt when she got the roses, and began to make her way past all that human wreckage, as they cried real tears of pain, while giving her fake congrats. That had to feel amazing!​

And yes! With this news, I feel mah-velous.

billy-crystal-you-look-marvelous-instrumental-am​

Though Peters is just signed to a one year deal, moving inside could add two, maybe three high level years to his career. Study habits, strength, technique, concept of scheme, he owns all of those as an Eagle. Where he was starting to show wear and tear, was versus speed off the edge. That and the nagging injuries resulting from overextending to compensate for it.​

That’s no longer an issue, as opponents don’t get to try running around him. Now they have to wrestle with him in a phonebooth. Early word has him playing RG, to sub for RG Brandon Brooks whom we lost for the season, with a tear of his Achilles tendon.

While a right side of C Jason Kelce, RG Jason Peters, and RT Lane Johnson would be sick, this configuration won’t be the one that benefits the Eagles the most in the long run. Flipping LG Isaac Seumalo to RG and playing Peters at LG would be the most helpful alignment.

Jason Peters catching Ryan Mathews

Hey, does anyone remember the day Peters CAUGHT RB Ryan Mathews, out of mid-air to give him a soft TD landing?

Playing Peters one spot over from his familiar LT post, would help him mentor new starting LT Andre Dillard. While Peters at RG would be good while he played, the wisdom that he could pass down to Dillard, could help make the young man a perennial All-Pro, for the next decade-plus.

So Peters could either be a replacement for Brooks, or an investment in Dillard’s future. Instant gratification vs the long-term, high yield payout. In the end we’ll see who gets the roses.

UNSIGNED EAGLES ARE A PROBLEM

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/12
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Draft, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, Rants, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

TRAINING Camps are rumored to be targeting a July 28th start date. With today being July 12th, that’s a mere 16 days from now. Two weeks and two days, or “Two and two.”

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In the meantime, eight of our ten 2020 Draft picks, are still unsigned. To be clear, they will not be able to participate in TC without a contract. Not being able to do so, would slow their learning curve, and limit how early they can become serious contributors. Who do we have yet to sign? Take a look:

1st – No. 21 – WR Jalen Reagor

2nd – No. 53 – QB Jalen Hurts

3rd – No. 103 – LB Davion Taylor

4th – No. 127 – S K’Von Wallace

4th – No. 145 – OT Jack Driscoll

5th – No. 168 – WR John Hightower

6th – No. 196 – LB Shaun Bradley

7th – No. 233 – LB/DE Casey Toohill

Reagor not being signed (at this point), is extremely troubling. WR Alshon Jeffery isn’t expected back anytime soon from his 2019 foot injury. On the other hand, WR DeSean Farrakhan is being made to jump through hoops just to remain an Eagle.

In the event that the Eagles release Djax, the Offense will be right back where it was when the 2019 season ended. By that I mean, leaning on WR Greg Ward, and hoping that WR JJ Arcega-Whiteside can somehow put together the concepts of “get open” and “catch ball”.

Whiteside drops an easy score.

Remember this drop? If he catches this, he scores and we win. We lost 24 – 27. Good times.

The LB position remains an open wound. It would be asking a lot for 3rd round rookie LB Davion Taylor to be the upgrade that we need. However, we’re so thin on talent there, that we basically have to ask for exactly that.

All indications are that the Eagles have big plans for FS K’Von Wallace, but every day that he misses of TC, will be like a week’s worth of make-up time. Rookies who fall behind mentally, become liabilities that opponents will exploit during the season.

Not to downplay the importance of the remaining five Draft picks on the above list, but 1) None of them are signed either, and 2) The three guys that I pointed out, are the guys that the team needs big contributions from in 2020. (If there’s even a season.)

Rookie wages are subject to a wage scale, where every player earns less than the guy drafted ahead of him. So there are already valuation charts that approximate what every rookie should eventually sign for.

paid peanuts

Usually the Eagles have the rookies signed by late April, mid May, but many sportswriters want to speculate that the delay is because of the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic. However, given that Philadelphia moved into the Yellow Phase of the re-opening on June 5th, there is no reason why these deals shouldn’t have been/ couldn’t have been, negotiated in principle over Zoom, and then road tripped to finalize and sign.

Right now, we’re thin at LB and we aren’t signing rookies or veterans. Right now, we’re shaky at Opening Day WR, but instead of signing a top threat, we’re hinting at cutting one of the NFL’s top deep threats. Right now, we have more questions than answers at S, but we aren’t signing or trading for any.

Until we address those things, we can’t even seriously entertain the idea of adding an insurance RB, or getting some help at LT, or spending big coin on an over-hyped DE, who has just 32 sacks in 6 years. GM Howie Roseman, you gotta get it together.

THE REDSKINS NEW NAME

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/03
Posted in: Conversations, NFC East, NFL, Rants, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

FED EX, Nike, and any other company that wants the Redskins to change their name, because it’s “racist” is full of shit. Keep in mind, this is coming from an Eagles fan. I absolutely-

LOVE Eagles

-to see our NFC East rivals, with their nuts in a vice. That said, a line has to be drawn. I have to stick up for the Redskins on this. 

Don’t get me wrong.You half expect the team’s fight song to be ‘Mammy’ by Al Jolson.Their name is racist. We all know it’s racist, and rival fan bases have been giving the Redskins shit for it, for decades now. It’s low hanging fruit, and it’s the gift that keeps on giving. But that’s not the point.

The Redskins, were already named the Redskins, back before there was a Nike, or a Fed Ex. They started out as the Boston Braves (still Native Americans) in 1932, and changed the name to the Boston Redskins in 1933. Nike started as Blue Ribbon Sports in 1964, and FedEx didn’t start up until 1971. Only Pepsico (called Pepsi-Cola in 1902) is older than the Redskins. (I went upstairs and got a Pepsi, just to drink it while I wrote this part.)

So of course the Redskins were already the Redskins, when these companies came around, asking to tie themselves to an established brand, in order to increase their own visibility. They wanted to advertise to everyone who tuned into see the team with the racist name, and sell their products to that team’s fans.

ice to Eskimos

These companies have been good with the Redskins being the Redskins for decades. Now due to some protests and statues being taken down, suddenly these companies have grown a conscience? Now they want to turn around and point their fingers at the Redskins for having a racist name?! That level of hypocrisy… The sheer BALLS to do such a thing… These people must get their pants specially made. They have to.

Let me ask a question: Hey Redskins fans, do you care what company makes your team apparel? Nike? Reebok? Probably not. One sweatshop employing underage children is the same as another. Right?

And FedEx! In 1998, those bitches bought the naming rights to the team’s home stadium, FedEx Field.

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If you look closely, you’ll see that half of that “crowd” are giants fans,. 

That 27 year, 205M$ deal runs through 2025. Let me nutshell that even further. For 22 years of a 27 year deal, FedEx has found everything to be copacetic with their name on the REDSKINS stadium. And NOW it’s racist?

Dan Snyder should tell FedEx, that if they wish, they can take their name off of his stadium, but that he gets to keep the outstanding balance of the contract (38M$ approximately). He should also say, that if they attempt to renege on the terms of the deal, that he’ll see them in court.

As an Eagles fan, I want to be able to torment Redskins fans about their racist name, for as long as I dare to cheer for people throwing around a hog-skin orb.

shadenfreude2

I don’t like that their name is racist, but I am tickled by watching them squirm as they acknowledge it, while feeling a need to uncomfortably defend it. And fuck anybody who tries to take that away from me.

OUR FREE SPEECH.

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/07/02
Posted in: Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , . 4 Comments

eaglepatiotic
EAGLEMANIACAL.com is a small platform. It doesn’t have thousands of daily or (at this point), weekly readers. It’s not monetized. In fact, the only time this website ever had a financial aspect to it, is when I briefly made and sold t-shirts (and tried to sell jerseys), back when I first started out in 2014. Despite all the things it may not be, what this site is, is 100% MINE.

That means, my speech is never censored by a sponsor, or anyone else who can punish me for speaking my mind. So I can say anything I damned well please, in any goddamned way I fucking please, and anybody who doesn’t like it, can bleed from the eyes, then fuck all the way off.

yeah

I say that because, I’m seeing a crazy rash of my friends on Facebook, being penalized over some of the silliest shit. A 2 day suspension here. A 7 day suspension there. A 30 day ban. A pair of Ray Bans. Usually over practically nothing. Just for speaking their minds!

Recently, a number of Facebook’s sponsors began pulling their advertisements (i.e. ad revenue), because they feel that the social media platform, isn’t doing enough to cut down on “hate speech”. This of course is only going to make FB more aggressive towards sniffing out “hate speech”, and result in even more goofy suspensions.

I would advise you not to quit any influential social media outlet, out of frustration. Removing your voice from the debate, doesn’t end the debate. Falling silent just means, when policy makers want to sample public opinion on how to proceed, there may be no voices like yours, for them to hear. We need our better voices.

gwen ifill
As a huge believer in free speech, plenty gets said that I don’t like, and am even offended by. That said, my sensitivities shouldn’t define the boundaries of what you can say, and vice versa. While there are certain words that I’ve blocked from my site (faggot, nigger, queer, etc.), it was done more to keep discourse civil, than with an eye towards censorship.

Though I’ve never had a FB suspension or ban, if the day comes when you don’t see me on there, you can always find me HERE. (Hell, I even made it possible to e-mail me.) While I’m not looking to have a silly showdown with FB, I won’t be made to wear fucking gag either.

free speech (me)

While I don’t frequently deviate from talking about football here, I have used this platform to discuss baseball, politics, kneeling during the anthem, even our skyline and how it took shape. This is a place to relax, loosen our belts, and express our ideas. Both popular and un.

Given the state of the world, I may sprinkle in a little more non-football stuff. I have a platform here. Why not use it to promote ‘free thought’? Why not use it to have HONEST discussions, and even bring up a couple of uncomfortable subjects, that may provide us with new perspectives?

Once upon a time, Americans were courageous enough to talk to each other plainly. I’m out to prove that, that is not a dead trait among our people. I just hope that you’re with me.

Yours, 

z-EB3 (grande)

DEREK BARNETT’S 2020

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/06/28
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

Derek Barnett sacks Dak.jpg

HEADING into year four, DE Derek Barnett has 14.0 career sacks, and has never played all 16 games in a season. More than 14 sacks (by now), was expected of a player selected 14th overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. It’s true that as a DE he’s expected to play the run as well as the pass, but make no mistake, he was drafted primarily to sack the QB.

He was touted for having beaten his school’s career sack record, previously held by some guy named Reggie White. Maybe you’ve heard of him? There was constant mention of Barnett breaking that record, coupled with Eagles brass raving about how Barnett’s hands helped him gain quick access to QB’s. 

No one came right out and said it, but the whispers were “This guy might end up being better than Reggie.” No one said that outright, because until someone does it, the idea will always be laughable. As an Eagle, Reggie played in 121 games, producing 125 sacks. That’s more than a sack per game, over a span of eight straight seasons, despite constant double and triple teams.

Reggie White made Troy Aik man

Reggie made Troy ache man.

Reggie White’s career as an Eagle reads like Norse mythology. So of course no one will put their reputation on the line, and say that Barnett (or anyone else), has a chance to be as good, let alone better, than Reggie. However, the implications were there. Meanwhile, after three seasons, Barnett has yet to have even produce 10 sacks in a calendar year, let alone a season.

To their credit, the Eagles decided to roll the dice on Barnett. They picked up the fifth year option on his rookie contract, increasing his cap hit from 4M$ in 2019, to 10M$ in 2020. This is partly why the Eagles aren’t throwing money at free agent players like DE Jadeveon Clowney, or trying to trade for a player like DE Yannick Ngakuoe.

In his rookie season (as a back-up), Barnett earned 5 sacks. In year two he went on I.R. just 6 games into the season. Last season (his first full season as a starter), he picked up 6.5 sacks with the DT position beside him, being a revolving door due to injury. The guy playing next to Reggie for five years? Just some dude with a generic name like Jerome Brown. Maybe you’ve heard of him?

Jerome Brown.jpg

Barnett hasn’t had a consistent threat line up beside him yet. The Eagles are banking on 2020’s interior Defensive Line to provide the DE’s with more one-on-one opportunities, as well as cleaner, and faster paths to the passer. Thus allowing Barnett’s quick hands to become a factor.

While Barnett’s sack numbers aren’t eye-popping, in his rookie season, he collected what may be the most important fumble recovery in Eagles history, helping to secure our victory in Super Bowl 52.

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He also produced a strip/sack in the NFC Championship game, to help the Eagles get to that Super Bowl. So he can produce when it counts, which is likely where the Eagles faith in him comes from.

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The Eagles are banking on that, to the tune of an additional 6M$ this year. Here’s hoping that Barnett can finally deliver on a double digit sack year.

THANK YOU, DAK PRESCOTT!

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/06/23
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, NFL, Offense, Players, Rivals, Roster, trade, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

shadenfreude2

GOTTA admit it. I thought that either Cowboys owner Jerry Jones would cave, and give QB Dak Prescott his 40M$ per year deal, or that Prescott’s holdout would go into the season. I’d have bet good money on it lasting through Cowboys training camp. Well I’d have lost that money. Dak Prescott finally cried “Uncle!”. Or did he?

At first his signing made no sense to me. For about 12 seconds. Then the idea hit, and I felt like giving a high-five to Prescott’s agent. Very cagey move getting his client to sign now. I sat and waited two days for the NFL Network, or ESPN, or Fox Sports to weigh in, but nobody mentioned the genius behind this signing.

Well let me spill the beans, and also tell you how this helps the Eagles. It helps the entire NFC East, but it helps the Eagles in a much more immediate sense. Right now, the NFL is pushing to have a season in 2020, but the Coronavirus Pandemic (Covid-19) gets the last word on that.

coronaviruses

If the NFL does manage a season, then Prescott plays for the tag. He plays for less than he wanted, but it’s still more than he’s ever made, and he’s doing what he loves. Unless he gets hurt, misses games and damages his pristine record, he’s still in line for a big deal in 2021.

Now here’s the genius of the signing. If the NFL cannot start or sustain the season, Prescott still gets credit for 2020. The money is his, fully guaranteed, he doesn’t get hurt, and he doesn’t “fail to make the playoffs/take another playoff loss”. It also puts the narrative on his side. He will have been “underpaid” for four years, then have signed a franchise tag. He’ll be undeniable.

So how does that help the division? Specifically the Eagles?

Doug Pederson laughing

Signing the tag now, locks in the money that the Cowboys are spending on Prescott. True, the Cowboys said they wouldn’t rescind the tag, but up until Prescott signed it, the option still existed. That could have become cap space to offer Jets SS Jamal Adams, who recently requested a trade to one of seven teams that he prefers, Dallas being one of them.

Adams also named the Eagles as a preferred destination, and we have 22M in cap space, but we still have to sign our rookies. Not to mention that we’re projected to be 51M$ over the cap in 2021, and word is, the Eagles want to roll as much of 2020’s cap over into 2021 as possible.

Currently Dallas has about 11M$ in cap space. Between Prescott’s contract and still having to sign their rookie class, in particular first round Draft pick, WR Ceedee Lamb, the Cowboys will not have the money to offer Adams the 12-15M$ per year that he’s said to want. So Dak Prescott signing, effectively keeps Adams out of the NFC East. Making life easier for the division.

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The Cowboys CAN afford to make such a move, if they cut DE Tyrone Crawford (9M$ in 2020), and a couple other players. Or they can gut their depth at tight end, offensive line, linebacker, and cornerback to make cap space.

Aside from DE DeMarcus Lawrence, Crawford is the only sure thing they have at the DE position. They hope that DE Aldon Smith can regain his old form, and they hope that DE Randy Gregory will be re-instated so that maybe he can possibly fulfill his potential.

In the event of a fully played season, having little to no depth, during a year when teams are expecting their rosters to be hit by Covid-19… That really helps your rivals. And it helps your strongest rival the most.

Who again is the Cowboys strongest rival? My guess would be the team that beat them and took away the division last year, driving them from the playoff picture. And who would that team be? You guessed it. THE EAGLES.

So from all of us Eagles fans from all across America, THANK YOU DAK PRESCOTT!!!

dak hat

KAEPERNICK IN PHILLY?

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/06/19
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , . 1 Comment

NFL: Super Bowl XLVII-Baltimore Ravens vs San Francisco 49ers

HEAD Coach Doug Pederson said the Eagles look at everybody. That said, long-time Free Agent QB Colin Kaepernick definitely falls in the “everybody” category. QB Carson Wentz being backed up by a guy who led a team to the Super Bowl, initially sounds like a good idea. However, given any thought, it’s fraught with problems.

First, if Kaepernick were a back-up, which back up would he be? Second, third, or fourth string?

Fourth string means that Kaepernick steals a roster spot from someone. So he hurts our depth, and may not even play a meaningful down all season long. That’s a bad trade-off, in exchange for twenty weeks of Carson having to answer the same questions repeatedly, about a guy he hardly knows.

carsonwentz_camo

Third string means that rookie QB Jalen Hurts has his development pushed back a year. Hurts is clearly here to be the #2 in 2021, so he needs to be able to get his feet wet in 2020. Kaepernick at #3 means Hurts is pushed to #4 on the depth chart. That almost certainly puts the rookie on the Practice Squad. Which is no place for a second round pick to start his career.

Second string means that QB Nate Sudfeld probably wouldn’t make the 53 man roster. He’s already on a one year deal, with Hurts breathing down his neck like a prison shower scene.

prison shower

Everybody asked Wentz what he felt when Hurts was drafted. Well here is how Sudfeld felt.

However, if Wentz goes down, Sudfeld is our only QB who is well versed in the Offense. If Wentz goes down for the year (knock wood), and we’re already out of the playoff picture, sure, start Hurts. If we’re still in the playoff hunt however, Sudfeld has to be the guy. He has to be.

Kaepernick may be more athletically gifted, but he can’t offer what Sudfeld can, in terms of keeping our playoff hopes afloat. He may be more experienced, but making him the #3, essentially throws away a second round pick. Is he worth not keeping an extra DE, or CB, or WR, if he doesn’t play a down all year?

Liberty Bell (4) - 1.16.12

On one hand, I love the idea of Philadelphia being the place where Kaepernick restarts his career. The idea of him taking a knee in the very city where Free Speech took it’s first breath as a Human right, gives me chills to even write it. The very POWER of the idea is seismic, and it nearly brings tears to my eyes. I want it, I CRAVE it on this city’s resume, because most American cities don’t have the backbone to take the weight of it.

This is the team that took in Micheal Vick when all the other NFL teams, bailed. QB Donovan McNabb vouched for him, and head coach Andy Reid took that recommendation to owner Jeff Lurie. These men believed in each other, and as a result, look at Vick today.

So yeah. Colin Kaepernick redefining how Americans view and accept political expression? I lust for that as part of Philly’s history. However, if it won’t work for the team, there’s no realistic way to expect it would happen. So Kaepernick coming to Philly is going to be a pass. (Get it? A pass?)

BRINGING BACK MALCOLM JENKINS

Posted by The BEAST on 2020/06/11
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), NFL, Players, Rants, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments
Chris Long and Malcolm Jenkins

Jesus. How lucky were we in 2017?

SAFETY Malcolm Jenkins has stayed in the news during the 2020 offseason. He returned to the first team that he won a Super Bowl with (New Orleans). He worked out with new Eagles SS Will Parks, mentoring his replacement, despite not being teammates. He’s recently demonstrated peacefully, for the social cause that he has spent years advocating for.

He has said repeatedly and pointedly, that he considers Philadelphia his home.

I was sick and salty, moody, and disgusted when the Eagles let him get away. I knew we’d regret it. I knew we’d see it come back to rub our collective noses in it. I just didn’t think it would happen so fast, and so nationally. My current level of butthurt looks like this:

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Real talk. Can we just trade and get him back please? The sheer amount of egg on our faces, is already outweighed by whatever the Saints would ask for in return for him. Every time he pops up on the local news, or NFL Network, or CNN, I want to cram GM Howie Roseman’s head in a pencil sharpener.

Have you noticed how we Eagles fans are very excited about the Offense this year? But when the subject of our Defense comes up, suddenly it’s “Excuse me. I have something in the oven”, followed by us sprinting from the room. Which in hindsight, was a bad way to end the prostate exam. (I never went back for my clothes, because I was too scared to discuss our LB situation.)

The leadership vacuum created by Jenkins’s absence is massive, and anyone who tells you different, has no idea what they’re talking about. Most of football is mental. If football were all about measurables, JaMarcus Russell would be a Hall Of Famer and you wouldn’t even know who Joe Montana was. Taylor Mays would be a perennial All-Pro, and Brian Dawkins would have had a two year career.

Brian Dawkins HALL OF FAMER

The ability to lead and to inspire is a rare gift. On any roster of 53 men, you may have 39 solid alpha types, and still only 2 or 3 true leaders. During seasons of adversity and injury (including our 2017 Super Bowl win), Jenkins was the linchpin of the team. Mentally keeping players in the fight. Being accountable and holding people accountable. (Fuck Orlando Scandrick! Sorry, I had to stop that right there, before that even got started.)

The odds of the Eagles bringing back Jenkins are virtually non-existent. It’s just me throwing a coin in a fountain, with my eyes closed and my fingers crossed. It’s also me, trying to have a conversation that inspires people to participate in a discussion about football again. To welcome opinions on a subject that brings us joy, and healthy debate.

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While I’m not the leader that Malcolm Jenkins is, I can aspire to inspire. Like Jenkins, I choose to use the sport of football as a rally point. To utilize my small stage as a scribe, to bring people to a common table. One where we can laugh, debate, and bond over a love that is bigger than all of us, and even bigger than our rivalries

True leaders find ways to maximize their tools and bring their people together. I have no doubt that the Eagles will find new voices, and that new leadership will emerge. It’s a solid locker room with a solid culture, which promotes the building of leaders.  I just wish we had this particular leader back. 

2019 Malcolm Jenkins pre-game