But before I get to this week’s picks, I’d like to talk some Eagles. Now, please forgive me for what I’m about to say. I know it doesn’t make that much sense, but I think I’m right. The Eagles should retain defensive coordinator Juan Castillo for the 2012 season.

(This isn’t to say that hiring Steve Spagnuolo would be a bad idea. Before the Eagles’ 4-game winning streak — and during it — I could be heard talking about how “necessary” it was to hire Spags as the team’s defensive coordinator next year. I am apparently a “flip-flopper” a la John Kerry circa 2004. Sue me.)

There are plenty of reasons to fire him — plenty — but to keep this short and to the point, I’m just going to focus on reasons why he shouldn’t be fired.

The first reason is the Wide 9. This much ballyhooed defensive line alignment — to which we were subjected to article after article and talking head after talking head describing it — actually works with our defensive linemen.

Unfortunately for the rest of the defense, this new front caused problems for our young linebackers and safeties, the men charged with plugging the larger-than-normal interior gaps. It also caused problems for its neophyte d-coordinator.

Jason Babin, signed to a longterm and big-money deal, is a Pro Bowl-caliber defensive lineman in this scheme and a decent backup in a normal scheme. If you coaxed Jim Washburn out of Tennessee to run this system, don’t you want a defensive coordinator who knows how to run it? And wouldn’t this year be a complete waste if we scrap it altogether and start anew in ‘12? What happens to Babin or Washburn or even Cullen Jenkins, a 3-4 end by trade?

The next reason to keep Castillo is based on results. Call it fools’ gold if you like, but the defense started to click on all cylinders at the end of the season. The same defense that was gutted like a fish by John Skelton and Tavarus Jackson — wow, this season sucked — was the same defense that shutdown teams in the season’s final quarter. You can’t help who you’re playing and neither can Castillo. If we’re to believe that the team finally started clicking, why would we want to waste this progress and start anew?

One of the new wrinkles that Castillo implemented was that two-man front with two defensive tackles lined up in their Wide 9 alignment with Trent Cole and Babin acting as rush linebackers. It’s the closest thing to a 3-4 look the Eagles have run since I started watching football. In fact, now that I think of it, the Wide 9 is really close to a 3-4 front — only without a nose tackle. And haven’t we been asking for more 3-4 looks with our undersized and speedy defensive lineman? (I know I have.) The point is that it looks like Castillo is starting to figure this thing out.

Will Juan Castillo return in 2012 as the Eagles defensive coordinator?

Asante Samuel’s absence also showed the true potential of this defense. Part of the problem coming into this season was the fact that neither Samuel, Nnamdi Asomugha, or Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie could play the slot consistently, to put it lightly. (Ironically, in Madden — where team chemistry and playing out of position are not applicable — these three corners are devastatingly effective. If only Madden translated to real life…) Without Samuel — who really hasn’t done anything to deserve the odd-man out status other than the fact that he’s not a press corner — and with the more than capable Joselio Hanson at home in the slot, Asomugha and DRC are free to play their game more often and this defense looks seriously imposing.

My final concern with firing Castillo is the fact that we’d have had three defensive coordinators in three season — four in five, counting Sean McDermott’s brief tenure. One the biggest keys to success in the NFL is consistency at coaching. Granted, consistently crappy coaching probably isn’t the answer either. I guess the opinion here is that Castillo is actually not a crappy defensive coordinator. Neither, for that matter, is Spagnuolo.

I guess it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if Spags returns to South Philly. However, as this season has taught us, what looks good on paper doesn’t always translate to wins on the field.

With that being said, let’s predict some wins on (virtual) paper.

Cincinnati (+3) over HOUSTON

Seriously, Jake Delhomme and TJ Yates? I don’t care if Andy Dalton is a rookie quarterback, the Texans are down to their 3rd or 4th quarterback. The last time Delhomme suited up for a playoff game, he threw five picks and fumbled once, and that was against the not so vaunted Arizona Cardinals defense. How is he going to fare against a Marvin Lewis coached defense? The guess here is poorly. Even if Yates plays, as expected, the guess here is that the Bengals get their first playoff win since I turned five, and the Texans remain winless in the postseason.

Hey, at least you finally made it to the playoffs, Houston!

Detroit (+10.5) to cover against NEW ORLEANS

With the firepower that Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and company boast, how can you turn down this lusty point spread? (You can’t — unless, like me, you refuse to gamble on sports.) That being said, I still expect the Saints to pull this one out. You remember how last year’s 12-4 Saints had to travel to 7-9 Seattle, where last year’s Taking Back Sports’ annual Alpha Male Play of the Year from Marshawn Lynch knocked off the defending champions? The Saints do too. Something tells me that Drew Brees and company won’t let that happen again this year — much less at home. Still, this game promises to be awesome.

Now, cue the unexpected defensive struggle…

Atlanta (+3) over NEW YORK

Let me start out by saying that I don’t really think the Giants are really that good. Eli Manning had a great year, and Victor Cruz had an even better year. Oh and Jason Pierre-Paul (great name) was awesome too. (Shame, he’d have looked great in midnight green.) But when I watched any Giants games this year, I saw a team get by on one or two incredibly big plays on offense from Manning or Cruz. I don’t think they can continue to do that. Then again I didn’t think they could do that before they won the Super Bowl after an up-and-down 2007 season. I have been wrong before, and I will be wrong again.

Oh and by the way, Matt Ryan’s next playoff win will also be his first. Shit, I’m starting to rethink this whole thing. I better stop before I — *gasp! — pick the Giants to win. Moving on…

Pittsburgh (-8.5) over DENVER

Defending conference champions, who boast a stout run defense, against an 8-8 team that backed into the playoffs with a running quarterback that doesn’t throw very well. Hmmm. Yeah, this one’s easy. Even if Big Ben is hobbled and shaky, there’s no way the Steelers defense let’s Tebow Time even think about making this one a game.

Then again, last year’s Saints-Seahawks game taught us that nothing’s easy in the NFL, and that’s precisely what makes it such a great game. Enjoy wildcard weekend everyone!

Ever since I started watching sports as a 7-year-old, my favorite teams (exclusively based in Philadelphia) have found a consistent way to lose big time games. Yesterday was no different as the Flyers lost to the Rangers in an unbelievably-exciting-if-my-favorite-team-didn’t-lose Winter Classic.

It felt so normal to lose this national showcase. That’s nothing new to us Philly fans, obviously, but I had actually thought we’d finally shed our town’s loser label. I thought that when the 2008 Phillies team had finally broken the threshold, a flood of championships were sure to follow as they had for Boston fans this past decade. Well, needless to say, I was wrong.

Welcome back to Hell, my fellow Philly sports fans.

The state of the Philadelphia sports fan is one of sad disallusionment — or in plain English, one of shock. The Eagles were supposed to fight for a berth in the Super Bowl after building and augmenting an “all-in” and “dream team” championship core, the Flyers watched their supposed championship core crumble and rebuilt behind a younger core, the Sixers apparently can’t find a championship core, and the Phillies championship core has begun to rot. Something is rotten in the state of Brotherly Love.

As a service to myself, I am publishing this list of New Year’s resolutions for the four major Philly sports teams.

Philadelphia Phillies

1. Chase Utley hits leadoff. He grinds out at-bats, gets on base, can steal a bag, and is an overall nuisance to the opposing team. What else do want from you leadoff batter? Plus, this allows you to move Jimmy Rollins and/or Shane Victorino further down in the lineup where either free swinger can be freed up to drive the ball more.

2. Resign Brad Lidge as a set-up man. As primarily a guy that retires righthanded hitters, a valuable situational, late inning role should be filled with our old buddy Lidge. As the Cardinals proved last year, you can never have enough roles filled in the bullpen.

3. Rehire Jimy Williams as bench coach. He coached in Philly for two years. The Phillies won their first division title in 14 years in the first and their second ever World Series in the second. Need I say anymore?

4. Recapture the magic/spark that propelled those younger teams. This is a bit abstract. To be more specific, these players need to play with more passion and a greater burning desire. I love Chase Utley and Roy Halladay as leaders, but maybe a downside to them is a more cerebral and introverted team spirit.

The whole thing wreaks of the malaise that the Atlanta Braves, with their aces Maddux/Glavine/Smoltz, experienced in winning just one World Series in the midst of their 14-straight division title run. The regular season wins keep coming, but the postseason successes are now becoming fleeting. On paper, the 2008 Phillies would get smoked by the 2011 version. On the field in October, however, those 2008 Phillies were relentless and suffocating. The 2011 team just goes about its business. Can they rediscover what it means to be relentless and suffocating? That’s what will define the 2012 Phillies season.

Philadelphia Flyers

1. Find a goaltender. It’s been the same story since before I ever watched a hockey game. The Philadelphia Flyers must find a franchise goalie. Is Bryzgalov the Man or just a high-priced mistake? Can two or three months of up-and-down to mediocre play from the Bryz really give us a verdict? (No.) The point is that right now Bryzgalov hasn’t answered a two-decade-old question that has defined a franchise.

2. Invest in concussion prevention and concussion treatment research. Eric Lindros and Keith Primeau saw All-Star careers screech to a halt because of concussions. Is Chris Pronger next? Is he the latest franchise player to see his career end because of post concussion syndrome? If he is — and I’m Ed Snider — my newest charitable endeavor would be to donate a large sum of money to head injury research. He might even find an unlikely suitor in Pittsburgh, in light of Sidney Crosby’s latest setback. Unreal!

Philadelphia 76ers

1. Have patience with this young team. This is a resolution as much for the Philly organization as it is for we fans. This is an extremely young team with a lot of potential. We know what Iggy and Elton Brand bring to the table — large contracts and above average play — however, we are just scratching the surface of what Jrue Holliday, Spencer Hawes, and Evan Turner have to offer. Thaddeus Young and Lou Williams are perfect in their bench roles. If the young players can continue to progress, there is a deep pool of talent on this Sixers roster.

2. Develop Jrue Holliday, Evan Turner, and Spencer Hawes. This list would have been just Holliday and Turner if not for the eye-opening play of Hawes thus far. I thought he was just another stiff, white center. I might have been very, very wrong. Needless to say, I’m a bit optimistic about this Sixers team.

Philadelphia Eagles

1. Draft a linebacker in the first round. Preferably one of those “can’t miss” type of talents. PLEASE! While we’re on the subject, please draft better in general. Whatever it is that the Eagles are doing in the draft board room, it’s not working. Brandon Graham has an incomplete, Nate Allen is not performing up to his second round status, and that dude with the hyphenated name selected in the 3rd round that played defensive end (sorry, he wasn’t important enough to the team to remember his name or be worthy of Googling) isn’t even on the team anymore. Those are the first three draft picks of the Howie Roseman era. They’re all applying for residence in Bustville. Roseman’s back for another year, so let’s see if the young GM figures it out this year or if his draft picks pan out better in Year 3.

2. Pay the right ‘Seans. You’ve got to extend LeSean McCoy’s contract — this shouldn’t even be a question — and, if you can get on the same page money-wise with DeSean Jackson, resign the speedy receiver to a longterm contract. If he wants to be paid like Larry Fitzgerald, then let Speedy Gonzalez sign elsewhere. He’s too small and too moody to be paid like the best in the game. He does, however, deserve to be paid like an All-Star caliber wide receiver.

So that’s it. I’ll be back for more later in the week with a little Sixers preview I’ve been cooking up. In the mean time, try not to jump off a bridge after the next heartbreaking loss. I will do the same. Let’s call it our Philly fan New Year’s resolution.

Woah.

Woah! The Seahawks knocked out the defending champs?

The 7-9 Seattle Seahawks knocked out the defending champion New Orleans Saints, Mark Sanchez out-dueled Peyton Manning in the 2-minute drill to lead the New York Jets over the Indianapolis Colts, and Michael Vick threw an ill-advised late pick as the Eagles booted away a playoff win to the Green Bay Packers. (In other news, Matt Cassell reverted to college backup as the Baltimore Ravens took the ball and ran with it over the Kansas City Chiefs.)

Now that’s what I call a wild and crazy start to the NFL playoffs. If the Eagles had won, well it would have been just about the perfect Wildcard Weekend. Since they did not, this morning after pill is going to go down a bit rough starting with…

1. What the hell, Akers?

Seriously. He is the best placekicker in Eagles franchise history and has more playoff experience than any other player on the roster. How did he miss two very make-able field goals to cost the team a win? Now I heard that he’s been having some family troubles — which, if true, sorry to hear — but still. Akers and his two pulled misses are the main reasons that I’m feeling cranky this week.

The other reason…

2. Jim Johnson’s defense is now a thing of the past.

The defense that Sean McDermott and Andy Reid have built in the last two offseasons no longer deserves to be compared to the defenses that Jim Johnson built. If you follow me on Twitter, you would know that I’m not the biggest McDermott fan. (Wow, what a shock?!) I am, however, going to shift some of the blame on the caliber of players left on the field at the end of the season. Brandon Graham and Nate Allen (our top two draft picks) each ended the season with something torn in their knees, Broderick Bunkley couldn’t get off a block to save his life after (and maybe before) he dislocated his elbow earlier in the season, Ernie Sims turned into a smaller Mark Simoneau, and Dimitri Patterson was not the answer at right corner back. Oh, and two seventh round draft picks were starting the last few weeks of the season.

Still all of this could have been avoided…

3. The Michael Vick Experience still leaves you wanting.

He dazzled us from the moment he stepped onto the field for Kevin Kolb in the second half of Week 1, but lately, Michael Vick has been just ordinary. From the ugly Minnesota game until the NFL Wildcard Weekend came to a screeching halt when he was intercepted by Tramon Williams, Vick turned back into the pumpkin that was his Atlanta Falcon self. The calm, cool pocket-passer Vick from the Detroit/Jacksonville/Washington games was replaced by a hurried and scrambling decoy. In 2011, Vick needs to make sure that he kills his Atlanta Falcons self once and for all.

Of course, he could have used some help from his friends if not for…

4. Jason Avant’s key dropped passes.

Avant may be one of the easiest players on the Eagles to like. Once a drug dealer as a juvenile, Avant completely turned his life around and eventually became the best set of hands on the roster. Marty Mornhinweg sang his praises all during training camp for allegedly never dropping a ball. Well, he made up for it big time during passes that actually count. He dropped Kolb’s hail mary ball at the end of the first Redskins game, a wide-open ball in the endzone in the first Giants game, and then a few key ones in the third quarter of the Wildcard Game. Get it together, man!

OK that’s enough angry Eagles fan talk. Time to move on to the rest of the NFL playoffs.

5. Time to reseed the playoffs based upon wins and losses.

The thrilling Seahawks victory over New Orleans was really a great moment for NFL fans everywhere. Nothing compares to a huge underdog knocking off the defending champs in front of a raucous home crowd. That Marshawn Lynch 67-yard touchdown run was a thing of beauty and had me going nuts when he truck-sticked that poor Saints defensive back.

Except… Seattle had no business hosting that game. How do you reward an 11-5 team with a road playoff game in a hostile environment against a 7-9 team? Because they just so happen to play in different divisions? C’mon! The same thing happened two years ago when the 12-4 Colts lost on the road to the 8-8 Chargers in overtime, during which they never even touched the ball. Why should the Seahawks be rewarded for winning the worst division in the history of the NFL? Let’s fix this problem by simply reseeded the playoffs based on wins/losses and not award division winners home playoff games just cause, OK?

Anyway, let’s get back to the task at hand. About that Lynch run…

6. Marshawn Lynch made this year’s Alpha Male Play of the Year.

If you haven’t seen it, then just watch it. Other than DeSean Jackson’s punt return against New York, this is probably the NFL play of the year so far. Lynch took an innocent hand-off up the middle, broke eight tackles, and turned a middling four-yard gain into a 67-yard game-changer. No way the Seahawks win without that play right there. Buffalo Bills fans everywhere wondered in unison, “WTF Marshaw?”

(BTW: belated congrats to Brandon Marshall, the winner of last year’s Alpha Male Play of the Year.)

7. Matt Cassell sure looked like a college backup in his first playoff game.

College backup meets Baltimore defense. Moving on…

8. The Sanchize just wins playoff games, baby!

As Al Davis once said, “Just win, baby!” That’s exactly what Mark Sanchez does in the playoffs. Unlike his fellow USC alum, he led his team to a game-winning drive and extended his career playoff record to 3-1. Not too bad for a guy that many believe to be a fraud. He’s the type of fraud that I want to have on my team.

OK, I’m getting a bit ahead of myself. Knowing me, I would probably be all over him if he were an Eagle. I’m just giving props to the man for playing well consistently in the playoffs. We will find out just how good he is in next week’s showdown in Foxboro.

9. Get ready for Rematch Weekend in the Divisional Round!

Each game is a grudge match:

• Baltimore at Pittsburgh
• New York at New England
• Green Bay at Atlanta
• Seattle at Chicago

Baltimore and Pittsburgh each split their two games, although the Ravens win came during Ben Roethlisberger’s suspension; the Patriots and Jets each split as well, although New England clearly got more of the pie thanks to their 45-3 dismantling of New York on Monday Night Football; Atlanta snuck by Green Bay in a tightly contested affair; and finally, the Bears will look to avenge their early loss to the Seahawks.

All in all, not much more an NFL fan can ask for this coming weekend.

10. Tweets of the Wildcard Weekend

My fellow Take Back writers (Adio Royster and Jason Branch) and I decided to have an Eagles tweetfest this week. You can follow us on Twitter @DrSportsFan, @AdioBRoyster, and @TheJackOfSports. Relive the action (or agony) with some of my best tweets from this weekend’s action:

DrSportsFan
So go the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints. It was clearly not their year. New blood in 2011!

DrSportsFan
Cosign. RT @AdioBRoyster: Jamaal Charles.. he’s fast, and he wears red.. that’s it.. his nickname in 2011 will be ‘The Flash’

DrSportsFan
It’s been decided that the Eagles-Cowboys week 17 game in the ‘08 season will henceforth be known as “The Orgasm”

DrSportsFan
My reasoning behind “The Orgasm”: hours of foreplay (Tampa Bay and Chicago losing) followed by an explosion (points/turnover by Dallas)

DrSportsFan
4.5 RT @TheJackOfSports: Over/ under on Sean McDermott bald jokes today? #mcdermottbaldjokes

DrSportsFan
I’m an hour early to the Eagles bar in SD but its already getting busy. Is there a big game today or something?

DrSportsFan
And we’ve got the Eye of the Tiger on at the bar!!

DrSportsFan
Nice closeup of Vick’s package there by FOX

DrSportsFan
@AdioBRoyster I bet you Andy and McCarthy petitioned the league to not allow run plays in this game

DrSportsFan
F-minus on the 1st play

DrSportsFan
Special teams!!!!! The bizarro world retelling of the ‘07 Greg Lewis game in Lambeau

DrSportsFan
That sucks. Akers just pulled one at a bad time

DrSportsFan
Jerome Harrison sighting!

DrSportsFan
Death, taxes, and the Eagles wasting an early time out

DrSportsFan
Of course Keenan Clayton is in on a 3rd down play. You know because he played so much all season. #mcdermott

DrSportsFan
And of course Ernie Sims overran a play.

DrSportsFan
Where is Trent Cole? Could use some 3rd down pressure from him this game. He can’t let Chad Clifton push him around like that

DrSportsFan
Oh yeah. That TD occurred right after we called that timeout, as @TheJackOfSports just told me. #McDermottFail

DrSportsFan
@TheJackOfSports McDermott is the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Hair Club #mcdermottbaldjokes

DrSportsFan
Mikell wtf are u doing, grab the ball, and complain AFTER the play. I’m getting pissed

DrSportsFan
I am so mad at Mikell. Why was he bitching with a fumbled ball in his lap?

DrSportsFan
Our defense sucks so much

DrSportsFan
I’m starting to get less mad as this game goes on. Somehow, someway, McDermott and his defense has made me apathetic

DrSportsFan
Has Juqua Parker taken one good angle to the quarterback once in the last several weeks?

DrSportsFan
Sean McDermott, it’s time to turn in your parking permit for the NovaCare Complex. Sincerely, every Eagles fan.

DrSportsFan
Thank you, James Jones!

DrSportsFan
Booooooooooo

DrSportsFan
The bar just chanted “asshole” to the raffle winner

DrSportsFan
This looks like a job for Superman, @mikevick

DrSportsFan
Parker took a good angle!!!

DrSportsFan
I will not miss Ernie Sims

DrSportsFan
I also don’t like Winston Justice

DrSportsFan
Big ups to whoever decided to give out complimentary cheesesteaks at Plum Crazy today. Real big ups!

DrSportsFan
Fuckin Akers

DrSportsFan
Thank you, Andy Reid, for pulling Winston Justice. Thank you very much

DrSportsFan
Of course Celek stepped out of bounds. That makes 7 points left off the scoreboard. Argh

DrSportsFan
Shit make that 8 pts. Fuck

DrSportsFan
Fuck. Ass. Bitch.

DrSportsFan
Epic is how we do RT @lakerscore: i just put the game on mute and read @DrSportsFan game tweets . #epic

DrSportsFan
James “who?” Starks is the player of the game. Other than Akers, he’s been the Packer’s best player

DrSportsFan
Clayton just totally redeemed himself. The bar just went nuts because DESEAN JACKSON is back to return the punt!!!

DrSportsFan
This is it. 2010 season right here

DrSportsFan
Poor Celek. Been that kind of year for him

DrSportsFan
Poor throw. Good luck, Green Bay. I’m out

DrSportsFan
From Sr: “This is the hell that we exist in as an eagles fans.”

And finally, a guest post in the last spot:

Howard Bryant (hbryant42)
I wonder how good the Eagles would be if they had a coach who believed running the ball helps you win.

Ho-hum.

For the fifth time in the Andy Reid era (1999-present), Eagles fans have been forced — I say forced because, let’s face, many of us have a serious addiction to that team in midnight green — to watch the scrubs play in Week 17. Luckily, this is actually a good thing. First, Michael Vick, DeSean Jackson, and Asante Samuel get to heal up from their assorted injuries, but second — and more importantly — the Eagles have done well in the playoffs in similar situations in the past.

In 2001, the Eagles rested their starters in a meaningless Week 17 victory over the Buccaneers (both were locked into a Wildcard match-up the following week). The Birds defeated Tampa Bay one week later and, another week later, knocked off the second seeded Bears. The next week, of course, was the Eagles first of three-straight NFC Championship Game losses.

In 2004, the Eagles locked up home-field advantage in Week 15 and rested the starters for the final two weeks. The Eagles finally made it to the Super Bowl that season.

In 2006, Detroit defeated the Cowboys in the early game, and the Eagles had already clinched the division by the first offensive series of their Week 17 game against the Falcons. That was, coincidentally, Vick’s final game as a Falcon. Led by Brian Westbrook and Jeff Garcia, Philadelphia defeated the Giants in the Wildcard game before falling to the New Orleans Saints in a Divisional Round thriller.

Which brings us to yesterday’s Week 17 game in preseason’s clothes. Who knows what the future will bring for this group of Eagles. For one day, however, we did learn three things:

1. Kevin Kolb cannot throw on the run with any power. Seriously, there were some Bobby Hoying-esque throws in there yesterday. For those of you who don’t know (and BTW, I’m jealous) a Hoying-esque throw is five to 10 yards short of the intended target, though usually on line with the target. I hate to compare Kolb to Bobby Hoying — because that’s just mean — but luckily it wasn’t all Kolb’s fault. This gets me to my next point.
2. The backup offensive line is somehow worse than our starting o-line. The reason Kolb was throwing from the run was because every Eagles passing play required Kolb to drop back and run for his life. DeMarcus Ware, in particular, should thank Austin Howard for a wonderful New Year. You know it’s bad when you’re hoping that Howard would just hold Ware and hope the refs take pity on him. Andy Reid took no such pity on him or Kolb because Howard (and sometimes Clay “Stone Hands” Harbor) was left to block the former Defensive Player of the Year one-on-one. YIKES!
3. Lastly, the backup defense can actually get after the quarterback. For weeks, we have watched the first team defense send extra men and fail to get after the quarterback. Yesterday, the benchwarmers looked very much like the blitzing Eagles defense of Jim Johnson’s past. Needless to say, I am not very confident in the defense as we go to the playoffs.

The good news is that none of those three things will likely matter next week when the Green Bay Packers come to town. Reid, Marty Mornhinweg, and Sean McDermott were probably already beginning preparations for next week’s Wildcard game. The fact that our backups took Dallas — playing with almost all of their starters, except for their third string QB — to the limit is actually somewhat encouraging. Still, the most important thing is find a way to get Vick healthier, fix the pass protection problems, and rediscover the mid-season defense. Because other than a miraculous eight minutes in East Rutherford, the real Eagles did not play particularly well to close out the season.

That said, I still think that the sky is the limit for the Eagles, but let’s just hope the sky isn’t in fact falling.

Best of Eagles-Cowboys Tweets

(You can follow me @DrSportsFan on Twitter.)

• I’m taking Twitter notes on my blackberry while watching the game at an Eagles bar. I must look like a tool.
• I’m disappointed we didn’t wear the 1960 throwbacks. Is it too much to ask for something/anything interesting to watch this game?
• Wow it’s nice to see a blitz or two actually get to the QB for a change, coach McDermott! #badhandedcompliments
• Damn, Max Jean-Gillis is hurt. Now that’s something you didn’t think you’d say back in 2010.
• Can anyone tell me who #47 is? You know, the guy returning the kicks.
• I wonder if the back-up defense wants to start next week.
• How much does Daniel Te’o-Nesheim suck that he’s not even in the base package of our 2nd team defense?
• Can we give our back-up tight end some pass blocking help on DeMarcus Ware?
• @AdioBRoyster Muff alert in Philly!!
• Clay Harbor exhibits the L.J. Smith school of catching while dropping a wide open pass on the first play of the second half.
• Roy Williams’ 3rd quarter bobbled-drop went from short completion to incompletion to interception to long TD completion to incompletion.
• Te’o-Nesheim with a sack!! So what if it was a busted screen play, a 1st NFL sack is a 1st NFL sack.
• Austin Howard, coming to a practice squad near you!

The new cover of SI may enrage activists even more, but I say be proud. (SOURCE: Sports Illustrated)

It will most likely get worse as I will be openly rocking a spiffy new Philadelphia Eagles #7 Michael Vick jersey that I got for my birthday this year.  Things should really get interesting as Michael Vick is on the newest cover of Sports Illustrated.

But I have no problem admitting it.  I have no problem being proud of it.  I have no problem of supporting it.

I am a fan of forgiveness.  I am a fan of compassion.  I am a fan of second chances.  Because of said statements, I am a fan of Michael Vick.

Of course, everyone is entitled to their own opinions.  The United States of America was founded on a principal of free speech and healthy debates and opinions, which is why I don’t mind pieces like the one Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times told of a former dog of Bad Newz Kennels.  I don’t mind the constant barrage that Michael Vick is subject to by pet owners and pet advocacy groups who can’t stand the fact that Michael Vick may not be loved, but on some level … accepted.

After all, this is America, and everyone is entitled to their opinion.  I am, however, very outspoken when it comes to opinions with blatant double standards.  Let’s be completely honest.  Michael Vick is not the first athlete to ever attempt to resurrect his career after committing a crime.  He certainly won’t be the last, either.

Ray Lewis was accused of murder, yet doesn't meet immense public outcry.

In 2000, Baltimore Ravens linebacker Ray Lewis was arrested in connection to the stabbing deaths of two individuals following a Super Bowl party in Atlanta, Georgia.  Lewis admitted to giving misleading statements to police regarding the murders.  Later that year in June, Lewis was acquitted of the charges and went on to be Super Bowl XXXV MVP in the Ravens 34-7 win over the New York Giants.

Today, Lewis is still lighting people up who dare come over his middle for the Baltimore Ravens, and rarely does the subject of his past come up.  Have fans forgiven Lewis on some level?  Perhaps.  What he did was wrong, of course, but the fact remains that it was in the past.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger has been repeatedly linked to sexual assault of women — a FAR more dubious crime in society — but BenRo has been allowed to pursue and persevere in his profession as an NFL quarterback.  Roethlisberger most recently served a six-game suspension for his latest transgression.  Roethlisberger returned to packed fans at Heinz Field still proudly rocking yellow and black #7’s.

In 2005, Donte' Stallworth was convicted of manslaughter after a fatal DUI accident with a pedestrian.

In the most tragic of arguments, Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Donte’ Stallworth made the worst of mistakes.  In 2005, Stallworth got into a car in Miami with a BAC of .12, turned the key and made his merry way home.  Moments later, Stallworth hit and killed 59-year-old Mario Reyes.  Stallworth was charged with manslaughter and served 24 days of a 30-day sentence.

Where is Stallworth now?  Back on the sidelines in Baltimore getting back to his career — something Roethlisberger has been allowed to do; something Lewis has been allowed to do; something Kobe has been allowed to do.  It’s something Vick has not been allowed to do because unlike the aforementioned athletes, that topic always seems to rear its ugly head — much more so than any of the other athletes mentioned.  (Honestly, when’s the last time you talked about Stallworth’s case?  Compare that to the last time Vick’s crime was brought up in conversation.)

I have had this opinion since Vick was released from prison, and it stands true to this day regardless of his performance.  I will never condone Michael Vick for what he did, but I will never condemn him for a mistake he made in the past, either.  As human beings, we are prone to making mistakes, but the important thing is that we all learn from them.

What NFL commissioner Roger Goodell told the New York Daily News says it all:

“He’s obviously taken responsibility for his actions, been accountable and focuses now on what he can do to make others aware of the fact that you have to conduct yourself properly and make good decisions. I thought the decisions he made with dogfighting were horrific. He’s turning himself in the right direction. For that, I’m very proud of him.”

What Vick did was a terrible, despicable act, and it cost him everything he had when he was sent to prison: job in the NFL, endorsements, fans, etc.  Vick spent 23 months at Leavenworth Federal Prison for his mistake, and he has become a face and a voice for the issue.  For those reasons, he is forgiven in my eyes.  Everyone deserves a second chance, and I’m a Philadelphia Eagles fan extremely proud to give him one.

Coincidentally, the last game I had seen them win West was two years ago at Candlestick– pardon me, Monster Park (Side note: Until my first trip there two years ago, I did not realize that there was a stadium worse than Qualcomm). Unfortunately, being that the game was Sunday night, I was forced into traveling the 1000 miles round-trip by car due to the uncooperative airline schedules. About two months ago, I took a look at the UCLA football schedule and saw that on October 9, UCLA would be at Cal. Needless to say, I made the appropriate arrangements for tickets. Two football games for one weekend trip? Pure awesomeness!

Friday, October 8

Events occur between 9:00am and 9:00pm

I left about 9:00am from my mechanic in San Diego with 4 fresh tires on my car. My first stop was in Oceanside to pick my friend Jillian, who would also be attendance at the UCLA vs. Cal football game in Berkeley on Saturday. After topping off the gas tank, we left for L.A. around 9:45am to pick up my friend Dan, who would be attending along with myself the college football game Saturday, and the Sunday night NFL game between the Philadelphia Eagles and San Francisco 49ers.

About 11:45am, Jillian and I picked up Dan, and we continued north. Requiring only one stop for food, we arrived in Berkeley around 5:30pm to drop off Jillian. After the drop off and brief stretch break, Dan and I attempted to head to my friend Frank’s place about 30min away, which would be our base for the weekend. Unfortunately, Jack Bauer suffered a problem never before experienced on TV, car problems…

After several attempts to start the car, I diagnosed the problem as a dead car battery. Fortunately, the battery had just enough life that with the aid of jumper cables and application of the gas pedal, I got it started and found a car place a few blocks away that was still open as night was falling upon the Bay Area.

Dan and I at last reached our destination around 7:30pm. The noteworthy event the rest of the night occurred at a sports bar in Walnut Creek, where I had the privilege as a Dodgers fan to watch the San Francisco Giants squander a 4-1 lead to the Atlanta Braves in Game 2 of the NLDS, right in the heart of Giants country!

Saturday, October 9

Events occur between 10:00am and 4:00pm

Dan, my friend Frank, and I hit the road early for the Cal campus as the UCLA/ Cal game was slated for a 12:30pm kickoff. We arrived early and walked around the campus for a little while before heading to the stadium. We even had extended conversation with some Cal students having a barbecue to raise money for their dorm building. (An important note for those unfamiliar: UCLA and Cal is a very friendly rivalry being sibling schools). For $3, I did not hesitate to buy one of their cheeseburgers to avoid getting ripped off at the game. In conversing with the students, I learned that due to insufficient funding, Cal was losing its NCAA level baseball and rugby programs. For those unfamiliar with NCAA sports outside of basketball and football, both of these programs at Cal are traditionally among the best in the nation.

Right on time, the game kicked-off as we watched from our seats around the 20 yard line. It was all down hill from this point forward. Cal marched right down the field in the game’s first possession and posted seven. Throughout the game, a UCLA offense that had looked so promising with dominant rushing performances the prior three weeks against #23 Houston, #7 Texas, and Washington State, simply stunk. The only points UCLA scored were thanks to a touchdown drive to open the second half, which I missed because I had not yet made it back to my seat. Final score: 35-7. With about eight minutes left in the game, we left to beat traffic and spend the rest of the day in San Francisco.

Sunday, October 10 – Monday, October 11

Events occur between 3:30pm and 5:30am

Around 3:30pm, Dan and I returned to the car after venturing to the Golden Gate Bridge and walking across part of it. During this weekend in SF, it was “Fleet Week”, which featuring the world’s finest military pilots performing aerial stunts. While we were on the bridge, the famed Blue Angels were performing, which made for quite a spectacle, viewing them fly over the bay and city.

After a pre-game lunch at the Embarcadero with Dan, Frank, and his girlfriend, we fought through awful Candlestick park traffic, arriving at our seats just in time for the 5:20pm kickoff. Exactly like the UCLA/ Cal game started, my opposing team marched the opening kickoff down the field for a touchdown. However, the Eagles had an answer, taking their first possession down the field for an equalizing touchdown. My in-game observations being there live:

1. The offensive coaching combination of Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg is offensive. In the second quarter, the Eagles got to the Niners’ 35 yard line three times and didn’t score.
2. Stewart Bradley is still only 14 months off of tearing his ACL and is not yet 100%. He can’t cover tight ends yet, especially the best one in the NFL, San Fran’s Vernon Davis.
3. The Niners’ were 0-4 heading into the game for a reason. They made tons of stupid mistakes and could not execute on offense. Alex Smith just is not good enough. Even with five turnovers, one can make a case the Niners’ should have been able to beat the Eagles based upon the overall performance of the Eagles, especially at the end of the first and second halves.
4. The Eagles are an above average team, but only slightly. Good teams don’t rake in five turnovers and only win by a field goal. They should have won by at least three scores because of the turnover margin, and the fact that they possess significantly more talent than the Niners. It showed being there.
5. Niners’ fans hate Alex Smith. I loved the multiple outbreaks of “We want Carr” chants. Niners’ fans are clearly so frustrated with their team’s effort this season that all the fights that I saw breakout where between Niners fans, and I only saw Niners fans being escorted out of the stands by security.
6. Eagles running back LeSean McCoy is the Real McCoy. He is going to be a star.
7. Kolb looked good overall, but still made mistakes a QB worthy of Andy Reid trading away Donovan McNabb shouldn’t make. The Niners defense will make most QBs look good, even Kolb, much like the Chiefs defense last season did. Kolb’s trade stock definitely rose though for the offseason.

After the game, we spent about an hour in the Candlestick Park parking lot moving more gingerly than Paul Pierce after a fake knee injury, before we escaped to the freeway. Besides the stadium itself, the parking lot design stinks, as does the surrounding area, so parking on the street nearby is literally a fatal idea. Around 10:15pm, we all arrived at the SF airport, where we dropped off Frank and his girlfriend to catch the BART home (a “real” public transit system that LA and San Diego sorely need) and pick up Jillian for the trek home.

I took the first hour of driving to lead us away from the airport and heavily populated areas, and around 11:30pm, we stopped for gas and I surrendered control of my car in favor of an attempt to sleep. Sleeping in cars is difficult, and I ultimately drifted into a “hazy” state for the next three and a half hours before I was elevated to an awake-but-tired state.

After crossing the vaunted 30 mile grave vine pass through the mountains and officially returning to SoCal, we stopped to feed my car, and I drove the rest of the way. After dropping off Dan and then Jillian, I made it home at 5:30am, in time for one hour of sleep before arising for work.

It was a long road-trip that I wish could have been via air, but at least I won one of the games I went to. And I got to continue what has developed into a  personal tradition of visiting SF each year (now standing at three years in a row). There is no possibility of the Eagles playing in the Bay Area for a forth year in a row, but I will still probably go next year. Only next year driving is out of the question.

Bauer out!

For the many people who couldn’t stand him laughing after another inaccurate pass, his return is ample booing opportunity. For the many others who appreciated him and didn’t want to see him go, it’s also ample booing opportunity — albeit directed at Andy Reid. (In all seriousness, McNabb should receive a standing ovation from the Linc faithful — with of course a booing bass line.) My prevailing feeling is one of awkwardness. I knew the time had come to move him, but that doesn’t mean that it made me happy to hear he was traded. You see to me, McNabb was the savior.

Donovan McNabb is now trying to make lasting memories for Washington Redskin fans. (Sportinglife.com)

After years searching for a franchise quarterback — starting with Randall Cunningham’s slow decay, Bubby Brister’s uncanny ability to almost win, Rodney Peete’s ability to barely win, the spunky Detmers (Ty and Koy), the corpse of Bobby Hoying, and the over-matched Doug Pederson — McNabb’s emergence in 2000 sparked the greatest Super Bowl run in franchise history. Of course there are no Lombardi Trophies in the Nova Care Complex, but that’s not to say that we Eagles fans were ever truly unhappy during the McNabb Era. Just think of all the unforgettable moments that took place during McNabb’s Eagle tenure:

• Pickle Juice Game blowout victory against Dallas in the 2000 opener
• The “I’ve arrived” 100-yard rushing performance over Washington late in 2000
• A heart-stopping victory over the Giants at the Vet to clinch the 2001 NFC East title
• Back-to-back Wildcard victories over Tampa Bay in ‘00 and ‘01
• Four touchdown passes on a broken ankle against Arizona in 2002
• 4th and 26 to Fred Ex in an instant classic Divisional Playoff against Green Bay
• The entire 2004 season
• His MVP-like start to the 2006 season, including a thrilling 38-24 victory over Terrell Owens and the Cowboys.
• That surprising run to the 2008 NFC Championship Game.

The problem with that list is that almost all of those great moments took place before the disastrous ‘05 season, which saw the Eagles upward trend, presumably to Super Bowl Champion, finally stopped. For whatever reason — the groin and ACL injuries, the T.O. disaster which undermined his leadership, Jeff Garcia’s electric run to the 2006 division title, or the drafting of Kevin Kolb — that early decade magic that always led to a deep playoff run had vanished. Once a tremendous redzone team, the Eagles offense began to have serious trouble scoring touchdowns inside the 20s. So too went their ability to win close games or win coming-from-behind late in games. Gradually the rest of the NFC East caught up and, in some cases, surpassed the Eagles for the first time since McNabb’s rookie year. A change had to be made, and Kolb was set to take over the keys to the young and exciting Eagles offense… or so we thought.

Michael Vick Rises from the Ashes

One prodigal son leaves, but not before recruiting another prodigal son in his stead. You know the story, but how far does it go? Is Vick a mirage, playing against sub-par pass defenses in Detroit and Jacksonville might have inflated his passing ability. Or is Vick the second coming of Steve Young — as I’ve said several times — or the “black Norm Van Brocklin” — as my dad put it? Hard to say, but the fact that we’re considering it should suffice for now.

Vick can’t control how poorly the other teams are on the schedule, but he has to take advantage of it. Thus far, he hasn’t disappointed in the least. Even behind a piss-poor offensive line, Vick has amassed a passer rating over 110 this season — don’t forget that half-game against the Packers defense — and is exactly what the Doctor ordered for an Eagles team searching for an identity Post-Brian Dawkins and Post-Donovan McNabb.

Last week, I was planning on writing a column wholeheartedly endorsing Andy Reid’s decision to start Michael Vick for the remainder of the season. Somewhere between the eight million or so other Vick columns that were being written, I lost interest. Who really wanted to read another opinion regarding the decision to sit Kolb or Big Red’s John Kerry-inspired flip-flop from Kolb to Vick in a 48-hour period? So check out what other sports writers are saying:

• Rich Hoffman wrote that the Eagles offensive line would have trouble protecting Kolb before criticizing Reid for making the change to Vick.
• Sam Donnellon compared Charlie Manuel’s decision to stick with Lidge with Reid’s demotion of Kolb.
• Ray Didinger said that Reid dealt Kolb the worst hit, but changed his mind after reviewing game film with Brian “Diagonal Fingers” Baldinger when he saw how thoroughly Vick dominated the Lions.
• Paul Domowitch thinks o-line prompted the move to Vick before talking about who holds the advantage, Donovan or the Eagles.
• Les Bowen tackles the touchy subject of Vick and racism.
• Matt Mosley thought that Reid made a knee-jerk decision.
• The professor, John Clayton, called Reid’s decision to start Vick a mistake.
• Jay Glazer, on Vick in his FoxSports.com chat: “I honestly and truly believe the penal system worked in this case. I really do. I hated what he did and he has told me he constantly reflects on this path in life and those horrible decisions he made. Told me after the Lions game he actually went home that night and thought about it all, regretting he took this path.”

To me, the real losers of this whole situation (other than Kolb) were the members of the Philly media. Like a pack of vultures, several writers (some with a solid track record of thinking before writing) came at Reid scathingly from both sides of the argument. Everyone, especially a columnist, is welcome to an opinion, but giving Reid guff from both sides of the argument is a bit much. Personally, I think a lot of the beat writers don’t like Reid, something my dad and I talk about a lot. After years of getting minimal answers and snide remarks from him for several press conferences a week, some of the Eagles beat writers were probably chomping at the bit when Reid embarrassingly contracted himself this past week.

So I would take a lot of what’s said about Reid and the Eagles organization with a grain of salt. Sports writers are human, and they might just be a bit biased in this town against everyone on Team Gold Standard.

What About Kolb?

Michael Vick replaced Kevin Kolb at halftime of the Green Bay game. (Footbasket.com)

Kevin Kolb is in his mid-20s. He played high school football in Texas and spent his first three seasons in the NFL with a bird’s-eye view of the mountain of criticism McNabb faced week in and week out. Something tells me that he knew trouble was headed his way as the starting quarterback in Philadelphia. If anyone can handle it, Kolb can.

While suffering a public demotion can’t feel good for anyone, I’m pretty sure that losing his starting job to Michael Vick, a former number one overall draft pick with a Michael Jordan-like talent, is not something that will doom him for all of eternity. With apologies to the Inquirer’s John Gonzalez, reports of Kevin Kolb’s demise are premature. A quick glance around at some of the NFL’s quarterback situations tells me that Kolb shouldn’t be without a starter’s job for long if the Eagles decide to make a long term commitment to Vick.

Another problem with the poor Kevin Kolb argument: what about Donovan McNabb? Who would have thought that eight fewer NFL seasons and five fewer NFC Championship Game appearances would warrant a greater public outcry after being demoted. I don’t remember as many people saying that Donovan didn’t get a fair shake or that we should give him the benefit of the doubt over an unknown young signal-caller after two decent games. Here we have Vick — a much more proven commodity than Kolb was after two good starts in the 2009 season — given the job after two weeks of play, and suddenly we must have some continuity at quarterback after (GOSH!) one offseason’s worth of practices. Of all the arguments to keep Kolb in as the starter, this makes the least sense. That’s just one person’s opinion…

Anyway, on to the week four picks.

(Home team in CAPS. Week One Results: 4-12.)

TENNESSEE (-6.5) over Denver

Maybe Tom Coughlin thinks that his Giants are better than the Titans, even though the scoreboard — basically judge and jury in this case — clearly disagreed. I do think that Jeff Fisher’s bunch is a touchdown better than the Broncos. Coughlin thought that Tennessee won by provoking several players into personal foul penalties, which helped to offset Eli Manning’s near-400 yard passing performance. I say that getting a team off its game is a skill. Look at the NHL, where goons like Dale Murphy, Tie Domi and Matthew Barnaby (that jerk) made a very good living doing just that. In fact, each team in the NHL has its own thorn-in-the-side-of-the-other-team guy. So maybe Tennessee has 53 of them. Whatever. Time to quit crying, Tom, because this Tennessee team is for real.

Let’s talk a bit about Orton. While Jay Cutler has led the Bears to three straight wins to start the season, the man he was traded for has been a disappointment. Orton is second in the NFL in passing yards (1,078), seventh in passer rating (97.4), and eighth in completion percentage (66.4 percent). Even Cutler’s slightly better numbers have put his team in a better position, you’ve got to give the edge in this trade to Denver. After all, Cutler isn’t outperforming Orton enough to overshadow the two first round draft picks (as well as a third rounder) that Chicago sent in the deal — provided Josh McDaniels doesn’t draft another third round-talent (hello, Tim Tebow) in the first round again.

Of course if Cutler leads Chicago to a deep playoff run and Orton is scheduling tee times in January (hopefully somewhere warm), Bears fans won’t mind what McDaniels does with those draft picks.

PITTSBURGH (-1.5) over Baltimore

The way Pittsburgh’s defense has dominated with a healthy Troy Polamalu back in the fold, you can’t pick against the Steelers right now. I’m feeling so good about Pittsburgh that I’m even wondering if New Orleans would have had a different opponent in the Super Bowl if Polamalu never injured himself on opening night last season. So, no, I don’t think that Joe Flacco can handle the pressure and avoid any costly turnovers with the likely Defensive Player of the Year in Polamalu patrolling the middle of the field.

Give credit to Peter King for predicting a Super Bowl championship from Pittsburgh, despite the Ben Roethlisberger suspension. That pick looks better and better each week.

Cincinnati (-3) over CLEVELAND

This one reeks of upset:

• Intrastate division rivals
• Cleveland’s been in every game this year
• Carson Palmer looks like A.J. Feeley.

That said, I’m leaning towards the Bengals with this pick for one reason: the Cincinnati defense is very good. Marvin Lewis has assembled a defense that is capable of winning a game all by itself some weeks — much less one where the opposing quarterback depth chart has Seneca Wallace, Jake Delhomme and Colt McCoy and a banged up Jerome Harrison as well. Feed Cedric Benson to milk the clock and play Bengals defense, and there’s probably nothing that the Browns can do about it.

GREEN BAY (-14.5) over Detroit

This is a bad week to be a Detroit Lion. The way Green Bay gave away the game to the Bears on Monday night, I’m expecting them to come out firing on all cylinders at home. Plus Aaron Rodgers and his receiving corps should have a field day with that Lions pass defense. For those concerned about the Packers having a short week of practice: Short week my ass! Detroit would need the Packers to have played the night before this Sunday’s game to prevent a blowout loss in Green Bay.

NEW ORLEANS (-13.5) over Carolina

So much for the Panthers as a playoff team. Evil twin Matt Moore (how else do we explain how much he sucks this year) wet the bed and has been replaced by Jimmy Clausen. So naturally I’m expecting New Orleans to make mince-meat of Carolina. As the Sportsguy said in his podcast with Cousin Sal, this line can’t be big enough. Like I do with the Packers, I’m expecting a good game from the Saints after suffering their first loss of the year last week due to their own mistakes — namely a shanked chip shot field goal in overtime. For everyone that’s handing the NFC South to the Falcons, might want to hang your hat on a victory that didn’t come after a missed 29-yard field goal in overtime.

Luckily, though, for Clausen, Notre Dame provided him plenty of experience in losing, so he’ll be able to take a 2-14 season in stride. You’ve really got to hand it to Notre Dame for its commitment to education. Now if only his passes found his receivers in stride…

ATLANTA (-7) over San Francisco

When in doubt, pick against the NFC West. Pretty simple. Of course, Atlanta is ripe for a let-down loss after last week’s heart-stopping victory in the Big Easy, and San Francisco is due for a victory. This could be an upset special in the making, but I’m not going to have another 3-13 week (like my Week One picks… ugh). I am NOT picking an NFC West team to travel cross-country and defeat a superior team.

Seattle (-1) over ST. LOUIS

I don’t know what to think about Seattle. With two impressive victories — a Week One throttling of the Niners, and the Week Three upset of the Chargers — and a lop-sided Week Two loss to the Broncos (1-2), what gives? Just know that after three weeks, Pete Carroll has his Seahawks tied for first in the NFC West with the Cardinals — whose two victories have come against the Raiders and Rams. Any other division, and Carroll might be getting some early Coach of the Year talk. Any other division…

Meanwhile, the Rams got their annual victory over the Redskins last week and are threatening to climb out of the NFL’s cellar. A win here over their division rival could give them a share of first place. Just another week in the NFC West.

Jets (-5.5) over BUFFALO

Ryan Fitzpatrick against Rex Ryan’s defense. Even without Darrell Revis, that has to be good for at least a touchdown difference. Speaking of mediocre quarterbacks, the Sanchise is starting to pack his bags for Good Quarterbackville. I know it’s still early, but with Braylon Edwards steady hands of late and Santonio Holmes set to rejoin the team, Mark Sanchez might be finally giving Jets fans a real reason to feel Super about this team.

BTW: Fitzpatrick + Trent Edwards < Vick. Think the Buffalo front office is kicking themselves for not making a play for Vick?

Colts (-7.5) over JACKSONVILLE

Having watched Vick torch the Jaguars last week, I think Peyton Manning will do just fine. Even if the Maurice Jones-Drew runs all over Indianapolis, David Garrard is still the opposing quarterback. I think that means the Colts will blow out Jacksonville.

Houston (-3) over OAKLAND

Anyone who thinks that Texans aren’t a field goal better than Oakland is either insane or can predict huge NFL upsets with Nostradamus-like accuracy.

SAN DIEGO (-8) over Arizona

Unless the Cardinals return two kicks for touchdowns, I think the Chargers should be able to cover. The only question heading into this game is whether or not San Diego sells out this game. In case you didn’t know, the Chargers’ home opener wasn’t sold out, so the NFL blacked it out in America’s Finest City. Blackouts are expected for perennial losers, but 4-time division champs? Between the lack of support for the Padres and Chargers, I’m starting to think that the Chargers might soon be calling Los Angeles their home. With the prospects of new stadium near downtown San Diego thin, and a possible state-of-the-art facility looming on the horizon in L.A., why not move the team two hours north? This way you can keep your San Diego fan base somewhat close, while simultaneously monopolizing the rest of Southern California.

Maybe then the Chargers could afford to pay their star wide receivers…

Washington (+6) covers against PHILLY

This game has close written all over it. Maybe it’s because I’m an Eagles fan, but facing Donovan McNabb in another uniform scares the be-jesus out of me. He knows both our offensive and defensive systems in and out, and he’s playing for a division foe that’s given Philly some trouble the past few season. That said, I didn’t lead this column with a nod to Michael Vick just to pick against him. His presence alone has taken the Eagles sub-par redzone offense and turned it into the league’s best. The Redskins, on the other hand, acquired McNabb’s redzone troubles as well in that Easter trade. That will be the difference in this one because the Redskins will be bringing field goals to a touchdown fight.

Chicago (+4) over GIANTS

This looks a lot like a trap game for Chicago. I agree with Coughlin that the Giants were not as bad as their 29-10 loss last week to Tennessee might indicated — though they were not better than the Titans — and something tells me that New York might come out and play well on Sunday Night. Eli Manning will probably not throw another left-handed pass the rest of his career, so there’s always that.

This pick reflects my personal views on the growth of Cutler. Last year, he spent much of the season forcing the ball into extremely tight coverage and finished with 26 interceptions. It all seemed to crescendo on him on his disastrous five-pick game on Thursday Night game against the Niners, which I wrote about at the time. The next time I watched Cutler play was in Chicago’s Monday Night Football game against Minnesota, where Cutler won with a game-winning touchdown pass in overtime — which at the time rocked my world because that gave the Eagles the inside shot at the second seed in the NFC playoffs before the Double Dallas Debacle. There was a different, more efficient Cutler in that latest game. He looked like a quarterback that you might give up three high picks and your incumbent starter in a trade. Flash forward to Week Four and efficient Cutler is still playing well.

The Giants are not playing well, so that should be enough for Da Bears to upset Big Blue.

MIAMI (+1) over New England

Something is rotten in the state of Massachusetts. I felt it before the season when I picked the Patriots to miss the playoffs, and I feel it now after a poor two week stretch that included a 14-point loss to the Jets and a narrow victory over the hapless Bills. Randy Moss is depressed, glue-man Kevin Faulk is out for the year with an ACL injury, Wes Welker is not yet a year removed from his own ACL surgery, the defense looks suspect, and Tom Brady is more model now than quarterback. Darth Brady, under the controls of the vile Emperor Giselle, has gone from greatest ever (before Super Bowl XLII) to second-tier. Not good. And remember how past New England teams seemingly overachieved and “wanted it” more than anyone else? Mike Vrabel, Teddy Bruschi, Rodney Harrison, and Richard Seymour are all now past-Patriots. Who is going to spark the team now?

One team’s misfortune is another’s gain, and Miami now stands in the same league as the once-dominant Patriots. I say that hoping that Ricky Williams puts some stick ‘em on his hands. Seriously, when did he suddenly develop Adrian Peterson hands? I don’t know who I would trust more to hold on to the pigskin, Williams or Snooki. Regardless, Williams better fix his ball-security issues because the Dolphins are going to need both him and Brown so that Chad Henne isn’t left in too many obvious passing situations. Give Bill Belichick an edge and he’ll take advantage, even with this Patriots defense.

So there you have it. After picking the first 11 favorites to cover the spread, I’m going with three underdogs to end the column. After my last foray into NFL picks, there’s really no where to go but up. It’s not like I’m the Detroit Lions of pigskin pick’em… am I?

UPDATE: Michael Vick has been named the Eagles starting quarterback.

Dr. Sports Fan

OK, you guys make me an argument for Kolb starting. Then tell me what you really think: Vick or Kolb. (You already know what I think about the Eagles quarterback controversy.)

Jack Bauer of All Sports

Who do you like behind center in Philly: #4 or #7?

I can’t. He sucked in preseason as much as Vick did, and now in the regular season, Kolb still sucked and Vick has excelled.

The best case I have for Kolb is he faced a tough Green Bay defense, and Vick faced a looser GB defense due to their lead in the game. And Vick faced the Lions. But Kolb will get killed with our Swiss cheese offensive line while Vick can scramble and save downs.

The Phoenix

The only argument I can really make is that Kolb played one half against a very good Green Bay Packers defense.  Sure, Vick played against that same Packers defense, but the Packers didn’t plan for Michael Vick.  I give Vick an “incomplete” grade against Detroit.  Don’t get me wrong.  He had a GREAT game, but it’s Detroit.  Most quarterbacks look good against Detroit.

I have no problem giving Kolb the start against Jacksonville because I think we need a bigger sample set to base his abilities on.  I do agree with Mr. Bauer of All Sports about Kolb getting killed as a result of the cut and paste offensive line, but that just means the internal clock in his head has to be one and a half Mississippi’s.  A dedication to the run game, which is a prayer many of us have been asking for for a long time, couldn’t hurt, either.

All that being said, I’m going to be a realist.  Give Kolb the ball.  I still need to see what the kid can do — in a FULL game — before I call for his head.

DSF

I’ll make a similar argument for Kolb:

The old adage in football is that you can’t let someone lose their job because of an injury. Kolb’s injury opened the door for Vick, and he obviously hasn’t looked back. So even though Vick has been outstanding, Kolb should still have a shot to at least lose the job the next few weeks.

OK. Enough with the pro-Kolb sentiment. And it’s not as though I’m really against Kolb, it’s just that I’m very much Team Vick. It’s not Kolb’s fault that Reid threw together a hodge-podge offensive line that honestly sucks. Let’s face it, the o-line overhaul after the ‘08 NFC Championship Game — which saw book-end tackles Tra Thomas (who didn’t give up a sack in ‘08) and Jon Runyan replaced by Jason Peters (Pro Bowl by name, not game), Shawn Andrews (need I say more), Stacy Andrews (ugh), and later Winston Justice — has gone disastrously. Giving Justice a pass on this one, how does a former offensive lineman (Reid) completely whiff on all of those replacements? Well, Kolb is reaping the benefits there big time, huh? Good thing Vick has the ability to run for his life, successfully, while also simultaneously turning broken plays into positives.

That’s just reason two for my wholehearted endorsement of Vick for the Eagles QB job. Reason number 1: somewhere along the line — between his last start for Atlanta against our backups and 3rd stringers in the ‘06 finale, his stay in federal prison, and his year Wildcatting/hearing everyone call him a dog-killer — Vick learned how to be a quarterback. Now he’ll never be your classic drop-back, pocket-passer, but who cares? His new-found passing accuracy combined with his other-worldly running ability leaves defenses in an incredible bind. He’s Donovan McNabb circa ‘04 and early ‘06, before the groin, leg and knee injuries finally slowed him down. I think he has a legit shot at the NFL’s Most Valuable Player Award. AMAZING. And yet, he’s going to return to part time duty.

I mean why play for the future when the present looks so nice?

Jack

Jobs have been lost to injury before and it has worked out for the better…

Trent Green went down in 99 for the Rams, and a grocery bagger named Kurt Warner stepped in. Drew Bledsoe went down in 01, and untested 6th rounder Tom Brady answered the call.

In both cases, neither guy exactly had a track record of consistent success and playoff winning and deserved to not automatically lose a job to injury. Kolb aint no Trent Green or Drew Bledsoe. Vick has outplayed him in the short-term only, but Kolb hasn’t shown (in all fairness not much of a chance) he should be the #1 over Vick. This isn’t a case of A.J. Feely and Jeff Garcia vs. McNabb, where both guys were fantastic in relief of an injured McNabb, but McNabb had established himself as The Man, regardless of injury.

Phoenix

Jason, there is a slight difference in the Warner & Brady arguments.  When I look at both of those offenses, I tend to get the feeling that any quarterback could have stepped in — especially in St. Louis when they had Terry Holt, Issac Bruce and Marshall Faulk in their primes.  It also didn’t hurt that he had Mike Martz in a state of mind prior to when he lost it.  New England was already in the playoffs with Charlie Weis running the show and a talented, young core at the skill positions (Troy Brown, Terry Glenn and an emerging Kevin Faulk).  New England’s strength that year was on the defensive side of the ball with names you’ve probably heard of: Seymour, Bruschi, Vrabel, Law, Milloy, McGinest, et al.

The way the Eagles offense is set up … it’s set up for Kolb.  It’s built for him (except in the offensive line).  They don’t have any kind of running attack (can’t remember the last 1,200 yard rusher.. Duce Staley?).  They have an offensive system that is WAY out of whack (I believe 80/20 pass to run is the ratio).  Not being balanced will hurt just about any quarterback in that kind of a system.  If Vick wasn’t as athletic as he was, he’d be getting killed, too.  In fact, McNabb was getting killed for the last three years as a result of this bonkers offensive philosophy… but crucifying Marty Mornihweg has somehow slipped through the cracks of just about every sportswriter in Philadelphia.  Blame Andy Reid.  Blame Donovan McNabb. Blame Kevin Kolb. But Marty gets a free pass.

Seriously!?!

Jack

What you say is all true, which actually furthers the argument for Vick since Kolb has sucked in the preseason and limited regular season action, and will continue to suck with a poor O-line and sparse running calls.

I know Marty sucks, and any intelligent fan knows he sucks. Detroit fired him!

And since you blamed a lot before, what the hell, Blame Canada as well!

Phoenix

The only thing that would have made the whole “blame Canada” finale better would be if Kevin Kolb was ACTUALLY FROM Canada…. Still genius, though.

Jack

What really worries me about the whole Vick-Kolb saga is back in 05 everyone knew Mike McMahon sucked, but Reid stuck with him for half a season before benching him. How long will Reid stick with a struggling Kolb with a star QB in Vick ready to play and win????

DSF

Gosh. First Hoying, now McMahon; the Kolb Era is getting comparisons to the who’s who of crappy Eagles quarterbacks in the last 25 years. Can I get a Bubby Brister up in here? (Wait, he was too good.)

Luckily for us, the McMahon Era was enabled by a complete lack of a valuable back-up quarterback on the roster. He was a Mornhinweg guy (LOL), and they needed a healthy Koy Detmer (who retired after the ill-fated ‘05 season) to hold for Akers. Plus Detmer was just too small to last as a prolonged starter in the NFL. That was strike one for Mornhinweg.

Now, I don’t think Reid will wait long for Kolb. This is his 4th season in the NFL. He needs to resemble a capable starting quarterback and soon. How much longer should we have to wait for him to blossom? 2015?! Please, Andy, don’t make us boo Kolb out of town. It’s not his fault that Vick is that good. But that’s just what will happen if you keep trotting him out there when all the evidence in the world suggests otherwise. (I’d even argue that not subbing in Vick for — possibly — an ineffective Kolb should be a fireable offense. It’s just plain stupid.)

Moral of the story: Vick should start, but Kolb will start. Blame Reid, Mornhinweg, and Canada — just don’t blame Kolb!

Lions fans, Jack Bauer of All Sports feels your pain. If you somehow haven’t yet heard what happened, here’s quick recap:

The Lions trailed 19-14 inside of :30 and backup quarterback Shaun Hill tossed a quasi- “Hail Mary” pass on third down inside Bears’ territory into the endzone, which was spectacularly “caught” by Calvin Johnson. As Johnson came down to secure the ball, he took two steps as he was falling over, and started to stretch the ball out as he rolled over after the second-step and appeared to slam the ball down to the ground in celebration of the play.

Upon video review, Head Referee Gene Steratore ruled that Johnson did not completely possess the ball despite taking two steps because he “lost control of the ball” as it came to the ground as he put it on the ground.

If there is a positive here, Steratore got the call right by the rule book. While the rule forcing Steratore to deny an obvious de facto touchdown is absolute garbage, I do feel better about the situation because it is a rule issue as opposed to officiating. For the past two seasons, I have regarded Steratore as the best official in the NFL, and as someone who is quick to call-out poor officiating, I would have been depressed if one of the few good officials in all of sports had blown a game deciding call.

I understand this may not make Lions fans feel any better and the result of the game is absolutely one of Jack’s personal fouls from Week 1, there are far worse ways to get jobbed out of a win.

Moving on from the Lions, I have to mention my team, the Philadelphia Eagles. After a pathetic performing Kevin Kolb went down due to a concussion at the end of the first half,  Michael Vick stepped in and performed masterfully in almost leading the Birds back from a 20-3  third quarter deficit. Jack Bauer of All Sports is calling this personal foul on Andy Reid. Here is my analysis of what is brewing in Philadelphia:

After the 2009 season, Andy Reid would not budge from his belief that Kevin Kolb was ready to start. Consequently, Reid had no choice but to trade away Donovan McNabb and his contract due to expire after 2010, and get something in return. I believe Reid had been planning for this day to come after the 2008 season, so he shocked the sports world by bringing in Michael Vick. Vick, despite his newsworthy history, is a quarterback similar in style to McNabb, and has a lifetime winning record and two career playoff wins. If Kolb struggled and Reid decided he needed to give Kolb a break from the starting role, Vick would be a perfect replacement.

For the past few seasons, Reid has convinced the public, especially the Eagles fan base and organization, that Kolb is the future and will lead the Eagles to football’s promised land. In his first game as the full-time starter on Sunday, Kolb was horrible and then got hurt. Enter Vick. The Eagles rally around him, and Vick performs at his former pro-bowl level, nearly leading the team back from a three score deficit against a very strong Green Bay defense. Reid’s worst nightmare has come true.

If Kolb is not cleared to play in Week 2 against the Detroit Lions and Vick performs strong for a second-straight game, Reid will be forced to let Vick continue starting to maintain control of his team. If Reid were to not continue to start the quarterback who had shown he gives the Eagles the best chance to win, he would never recover in the locker room and the court of public opinion. Right now, Reid is praying as hard as he can that Kolb is cleared to play.

Reid is a poor in-game coach, but a very sharp mind. His decision to return Kolb to the game for the Eagles final possession of the first half after suffering a concussion may have been predicated on the above scenario. The quagmire the Eagles and Reid now face after only Week 1 is because of Reid. The future of the Eagles the next few seasons, and Reid’s job security, may now hinge solely on Kolb’s ability to play Week 2. Jack is not a doctor, but no one recovers 100% from a concussion in one week, and if Kolb is the future of the Eagles, Reid should not gamble with his health. But Reid has now backed himself into a corner where his credibility in the organization, and ultimately his job, may depend upon playing Kolb at less than 100% health and without a full week of practice.

Finally, as a San Diegan, I am compelled to address the embarrassing loss a clearly talent-superior San Diego Chargers team took from the Kansas City Chiefs on Monday Night Football. Norv Turner can’t coach, period. But I am calling this personal foul on General Manager A.J. Smith.

A.J. Smith replaced Marty Schottenheimer after the 2006 season with Norv Turner not because the Bolts went 14-2 in the regular season and didn’t advance in the playoffs, but because Smith is a power-hungry ego-maniac. Schottenheimer is a strong- willed personality, and constantly he and Smith clashed since he was hired in 2002. After the 2006 season’s disastrous ending, Smith had a reason to fire Marty. Enter Norv Turner, a career losing record as a head coach, to lead a team ready to reach the Super Bowl. This is perhaps one of the most puzzling coaching hires the past ten years, but it makes sense when one considers A.J. Smith’s personality. Turner would be subservient to Smith, unlike Marty, which was what Smith wants.

The Bolts did reach the AFC Championship the first season under Turner, but that was with Marty’s players, playbook, and coaches. The talent-rich Chargers have suffered embarrassing home playoff loses the past two seasons. Turner is a terrible coach, but Turner is who he is. It is Smith’s fault the keys to a Corvette were giving to an accident prone driver who only drove Yugos as a head coach.

Side note: The Chargers’ offense looked anemic without WR Vincent Jackson in the lineup.  QB Phillip Rivers was scrambling the whole night to find receivers. Jackson might be not be the smartest person off the field, but the Chargers offense will have a hard time keeping the lights on without him for an entire season. A.J. Smith, just pay the man already. You’re ego will survive, you have Norv Turner as your puppet!

So I guess the Kevin Kolb Era has got itself off with a bit of a hitch. A Michael Vick-sized hitch. It’s never a good sign for your new starting quarterback when his back-up oh-so-thoroughly out-plays him. I think Dan Patrick put Kolb’s performance in the proper perspective when he said on his radio show that Kolb showed pre-concussion symptoms before Clay Matthews ended his day with a mouthful of Lincoln Financial Field.

While Kolb faded to black, Vick turned back the clock to 2004 and looked like the best player on the field. Those breathtaking runs when the pocket collapsed, those accurate throws when it didn’t collapse; Vick brought back the pre-ACL injury McNabb Era to South Philadelphia. There’s no doubt in my mind that the Eagles would’ve either led or tied the Packers in the fourth quarter if he had started that game. So forgive him for being uncharacteristically honest for a football player when he said that during his postgame press conference.

Now, I’m not advocating that Vick is now the Eagles starting quarterback. The Eagles brass didn’t draft Brent Celek, Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin or trade Donovan McNabb in the offseason to replace him with Vick as the centerpiece. They wanted an accurate passer, like Kolb, to man the controls, and they’ll give him every opportunity to get it right. Plus who’s to say that the Eagles inspired play in the second half was completely a product of Vick? I’m sure the coaching staff made some adjustments, and they had to have some effect on the resurgent offensive performance.

(Alright, those last two sentences were complete bullshit. Vick took Reid’s sputtering gameplan, his young offensive stars and put them all on his back during the second half. If Kolb were still in, he’d have spent a lot of time getting to know the Linc turf with that performance from the offensive line. Without Vick’s speed and elusiveness to break the pocket with multiple Packers bearing down on him, he’d have been sacked or picked several more times. In short, Vick was the only quarterback on the roster that could have even made it a game.)

Unfortunately, these are all the things that happen when you are in a quarterback controversy. Everyone has an opinion — fans, media, players, coaches — and no one really ends up winning. Quarterback controversies rarely end with playoff berths and Super Bowl Championships. Instead, quarterback controversies get coaches fired.

It’s been a good decade since the last time the Eagles have stared down a quarterback controversy. Let’s look back to 1997 when Ty Detmer and Rodney Peete opened the season as the 1a and 1b quarterbacks in Philadelphia:

• Head coach Ray Rhodes was a master-motivator coming off back-to-back playoff berths after leading the Eagles to a 10-6 record in each of his first two seasons in Philly.
• Jon Gruden was the Eagles young and talented offensive coordinator.
• Bill Clinton was in his second term of office and began to feel the heat for “having sexual relations with that woman.”
• I was in 8th grade and couldn’t even shave yet, though I wanted to grow facial hair badly.

As it turned out, Detmer and Peete were really 2a and 2b, as a darkhorse — second-year man Bobby Hoying, out of THE Ohio State University — eventually earned the job midway through the season during Monday Night Football. Hoying looked really good too, going undefeated in his first three starts (a tie with the Ravens and back-to-back wins over the Steelers and Bengals) to bring the Eagles back into the playoff hunt. Unfortunately, the wheels soon fell off the Hoying bandwagon and the Eagles lost three straight to finish 6-9-1.

In ‘98, the Rhodes Era hit an abyss with a 3-13 record after Gruden left to become the head coach in Oakland. The ensuing quarterback carousel — between a suddenly horrible Hoying, a has-been in Peete, and a never-was in Koy Detmer — was really a minor footnote for one of the worst Eagles teams in franchise history. Plus it’s hard to have any controversy over the starting quarterback for a football that finished 10 games under .500.

Ironically, it was the quarterback controversy of ‘97 that ultimately gave way to stability. The team’s 3-13 record got Rhodes fired, Green Bay Quarterbacks Coach Andy Reid hired, and brought the Eagles the second pick in the ‘99 draft — a draft that experts were touting as the greatest collection of first round quarterback talent since the famed ‘83 class of John Elway, Jim Kelly, and Dan Marino (amongst others). Talk about luck! Not only that, the Eagles selected the only quarterback in that first round that’s still playing in the NFL today.

And yet here we are again, though a lot has changed:

• Rhodes is now a defensive assistant with the Texans — a franchise that didn’t even exist until the 2002 season.
• Gruden is now the third man in the Monday Night Football booth.
• The current president, Barack Obama, gets his bad press for federal spending and not federal jobbing.
• I wish I didn’t have to shave now.

I know that this storm began swirling last season, after Kolb played well in two starts and Vick began to find his legs to create the rare three-way quarterback controversy. But a few half-hearted calls for the untested backup or a few whispers for the disgraced and freakishly talented former number one pick to take the job of a five-time (now six-time) Pro Bowl quarterback are nothing compared to a fan-base divided into Team Kolb and Team Vick.

For those interested in the glass-half-full perspective, think about this: the last time we had a full-fledged quarterback controversy in Philadelphia, it was between Peete and Detmer. With all due respect to those two undersized signal callers, neither are in the same league as Kolb and Vick. And thank goodness for that. (I’ll save the Kolb-Hoying comparisons until his next start. He deserves at least that from me.)

Another glass-half-full thought: Wow, Vick looked good. Over 100 yards rushing in a little over a half behind center? Check. Efficient but unspectacular passing that resulted in a passer rating of over 100? Check. Getting the players to buy in and believe in him? Check. Sure he had his share of errors — who’d have thought we’d be asking him to run more, like say on third and goal from the five when all he had to beat to the pylon was a linebacker — and yes, he’s definitely capable of throwing together a McNabb-sized clunker on any given Sunday. Just on this Sunday, Vick looked like the Eagles starting quarterback.

(Quick tangent to really get glass-half-full here: Imagine if Vick did for the Eagles what Steve Young did for the 49ers. When Bill Walsh rescued him from football purgatory in Tampa, Young was every bit the wild young stallion behind center that Vick was early in his career. Look at the similarities, Young was a left-handed quarterback who could make defenders look silly in the open field. Walsh broke him in during the late 80s and had him learn from Joe Montana. Vick didn’t have that kind of time to learn from McNabb, but the possibility is there. As for those who think Vick is too old, his 30 years don’t include two full seasons of contact football. Now let’s move on before I pour too much water into this glass.)

Ironically, the sizable group of Team McNabbers are finally getting their just due. It just goes to show you how dependable Five was to the Eagles because the previous 10 and half seasons were almost devoid of this type of quarterback controversy. Sure there were a few flare-ups — Jeff Garcia’s run in ‘06 and McNabb’s benching for Kolb against the Ravens in ‘08 — but nothing that coach Reid couldn’t squash with a simple, “McNabb’s my quarterback.”

Maybe that’s it. Maybe this controversy is much ado about nothing. If we’ve learned anything in the Andy Reid Era, it’s that Big Red does what he wants. He doesn’t cater to popular opinion, no matter how foolish he looks, and he sticks with his guys. In this case, prevailing opinion is that Vick should start in Detroit on Sunday. While this may be what he ultimately decides, I wouldn’t be surprised if he goes with Kolb, provided he gains the requisite medical clearance. Reid didn’t hesitate to reaffirm Kolb when asked if the 2007 second round pick was still his quarterback.

Two atrocious quarters were not enough to change Big Red’s mind, but what will the next two quarters bring us in the star-crossed Kevin Kolb Era? Luckily for almost everyone involved, Kolb’s concussion will likely give us another week of the Michael Vick Experience. All things considered, I’ll gladly take it.