ATHLETES LOVE PHILADELPHIA

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/11
Posted in: Conversations, Fans, Players, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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FORMER New York giant Safety Landon Collins recently said “I don’t feel like I bleed blue anymore. I feel like [the Redskins] know my value and how they’ll use me in their defense. I don’t feel like I was used correctly within the [giants] defense that I was playing in.“

You know, when Donovan McNabb was traded to the Redskins, when DeSean Jackson was released, when LeSean McCoy was traded to the Bills, when Connor Barwin was with the Rams, when LeGarrette Blount signed with Detroit, when Dawk went to Denver, none of these guys threw the team under the bus.

And they ALL spoke highly of the city. We got into their bones. Recently retired DE Chris Long referred to Philly as his favorite city. The aforementioned Barwin used to go to work riding the Broad Street Line. (For non-Philadelphians: That’s one of our “two” (really one) subway systems.) A multi-millionaire really has to dig the city to be willing to ride SEPTA.

Men who have traveled the country, have traveled the globe, and could afford to live anywhere in the world, come back HERE, to this place and regard it thus,

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LeSean McCoy’s first return to the Linc.

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Allen Iverson’s return as a Sixer

So you’ll understand my puzzlement, at the notion of people like Collins and Odell Beckham, taking shots at a storied franchise like the giants, and making no mention of missing a world-class city like New York.

We saw the same thing with new Eagle MLB Zach Brown in his unabashed dissing of the Redskins team, locker room and culture.

You never hear of players missing other places, but everyone misses being here. Well maybe not everyone. (Hall of Fame WR Chris Carter literally credits ^Buddy Ryan^ trading him from the Eagles, as what possibly saved his life.)

No. I didn’t go player by player for the last 10 years, and ask each man personally what he thinks, but you get the idea. Publicly, players put it right out there when they leave, that they don’t just miss the team they played for, they miss US. You and me. That connection.

There is something to be said for the capability to even BE unique. While a flower may be beautiful, they are generally sold in bunches where no single one stands out. However, that single, striking bulb set against the backdrop of all the sameness… There is a subtle bluntness to such beauty.

Logan Square was once used for public executions. Gallows stood in the square until 1823.

And that is apparently what Philly is. Athletes who’ve been the world over, still somehow manage to miss being here. My god. Let that sink in for a moment.

 

SO WHY ISN’T DAK SIGNED?

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/10
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Players, playoffs, Reviews, Rivals, stats, Super Bowl, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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EVER since the Eagles locked down QB Carson Wentz, Dallas Cowboys fans have been up in arms for some reason. On social media, their fans have put up a million and one posts, about how QB Dak Prescott is better than Wentz, along with stats to back up their argument.

Let me concede most of the stats right now. I repeat, MOST of them. (More on that, down the page.) But yes, in many statistical categories, Prescott is ahead of Carson. There can be no dispute on that.

However, if Prescott is truly the better QB, then why doesn’t his team believe in him enough to at least copy Wentz’s 4 year 128M$ deal? Why are he and his organization so far apart, that both sides have elected to shelve the matter until training camp? Why wasn’t Prescott signed after the 2018 season, when he would have been cheaper, (as I suggested in March of 2018). 

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Maybe Cowboys owner Jerry Jones is stingy with his money? No. In fact, he’s been repeatedly criticized for paying players too much, too early, or both. So that clearly isn’t a factor.

Maybe Jones doesn’t have any faith in Prescott as a person? No. Jones has also proven generous to a fault when it comes to extending good faith, towards even men of questionable character. For his part, Prescott doesn’t own a black mark against his name. So that’s not it either.

Here’s what it is. Jones has been around enough winners to know one when he has one. If he thought he had one in Prescott, he’d have branded that steer a while ago.

For the answer, you have to look at Prescott’s stats. Not just at the stats, but into what they mean. Sports is funny that way. To many fans, a W is a W. To organizations, some of those W’s carry more weight than others. Here’s what I mean:

Prescott is 13 – 5 vs the division since he was drafted in 2016. Nice stat-line right? Hold up. Read it carefully. Like J.J. is doing.

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Since 2016 the giants have combined record of 19 – 29. They were 11 – 5 in 2016 when they swept the Cowboys, but have been 8 – 24 since, losing all 4 games between the two teams, for an overall record of 2 – 4 over the span. (Dallas margins of victory being 16, 20, 7, and 1. giants margins of victory 1 and 3 points)

Since 2016 the Redskins have combined record of 22 – 25 – 1, and they are 1 – 5 vs Dallas over the three year span. Their best year of the three, was 2016 when they went 8 – 7 – 1. (Dallas victory margins 4, 5, 14, 24 and 8. Washington victory margin 3)

Since 2016 the Eagles have a combined record of 29 – 19, and are 2 – 4 over that span vs Dallas, splitting the first two years, and being swept in 2018. (Dallas margins of victory 6, 6, 7, and 6, and Philadelphia margins of victory being 14 and 26 (Both with Carson at the helm.))

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So Dallas can look impressive vs sub .500 teams, but struggles vs a winning team, never once posting a double digit win? Interesting. Especially considering that one of those 6 point “wins” was a 6 – 0 game vs the deepest part of the Eagles bench, in Week 17 of the 2017 Super Bowl season.

One could hardly fault Jerry Jones for not counting that win in Prescott’s favor. (Prescott played that whole game, going 17 – 30 – 56.6% – 179 – 1 – 0 and passer rating of 85.3. Against second and mostly third stringers.)

Head to head, Wentz is 2 – 3 vs Prescott, not 1 – 3 as you’ll erroneously see reported, as their fans try to discount New Years Day 2018 (the 2017 season). Prescott started and then sat in preparation for the playoffs. The only Dallas game Carson has ever missed was the aforementioned 0 – 6, Week 17 loss. Which he’d have sat out anyway, even if he were healthy.

So as you can see, context is important.

Prescott’s agent is likely filling his head with how great his stats are, and telling him how much money he can get him. Jones on the other hand is realizing that if he pays his QB like Russell Wilson/Aaron Rodgers/Ben Roethlisberger… If he gives him Carson Wentz KING type money… If he pays Prescott, Super Bowl ring type money, then Jones won’t be able to afford a supporting cast to continue to hide a QB who can’t even sniff 25 passing TD’s in a season, playing alongside one of the NFL’s best RB’s.

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Had the Cowboys stood pat and not added WR Amari Cooper last year, they would be fine right now. Prescott would have continued to struggle, which would have capped his stats, probably cost a couple of games, and thus lowered his asking price. Or at least limited his leverage.

That’s what they seemed to be doing in March. I even commended them, and commented on how it was a much smarter gambit than they are known for. But then they Cowboy’d it right up, and now they have to pay an average dude like a superstar outright, or get into a bidding war for him, or start all over without him after this season.

Carson got a new deal because his organization has seen enough to believe in him, despite his injury history. Prescott is still chasing a deal, because his organization has seen him be good, but doesn’t believe that he can truly be special.

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Looking up to Wentz.

WENTZ’S DEAL GETS BETTER

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/08
Posted in: Conspiracy Corner, Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

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NOBODY is talking about the best part of QB Carson Wentz’s four year extension. Not surprising given that the national media doesn’t talk about the Eagles as much as they should. Thus, they are not as familiar with the Eagles, as one would expect professional football pundits to be.

That’s where I come in. I provide detail to their broad strokes. Color to the washed out grays that we’re always pained with. I can do it, because I know the Eagles. Over a quarter century of intense, fanatical devotion has made me intimate with their thinking. With their patterns.

Better still, I like to give it to you raw. I go deeper than the others. I hit harder than the others. If I may be so bold, (and I will be), I lay the pipe, the line, to the context you crave. The context you need. The context you deserve. Meanwhile, those others just want to get in and get out of an article.

A bunch of professional amateurs. Come to me and get your fill. Let me make you feel good.

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Devil’s in the details, folks. Don’t lament the loss of VP of player personnel Joe Douglas (Jets) in the Front Office, we still have GM Howie Roseman. He’s the wizard. He’s the key. As long as we have him, we still have a great chance to be great every year.

Now about that “best part”.

Does anyone remember how much Wentz’s signing bonus was for? The one on his new 128M$ deal. Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? Short answer. There was no signing bonus. Just a metric fuck-ton of guaranteed money. 107M$ worth of guaranteed money. What’s so great about that?

His new deal is an extension. It’s 4 years tacked onto the remaining two years of his rookie deal. He’s due 720K this year, and 22M next year. Both are a far cry from the 32M he’ll be due per year starting in 2021. With the extension, his total deal is worth 154M$ over 6 years, for an average of 25.6M per year.

Instead of making 700K, wouldn’t it be great if he could get his mitts on some of that money sooner than next year? For his charity. For his family. For hookers. Well maybe not the hookers, but you see my point. Very soon he could have incentive to rework his deal to look more like that cap friendly 25.6M over the next six years.

Three years from now, that 25.6 would be a very cap friendly number. Especially with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement in place. The Eagles might literally have, well…

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I still haven’t mentioned the best part! And here is where it helps to know a team. To be familiar. Intimate. What has the Eagles recent weapon of choice been for clearing cap space? It’s been converting players salary, into bonus money.

While the Eagles could rework Wentz’s deal to get him more upfront cash soon, they also have that back door option of creating further cap relief later, since he has no amortized salary cap figure after 2020. They can create enough space to stay competitive, despite carrying a large salary, that naturally decreases in cap percentage with each passing year.

So there are essentially two avenues to create cap space, and when the time comes, Carson will be willing, maybe even eager, to walk through those doors.

Did I leave you feeling good? Told you I would.

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WENTZ’S CONTRACT HURTS COWBOYS

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/07
Posted in: Conversations, free agents, Front Office (F.O.), NFC East, Offense, Rivals, stats, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 2 Comments

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WITH the stroke of a pen, QB Carson Wentz and the Philadelphia Eagles Front Office, wrecked the future for QB Dak Prescott and the Dallas Cowboys. Not that anyone will notice in 2019, but by this time next year, it will be impossible to ignore.

Yesterday Wentz inked a 128M$, 4 year extension (32 per year), on his current deal. He was already playing on the last year of his rookie deal, which pays him 720K$, then there’s the 5th year option of 22M$. This new deal doesn’t really kick in against the cap until 2021.

22M for a starting QB is bargain in 2019, and will seem a bigger bargain in 2020. By 2021, even 32 may not seem so high. Especially with a new Collective Bargaining Agreement and a higher salary cap likely in place at that point.

There was no 5th year option to take for Prescott, so after the 2M he earns in 2019, he’d be an unrestricted Free Agent in 2020. Since Dallas will lock him up before then, his new deal will kick in….. somewhere around this time next year. That’s with just one routine, annual adjustment of the salary cap, and before any new CBA is in place.

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More than that, what Wentz’s deal does, is it sets the bar for Prescott’s asking price. As Cowboy fans are fond of pointing out, since both QB’s came into the league in 2016, Prescott has started all 48 games (Wentz 40). He’s won more games (Prescott 32, Wentz 23), for a higher win percentage (.666 to .575) and has a started 3 playoff games (1 – 2), to Wentz’s zero.

So it only stands to reason that Prescott’s agent should ask for a bigger bag than the one that Wentz secured. With Seattle’s Russell Wilson setting the bar at 35M, Prescott is looking ask for the 34M that Ben Roethlisberger commands, or the 33M that Aaron Rodgers commands.

Prescott will want Super Bowl ring money, despite two bare hands. What’s sad for Dallas, is that had they offered him 27, 28, or 29 last year, he’d have likely snapped it up in a flash. Now with a floor of 33M, he’ll be AT LEAST 4M$ per year more expensive.

Had they gotten Prescott for 27 per year, they might have saved 6M$ per year. That money would have gone a long way to re-signing their own free agents, or helping to court additions.

Our Front Office signing Wentz now, the way that they did, forces the Cowboys into a phone booth. They have little room to maneuver and a number of key contracts (Ezekiel Elliott, Amari Cooper, La’el Collins, Byron Jones, Robert Quinn, Anthony Brown, Maliek Collins, Chidobe Awuzie, Jourdan Lewis and Xavier Woods) coming up in the next two seasons. (That isn’t all the key contracts, just most of them.)

Essentially the Eagles put the Cowboys in a “win now” mode despite the Cowboys not possessing the ability to achieve such a goal, nor the stability to build towards it quickly. The Cowboys won the NFC East crown in 2018. Don’t expect to see that happen again anytime soon.

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And all this, with the stroke of a pen.

 

2019’s IDEAL 53 MAN ROSTER

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/06/05
Posted in: Conversations, Defense, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, Special Teams, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . 3 Comments

THIS isn’t a prediction. With injuries and contract situations, lord only knows how things will look in September. This is my take on who I think gives us the best balance, and chance to win week in and week out, on our journey to retake first the NFC East, then the NFC, then the NFL.

Players inside the angle brackets <player>, are likely weekly inactives to get the team down to the 46 man game day roster.

(Offense 25)

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QB: Carson Wentz / Nate Sudfeld / <Clayton Thorson> – Wentz is the Starter. Sudfeld has experience in this system, is young and isn’t expensive. Thorson looks like a poor man’s Wentz, which might be a boon with Wentz as his mentor. Cody Kessler isn’t the Eagles type and likely won’t make he cut. However, in the event of an injury, he can be pulled in to fill out the roster.

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RB: Jordan Howard / Miles Sanders / Corey Clement / Josh Adams – Howard is the Starter, and should be a MACHINE against 6 and 7 man boxes. Clement is the 3rd down back and right now, the first guy off the bench. Sanders is intriguing. Hopefully his hamstring injury during OTA’s got the staff thinking about depth, opening door for Adams, and killing Donnell Pumphrey or Boston Scott’s chance to make it as utility/return men.

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WR: Alshon Jeffery / DeSean Jackson / Nelson Agholor / J.J. Arcega-Whiteside / Mack Hollins – Jeffery is open even when he’s covered one on one. Now with Jackson blowing the lid off of defenses, Agholor should have plenty of room to turn lots of 5 yard throws, into 12 yard pick-ups. A&W is a red zone option for when teams double Jeffery. Then there’s Hollins. Two years ago, deep speed (Torrey Smith) helped this team run the ball inside. We lost our deep speed (Hollins, Mike Wallace) early last year, and we couldn’t run inside. Jackson gives us that again, but his hamstrings have a history of being balky. That means depth is needed. That’s where Hollins comes in. That is, if he comes in. You can’t make the club in the tub. In which case Charles Johnson might steal the spot. While generally there is no sense in agonizing over a 5th receiver, the Eagles need someone who can fill Djax’s role if need be, and they apparently don’t think Shelton Gibson is up to the task.

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TE: Zach Ertz / Dallas Goedert / <Richard Rodgers> – Ertz is the Starter. Goedert would start here if we didn’t have Ertz. Rodgers has been a starter, and offers us a crazy amount of 3rd string depth, experience, and athleticism.

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OT: Jason Peters / Lane Johnson / Andre Dillard / Jordan Mailata / <Matt Pryor> – Peters and Johnson are the bookends. While Dillard is the future at LT, you don’t hand the blindside of a QB coming off of a broken back, to a rookie when you have a Hall Of Fame caliber LT in the building. Peters might be shifted inside to LG later in the season, but expect him to open the year at LT. Mailata is being trained at both OT spots.

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G: Brandon Brooks / Isaac Seumalo / Stefen Wisniewski / <Halapoulivaati Vaitai> – Brooks and Seumalo are the Starters. Wisniewski will hold down Brooks spot until, he comes back from the PUP list. Matt Pryor may also see time here. Vaitai may salvage his career playing inside, but he’s a bust at OT. The team managed to go on a magic playoff run with him starting, but the amount of smoke and mirrors it took, prompted them to add a slew of OT’s over the last two years. For what it’s worth, he has a natural tendency to play high, so his effectiveness as a run blocker inside doesn’t forecast well. Maybe he’ll surprise us?

C: Jason Kelce – The Eagles need depth and an heir apparent to Kelce. This year Wisniewski can fill in at this spot if needed. So can Seumalo. In fact, this might be where Seumalo is best suited. However, neither of the two back-ups currently behind Kelce can generate forward push in the run game, so they should have a short stay in Philly.

(Defense: 25)

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DE: Brandon Graham / Derek Barnett / Vinny Curry / <Joe Ostman> – Graham and Barnett are the Starters, but expect Curry to play plenty, especially on early downs and inside on 3rd and long. Beyond those three, the position is a toss-up. I listed Ostman because the team loves his high motor, but he’s a chaser who frequently plays pass first. Shareef Miller is a more natural edge setter, but he seems destined for this year’s Practice Squad.

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DT: Fletcher Cox / Malik Jackson / Tim Jernigan / Hassan Ridgeway – Cox and Jackson are the Starters, with Jernigan playing heavy minutes, if his back allows. The team is excited to have Ridgeway and if he’s half as good as advertised, we are going to be an absolute nightmare inside, regardless of which two guys are out there. (As a big body in the middle, don’t be surprised if the Birds find a way to keep 6’5 350lb Anthony Rush.)

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OLB: Nigel Bradham / Kamu Grugier-Hill / Nate Gerry / B.J. Bello – No great depth here. Gerry is more of a bulked up DB than a true LB. He’s started 2 games at MLB last year, but isn’t really built for playing inside. Odds are that both Gerry and Bello stick around, because they already know the system, and contribute on Special Teams.

MLB: Zach Brown / L.J. Fort – Brown is the Starter. With availability being the best ability, Fort being able to actually participate in minicamp (unlike Paul Worrilow), is a major leg up in terms of learning the system, and how to play off of the guys around him. That’s not to say that there’s no chance for Worrilow. But again, you can’t make the club, in the tub.

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SS: Malcolm Jenkins / Tre Sullivan  – Jenkins is the Starter. Sullivan has played well at FS this system, and even shined in a playoff win last year. He’s probably the first guy off the bench at either S spot. Andrew Sendejo is 31, not a Special Teamer, coming off of an injury, and two or three years of up and down football. He’s hardly a lock to make the team.

FS: Rodney McLeod / <Deiondre Hall> – McLeod should be ready to resume his Starting role with no hitch in his giddy-up. Hall is a S with CB on his resume. However, at 6’2 206, with VERY long arms, his presence in the middle of the field could pay huge dividends in close-out situations later in games. Especially later in the season when it’s cold and the ball is harder to push, or be surgical with.

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CB: Ronald Darby / Sidney Jones / Jalen Mills / Rasul Douglas / Avonte Maddox / <Cre’Von LeBlanc>/ Blake Countess – Darby and Jones will probably get the nod, but the smarter move would be to let Douglas and Maddox build off of their 2018 finishes. Jones needs to prove in 2019 that he isn’t a bust. Mills is a little sketchy on the outside, but he’s a problem for offenses at Nickel. Since he got here, LeBlanc has done nothing except earn constant praise from DC Jim Schwartz. Countess is a Special Teams contributor both as a kick coverage guy and as a KR. Oh and he can make plays on defense.

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(Special Teams: 3)

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K: Jake Elliott – This is a no-brainer.

P: Cameron Johnston – They didn’t even bring in a camp leg.

LS: Rick Lovato – Automatic. No other LS on the roster.

KR: Blake Countess / Corey Clement – The Eagles don’t return many kickoffs, so the real focus is on having a steady hand here, as opposed to holding a spot for a dangerous player.

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PR: Corey Clement – Hidden yardage was a problem in 2018, so we need to improve here. From what we have here, Clement looks to be the guy. Maybe we need to add a combo KR/PR specialist. Maybe Darren Sproles? Aside from DeSean Jackson, Clement (with a whopping 6 career punt returns) is the most polished punt returner on the entire team. It makes no sense to routinely use Djax in that spot, given his age and with maintenance of his hamstrings having to be a real concern. (I’d like to see Jordan Mailata get a punt return in the preseason. Just for shits and giggles.)

DWAYNE HASKINS WILL GET SKINNED

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/29
Posted in: Conversations, NFC East, Offense, Players, Rivals, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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REDSKINS fans are excited about rookie QB Dwayne Haskins. Reports out of Richmond VA, indicate that he’s lighting it up out there. Some say that he may be ready to challenge for the starting spot, when training camp opens for that team.

This news has their fans JACKED!

But should it? Let’s roll the tape back a bit, so that we’re all on the same page. Let’s do a quick ‘schmiel-schmazel’ and get off on the same foot here.

Haskins played just two seasons of college ball. He appeared in 8 games with 0, I say again, ZERO starts in his sophomore year, and started all 14 games in his junior year. That’s it. He was a first round pick based off of 14 college starts.

You know what? Whatever. If a team wants to take that gamble, who am I to knock their philosophy? People take big gambles because generally when big gambles pay off, they are life altering. So I can’t, don’t, and won’t fault the ‘skins for swinging for the fences. Why live small?

What lifts the corner of my eyebrow is, when Redskin coaches say that a guy who on January 1st started just his 14th college game, might be ready to beat out a 7 year NFL veteran, based on a few springtime games of catch, played in shorts. Whoa Nellie! Pump the brakes, son. Pump the brakes.

This means that Haskins is probably being hyped by the Redskins brain-trust (oxymoron), to make sure that owner Dan Snyder (total moron), doesn’t see a dip in tickets or merchandise sold to fans (the exploited morons).

Either that or QB Case Keenum is just indefensibly awful. Which would mean that the Redskins would have no depth, and are just serving up the rookie as equal parts “might as well” and hoping that he catches lightning in a bottle.

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Keenum’s jersey number would have beaten him in the 2017 NFC Championship. You like that?! 

Redskins fans won’t hear this, but if you aren’t a Redskins fan, then here is why the deck is stacked against Haskins ever panning out:

He has never experienced the phenomena of teams getting tape on him, and being ready for him the following year. With just 14 collegiate starts, he hasn’t played enough ball against grown men, to know for himself, exactly what he is. This means that when the corners get dark, he has no experience with finding his own way out.

It’s foolish to question any young football player’s physical gifts. It’s common practice however, to forecast a player’s ability to handle the mental aspects of pro football. The reality, the bottom line is this: Haskins has no coping tools.

He played at Ohio State. He was always surrounded with some of the top talent in the nation. The Redskins are the opposite of that. He is going to have to adjust to the idea that though the team he’s on is the most talented team he’s ever been on, it’s near the bottom in talent as NFL teams go.

Oh, it gets worse! 

He has to make sense of those two pieces of information, while managing his emotions, and the expectations of those in the huddle around him, despite their inability to help him deliver on their expectations. To say nothing of what opponents are trying to do to him. Expect the NFL to skin this kid alive.

2019 Haskins fries

McNABB IS THE MOUNTAIN

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/25
Posted in: Conversations, Fans, Offense, Players, Rants, stats. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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DONOVAN McNabb thinks he belongs in the NFL Hall of Fame, and he’s 100% correct.

There are 32 NFL franchises. He is currently the All-Time greatest QB of one of those franchises. That alone should be enough to punch his ticket. In fact, the NFL should consider it a blemish, that one of their franchises isn’t properly represented. The Eagles organization should consider it a slight, and publicly say as much.

I won’t get too deep into McNabb’s resume. I did that in 2014, when I wrote ENDING THE McNABB DEBATE FOREVER.

I do want to touch on a few points though, because otherwise I can’t bring up QB Carson Wentz.

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More on Carson in a sec. First, here is a list of reasons McNabb is the EAGLES All-time best:

Games Played: 148 <#1 All-time>

Starter W/L: 92-49-1 (.647) <#1 All-time>     (Next closest: Randall Cunningham 63-43-1 (.588)

Playoffs: 9-7 .562 <#1 All-time>                       (Next closest: Ron Jaworski at 3-3 (.500))

Passing Yards: 32,873 <#1 All-time>              (Next closest: Jaws with 26,963)

TD’s: 216 <#1 All-time>                                    (Next closest: Jaws with 175)

Completion %: 59.0 <#1 All-time>                 (Next closest Cunningham 55.7) (NFL minimum 1,500 attempts to qualify)

Rating: 86.5 <#1 All-time>                              (Next closest Cunningham 78.7) (NFL minimum 1,500 attempts to qualify)

Wentz currently has 1,448 career passing attempts. He is just 52 attempts away from qualifying for consideration on this list. Currently Wentz owns a completion percentage of 63.7. His interception percentage is a gaudy 1.7%. His career passer rating is 92.5 and it has only gone up every year. (79.3 in 2016, 101.9 in 2017, 102.2 in 2018).

Understand, he is likely just 52 attempts away from surpassing McNabb in each of those categories. The thing is, how is surpassing McNabb important, if McNabb’ marks are without merit? For Wentz to be king of the mountain, the mountain must first be acknowledged.

Otherwise, all we’re doing is setting Wentz up for what’s happened to both McNabb and Randall Cunningham. During McNabb and Cunningham’s careers, they were important to that era of the NFL.

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You cannot talk about NFL history in the late 1980’s – early 1990’s without bringing up Cunningham’s contributions to the sport, his dominance on the field, and how he helped change the perception of Black QB’s. That’s NFL culture, and our QB is barely regarded as a footnote.

You cannot discuss the NFL’s early 2000’s without mentioning the Eagles becoming the NFL’s Gold Standard for building a franchise, and McNabb as the cornerstone of that philosophy and the Andy Reid era of consistent success.

These are the mountain on which Carson will soon stand. However, if we Eagles fans allow the mountain to be minimized to a mole hill, we undercut any future success of Carson Wentz aside from a possible Super Bowl win.

McNabb is deserving. Hell, looking back at what he’s meant to the sport, I would also argue that Cunningham is as well. The problem here is when the national media scoffs at McNabb saying that he is deserving, many in our own fan base, scoff as well.

What say we Eagles fans do something new, and push for one of OURS to get their due, and overdue recognition. How about we use our outdoor voices to make sure that Philly’s players stop being disregarded and overlooked.

Our mountain is a true mountain, and it’s high time we made that clear to the world.

BE CAREFUL WITH CARSON WENTZ

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/22
Posted in: Conversations, Front Office (F.O.), Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

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WANNA hear a joke? The Eagles are going go be smart, aka careful, with QB Carson Wentz.

Here we are at the beginning of OTA’s (Organized Team Activities) and Wentz has been medically cleared to resume being a QB, which means no limitations stemming from the rehab of a stress fracture of the vertebrae in his back.

Wentz’s injury was a different kind of fracture from the transverse process fracture that QB’s Cam Newton, Derek Carr and Tony Romo played through, and more akin to the one that QB Matt Stafford played through last year. (FYI: While Wentz would have preferred to play, it was the organization that decided to shut him down for the season. They then subsequently cleaned house regarding three key members of the medical staff. Somebody fucked up.)

With Wentz being fully healed, the team is going to be careful with him. By which they mean, they will let him get the shit kicked out of him, like any other NFL QB. What else could they mean? He (like the other QB’s) is already wearing a red jersey in practices. So he already can’t be hit. 

Mind you, this isn’t me complaining! I’m all for it. This is his gig. We need him to be able to do his job. I like the idea that we aren’t putting a skirt on him. I just think it’s hilarious when any football coach or front office type, says they’re going to be “careful” with a player.

“See those 11 guys? Well they want this ball, and are willing to kill whoever is holding it, to get it. So here, you take it. Then try to throw it accurately to a track star, running away from his own assailant. Just take what they give you, but impose your will. And hurry, ‘cause you’ll only have 4 seconds. Or 3. Maybe less. Fingers crossed, right? But don’t rush your reads. And don’t forget about your blindside. Now go! And remember Doc, Keeeep Smiling!”

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Because you know. Careful.

So yeah. The team is going to be SMART. Gonna be careful with the Carson. Not gonna let anything happen to the Carson. Now we’re being careful. Because apparently, we weren’t already being careful with our franchise QB. Wait. What? Nope. Nope! You know what? Fuck it. Fuck it. We’re being careful now. That’s our thing now. Now it matters because…..Arrrrgh! Fuck it. Just go with it. Just go limp and ride it out. Be a fan. I can do this. I survived Chip Kelly. I can do this. I can do this.

Oh Eagles. Even when it’s good news, you can still manage to make me want to chew Brillo. That’s how you know it’s love.

Brillo

LET’S TALK A LITTLE BASEBALL

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/19
Posted in: Fans, Players, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , . 2 Comments
Bryce Harper.jpg

Bryce Harper launches a baseball through a window on the International Space Station.

OUR Eagles are doing great this off-season. National pundits pay us that credit, and then act like we don’t exist. Instead they focus on flavor or the month teams like the Cleveland Browns, or annual orphanage fires like the New York Jets.

Oh well. With the Birds being a little quiet, I thought I’d take a minute to mention the Phillies. It was July of 2014 when I last mentioned the Phils, so I’m about due. Yeah, yeah, yeah football site. Yada yada.

Let’s talk some baseball. Just a little.

If you didn’t know better and just went by fan agita, you might think that the Phillies were in last place in the National League. You might think we had a record of 9 – 36. You might think that the Phillies couldn’t hit the ground with a baseball bat. You might think we should already look forward to 2020 Spring Training.

However, none of that is true. The Phils are leading the NL East right now. We’re 26 – 19 (.578), and a game and a half up on the Braves, whom we swept (3 – 0) in March. A quarter of the season is in the books, and the Phillies are leading the division, despite giving away runs like Halloween candy.

So stop fretting over RF Bryce Harper’s hitting slump. The man is batting .230 now, but he’s NEVER batted below .243, and is a .276 hitter for his career. Hell, be glad his slump is happening in May, and not in August!

Instead, let us give thanks for the teammates he has around him, who are picking up the slack. 1B Rhys Hoskins (11HR, 36RBI), 2B Cesar Hernandez (49H and 3SB) and 3B Maikel Franco (7HR, 28RBI).

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Pretty sure Maikel got all of that one.

So stop worrying about our bullp- LOL! I couldn’t type that with a straight face. Worry about the bullpen. In fact, pray for it. Also more stolen bases would also be nice. But seriously, loosen up on the Phils. Appreciate where we are. Maybe even enjoy it a little.

So kick back, and maybe go to a game while the weather is still really nice. You know, before the Summer humidity tries to drown us as we’re walking. By which time there will be PLENTY of Eagles subjects to discuss. And even some preseason action!

Rockies in just a couple hours from now. Let’s get this game and complete the sweep! Go Phils!

DON’T RUSH FOR MILES SANDERS

Posted by The BEAST on 2019/05/15
Posted in: Conversations, Fans, free agents, Offense, Players, Roster, Uncategorized. Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , . Leave a comment

2019 Miles Sanders Duce Staley

EAGLES fans have already fallen for rookie RB Miles Sanders. He has yet to log a single Training Camp carry, and already I’m seeing talk of how he’ll be the starting RB next season. Not during the 2019 season, but the 2020 season. There are some people who are already looking past offseason trade acquisition, RB Jordan Howard.

This is a mistake, and proof that some members of our fan base, keep failing to grasp a fundamental NFL truth. That truth being: You can never have too much talent in a position.

2002: The Eagles had CB’s Al Harris, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown, Troy Vincent, and Bobby Taylor, all on one roster. By 2004 all but Sheppard and Brown would be gone.

Eagles 2002 Secondary

2002 Secondary Top row Left to right: Brian Dawkins, Al Harris, Bobby Taylor, Rashard Cook, Troy Vincent. Bottom row: Michael Lewis, Blaine Bishop, Lito Sheppard, Sheldon Brown

2008: The Eagles added CB Asante Samuel to a roster that already included CB’s Sheppard and Brown. Immediately the chatter began about who to bench or not re-sign (Lito) because we had Samuel and Brown. Instead of learning from 2003’s mistake and embracing depth, we made depth a detriment. Again.

2018: A QB room that looked like Carson Wentz, Nick Foles and Nate Sudfeld. Foles was allowed to walk for nothing, ostensibly because the Eagles couldn’t afford him. Foles subsequently signed a 4 year contract with the Jaguars. Since then, Eagles GM Howie Roseman has found a way to gin up/create/conjure roughly 21M$ in cap space. That’s 21M counting the rookies. Oh yeah, Foles 2019 salary cap figure: 12M$. The Eagles didn’t let Foles walk over money. Don’t let anyone fool you about that. Not now.

Three Headed Monster

In 2017 the Eagles had RB’s LeGarrette Blount, Jay Ajayi, Corey Clement, and Darren Sproles. Until Sproles got hurt. However, even with Sproles being hurt, we were still ridiculously stocked at the position. In fact, we leaned heavily on those RB’s in our Super Bowl win. After which, Blount was allowed to leave.

That left us Ajayi, Clement and Sproles in 2018. The idea was to make Ajayi “the guy”, and let him be spelled by Clement. Sproles was never supposed to figure in heavily. Then Ajayi got hurt, and Clement got nicked up, then injured. Suddenly a position that was embarrassingly deep in 2017, was a bare cupboard in 2018. Raise your hand if you missed Blount in 2018.

Learn the lesson Eagles fans.

adams_td

Right now RB looks like Jordan Howard, Miles Sanders, Corey Clement and Josh Adams. (Scuttlebutt has it that Wendell Smallwood is on the outside looking in.) However, as I said, many fans are already looking forward to the days (2020) when Howard has moved on, and the onus gets thrust upon Sanders. That’s a short-sighted thing to wish for.

First of all, depth is NEVER bad. NEVER. Second, playing these guys as a platoon, keeps them fresh during the season, and could prolong their overall careers. Third, if we find a guy who works for us, we should by any and every means at our disposal, lock him down. Even if it’s just so that our rivals can’t find their salvation in him. If this group works, it’s only smart to keep it intact.

It’s time to learn the lesson Eagles fans. It’s time to stop making the great, the enemy of the great. Sanders is great to have. I’m excited about him too. However, even greater than Sanders, is Sanders when surrounded by big-time help.

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