Eagles Notebook

Posted: November 22nd, 2011 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 75 Comments »

Let’s talk a bit more about DeSean.  He really is a complex subject.

guaranteed payday loans

Jimmy Johnson had a wild bunch of players with his Cowboy teams.  Those guy celebrated on the field, wallowed in cocaine and hookers off the field, and represented all that is wrong with humanity. But they showed up on Sunday and kicked your ass.

Dallas was built on talent, but not guys with potential.  These were players who delivered.  They made critical plays.  They were at their best in big games.  Those teams had an ultra-competitive drive that Johnson fueled.  They wanted to celebrate and have fun, but knew that only happened after they reached into your body and pulled your still-beating heart out.  Emmitt did that to us.  Irvin.   Troy.  Deion.  Leon Lett.  Charles Haley.  And so on.

The Cowboys understood that the icing came after the cake was baked.   DeSean is ready to put the icing on when he holds the box of cake mix in his hands.

Jimmy Johnson let his players do a lot of crazy stuff, but that was because they delivered on the field.  DeSean makes some big plays, but he’s not a cold hearted assassin like the Cowboys were.  On 3rd/15 you knew the ball was going to Irvin.  You had trouble stopping him.  On 3rd/2 you knew the ball was going to Emmitt.  You had trouble stopping him.  Does anyone think of DeSean as a great 3rd down receiver?  Does anyone think of him as a clutch 4th Qtr receiver?

DeSean is a special playmaker.  For my money, he’s the fastest offensive player in the NFL and maybe the fastest overall.  That gives DeSean the potential to be the most dynamic weapon in the league, but he’s not.  DeSean has 19 TD catches in 3 1/2 years.  James Thrash had 15 TD catches in 3 years as an Eagle.  DeSean has 3 rushing TDs and averages 7.2 yards per carry.  Thrash ran for 2 TDs and averaged 8.1 yards per carry.  Thrash didn’t have half the talent that DeSean does.  He wasn’t as fast, skilled, or athletic.

I think DeSean lacks the focus and understanding that it takes to be a great player.  Truly great players have a combination of physical, mental, and emotional gifts.  They get better in clutch situations.  They overcome adversity.  They find a way to make things happen.  Great players are able to focus in and understand all that is going on around them.

Right now DeSean is closer to James Thrash than he is Michael Irvin.  Speed is good.  Big plays are good.  But that isn’t how you win consistently in this league.  DeSean needs to become the guy that can deliver on 3rd downs and in the 4th Qtr.  That’s when most games are won and lost.

There is hope.  DeSean made a critical play in the TD drive on Sunday night.  He caught a pass on 3rd down and then fought off a tackler to get the 1st down.  That helped to set up the TD pass.  That little play was every bit as important as DeSean’s long punt return.  When DeSean starts to understand that, he might be able to become a more complete player and a truly great player.  I would love to see that happen.  It would be great for him and the Eagles.

Back to the Cowboys for a second.  As much as I hated them and their antics (and trust me…it was boiling rage hatred), the swagger they had was built on the union of their play and their attitude.  I understand that some teams and some players need to express themselves to be at their best.  It isn’t a matter of poor sportsmanship.  That’s just how they get into the right mindset.

Last night we saw the Patriots score a late TD instead of going down on a knee.  That’s not poor sportmanship.  That’s their mindset.  No surrender, no let up.  It works for them.

TO was the ultimate celebrator when he was here.  TO scored, TO celebrated.  His antics didn’t bug me as much because he was a clutch player who delivered on 3rd downs and in the 4th Qtr.  He found a way to get open and make the plays that the team needed.

I’ll care a lot less about DeSean and his celebrations when I see him make the transition from guy with great potential to being an actually great player.  There is a huge difference in the two things.  DeSean is a young guy and he can absolutely become a great player, but he’s got to mature mentally and emotionally.

Before the year I thought he was a 100 percent lock to get re-signed.  Now I put that down at 75 percent.  Reid still loves DeSean.  That’s important.  DeSean must show some growth in the last 6 games.  The 4th Qtr grab on Sunday night was a good starting point.  Let’s hope he builds off that.

* * * * *

Akeem Jordan played pretty well on Sunday night.  I hated him at SAM last year, but that was when he was up on the LOS.  Now he’s playing off and is able to go attack the ball.  We’ve slowly gotten better at LB.

There are no long term solutions in place, but I am happy to see the progress.  That’s important.

* * * * *

Somebody asked about Jason Babin yesterday.  He got pressure and hits a few times before the last hustle sack.  He also had chip blocks to deal with.  Jason is playing well.

* * * * *

One thing that does scare me is that some of the young guys keep talking about what a “good” or “great” team we are.  Uhhh, that would be no, we’re not a good or great team.  The Eagles are loaded with talent, but are also 4-6.

The talent makes us dangerous to our opponents.  The 4-6 proves that we’re dangerous to ourselves.

* * * * *

I’m still working on the DGR.  Feels good to be able to enjoy a game once again.

  • Anonymous

    Hope everyone saw the playoff-machine on ESPN. I don’t want to jump ahead, but a 1st round bye is still on the table…

    http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/machine

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

    I really feel like DeSean’s value is set, he should be paid somewhere around 6-8 mil a year. Maybe he’s worth more to keep him happy so you bump it up to 7-9 mil. He just can’t look at guys like Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson and Larry Fitzgerald, they’re total package receivers. He doesn’t have the size (and the punt returns do not make up for that).

    I believe Carolina’s Steve Smith’s deal is 6 years for about $45 mil. That sounds about right for DeSean, and Smith is a better all-around receiver than DeSean’s been.

    • Anonymous

      Adam Caplan said on Eagles Live recently that he heard the Eagles were offering about $8M per year and DeSean was looking for $10M or more.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

        I think 8 mil per year is still high. He still acts like a rookie way to often to put too much stock in him.

        Also, he won’t last more the 5 or 6 more years in the league. Once his speed/burst leaves him he is done. He doesn’t have the height, strength or route running ability to stay in this league for long. So I say he’s at his half way point in his career to put too much in him, unless it’s a back laden contract.

        • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

          All the Eagles contracts have those years at the end where it doesn’t matter if the player is cut, retired or traded. Longevity shouldn’t be a sticking point in getting the deal done.

          The thing with 8 mil is that contracts go up every year, even with the new CBA, So Steve Smith got 6ish when he signed his back in 2007. That equates to a higher number in 2012 dollars. All considered, 8 sounds about right to me.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

        I feel like those rumors are often wrong. But if it’s true, DeSean is gonna be franchise tagged and cranky for another year. He’s not a $10 mil receiver.

        So I guess the next question is, are there any teams out there crazy enough to pay him $10 mil? The Bears, maybe? The Redskins?

        • Kammich

          Without question, there would be someone willing. In this era of the wide-open, spread attack, I think a lot of teams over-value the perceived “home run threat.” Hell, just look at the fact that the Vikings gave a mediocre ‘deep threat’ like Bernard Berrian $7 Mil a year.

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

            That’s a good point. DeSean is worth several mil/year more than Berrian.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=565087931 Jeppe Elmelund van Ee

    Tommy,

    Can Jordan be looked at as the long term solution at SAM? Hopefully Chaney can continue to get better at MLB, and then we only need a stud WLB (Z. Brown anyone??)

    I really hope we can continue to play great football – I almost can bare another let down by this team…

    • Anonymous

      I’m not sold on Chaney at MLB at all.

      Jordan had a good game, but let’s see him have a good month before we talk about him being the answer at SAM.

      • Anonymous

        Chris Collinsworth made Cheney into an All Pro SLB . . . while sacrificing for the team.

        Do those guys — Michaels and Collinsworth — watch ANY film whatever?!

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

          Collinsworth is one of the best X and O guys out there doing television. He’s probably the best one.

          • Anonymous

            Hi, my name is Mike Mayock, and I don’t think we’ve met.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

            Mike Mayock, I agree is also very good. Give me him or Collinsworth anytime. But saying that Collinsworth is no good is completely wrong. Mayock knows his stuff, but as a broadcaster I think Collinsworth is still a better broadcaster.

            X and O, I’ll take Mayock

          • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

            JAWS! Then these other guys.

          • Anonymous

            Anyone but Gruden.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

            Jaws is good, but is too much of a homer during Eagles games.

          • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWMNZ32U6YPGGA7N4JNWH4OSJE Mac

            I don’t like Collinsworth… I think he allows his bias to show through way too often when he is calling games.

  • http://kaizenity.blogspot.com/ FalKirk

    I cannot stand players – players from all teams mind you – that celebrate before they cross the goal line. If I were their coach, I would ream them out and fine them every single time until they learned that the celebrations come AFTER the touchdown is scored.

    With that background in mind, you can imagine how I feel about DeSean’s antics. When he dropped that football short of the goal line in the Cowboy game I was going nuts. I knew right away that he had dropped the ball too soon and I was going out of my mind. Fortunately, the Cowboys didn’t realize DeSean’s mistake, the play was blown dead, the Eagles kept the ball and then scored on the next play.

    I will bet you any amount of money that DeSean has the mindset of “No harm, no foul”. Terrible way to think. Great players think in terms of lost or gained opportunities, not subsequent results. If an offensive lineman gets beat, he should want to fix that problem regardless of whether his quarterback was sacked or not. If a player fumbles the football he should seek to correct that problem regardless of whether a teammate recovered the ball or not. Great players seek to improve themselves at every opportunity. They don’t seek to praise themselves first and think of the team second.

    DeSean is a very special talent. He’s so dangerous. But he’s also so immature. I think what bothers me most about his mistakes is that they are so very unnecessary. It’s not like he has a fumbling problem of drops a lot of passes (although he does). Rather, he has to go out of his way to make the mistakes he does. Drop the ball before you cross the goal line? Run parallel to the goal line when a touchdown wins you the game? Throw the ball at an opposition coach? Each of those actions required DeSean to do something that was completely antithetical to normal football play.

    If I were Andy Reid, I’d be on DeSean’s case every single day. I would pound him on the concepts of team play and the type of play that makes one special. If DeSean responded to that, I’d keep him. If DeSean responded negatively, I’d regrettably let him play somewhere else.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

      I agree 1000% with you on Jackson. I’ve been preaching that for months now and all the homers give it too me, and that is fine. Jackson is not a team player, he’s immature and only wants what is best for him.

      I’ll give him credit for not talking about his contract situation to the media, but Young blitz him when he said recently that Jackson hasn’t been practicing or playing hard because of his contract. That to me is terrible and I’m fine if AR lets him walk after this season. I think he is just going to become a bigger and bigger cancer.

      • http://kaizenity.blogspot.com/ FalKirk

        “I’ll give him credit for not talking about his contract situation to the media…”-Jeremy S

        You make a great additional point. Jackson gets all the credit in the world for his public handling of his contract situation although it certainly seems to have negatively affected his play.

        Assuming it was possible, I wish the Eagles had simply signed him before the season began.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

          Agreed, before the season would have been ideal.

          And letting his contract affect his play I think is sick on his part. He won’t talk about it pubicly that is great. But letting you affect your play is just as bad if not worse.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWMNZ32U6YPGGA7N4JNWH4OSJE Mac

        I think the key to Jackson’s position is that the Eagles can’t afford to let him walk without some type of compensation.

        My prediction is that he will be the player with the franchise tag on his head, and that in fact the Eagles will get at least a 2nd round pick for him in a trade. If I were in the position to get (a third) 2nd and maybe sweeten the deal with a 4th I am pulling the trigger and moving this cat.

    • Anonymous

      But remember Tommy’s mantra that you only make a change if it an upgrade. Right now SS and RC are not. I agree with what you said, and I think he should be valued accordingly, but DJax as is is still better than the alternatives… for now. The future is up to him.

  • Anonymous

    Someone with Twitter should send that Thrash comparison to Djax. Maybe that will give him a rude awakening.

    • Anonymous

      I don’t think the safeties were playing quite as deep when Thrash and Pinkston were the WR.

      I think what Ricky Manning did in the 2003 NFC title game — physically disrespecting Thrash — was how the league saw JT.

      • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

        Doesn’t matter, numbers don’t lie. Thrash wasn’t as fast or quick as Jackson, but he still made the CB, LB, DE and S miss him enough to get those averages.

        Jackson is what he is an average WR.

        • Anonymous

          Actually, I think that is the exact difference. Trash made a (as in one) defender miss him to get his numbers. DeSean makes a CB and at least a safety over top miss him to get his. DeSean has not had a good season, but anyone who thinks his numbers alone are what he adds to this offense are either not paying attention, in denial of the effect his speed has, or have an agenda against Jackson. I fully agree with Tommy that DeSean needs to mature and realize he is not an elite WR right now, but the one thing he does do is force coverage in his direction. I can guarantee you that LeSean McCoy loves having DeSean on the team. By forcing teams to account for his speed, Jackson pulls an extra defender out of the box to free up McCoy.

          I’m not at the same point as Sal Pal who believes Jackson is the guy that makes our offense run, but I do agree with his more general message that Jackson’s impact on the offense go way beyond affecting him alone. I certainly think if it comes to it, we can replace Jackson, but it is not something that would be as simple as taking one starting WR and replacing him with another.

  • Anonymous

    Tommy where do you stand on the press conference personality discussion? More specifically Reid’s dull ones, where he doesn’t single out players or Coughlin’s style?

    I don’t see any reason why you would throw players under the bus at PCs, so I am in Reid’s corner, sure it can be boring and often feel the same, but I’m not a journalist so I don’t really care. I’m sure Reid let his players know when they screw up so I see no reason why he should tell the world as well

    • Anonymous

      I think Reid does it the right way…for the most part.

      I think he is too secretive and that hurts him. Andy can protect the players and still let the public know he gets it at the same time. He chooses to err on the side of caution.

      Andy can be a tough guy behind closed doors. If he would just say at a PC that he really got after the guys in the film session, people would appreciate that.

  • Anonymous

    Tommy, as usual, your perspective and analysis is spot on. You are a glass half full fan but objective enough to look at both sides of the coin. I wish you continued success and I toast you with a pile of pudding this upcoming Thansgiving.

  • Anonymous

    The Giants seem to have played a lot of man-to-man on D-Jax. Or 3-deep zone with SS Deon Grant playing at the LOS.

    No one can stop Jackson 1 on 1. And his long plays seem to ignite this team (even in 17-10 games). That’s why teams play their safties “500 yards” downfield.

    On the other hand, one thing about D-Jax — and on both long passes on Sunday night (1 INT, 1 catch-with-stupid-penalty) I think you saw it — is he is VERY PASSIVE, i.e., not going for the ball at the (or his) highest point.

    D-Jax is not physically built to fight for the ball that way. Like, say, Riley Cooper could (if he stops tripping on fades in the red zone).

    If D-Jax had a bigger, physical WR on the opposite side, he might have more opportunities deep (Steelers: Wallace & Brown/Ward). I love Maclin. But he plays like a 4.425 version, but bigger version, of D-Jax. I just don’t remember seeing Maclin win jump balls.
    ______________

    That all said . . . I really liked the balance of the Eagles offense on Sunday.

    Seems that with VY in there, Reid and Marty . . . as Reid always has done since 2002 whenever he’s lost his starting QB . . . he’s refused to give up on the run no matter what’s going on during the game (2005 excepted).

    The offensive chemistry was really interesting. (Still too many TOs — a curse on this team.)

    Maybe the lesson should be this: The Eagles need to commit to 25-28 called running plays per game — not counting whatever Vick adds w/ his scrambles off pass plays — and opponent’s safties wouldn’t be 500 yards downfield. That gets the WRs more room to work.

    This year’s O-line has shown the ability to create space for called running plays.

    The Eagles need force opponents to come closer to the LOS with called runs.

    Pound the rock more. Make the opponents’ safeties come closer to the line or face a steady diet of McCoy for 4-5 yards a pop, and Celek and Harbor for 10-15, and Maclin and D-Jax for 15-20.

    And TAKE THE PRESSURE OFF VICK . . . who’s not proven himself as adept as McNabb, this year at least, at handling Reid’s preferred 65-35 pass-to-run diet.
    ______________

    It’s no salve to point to the NFL’s stats and say: “Wow, who’d have thought an Andy Reid team would lead the league in rushing (or close to it).”

    Back in 1990, the Eagles led the NFL in rushing. The O-line was a bunch of forgettables: Heller, Schad, Alexander, Solt, and Singletary. The primary RBs were equally forgettable: Heath Sherman and Anthony Toney (Byars had only 37 carries). But Randall Cunningham tacked on 942 yards rushing. Still, NO ONE feared the Eagles running game, despite the stat as No. 1.

    I think, as long as Andy and Marty pull a Dean Smith on McCoy (the only people who can stop him are . . . ) and w/ Vick at QB, the Eagles will not be the team they could be.

    And running the ball does shorten the 4th Quarter — even if the runs are in the 1st Q.
    _________________

    Call more running plays. Don’t put it all on Vick.

    Just a theory while basking in the glow of the most screwed up Eagles season in my 40 years of being a fan. BY FAR.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

      You don’t remember Maclin winning many jump balls? Didn’t he win one last year while falling on his back into the endzone, TD. I don’t remember who it was against. I also remember him against Tampa Bay last year I believe again where he had like 152 receiving yards without Jackson in the lineup. Not sure if he had any jump balls but I do remember him making some great catches in traffic.

      Maclin is a very good WR, much better then Jackson. You can’t blame Maclin for Jackson not getting open deep anymore. And comparing him to Brown/Ward in Pit is just stupid. Wallace is a better route runner then Jackson so he gets open more on his own, stutter and go, out and up, etc. He is much crisper then what Jackson is,so he does more to help himself, don’t put that on Maclin.

      • Anonymous

        Maclin’s acrobatic catch against the ‘Skins was NOT a jump ball!!!

        You wrote your self he was falling backward.

        It was a great catch.

        But I’m talking about the classic Moss/Fitzgerald/C-Johnson ‘jump ball’ passes where the WR outmuscles and outsizes the DBs.

        The Eagles — and Maclin — don’t do that. Just a fact

  • Anonymous

    Tommy,
    When you say that there the LB have no long term solutions in place, are you speaking just for the SAM, or all of the LB spots? Do you feel that Rolle is a long term starter? How about Chaney?

    • Anonymous

      I think the major concern for Rolle is that there extreme depth/ talent in this years WILL class. If the Eagles miss out on the 4 big LBs (Teo,Vontaze, Kuechely, Z. Brown) they may feel the pressure to draft a LB relatively early. I’m not sure if Hightower fits the scheme so the other guys who are in the 2/3/4 round would be the Travis Lewis, Sean Spence, Trevetham, etc. Primarily slightly larger versions of Rolle.

  • Anonymous

    Its late November, how do you calculate 75%? I wish I could see that. I think it is the opposite at best. For shame, for shame.

    Off DSJ topic, that 18 play TD drive, did it remind anyone of the early naughties Eagles O? It was Reid/Childress-esque as opposed to anything how powered as has been our MO over the 5 years. It was great.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_DPZBMFBVAVUM65GQ3VDXOQDYZQ Morton

    Boy did Howie “Boy Genius” Roseman and Andy Reid really drop the ball big-time in the 2010 draft.

    Daniel Teo-Nesheim is now off the practice squad and officially with the Tampa Bay Bucs. This is the guy that the Eagles picked in the 3rd round after trading their 2nd round pick to Dallas (who picked Sean Lee with the pick) and after passing on Navarro Bowman (who is playing like an All-Pro in San Francisco).

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

      The draft our starting safeties both came from? And Brandon Graham, who was in the rotation before his knee injury? Keenan Clayton, Riley Cooper, Jemar Chaney and Clay Harbor? There’s a lot of guys from that draft seeing the field. If Nate and Brandon continue to recover from their injuries, that’s a successful draft.

      • Kammich

        Not to mention that it is simply fucking RIDICULOUS to make concrete statements about a draft class 18 MONTHS AFTER THE DRAFT HAPPENED.

        For all we know, Sean Lee is gonna slip on a banana peel and die next week. I hope not, but hey. Banana peels are dangerous.

    • Anonymous

      Really more Sean lee and Navvaro Bowman pick talk. We get it u hate Howie and wished he picked them. Wtf. Get over your man crush and move on. We all do. It’s in the effin past.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AHVR5EZERRCZSD77DMKWAEEPLA Steve H

      What the heck does this even have to do with the post?

    • Anonymous

      LOL. This is awesome! Well Played Sir!

  • Steven Dileo

    For those of you that say the Eagles suck at bringing in UDFAs- Kyle Arrington has 7 interceptions this year

  • Anonymous

    Tommy,

    Would love to see a puff piece commenting on how well Jason peters is playing. Best I’ve ever seen an Eagles O-lineman play. Thanks!

    • Kammich

      Agreed. His play has been absolutely exceptional and, honestly, unheralded by most of the Philly media.

  • Kammich

    I don’t view DeSean as a complete receiver(far from it), nor as a legitimate #1 WR in the NFL. In fact, it has seemed pretty apparent since about halfway through 2009 that Maclin, when healthy, is definitely our best receiver.

    But something that gets overlooked is how DeSean FITS in this offense. Our offense is universally considered to be one of the most explosive and dynamic in the NFL. Thats easy to say with the likes of Shady and Mike Vick, but its important to remember that it all started with the explosive big plays that DeSean brought when we drafted him in 2008. I don’t think he deserves #1 money, but how negatively would our offense be effected with the loss of DeSean’s skillset? He keeps the safeties back, he keeps corners on their heels, and he allows our other ‘underneath’ possession receivers like Maclin, Avant and Celek to do what they do best.

    My question, essentially, is… what would the discernable difference be if you were to subtract Jackson and add a draft pick like, say, Justin Blackmon? Personally, I’m not interested in that notion. I like the “hold-your-breath” quality that DeSean brings to this offense. I just hope it comes at a reasonably SANE price tag.

    • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

      I also feel like DeSean energizes Reid on a personal level, as well as the rest of the lockeroom. When he’s into the game, it seems like he’s good for the team. DeSean plays like a kid, but it is a game they’re playing. A little kid in it can help.

  • Anonymous

    Two comments on your comments, Tommy, which I think reflect on some of Reid’s shortcomings. I’m really not piling on the guy. Honest.

    Jimmy Johnson had some serious bad character guys in Dallas, and the same (maybe even worse) when he coached college ball in Miami. He has also won more championships than Reid can dream of. One of my criticisms of Andy is that he seems overly concerned about character in his players. I’m betting the truth is that he’s too much of a control freak and needs guys he can keep in line. Yea, he got burned by T.O. Big deal, so did a bunch of other teams. I’m not saying he needs to scan the police blog for draft choices, but a little bit of street agressiveness can bring a lot to a football team. Johnson understands this and I hate seeing him on tv with those fat rings on his fingers.

    Peanut is immature and a diva. Everyone knows this. Everyone also knows the guy can play like a superhero on the field when he’s inspired. So get the little bugger inspired. A talented coach should be able to have a player like this feel like a stick of dynamite with the fuse lit. I said somewhere in an earlier post that Phil Jackson exemplified how a coach can bring out the best in an odd player by meeting a guy’s emotional needs. Under Phil, Dennis Rodman played his guts out under the boards. Desean is still a kid and he needs to learn and, more importantly, integrate the value system of being a professional. He needs guidance and mentoring. Reid should be providing this arranging for other players to support this process.

    • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

      Jackson is a professional he should be able to provide his own inspiration to play good football. Isn’t playing for your next contract enough inspiration? It would be for me especially if you think you’ve been underpaid. Don’t put this on Reid, put it squarely on Jackson.

      • Anonymous

        You’re right, but only in an ideal world. In the world as we know it, human beings are complex and quirky. I’m not blaming Reid for Jackson’s immaturity, but I am hoping he will rise to the challenge that is Desean. The Eagles could wash their hands of Desean because, as you correctly point out, he should be able to inspire himself. Or, Reid can work with him in a variety of ways to him grow into the type of athlete that will bring his A game regardless of all other considerations. Personally, I would hate to see them dump Peanut and then have another coach bring him to his potential.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

          Don’t you think Reid has tried to get Jackson to play to his potential? I think he’s said things to him many times about this, it’s Reids job and Reid has a history of getting things like this right.

          I think Reid has tried numerous times over the years to get Jackson to act his age. He was just benched for a game for missing a meeting. I’m sure something was said to Jackson before this benching about getting to meeting on time etc. You don’t just bench a guy for missing one meeting. I’m sure Jackson has a history of this and Reid has said things to him about it. Jackson just thinks he’s above the law here, he’s immature.

          • Anonymous

            Yea, it’s hard to tell from the outside what Reid has done or not done. Maybe I’m just grasping because I feel Desean’s upside is so potentially huge that it’s worth working with him. Maturity can be taught, speed cannot.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000462635892 Thorin McGee

        These “professionals” are all kids when they come into the game. We can say how they should act all we want, you often don’t get it. In the NFL especially, the players are mostly in their 20s. You don’t expect employees in their 20s to be paragons of professionalism. Some are, some aren’t. You can’t take it for granted no matter how much you pay them.

        • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_Y3JQ64P3AYNZTYXWZMLFX235MM Jeremy S

          Oh I agree with you completely. But Jackson is in what his 4 year now and he wants a new contract. He shouldn’t be surprised if these immature issues he’s shown over the years to go against him in getting a huge contract. For all the great plays he makes he makes just as many bonehead plays.

    • http://www.facebook.com/matthew.verhoog Matthew Verhoog

      For every one 90′s Dallas team there are Ten ’00′s Bengels

      • Anonymous

        Here’s some interesting karma. Before the 2004 NFC Championship game, a buddy and I had a conversation that went something like, “Would you rather win with a punk like Vick or lose with a gentleman like Donovan?”

  • Anonymous

    On Desean – the VY comment and the article written abt him not focusing and working hard in practices and that translating in game time speaks very poorly abt Desean…You could see his energy level for the Jints game…I do hope his level and commitment remain the same for the oncoming stretch of games – it definitely will be needed if we were to try and make a run at the playoffs – on the other hand what is the guarantee that Desean will lift his game once he gets the contract – I would rather have him traded for a 1st and a 3rd and pick Blackmon instead….on the last drive by VY – does anyone think Vick would have pulled it off? (especially with the blitzes called by the Giants and Vick having problem with reading blitzes and going to his hot read) – another thought is did the OL block better because they knew that Vick “Superman” wasn’t at center – so they knew they had to gut it out and do a better job giving the backup QB a better chance?? Also Tommy why is that Reid/MM game plan so well for a backup QB by running the ball more and sticking with the run even when it is not working…but go back to their old ways when the QB returns…I just don’t get Reid and MM’s playcalling!!

  • Anonymous

    Also while trolling Big Blue View after the game had ended Sunday night (me with my strep throat and all since I was so pumped) found out that Big Blue fans have nick named Perry Fewell as “Radio”

    • Kammich

      Ahaha. Messed up, but funny.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_AHVR5EZERRCZSD77DMKWAEEPLA Steve H

    So what the heck is up with Julian Edelman anyhow? Last I heard he was arrested for sexual assault, why is he still on the field for New England? Did he post bail and is now continuing to play? Why is the NFL not “investigating” the situation? I don’t get it.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1116101444 Erik L. Richardson

    Gang, you really need to take the Punt Return last year vs the Giants out of this conversation. He ran closely across the goal line to ensure the clock indeed read 00:00. He did what great players do. He took matters in his own hands to guarantee a win. He wasn’t getting caught. It was a smart play that often is dramatized to be really acquisitive. I don’t agree with most of his antics. But, Westbrook did a similar thing and was praised to high heaven. I think…it was against the Cowboys. The one where Runyan is waving at him to sit and not enter the end zone. What’s the difference? They are the same exact play to an end. The players are different, the team we opposed was different. But the cause and effect are completely oblique. Everyone lovvved Westbrook! He was a game-breaker in the run or pass, great player, exceeded his potential, great citizen, man and teammate, Professional.

    Not everyone looovvveees DeSean.

    • James Coe

      They really aren’t the same play. When Westbrook did it, we were up and just needed to run the clock out, so he stopped short of the goal line so that we were able to do that rather than give the ball back.

      With DJax’s punt return last year, we were tied. If he had messed that up and got tackled, we would have had to deal with OT in a game that (for about 75% of it) we had been playing terrible football. In that situation, getting over the line with 0, 5 or 10 seconds left is of minimal difference; the important thing is getting over the line.

      There are times when delaying to run the clock out is a good thing, but that wasn’t one of them. He should be praised for being able to make that play, and winning the game, but he shouldn’t escape criticism for making a dumb move just because he got lucky and it didn’t cost us.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1116101444 Erik L. Richardson

        That’s the thing. To me the luck part was doing what is now common place for him… That step-back move to see the lanes. The luck part was Gaither and Avant almost getting knocked out on doing their jobs sacrificing for the team. I didn’t see it as unlucky that he sealed the victory. Again, I don’t agree with his antics. They do more harm than good.

    • Anonymous

      Erik this has been debunked on various YOu Tube videos. The clock was at zeros well before he crossed the line. His after game comment only creates a our word versus his, but I think it is very plausible that he could see the clock at zeros when he ran towards the goal line which makes his after game comments a bit unbeleivable. For me it stays in as a judge of his maturity level and whether his head is in the right place in becoming a truly great player. I really yearn for when a team puts a CB on him with a LB in his short area and safety help over the top….and Desean still makes the other team pay over and over again. The guy has that ability. It really is about who he wants to become.

      • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1116101444 Erik L. Richardson

        Right now DeSean is more focused on his next celebration and how much he is going to get paid. That’s not Professional.

  • http://pulse.yahoo.com/_GWMNZ32U6YPGGA7N4JNWH4OSJE Mac

    Off topic… any chance we grab Norv Turner as OC this coming off season?

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1116101444 Erik L. Richardson

    Ironically, the player I would advise Desean to echo is Wes Welker. Break out the old school Tommy McDonald, the Gary Clarke, Michael Irvin and Jerry Rice film. It’s like he doesn’t get how much more valuable he could become if he truly focused in on his craft. It may sound a little comic. Desean can exploit the entire field if he studies the space and timing of how the defense reacts to him. We saw that last week when we lost w/o him.