Philadelphia Eagles Prove Money Doesn't Buy NFL Love

The Philadelphia Eagles face the Washington Redskins this Sunday in a game that can only be described as an encounter where their 2011 season is on the line. If this team has any Super Bowl aspirations, a fifth defeat could cripple their dreams.

Philadelphia is fighting history this weekend as well. If they finish the weekend at 1-5, the team must realize only the 1970 Cincinnati Bengals reached the playoffs after starting a season as poorly.

That Bengals team started the season 1-6 before rattling off seven straight wins behind Pro Bowl players like Lemar Parrish and Bob Trumpy. They would lose the first playoff appearance in franchise history against the eventual champion Baltimore Colts.

The offense has yet to really click for the Eagles yet this season. While ranking third best in the NFL in total yards gained, they have been struggling to consistently score touchdowns and rank 11th in total points scored. The offensive line, an issue that mostly has haunted head coach Andy Reid since he took the job in 1999.

It has to burn Reid's heart at this issue. He has won 60 percent of the 197 regular season games with Philadelphia, which makes him the winningest head coach in franchise history, but blocking is an area he is supposed to be an expert in.

Reid played offensive tackle in college, then got into coaching immediately upon graduating after his 1981 senior season. He coached the offensive line until the end of the 1996 season. His Eagles teams have produced just five Pro Bowl blockers since he took the helm, with only one that Reid drafted and developed, not something the head coach probably foresaw.

Philadelphia looked smart last year by trading quarterback Donovan McNabb and going with Michael Vick in his place. Vick, though known for a mobility that made him the NFL's top rushing yards leader by a quarterback in league history last week, has taken a tremendous pounding in 2011 because of Philadelphia's offensive line woes.

Vick has battled injuries and missed time this year, something the Eagles thought they had a contingency plan for by signing free agent Vince Young. Young has been to the Pro Bowl quarterback twice since being drafted in 2006, but he was not healthy enough to play when Vick went down.

Blocking isn't the only reason Vick has suffered. Though he is still learning how to be a pocket-passer, Vick has a propensity to hang onto the ball too long and take many unnecessary sacks.

The Eagles rushing attack is led by an excellent 5.8 yards per carry average from halfback LeSean McCoy, yet the Eagles still are ineffective in short yardage situations where a powerful running game between the tackles is needed. None of Reid's teams have ever excelled in this critical area.

If the offensive trenches weren't enough of an issue for Reid, his defensive lines haven't been much better in his Eagles career. Philadelphia has had a habit of getting tiny pass rushers who were weak against the run, often contributing to the reason Reid has yet to win a Super Bowl despite 119 regular season victories and nine playoff appearances in his previous 12 years.

Jeff Lurie has been a great owner since buying the Eagles in 1994. He is known for his loyalty as much as the generosity he has displayed to charitable causes. Reid's coaching staffs have shown a solid continuity for the most part, which can be seen with defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

Castillo has been with the Eagles since 1995, holding jobs in many areas. After coaching the offensive line since 1998, he moved over to defense this year. Critics are not only pointing to Philadelphia's poor run defense, others are looking at a secondary that has yet to meet expectations.

After spending a ton of money to sign free agent cornerback Nnamde Asomugha, as well as trading for Pro Bowl cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Lurie bit the financial bullet by retaining the services of Pro Bowl cornerback Asante Samuel. Not only has the secondary given up way too many touchdowns on so few passing attempts, ranking 30th in that category, the group is not creating turnovers.

The Eagles tried to address the long-standing issue in their trenches by signing two high profile free agents in Jason Babin and Cullen Jenkins. While the duo has already racked up a combined 12 of the teams 16 total sacks, they are also a reason the team ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed and last in rushing yards per attempt up the middle of the defense.

The team took a gamble this year by going with a bunch of underwhelming or unproven linebackers this season, and are losing big so far. Not only has the group mostly stunk in run support, they have been even worse in pass defense.

The fact the Eagles safeties haven't played great hasn't helped either. Kurt Coleman has struggled at free safety, which hurts more due to the fact Nate Allen has yet to play as well as he did in his 2010 rookie year.

Despite Lurie shilling out millions to Vick, Young, Asomugha, Babin, Bryant, Steve Smith, Ronnie Brown, and others, the results have yet to be met by a group trying to get acclimated with each other on the fly in a season truncated because of a players strike. Yet history shows pouring money into players does not equate to championships.

Whether it is the 2010 Miami Heat, the Ted Stepien Era with the Cleveland Cavaliers, or even the 2011 Boston Red Sox, the examples are plentiful. Sometimes the angle of spending a lot of money works, as George Steinbrenner showed by winning seven titles in his 37 years of owning the New York Yankees.

The season is not yet lost for the Eagles, especially if they defeat a division rival that Reid has triumphed over 15 times in 24 attempts. The Redskins, who are coming off their bye week, need this game to stay on top of the NFC East while trying to increase their lead with their second division win in as many attempts.

Washington will probably attempt to run the ball down the Eagles throats with their trio of excellent running backs. If they succeed, Philadelphia could see their 2011 season begin to end as the game clock expires.

The City of Brotherly Love is starving for a football title in the NFL, having not seen their team win a championship since 1960. They are known as passionate fans, so a let down by their beloved Eagles may lead to a large insurgence of fans calling for the firing of Reid.

With their season on line, let alone the Eagles careers of guys like Reid and Castillo, the team has their backs against the proverbial wall and must begin to come out swing like Philly legend Rocky Balboa. Hopefully their thrust will not be fictional like Rocky was.



Yooooooooooo! For doze of yous dat forgots about me, I iz 7thStoneFromTheSun, da distant cuzin of 3rdStoneFromTheSun Yo, I did suck las weak in my procrastinashuns. I went 7-6, and I now iz 46-31 overall.

Lets get too it!




Saint Louis Rams @ Green Bay Packers

OK, I know a lots of yous mugs tought da Rams mite go two da playoffs dis yeer. But dey will now bee 0-5, sumfin not many saw cummin.

Packers 37 Rams 21






Jacksonville Jaguars @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Da Jags never shuld have gone da cheep route and dumped quarterback David Garrard, cuz it iz cleer Blaine Gabbert aint reddy. Da Steelers will expose dat truth even more.

Steelers 23 Jaguars 7







Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins

As 3rd says, dem Igglez have spent like a billion dollars and iz 1-4. I'm picking da Skins running game hear, but dont bee shocked if suckass Rex Grossman trows da game away two Philly.

Redskins 27 Eagles 24







San Francisco 49ers @ Detroit Lions
Game of the Week

Yo, dis aint 1950 so dont rub yer eyes in disbelief. Dis iz da game of da weak! Both teems got good defenses and quarterbacks picked furst in dere drafts. I tink it mite cum down too who runs da ball best, if dat iz a hint.

But Yo! Who hear saw dese teems a combined 9-1 cummin into dis game?

Lions 23 49ers 21






Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons

I'm not in love wit Matt Ryan or da Falcons pass defense so far dis yeer, but they can win if dey run da damn ball. Cuz Carolina sure as fuck don't.

Falcons 30 Panthers 28







Indianapolis Colts @ Cincinnati Bengals

Da Colts blow chunks yo. Dey couldnt even beet da shitty Chiefs. Put dem down at 0-7.

Bengals 34 Colts 17







Buffalo Bills @ New York Giants

Eli Manning cemented his spot as one da most overrated players ever las week. Da Bills are a helluva lot better den da Seahawks, and dey will go downstate and leave 5-1.

Bills 34 Giants 24






Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

Derrick Mason just joined da Texans, who iz strugglin all of da sudden, and iz facing a teem he spent six seasuns wif. Da Ravens will enjoy da fact star linebacker Mario Williams wont play for Houston again dis yeer.

Ravens 27 Texans 20






Cleveland Browns @ Oakland Raiders

Just keep winning baby! R.I.P. Al Davis

Raiders 31 Browns 23






Dallas Cowboys @ New England Patriots

Tony Romo mite trow four 400 yards against dis crappy Pats secondary, but his teem has no answers for Tom Brady.

Patriots 37 Cowboys 28







New Orleans Saints @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Just when it looked like da Bucs was turning da corner, they laid a egg of shit las week. Dis alloud da Saints two sit on top of da NFC South. New Orleans iz ranked 28th in yards given up per rushing attempt, but rank fourth best in rushing attempts against dem cuz teems are trowing so much trying to play catch up.

Saints quarterback Drew Brees should enjoy facin a dissappointin Buccaneers defense, whose seasun mite be on da line hear.

Saints 34 Buccaneers 23







Minnesota Vikings @ Chicago Bears

Get out da No Doz Sunday nite. Dat iz if you dont like smash mouth football in da Black and Blue division. Da Bears knead dis cuz da Packers and Lions are starting to run away in da race for da NFC North title.

Bears 24 Vikings 17







Miami Dolphins @ New York Jets

Dis piece of crap MNF game iz a perfect reasun da New York City media kneads to shut da fuck up about dere overrated talent and why we knead to start ignoring dese boobs. Capeesh?

Da Jets suck! Mark Sanchez sucks dirty donkey balls and dat Jets defense looks old. Rex Ryan has been gettin his fat mouth closed a lot dis yeer so far. I dunno if he iz puttin his foot in his mouth or his wife's, but he should STFU until he has a reesun to talk.

Da Dolphins basically got Matt Moore and Sage Rosenfels as dere quarterbacks, which aint awesum. Both is sound reserves at best, but we will sea. I tink Miami better run rookie halfback Daniel Thomas 25 times against dat suspect Jets defense.

But da Jets will put 8 in a box cuz dey dont respect da Dolphins quarterbacks, which iz da rite move.

Jets 23 Dolphins 14






Power Rankings

1. Green Bay Packers
2. Detroit Lions
3. Baltimore Ravens
4. Buffalo Bills
5. San Francisco 49ers
6. New Orleans Saints
7. San Diego Chargers
8. New England Patriots
9. Pittsburgh Steelers
10. Washington Redskins
11. Tennessee Titans
12. Atlanta Falcons
13. Oakland Raiders
14. Houston Texans
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
16. Chicago Bears
17. New York Giants
18. New York Jets
19. Dallas Cowboys
20. Philadelphia Eagles
21. Cincinnati Bengals
22. Seattle Seahawks
23. Minnesota Vikings
24. Arizona Cardinals
25. Miami Dolphins
26. Carolina Panthers
27. Jacksonville Jaguars
28. Cleveland Browns
29. Saint Louis Rams
30. Denver Broncos
31. Kanas City Chiefs
32. Indianapolis Colts



OK, I iz outta dis peace! I iz gunna lay down wif dis hunny I met at da bar and have her feed me grapes as I watch da games.

As dey say in Ol' Messico = A.M.F.

NFL Front Office Eunichs Look To End The Philadelphia Eagles 2010 Season

Since Roger Goodell was hired as commissioner of the National Football League in 2006, his reign has been one of blow hard ineptitude. Whether it is his disturbing fellatio on the quarterback position or his faux stance on player safety in order to get a contract signed, the Goodell Era has been an effeminate joke that cares more about money than the actual product on the field.

This type off weak-minded leadership was further seen when he postponed a football game between the Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles based on a theory and a further display his NFL is without testosterone or a care about league legacy.

The NFL has called off their Sunday night showdown between the two teams because snow might fall on the City of Brotherly Love. This decision was made before snow had actually had much accumulation and the NFL made a decision based strictly on the prognosis of the man-made machine that called for blizzard-like conditions.

On this very date 62 years ago, a legend was further enhanced amongst all Philadelphia Eagles and NFL fans. Philadelphia was already well in the midst of an actual blizzard, not a theory as of today. The Eagles were set to face the Chicago Cardinals in the championship game in an era where men were treated like men.

Steve Van Buren, the Eagles star halfback who was in the fifth season of his Hall of Fame career, had to walk 12 blocks down Broad Street after having ridden three trolleys from his home to the Eagles stadium. He then set a then-NFL record by running for 196 yards and scored the only touchdown of the game to help Philadelphia celebrate their first championship.

Goodell's NFL has no heroes like Van Buren because the commissioner wants to be the star of the league. Instead of watching Eagles quarterback Michael Vick show the world on a nationally televised game why he is one of a few candidates for the 2010 NFL MVP award on Sunday night, Vick is now relegated to playing at 4 PM on a Tuesday afternoon.

Not only is the choice of time and day utterly moronic by Goodell, but it could also jeopardize the health of an Eagles team that is currently sitting on the top of the NFC East. They took the lead in their division after an exciting comeback against the New York Giants in a grueling game, and now they will be subjected to an extra short week before closing their 2010 season against the Dallas Cowboys.

Goodell dropped the ball yet again, a prevalent theme of his regime. The game should have been played in snow because the game is football. This isn't a Phillies game, it is an Eagles game. Football is supposed to be played in all elements, not treated like a baseball game that can only take place in acceptable weather.

Minnesota, who is playing for nothing but pride, is looking for this season to end so they can begin rebuilding an aging team. Playing in snow would also give them a head start in getting ready to play in their new stadium. The best Vikings teams ever rolled around in the Minnesota snow, and the franchise has done next to nothing since moving into a domed stadium.

Having these two teams play in the snow not only respects the history of the game of football, but it treats the players like men. Men like Van Buren and his predecessors. But is appears the Goodell NFL is one without respect, dignity, nor manhood. Much like the theories he has based his leadership on over facts, the NFL continues to lose their legacy by following a politician's son with no real understanding of the game he leads.

NFL Perverts : Castrating The Problem For The Sake Of Society

Unfortunately, the NFL has a seamy side.

Several of the same men the league tries to push as their images and heroes are creeps who stalk and harass women to try to fill their perversions.

Many have crossed the line legally, yet they escape justice and imprisonment because they happen to play a child's game for money.

Here are some disgusting cretins currently donning NFL jerseys looking for your applause:







Brett Favre


Yes "Favre Haters", the Hickocrite is back in the news.

Not for his poor play or the hopes of improvement with the addition of wide receiver Randy Moss alone.

You won't hear this story on ESPN, who worships the toilet Favre sits on.

In 2008, Favre exposed his saggy sac while stalking a sideline reporter who basically looks like his wife with silicone representing her breasts.

Of course no one investigated her claims years ago, because the Hickocrite was raking in too much cash by retiring, waffling, then un-retiring.

The old pervert can't get his media buddies to save him this time, because there are e-mails, voice messages, and pictures as damning proof.

Still, don't expect NFL commissioner Roger Goodell to do more than take a few pennies from Favre after reading a fake statement on how tough he is on crime.

The real money will be paid on the impending settlement to hush the victim.








Adam "Pac-Man" Jones


It is utterly amazing this creep is not in jail for paralyzing a man for life.

He did this by allegedly shooting the man in a club, something the club owner swears he did despite Jones' proclamations of innocence.

It shortly happened after he assaulted a woman.

A document showing he paid various people in the club $15,000 involved in the shooting has been theorized as a payoff for silence.

Shortly after this, he was heard talking on the phone to a recently arrested drug dealer, who was heard saying "We gotta slow down, man. We gotta get him focused on football, man."

The drug dealer also claimed Jones bet on college games to earn quick money.

"You know, I was talkin' to him (Jones) the other day about smokin', and he was like 'man, if I didn't smoke (drugs) I couldn't take all the stress that I'm dealing with right now,'" the drug dealer said in a phone call listened in on by law enforcement authorities.

Jones has also been arrested, charged or convicted of marijuana possession

Yet Goodell, who pretends to take a hard line on crime, let Jones back into the league to earn a paycheck after a year suspension.

Yet another example how Goodell is Badashell for the NFL.









Ben Roethlisberger


It took Goodell two incidents by Roethlisberger to step in.

Seems "Big Ben" couldn't stop inserting "Little Ben" into women against their will.

Goodell took such a hard line against the star quarterback that he threatened to suspend Roethlisberger a whole six games, then decided to reduce it to four.

Maybe he will get eight games reduced to five the next time Roethlisberger assaults a female?









Shannon Sharpe


Shannon Sharpe wears a different kind of NFL jersey these days.

The former tight end dons a coat and tie while broadcasting games on nationally televised games.

A few weeks ago, a woman claimed Sharpe stalked her, forced her to have sex with him, then threatened to kill her.

Sharpe took a leave from his network job, then suddenly the woman suddenly dropped charges and said she lied.

Interestingly, no false accusation charges have been filed against her, nor has Sharpe sued her for defamation of character.

Many have bandied about the theory that Sharpe paid her off for her silence.

Even if the accusations were true, it should have no impact on his impending induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Michael Irvin is proof of that.









Green Bay Packers


Two women accused seven Packers of sexual assault in June, 2010.

After initially claiming it was one player, both of their stories changed.

False accusations?









Eric Green


In 2009, former Arizona Cardinals cornerback Eric Green was accused of sexual assault by a trans-gender woman and sued for $10 million.

Green, now playing in the UFL, reportedly warned the victim that, “This never happened. You’d better not tell.”










Michael Vick


Long before he was arrested for training and betting on dogfighting, after authorities found the bodies of 66 dogs on his property, Vick was getting in other kinds of trouble.

In 1998, he was arrested for sexual assault.

Charges were later dropped.












Michael Irvin


Michael "I'm holding it for my brother" Irvin has spent as much time in jail and courts as he did on a football field.

The Hall of Famer now wears a Hall of Fame jacket as a jersey, and hosted a radio show for ESPN until canned for yet another legal transgression.

It was the second time in three years ESPN fired him for getting in trouble with the law, but that did not stop NFL Network from hiring him just over a month ago.

In 1996, he appeared in court wearing a full-length mink coat after being arrested for cocaine possession.

Two years later, he inflicted a two-inch cut on a teammates neck after an argument. Charges were never filed, but rumors were abound that Irvin gave the teammate a six-figure settlement not to press charges.

After he retired, he got a job on ESPN with teammate and fellow Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith. Irvin was arrested again shortly after for possession of a crack pipe and other paraphernalia. Charges were dropped after Irvin claimed he took the items from a friend in order to clean him up.

In 2007, he was accused of sexual assault. Though charges were never brought up, he is being taken to court by the victim. She is seeking $800,000 after claiming Irvin raped her.

Irvin has filed a countersuit for $100 million, even though the woman passed a polygraph test.

Why was this thug inducted into Canton again? He is the antithesis of a Hall of Famer.








Who Else?


There are countless other examples of football players to give, let alone professional athletes.

List your own if you want.

One thing is for certain.

There will be more instances ahead.

Too many athletes feel entitled because they get huge paychecks and face practically no punishment for their crimes against humanity.

It is time for Roger Goodell to stop talking tough and actually try to be tough.

Handing out suspensions for a few games has no impact on these millionaires.

Banning may be the best solution.

Is Michael Vick More Bark Than Bite For The Philadelphia Eagles?

Michael Vick is the top dog of Philadelphia now, the leader of an Eagles pack looking for championship gold, and the alpha male people remembered him being back in 2005.

Vick's recent development as a quarterback can be attributed to maturity and also to finally getting the coaching he so desperately needed. When he was the first pick of the 2001 draft by the Atlanta Falcons, he joined a rapidly aging club entering their third season away from a Super Bowl loss.

Dan Reeves was the head coach of the team at the time, and is best remembered as the guy who helped develop Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway. Like Vick, Elway was also an extremely mobile player with an extremely strong throwing arm. Veteran Chris Chandler, a two-time Pro Bowler who had led the Falcons to Super Bowl XXXIII, started 14 games that season as Vick learned.

Chandler joined the Chicago Bears in 2002, so Vick had the job. He threw for a career high 2,936 yards under Reeves, as well as having a two-to-one touchdown to interception ratio, as Atlanta made the playoffs. He also led the league with a 6.9 yards per carry average and piled up 777 yards and career best eight scores on the ground.

The future looked extremely bright for the 22-year old kid who just made his first Pro Bowl by electrifying the gridiron with a skill set never quite seen before in the history of the game. All that was missing from his arsenal was the obvious need for more experiences to learn from.

Then things got sidetracked.

He spent much of 2003 injured, only playing in five games. Atlanta fired Reeves at the end of the year and replaced him with the inexperienced Jim Mora Jr., the son of veteran coach Jim Mora Sr. The young Mora specialized as a defensive secondary coach before getting his first head job by Atlanta.

Being so inexperienced with limited offensive knowledge at 33-years old, Mora Jr. seemed to basically keep out of the local hero Vick's way and allow him to do as he pleased. It worked for awhile, as Atlanta won 22 of 33 games and Vick went to two more Pro Bowls before the bottom fell out. The Falcons lost nine of their final 14 games in 2006 despite Vick setting a NFL rushing record for quarterbacks with 1,039 yards and leading the league best 8.4 yards per carry.

Reports started to leak out about his behavior off the field since 2004. A truck carrying two men and marijuana was stopped by police. The truck belonged to Vick. Later that year members of his entourage were observed stealing an expensive watch at an airport.

In 2006, a woman talked about him carrying the alias "Ron Mexico" and giving her herpes. There was a huge run on Falcons jerseys with Vick's number and Mexico's name on the back of it, causing NFL commissioner Roger Goodell banned any further sale of that type of garment.

Later that year, he walked off the Falcons field following a defeat sticking both of middle fingers up in the air towards fans. It was one of his last acts as a member of the Falcons.

In the early part of 2007, a family members drug activity caused authorities to stumble over a dog fighting ring being held on property owned by Vick. After initially denying all charges, he admitted his role and was sentenced to three years in jail. After serving over a year, he was released.

Because of the loss of endorsements, living an expensive lifestyle, having to give moneys back to the Falcons and other, court costs, and many bad financial moves, he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. He signed with the Eagles for $1.5 million and spent 2009 barely playing in an undefined role.

Upon his recent explosion in 2010, it appears he was doing more than holding a clipboard for Eagles legend Donovan McNabb. Head coach Andy Reid spent two years as a quarterbacks coach for the Green Bay Packers, who had future Hall of Famer Brett Favre at the helm.

He had replaced Marty Mornhinweg, who held the job in 1996 and coaxed Farve to his only Super Bowl win. Mornhinweg then left Green Bay to be Hall of Famer Steve Young's quarterbacks coach with the San Francisco 49ers, as well as develop future four-time Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia. He left the Niners after Garcia had the best season of his career in 2000.

After a disastrous stay as head coach of the Detroit Lions, he reunited with Reid in 2003 in Philadelphia. Reid and Mornhinweg, with the help of second year quarterbacks coach James Urban, have obviously taught Vick the much needed intricacies of his position to make him more lethal by taking advantage of his entire skill set.

Vick freely admits his days in Atlanta were spent relying on natural abilities instead of trying to be the best he could. Had he had the work ethic of Peyton Manning, along with a semblance of the coaching he is receiving now, the possibility of him now being on his way to Canton could seem probable.

With Atlanta, he would take off running if his first passing option was covered. He was easily rattled in the pocket, looking for a seam to escape. Now he is hanging in the pocket and taking time to look over all of his options before thinking of running.

Fans of Vick like to point out he now has DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek to throw to in Philadelphia. as opposed to Brian Finneran, Peerless Price, Shawn Jefferson, and Alge Crumpler with the Falcons. Only Crumpler was a Pro Bowler, and with Finneran, were the only receivers there for each of Vick's Pro Bowl years. A young Roddy White and Michael Jenkins spent some time with him, and still start with Atlanta.

While an upgrade of talent around him certainly helps his recent success, so does the fact his starts in 2010 have come against two of the weaker teams in the NFL. His first real test against an upper echelon defense may not come until week 12 against the Bears, but fans look forward to his clash with the Washington Redskins next week.

McNabb, now a member of the Redskins, was traded a few months ago because the Eagles planned to go with Kevin Kolb at quarterback. Those plans changed in the opening game when Kolb was taken off the field with a concussion and replaced by Vick, who played very well and sparked the Eagles to making the game look closer than it actually was.

Two weeks after the Redskins, he will face the Falcons. Though the game will take place in Philadelphia, it is an opportunity for Vick to show the Atlanta fans and organization what exactly they are missing by having parted ways with him in 2007. Emotions may run high at this game, but Reid and Mornhinweg will try to put together a strategy that leads the team to the more important victory over retribution.

Though Vick is breaking new ground in some areas at just 30-years old, he most certainly reminds Eagles fans of one of their very own legends in some ways. A legend who was put in the teams Ring of Honor last season.

Randall Cunningham was the teams second round draft pick in 1985. Though not quite as fast as Vick, he was very athletic, elusive, and possessed just as strong of a throwing arm, if not stronger.

Like Vick, he was told to run if his first option was covered by a defensive oriented head coach. In 1990, his third and final Pro Bowl season with the Eagles, he ran for 942 yards. It is still the third most rushing yards in a season by a NFL quarterback, and he was when he was named PFWA NFL MVP, UPI NFC Player of the Year, and won the Bert Bell Award.

He did not leave Philadelphia because of legal trouble in 1995, but because of injuries. He found himself on the Minnesota Vikings two years later, then made the Pro Bowl in 1998 by throwing to fellow Pro Bowlers Randy Moss, Robert Smith, and Cris Carter. He enjoyed perhaps his finest season ever, winning 13 of 14 starts, and winning his third and last Bert Bell Award.

The Vikings scored 556 points that season, which was a record at the time. People marveled how Cunningham had settled into an effective pocket passer, no longer relying on just his legs. Part of that reason was his past injuries and due to the fact he was 35-years old.

Now Vick is enjoying his moment in a similar sun, yet he has the ability to stretch this ride out a lot longer than Cunningham was able to. With Reid at the helm, the second-longest tenured coach in the NFL, he knows stability is at his disposal for the first time since his collegiate days at Virginia Tech University under Frank Beamer.

Though he still owes people money, and some others feel more apologies for what he did to canines, the world is his oyster again. If he keeps learning and progressing, perhaps he can win more than happiness from repaying debt.

A football championship is something Philadelphia has sought since 1960, and something Michael Vick can attain to justify his struggle to be relevant again.


Week 4 Picks

Cincinnati Bengals @ Cleveland Browns

Chad Ocho Cinco might hand out his OchocincO's to Cleveland after this one. Not just for the sugar and nutrition, but for the phone-sex number printed on the box.

Bengals 34 Browns 20




Seattle Seahawks @ Saint Louis Rams

A game only those teams fans will watch, yet they can take solace at the obvious improvements each have had.

Seahawks 24 Rams 21




Detroit Lions @ Green Bay Packers

The Lions defense is all banged up and three key offensive starters will not play. Guard Stephen Peterman may also sit out.

The Packers have to happy with this news, considering they embarrassed themselves last Monday with a huge amount of self-defeating penalties.

Packers 37 Lions 13




Denver Broncos @ Tennessee Titans

Chris Johnson might not be killing the NFL like last year, but he does have 401 rushing yards already. Denver's defensive strength is stopping the run, but they are only ranked tenth.

The Broncos passing game is tops in the league, but the Titans pass defense ranks fifth.

It will come down to whose strengths are greater than the others weaknesses, as well as whose weaknesses can compete best against the others strengths.

Titans 27 Broncos 24






Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints

The Saints are upset dropping a game they should have won last week, as well as the fact their offense hasn't really been that sharp this season.

Expect Saints defensive coordinator Greg Williams to load up a complex blitz package to confuse rookie quarterback Jimmy Clausen most of Sunday.

The Panthers defense is mediocre and the offense is worse. The running game, their strength, cannot get going because no one respects the passing game and crowds the line. The Saints rank 30th in run defense, so the plan of attack is evident.

Saints 24 Panthers 14



Baltimore Ravens @ Pittsburgh Steelers

The best rivalry in the NFL today normally is Game of the Week material, except Pittsburgh is missing their star quarterback. Even so, it is one of the weekends best games,

Defense will reign supreme, as bruises will be handed out easier than Halloween candy.

Though Baltimore's Ray Rice is dinged up, their offense is better than Pittsburgh's right now. Last possession wins?

Win or lose, kudos to the Steelers going into their bye as one of the NFL's best stories so far this year.

Ravens 13 Steelers 10




San Francisco 49ers @ Atlanta Falcons

The 49ers are desperate. So desperate that they fired offensive guru Jimmy Raye, who got his first NFL job in 1977 with the 49ers, a man who has been an NFL offensive coordinator since 1983. He was replaced by a guy with no experience as an offensive coordinator, but who has been a NFL quarterbacks coach since 2000.

Too bad for them they face a Falcons team fresh off a big win against the previously undefeated defending champions. They love to run the ball, but have been moderately disappointing in the pass so far.

A mediocre 49ers defense will have their hands full.

Falcons 28 49ers 16






New York Jets @ Buffalo Bills

The Jets have their swagger back, while the Bills already cut their opening day starting quarterback.

Jets 23 Bills 9







Houston Texans @ Oakland Raiders

Oakland will have previously injured halfback Michael Bush toting the rock more, even though Darren McFadden has been excellent and is third in the NFL in rushing after consecutive 100-yard rushing games.

Houston ranks second in rushing defense, but are last in passing. Oakland pass defense ranks second, but the run defense is 24th.

Expect a heavy dose of Houston's Arian Foster, the leagues leading rusher, and Raiders quarterback Bruce Gradkowski Sunday. The Raiders receivers are the x-factors.

Texans 26 Raiders 17




Indianapolis Colts @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Statistically, future Hall of Fame quarterback Peyton Manning is off to the best start of his career so far. Is there anything more he can do?

Jacksonville is struggling with consistency, a prevalent theme the past few years.

Colts 34 Jaguars 20





Philadelphia Eagles @ Washington Redskins
Game of the Week

How weird will it be for Eagles fans watching Donovan McNabb scrambling for a touchdown wearing the Redskins burgundy and gold colors?

The former Philadelphia legend wants to show everyone what they are missing, but he has so far been suffering with the issue of no running game in Washington that he dealt with most of his Eagles career.

Philadelphia's pass defense ranks seventh, but their rush defense ranks just 23rd. The 28th ranked Redskin rushing offense needs to step up now. Especially since their defense gives up the most total yards per game.

Redskins 28 Eagles 27




Arizona Cardinals @ San Diego Chargers

Arizona, with the exception of running back Tim Hightower, has been pretty bad offensively so far this year. Hightower will have to carry the load against the ninth ranked run defense, because both of his backups are hurting.

They also will be missing wide receivers Steve Breaston and Early Doucet, and guard Alan Faneca is banged up.

Considering the Chargers rank first in offense and fourth in defense in the NFL, it is surprising they have just one victory.

Chargers 34 Cardinals 17




New York Giants @ Chicago Bears

According to ex-Giants star Tiki Barber, now working with the NBC network, many current players told him head coach Tom Coughlin's job is in jeopardy, Why any Giant would talk to a social pariah like Barber may be the bigger mystery.

The undefeated Bears strength is passing, while the Giants pass defense is the fourth best in the NFL. Their run defense ranks 26th, but Chicago's run attack is the third worst in the league.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning is the key player this game. He leads the ninth best pass attack against the 28th best pass defense. Chicago has the best run defense in the NFL, so Manning will need to be on his game.

Giants 27 Bears 24




New England Patriots @ Miami Dolphins

A stout divisional battle. New England's defense has been mediocre at best so far. With newly acquired Dolphins receiver Brandon Marshall breaking out last week, the Pats 25th ranked passing defense will have their hands full.

Miami's defense has been pretty average so far, giving the seventh ranked New England offense hope.

It may come down to who runs the ball best.

Dolphins 24 Patriots 23




Record 27 - 19



Power Rankings

1. Steelers
2. Saints
3. Packers
4. Patriots
5. Bengals
6. Bears
7. Ravens
8. Jets
9. Texans
10. Colts
11. Titans
12. Chargers
13. Falcons
14. Eagles
15. Dolphins
16. Cowboys
17. Chiefs
18. Broncos
19. Giants
20. Vikings
21. Buccaneers
22. Cardinals
23. Seahawks
24. Redskins
25. Raiders
26. Jaguars
27. 49ers
28. Lions
29. Browns
30. Bills
31. Rams
32. Panthers

BOO! Why Donovan McNabb Will Cause Philadelphia Embarrassment

He was booed the moment he was drafted by Eagles fans, who wanted running back Ricky Williams. Williams also happened to be a minor league outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies at the time, playing four years of Class A ball.

As the second overall pick of the 1999 draft, he trails only Champ Bailey and Torry Holt in Pro Bowl appearances from that draft. Five quarterbacks were selected in the first 12 picks, and he is the only one still in the league.

The least intercepted quarterback ever, per pass attempt ratio, he is one of only six quarterbacks to have 25,000 passing yards and 3,000 rushing yards in a career. He currently has the second best touchdown to interception ratio ever, and owns the third best winning percentage of active quarterbacks.

Besides holding the NFL record for consecutive completions in a game, he holds the Eagles franchise records in wins, passing yards, passing attempts, completions, and touchdowns, along with team single-season records in passing yards and completions.

Not only did he lead Philadelphia to a franchise best five NFC Championship games, he threw for 357 yards on 30 completions for three scores during the Eagles 24 - 21 loss in Super Bowl XXXIX despite being ill. Though McNabb denies the illness, eschewing people seeking excuses for him, it is the third most passing yards and completions in Super Bowl history.

It seemed he put the team on his shoulders every year, leading them beyond expectations. He never had a power running game, so he often had to throw the ball in short yardage situations. Despite all of his successes, he was booed quite often.

Philadelphia is a tough town to play in. Ask Mike Schmidt, perhaps the greatest third baseman in National League history. He spent many games with the Phillies being booed. Julius Erving played in front of sparse crowds while building a legend to where he is known as "Dr. J". McNabb being booed is more on par than aberration.

Now he is a member of the Washington Redskins, something he did not ask to be. He was traded a few months ago , not long after stating he wished to retire as an Eagle. He leads his new team onto his old stomping grounds this Sunday, and the question is what to expect.

The Redskins have been a rival of the Eagles since 1934. Though the Redskins lead the series 77 - 68 - 6, and well as having two more championship wins and having defeated Philadelphia in their only playoff game, the two franchises actually mirror themselves in a few ways.

Both saw success in the 1940's, then swooned for years. Though the Eagles won the 1960 championship, and the Redskins won three Super Bowls between 1982 to 1992, both teams have spent most years on the outside looking in when the leagues championships were decided.

To make things more intense, the Eagles and Redskins have played in the same division since 1933 along with the New York Giants. Gallons of blood has been spilled over the decades between players and fans of each franchise when they faced off.

While Eagles fans possibly may not lustily boo McNabb Sunday, they will hiss at the uniform he is wearing. While the media poses the question as to much of the booing will be directed at McNabb himself, there may be a few signs ignoring the rivalry and thanking the quarterback for being a legend for their team.

The thought that McNabb wants to prove Reid wrong for trading him is certainly feasible, but the Redskins defense will have to face a reinvigorated Michael Vick. Vick leads the NFL in yards per rushing attempt and is completing a career best 60.7 percent of his passes. Philadelphia has also rallied around him in his return to NFL relevancy.

Win or lose, Eagles fans will still go home with the memories McNabb made wearing their jersey. How they choose to honor and cherish those memories will certainly be shown Sunday in front of the rest of the world.

The Overrated Tim Tebow Workout Needs To Get Florida University Put On Probation

Jon Gruden does not work for free. Ask ESPN , who seems to have anointed their next Brett Farve to shove down our throats on a continuous loop.

Tim Tebow is still legally a college football player?

How did Tebow afford to have Gruden prepare him for Florida Universirty's Pro Day?

You know Gruden did not take an I.O.U. from Tebow for "services rendered".

Who paid for Gruden? How about the Gator boosters? It seems pretty obvious someone other than Tebow footed the Gruden bill?

Will it be investigated? Most likely not. You won't hear a whimper of this discussed by ESPN's "journalists", but you better believe they might if Gruden worked for FOX Sports.

The NCAA Committee is as dirty as the workout that was perpetrated yesterday. Payola, or "hush money", was fed to all the proper pockets so everyone will blindly accept things "as is".

What did we learn from the workout? That Tebow still has no arm, and should think about throwing the ball with his right hand over his left.Even in the current rules that caters to quarterbacks and makes the NFL's chosen divas jobs much easier year to year.

As he got tired, the ball lollipopped more and more. The accuracy waned. ESPN valiantly tried to keep their cameras on him instead of the ball, except for a few of his earlier passes on the most simple of routes. The verdict stayed the same ultimately, despite Gruden's "unbiased" ESPN report that Tebow was a future starter. The guy is no more than a project.

What we really learned is dirty money is flowing in the Sunshine State. Now we truly see why Florida gets all the top recruits and will continue to do so. Kids will see that the school will pay for top experts to teach them to be better players without any expense to them. The Gator's will foot the bill, along with the usual housing, clothing, vehicle, female companionship bills they typically take care of for all of their players.

Florida University has blatantly officially taken football recruiting to another level, and the NCAA will gladly follow blindly with stuff wallets continuously fed by the boosters of the school.

ESPN's faux pas journalism will continue to shove your next hero down your throats as long as you tune in. Favre's name is mentioned every 20 minutes on all channels because of legal obligation. It reeks of reminiscence of the "Devil And Daniel Webster".

Now that Brett finally appears to have one last year to wear slovenly on America's conscious, they have the next Golden Boy in waiting. So confident they are in their investment, they sent "Chucky" to teach the kid to look the part of NFL QB.

Part of this madness might be because of draft day. Tebow has to be the first third round prospect ever to be invited to sit in the green room during the draft. If you were utterly sickened by having to watch a constant close up of the crying Brady Quinn for 22 rounds in 2007, get ready to puke at 70+ rounds of watching Tebow wait for the call on April 22nd.

ESPN is ready. Are you? They have plenty of tape from his days in college on the projector to get ready to shove down your consciousnesses as the already written scripts are ready for their "experts" to lament for several hours as to why he hasn't been drafted yet.

Any team that drafts him before the third round needs their heads examined because Tebow is quite simply a poor man's Bobby Douglass.

Unlike Tebow, Douglass had a good, strong arm. Like Tebow, Douglass was a left-hander with accuracy issues his entire career.

Bobby Douglass spent nine years in the NFL between 1969 - 1978, and was a full time starter in two seasons. His best season was in 1972 with the Chicago Bears, and it is not remembered because of his arm. He ran for an then-NFL record 968 yards that year on 141 carries, leading the NFL with a 6.9 yards per carry average. He ran the ball in for eight scores, while tossing a career best nine more scores against 12 interceptions.

Ultimately, he threw 36 touchdowns against 64 interceptions for his career. His yards rushing record for a quarterback was surpassed by 71 yards in 2006 by Michael Vick, though it took two extra games on the schedule to break it. Douglass was drafted in the second round, but you can bet the farm his Alma Mater Kansas University never paid for a coach to come in for six weeks to try to improve his draft stock.

If they had, the NCAA would have put them on probation because they have a set list on who can buy off their silence. Florida is on it, and Kansas never has been. In football. Basketball is a completely different story. Whomever makes them the most cash in each sport has the best chance to line the NCAA pockets and zip their lips with a nodding off acceptance.

If the NCAA or ESPN were legitimate entities, then Florida would thoroughly be investigated to see who bought Jon Gruden. ESPN would have their employee cooperate with the investigation, then break the story when the proper culprits are exposed.

But this will not happen, so just go to sleep and blindly accept the constantly shifting rules. It is exactly what is expected of you.



Did I Do Good ESPN?