"Alright, so we got nowhere? Super. Lunch next week? See ya then."
I feel badly for the Green Bay Packers.
The team that wins the Super Bowl typically gets the entire next week to be fully recognized for their accomplishments, and they deserve the praise they have so clearly earned.
But things are working out a little differently this year, as the vast majority of NFL fans have quickly turned their attention away from the result of the NFL’s 45th Super Bowl. Their focus… our focus, is all on the discussions that will hopefully lead to a collective bargaining agreement.
To elaborate, I’m speaking about the discussions that were held yesterday and were expected to continue today… except that today’s five-hour meeting has been canceled because no progress was made during the nine hours the two sides spent together yesterday. In fact, from what I’ve been reading all morning, this thing may even be in reverse. And that ain’t good.
We all want to see football next year. They players want to play and the fans want to watch. Two-thirds of the equation is already complete. The problem lies in the greedy contingent of ownership that spans the National Football League. View full article »
Kolb can keep the visor, but the Eagles will probably want the helmet back.
According to a league source, the Philadelphia Eagles will apply the franchise tag to Pro Bowl quarterback Michael Vick next month. The move will ensure that Vick remains an Eagle for the duration of the 2011 season, and conventional wisdom suggests that in that time frame, the Eagles will work to sign Vick to a long-term deal.
In the meantime, I’m sure Vick will be pretty happy making approximately $20 million next season, which is about the average salary of the five highest-paid players at his position. That’s what a franchise tag entails, so I’m sure Vick’s debtors are smiling right now. View full article »
Is this man the future of the Phillies in right field? Find out what the folks at MLB Network think tonight.
Another Sign That I’m Completely Desperate for Baseball
I’ve been watching the MLB Network religiously. Their “Top 10 Right Now” series is nothing short of awesome, if for nothing else, its ability to spark endless debate between my friends. “MLB’s 20 Greatest Games” has been a pleasure to watch as well. Last night’s episode featured #17, game four of the 2004 ALCS between the Yankees and the Red Sox… an instant classic, and one of the most exciting games I have ever seen. And don’t even get me started on “Hot Stove”… never has a network been able to make their sport so interesting when games are literally not being played.
Tonight, they continue to deliver the goods, baby.
MLB Network will debut it’s list of “Top 50 Prospects” tonight at 9:00 pm, and look for Domonic Brown to be featured on the higher end of that list. It’ll also be interesting to see where any other Phillies may fall and prospects from division rivals.
I will certainly be watching, and I’ll provide you with some info on the show and Phillies-related news some time late tonight or tomorrow morning.
This is the longest winter of my life… I can’t wait anymore. The anticipation for my fantasy baseball league doesn’t help to calm me, either. If you’re as in much pain as I am, take a listen to Anthony Gargano and Glen Macnow’s lunch with Charlie Manuel yesterday. Get your fix.
Webb Chevrolet in Oak Lawn, Illinois is a sponsor of Chicago Bears radio broadcasts. John Stone, now a former employee of the dealership, refused to take off his Packers tie when asked by his boss. The boss then gave him an ultimatum and asked him to choose between wearing the tie or keeping his job. Stone chose the former.
Jerry Roberts, the “boss” in this situation, is justified in his actions. Wearing a Packers tie the day after the Bears NFC Championship loss wouldn’t necessarily rub customers the right way. That, combined with the fact that they have a sponsorship deal with Bears? Eh, not good for business.
So I take it a bow tie wouldn’t have gone over well either?
Laviolette Keeps Flyers on Toes
Flyers coach Peter Laviolette doesn’t want to see his team perform the way they did on December 20th against the Florida Panthers.
The 5-0 loss to a dismal Panthers team was the team’s final game before their one-week break over the holiday season. They Flyers will get another week off for the All-Star break after tonight’s game against the Montreal Canadiens at the Wells Fargo Center.
This time, “Lavs” will not let the Flyers falter in their second “getaway game” of the year.
Frank Seravalli of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote a piece on Laviolette who held a full practice yesterday, despite the fact that the team played two days in a row against New Jersey and at Chicago.
The coach, who is all business, had this to say.
“We didn’t do very well last time we had a break,” Laviolette said. “We talked about it briefly. All you can do is address things and bring it to [their] attention. It’s a big game and an important game. We want to make sure we end it the right way.”
Do you love this coach? Or do you love this coach? C’mon…
Last week, I composed a little piece on the five most important things for the Eagles to avoid in their match-up with the Green Bay Packers yesterday. Let’s take a look at them and see how everything panned out. Shall we? View full article »
It didn't hurt this much... but it was pretty damn close.
If we had the same expectation for the Eagles that we do for the Sixers, then maybe this wouldn’t have hurt so badly.
But we’re a football town (for now, anyway), and that’s not how things work here, so alas… here we are.
The Eagles went out swinging in their 21-16 loss at Lincoln Financial Field last night. In a game filled with mistakes, the Birds still had a chance to win with under a minute to go in the fourth quarter. A Michael Vick passing play to Riley Cooper on a go route ended with a Tramon Williams interception.
The most surprising fact about this whole situation last night was that the Eagles had a chance to win, despite looking awful for most of it. They had a chance! Think about that! I don’t know what that’s supposed to say about this team. I think more bad than good, but here’s what you’re left to ask yourself at the end of the day.
Was it the fact that the Packers were the better team? Maybe. Was it the missed field goals by David Akers? Possibly. Was it the terrible red zone defense that has plagued this team all year? Yes, it was. But more than anything, was it the hangover from consecutive losses at home against the Vikings and a throwaway against the Cowboys? View full article »
