It’s the Friggin’ Giants

Posted: December 27th, 2014 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 149 Comments »

The season finale is Sunday. Nothing is on the line, but this is still the friggin’ Giants and that should mean something. I wrote about that in my preview for PE.com.

I want the defense to go out and knock the crap out of Eli Manning. Let’s send him to the offseason with a beating to remember. Trent Cole might be in his final game as an Eagle. You know he wants to go out there and be a disruptive force in case this is his final game in green.

Flip over to offense. This could be Mark Sanchez’s final game as an Eagle. You know he’ll want to…oh hell, even I can’t sell that angle.

I hate the fact this game doesn’t have anything tangible on the line, but I’m still going to watch it and yell as much as ever. I want the Eagles losing streak over and I want Giants fans to deal with a sweep by the Eagles. That would send me into the offseason with a smile on my face.

And let’s do remember this is the last game until August. Enjoy it for what it is…Eagles football.

Maybe LeSean McCoy will give us a spectacular run or two. Maybe Malcolm Jenkins will give us a pick-6. Darren Sproles hasn’t had a punt return TD in a while. Maybe Josh Huff scores the first offensive TD of his career. You never know what big plays or memorable moments are going to happen in a game.

My personal fantasy is another shutout. Fletcher Cox is then shown celebrating on the sidelines by eating Funyuns with a giant smile on his face.

* * * * *

Bradley Fletcher is banged up. It would be great to see Nolan Carroll get the start in his place. We know Fletcher isn’t part of the future. Carroll could be. One game isn’t going to define Carroll, but it could offer a hint as to whether the Eagles should consider him a starter heading into 2015 or if they absolutely need outside help for LCB.

Some people would like Brandon Boykin outside. I’d prefer to see Carroll out there. I’m just not sure Boykin has the combination of athleticism, size and cover skills to handle top flight WRs on the outside. Carroll has been an effective starter outside.

At this point, it will be good to see someone other than Fletcher out there.

_


149 Comments on “It’s the Friggin’ Giants”

  1. 1 Jamie Parker said at 7:45 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    We lose, we might help our draft stock and simultaneously hurt theirs. Then again, it’s not that big of a difference. I’d love to see T Cole break Eli in half. 10-6 looks a lot better than 9-7.

  2. 2 ICDogg said at 8:00 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Yeah, the prospect of drafting 17th instead of 20th or whatever it would be just doesn’t capture my imagination as a reason to lose.

  3. 3 Mike Cappelli said at 12:16 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Keep in mind that drafting 20somethingeth instead of 17th is what led us to missing some elite talent this last draft. A few spots can make a difference. However, screw the Giants.

  4. 4 Media Mike said at 8:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I would more blame Howie being asleep at the wheel when New Orleans jumped ahead of us, robbing the Eagles of Cooks.

  5. 5 GEAGLE said at 2:06 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I would def try to win this game, but I also wouldn’t scoff at drafting; 16 or 17 instead of 20…drafting at 17, means we can trade up to like #12 if a player you fall really likes, for example, the next Odell Beckam. Where as at #20, you can’t get much higher than #15 without payng a boatload

  6. 6 ICDogg said at 7:59 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I just can’t get into this game. I hope the Eagles win, I hope they have a great game, but I’m not even sure I’ll be watching.

    If I do, what I’ll be paying most attention to is how the Eagles attempt to defend vs. ODBJr and how successful they are in doing so.

  7. 7 Jamie Parker said at 8:03 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I’ll be watching because it’s the Eagles and it’s the last Eagles game until August.

  8. 8 daveH said at 10:53 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    yes since he didn’t get a pro-bowl ticket I hope he doesn’t torch us for 3 tds. yuck, that wud be tough to remember til next year.

  9. 9 Henly125 said at 8:03 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Couldn’t have ended this post any better.

  10. 10 EAGLES said at 8:17 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I just wanna see other players like Carroll in the game. Period. I don’t wanna see Fletcher or any other tool we’ve already seen enough of.

  11. 11 oreofestar said at 8:19 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    hope we see Carroll he may very well be the starter besides Maxwell next year

  12. 12 Ferris Wren said at 11:19 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Fletcher isn’t part of the future. Carroll could be. — TL

    I don’t know what to think about this. If Carroll couldn’t show Davis and Kelly that he should start ahead of Fletcher this year, what does that say? Either the coaches screwed up or he isn’t very good? Or?

  13. 13 SteveH said at 12:18 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    If Carroll looks good this week, it’s gonna make Billy Davis look reaaaallllyyyy bad.

  14. 14 D3FB said at 12:46 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    And if he looks like crap, people won’t be appeased anyways.

  15. 15 GEAGLE said at 1:35 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Nolan is a better outside corner than dime corner. This was his first year playing inside. All the tape we watched evaluating Nolan. That made us want to sign him was of him playing outside corner, Not inside,,,and it’s safe to assume he is probably much better outside, than inside which he is playing for the first time this year.
    ..
    If Nolan didnt get hurt in preseason he had a chance to beat out Bradley for the position. nolans coverage is what stuck out of our corners in training camp/preseason.. Obviously take that with grain of salt, but i WOULDNT at all be surprised if Nolan proves to be a much better outside corner than Bradley.
    ..
    Nolan and Cary Williams as the outside corners in September… But I wouldn’t mind being wrong. I love Cary Bleeping Williams, but the last two season ended with him

  16. 16 nopain23 said at 8:50 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    i hate to lose but i’d take the higher draft pick. we missed out on some really good prospects last year.

  17. 17 oreofestar said at 8:58 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    yeah I’m fine either way winning is always nice and 10-6 is a moral victory but at least if we lose we will pick higher

  18. 18 xeynon said at 9:11 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Don’t think there’s any such thing as a moral victory.

  19. 19 ICDogg said at 9:29 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Not in this situation. You can have “moral victories” maybe if you’re the Sixers, you have no business even competing with some teams in the league, and yet sometimes you play above yourselves.

    But the Eagles? Losing to Dallas and then Washington was a moral defeat and there’s nothing going to fix that.

  20. 20 xeynon said at 9:33 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Fair enough. I think for a young, rebuilding team that’s learning how to win, it could mean something to win this game. But as you say, for a team like this, that was in the playoffs last year and should have been in them this year, a win here does nothing.

  21. 21 xeynon said at 9:10 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I respect your opinion Tommy, but nothing will send me into this offseason with a smile on my face. This season has already been ruined and sweeping the Giants won’t erase the epic collapse of this December. I only care about winning the 2015 Super Bowl – losing this game will do more to help us do that than winning it will. Therefore, I hope we lose. Most of all, I hope nobody gets hurt.

  22. 22 Insomniac said at 9:35 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I feel the same but there’s always next year.

  23. 23 jshort said at 11:48 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I’ve been saying that for 50 some years

  24. 24 Insomniac said at 7:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Ouch. I hope we win one soon..the Phillies won one years ago so don’t give up hope!

  25. 25 D3FB said at 10:19 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Actually nothing that happens (win,lose,draw,franchise relocation) will have any bearing on us winning the 2015 Super Bowl, seeing as we aren’t in the playoffs, it would be impressive for us to win the super bowl.

  26. 26 xeynon said at 11:26 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    By “2015 Super Bowl” I meant the Super Bowl that will be played at the conclusion of the 2015 NFL season. Yes, it will technically be played in 2016, but I assumed it was clear from context what I meant.

  27. 27 D3FB said at 12:01 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I mean your argument is that a couple of draft slots is going to make any kind of impact on the future of the franchise.

    picks 16-20:
    2014: Zach Martin, Cj Mosely, Calvin Pryor, Juwan James, Brandin Cooks
    2013:EJ Manuel, Jarvis Jones, Eric Reid, Justin Pugh, Kyle Long
    2012: Quinton Coples, Dre Kirkpatrick, Melvin Ingram, Shea McClelan, Kendall Wright
    2011: Ryan Kerrigan, Nate Solder, Corey Liuget, Prince Amukamara, Adrian Clayborn
    2010: Derrick Morgan, Mike Iupati,Maurkice Pouncey, Sean Weatherspoon, Kareem Jackson

    Talent acquired via the draft isn’t linear over the course of a small number of picks. You also have to weigh in FA’s opinion of a four game slide to end a season, which likely is enough to negate any theoretical small advantage gained by picking a couple slots higher.

  28. 28 xeynon said at 8:28 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    It’s true that the dropoff in talent isn’t linear over a small number of picks, but you’re completely wrong if you think a small number of picks can’t make a difference. Just last year picking three slots earlier would’ve meant Haha Clinton-Dix or Brandin Cooks instead of Marcus Smith. You put either of those guys on the field this season in place of Nate Allen or Riley Cooper, and it’s quite possible we’re not even having this conversation because the Eagles are in the playoffs. A few picks can mean missing out on a top tier player and if it didn’t, teams wouldn’t be willing to trade assets to move up a few picks.

    As for free agents, I don’t think how a team ended a previous season (which for the Eagles is going to be an embarrassing collapse no matter who wins this game) plays any role in their decisions. Free agents care about 1)money; 2.)a favorable situation with a good coaching staff; 3.)a chance to win. The Eagles can offer all three regardless of whether they are 9-7 or 10-6.

    I stand by my earlier statement – a higher draft pick helps more than a 10-6 record so they are better off losing this game.

  29. 29 GEAGLE said at 10:34 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I don’t get what all the BG problems are about. If you let BG walk, any decent edge rusher you could possibly want will cost,you a minimum of 20mil in guarantees, so you might as well just keep the continuity, don’t break Up the chemistry, and come to terms with BG. If you are willing to give another teams pass rusher like Sheard the 20mil guaranteed it would take to get him, you might as well come to terms with Brandon Graham.
    ..
    Don’t even get what all the hold up is. Keeping BG is the NO BRAINER, if an OLB has to go, it needs to be COle, not Brandon..
    ..
    I assume an Everson Griffin type deal Keeps BG in Philly, and it’s acceptable for howie:

    What you do is get BG signed to a 5yr 42.5mil deal with 20million in guaranteed dollaz… Problem solved, towards the end of this deal it will be time to get marcus smith signed long term, so we say good by BG, and then get Marcus signed long term

    5yrs. 42.5 mil…. Get it done howie

  30. 30 Joe Minx said at 10:52 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    towards the end of this deal it will be time to get marcus smith signed long term

    I know you think he’s the second coming of LT but he’s going to actually have to get on the field and, I don’t know, MAKE A PLAY before anybody thinks about signing him to another contract.

  31. 31 GEAGLE said at 11:05 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Funny… Packers obviously drafted a bust after aaron Rogers was drafted in round 1 and DIDNT get a single rookie year snap yet right?
    ..
    I know Its really hard for the simpletons and the delusional slaves of instant gratification to comprehend, I get it, I really do…. But believe it or not, nothing happened this year that should give anyone any reason to be down on Marcus smith..
    Being down on Marcus after this season is probably worse than me assuming Marcus will be extended.

    there is no reason to be down on Marcus and think he will be a bust. Until he gives me reason to be down on him, how could I possibly be down on a kid I had so much belief in and wanted the Eagles to draft so badly? How could you expect me to be down on the kid?

    And personally, I wI’ll probably always a assume that a top 100 draft pick will see his second contract, until he does something negative to make me wonder about it, unless it was a player I was really down on before he ever became an eagle, like Matt Bakley, but even then, you will typically see me take the wait and see approach… But feel free to let irrational negativity be your go to default for unproven young players the Eagles bring in

  32. 32 Joe Minx said at 12:30 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I actually wanted us to draft him too, albeit not in the first round. I take no pleasure in this. But at this point you’re just not paying attention if you haven’t taken notice of what has happened with him, the way the coaches have spoken, even the way some of his defensive teammates have spoken.

    I never expected the guy to come in & dominate from jump street, or even play all that much. But the dude couldn’t even get on the field to play STs until week 13, couldn’t get on the field in the midst of more than one blowout, & nobody at NC seems to have any clue about what his future looks like. Given all that how can you not at the absolute minimum be concerned about him?

  33. 33 GEAGLE said at 10:40 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Do people understand that there are only certain amount of spots for guys of Marcus body size on Special Teams?
    ..
    Normally not playing ST could be a valid argument complaining with a rookie, but in our SITUATION it’s an Utterly worthless argument… Coaches typically don’t dedicate an entire free agent period to upgrading the special teams the way chip has. how can you be down on Marcus not playing ST, when we paid good money to bring in ST studs to specifically play his position.
    paying 4mil for ST beast James Casey
    Signed Braman for the sole purpose of being a ST beast.
    Burton stole a ROSTER SPOT for his BEAST ST ability.

    If we were the 15th ranked special teams, I could see the argument for holding not playng ST against marcus. but when we Boast the top ranked ST unit, why would anyone expect marcus to play ST over guys who’s sole purpose for being here is to make up the top ranked ST unit?
    ..
    NOTHING has HAPPENED that should give anyone any reason to be down on Macus smith…after what coach McGoverm did with COle and BG in two years, I strongly warn about souring on Marcus too soon.

    Any of the pro Marcus Smith posts in the archives of this site from before the Eagles ever drafted him, from fans that desperately wanted the Eagles to go draft him before the draft, all always mentioned that he wasn’t a pick that would provide instant gratification as a rookie, but he is a pick you make because two years from now he will start to be ready to produce and you don’t know if we would lose COle and BG this summer.
    ..
    When the Eagles thought highly of this kid to be our first round pick, they did so KNOWING he wasn’t going to provide much instant gratification at all this yera, but is a player we can turn into a stud in years two, three and Four…. Best case scenario we all said he might play a little 3rd down role, but that was Before we knew COle and BG would blow up this year.

    And then when the Eagles took the raw rookie and bounced him around between two completely different positions all year, everyone lost the right to rationally complain about Marcus not providing instant gratification,,
    ,,,
    And with the way COle, BG, and Barwin played this year, even the Great Anthony Barr would have been burried on our bench this year

  34. 34 GermanEagle said at 7:30 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Hey Joe

    How did you make this quote?

  35. 35 ICDogg said at 8:38 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    test

    type this:
    <blockquote>test</blockquote>

  36. 36 Media Mike said at 8:46 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    2nd coming of Lawrence Timmons? A guy who failed at OLB, then had to get put at ILB? Who also, mostly due to being a typical Florida State dullard, needs somebody besides himself to call the D?

    I have faith that Smith will have a better 2nd year, but I couldn’t resist the LT dig.

  37. 37 GEAGLE said at 11:24 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Write the comtract, something like:
    ..
    5yrs, 42.5mil, 20mil in GUARENTEED money.
    ..
    The Guaranteed money will all be paid within the first two seasons, 2015 and 2016. The 20mil will come in the form of 6mil signing bonus and the remander guaranteed 14mil will come in the form of the 2015 and 2016 base Salary. If BG continues to produce he can collect his 20mil the first two years, and see the remainder of the 22.5mil the next 3 years…if his production ever dips, or want to get out of the deal for whatever reason:
    ..
    We can cut BG after 2016 season and it would cost us 3.6mil in dead money.
    ,
    If we cut him after the 2017 season, we lose 2.4mil in dead money
    ..
    if we cut him after the 2018 season we lose 1.2mil in dead money…
    ..
    So if Brandon Graham wants to be a beast pass rusher for us for the next 5 years he will be paid handsomely. if we need to get out of the deal, we can get out of it without getting destroyed with dead money.
    ..
    This is a good deal because it doesn’t push all the owed money to the future years, it compensates BG handsomely for the next 2 years, which could very well be his best years since he is in his prime right now… So while we pay him well, we should be getting his best performance, and after These two years, if his performance starts to dip, we can get out of it…

    Get it done HOWIE…then trade a 4th or a 5th for Dion Jordan, heck try to trade the pick we are owed for the bryce bRown trade for Dion Jordan that would be bad ass,,..unfortunately we would have to say good bye to COle. Start BARWIN and Brandon Graham, with Dion Backing up BARWIN and Marcus backing up BG… BARWIN/BG play 70% snaps, Dion/Marcus get 30% of snaps

  38. 38 Tyler Phillips said at 3:41 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Too much. Besides, he’s already said he wants to test FA. There is no “get it done Howie” in this scenario. BG is so overvalued by some and undervalued others.

    Here are the facts:

    We do not overpay our own guys.
    He is only coming back on a team friendly deal.
    He wants to test FA.
    Testing FA ensures that he will be offered more than we are willing to pay.
    Therefore, it’s a much greater chance he is gone than stays, and people need to start dealing with it.

  39. 39 unhinged said at 8:40 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Who decides what actual market value on a player is, and please don’t tell me the market. If CK wants to hang on to BG for a median-range current rate for starting OLB, which BG has not been for most of this or any season, I think BG will lean in our direction. He has said that he wants to be here, so if Howie does not insult his agent with a low-ball offer (he’s not an idiot), HR probably does not even have to match the best offer out there.

  40. 40 Media Mike said at 8:44 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Well, Avril getting 4 / $32 million from Seattle last week should put Graham in below that.

  41. 41 GEAGLE said at 9:06 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    .I know all the quotes buddy, I also know a ton of posturing goes on this time of year… Did you read my below post, breaking down how the BG contract needs to be written?

    I also happen to know that EVerson Griffin a year ago, also wanted to test free agency, he hit the market, and then ended up coming to an agreement with his Team, the Vikings,..so while he tested the free agent Market like he wanted, he got offers and still ended up staying in MInesotta..
    ..
    Unless a team offers him significantly more money, I would assume, he signs an Eagles deal if the money is in the same ballpark…

    I wouldn’t be surprised if Howie and BG get a similar EVerson Griffin deal done, I’m just not sure if it happens before free agency, or during free agency..
    ..
    It’s a fair deal, that will work for Brandon Graham. he will get to put 20mil guaranteed in the bank, paid to him immediately the first two years. Only 6 mil of the 20 guaranteed comes in the form of signing bonus, the other 14mil will be paid in guaranteed salary over his first two seasons…
    ..
    BG is going to be attracted to deal that puts guaranteed 20 mil in his bank account the first two seasons. After that, if we cut him, no big deal, he can get paid AGAIN from another team. if he lives up to the contract, and keeps producing he can stay past the first two guaranteed seasons and it becomes a pay as you go deal. That isn’t hard to get out of…very similar to the Cooper deal which can easily become a two year deal.
    ..
    We can get out of this BG deal after 2016 season and eat 3.6 in dead money
    ..
    We can get out of it after 2017 season and have to eat 2.4 in dead money
    ..
    Or get out of it after 2018 and we would eat 1.2 Mil

    If BG keeps producing over the duration of the 5yr deal, GOOD FOR US, and good For BG who will have made 42.5 mil. If he beats up QBs for the next 5 years, he should see that money, if not, we can get out of it….

    I know everyone thinks BG is gone,…but watch how things unfold. This deal i propose will keep BG in Philly, because he won’t get a better offer that BLOWS this deal out of the water.. And this big money deal provides suitable protection for HOWIE Roseman that he can get out of it, and retain FLEXABILITY
    ..
    BG might actually test the open market, but he ISNT going anywhere, letting him put 20 guaranteed dollars in his bank account the next two years, will be enough to keep him here..
    ..
    And since you can’t even get a pass rushers agent to take your phone call without starting at 20mil in guarantees, Howie isn’t going to be against giving BG 20mil, but be Ok giving that 20mil to Jabaal Sheard who I love, or some other player who is an unknown compared to BG

  42. 42 xeynon said at 8:28 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    That’s an absurd amount of money for a guy who has never been anything more than a part time player in your defense.

  43. 43 GEAGLE said at 8:48 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Do you know Everson Griffin? Same exact position as BG, promising player off the bench, made it to free agency and like every single edge rusher worth half a damn, he commanded 20mil in guarantees… Not a big deal if it’s a pay as you contract that you can get out of. If guys like Everson and BG step up and live up to the contract, they should and WILL see that money, if not, we can get out of it

  44. 44 GEAGLE said at 10:48 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I’d like to see chip get pissed off at the end of this season and lose his mind, vowing to never allow anything like this to ever happen again, Chip goes Bonkers, waives Shady McCoy, trades Chris Polk lol.
    ..
    While all the defensive fanatic idiots such as myself are anxiously excited about the quality cornerback and safety that has to be on his way to Philly,
    Chip Kelly has other plans, loses his mind, announces the signing of Adrian Peterson (Jeffrey Lurie’s latest redemption project) as soon as free agency officially starts…an hour later, Iupati is being introduced to the philly media lol

    Defensive maniacs like myself are shocked, but we figure hey, obviously our dEfensive backs are coming in the draft….. Draft night arrives:
    ..
    “With the 17th pick in the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select, MELVIN GORDON, runningback, Wisonsin….
    ..
    A shocked Eagle crowd didn’t see that coming, but start to wonder what chip is going to do with Sproles, PEterson, and Gordon lol…. no Big deal, some pretty good DBs in round two.,,…back on the clock..”with the 47th pick, in the NFL draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select…..Hroniss Grasu, Center/Guard, Oregon Ducks lol

    Ok…… Well, now there is really no chance we don’t take a DB in round 3…right?
    ….
    “With the 84th pick in the 3rd round, the Philadelphia Eagles Select……TY MONTGOMERY, WR, Stanford University,,,,,

    And defensive fanatics like me bang my head against the wall at another year of Nate Allen…. I can see it now…

  45. 45 jshort said at 11:39 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    Sounds like a best player available kind of explanation.

  46. 46 Corry said at 11:06 PM on December 27th, 2014:

    I’ll watch this game and be angry regardless of the outcome. If we win, I’ll be irritated that we couldn’t play well enough to win the games we needed. If we lose, I’ll be pissed that we lost and ended the year on a 4 game losing streak.

    *sigh* life of an Eagles fan.

  47. 47 P_P_K said at 9:54 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I sigh along with you.

  48. 48 Weapon Y said at 12:07 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Any chance the Birds could sign Justin Houston as a free agent? Would be the one guy available I’d take over Graham.

  49. 49 SteveH said at 12:14 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I think I read he’s likely to be franchised, and if he isn’t he will command a huge, almost JJ Watt like contract.

  50. 50 Media Mike said at 6:14 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    So we have to figure out who else KC can’t afford as a result and add that guy to our roster.

  51. 51 Weapon Y said at 9:07 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Don’t they also have to pay Tamba Hali and a bunch of other defensive players? I’m not sure KC has the money to pay him. Granted, the Eagles might not want to pay him as a much as the usual spendthrifts like Washington and Dallas.

  52. 52 GEAGLE said at 1:18 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    No chance

  53. 53 Tyler Phillips said at 3:34 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    too much $$$

  54. 54 unhinged said at 9:44 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Now there is a guy who probably will be franchised if he wants to get the hell out of Dodge. He could get a big payday in a lot of different places, and I would not rule out Philly being among the bidders. I just don’t think KC will allow him to walk.

  55. 55 Mike Cappelli said at 12:17 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I wasn’t even interested in this game at all before I read this, but now I am. Thanks Tommy, good on you.

  56. 56 GEAGLE said at 1:39 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I assume the Giants will be jacked up to play after the Embarressment of getting shut out. If we don’t show up to play, we can get our asses handed to us tomorrow….
    .
    And I certainly am not looking forward to our officially introduction to Odell Beckam Jr. tomorrow.

  57. 57 Media Mike said at 6:15 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Everybody on the Giants and all of their fans can get “JACKED UP” and knocked the F out if they’d like.

    And ODB had 2 catches for 28 yards on 4 targets when we played in October, that would be appropriate for today.

  58. 58 Insomniac said at 9:16 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    That was his 2nd game back from being injured. We might have been lucky.

  59. 59 Media Mike said at 9:44 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    He’s been lucky to get that many targets all year. And maybe today can be his last game free of injury.

  60. 60 GEAGLE said at 1:52 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Hoping the banged up hip keeps Bradley Fletcher from playing tomorrow because Not only would that guarantee an entire game of Nolan playing on the outside which is actually his best position, but we would also get to see Jaylen Watkins replace Nolan as our Dime corner.

    If fans were pleased with Nolans season playing Dime, they should be happy to learn that his specialty is playing outside Corner. The Eagles signed him as an outside corner, all the film we watched of him, That made us want to sign him, was of him playing on the outside…so Good chance we are pleasantly surprised with Nolans outside corner ability
    ..
    Fingers crossed

  61. 61 Media Mike said at 6:23 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Yeah. I still want to win the game and play most of the starters at an intense level, but I’m done with Fletcher and would like to see other guys on the field for evaluation purposes to help better detect when the team is lying to us about why they’re playing one guy over another.

  62. 62 BobSmith77 said at 3:10 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’m not a ‘play all the young guys tomorrow’ but would be a lot more interested to see what/if Barkley could do as the QB.

  63. 63 BobSmith77 said at 3:16 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Cole playing tomorrow typifies his career here. Been my favorite player on the team for a while and I have always appreciated his effort on the field.

    Not an ‘All-Time’ Eagles great but he has been productive through out his career, played hurt regularly, and been one of those ‘lead by example on the field’ guys instead of being a vocal leader.

    Hope he is back next year but understand if the Eagles will chose to move in a different direction given his age & salary. Still think Cole ends up back here next year because Graham prices himself out of what the Eagles are willing to pay and Cole comes back a fairly reduced price.

  64. 64 Media Mike said at 6:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    If we can get his cap hit for this year down to the dead money we’d eat by cutting him; I’d love to have him here for the next two seasons as a rotational player.

  65. 65 Tyler Phillips said at 3:55 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    BG is going to walk. (thanks for the compensatory pick in 2016)

    Have to get Maclin re-signed. I’d hope it gets done before the start of the new league year.

    RFA Tender Polk/Thornton. (and, hell, Maehl too probably)

    Have to think Matthews is probably back for cheap as well. He knows the system and was decent enough as a backup.

    Brad Smith? I’d let him walk

    Bye bye to Nate, too.

    Fletcher, gone obviously. (hopefully)

    I do wonder if Sanchez is back as backup QB. That would likely be later in FA though.

  66. 66 Media Mike said at 6:19 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    The longer we go without signing Maclin, the more I’m convinced he has some type of number stuck in his head that is far beyond his value to the team.

    How much he actually signs for should be interesting. Given his injury history and the ability of this system to pump up stats for WRs; I’d like to see Maclin here for 5 years $40 million on the same structure of the current Cooper deal. If Maclin sees himself in the 5 years $60 million with some structure elements that leave his contract difficult to cut early; it won’t be a quick signing here and we might lose him.

  67. 67 Tyler Phillips said at 6:24 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’d say 9M would be about correct for maclin. Low end #1 WR money makes sense since he’s not in that elite class.

  68. 68 Media Mike said at 6:29 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Will he take a 5 year / $45 million deal that dumps all of the guarenteed money into year one and two in a way that protects the team if Maclin’s knee junks again.

    The guarenteed money in the deal needs to fit in this structure (no matter how rich it is per season) or I’m letting him walk.

    http://overthecap.com/player/riley-cooper/777/

  69. 69 Tyler Phillips said at 6:31 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I don’t worry so much about the structure. That can be tweaked once they get in the $$ range. Howie is good about that stuff.

  70. 70 Media Mike said at 6:33 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I get what you’re saying, but the structure is the most important thing to me. I’d much rather see a bloated first year salary, fully guaranteed 2nd year, and/or big roster bonus in those first two years rather than a signing bonus that is too large and leaves the team stuck with dead money out the wazoo if he’s gone after two years.

  71. 71 GEAGLE said at 9:35 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    You would see something like 5yr 42mil, 6mil in signing bonus, 14mil guaranteed in base salary over the first two years, so Maclin gets 20mil guaranteed dollars the first two years, after that it becomes a pay as you go deal for the other 3yr 22mil, after the 2nd year you can get out of it eating 3.6 in dead money, after the 3rd year you would eat 2.6 to get out of it and after the 4th yr you can get out of it only eating 1.2

    this would be a good deal for Both a premier WR like Macln, and a quality edge rusher like BG. If they keep producing for 5 years, they should see the entire 42.5, but as soon as we aren’t getting our money’s worth, we can get out of it without getting killed with dead money

  72. 72 Media Mike said at 9:47 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’d ink that deal with Maclin in a second. I just have a feeling that he believes he’s worth more than that because he’s still unsigned.

  73. 73 Media Mike said at 6:35 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    And if we can’t get Maclin at the right number, how do you feel about this guy at a tad less than $10 / year for no guaranteed money over the next two seasons?

    http://overthecap.com/player/vincent-jackson/374/

  74. 74 Tyler Phillips said at 6:37 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    eh, just seems too old. I do like him as a player, but I’d rather not deal a pick for a WR in his age range.

  75. 75 Media Mike said at 6:43 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I wouldn’t go higher than a 6 that could turn to a 5 for the 2016 draft if the dude plays up to a certain level in 2015. I’m not going to offer anything close to the 2nd rounder idiot Tampa wanted at the trade deadline.

  76. 76 BobSmith77 said at 7:23 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Maclin will have a lot of leverage right now though with the way this season played out at WR and I wonder just how much he is prepared to use it.

  77. 77 unhinged said at 8:14 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’m a big JM fan, and I think the Eagles, as a franchise, know that he leaves it all on the field every game. They have a history together, and I will be absolutely shocked if a deal is not done. Losing him to a better offer would gut that offensive unit.

  78. 78 Media Mike said at 8:17 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Fan element aside, the Eagles 100% have a number in mind for Maclin. We’ll see if Maclin agrees with it right away or at all. They proved with the Jackson cut that they’re not in the $10 to $12 mil /year WR business.

  79. 79 ICDogg said at 8:44 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I think his number may very well be in that range and the Eagles might even pay it. The fact is that all free agent salaries will go up substantially because the cap is going up substantially.

  80. 80 Media Mike said at 8:47 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’m just basing things on the franchise tag number. It is going to be a tad north of $12 mil next year. Is Maclin a top 5 WR in the NFL?

  81. 81 ICDogg said at 9:09 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    He’s not, but we may need to overpay him to keep him around.

  82. 82 Media Mike said at 9:11 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    That could very well be the case, so I’m really curious to see how management sees Maclin as a need vs. a want on a sliding salary offer scale.

  83. 83 GEAGLE said at 9:40 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Anyone know when the actually cap increases are typically announced?

  84. 84 Media Mike said at 9:46 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Joel Corry, who is just about the best contract / cap guy out there, has been saying $143 million for next year.

  85. 85 unhinged said at 9:32 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Bottom line arguments are hard to simulate in absentia, and generalizing about what Eagles FO will do with WRs based on how they dispensed w/Jackson is not safe. They knew that they had overpaid for a talented speedster who disappeared inside the red zone and refused a restructure. They knew that Maclin was a better team player and a better WR all around – better blocker, better route-runner, better battler for YAC, yet DJax was making more $, and it made no sense for that inversion to persist. The only risk attached to Maclin is his health, but that does not negate a fair offer, which I am confident they will make.

  86. 86 GEAGLE said at 9:38 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Especially since a BIG reason they were able to take the stance they did with Desean, is because they knew they still had Maclin and Cooper as fallback options… You lose Maclin now, and you are counting on second year WRs, neither which have proven much in terms of being a capable outside WR’s. I know Jordan is ready to be a slot machine, but how the hell should I know if he can fill Maclins role on the outside this soon?
    ..
    We had much more leverage in the DEsean situation than we do now

  87. 87 GEAGLE said at 9:25 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Dude,,.its not like free agency is about to start tomorrow and we still haven’t gotten a deal done…. I wouldn’t worry. We are talking about a player who rather sigń with us immediately last year, then entertain offers to go play with Peyton manning and the Broncos and a likely trip to the Super Bowl…Denver and Jags were interested last year and he didn’t even want to wait to see there offers…..this isn’t the behavior of a player who will be absurd during contract talks

    If hOwie got a deal done with that jackass Desean, I really wouldn’t worry about us coming to terms with a player Chip adores

  88. 88 Media Mike said at 9:45 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’ll believe what I see once it actually gets done.

  89. 89 Media Mike said at 6:11 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    A broken and twister Eli laying on the turf would be nice. It is completely and totally inappropriate that Eli is higher on the consecutive games played list than Jaws; so something must be done to stop Eli’s streak directly by the Eagles.

  90. 90 Dragon_Eagle said at 12:19 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    NOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Let Eli remain the QB of the New York Football Giants forever, please.

  91. 91 GermanEagle said at 7:18 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I will never understand any Eagles fan who rather loses to the frigging Giants in order to get pick no 18 instead of 20..

  92. 92 Insomniac said at 7:24 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I don’t understand why people are so against it. Two spots still means you would have to trade something to get that spot. I want a shootout just because it’ll be fun to watch. I don’t care who wins anymore since this season is over for us. The Eagles laid a big stinky egg this year.

  93. 93 GermanEagle said at 10:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Look up the players who were picked at #18 and compare them with the ones at #20 over the last decade. Without doing this arduous work I am pretty sure that both their respective careers have been quite similar.

  94. 94 xeynon said at 10:33 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    All you need to do is go back to last year to recognize the wrongness of this argument. Wouldn’t you rather have Cooks or Clinton-Dix than Marcus Smith? Because the Eagles would have had one of those two guys if they’d been picking two spots higher.

  95. 95 GEAGLE said at 10:41 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    No…Marcus is the player I wanted in the draft, and he has done nothing that would allow me to rationally change my mind or be down on him

  96. 96 Media Mike said at 10:43 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I wanted him as well………….. just a round later.

  97. 97 GEAGLE said at 1:00 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    You were lied to by draftniks that failed to do there job accurately…. You wanted Marcus in round two? You know how I spent draft night? Not being able to want Marcus in round two because I was literally worrying that the Cowboys would steal Marcus Smith with the 15th a pick in round 1…. Those that KNOW, always knew Marcus had a better shot at climbing into the second half of round 1, than falling to us in round 2

    If we believed in this player, we did the best we could trading back getting value, as far as we could, without risking Losing this kid.. Should have more faith and respect for Tom Gamble, Azzinaro, McGoverm Chip and all the scouts than to take that Jackass Kipers word over paid front office professionals… Guess it’s easier when my personal evaluation matched that off our front office….

  98. 98 GermanEagle said at 6:06 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    One swallow doesn’t make a summer.

    jimmy kempski just tweeted the number 20 picks of the last 10 years. Look at that list and tell me you wouldn’t be happy with a Hali or Alib.

  99. 99 xeynon said at 6:33 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    You could’ve had any of those guys with the number 17 pick in those drafts. Plus a few other players who went in that range.

  100. 100 GermanEagle said at 9:10 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    If we only had a crystal ball. 🙂

  101. 101 Insomniac said at 7:54 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    You can’t always believe in the trend. One player can change a franchise and usually those players are taken in the first two rounds,

  102. 102 GermanEagle said at 9:10 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    Thankfully we have two picks in those two rounds. 😉

  103. 103 Media Mike said at 7:54 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I agree. There is so much variability on what guy will get picked in one spot vs. another before 18 or 20 that I don’t agree with tanking a game unless we’re trying to land Andrew Luck or Peyton Manning with the #1 overall pick.

  104. 104 xeynon said at 10:05 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’m not saying they shouldn’t play hard. I’m saying they should play the younger players and give them a chance to get some real game action, avoid wasting tread on the tires of guys like Shady by giving them tons of work in a meaningless game, and not waste any good play designs that are better saved for next season.

  105. 105 Media Mike said at 10:07 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I can see that element of it as well. Maybe Chip has a start the game vs. finish the game mentality and/or contingency in place. It would really do my heart well to see the Giants play some gutless football in a blowout win by the Eagles.

  106. 106 GEAGLE said at 10:15 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I hear you….but what are we going to get out of a 1 game sample size playing a young player?
    ..
    It’s serves NO real purpose, we get nothing real out of it, bust quenching fans curiosity.
    ..
    I’d love to see our young players like everyone one else, but that’s just a selfish desire, there isn’t anything real to gain from chip playing players that haven’t earned the minutes beating out the guys in front of them.
    ..
    I’d rather keep our young players hungry, foaming at the mouth to get on an NFL field, and feel that they have no hope for seeing the field until they put in the work and earn it…. Nothing to gain, by giving away playing time in one meaningless game…good or bad, we will be left with a skewed opinion over a worthless sample size
    .
    Keep the young bucks off the field, and HUNGRY until they earn it

  107. 107 xeynon said at 10:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    One game isn’t worth much, but it is something.

    The other half of it is the potential downside of playing key players in a meaningless game. Is it worth the risk of Connor Barwin or Mychal Kendricks or Lane Johnson blowing out a knee to win this game? I don’t think so.

  108. 108 xeynon said at 8:34 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Picking at number 18 instead of number 20 has a chance to help us next season. Winning an utterly meaningless exhibition game between two 2014 losers does not. That is why.

  109. 109 GermanEagle said at 9:44 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Beating the Giants is never – ever – utterly meaningless.

  110. 110 Media Mike said at 9:48 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    The Giants, and their fans especially, are the cosmic definition of vile.

  111. 111 xeynon said at 10:02 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Yeah, it is sometimes.

    2011, Week 11. The Eagles beat the Giants 17-10 at MetLife Stadium to improve to 4-7, on their way to an 8-8 finish.

    Do you remember a single thing about that game? I don’t. Because it was a forgettable win in a lost season that ultimately achieved nothing. Winning this game is similarly pointless.

  112. 112 Media Mike said at 10:04 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Yes, Vince Young was actually useful and I was able to watch New York scum cry about it.

  113. 113 xeynon said at 10:07 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Do you think Giants fans are really going to be broken up about being swept by the Eagles if they lose this game? They’ll just point out that 1.)they’ve won two SB titles in the last decade, and 2.)the Eagles still aren’t in the playoffs.

  114. 114 Media Mike said at 10:09 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I don’t care what they are as long as it’s quiet or bleeding if they’re not quiet. They’re quite possibly the worst people on the planet earth. And if they’d like to bring up Super Bowls; they’re welcome to instantly enter UFC 196. I hate them and want to see them ground into dust.

  115. 115 unhinged said at 8:08 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I want to see no Beckham TD’s, Nate. If a deep ball is in his direction, be there.

  116. 116 Media Mike said at 8:09 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Correct. I want to see that punk (who should have been ejected from last week’s game vs. the Rams on several occasions) held in check……….. or get his chin checked.

  117. 117 GEAGLE said at 8:45 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Would love to see Bradley sit this game out, with Nolan Caroll lined up outside dealing with ODB

  118. 118 Media Mike said at 8:48 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I want to see Eli’s corpse on the field with the ball fumbled and being returned for a TD by Fletcher Cox; that’s the best way to deal with the Giants passing game.

  119. 119 GEAGLE said at 8:49 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    That always works for me…

  120. 120 GEAGLE said at 9:21 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I know all the quotes… Watch Brandon Graham ends up going No where,,
    ..
    fans are nuts if they think hOwie will let BG walk, and then sign some other big name free agent pass rusher, that’s just NOT going to happen…. So unless you are ok with Losing BG and not replacing him in free agency, you might want to be less enthusiastic about losing BG..

    Fortunately for BG fans such as myself, if Howie Lets BG get away, it would cost him 20mil on guarantees just to get another pass rushers agent to not hang up on Howie.. So unless HOwie is ok losing BG and not replacing him with a quality free agent pass rusher, pretty safe to assume we get a deal worked out, ATleast IMO…

    Makes no sense to ruin the continuity, break up the chemistry, gamble that a new player will fit our locker room as well as BG, while paying 20mil h guarantees… If we are going to be on the hook for 20, Id rather go with the Devil we know, who we know has a great work ethic, character, chemistry with the rest of our defenders, than to give 20mil to a devil we don’t know..

    Since HOwie can’t adequately replace BG on the open market, at a cheaper price that it would take to keep BG here, worrying about losing BG is silly IMO.

    I’m expecting this to all unfold very similar to last years EVerson Griffin situation. EVerson hit the open market too, EVerson had never proven that he could start either, yet 20mil in guarantees, and him and the Vikings ended up working things out, and he remained a VIKING.

    It will be a deal similar to Riley Coopers in that BG will be paid 20mil no matter what, but we will be able to get out of the deal after the first two years if we want to, without getting killed with dead money cap hits…. IF after the first two years, we still LOVE BG and he can keep producing at a high level, he can see the entire 42.5mil over the course of the next 5 seasons, or he can just as easily see 20mil for the next 2 years and see him self waived after that if he hasn’t produced…

    because of the importance of that position, chemistry, continuity, how much that position costs to fill on the open market….. I’d be pretty darn surprised if BG isn’t an Eagle next year, and if he ISNT, I doubt he will be replaced!! If BG isn’t back next year, we will end up with COle and Marcus Smith, and I would much much rather have BG and Marcus

  121. 121 GEAGLE said at 9:40 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Nice workhorse Type of production out of Jalen Strong yesterday

    Hate having to weight so long for the,combine, because I hate talking WR and DB prospects without having combine data to differentiate between all the top WR prospects

  122. 122 GEAGLE said at 9:55 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    When we do all these signings and contract debates, it’s important to remember that we need to view things in terms of how much money we are allocating to a certain position, not how much we are paying for a certain individual…

    FOR EXAMPLE: we have Nolan and Cary under veteran contract for next year year(Brad comes off the books), so unless Cary or Nolan are waived, it’s probably more likely that outside CB is a position we will want to get younger at, and ass a rookie contract, instead of a 3rd veteran outside corner
    ..
    Wildcard: in theory we could decide to make Nolan Carrol an inside corner permanently, but we signed him because we liked his play as an outside corner, so I have a feeling we are pencilling him in for a move back outside:
    ….
    So when we look at the WR position, we have two key players going forward on Cheap rookie deals, Coop is getting paid, but it’s a suped up two year deal we can get out of after next year, so the Eagles have room to allocate big money into keeping Maclin or paying some other #1 WR

    Where as when we look our offensive line, we have a lot of money allocated to veterans, unless an unexpected cut happens like us wAiving Herremans or Mathis, it’s probably not wise to expect us to add another expensive veteran free agent contract, I’m sure from a team building money allocation stand point we will prefer to upgrade the OL with rookie contracts… Doubt we see us sigń a free agent without cutting a current starter on the OL
    ..
    safety is such a need that we will take an upgrade in any size, shape or form. Fortunately Nate contract comes off books, and the rest of the safeties are 5th round and later picks on rookie deals, and we didn’t break the bank open for Malcolm Jenkins, so we can go with a veteran or a draft pick upgrade at safety

  123. 123 Media Mike said at 10:03 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I don’t disagree with the allotment by position group concept, but I think you need to make sure you’re looking at that position based on 3 years ahead as well as just next year. For all we know they could be planning on telling Maclin to get bent if he wants more than $9 mil / year because they’re confident in upping targets to Ertz, Matthews, and Huff next year while drafting another WR they like long term.

    I just don’t see them going over their predetermined # for any one guy vs. another. It’s just hard to figure out what their number is before a guy is signed here or elsewhere.

  124. 124 GEAGLE said at 10:10 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Generally I don’t disagree…. I just would be extremely surprised if Maclin isn’t an eagle next year, personally I just can’t feel any concern over the situation….. There is a way to give players what they deserve while also protecting ourselves and leaving ourselves escape clauses and a parachute so we land safety…
    ..
    After how we treated Cooper, I doubt we have any trouble working out a deal with Max. I would Probably be more concerned if we weren’t able to get out of Coops contract next year, I do believe we will draft another Quality outside WR! Just not sure if its this year or next year… When it’s all said and done I expect, Maclin and a rookie yet to be drafted on the outside, Jordan in the slot, Huff lining up all over the place, even the back field…. Doubt Coop is here next year.
    ..
    If we were stuck in the coop deal for two more years, I’d be more concerned about losing Maclin

  125. 125 Mark F said at 10:25 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Uh, yeah, we definitely need outside help at LCB…

  126. 126 Media Mike said at 10:28 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Maybe Hubris will grab another knee on a NYG receiver for us.

  127. 127 mksp said at 10:34 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Eh, I’m on record as saying I’d rather lose this game.

    Beating New York in a meaningless game shouldn’t make anyone feel better about this lost season.

    Would rather draft higher. Browns gave us a 3rd round pick to move up from 26 to 22, that’s real value.

    And considering the state of this team, we need all the assets we can get. Howie + Chip got some work to do this summer.

  128. 128 David Wolf said at 10:39 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Vince Lombardi: “Winning isn’t everything, it’s the only thing!”
    Herm Edwards: ” You play the game to win!”
    Chip Kelly: ” We’re from Philly and we fight!”
    Philly sports writers and faux fans: “Oh dear, somebody might get hurt! And besides we might drop a couple of draft positions.”

  129. 129 mksp said at 10:43 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Ah, our old friend false equivalence….

  130. 130 xeynon said at 10:49 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Gregg Popovich has won more titles than all those guys combined. And he would rest the starters in this game, because he recognizes that winning meaningless games is not the ultimate goal.

  131. 131 Media Mike said at 10:53 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Popp and Lombardi are tied at 5.

  132. 132 David Wolf said at 10:59 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Hey xeynon:
    Popovich coaches basketball, which has an 82 game schedule, not 16. Pro basketball players play 2 ,3, or 4 games per week, not one. Building a winning culture in basketball, as Popovich has done, is quite different from building a winning culture in football.

  133. 133 xeynon said at 11:14 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Football coaches whose teams have qualified for the playoffs don’t play their starters in meaningless games either. It is the same exact principle – you go all out to win when the games matter, and you take a long term view when they don’t.

    I think this “winning culture” stuff is overblown. This isn’t college – these guys are grown men and professionals. They don’t need a bunch of rah rah stuff to motivate them. Besides, to the extent that culture does matter, the epitaph for this team has already been written in stone, and it’s that they are a team that crumbled under pressure and couldn’t win when it mattered. Playing to beat the Giants won’t change anything, other than possibly making our draft position marginally worse and/or getting key players hurt. They are still going to be remembered as losers.

  134. 134 unhinged said at 1:07 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    I think your epitaph is a little unfair. They spotted the Cowboys 21 points and managed to get the lead. Allowing the Cowboys back in was not a choke or cowardice, imo. And the games before mattered. On the subject of playing to win, I don’t think it’s merely a culture thing. CK has said, “How do I look a player in the eyes and tell him, ‘Sorry, you’re a better player, but I want to give this guy a shot just so I can plan ahead’. I will never do that.” Kelly has said he is not married to a play or a scheme or a system. He said regarding scoring he is an equal opportunity HC. He is flexible about how to win, but he is absolutely rigid about trying to win. If you insist that every week you want 53 players committed to winning, and then turn around and say, but today I don’t care, I think credibility becomes an issue.

  135. 135 Michael Winter Cho said at 1:12 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    Popovich has several things Chip Kelly does not have: a supremely talented roster, Hall of Fame coaching ability, proven top-of-the-line talent evaluation, and five championships and multiple deep playoff runs. He also has something like lifetime tenure, unlike Kelly, who could be out in a year or two if things fizzle out. Nor do I believe Pop, if he were an NFL coach, would miss out on another scarce chance to have his guys and his system compete against another NFL team’s guys and system.

  136. 136 mksp said at 10:41 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    The only hope the Eagles have to stop ODB is to have Boykin follow him with help over the top.

    I know some of you guys think I’m overreacting to a couple games or whatever, but ODB is going to be the best WR in the league as early as next year.

    He’s ridiculously, ridiculously talented. Potentially an all-time great.

    Still can’t believe the Giants snagged him last year. The worst thing that happened that entire draft. Except for maybe the Eagles passing on Bridgewater (and yeah I know that wasn’t happening, hindsight is 20/20, etc.).

  137. 137 truehaynes said at 10:54 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I feel kind of guilty that I’m gonna make money on fanduel off of odb destroying us today. He’s the most expensive wr out there but he’s worth it. I have him in every league. I even have one with odb maclin and jordy. With keenum as qb. Asiata and Stewart. Ertz parkey and seahawks d. Show me the money

  138. 138 Media Mike said at 10:59 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Don’t feel guilty at all because I’m not feeling guilty about hoping the guy falls down clutching at a leg.

  139. 139 xeynon said at 11:16 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    You should really cool it man. It’s fine to hate the Giants but rooting for guys to get hurt is a bit much.

  140. 140 Media Mike said at 11:27 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    I can’t.

  141. 141 GEAGLE said at 12:53 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    … You think the Texans DL and JJ weren’t salivating against our mess of a OL and didn’t go into the game intending on Knocking FOles out of the game?
    ..
    Every week, 11 defenders on the other team, are trying to knock our most important player out of the game, That’s what this game is built off of. That’s why offensive lineman who don’t even show up in stat sheet are paid so much money.
    ..
    This is war, they are trying to knock Eagles out of the game. Every time I ever put on Pads and blocked for whatever QB I was playing with, I had to battle to keep Defenders from trying to Knock my QB out of the game… Better them ,then us..,
    .,.
    I wish no serious harm to any man,….but I love to see any key offensive player knocked out of the game with a minor injury that he can return from next week…..
    ..
    In Italy they say “Micha stiamo a pattinare le bambola”.. Aka its not like we are out there, combing the hair of Barbe dolls

  142. 142 truehaynes said at 11:23 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Let’s just say for the point of argument that we end up cutting Cole (8.5 m saving), Cary (6.5 m), Ryan’s if hes not healthy (6.9 no dead), either celek or Casey(4.8 and 4 respectively with no dead), herremens(2.8). This would free up 33 m in cap room. Go out and get the best cb available. Hopefully maxwell.look at the safety and ol markets. Resign graham and play Vinny and graham and your nickle ends with barwin and Kendricks as your lbs. Go get a big.blocking the in the draft. I hope we can renegotiate cole but he’s not getting 11 m this year. Draft Erik Kendricks if he’s available and have h compete with Goode for mlb. If we can’t get him get me the cb out of Michigan state. Start maxwell and Nolan/boykin(nobody can be worse than Cary/fletcher) and our d will be feared by 2016

  143. 143 Media Mike said at 11:29 AM on December 28th, 2014:

    Given some stratigic cuts (Cary, Casey) and reductions (Cole, Celek, Herremans, Ryans) coupled with our rollover from this year………… we can be $60+ million under the cap going into next year.

    I can’t dictate specific players just yet, but every CB in this free agent class should come more cheaply than the contract just signed by Harris in Denver.

  144. 144 D3FB said at 4:28 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    Maxwell likely gets more than that. Which is going to be playing with fire. He’s made 20 some starts in a highly specific scheme.

  145. 145 Media Mike said at 4:52 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    Wow, if both were free agents I would sign Harris ahead of Maxwell. Shocking to me that Maxwell would command more on the open market.

  146. 146 D3FB said at 5:10 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    It’s going to be a really bad market.
    Antonio Cromartie, Tramon Williams, Tarell Brown, Peanut Tilman, Terrance Newman, Carlos Rodgers are all on the wrong side of 30.

    The best of the rest is:
    Kareem Jackson, Walter Thurmond, Patrick Robinson, Darius Butler, Antoine Cason.

    Maxwell is young exciting and is likely to be a classic case of overvaluing decent players on great teams.

  147. 147 unhinged said at 12:42 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    I’m not trying to read Kelly’s mind when it comes to his rationale for improving his defense, but I get the strong impression that he came in trying to overhaul from LOS out. Signing Williams and Fletcher was a quick and easy improvement over Namdi and DRC because they both are more physical. He signed Sopoaga, but he drafted BL, and he grabbed Barwin in a flash. I am thinking that he will resist a big investment in CB before he has OLB and ILB where he is satisfied. As bad as secondary has looked, it would be instantly upgraded by an improved edge rush. I really don’t care who he puts back there if he doesn’t get better mid-field, flat coverage and QB pressure from his LB’s, it won’t make that much difference.

  148. 148 SteveH said at 12:52 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    I don’t know, I think signing Fletcher, Williams and Jenkins showed some priority given to improving the back end.

  149. 149 ACViking said at 12:57 PM on December 28th, 2014:

    “I get the strong impression that he [Kelly] came in trying to overhaul from LOS out.”
    ______________

    Overhaul?

    For two straight years, Kelly used 4 of the 5 starters he inherited from Reid on the O-line and 2 of the 3 starters he inherited on the D-line (or 3 of 4 if you include T-Cole).

    After two seasons, Kelly’s filled 15 of 22 starting spots (or 16 of 23 if you include Nickel CB) with players inherited from the Reid Regime.

    In contrast . . . after two years, Pete Carroll had only 4 of his 23 starting spots filled with Mora-regime players.

    I’m not seeing any “Overhaul” by Kelly.