The Greatest
Posted February 8th, 2018 | 417 Comments »The Eagles were a lot of fun to watch on the field this year. They won a lot of games (and even the Super Bowl in case you hadn’t heard), but they were fun to watch because of how they played as well as the results. 2017 was an incredibly fun year.
They were also a lot of fun off the field. I know some of you don’t like their politics, but it is beyond me how anyone could watch these guys and not like them from an overall perspective. They didn’t fight with each other based on egotistical matters. They didn’t get arrested. They were generous and active in the community.
Maybe more than anything, they showed a genuine love for each other.
Today’s Super Bowl parade was an amazing experience, topped by Jason Kelce giving the greatest speech in the history of the Earth.
https://twitter.com/NFL/status/961687129649684480
Full transcript of Jason Kelce's speech: https://t.co/CvONVvVDu8 via @phillysport
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) February 8, 2018
And his greatness went beyond the speech.
Jason Kelce, man of the people. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/4VEIFkAfd2
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) February 8, 2018
Today was fun, a celebration of a great team that won a Super Bowl.
Last year Bill Belichick chanted “No days off!” at the Pats Super Bowl parade. He didn’t want his players to have too much fun. That mentality has helped them win a lot of games, but there is something to be said for he Eagles ability to win games this year and even smile while doing it.
This team is sure a heck of a lot more fun to watch than the Patriots. It will be interesting to see if the Eagles can keep smiling and keep winning next year.
I hope they repeat and get to have another parade. I want to see what happens when Jason Kelce gets over being shy and finally opens up a little.
*****
Some funny tweets.
https://twitter.com/t_mcallister/status/961683263982063617
https://twitter.com/BDenbrough/status/961721672595369984
One thing Jason Kelce forgot to say on his tirade: "Everybody said Travis was the craziest Kelce. Nobody gave me a shot! Well hold by bleeping beer and listen to this shit!!"
— dialetheic bias (@biasbreakdown) February 8, 2018
_
Let me be the “first” to say… how much I love these guys.
The challenge of motivating a team to repeat is one that coaches deal with in different ways. Some of the great ones (e.g. Belichick) do it via fear. Others (e.g. Phil Jackson) play mind games. My bet is Doug will play the “there’s STILL nobody who believes in you, people are saying it was a fluke” card.
It’s too easy. Take a look at these ESPN insider 2018 super bowl predictions:
Yates: Patriots vs. Vikings.
Schatz: Patriots vs. Saints.
Sando: Patriots vs. Eagles.
Kimes: Patriots vs. Saints
Graziano: Steelers vs. Saints
Bowen: Patriots vs. Packers.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/22338400
I think every single one of those people, other than Graziano, picked against the Eagles in every playoff game.
Why are people so hot on the Saints? Yes they have a lot of talent, but they didn’t even make it to the NFC Championship Game this season, and Tom Brady isn’t the only old-as-dirt QB who could fall off a cliff any time now.
Well that could be because the saints didn’t get there because of a stupid play by their defense which led to the walk off TD by Diggs. They have a great balanced team and specially designed for better play if their rookies take “the next step”.
What is interesting though, is the level of competition in the NFC vs the AFC. We got Packers, Seahawks, Eagles, Saints, Vikings, Falcons, Panthers, Rams as good teams and if you count them too, Cowboys and 49ers with how Jimmy G finished the season. While the AFC has Patriots, Steelers….. And Chiefs with Mahomes and maybe the Texans.
The lack of franchise QBs and weak AFC east has a lot to do with the Pats dynasty.
Over the Pats dominance, the AFC has only had a three true franchise QBs…Brady, Peyton, Big Ben, and Rivers. 14 of the last 15 Superbowls have had either Brady, Manning, or Big Ben at QB for the AFC.
The only time one of those guys were not at QB was when Flacco represented the AFC in 2013.
It’s going to get harder and harder to automatically drop the Saints into that bucket every year. Brees isn’t getting any younger. And his arm strength definitely looked different this year. They have some nice young players coming up, and a great draft, but that big advantage they have had for years at QB won’t be around forever.
Vikings don’t even have an experienced QB under contract
I LOLed at that one.
“the team must solve its quarterback quandary this offseason.”
Other than that, how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?
I LOVE that Schatz’ coach of the year prediction survived about 24 hours before being proven wrong. (McDaniels)
How to look smart: Pick the exact same teams like Sando there.
How the hell can you pick the packers? Other than their QB, they have one of the worst rosters in the league. Ditto their coaching and GM.
They have some good young talent at RB. I wouldn’t sleep on their receivers either, regardless of jordy’s health.
Who did Kyle Brandt pick? Because nothing else matters.
Some might try the fluke BS, but it will be a hard sell when considering the Eagles were able to beat the best competition out there no matter how many key players they lost.
I’ll go with the Wentz/Peters/Hicks/Sproles(if he’s still around) are motivated to be on the field to win the SB. Watching is nice of course, but if they are the competitors I think they are … they want to be on the field…
On another note, I was commenting on another blog and some salty Cowboys fan was talking about Eagles fans being classless and trashing the city during the parade.
I got to burn him with the “Trey Burton has more career passing yards in the Super Bowl than Tony Romo” comeback.
It was glorious.
mic drop
Excellent.
I love hearing about our “classless fans”. It means they don’t have a damn thing to say about our team. When that’s all they’ve got, times are good.
Nick Foles has more playoff wins than Romo and Prescott combined.
You guys, I think we’re officially stuck with the midnight green, because we’re officially living the Eagles glory days. ENJOY THIS!
It may be an unpopular opinion, but I actually prefer midnight green – to me the Kelly green uniforms make them look too much like the Ken O’Brien-era Jets.
well, they turned to look too much like us, but yeah, all the Greens were a tad too similar for a spell, seems clear why we changed.
I was explaining the history of Eagles jerseys to a gal at church on Superbowl Sunday. She asked the question… and I think that by the end of my answer the glazed over look on her eyes indicated that she got a lot more than she bargained for… haha
I live in NC, football just isn’t that big here (in relative terms), so few people quite get it, or even fathom it.
Went on a date with a girl in 2010, the playoff game. There was no second date. I was a young man then, now I know to watch games at home.
I’m really hoping the NFL stops trying to make “Week 17 Eagles vs. Cowboys” a thing EVERY year. In 2013, the “Kyle Orton Game” was on my anniversary. If the Eagles had lost, there probably wouldn’t have been a next anniversary.
Hot girl at church. Wins
Good. Everyone forgets that grass is also kelly green, and the color looks like shit on TV.
we are living in a golden age right now. This was a team that captured magic and had everything come together. It may or may not last long so we should enjoy these days and this team for how special it is.
Welp I have my first draft crush…Martez Carter
He’s no Corn Elder;-)
I am very fortunate to have been at the Art Msueum for the entire spectacle today. It was awesome. Was worth freezing for 9 hours. Great, great Philly day I’ll post pics and observations a bit later. Here a quick sample. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a7d549fa279532a0ce2c14ecbed58b863f6f49a6ca59f8543459e0b741e1d79e.jpg
Pretty cool to be so close to Jenkins! !
Yelling no days off on the day of the parade tells you everything. Loser in life. We don’t just have the better team but better people.
The AFC blows so hard, it’s up to the Eagles to personally keep that ass hat from winning anymore trophies. At least until Brady retires. No more winning, no more players putting up with his crap.
“I know some of you don’t like their politics”
I for one appreciated how they handled all of that. It was never in your face, and they made it more about the message than the means of protest.
And you know damn well that everybody on the team doesn’t share the same politics. I’m sure there are profound differences in that locker room. So whatever their politics or religious convictions were, they never became a wedge and they never got in the way of getting the job done.
There’s a lesson for all of us in there somewhere.
I came from Mexico to the parade and boy was Philly packed! Hadn’t seen that many people in the same place in a lot of time. Here is a picture https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/274be61dc832d914510f18c590bfcbc061c0834122e606d954128fd7b1fd4169.jpg
You might win for the longest trip among Iggles Blitz commenters. Can anyone beat that?
can’t beat that but two quick stories from the Super Bowl. I took an uber to the game and the driver told me and my son that his last fare was an eagles fan dad and his three boys all going to the game- after flying in from AUSTRALIA the night before! Second story- I bought very expensive tickets (once in a lifetime) and had great seats. An older eagles fan behind me told us he brought his whole family to the game and they were all sitting in our section- ALL 21 OF THEM.
You mean the uber driver didn’t drive you to Canada?
I went for Paris to Minneapolis for the Superbowl. I was so confident about our Victory that I didnt want to miss that.
Unfortunaly I had to go back in France right after to join my famalily and I miss the parade in Philly.
Man, we need to take a beer in Paris next year and watch a game together. I was in Paris for the game (Belushi’s bar at Gare du Nord) and it was crazy, but still, not the Superbowl.
I very seriously looked at flights to go to Philly for the parade, but… Well, my bank account said no.
(by the way, I looked at your profile and 5 years ago you commented saying you wouldn’t miss a parade. Well you didn’t miss the Superbowl so I guess it counts).
By curiosity, are you French or American based in Paris?
I m french and a die hard Eagles fan since 1990. And yes I missed the parade because I went to the big game 🙂 I have no regrets !
Usually I watch all the Eagles games at home (in Paris) with friends but it will be fine to see some in a bar.
Of course I will be in London next season for the game.
I should also go in London, cheaper than Minnesota or Philly… I either watch games in bars or at home. Sadly, we have 7 months to wait to watch a game…
Where do you live ?
My trip to SB was my fifth trip in the US to see my beloved Eagles. 3 times at the Linc, one at the Giants stadium and of course one in Minneapolis. And they never loose when I m the stadium 🙂
Then you should go there more often! I live in Versailles. And you? Inside Paris?
Yes Paris 20.
You have a Facebook account ? Mine is Ollivier Boguais.
My step-mother won a lottery from her tribe in Minneapolis, and gave me and my wife her tickets Thursday Night at 9pm. We then figured out how to get from Albuquerque, NM to the game. An 18 hour train ride to Kansas City, MO and an 8 hour drive to Minneapolis. I cannot express to you how this trip to the Super Bowl has changed my life’s perspective. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/60a26602959a9845e8b48875b61a5b86a1faf28e1f338129e8265712ed1a05db.jpg
Well there were some people from Germany and some other place in Europe that came for the superbowl to Philly so they were fortunate to stay here for a while so they went to the parade.
And I came to the parade since I couldn’t make it to the superbowl because of money issues haha. So the next big thing would be this.
It’s a good time to be an Eagles fan, specially since there are only some of us in Mexico.
AWESOME!!!!
Great photo.
are you a guy or a girl?
A guy… May I ask why?
On a personal note:
It’s been 51 years since the first time I sat in my seat at Franklin Field. The Eagles were 9-5 the previous year (year of the first Super Bowl) and some guy with the last name of Love ran back the opening kickoff for a TD for the Redskins.
Many people I knew died and never saw the Eagles win and I was beginning to believe I was running out of time. What I will say with the Eagles finally winning is the most satisfying feeling I have ever had as a Philly fan. Even though I’m sure there will be some disappointing times in the future and hopefully a lot more happy moments, there will be nothing like the first Super Bowl win. With that goal a reality I will always feel satisfied because no one will ever be able to take this victory away.
Enjoy.
That right there is what it’s all about…
Hear hear! Those empty trophy case jokes are dead forever. I came about being an Eagles fan just by watching Randall on TV every week here in Central PA. I have no deep Eagles roots from my father or his father, who like watching football but aren’t die hards. (“We hope the Eagles win so Brian won’t be mad.”)
But, I sure wish my wife’s grandfather had been able to see this. I”m not crying, your’e crying.
Doug and Lombardi. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d390163ed5e933b1aedbe9034f8678bea7b28dd18ef8b672189556e05c883178.jpg
So Defillipo is the vikes new oc
Well shit…
https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/961768191595827200
Boooooo
On Parade Thursday, of all days. That sucks.
Traitor!!!
I was hoping we could stall until Reich makes a decision.
On the Flip side, maybe he can talk them into giving us a 1st round pick for Foles…we can then sign Sammy on an incentive-based contract to be the backup…and trade him for a pick in 2019.
Foles and Keenum swap places. That would be something.
He may have preferred the Vikings job anyway because I believe he’ll get total control of the offense where with the Eagles Pederson is in control.
True. He might also not be the lead candidate to replace Reich. Could be he was told he is behind Staley or someone from the outside.
Ross Tucker had a great comment about this. It’s a one year rental. JD will be a head coach this time next year.
It’s a loss, but he was only gonna be here one more year.
DeFilippo was just hired to be the Vikings OC. Ugh.
Haha, maybe someone should tell Belichick maybe he should take some days off if he wants to win :p.
That’s some Cold War era tactics.
https://twitter.com/totalprosports/status/961776712408158210
Makes you wonder about the whole “team has the flu” story that was on leading up to the game.
I’m telling you: Doug seems like an “aw shucks” suburban dad but the guy has the mind of chessmaster and the attitude of a professional killer.
Next level coaching.
Creates a great team culture. Everybody holds each other accountable. Everybody sacrifices for each other. Everybody gives 100%.
Fascinating to watch.
Guess it’s not only paranoid Eagles fans who think Patriots are cheaters.
I was saying it would be borderline negligent not to anticipate the Pats trying to cheat before the SB. Turns out Big Balls Doug isn’t the negligent type.
Lol, something tells me the Kelce’s were difficult to parent.
I have a good friend who was classmates with Travis at Cleveland Heights HS. Says he’s every bit the character his public persona suggests he is.
There was a lot of rumors in that draft about Travis Kelce’s character.
Funny is Jason Kelce seems to be able to control that side more than Travis
I don’t know about that. Some trash cans will disagree with you especially the one that got murdered by one of his temper tantrums.
When the game clock hit 0:00, millions of trash cans breathed a sigh of relief. Rubbermaid stock dropped by 7 points.
An asshole?
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d7e2a56dfa300c5062a21433f374db16f36ba0030f558f14a64127cd28b8d23f.jpg What an incredible day! Watched the parade in south Philly then walked up past city hall toward the art museum. Out all day. What a great celebration! Here’s a nice picture of Fletcher Cox rocking the Reggie White jersey.
Great photo! ! TY for sharing
You do know Cox is rocking a Reggie White jersey in every game?
White was No 91 in hist rookie season (where he had 11 sacks as a 3-4 DE)
Cool. I did not know that
Any chance DeFillipo pushes for Nick Foles in Minnesota?
Could you imagine opening night of the NFL it the eagles regular season MVP vs the eagles super bowl MVP at the Linc as they unvail the SB banner?
Personally I’m not in favor of trading Foles, and especially not trading him to an NFC team.
Firstly, we can’t count 100% on Wentz being healthy for opening day, and we won’t know for sure whether he will be until well past the ideal trade window, so there’s a good argument we shouldn’t trade Foles at all.
Secondly, if he’s playing in an offense that fits his strengths – which is what a smart coach like DeFilippo would install if he traded for him – he’s a threat, and we already have enough good teams to contend with in the NFC.
I don’t want to trade him either. More of a “could you image” type of thought.
I’ll take another first from the Vikings.
I don’t want him to be traded, but my philosophy here is to let him do what he wants, as long as the price is good (like a 1st and a 3rd?..). If he wants to be the starter elsewhere, try in the AFC, but if it has to go to the Vikings, do it. Anyway, we won’t retain him next year… Unless he wants to become a Pederson kind of backup. That would be a dream
I really don’t want any part of this team to leave. From the starters down to 3rd/4th string. I know it’s not possible but this team is just so enjoyable and a blast to watch. Maybe adjust some playing times, like Hollins over Smith more next year, but I can’t think of a player I don’t want on this team performance/character wise maybe besides Ellerbee and Beatty. Those two simply because room will be needed for Hicks and JP, performance, and we simply don’t know their character. In Ellerbee’s defense he does seem like a fiery dude which you always want on D.
What a week! What a day! What a life! Go Eagles!
Douggie P was given a Gatorade bath how many times this season? They have been loose yet focused all year. I think he has had 4 Gatorade baths BTW.
“Will DeFillippo push Vikings to make a play for Nick Foles?”
Posted by Mike Florio on February 8, 2018, 10:26 PM EST
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/08/will-defillippo-push-vikings-to-make-a-play-for-nick-foles/
First Shurmur then defelippo, seems like a pattern. Sad to see him go, clearly has a way with qbs. Would be surprised if he takes foles.
Yeah, I think a big part of the Vikes’ decision to hire Flip was to develop Bridgewater
Even if the Vikings were to want Foles, I think it would be a difficult to convince Vikings manager to trade a high draft pick to the same team they did for the same reason only two years ago.
This thread is on its way out, but it’s my platform this morning. Every fan has his/her story. Here is mine, hopefully, in a nutshell: I grew up outside Philly. Born in 1942. Connected to the Eagles in a visceral way as soon as I can remember. As a freshman in college, I attended the last championship in 1960. I have vivid memories of Tommy’s catch, Dean’s (Radnor) TD run, Van Brocklin’s precision, and Bednarik taking a seat on Taylor as the clock wound down to 0:00.
Lots of gut-wrenching losses all the way to this season. Yesterday was my 76th birthday. My wife and I with another couple (college buddy) traveled from Maine to NYC for a Broadway infusion this week. Our last day was yesterday. My mind was squarely on the parade all day. My highlight, however, was stopping into a Lids store on 42nd Street and buying my SB Championship cap (not hat). I wore it all day and had to be talked out of sleeping with it on. But I digress.
Today, back in Maine, I will don it all day again and strut down every aisle of our supermarket pretending to be looking for something to add to my cart. At long last, I have the upper hand on the snotty Pats’ fans.
Who is the Greatest Coach in Eagles franchise history ?
One through ten, Doug Pederson, Jim Johnson, Doug Pederson, Jim Johnson, Dave Fipp, Doug Pederson, Andy Reid, Doug Pederson, Buddy Ryan, Jim Johnson
HA YES! MORE DROP. WINNER.
..
Better answer than i could imagine
“Mike Drop” .. my spell check about as smart as Beli keeping Butler out
My neighbor said Gronk is retiring but then admitted he’s just guessing based on what he has read etc.
That and the buzz may be true, but your neighbor is merely encountering stages of grief and mulling through defense mechanisms. It’s healthy.
he’s not, he thinks Pats are all set even when Belicheat, Brady and Gronk are gone.
Given the AFC East, he may not be too far off.
I’m over here laughing at the possibility of McDaniels vs McDermott.
Delusion is merely different pathology.
Their crumple faster than a sand castle does when the tide comes in.
If he’s smart he will. What more does he need to accomplish that he should risk another concussion.
So, Jason Kelce made Chase Utley seem like a Sunday School Teacher, huh?
And how about that Super Bowl Mummer costume..? Unforgettable.
The thing is everyone is assuming that Kelce doesn’t always dress that way.
Remember when that F-bomb was a major contraversay? Kelce had like 3 of them and no one cares.
well I wouldn’t say no one.
But I fully support the use of sentence enhancers.
Kelce perfectly expressed the pent up anger and frustration of the Eagles fan base. I Iove the F bombs he dropped on all those who put the Eagles down (looking at you Skip Brainless, Lomtary, and every friggin Dallas fan). I wonder what Lurie and Doug were thinking as he spoke. Stop him? Nah. There is no stopping him. Let him rip.
The multiple F-bombs were unnecessary and there were a lot of young kids in the audience.
You don’t need to swear repeatedly to express emotion effectually. Kelce’s post Super-Bowl interview on the field showed that.
Still liked Foles’ speech more even it if was as memorable or nearly as attention-grabbing.
Nope. He could not have given the same speech without cursing. It’s uniquely effective. Kids are gonna hear those words no matter what.
Yeah he could have.
I’m sorry but using obscenities during a public speech is LCD form of speech.
He said the words F and you in tandem. How else do you communicate that?
Well, I mean, he could have literally just said “Eff ’em!” Everyone (including the precious children) would have known what he meant.
But you are right that his actually saying the word is what made the speech such a memorable and enjoyable experience (at least to the non-puritanical set). We are used to and expect professional athletes self-censoring themselves, particularly when it comes to responding to critics.
His unrestrained F-bombs gave his speech a raw emotionality and were precisely what made his speech so refreshing.
He also could have beat his chest and yelled loudly too.
I like to swear and have lots of experience speaking loudly & emotionally in an Italian household.
Also worked really hard to become a better public speaker and one of the first things you learn is that using profanities is too easy of a way too turn off people in your target audience.
I’m sure my opinion is unpopular and perhaps wildly so.
I loved Kelce’s speech.
I hated the Philadelphia “darling clementine” soccer song.
But to be fair, I hate most music. So, there’s that.
I liked the speech and it clear he had spent some time preparing it.
I’m with you though. I didn’t like the ending and the swearing. I thought it was kind of a weak ending to what was a solid speech which built to an emotional crescendo.
Meh. Swearing is the stupidest social construct I can think of. These words are “bad” and we don’t say them because _______? Fill in the blank with whatever weak rhetorical argument you can think of.
Swearing is a way for people who think they’re quite affluent to say “ look at those lower class peons, we would never use such coarse language. Dear me. Perish the thought.”
And yes. If you’re a professional public speaker and you’re trying to sell something. Sure swearing might hurt your point. This was in no way either of those situations. It was raw and emotional.
I’m not sure I’d call George Carlin a bad public speaker in anyway.
Carlin has a point but he was a comedian taking about censorship. Big difference.
There are much more effective ways to convey the way you are feeling by just yelling profanities. Kelce did that until the very end of the speech.
those young kids would make you blush.
LOL! I agree! Those same kids were also listening to their parents/relatives drop F-bombs and maybe worse during SB 52!!
Everyone doesn’t communicate the same. It’s good that our team has a good mix of personalities and perspectives. I believe that ability to do so helps in the locker room. LOVE KELCE’S FIRE!
avatar is amazing
Thanks boss. Stole it from FB!
http://s2.quickmeme.com/img/a6/a646c45633cfab95a2aaf727480883aba7de652148fb3601db61853a62d3b3da.jpg
LOL
It was pretty impressive, but not being from Philly, I didn’t really identify. He does have a career in public speaking if he can get his voice figured out. Dude won’t be able to talk for several days after that performance.
If Nick Foles wants the opportunity to start somewhere, the Eagles should respect his wishes and trade him. I prefer to keep him unless another team makes a great offer. I wouldn’t trade him to Minnesota though.
He might be in good demand considwring how dirt cheap his contract is for a starter.
I somebody trades for Nick to be there starter, I’d imagine he would be expecting a pay raise.
BTW, here are the free agent QBs and last year’s salary. Did not add AJ McCarron as his hearing is next week and it is unknown if he will be a free agent.
Outside of 39 year old Brees, Foles is the best QB on this list.
Top Free Agents (by current contract salary per year)
Drew Brees (Saints – $24.25 million per year)
Kirk Cousins (Redskins – $23.944 million per year)
Sam Bradford (Vikings – $17.5 million per year)
Josh McCown (Jets – $6 million per year)
Chad Henne (Jaguars – $3.5 million per year)
Drew Stanton (Cardinals – $3.25 million per year)
Ryan Fitpatrick (Buccaneers – $3 million per year)
Derek Anderson (Panthers – $2.25 million per year)
Ryan Mallett (Ravens – $2 million per year)
Case Keenum (Vikings – $2 million per year)
Mark Sanchez (Bears – $2 million per year)
Scott Tolzien (Colts – $1.75 million per year)
Teddy Bridgewater (Vikings – $1.712 million per year)
Geno Smith (Giants – $1.2 million per year)
Brandon Weeden (Titans – $1 million per year)
Kellen Clemens (Chargers – $1 million per year)
Tyler Bray (Chiefs – $962,500 per year)
Chase Daniel (Saints – $900,000 per year)
Josh Johnson (Texans – $900,000 per year)
Jimmy Garoppolo (49ers – $870,975 per year)
Blaine Gabbert (Cardinals – $855,000 per year)
Austin Davis (Seahawks – $855,000 per year – RFA)
E.J. Manuel (Raiders – $800,000 per year)
Brock Osweiler (Broncos – $775,000 per year)
T.J. Yates (Texans – $775000 per year)
Obviously, Jimmy G. is no longer a free agent.
Oops, pulled that from a website without adding the trade.
On a side note, the Browns offered their 2nd round pick for Garappolo, AJ McCarron, and Alex Smith. I can’t how Nick isn’t worth the same looking at this list, especially AJ.
Different GM in Cleveland now. Not sure those offers would be made today. Smith was traded for less than a 2nd.
Of course no of those guys have been to a SB, never mind SB MVP, so who knows.
Two huge standouts on the list: Case Keenum at $2M gave the Vikings amazing value, Bradford at $17.5 cost them terribly (but that’s the story of his career). I wonder if another coach will be able to get that kind of production out of Case. Pretty amazing value. I could see Foles being successful there, too, but I’m not 100% sure Foles is reliably better than Case.
Most of Nick’s low points in his career came while playing in cold weather or for Jeff Fisher.
Case’s ceiling as a QB has never approached Nick’s. Case has 5 300-yard games in his career while Nick has 10 (playing 10 additional games). Nick also has 3 400-yard games.
Case was never asked to be anything more than a game manager while many games were put directly on Nick’s back.
I said this a few weeks ago, but Nick has always had a terrific deep ball. I have little doubt that Carson will too someday, but Nick’s deep ball accuracy has completely changed games, as evident in the SUperbowl.
Well, Nick’s big games have certainly been spectacular, and to do it in the playoffs against excellent teams is… well, next-level. To have proved that you can and have excelled on the biggest stage is massive.
A single streak like that got Joe Flacco a rich contract, but notice he was never able to even nearly live up to it. Those big games do not necessarily have predictive value.
Also, Case led the league in DVOA this year, and was 4th in DYAR (efficiency and counting stats, respectively). This did not occur in a special situation like Chip Kelly’s brand new offense. His numbers were better than Carson’s. And he did beat out Foles at STL.
I am not sure I agree Nick has a great deep ball, but I give him credit for airing it out. Even in his first game in relief his rookie year, he wasn’t afraid to throw down the field, and he got a score. A good amount of his deep shots are pretty badly thrown, but when you give your playmakers a chance to make a play, good things tend to happen.
“His (DVOA) numbers were better than Carson’s” That alone is why Keenum’s DVOA should be taken with a grain of salt. He was/is a game manager.
Foles got benched in St. Louis after the team’s 4th straight loss. Keenum was the relief starter for the final 4 games of the season. I would not call that being him out. Foles asked for his release due to the drafting of Goff.
Not following your logic. The best QBs show up atop DVOA on a yearly basis. One great year for Case doesn’t mean he belongs in his company, but it sure doesn’t prove the contrary.
If by best QBs, you mean QBs on the teams with very good records, I would agree.
Case Keenum was #4 in 2017. Minnesota was 13-3.
Dak Prescott was #4 in 2016, Dallas was 13-3.
Derek Carr was #7 in 2016, Oakland was 12-4.
Andy Dalton was #4 in 2015, Cincinnati was 12-4.
I would not consider Dak, Dalton, Carr, or Keenum anything more than game managers who were on good football teams for 1 season.
DVOA ratings for QBs always seem to directly correlate with their team’s record.
Wentz was #27 in 2016 on a bad offensive team. However, most realized he was better than Dak at the time.
Well, those are nicely picked outliers, but hardly the whole story. The big-name quarterbacks, who no one disagrees about, are near the top of that list more often than not. There are a couple exceptions, like Eli Manning or Cam Newton, who have big names but don’t show up in DVOA.
There are players like Peyton and Tom who are almost always near the top, regardless of other personnel. And most players have pretty big oscillations due to the factors you alluded to.
I don’t disagree with you that top offensive units are inflating or are a part of a QB’s DVOA. The QB, surrounding talent, and the coaching are all part of the equation.
When you say “most realized he was better than Dak,” I think you meant “most Eagles fans.” While everyone could see he had bigger upside, it was a minority opinion among general analysts/fans that he was a better player.
The true top tier franchise QBs (Rogers, Ben, Brady, Brees, Peyton) are high on this list every year, rightfully so. Watching them play, it is easy to see how great they are.
Eli and Cam are not in that tier and I doubt many would disagree.
In 2016 and early 2017, the question of who was better, Dak or Wentz was huge for the national media (as well as Dallas and Philly). Very few national media members thought Dak was better. Almost every single media member said Dak had a better supporting cast but Wentz is a player with inferior supporting talent.
Outside of the Bayless, who else last year thought Dak was a better player? I can’t think of one national media member who thought Dak was the better player.
Don’t have time to comb through the many debates on it right now, have to run. Basically, the national media thought Dak was better until 2017, when Carson started actually, you know, playing well. That was the time when his DVOA started rising, incidentally.
This argument is going to become circular. The eye test is weak for the same reason that eyewitness testimony in court is actually worse than so-called circumstantial evidence. Human beings will use it to justify their biases, especially hindsight bias. For example, the one where we’re already starting to “remember” how much we liked Foles.
DVOA is the best stat I’ve found in a sport where stats are very messy and players’ performance are notoriously connected. A few hits:
In 2008 it had the Eagles ranked #1 at an 8-8 record. Oh noes… the eye test shows how much they sucked. But when they got into the playoffs they were a minute or two from getting into the Superbowl.
In 2013 Foles put up amazing numbers. Only one or two players in history have put up that DVOA and then not been at least an average player. To me, that’s pretty good evidence that he was… but the eye test was he’s lanky and unathletic and has bad footwork = he’s terrible. Well, suffice it to say opinion’s coming around on that one.
According to the eye test, Romo is a choker who always loses games. According to DVOA, he was a top-5 kind of talent. And then people change their mind when… they do.
According to the eye test, Kirk Cousins sucks, but for years he put up solid numbers in DVOA. At some point, people actually started giving him credit for benig a decent player.
Okay, gotta run.
deep ball accuracy? nah
I was going to wear an old (not a throwback) Fred Barnett jersey but it was just too cold.
My friend did wear this authentic (and old) Keith Byars jersey which got a lot of cheers and comments.
Most random ones I saw yesterday were a Sean Considine jersey (no it wasn’t actually Sean Considine) and a Koy Detmer jersey with a guy who had a full beard including a neckbeard.
If I had the opportunity to be there, I would have worn the only jersey I own, Andy Harmon. First and last jersey I ever bought as he blew his knee out shorty after I forked out the money.
I wasn’t often elated by the play of Torrey Smith, but man this interview blew me away. This man is real.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXPKb1J52TE
Torrey Smith has always been a fantastic human being and role model.
Yeah, I almost feel bad asking them to cut him.
Very impressive, dignified, and heartfelt.
prime example of why you don’t depend on pro athletes for political thought.
lots of examples of why not to depend on the president for them either
45 presidents worth of examples
Kind of like the prime, ongoing examples we see on a pretty much daily basis of why you don’t depend on reality stars for political thought.
Or entertainers. Like TV personalities.
What a coward, he’d rather whine to a sympathetic anchor who won’t call him on his BS instead of actually going to DC and speaking directly to the president when given such an opportunity. Easier to grandstand.
Man, your appendix must’ve had your brain cells. Fool, there was not a syllable of BS uttered by the man.
you are entitled to your opinion as are other posters
btw – this site is iggles blitz not liberal opinion blitz
There are a lot of intelligent commenters at this site. A side effect of that is that a lot of commenters will disagree with you politically.
i think I might have been insulted there. I’m not sure.
I do appreciate any feedback though. I love Torrey Smith as an Eagle but I don’t have to agree with him.
But, but, how could someone intelligent disagree with me?
I could not agree more with your self-serving sentiment. But here’s the thing: there was NO bullshit uttered by our WR. Just like climate change and your president’s penchant for lying, it’s a FACT!!!
Haha, I liberal opinion blitz. That’s not half bad. Sounds like a Bill Simmons venture combining politics and football.
Mad props for the appendectomy callback, that was nice!
I’ve had him blocked for a long time for good reason
agreed
the president is nothing if not open to feedback and other people’s ideas.
Lol
Stop. Just, stop.
Chris Long had it right. The White House visit isn’t a discussion forum, it’s a photo op. Plain and simple. If you think that 45, or any president, for that matter, is there to listen to the thoughts and opinions of 53 athletes, you’re either purposely fooling yourself or lying to us.
If you want to support Trump, it’s your God-given right as an American to be duped by a con man, but it’s also the God-given right of every American to snub him if they like.
Shove it.
Excellent post and kudos to the folks attempting to get through to the fascist fan boys.
Jeffrey Lurie deserves a high-five for embracing this tool early on.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/02/sports/football/eagles-analytics-super-bowl-lii.html
The NY Times ran this article in the week leading up to the SB. Point guard Nick Foles channeling his inner MJ
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/01/31/sports/football/nick-foles-basketball-super-bowl-lii.html?action=click&contentCollection=Pro%20Football&module=RelatedCoverage®ion=Marginalia&pgtype=article
Another good read on NF.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/sports/foles-super-bowl.html?action=click&contentCollection=Pro%20Football&module=RelatedCoverage®ion=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article
The Ringer had a good article on Philly Philly and why the Pats play didn’t work.
I was at the game, surrounded by Pats fans. When Brady dropped the pass, I started yelling “Don’t throw it to Stonehands!!!” Not a single response….
on mic’d up episode they seem to indicate that Brady took a hard shot to the ribs that affected him being able to stretch for that catch
A verbal game recap for scrapbook. Print it for posterity, and if you have a color printer, you’ll have some awesome photos too.
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/05/sports/foles-super-bowl.html?action=click&contentCollection=Pro%20Football&module=RelatedCoverage®ion=EndOfArticle&pgtype=article
Thank you!!
“Philly Special”
Because there were so many reporters around during Super Bowl week, the team practiced the play in the ballroom of the team hotel.
Those are some high quality photos. Love that Torrey has his hands up for a TD before Foles even touches the ball.
On a side note, I always find it interesting how the Times and Washington Post use acronyms.
I’ve never seen NFC or NFL, always N.F.C. or N.F.L.
I love seeing the copy rules at different publications. We may be the last generation to have publishers with established house rules -even the Times has slashed their copy desk. Major magazines have eliminated them completely.
I recently found out that on WSJ, articles will only say President X once. After that, it’s Mr. X.
That’s true of a lot of places. NY Times too, from what I recall.
I can abide various punctuation rules from different publications, but the lock-step allegiance to a war mongering government I find both sickening and alarming.
Very true, Mr. Bells.
When Foles was on Eagles sideline dropping “Philly Philly” in Doug’s ear, Dion Lewis was heard saying “They ain’t gonna go for it.”
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/02/eagles-patriots-micd-up-soundfx-super-bowl-video-reaction-foles-touchdown-pederson-nfl
He hasn’t watched a lot of tape on the offense then. Everyone who follows the team knows that Doug was serious about it.
I couldn’t understand why Collingsworth and Michaels were so surprised we were going for it. Collingsworth even compared it to a risky move like a surprise onside kick. Doug went for it all year in the same situation. I would have been way more surprised if they had not gone for it.
to be fair Merrill Reese was against going for it before the play
I’m glad Merrill is the play-by-play guy and not the coach.
And every dish at every restaurant should be called. Philly Special.
They are both incompetent. They didn’t really present the advantages of going for it well enough. I think Collinsworth was all like how dare he think he can get away with that! It’s the Patriots. Accept your fate losers and take the FG! Your place is not at this table you heathen Eagles!
Pats were getting the ball in 3rd and it’s the Patriots! 22-12 is so much better than 18-12.
Disagree. Michaels is generally quite competent – his job is to call and increase the drama. He does that quite well. Collinsworth’s job is to provide analysis and a former player perspective. I have defended him in the past for being better than his rep, but he arguably had the worst game of his career. He was awful and notably biased.
we out Patriot’d the Patriots. It’s so beautiful.
on the mic’d up episode you can see the Patriots on the sidelines after the play pretty much admitting that.
Does anyone know, or know where/who to ask, if the Eagles will make the following graphics available in print? These need to go on the wall in my office!
. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/c22da714aaee81d95172f8b156a18774f57cd1469497498c496da80ddece1368.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/4772de63b4d99390b1c1a819fb655a267f849f993350d766a3b62b74e598e0b6.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/1fbf4fed6df643902ad31d1de257ba63771c082a5b3f5880ebc6d78ff9400965.jpg https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/d17f4d411072e79381f790a82e8d37425549872547803ac02eaa7b7cf54f2e77.jpg
If you find out let me know. I love the LII poster with the Pats standing in the way with the detritus of Vikings and Falcon feathers laying about. Its brilliant. I will hang that on my office door to annoy the Cowboys and Giants fans lurking about,
You win with detritus .. one of my favorite words
watching the mike’up highlights on nfl last night, Nick’s deep throws are super pretty, really tight spiral.
Lotta #airyards
Somebody commented that Brady was hitting wide open receivers, and Nick was dropping dimes into tight coverage …sometimes double coverage. Steve Young couldn’t contain himself. The GOAT was outplayed by the backup.
No kidding. If you mention here how open the Pats receivers were, the fan police bare down on you, breathlessly insisting that the only reason they had 505 yards was because of the magic of Tom Brady.
No. The Eagles’ defense shat the bed. Pats’ receivers were wide open constantly. Nick Foles saved us.
The Eagles’ offensive highlights don’t show wide open guys. They show a QB throwing a dime into triple coverage (on the Clement TD) and scoring points.
This was a preternatural performance for the ages.
If you mention here how open the Pats receivers were, the fan police bare down on you, breathlessly insisting that the only reason they had 505 yards was because of the magic of Tom Brady.
Jesus Christ man, nobody’s saying that. All I’ve seen people say is that on some plays, the other guys do in fact deserve a little bit of credit. Which is the correct take.
Please give other people a little bit of credit and read for nuance, and don’t respond by being salty all the fucking time. You’ll have a better internet experience.
You’re wrong. I’ve seen plenty of fans shrug and credit Brady (“the GOAT!”) when someone else questions the defensive performance.
Not every comment is about you.
Sorry if already posted, but I found this fascinating:
http://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/02/nfl-super-bowl-lii-patriots-eagles-macolm-butler-beching-bill-belichick-explanation
I would love to see HR court Butler. He’s a decent cover corner and a DB who can tackle in space.
We’ll have 4 cheap studs there next year; I’d like to see cap allocated elsewhere.
I get that, but Mills who grew a lot in his rookie season will never be a top cover corner. Robinson is probably gone, and he was the best cover corner on the defense this season. Mills led the Eagles in tackles in the SB (9) and I love his game attitude. Jones may become a stud, but I doubt that he’ll be one next season. If you saw the uncontested real estate where Brady was throwing completions, you might be more open to an FA signing. Patriot FA’s seem to work for us the way our FA’s work for them.
The Patriots were allowed to hold non-stop all game, so I think that has to mitigate how much I can rip on the DBs.
No thanks. We have very little cap space, he’s going to cost a lot of $$$, and CB is not a pressing need. There are many other priorities I’d rather see them focus their limited resources on.
Hadn’t seen this. .thank you. . May never get old
If that was Belichick’s thinking, all I have to say to him is this: https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/72945cf1db71bf0276c93fc395c580fdb328babbb2c2dc9670f888782d24f829.jpg
Yeah, that’s some Andy Reid level overthinking right there.
good call 🙂
apparently the stock market cannot handle an eagles championship
I haven’t heard anything recently about that super bowl asteroid? I assume with the birds win, it assures a direct hit.
I’m over here looking forward to some good Curry Beef… but all he’s got is chicken.
GE was there..
So was quiyaomah…
You da man, GE.
GE’s record of watching the Eagles LIVE this year: UN-FRIGGIN-BEATEN!
Even at the parade we won!
Unbeaten also and for the biggest game 😉
Ouch.
“Their whole life, they never won a Super Bowl. You have to let someone else win sometimes.”
— Supermodel and wife of New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady Gisele Bündchen turns the Patriots’ Super Bowl LII loss into a teaching moment for her children (First Coast News/Twitter)
http://www.footballoutsiders.com/week-quotes/2018/week-quotes-february-9-2018
the Eagles hadn’t won the championship since the Patriots have been in existence
You have to let someone else fuck her sometimes.
No one let us, bitch, we fucking took that from you.
I sent Brady an email, asked him how his wife and my kids were. No answer, he must be busy.
What did I miss?
Giselle was being haughty and condescending about the Eagles, said that they let us win because we didn’t have a championship in the city.
I saw that a few days ago, for some reason it didn’t irk me because I just took it as something she just said to her kids rather than a serious statement.
https://mobile.twitter.com/cjmaguir/status/961712009938112517/video/1
I assumed when he showed up to the parade with a bud light 30 pack that he was lit. This seems to confirm it.
Heaven help Kansas City if Travis wins a Superbowl.
To answer Crack from a few articles ago; I did indeed give Kelce a ton of credit for taking the elements of his game he was rightfully flamed for, working on them, and having a great year. I think the interview he gave mid-season about looking at himself on film and really getting back into fixing a lot he was doing wrong was an awesomely honest thing to share.
Malcolm Brown was a non-factor.
Hey we’re all glad to be wrong sometimes.
Crack called Foles Brian Hoyer.
I called Ags Freddie Mitchell
Lol Freddie Mitchell was still better then Ags his first two seasons.
For parade purposes
– was with a crew along Broad Street in South Philly; it was flat out amazing.
– nobody who loves the Eagles wanted to see Spuds the house boy doing that much talking at the celebration; Merril Reese should have been the only guy doing that role.
– Kelce’s speech was amazing. It totally encapsulated how much we f-ing hate having to deal with decades worth of crap from the complete and utter trash fans of other cities and disgusting bum commentators of both the national and local variety. I would really like to borrow a championship ring from one of the guys on the team and get the chance to bash in the face of every person who has every used the lack of a Lombardi Trophy to bash the Eagles.
Where were you on Broad? I was in South Philly for the parade as well. Curious about how close we were.
A tick south of Broad and Porter.
Cool. I was a little north of you at Broad and Mifflin. What a great day!
I am still happy about the Eagles. This is weird.
Yup. I can barely focus on the 2018 roster and haven’t had much desire to do a simulated draft. Such an odd feeling!
Strange space for us, all. I feel it too.. is awesome.
Do we become optimists now?
Go ahead and try. Let me know how that works out.
There it is! Pessimistic at the prospects of becoming an optimist.
I was an optimist throughout this entire playoff run. I have refrained from rubbing it in to the pessimists that they were wrong, but I don’t have to change my mentality. 🙂
No thanks to your s____y predictions!
Just kidding. It may actually be your fault we won.
Seek refuge in lamenting that the loss of coaching talent will insure that we never reach these heights again.
Clearly Flip was was sole reason Carson succeeded and Reich was the engine in the offense. Doug is too nice to hurt the feelings of his remaining, inferior talent pool and so will promote people beyond their skill rather than seeking compentent help from outside. Free agents will turn away in disdain and our front office will seek chemical solace.
Off season 38, fans 7.
I see what you’re doing, well played.
This is spot on.
I studied under a master.
I would rather lose fair than win by cheating or a bad call because I am a lifelong fan and I love this team, good guys, no whiners, no me-me’s, no gang signs, no bitching on the sidelines, no pointing fingers, a truly likable bunch, good players with big hearts. This team this way, HOW SWEET IT IS, Go Eagles!!!!!!!
Wonder if Clement could have run it in on Philly Special if that whole left side was open ..
It wasn’t. The whole defense crashed down on Clement. That’s how Foles got so open.
Sweet, thanks ..he sure was open 247 like wawa
..
Love how he calls if philly Philly to coach and he knows exactly what is meant .. called it Philly Special 5 seconds later. .twice
Glorious news friends! The last episode of the Tom vs. Tom documentary had to be delayed because all the filiming had been done in anticipation of the Patriots winning the Super Bowl!
I refuse to aknowlege Brady as the goat, cheating ass mofo.
Additionally, if anyone ever tried to tell me I had to address Brady as sir if I was on the team I just wouldn’t aknowledge him except for extended wanking motions after he walked by.
Where is this sir stuff from?
The Patriots piece that came out before the playoffs about the dysfunction behind the scenes in Patriot land.
His teammates have to call him sir? What an arrogant prick.
Does anyone know if Duffy does similar analysis for the defense?
https://twitter.com/fduffy3/status/961299663910526976
It would be really interesting to put the Pats offensive performance into perspective.
He will next week
I’ll be really interested to know what happened on some of those jailbreak plays from the Pats. I haven’t seen our secondary torched like that in a long time.
AND, actually tap/click to open the video and get audio. He explains in a voiceover that you miss if you just watch it embedded.
https://youtu.be/HJO9gRsf0sk
Trey Burton mentioned that the west coast trip to Seattle and Los Angeles was a preparatory 2 week travel experience. He believes helped ready the team for the 2 week Super Bowl trip.
Burton says running was an option on the play but I find that hard to buy, the ends would have to crash down so fucking hard to make running it in viable, HOWEVER, if Foles was covered Torrey Smith was wide open along the endline but that would have been a much harder pass.
Watching replay last night seemed like the middle had parted. Can’t say for sure.
I’d love to see a view from behind the line, my memory of it was that the end was definitely still outside enough to stop him but that might have just been perspective. Either way, I’m glad that we never had to find out if he Trey Burton could complete a 4th down pass to Torrey Smith :o.
Right but I mean cut right up the middle. Try to watch it again. But anyway the throw was wide open.
Really? That would have been a dick punch to the Pats D if he just ran right up the middle lol.
Upvote for dick punch reference.
I don’t know. I think succeeding in a tougher spot on the same play that Sir Brady failed must have hit the dick pretty hard as he stood on the sideline.
Yep, looks like a gaping hole right to the P in Pats.
https://media.giphy.com/media/xThtakXY0uUtmMVnNe/giphy.gif
Welp, there goes my morning. I’ll be right here watching this loop if anyone needs me.
LMAO….U crazy man.
Hey Steve!
Burton looked like he was throwing all the way! Was it because Nicky sold it so hard and was so wide open? I don’t know. But Trey was throwing all the way!
Easy 6 to Nicky Six!
https://youtu.be/6q-VvU0NJGg
Are we the Gold Standard now? Wow! Other teams want to be like us…
___________________________________________
“49ers have “big piece” in place in their quest to follow Eagles”
Posted by Charean Williams on February 9, 2018, 7:03 PM EST
http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2018/02/09/49ers-have-big-piece-in-place-in-their-quest-to-follow-eagles/
ha, just bask in it, dude… 🙂
All 31 of the other teams wanna be like us!
(I’m still giddy, Cho!)
Oh, and the best 1 handed catch of the season
BB Doug .. legend
…
https://mobile.twitter.com/SBNation/status/961676461081055232/video/1
Thank you
Left hand too!
Catching hand, MM. He probably has put on a baseball glove in his lifetime. Throw right, catch left. Just messing with you, but he did have to look it all the way into his hand a la Foles from Burton.
Just finished rewatching the game. I took my time over three days. I think it’s finally sinking in. In-befucking-lievable!!!
IIRC, Pederson was all-state in football, basketball, and baseball as a high school player.
We tend to forget that even guys who were scrubs in the pros are elite athletes by the standards of normal human beings.
Unfazed , smooth and right in stride
I just flew in and out of Logan airport in Boston, and while in the car had ample time to listen to Pats sports radio. ‘Twas filled with the beautiful sounds of the spoiled cheaters whining and gnashing their teeth.
It’s been a bright spot!!
I. Can. Not. Get. Enough.
“Do you want ‘Philly Philly?’ (Says Foles)… “Let’s do it!… Philly special” (Pederson)
“I just had to process the whole situation,” Pederson said. “It’s fourth-and-goal, we’re in the Super Bowl, we’re on the 1-yard line, right before halftime.”
But misunderstand his quarterback the coach did not.(Yoda, is that you?)
“We knew exactly what we were talking about,” Pederson said. “‘Philly, Philly,’ ‘Dilly, Dilly,’ ‘Philly Special’ — it was all the same to us.”
It’s all the same to us Eagles fans, as well. Philly, Philly! Touchdown Eagles !! A dagger in the heart of the Evil Empire. To the Pit of Misery go the Pats… Well done, Dogs! We won!!!
The MMQB:
“Why Doug Pederson Is, Unquestionably, Coach of the Year”
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/06/doug-pederson-coach-year-super-bowl-52-bill-belichick
Doug probably won’t win a coach of the year but that’s ok. I think taking the mantle of the next GOAT coach from Belichick is a much bigger honor.
McVay won coach of the year last week before the Superbowl.
“a coach of the year” is what our awake friend was saying. I think he meant that Pederson will never win it because the Eagles will be playing at a high level every year and the award tends to go to turn around cases.
I disagree. When he wins 2 consecutive Superbowls with 2 different QBs, he’ll be a shoe-in.
Only if they push the awarding of that award back a few weeks.
Interesting article on BGN. It’s a preview for 2018 offseason. Very good article although I’m not big on the site. Possibly my favorite post I’ve ever read there. Anyway, one thing really stuck out to me. If Foles is on the Eagles roster at the start of 2019 then the contract is terminated. However, if he were traded his contract would extend to 2021. That would be huge for a team willing to trade for him, and I would think it would improve his stock some. Here is really a genius with contracts.
The article also makes you feel alot better about our cap space. We should be able to resign Bradham. I was unaware he was only 26. Burton is gone, but I am intrigued by Billy Brown. He showed nice pass catching skills in TC, and like Burton was an UDFA. Same type of player as Burton, but I think better size. Played WR in college.
Bradham is 28 and will be 29 before the season starts.
I read the BGN article on the cap and it’s terrible. We are not in good shape even of those players listed are released.
Brandon Graham wants a new contract on top of our current situation.
Malcolm Smith is a not the same player as Bradham. Bradham will get much more than $6 year.
Howie has some serious work to do.
I believe you. I also remember those same fears a year ago. I think we can trust Howie to unfurl some unexpected solutions. I just wonder if our newfound prominence makes it tougher.
On the one hand, I am worried that teams will be Leary to deal with us because we’ve make trade partners look dumb. On the other hand, people still trade with the Pats, so…
JP take a price cut? Celek gone? Smith gone? Goodge gone?
When is Hicks due for a deal?
D line is expensive
“Good shape” is definitely not accurate, but the situation isn’t dire either. It’s not like we’re going to have to cut multiple high level veteran players just to get under the cap. If they make a few obvious cuts/trades they’ll have enough money to sign their rookies and add a bargain FA or two, and that’s all they really need to do as they have a pretty deep roster already.
The possible lingering suspension will be a bargaining point for Howie and other GMs, even though I doubt he will get suspended.
The fact that he has only had success under Schwartz is going to help as well. Teams may believe that he is scheme specific which could be true.
There are 12 teams with over $40M of cap space, 4 with over $70M, and 1 with over $110M.
Walter Football has Nigel as their #1 OLB in free agency.
I’d be shocked if he doesn’t get overpaid.
I still think he winds back up with us.
This is going to be heart wrenching off-season. We have our guys we like more (or a lot less) than others, but we’ve never had to say goodbye to a guy who helped us win a title before.
Hate to lose Burton, in my eyes underutilized, but you feel better about these guys going to get money now that they’ve gotten a ring.
Burton is going to be tough to lose. John Clayton was referencing $6 or $7 mil / year; that’ TE 1 money. We have Ertz. Burton isn’t a TE2 type, as that’s not his body type and skill set. That would have been Kittle or Sprinkle in last year’s draft and is currently Celek. So Burton is clearly a TE3 here, but is deserving of being higher up the food chain on another team.
If Burton gets good money on the FA market, well, it’s tough to lose such a versatile and team oriented player, but as you say we can’t afford to spend that type of resources on a guy who’s a role player.
Guys with HBack or move TE type skill sets are not that hard to find, nor are pure blocking TEs like what Celek is at this point. I think we could turn over two of our three TEs this offseason without too much difficulty.
I agree completely. I’d wish Burton well.
Also, I’m going to hold off on suggestion some of the nasty things that need to take place with our cap, so here is some stuff that would make sense.
– adding years to Brandon Graham’s deal while converting a ton of his 2018 salary to a signing bonus.
– pushing a ton of Lane Johnson’s 2018 salary into a signing bonus.
-pushing a ton of Brandon Brooks’s 2018 salary into a signing bonus.
I think I can get about $20-22 million doing that without having to be in fights with y’all over certain dudes and their out of line cap hits. That negativity can be saved for another week.
Howie has lots of big decisions over the next few years.
Ags, Hicks, and Darby will have to be addressed next offseason.
On top of that, Wentz will be allowed to sign an extension after the 2018 season. I’ve heard many say that we have Wentz locked up for 5 years, but in reality, franchise QBs are rewarded prior to that.
Derek Carr was resigned at the end of year 3 and this season something will probably happen with Winston and Mariota.
In reality, this is the last season before Wentz most-likely starts earning $30M per season.
Wentz being worth a $30 mill AAV starting with a 2019 extension could be worked out with a ton of money being bonused into 2019 to mitigate the low salary on the books with cap hit escalating from 2020-2024. So they’d announce a 5 year / $150 deal, but sneak money into 2019. Certainly not cheap, but not impossible give the escalating nature of the cap.
Curious to see what happens to Brees. He is a FA but still has an $18M cap hit in 2018. Add in that he will want $28M+, his next contract will surely impact the Saints long after he retires.
Well considering those writers from vaginal canal street told me the Saints were better than the Eagles, I’m sure it’ll be fine for the Saints.
The Hicks deal is going to be interesting given that he’s only had one full season and two wrecked ones.
Ags as well. He is dynamic with the ball in his hands, but only playing the slot and having poor hands makes him a gamble.
What helps with Ags is that we’ll get a chance to see him play full time outside next year with Smith cut. If he’s up to that job, then his 5th year option isn’t the wort thing ever if we have to negotiate back and forth. The number for Cooks, a year earlier than Ags, is $8.5 mil. That’s an appropriate range to discuss with Ags long term.
The knock on Ags is he can’t play on the outside, that’s why Doug moved him to the slot , signed Torrey, drafted Mack and Gibson, and the reason JMatt was traded.
People have good track records trusting “the knock on Ags”. When you get a chance, try to find video of the 2017-18 NFL season and post season. I’m sorry you missed it. It was a lot of fun.
Seriously dude, go fucking troll somebody else.
Why would you want to move Agholor to the outside when he’s very effective as a slot receiver? That’s basically a starting position in today’s NFL so it’s not like playing split end or flanker is a bigger deal.
Jesus man, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
If they and he both want him to stay at slot, I’m not going to stop it. But if he wants to play outside and we want to use Mack Daddy in the slot, that’s also a possibility.
Really?
Ags does not have “poor hands”. He doesn’t haven’t Odell Beckham hands but they’re not bad at all.
Home town discount hopefully (maybe incentive based?), he was about to be out of the league after last year
Alshon make some big plays (e.g. catches TDs), but him and Ags’ numbers not terribly different, wouldn’t want to give Ags more than $10m/yr.
If he’s staying in the slot, it needs to be less than 10.
As of right now, I think they should let Hicks play out his rookie deal and then walk, unless he can be re-signed to a very team-friendly deal. Good player, but can’t stay healthy, and that’s not going to improve as he ages.
I’d be willing to gamble on that. There has to be a walk away point on Hicks for sure. I’m curious as to what Hicks thinks about getting a lower, but more secure, contract early. vs. the risk of hitting the market off of another possible injury.
yup
And the sooner Wentz gets signed the less he’ll cost.
They need to put a contract in his hands to sign either on February 3rd after we win in Atlanta or February 5th at the end of the parade route.
I was unaware he was only 26.
He’s not – that was an error in BGN’s article. Bradham turns 29 just before opening day of the 2018 season.
Ahhh.
The group picture on the sidelines, just after one of the beatings they dished out this year encapsulates this team’s season so well. Just a group of guys that really would do anything for each other. There hasn’t been as lovable of a team to win the big one since the Saints in 07′ (24 vs the crumpled box with 25 on it ring any bells?). They went through a damn good Eagles team (lead by Jeff Garcia).
Of course other teams tried to emulate that group picture after the fact. It was forced and unnatural. Just like everything else about this team, that they will try to emulate will be next season. I just hope this team can remain hungry, and emulate themselves. I really don’t see any problems in that regard. Doesn’t mean they will be as good, but the culture has been created.
I agree that they seem like a really tight group in that way.
Seeing how much Blount, Ajayi, and Clemens clearly like each other is also refreshing.
Blount set the tone. He could have treated the undrafted rookie like shit for taking snaps. He could have also given Ajayi the cold shoulder when he arrived.
I’ve got to give Deuce a tone of credit on that front too. He seems to be very respected as per the quotes given by Blount about his fitness to be OC someday soon.
Having guys who are both talented and team-oriented is rare, and good coaching definitely has a lot to do with it.
I have to think that Ajayi was pissed off by all the “he’s a me-first guy/malcontent” smears the Dolphins put out there when they traded him and wanted to prove them wrong.
Adam Gase is such a little piece of shit
This times a million. Every td by a rb, the others ran out to enthusiastically congratulate him. Incredible.
add Kenjon Barner to that group. After Blount’s TD, Barner was on the sideline pumping up Blount and saying “show them what you got”
I wasn’t able to get in here enough mid-week, but I need to pass along a major “FUCK YOU” to the city for not having the parade on Tuesday. I enjoyed it, except for douchebag Spuds, on Thursday; but by rights the parade should always be the Tuesday after a Sunday game. I like the mayor a lot, but whatever jerked off event he had scheduled for Tuesday should have been postponed or cancelled in favor of the parade.
Who pooped in your cherios?
Nobody in particular, I just needed to get those two things said. I just don’t it when people violate certain easy to predict norms/rules; such as Sunday Superbowl = Tuesday parade.
We won the freakin superbowl. You should ONLY care about IF parade, not when.
“The lady that brought me my lotto jackpot winnings wasn’t attractive”…
No, I’ll care about what I care about.
You sure will.
I’m glad the parade was Thursday, that Kelce speech probably doesn’t happen if not. He stayed up all night writing it Wednesday into Thursday morning. Tuesday is too fast of a turnaround, fuck that, it was perfect.
You don’t think he’d been working on that for years, rather than days?
But yes, it was EPIC!
Yeah I loved how I got to enjoy it more a little longer. I’ve been waiting 56 years for this so I like that the event seemed longer now that it finally got here.
That’s a great point too, stretched out the celebration to practically the weekend. Still feeling euphoria from the parade
Who pooped on his Philly Special?
Good ole’ Mike. Always finds a reason to be grumpy!
Somebody has to pay the price for the additional wrangling with work needed to switch days off to include Thursday on short notice.
AHA
https://lastfm-img2.akamaized.net/i/u/300×300/44a65102e5794affaec95ad0801780e9.jpg
Love me some Rhino records
I’ll have to check out the rest of their label.
I’m in favor of all of us keeping our original personalities.
Come on man. We just won the SB. Don’t be a dick.
Having the parade on Thursday gave more Eagles fans from out of town time to make arrangements to attend, and while I don’t go to him for hard-hitting critical journalism Spuds has been a part of my Eagles experience for as long as I’ve been a fan.
If Thursday was the unofficial rule, it would be fine.
Definition of “unofficial rule” : not a rule
You must not like old school baseball.
It was originally supposed to be on Wednesday based on tentative plans leaked Sunday night, but because of bad weather expected they moved it back a day.
And that was even outside of traditional norms of a Tuesday parade.
Traditional norms have the Eagles losing the super bowl – or not being in there. Traditional norms have Doug not hired, Wentz not traded for, Foles not added, 4th and “down” (I’m using Kelce’s flub forever now) not gone for.
Apples and oranges. Scheduling of events in a predictable manner isn’t the same thing as hiring decisions. The NFL season now always starts the “weekend” after Labor Day. It should be hard to pin the parade on an exact date every year in every city every time.
Fourth’n’down Kelce! That’s probably his new locker room moniker.
You’re like the little kid that opens all his presents as fast as he can. I’m the kid that likes to savor it and draw things out!
And to follow up my point on why the parade needed to be on Tuesday
http://movielistsman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/vlcsnap-2016-08-02-19h23m50s192.jpg
It extended my enjoyment longer.
Woke up feelin’ PHILLY SPECIAL!!!
That’s what i just ordered … ive got no idea what’s coming
Bwaaahaaa!! Now that’s GANGSTA!!
She didn’t even flinch and took the order. . As if we all knew
Nice avatar. Might I suggest an Eagle crapping out the Pats instead.
We shit on them front runners and I can’t stop smiling or laughing every time I see a SB play or even think of being world champs. What a great feeling
“Agholor’s nine catches are second-most ever by an Eagle in a playoff game, behind Brent Celek’s 10 against the Cards in the 2008 NFC Championship Game, and 14th-most ever in a Super Bowl. The only NFC receivers with more catches in a Super Bowl are Jerry Rice and Hakeem Nicks.”
I saw some stats on the tv screen showing the other people who did that – it’s a small list of mostly all-time studs. I’m convinced that Ags can win 10 more superbwols in his careers, a few MVPs, and become the all-time leader in catches, and some people will still say “slot guy, limited, bad hands”.
I continue to laugh that two of the biggest “busts” in Eagles history, Nelson Agholor and Brandon Graham, played such a crucial role in winning the Super Bowl.
People overuse the word “bust” and are way too quick to apply it. Ryan Leaf was a bust. Tony Mandarich was a bust. In an Eagles context, Danny Watkins was a bust. Agholor and Graham were just guys who took a little time to hit their stride, and/or suffered by comparison to other players drafted near them. But both have proven themselves worthy of 1st round picks.
Yeah, true first round “busts” for the Eagles would be
Marcus Smith
Danny Watkins
Jerome McDougle
Freddie Mitchell
Jon Harris
Kevin Allen
Michael Haddix
I’ll cede anything earlier than that to Viking
Ags was just as bad as Freddie his first year. Eerily similar, in fact.
But “everyone knew he had it all along.” Just like they knew Marcus Smith was going to come around.
I might add a lot has to do with heart and attitude. For example, I believe Watkins had the talent, but could never buy into what it took to be successful. Ryan Leaf was a head case.
During training camp when Agholor showed signs of improvement, I posted a comparison of him to Keith Byars, since Byars was initially labeled a bust. Then Byars, went on to reinvent himself and transformed into one of the most productive and popular players in Eagles history. Several people laughed at this comparison.
It has become obvious that Agholor followed the same script and is now getting the credit he deserves.
Graham’s problems were injuries and defensive schemes.
“I believe Watkins had the talent, but could never buy into what it took to be successful.”
Ditto Shawn Andrews
Shawn Andrews had the talent to be a hall of fame OL, however he had depression and back issues.
Andrews was part of a master plan of Andy Reid that might have made the Eagles offensive lines one of the league’s best. He traded for Jason Peters and signed Stacy Andrews (Shawn’s older brother) to play with LG Todd Herrmanns and center Jamaal Jackson. Shawn was to play RT in place of the retired Jon Runyan and Stacy would play next to him at RG.
That line would had been huge and probably given Reid’s Eagles the best offensive line they ever had, especially if Shawn Andrews was anywhere near the player that Jason Peters turned out to be.
“Graham’s problems were injuries and defensive schemes.”
Sean McDermott remains a sucky bastard of a DC.
Graham got hurt so much by the injury his rookie year and then the scheme changes. Once he got back in an attacking 4-3 where he belongs he thrived.
His redemptive work this season has been fascinating to see. The dude must have really worked at a ton of things this off season. I’m excited to see how much better he can get next year with more targets.
I really like this Golden Retriever and am planning to adopt him. I’m thinking of naming him “Brady”:
https://youtu.be/dD9NgzLhbBM
It’s obvious that this dog is suffering from having an astigmatism.
Name that poor dog Brady? I would report you for animal abuse.
Bring him to the strip club (it might get ugly for a bit but it’s worth it), then give it time…. things will improve…. dramatically.
… is it a female dog?
Wow, I thought my golden couldn’t catch. What is wrong with that animal?
So off topic question for my fellow Eagles fanatics: I’ve seen it posted a few times by players that if you want them to sign something you send it to the NovaCare facility and they’ll sign it and send it back. I’m pretty certain you have to send an envelope etc for them to send it back, but has anyone ever done this?
EDIT: I got the SI with Foles holding the Lombardi and I would LOVE for him to autograph it.
No, but thank you for posting this. I’m sure somebody will know and it would be good to find out.
Very cool! Good ol’ Sheil!
https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/02/06/eagles-writer-predicts-brandon-graham-strip-sack-brady
That’s some goddamn nostradamus black magic shit. There was a guy on the Eagles subreddit who predicted Trey Burton would throw a TD to Nick Foles too. People have been consulting the dark arts in Philly.
I’m rewatchng it now. . Bradham is such a badass
https://youtu.be/uvxqROwtyK0
We’re so lucky to have Sheil back where he belongs.
Love Sheil!
On top of Sheil’s awesome analysis, his weekly Q&A with Joe Banner is enlightening.
Unfortunately, Bo Wulf does nothing for me.
I like Bo
Rewatching the game now…dougies only bad play call of the game was on 3rd and 3 in the redzone where they called the swing pass to agholar that lost 8 yards, making it 3rd and 11.
Elliot nails the field goal but ne commits a 5 yard penalty.
If we didnt lose any yards on third the penalty gets accepted, we get a new set of downs and no doubt we score a TD..patriots never take their only lead and this game is not as close as it appeared to be. Coming back and beating them while down in the 4th quarter feels so much sweeter
Funnily enough, those have always been Doug’s worst calls. He really cut down on them a ton this year however.
And, to be fair to Doug, Foles has done much better with swing passes and screens than Wentz. Hopefully that improves next year.
I didn’t love the incomplete to Jeffery in the back right corner at the end of the game either. Think I said something along the lines of “we just lost the game”, my wife kind of looked at me like I was nuts… because.. I mean I am.
Here is the reverse angle as televised on Philly Special
.. https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/a475bd47731ea91a99e0051cb5768bff93776601d84a6c905488bec6b6368e44.jpg
Never forget that I TOLD you Doug Pederson was the best. ME~!