Glad to be Wrong
Posted: November 30th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 257 Comments »
I didn’t think the Eagles should keep Corey Clement. He did some good things this summer, but I just didn’t see him as a player who would contribute much to this team.
I didn’t think Jalen Mills would be more than an adequate CB this year.
I didn’t think Brandon Brooks was as good as his reputation.
These players have proven me wrong this season and I’m happy to admit that.
Clement has proven to be important with the injuries to Darren Sproles and Wendell Smallwood. Clement is 58-259-4 on the ground and is 5-58-2 as a receiver. In Sproles last 34 games with the Eagles, he has 8 offensive TDs. Clement has 6 through 11 games of his rookie season. TDs can be misleading, but Clement has consistently made impact plays in the Red Zone. His catch on MNF vs the Skins was a play that Sproles would have a hard time matching.
The coaches are smart with how they use Clement. They mix him in here and there, but once the team gets near the Red Zone, he gets snaps. Clement runs hard, so that helps a lot. The worst thing you can do near the goal line is dance. You want guys who get the ball and run toward the goal line. Clement has value because he can pass block and catch passes. Defenses don’t know what to expect when he’s in the lineup.
I don’t think Clement will ever become a starting RB in the NFL, but he’s already proven he can be a good role player. That has a lot of value at RB, where most teams use a group of guys and don’t feed just one star.
Mills is a fun player to watch. If he was a Cowboy, I’d hate his guts, but luckily he’s the Green Goblin and we get to have fun watching him make plays and wag the finger. Mills was up and down as a rookie. I loved his personality and the way he played, but I worried if he had the combination of athleticism and skill to handle good receivers. Mills has proven this year he can be effective against good receivers.
He isn’t great. He’s not a shutdown corner. Mills is smart and a good fit for the system. He’ll give up some catches, but makes plays and tackles well. As Jim Schwartz would say, he competes. Football seems to be personal to him and that’s a great trait for a CB to have.
I don’t know what will happen next year when the Eagles have Sidney Jones and Ronald Darby as your projected starters. Does Mills move inside? Do you re-sign Patrick Robinson? I do know this. Mills has shown that he isn’t giving up his job to anyone. Someone would have to outplay him to get him off the field.
Brooks is a huge OG. He’s not a mauler, though. He’s more of a technician. When I think of 340-pound guards, I think of them driving DTs 10 yards off the ball and planting them on their backside. Brooks isn’t going to do that often. That just doesn’t seem to be his game. He is a really good player, though.
.@Eagles @bbrooks_79 walks his DT 4 yards " down the boards". Run blocking is a dead skill until you watch Brooks play #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/eN3ck3Db8b
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 27, 2017
.@Eagles @CoreyClement_6 goes to paydirt behind @bbrooks_79 trap block. Nothing exotic , just great execution #BaldyBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/ptK1YeahlV
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) November 20, 2017
Brooks has had a really good year. I can’t vouch for the stats below, but even if they were off a little, you can see that he’s playing at a high level.
Brandon Brooks has not allowed a sack this year. Has only allowed 1 in two years with Eagles. Brooks has not allowed either a QB hit or sack since Week 2.
Allowed just 1 QB hurry in 149 pass block snaps in last 4 game (h/t @PFF).
All-Pro. #Eagles
— Jeff Kerr (@JeffKerr247) November 27, 2017
Brooks deserves to go to the Pro Bowl. I don’t know if that will happen with other big name guys at the position, but he’s played outstanding football for the Eagles. The more I’ve watched him, the more he’s grown on me.
*****
I also didn’t think the Eagles were going to be Super Bowl contenders this year.
I can’t tell you how glad I am to be wrong about that.
_
To be fair, no one thought the Eagles would be super bowl contenders this year. Oh to go back in time and put a bet on them in Vegas when they were like 150:1…
Brandon Brooks is yet another outstanding acquisition by the FO. Just comes to work, dominates his man and goes home. Great stuff all along the OL.
I was with my friend in Vegas early in the year and was going to put money down on the Eagles but the bookmakers weren’t taking bets at the time. I was going to toss $20 at the Eagles and the Superbowl. I had even planned to have him place the bet for me on his next trip but didn’t get around to asking. Woe is me…
That’s a tragedy man.
I’ve seen in past years what looked like great odds mentioned in articles only to ask my friend there to make a bet and get a ticket that has just ok odds. So after a few years I just stopped doing it.
I wonder how much of the improvement from Brooks has to do with the inept “medical” “professionals” involved with his “treatment” finally getting his anxiety condition nailed down and treated properly. The people responsible for him missing two games for the Texas and two for the Eagles before finally figuring out the issue should be slapped.
(I consider you a friend to the extent that that’s possible given we’ve never met and literally only interact on this website in this very manner).
But…
As a Social Worker, reading your comment, here’s my gut reaction. And it’s also my reaction after some calm reflection and professional judgement:
Due to that comment, you should be slapped.
Then, after time to react, you should be distracted for a moment by some conversation – perhaps “you should never comment about mental health again until you really take time to learn about it.”
Then, while you’re digesting that thought, you should be slapped.
Have a great day Mike. Please give this some thought.
– Your cyber Eagles fan friend who appreciates our ongoing conversations and interactions about the birds.
Or, maybe we should expect medical professionals who get paid ridiculous amounts of money to actually be able to diagnose and treat illnesses instead of just throwing drugs down their patients’ throats and hoping for the best.
Sorry, but social worker does not equal psychologist (or even psychiatrist), so maybe you really shouldn’t be commenting on mental health issues either.
You have no god damn idea what you are talking about.
Psychiatrist give meds as they are medical doctors. They don’t get clinical, they prescribe to the symptoms. Some try to get clinical but they are all jokes. They work best in tandem with a therapist.
LP’s, LPA’s, LPC’s, LCSW’s are pretty equal as therapists. The credentials count for almost nil next to experience, talent, and fit with any given patient. As for the ridiculous amounts of money, I run a behavioral health office, I assure you they only barely scrape into middle class. They make slightly more than teachers with none of the perks.
There are no guarantees in the mental health field. In therapy, sometimes it takes, sometimes it doesn’t. Even in the most successful cases, there are no cures. You just do better. You are still vulnerable to melt downs and may have to resume treatment at a future date.
Setting aside who knows what for the moment, do you think that the stigma surrounding mental health might have been part of the reason Brooks took so long to diagnose, especially in a hypermasculine environment like a football team?
Or perhaps he didn’t present his symptoms to the doctors in a way that sounded like anxiety. I can totally see someone in that environment not even considering something like anxiety to be the source of his problems.
I sure do. And I think comments (in general, en mass) like Guy Media’s and Buge Hall’s above, massage the stigma.
Well whatever the reason and whoever the doctors, I’m just glad he got it sorted out. It seems like he’s managing very well this season and that’s good news for him and the Eagles.
Amen
I’m am too; I’m just upset it took until the 4th time those symptoms occurred to get it figured out from a diagnosis end.
How or earth am I massaging stigma around mental health when my complaint was the his mental health wasn’t considered when diagnosing 3 times over incorrectly?
Are you referencing an article about it having been misdiagnosed 3 times?
Majority of psychotherapists in the US are clinical social workers. Little known, but true. In masters degree social work training, clinical tract people are fully trained to do psychotherapy.
And how are you claiming to know what treatment Brooks did or didn’t get? And why are you pretending it’s a perfect science. I guess therapists should be held to a greater standard than steph curry or giselle’s husband? Or should we chastise Jason Peters’s doctors? I guess Sproles’s doctors should be slapped too?
You know how much Brook’s therapists get paid?
Or that they prescribed drugs?
If psychiatrists and psychologists were held to the same standards as the rest of medicine they would have the same reputations as the Long Island Medium.
I’m not saying some of them don’t do good work. But it isn’t medicine, as generally understood.
Exception made for the small minority that work with the severely mentally ill. People in institutions. Those mental health professionals are, indeed, doctors.
“As generally understood” is the assumption in this flawed argument. It implies that what the average person, without bothering to educate themselves or understand the subject, thinks about medicine should have even the slightest bearing on anything.
Because any general understanding based completely on ignorance is the shakiest possible foundation for any kind of evaluation.
You’re comparing apples to oranges when you compare aiding the body’s natural healing processes to changing deeply rooted and conditioned behaviors and emotional responses. If you want to compare, compare a primary care doctor’s success rate of getting their patients to quit smoking, eat right, and exercise to the mental health field trying to keep someone from self harm or a break-down. Or a dentist getting their patients to floss.
Here is a simple but imperfect metaphor that doesn’t apply to all diagnoses. Our brains are made up of pathways. Lets think of them as rivers. Over time these rivers start to run deep, like the Grand Canyon. Think about habits, good and bad, the longer you do them, the more automatic they become, the harder they are to change. So lets say we have problem river, it floods biblically and wreaks havoc down river. Someone can give you the schematics and know-how to build a dam (levy?) and where to build it, show you a less problematic path we can redirect the river through, and make contingency plans for the folks down-river for if the levy/dam runs over or breaks. But we can’t build it for you. You have to build it and maintain it yourself, and you’re on your last leg armed with nothing but a shovel. Medications can turn a roaring river into something more manageable to give you a fighting chance, but it’s still hard as hell. Sometimes it takes multiple tries, sometimes you have to go back to the drawing board.
Keep in mind the challenge is set by the patients. You want a psychiatrist to knock out anxiety with a medication. Hell yes they can do that, easily 100% of the time. You will be zonked the fuck out unable to work and probably have a whole slew of side-effects, but mission accomplished, super easy peasy. Now Brandon Brooks comes in, He works a high pressure job, you recommend he change his lifestyle to his own mental health but he took that option off the table, you can’t take off too much of his edge or he isn’t a professional football player anymore. So you have to walk a tight rope to give him just enough to not fall apart when anxiety spikes,and not so much that he is a zombie when he is calm. You can estimate the effect of a drug by height and weight, even do DNA testing to check for markers that indicate how fast you might metabolize a drug, but it always comes down to trial and error with Psychiatry. Everyone is different at a million different levels. You pay the professional so that you don’t die while attempting to change the fabric of your being via psychotropic drug.
That was really well stated from the treatment end. My gripes were more from the diagnosis side.
I have noticed over the last few months that you are incredibly sensitive. This is a fan board where we are expected to vent and be irrational about things as we are fanatics. Media Mike especially falls in this category. He runs on pure emotional outbursts. You seem to take far too many of these comments personally. There is no need to always be the moral police. We don’t need a moral compass when we want to be crazy, moronic, irrational fans. Save your chastising for when someone truly steps out of line…like supports trump (jk relax people).
This is an incredibly fun season. Let’s enjoy the ride. Let’s also remember we are all on the same team and except for the trolls do not mean any disrespect to our fellow eagles fans.
I agree with some of what you said. And I understand why you said all of it.
I would say however, that this website, and Tommy, are not the venues where people are solely expected to vent and be irrational. Does that sound like Tommy to you? Is this WIP? Is this “the 700 level” – or whatever section(s) the Linc has that are comparable (ok, it might be the whole stadium on game day) but it’s not game day.
I don’t want to be crazy, moronic,or irrational all the time.
I think there are times to be levelheaded, judicious with our words, and reasonable while still being Eagles fans.
And I do think letting irrational, hurtful, and incorrect stigmas hurt people and contribute to the problem in our society – and it hurts people like Brooks.
Some balance can be achieved.
To Mike (Guy Media’s) credit – he said slapped, not shot, killed, fired, etc…. he was being somewhat tempered (even for him) which is why I provided context in my response too.
I think Brooks, Jenkins, even Jason Peters, and Carson, Doug, etc. etc. etc.. would actually agree with me – and Tommy too for that matter. But of course I’m biased there.
Heck, Sproles has a stutter and talked about it and bullying and the mental health aspect of dealing with that. Should we all be irrational, crazy jerks to him?
Fair enough. I just don’t want you taking too many things personally or thinking is horrible people.
Btw this was hilarious
“To Mike (Guy Media’s) credit – he said slapped, not shot, killed, fired, etc…. he was being somewhat tempered (even for him) which is why I provided context in my response too.”
“And I do think letting irrational, hurtful, and incorrect stigmas hurt people and contribute to the problem in our society – and it hurts people like Brooks.”
I’m not stigmatizing a very serious medical condition or Brooks; I’m asking doctors not to suck at their jobs.
And, really, it’s not that I’m taking anything personally. I do personally have an interest and strong ethical feelings about the subject matter. Anyone is free to disagree and express that of course.
Mike just uses strong language. I automatically translate it to normal people speak.
For example, what he really meant was:
After being on 2 teams how was Brooks’s condition missed? With how much is riding on the success of these players how the the medical and mental healthy professionals allow this to go undiagnosed for so long?
I would add to that Brandon Marshall as an example. He was a trouble man in Denver, but was truly an elite player. It wasn’t until many years later that he was diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder. Why did this take so long to be diagnosed? He pattern of behavior should have sent up some red flags.
Haha – yeah Mike is an expressive guy and I like how you put that (put a smile to my face).
And I get that. You could be correct about late diagnosis -but it’s totally possible that it was diagnosed before and he had issues with it. It’s like Jordan Reed on Washington right now. His medical issues aren’t novel to anyone this year. And perhaps his medical team/the WAS staff is sub par or effing up. Perhaps not.
But the idea that once a mental health condition is diagnosed, and reasonably treated, the reasonable expectation should be (at any level) that zero or very few problems should present form it, is just plain foolishness by any standard of informed realistic understanding.
My objection is that it wasn’t diagnosed due to rank incompetence by doctors 3 times over. Brooks has been great since they figured things out for him. I’m upset he had to wait until a 4th episode to get the proper medical diagnosis.
Wait, you read that it went undiagnosed until then?
Yeah, that was my understanding of it. They didn’t know it was an anxiety condition until it occurred the 4th time.
“Brooks was diagnosed following the Green Bay game, the first he missed this season due to his stomach. The 27-year-old offensive lineman missed a couple games while in Houston due to similar stomach-related symptoms, but said that in the past they had always been described as ulcers.”
http://www.phillyvoice.com/stomach-condition-keeping-eagles-brandon-brooks-field-actually-anxiety/
Well i think it’s a bit unreasonable to see that as negligent. First, most medical doctors don’t screen for psych symptoms especially when the symptoms are physical. Should that be improved? Sure, but it’s not like the issue js specific tk that MD or even close to that. And also, its complex stuff that takes time. I think you’re being too harsh.
I’d not challenge you on “too harsh” with the doctors, but I didn’t care for your characterization of me not taking mental health issues seriously and/or stigmatizing them.
Now that i understand you better, stigma wasn’t the best word choice. Expectations based on reality of the field would have been better.
To me that article is opinionated. We don’t know all that went on in those exams, testing etc… Mental health diagnoses often take a while.
It was Brooks directly saying they told him it was an ulcer; that’s not opinionated unless you’re accusing Brooks of lying about what Houston’s doctors told him.
I mean the parts where mullen editorialized
I hear you, but not key to my point.
I agree that the messaging can put someone off, for instance if someone put things like “medical” and “professionals” in quotes (clearly derogatory)and expect results where sometimes results are difficult to achieve, or not linear, then someone in that field (or someone with personal experience with that) could feel needled by that.
you did a great job as a translator.
My point is that I think Brooks was done a vile disservice medically.
“After being on 2 teams how was Brooks’s condition missed? With how much is riding on the success of these players how the the medical and mental healthy professionals allow this to go undiagnosed for so long?”
That’s it exactly. How do you have all of that money coming in and not have comprehensive mental health care as part of what you have ready for players?
I just think mental health issues are ignore and misunderstood by most people. I think the NFL is playing catch up in certain areas. It wasn’t until recently that they started programs to help players coming from troubled past, financial assistance programs, and they somehow just implemented a concussion protocol. I think as these owners become more aware of players struggling with mental health issues they will employ people who can recognize the signs and properly diagnose these players.
Yeah, I think you’re right.
I kind of like hearing a social worker’s opinion about it.
That wasn’t the point of what I was sayings. It just seemed as he was taking things personally, but we discussed it further.
It’s no different than a Dr commenting on an injury so I too like hearing the opinion of someone with practical knowledge.
I’m not sure why you object to Brooks having a serious medical condition such as anxiety being included in a list of things team doctors should look for when trying to determine the cause of certain serious medical symptoms. The dude was done a massive medical disservice 3 times over. How on earth weren’t the doctors looking at an NFL player keyed in to the fact that these guys are under a ton of psychological stress.
They definitely could have done better but it’s more a statement about our health care system/philosophy overall than the those specific docs. We really suck as a culture about integration of physical and mental health issues.
I’d agree with you again on heavily on giving inadequate attention to integrating mental health.
I don’t mind admitting I was wrong about the HC. His pressers are ‘ok’. His after game speeches suck. I’ll still never like that 4th down call….but man – so far – that guy can coach.
… Mills up and down as a rookie — isn’t that supposed to happen to rookies?
… good OL play. Good(to great) CB play. Good game calling. Might be time to give props to some of these coaches…
You’re coming around on Doug, maybe in time you will learn to love the 4th down calls too!
I was wrong about some players (Clement, Kendricks, Pumphrey so far), but I was on the Doug train from pretty early on last season so I feel a little vindicated now.
Clement (and to a lesser extent Blount) seems to be hitting holes the with much more burst since Ajayi was brought in board. What impresses me most about Clements is his pass catching skills.
Between his RB duties and special teams ability, he has proven to be a valuable asset to the team.
Agreed. As someone who I couldn’t understand made the team, he’s been great. Glad to eat crow on this one- he makes the team better by being on it.
Never thought I would say that!
Douglas was a much better a a rookie than Mills and Douglas can’t get in the field this year. That’s a good problem to have.
I’m not sure Robinson or Mills success is sustainable. Having Darby on one side and Jones, Douglas and Mills battle for the other side should make for a nice competition.
I wonder how many of the guys that are playing well are doing it because of the talent around them. Think of Cole Beasley from the Cowboys. Many people here thought he was one of the best slot receivers in the NFL and a dangerous weapon. This year, he has proven to be a JAG (as are many other Cowboys players)
I wonder if Mills, Wiz, Ags, Kendricks, and Robinson can sustain success next year again. Regardless, I’m not dwelling on next year because I’m having too much fun enjoying the ride.
Why do you not think Mills success us sustainable? Many fans (possibly you, but maybe not) seem very hung up on Mills’ bad 40 time and think he can never be a good CB because he lacks speed. But there have been other CBs (Richard Sherman, for instance) who tested slow in the 40 and still had very successful careers. I think what he is showing on the field is a much better indication. I guess it also depends on what “success” is to you. Noone claims that Mills is a shut down CB, but that doesn’t mean he can’t continue to play at a high level as a solid starter like he has done this season.
As for Robinson, he is getting older, but his one other really good season in the NFL also came when he was playing in the slot, so it seems to me that he is a much better as a slot CB than as an outside CB. Of course he is balling out everywhere on the field this year, and I agree that that ridiculous level of play may not be sustainable in the long term.
This board seems to be getting delusional with the Richard Sherman/Josh Norman comparisons for Mills. Sherman and Norman are elite, press-man coverage, shut-down corners.
1) The only comparison I made was their 40 times. I never implied in any way that Mills is anywhere near as good as Sherman or Josh Norman. In fact, I specifically said that “Noone claims that Mills is a shut down CB, but that doesn’t mean he can’t continue to play at a high level as a solid starter like he has done this season.”
2) If Sherman and Norman can have sustained success as elite shut-down corners even though they ran bad 40 times, why do you think Mills, who ran a similar 40 time, would not be able to sustain his much lower level of “success” as a solid starter?
1.) Can you name another solid starting NFL CB that had a 4.6+ 40?
Breeland had 1 good year in Washington and has since regressed.
2.) You just compared Mills to Sherman and Norman again.
1) I have no idea about CBs in particular. I picked Sherman because he is a very famous example. I’m not a big draft guru type so I don’t know people’s 40 times off the top of my head. But, it is not that uncommon for 40 time to not accurately reflect game speed. Jerry Rice is another famous example. Player’s with good anticipation, play recognition, etc. can make up for a lack of long speed to still play at a decent functional game speed. Maybe Mills is such a large outlier that he would not be able to make up for it, but I doubt it.
2) Once again you either missed or ignored my point. There is no inherent problem with comparing Mills to Sherman and Norman if I am not stating or implying that he is as good as a player as they are. For this comparison, it is largely irrelevant how good each player is, only that they were able to maintain the same level of play for a long time. It seems like it would be harder for a player with sub-optimal speed to sustain an elite level of CB play for a long time than it would be for a player with sub-optimal speed to sustain a mediocre/slightly above average level of play. Sustained success for Mills is sustaining a solid starter level of play. So, given that we have two examples of players with sub-optimal speed sustaining an elite level of play and it is more difficult to sustain an elite level of play with sub-optimal speed than it would be to sustain a lower level of play, why do you think it is not possible for Mills to maintain his current level of play (which not anywhere near as good as the other two but also easier to sustain)?
I was wrong about guys, too. I am wrong about guys every year. So are you, so is Tommy. The truly shocking thing this year is that we were all wrong in the same direction. Pretty much every guy we misjudged has exceeded expectations.
I can think of few examples where we knew what a guy was, had reasonable expectations for him, and he failed to meet them. The closest thing is the free agent hype – people who thought Alshon would be Julio Jones or Smith would be DJax – or the disappointment of unlucky injuries.
The few examples I can think of – Smallwood and maybe Semelua – had contingency plans already in place or put in place quickly.
Every year there seems to be lots of players on every team who turn out to be disappointments. It’s stunning the Smallwood and Semaulo are really the only disappointments on the Eagles.
“Carson Wentz tops fan Pro Bowl voting”
Posted by Michael David Smith on November 30, 2017, 5:32 AM EST
Millions of fans have cast Pro Bowl votes at NFL.com, and Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz is their favorite.
Wentz leads all players with 422,491 Pro Bowl votes. That puts him ahead of Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, Steelers running back Le’Veon Bell, Steelers wide receiver Antonio Brown and Saints quarterback Drew Brees in the Top 5.
With a league-leading 28 touchdown passes for the 10-1 Eagles, Wentz
is widely considered the leading Most Valuable Player candidate, so it’s
unsurprising that he’s leading the way in fan voting.
Fan voting continues through December 14. Players and coaches also
get a vote, and the Pro Bowl rosters will be announced on December 19.
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2017/11/30/carson-wentz-tops-fan-pro-bowl-voting/
Luke warm take time:
I don’t actually care that much about the pro bowl, but Brees shouldn’t be in the pro bowl this year. Assuming that they select NFC and AFC teams (I know they went away from that for a year or two), then at least Wentz, Russel Wilson, and Goff have been better this year than Brees. Brees is still great, but he has not been carrying the Saints this year as much as previous years. Also, I have barely seen the Saints play at all this year, so I could be completely wrong.
Whether he plays the Pro Bowl or not…
Wentz has a national profile and wave of popularity that we’re not used to for our guys here in Philly all the time.
The whole nation loves the kid from North Dakota that leads the Eagles. It’s amazing!
Too bad Wentz won’t be playing in the Pro Bowl.
Yeah, maybe Brees can get in as Wentz’s replacement.
I thought this was a prove it year for Stoutland, and kind of thought it might be time to move on. Everyone looks better when you’re 10-1, but Stoutland definitely has proven me wrong.
Our O Line exploded this year with those Trap and Wham and Tackle Over type plays. Most outstanding O line blocking we’ve seen from him.
Kelce’s rejuvenation has a lot to do with that. I’m still not sure how Kelce has turned his game around and regained his old form. Was he injured for the past few years? Is the team doing something different scheme-wise? I dunno.
Expectations were that Lane and Brooks would be solid.
Vaitai has been OK, but it should not be discounted that the play calling has been to his benefit with back and TEs chipping for him.
Semaulo and Warmack have been disappointing. Wiz has been adequate.
I think that Hernia that Kelce had a few years back has been a lingering issue for him. It would affect his core strength, which is what I’ve thought has been his issue.
Stoutland is still someone that I’m not sold on. He seems to teach Olinemen to be passive and I’m not a fan. I want them trying to knock the head off Dlinemen.
Here might be some insight…
“”We really looked hard at a lot of the technique things,” Kelce said. “Stout has been very critical and I don’t know if it’s when you’re younger you get away with things because you’re a little bit more athletic and a little bit stronger or if it’s the no-huddle (under Chip Kelly from 2013-15) that allows you to get away with things, but I started to lose track of some of the fundamentals that allowed me to play at a high level.”
https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/sports/csn/eagles/How_Jason_Kelce_has_rejuvenated_his_career-460270983.html
I saw an interview with Kelce where he said he and Stoutland starting watching his technique specifically the second half of the year last year, and continued all off season.
Kelce said he was surprised and confused as to how he was making so many basic form mistakes. At one point he wondered if Chip’s pacing and focus on doing things faster than the opponent to wear him down led Kielce to get sloppy with the details. In the end, he said that when your already undersized your form needs to be better than your opponent.
Kelce was definitely playing injured in 2015, and I think he got overanalyzed last year. But you can’t really dissect this player by player. The line is playing great, Stout deserves credit.
The worst thing you can do near the goal line is dance.
I don’t know about that…
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/9753609/eagles_last_dance.gif
They aren’t near the goal line, so there.
And if you think in a more metaphorical sense, they had crossed the goal line by halftime in that game.
Watch Darby run in at the last minute…. Hahahaha.
Lol – I can imagine him being sat on the bench relaxing and then seeing it on the big screen and thinking “Aw damn, it’s on!” and making a beeline towards the rest of the D.
Look at Cox in the back – LMAO!
What about this then?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/6f1daa621b020d169effb7a80d0bac46e7812eff61752532b1e2565a546a7345.gif
Fletcher and Timmy can do whatever they want. They are large scary people.
And they play defense…
I actually fucking love this celebration from Fletch. Goofy as fuck.
Is this like the Superbowl Shuffle?
Patrick Robinson and Nelson Agholor are my “glad to be wrong” guys. I thought Agholor might possibly show some sort of improvement, but more likely implode and curl up into the fetal position for the season. Instead, he;s making big plays and swinging his d around all over the field. Robinson’s play at training cam and during the preseason was a greek tragedy. Now he’s playing like a top corner in the league. He might not be a superstar, but he is as solid as they come.
Cool piece on Clement: https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2017/11/29/16714646/corey-clement-philadelphia-eagles-running-back-bmw-car-guidance-counselor-teacher-south-jersey
we got to give Doug and coaches credit that so many players are playing above their expected level. This season has been the perfect storm in a good way.
I agree, I think that this many players playing above what we expected… Coaching almost certainly must be a factor. Not just Doug but the positional guys as well, like Stoutland and Undlin and perhaps most of all Mike Groh.
Greg Lewis seemed like a weird hire to me at the time, he never struck me as coaching material, and that seemed to have been born out. Hopefully he learned from it and becomes a better coach in the future, he was a reasonably good Eagle for a bunch of years.
I like Greg Lewis, but he was not the guy to coach young players. Maybe he’s better coaching veteran wide receivers.
Mike Groh has been a strong coaching addition. Agholor looks like a completely different player in one off season with him.
That’s great coaching to keep Nelson positive and turn his career around like that.
LAWLOR SUCKS, HE OFFERS NOTHING.
Again, I’m just here to congratulate myself on the Corey Clement respect dating back to training camp practices.
Seriously though, Clement and Mills are likely guys who will forever have to compete for their jobs. That can make for some very good, driven players. And easy to cheer for players.
I’ll admit that I was way off on Clement. I thought he was just a guy. I thought, “Sure he looks good in the second half of preseason games, but there is nothing special about him.” I thought he shouldn’t make the roster. I was dead wrong. He has good burst and vision and plays so hard all the time. I am very happy to be wrong about him and love having him on the Eagles.
There’s nothing special about him, but he’s at least average in every area, and above average in some. He’s one of those guys on Madden who ends up with an 80+ overall rating just because there’s no key positional skill he’s bad at.
Once I saw Mills dyed his hair bright green last year I was like….
that’s my dude right there lol
Yeah he had swagger from the first day of rookie camp!
The top of his head is awesome, that little green hair nub on the back of his neck is not. Not sure I ever saw that style before.
This is your weekly reminder that Dak aint shit and I’m going to keep saying it until it’s commonly accepted wisdom.
https://twitter.com/DanHellie/status/935993201894105093
…Dak is shit, just not the “The Shit”…. i apologize for the semantics lol
in all reality I do hope Dak is at least Romo level successful, good enough numbers to keep around, but not a winner.
I like football better in general when the NFC East is competitive, most entertaining division in the NFL.
Speak for yourself man I hope Dak does just good enough to get a big fat contract and then is a dumpster fire for years and is an albatross hanging around the Cowboys neck until he gets cut with massive amounts of dead money.
Eff the Cowboys, if they went 0-16 every year it’d warm my cold little heart.
Dak is a high level game Manager when he has talent around him. He’s a low level game manager right now. If they can keep the overall talent level up Dak will have some sucess. The real issues will arise when Dak gets paid $25+mil a year as a franchise QB and they can no longer give him the supporting cast he needs.
they will give him $25 mill because Wentz will be setting the bar at $30 mill/yr by then lol
Nah, I don’t want Romo-level success. Romo was a Pro Bowl QB who made the Cowboys a consistent playoff threat.
You want him to be more on the level of Jay Cutler – a guy who sticks around for years, but never seems to be able to pilot the team to a finish better than 8-8.
If Dak was anything close to Romo at the top of his game, Dallas might be tied w/the Eagles for the division lead. The reason that their offense is impotent without Elliot is that #4 cannot imagine leading that group without the crutch of a dominant running game, where he only needs to throw a pass to offset the monotony. When Romo had good health and Murray and that OL was humming, defenses had to pick their poison because Romo could just as easily find the mismatch and strike fast as he could hand it off and let the LOS move forward. I want the Cowboys to draft a QB in each of the next three drafts In the top three rounds.
Funny how Romo is still underrated. That dude was a good player.
I’d tend to agree.
I absolutely love that Cowboys fans are turning on Dez Bryant. It’s so perfect. His statistical decline coincides perfectly with Dak Prescott taking over as quarterback. In 2015 he had a down year because he was hurt, but for 4 years prior to that with Romo he was a pro bowl caliber player.
Once Dak took over his stats nose-dived, and now all of a sudden people are saying he’s not elite anymore. He’s only 29!! He’s not falling off a cliff athletically or something.
Dez is a playmaker Dak doesn’t know how to use. I was reading a stat on another site a moment ago, Dez has been targeted 102 times and only 60 of them were deemed catchable, which means Dak has thrown 42 uncatchable passes towards Dez!
But of course you have to protect the franchise QB, so under the bus Dez goes lol.
I think Dez is actually declining, and never really sustained his potential success for that matter…
Out of curiosity, what besides stats makes you think that Dez is declining?
The eye test/general observation. And that people I trust and who’s opinion I value said so. And that he’s getting older and never seemed like the type to work hard to sustain health, be smart about preserving his body and/or prolonging his career.
Fair enough. I haven’t watched the all-22 of Cowboys games so I don’t know what he looks like now compared to a few years ago, but at 29 he should still be in his prime. It’d be a good laugh if he was declining at 29 because of poor discipline regarding his health.
I’m glad I was wrong about Wentz, Kelce, Kendricks, Mills, and Barnett. I’m especially glad I was wrong the Eagles were going to be 9-7 this year.
Sometimes it feels so good to be wrong.
Clement has average speed, quickness, size, and strength, but he’s good at the mental side of the game – he reads his blocks accurately and decisively and once he does he goes. This makes him a consistent threat to get 4+ yards on any play that’s competently blocked, and good in high leverage situations such as 3rd and 4th and short and goal line plays. In addition, he’s got good hands and body control as a receiver for a RB, and seems to be improving as a pass blocker.
Every NFL roster has room for a guy like that, particularly on an UDFA salary.
Barner and Clements are pass-catching threats. The defense has to play them differently than Blount or Ajayi, especially around the goal line.
Effective RBs always have Vision, that ability to quickly and instinctively diagnose the right play and execute it at almost the same instant. It’s also what makes QBs.
The most important quality, and not a #measurables.
Clement is a Honda Accord
If anyone wants to see some circa Hendrix next level schit that is completely different. .. check out James Brown singing Super Bad on Soul Train. . One of the legendary dancers goes off and he can’t take his eyes off her
And then folks should google the time James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson called each other on stage and it was just crazy.
All at once ?? I knew when JB called MJ up .. I’ll look, thks
Yep
Still love Soul Train.
Oh, man… It’s the Daily Groper Report, fellas.
Today Geraldo Rivera and Russell Simmons are both accused of nasty business. Rivera allegedly groped Bette Midler back in 1991. He apologized by Tweet.
Russell Simmons stepped down from all companies after allegedly forcing Director Sidney Lumet’s daughter as she revealed. He apologized saying he doesn’t remember it that way but supports her feelings about it.
Word to the wise. Look but don’t touch, huh?
That explains Geraldo’s slimy tweet yesterday suggesting there should be a 5-year window after which accusations cannot be brought forward.
that tweet was so awesome. Hey for no reason let me throw down some rules about who can make allegations.
Ugh. What an ass.
Geraldo needs a 5 year cushion? Lol.
So, is this saying something about our culture, or about the nature of how men act when they have power? Or something else?
Lord Acton had an intuition about this. And I can say from personal observation that women are not immune to the phenomenon when they have power.
“Sexual harassment is about power. When did I have power?”
Disclosure
I was playing around with a story based on the idea that somehow women got complete power in a society, and how that would play out. Some women told me they’d have a male harem, others that they would use their power to promote the interests of their children. It seems clear to me that women, on average, have different biological drives than men.
He also said that women who are accusing men of sexual harassment, and/or assault etc… are “criminalizing courtship”… he’s a schmuck
I think I would say Yes Yes and Yes something else too.
Yes men with power are problematic. Is there a guarantee that men are alone in that? Not sure.
Yes the culture is problematic since it highly sexualized. And filled with double standards and mixed messages.
And Yes the media is an aggravating factor. Entertainment and Advertising bombard us with imagery. Some of these results seem predictable based on that.
Interesting question big Cho.
a daily report might not be sufficient these days
maybe an hourly report?
https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/29/sports/football/sports-gambling-nfl-college.html
rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Fsports&action=click&contentCollection=sports®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=2&pgtype=sectionfront
I read this and tried to think of what all is behind the NFL’s gradual devaluation, and I really do believe that it is a growing list, topped by the NFL owners’ public image as arrogant opportunists who have little in common with the consumers of their product. As a group, they bicker and libel one another, they air their dirty laundry, they hold municipalities and city councils hostage to their demands for tax payer dollars, and they hoard the profits made off of those monies by blocking all access to game highlights by local media. They back unpopular policies like too many pre-season games which cost to attend, they have pushed Thursday Night Football down the throats of the players and the fans, and what may be the eventual coup de grace: they nickel and dime fans who love the game, by charging satellite access and cable access fees, streaming fees, and generally limiting access to out of market games…unless you pay!!
I am no fan of Jerry Jones or Robert Kraft, but they have not played their local political leaders to swindle their citizens as most of the other owners have. And though I despise Jones’ boorish manner, his public airing of Roger Goodell’s monetary demands is eye-opening. Goodell doesn’t want to wait for his golden parachute. He wants to fleece the league while the fleecing is good.
Certainly there are other factors at play. The head trauma which is inherent to the sport (as it is currently fashioned) seems to have become the elephant in the room. The specter of great performers taking their lives, is a story that cannot be rationalized or co-opted.
And then there is the racist-in-chief who astutely uses his penchant for tweeting to soothe the savage breast of his base. The player protests have been cited as a central reason for the NFL’s dipping numbers, but that is hard to calculate. The players are the main attraction, and it seems more people are bothered by ANY political expression that might crack the facade of our national consensus (which is more appropriately our national sleep), than by the actual issue that the protests mean to bring to light.
All of the above are contributing, as is the growing popularity of world competitions, where the other football reigns king. But the divisions among owners, and between owners and players, and between owners and fans are what the NFL should be urgently addressing. All of those divisions are in their power to mitigate, and to the extent that they are, the popularity of the game will only increase.
Very thoughtful comment.
Thanks. If I get enough sleep I’m usually full of thoughts.
For me, fantasy football sucked the fun out of the game. This is the first year I am not playing ff and I can watch other teams and actually enjoy it. I know others that do not watch certain games because they don’t want to see their opponent’s RB, WR, TE, or QB put up big numbers.
I think what has been overlooked is teams abandoning fanbases. Oakland, San Diego, and St. Louis fans have been shit on by the owners and the NFL for years now. I can assure you if Lurie moved the Eagles to another state, I would no longer watch the NFL at all.
It’s the opposite for me… With 3 fantasy teams, I can watch almost any game (for example Texans Ravens) and be interested because I’m interested in “scouting” potential pickups and my own fantasy players
Sure, I could see that.
I’m no fan of Goodell. I think his handling of arbitration cases and any kind of controversy regarding discipline or game integrity has been atrocious.
However, regarding his salary, I find it hard to get too upset without being hypocritical. His job was to increase revenue for the league. The owners have said that very plainly.
Now, I disagree with that being the job of the commissioner; I think his job is to maintain and steward the league, not treat it as an ever-increasing revenue stream that is a failure if profits don’t increase (this is a general beef I have with businesses and investment these days; steady profit should be enough, but everyone seems to want ever increasing profit growth, as if that is somehow infinitely sustainable. It’s clear-cutting economics that leads to crashes). With that said, however, Goodell had a job and he has done it. Profits have increased. He wants his compensation to reflect that, which was in line with expectations when he was hired.
You or I, who don’t make anywhere near that kind of money, can talk about how outrageous the numbers are. But if that’s the kind of value he’s generating for the league, then that’s the kind of value he’s worth. I make the same argument for players. People bitch about “overpaid millionaires playing a game for a living”, but players are worth that, and the money associated is large enough that those salaries are deserved, regardless of how much we as consumers make. If driving a truck was somehow really exciting to the general populace and all of a sudden truck drivers were superstars generating millions of dollars in revenue for their carriers, then those drivers would be and should be compensated appropriately. The same is true with NFL players, where this fantasy scenario is actually reality. And if that’s true for them, that’s true for Goodell, as well.
Again, I have no love for the man or the job he’s done. But I have no sympathy for an argument that says “so and so is making so much money and it’s not fair so they’re stealing”. It’s not true, if the business they work in is dealing with those kind of numbers. It’s wrong when people play that game with the players and their salaries, and as much as it pains me to say it, it’s wrong when people say it about Goodell.
50M per year is fine with me if his employers like it, but lifetime use of corporate jet and lifetime health insurance for his family? How is he “earning” that? I agree that he’s living in a different economic stratosphere, but Goodell alone is not responsible for all of the revenue the league has amassed while he was on the clock.
https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/11/13/roger-goodells-contract-demands-reportedly-include-dollar50-million-per-year-and-a-private-jet/23275688/
Because, like anything, it can have a monetary value assigned to it, and then become part of a discussion about compensation. If, in the end, the owners decide that value is fair compensation based on the value the perceive him as having added to their league, then why would it not be fair? Again, you’re playing the game of “I can’t believe they earn that” for things that are deemed worthy by those setting the market value.
Like it or not compared to your own or certainly my own salary, but that’s the way it works. You can’t say “I’m OK with $50mi but that JET! That’s crazy!” if it fits within the same value discussion as just the $50mil.
I’m not playing that game. You’re inferring. And your logic that, if somebody is willing to pay it, then it is not excessive resides in the world of the hypothetical. Why doesn’t Goodell just demand $100M/year and cover his family’s healthcare costs himself? Or $250M? It’s like the diva who visits Jimmy Kimmel and wants foie gras with fresh, organic kiwi and Dom Perignon on ice. She is worth it in her head.
She is worth it if Kimmel gives it to her. Same with Goodell. You’re playing the same game rednecks play with player salaries. “Why is that moron getting paid a million dollars?” At the end of the day, you’re just mad they’re getting more than _you_ think they’re worth.
I also think that you’re looking at an offer from Goodell’s camp without acknowledging that it was an _offer_, and likely the first part of a discussion on compensation. Ask high, and all. That was purposely leaked by Jerry Jones without context to try and shame Goodell, and it looks like Jerry got you.
To be clear, do I think Goodell _should_ get that kind of money? No. Do I think anyone alive should pay Justin Bieber a red cent? Absolutely not. But there’s a huge distinction between my perceived value and what people actually do with their money. Basic economics.
You argue in a vacuum. I am not a redneck and I’m expressing MY opinion when I state that Goodell is fleecing the NFL. Obviously he may get his demands met. I’m not envious, I have a sense of what his role is and in MY opinion the NFL owners can get their legal issues handled and player/management conflict addressed, and have a representative to the public all for less than RG is asking. If they meet his demands, it means nothing more than they agree to pay. It doesn’t mean he’s worth it. It means THEY think he’s worth it, and my criticism means that I don’t. I know what economics is. Do you know what criticism is?
If the people spending the money think he’s worth it, then he’s worth it. That’s the very definition of “value”; that is how value is set. There is not an objective, empirical, Platonic ideal existing somewhere in the universe that correctly expresses Goodell’s true worth. In this case, your perception of value is pretty much irrelevant, just as a redneck’s is when looking at a player’s salary (I didn’t say you were a redneck, just pointing out a similar pattern of behavior).
Further, I am doing the exact opposite of arguing in a vacuum. That statement of yours couldn’t be more incorrect. I am speaking very specifically about a value in context, not a value in a vacuum. Arguing about Goodell’s salary without considering how those who set the market perceive it is what arguing in a vacuum looks like.
Alright. Your definition of value bars me from holding an opinion. Nice chatting with you.
100%
This is a lot to digest. If I’m going to list things about the game I don’t like……….
– piss poor out of market game options chosen for the Philly market based on douches from New York or Pittsburgh rather than going with the best game
– lack of access to 2 games each at 1 and 4
– read option “quarterbacking” sullying the game
– franchises moving from great football cities to dead locations
– certain owners being far too mouthy in general (Jones) or really nasty towards labor (Richardson) during the lockout
But I still rabidly watch a ton of games as I get the chance to and I really enjoy 99% of what goes on.
For me the biggest on-the-field issue is the terrible gameflow due to penalties, reviews, and injuries. It seems to me like all three are getting worse.
I agree with the injuries and reviews. The rule should be injured player causes injury timeout – injured player sits out rest of quarter / rest of series; whichever is longer. Put him in a “treatment box” just to make sure he’s ok.
The replay system is WAY too slow. I agree that needs to improve.
I don’t mind the flags as long as they’re evened up and thrown for actions that were legit in need of being penalized.
Check out this goal by Wayne Rooney, and note the volume of the crowd noise. I doubt that two or three NFL crowds together could match this.
https://www.footbie.com/video/wayne-rooney-hat-trick-goal-3-0-everton-vs-west-ham-from-his-own-half
but its soccer
But it’s awesome.
Nah, it was already stated that it’s soccer, which by definition, can’t be awesome.
World Cup Final is to athletic drama what the Superbowl is to consumer hype!
Soccer may be an awesome sport, especially to play, but it doesn’t serve itself well as something to watch on tv.
Completely agree. NFL is the best TV sport while I find NHL to be the best live.
Soccer is fun to play, but a complete snooze fest to watch. If I ever watch it, I prefer women’s soccer.
Underrated sport to watch is volley ball. Constant action, easy rules, and the girls wear the best shorts in sports.
meh
I was thinking that for a long time but then several years ago I’ve discovered college football and realise that America has also the same level of epicness. It’s just that NFL and NBA Crowds are Adults, family and are way more peaceful. Though there are some exceptions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PAYBu6CZGMg&t=56s that duce td the crowd is lit.
HOW DARE YOU! That goal was scored against my favorite club and the former employer of German Eagle’s dad.
But yeah, great goal.
This season has been so weird that I am having trouble with suspension of disbelief.
Lose three of your best players and are 10-1?
Go from a bottom third offense to the most explosive in the league?
Crap CBs playing at a championship level?
QB goes from an error-prone shortballer to the Bionic Man?
Doomed franchise playing as if it were the chosen one?
Is this how football works?
I know what you mean. At the end of last season, and all through hanging out on Iggles Blitz during the off-season, no one ever mentioned your list as being in the realm of possibility. Incredible. These are good times.
I read something that Malcolm Jenkins said to the beats last week. He was asked about winning the Superbowl with the Saints and how that compares to now. His response was something along the lines of “he’s staying focused but at the same time making sure that he is also enjoying the ride”.
Good times indeed.
No one saw this coming. Just as how no one saw the Jernigan and Darby trades happening. It’s just wizardry and it’s best to not question it sometimes.
Your last point had me scratching my head. I thought there was a general air of optimism among our flock after seeing CW thrown to the wolves with very little prep time. The penchant for beating ourselves was annoying, and the obvious limitations of certain players was troubling. I had questions about CW’s development and more questions about Doug Pederson’s suitability as a play-calling HC. But I never felt like our guys were doomed. DGMW, I never anticipated this dramatic turnaround but I expected to see some improvement. I cannot explain how this group is playing with such mental toughness. Could that all be down to Wentz?
There may have been a general air of optimism, but Cho is a consistent, dedicated negative nelly.
Really, dude? Because I don’t buy into irrational optimism I’m a negative nelly? I don’t appreciate that.
Full honesty, I thought you self-identified as a pessimist.
Nope, a realist.
That’s a cop out. The topic (in this case) was how people perceived the potential future for Carson as QB after last season. The “real” in this context was the future – which nobody can be a “realist” about because we ain’t psychic. You can’t take the side of “realisim” when discussing optimism v. pessimism, or pessimism v. optimism.
“The glass is as full and empty as it is”. Nah, nobody gets to say that.
Sophistry.
Kudos and thanks for making me look up a word and in turn learning it.
Well I claim that your use of “realism” is sophistric.
Carson is awesome and you claimed that “reality” before was that he was nothing but an “error prone short-baller”?
Reality proves your “reality” wrong. So isn’t it more “You call it how you see it”? And less “realism”?
That’s arrogant to claim it’s realism when it turned out being incorrect.
Have you been following the franchise since the late 80s?
I guess I always focus on the franchises that usually make us look good.
Randall’s knee, Westie’s tricep, Donnie’s ribs, TO’s leg, Donnie’s sports hernia and then knee… Those moments swung so many of our seasons the wrong way.
So much of it is down to Wentz.
You call him an “error-prone shortballer”, but watching him last year, the potential to be an elite quarterback was clearly there. His raw talent was apparent and the flaws were all things which were correctable. He’s corrected most of them and boom, instant top 5 QB.
Once you have one of those 10-6 is basically your floor. Skill position guys start to look a lot better when defenses are playing under the kind of pressure an elite QB places on them and constantly playing with the lead (or at least with a quick strike offense capable of generating points fast) changes the calculus for opposing offenses.
I know this sounds really pretentious and honestly annoying, but I thought they could be this good before the season started. I’d hear people say things like they’re good but not the class of the NFC, and I’d think… who exactly is the best in the NFC? All those teams have some flaws, probably worse than our team has.
I don’t think that’s annoying. There are always fans who think their teams are going to win the Superbowl. Once in a while, they’re right!
Once in a lifetime!
It might have been your guy at Novacare that tipped you off
I’ve said it several times these past few years, football is stupid. Finally get to say it and be happy.
Are we the most explosive in the league? Wow lol
Chotime is a realist. Reality is subjective. Chotime wears Dave’s glasses all the time. So the sun is always much less bright.
Cho – Thanks for always making me think and the entertaining conversation. Enjoy the season, it only gets better – especially since you probably currently see the Eagles as a 5-.5 team!
Okay, so you’ve gone full troll, dude?
Here’s the deal: “Realist” has a definition, and being psychic has nothing to do with it. Trying to win arguments by making up your terms isn’t going to work.
Second, ad hominem. Maybe step away from the persistent personal attacks. I get that this is just football, and you probably don’t mean anything by it, but notice that you’re the only one doing it. It’s annoying, and we’re not friends to the level that I find it amusing.
Use facts. Logical arguments. Talk about the team, not about me.
Sound fair?
Blocked a loooong time ago. Totally worth it.
Yep. Sounds fair. I only intended to mention you in the context of the general group’s view of the team (at the end of last season).
I’ll ease up since it bothers you.
While we’re owning up to our mistakes, I’ll raise my hand to thinking that Kendricks’ performance this preseason was good for nothing but hopefully raising his trade value. For a guy I once derided by saying he tackles RBs like a bear catches salmon, he has really stepped up. I don’t know if he went to Bradham’s Cabana Boy Fight Club in the offseason or what but he’s laying hits and making tackles and regularly appearing on camera as more than just a pair of gloves heading out of frame at speed.
Also guilty as charged. I’m shocked Kendricks has stepped up like that.
Well people still want to trade him so you’re right on one part?
Guilty again; if we got a big enough offer for him this off season.
Hey SteveH, in the same vein as your weekly Dak reminder, I’m reminded of who is wrong but not glad. All the Cowboys fans who thought they had a real qb.
Clermens run mean and smart.great call by coaches.
Malcolm Jenkins is going to stop his anthem protest.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2017/11/30/malcolm-jenkins-says-he-wont-demonstrating-during-national-anthem/911059001/
I’m very happy to follow Malcolm’s lead on this. The guy is extremely thoughtful, really active in the community already, and has put in a ton of work getting the league to move in a positive direction on bringing attention to many of the issues with which Malcolm is concerned. I also read he’s ready to hit the ground running with some already well devised organizations to get some of this work done.
FUCK Eric Reid right in his ear for casting aspersions in the direction of Jenkins.
Both guys are actively trying to improve our country. I see room for them to pursue similar goals while disagreeing on the methods. I even see room for each to feel strongly they are correct.
If Reid had simply said “I’d like to do this…….”, but he insinuated some untoward things about community organizations Jenkins is trying to get up and running.
So Reid stands guilty as charged for “crimes against Philadelphia.”
I only saw his twitter announcement that he no longer believed Jenkins’ and Boldin’s organization’s choices represented his views on how to move forward. Certainly disagreement, but not malicious. Was there more?
“I haven’t been satisfied with the structure of the coalition or the communication Malcolm has been having with the NFL on his own, speaking on behalf of protesting players when he doesn’t protest,” Reid said, referring to Jenkins raising his fist instead of kneeling during the anthem. “We communicated these concerns to him numerous times and have had numerous phone calls about it. Our concerns haven’t been reflected with how the organization is being run, so I felt like I needed to make a departure from it.”
https://sports.yahoo.com/49ers-eric-reid-malcolm-jenkins-054328064.html
Yeah, okay. I’ll give you the “…when he doesn’t protest” line was kind of dickish.
Yup. Who made Eric Reid the protest judge? And if you Jules, or the people who keep dropping all kinds of bile on Jenkins on Twitter, if Jenkins is protesting; I bet you get a different answer than Eric Reid is giving.
And I found the one that really pissed me off
“But we’ve come to find out that it’s actually Malcolm and Anquan’s organization. Nobody else really has a stake in the organization. Malcolm actually wants us to — he calls it invest, I call it donate — to the company to pay salaries for his staff. But again, we would have no equity.”
http://www.tmz.com/2017/11/29/eric-reid-players-coalition-colin-kaepernick/
I’m sorry Eric, would you like to pocket some cash? Is that the “equity” you want? And I’m sorry that Jenkins and Anquan have been trying to put together an organization to actually work on things.
Eric Reid is also very thoughtful, and his criticism of Jenkins is primarily a reflection of his recognition that the owners FIRST priority is to make the protests go away. Jenkins and Boldin conducted “private” talks with NFL under the auspices of the group that Reid was instrumental in forming. He has done nothing to warrant your animus but criticize a colleague who, in this case, was not a team [layer.
I’m not into disparagement of a Philadelphia player by somebody who is not.
Me neither.
I think the way Jenkins works to improve our country is admirable. I supported him before and I am confident his next actions will be worthy of support as well.
I will now cede the mic to everyone who claimed they supported his efforts, just not during the anthem and allow them time to voice their gratitude and support.
I get both sides of the schism.
On the Jenkins/Boldin side they clearly feel that they’ve secured funding that will go to further the cause in a more tangible manner. They’ve also ensured 15+ months of national dialogue on the issue. I’m not sure that anybody is changing their minds at this point.
On the Reid/Okung side I get how this feels like being sold out for a small chunk of money (it’s only like $12mil a year), that’s a fraction of a single league sponsorship. The league probably spends that much annually on fucking catering. The NFL has clearly decided that it’s cheaper to try to buy the players off. They feel like the admittedly loose conglomerate of players weren’t given adequate input on the decision. I also get his frustration that a chunk of the money is going to a foundation that Jenkins himself put together.
I personally side more with the Reid/Okung camp. This feels like being bought off for a relatively low amount.
Like I said, there is room for both I think.
I am most interested in how all of those who claimed the anthem was the part the disagreed with will pivot to the next “…but not like that.”
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/35e1d4a2fae82b3f4d92ac840d501ccbcb0cd86fb2a4e5075d2f9a04e34f9aad.jpg
Too true.
I thought the Hamilton guy was a dick for doing that
I was wrong the whole offseason about Howie’s moves, about Wentz last year, and Blount. And Mills. If I advocate a position, it’s sometimes because I want to think differently about something but often it’s because I believe it and also I am wrong. #ConfessionsOfKoy
Am I just getting greedy? I’m watching Washington-Dallas and naturally rooting for Dallas’s implosion to continue. But in the back of my mind, I kind of want Dallas to win only so the Eagles can clinch the division by beating the Seahawks. Greedy? Should I stick to rule 1a – Dallas sucks?
Not greedy at all; we’re owed.
Feel free to follow your bliss.
I’m rooting for a 4-4 tie, the only scores coming off safeties due the the exhausted punters being too tired to reach up and catch the snap.
Damn, Dak looks lost ot there.
I have always held that Dak was overrated, but I had no expectations he would look this bad. If only it wasn’t against WAS…
This is your perhaps daily reminder that Dak is trash and I will keep saying it until it is commonly accepted wisdom.
That makes our D line the trash compactors.
Dak Trashcott. This is glorious.
Bonus points because Washington looks terrible too.
“Success” is moving from the 1/4 yard line to the 1 yard line.
Baby steps
Man I’m disappointed Dak completed a pass.
I guess it was unrealistic to expect Dak to never throw another touchdown pass, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I’m mad at Washington for giving that up.
Holy hell, Washington.
Seriously. What a mess. Dallas has the run game going now too, gonna be a long night for the Washteam.
Fear not. They will play a 2nd half.
Good thing for Crowder that call was overturned. How many times can one guy fumble in a single game?
Maaaaaan fuuuuuuuuuuck Dallas!!
I’m in a sour mood. 44 yards passing but he has that damn touchdown. Thanks for all the turnovers Washteam, you bums.
At the half:
Dallas has 103 passing and rushing yards and they’re up 17-7. Wash has 129 passing and rushing yards. Wowie.
Dak has 75.7 RTG with just 44 yards passing and 2.9 per attempt. His RTG should be way lower come on lol.
lol, Morgan Moses and Trent Williams hurt, how is it possible that one team can have so many injuries on the OL? I’ve never seen this before.
OL for Washteam is basically being the drummer for Spinal Tap.
Cousins isn’t clearly the 2nd best QB in our division. He makes more plays behind a trash OL than Dak did with 4 of 5 starters along his OL
Do you mean *is clearly? I think that is what you meant, so yes, agree.
Yes I do
This has been a gross game. Breeland went to the 2015 Eagles cornerback school of defense. Don’t turn around for the ball, run right through the receiver, have the ball hit you in the back square between the numbers.
I’m so thankful we have a run defense that won’t get embarrassed like the Washteam did tonight.
Dak 100 yards passing in the win. Puke.
He is using the Fletcher technique. Also known as the Carry Williams.
Then whined about a facemask that totally didn’t happen.
The Washteam are morons for not having Norman just shadow Dez all over the field. When your other corner sucks it just makes no sense at all to do that.
Yeah I was wondering why Norman was primarily on Williams. That is a coaching failure in my opinion.
Redskins failing to do us any favors tonight. Damn shame.
Off topic
Did anyone else feel the earthquake earlier? A 4.1 magnitude earthquake happened in Dover, Delaware and I felt it all the way here in far northeast Philly. Haven’t felt that since 2011 and I still don’t like it.
I live in Maple Shade and didn’t feel it, but it must have gotten awfully close.
It lasted like 5 seconds, still spooked the crap out of me.
I was actually napping around the time it happened, I might have just been dozing and missed it.
Who does Dallass play next??
This win really does nothing to help Dak’s cause. If your a Cowboys fan you cannot walk away feeling better about Dak regardless of the team win that they accrued.
Best case scenario, they spend a high pick on QB and he busts as well.
It’s the two touchdowns that are the problem. 11 for 22 for 102 yards is crap, the 2 TD’s save it.
Naturally he didn’t turn the ball over now that the offensive line was humiliating the Washteam in the run game. Everything they do in the passing game is predicated on sucking the linebackers and a safety up to the LOS.
I wasn’t cheering for Washteam but they still let me down. I will say though they definitely earned the loss, they played like ass.
If ur a cowboys fan u can delude urself into any narrative
And they are. Just look on Facebook.
Dak is Back! Writes itself really.
Random, but if we were to lose AJ in FA (doubt it) would it make sense to go after Dez if he were released by Cowboys? I can’t see him being expensive.
I just think he has more left then what he has been showing these past couple of seasons. A headline of PFT.com insinuating it could be Fez’s last season in Dallas had me pondering this.
Dez has plenty left when Dak actually grows some balls and throws it to him. I’d rather just retain AJ, for continuity’s sake.
No more ex-Dallas players. I can’t stand Dez. Please no.
Oh, I would to. I’m only making the case for this to happen if we were to attempt to retain AJ and fail to do so.
Interestingly, Football Outsiders had the Eagles rated at #4 last year (although that was all D and ST; the offense was ranked 20th). The other teams in the top 6 had 11, 11, 12, 13, and 14 wins.