Dawk: 'we'll be in the Super Bowl again'

No devastating injuries. No holdouts or contract gripes. No hesitations. No excuses.

That's a Super Bowl team. That's the Philadelphia Eagles. That's how Brian Dawkins sees it.

"Every year you go into it, some teams in the NFL have a realistic shot at going to the Super Bowl," the Eagles' all-world free safety said via cell phone earlier this week. "I believe we're one of those teams, as long as we stay healthy."

Just in case he didn't make himself clear, Dawkins repeated his stance.
"If everybody plays at a high level, we'll be in the Super Bowl again," he continued. "Our minds are to get back into the Super Bowl."
..read more at The News Journal>>

Bow Tie Guy off to Big Easy

Free agent linebacker Dhani Jones announced on NFL Network today that he has signed a free-agent contract with the New Orleans Saints.

Jones, working as a guest analyst on NFL Network's Total Access show, said he made the decision to sign with New Orleans in part because he developed a good relationship with Saints head coach Sean Payton when both were with the Giants from 2000 to 2002.

Jones, who played the last three seasons with the Eagles and the four before that with the Giants, was one of the few veteran free agents who hadn't yet found a home. Last year he played 16 games for the Eagles, starting 13.[Fanhouse]

Meet the Draft Picks

• Kevin Kolb- QB Houston (36) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• Victor Abiamiri- DE Notre Dame (57) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• Stewart Bradley- OLB Nebraska (87) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• Tony Hunt- RB Penn State (90) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• C.J. Gaddis- CB Celmson (159) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• Brent Celek- TE Cincinatti (162) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]


• Rashad Barksdale- CB Albany (201) [Draft Spotlight]


• Nate Ilaoa- RB Hawaii (236) [Draft Spotlight][Highlights]

Bills give up on Walker

According to ESPN.com's Len Pasquarelli, the Bills are ready to "throw in the towel" on negotiations with Walker, who is scheduled to head back to Philadelphia on August 5.

Buffalo officials are about ready to throw in the towel on negotiations with Darwin Walker, the veteran defensive tackle acquired in the trade that sent linebacker Takeo Spikes to the Philadelphia Eagles in March. According to the trade agreement, the Bills can return Walker to the Eagles, provided he doesn't report to camp by Aug. 5, and take a sixth-round draft pick in lieu of the tackle. Walker has no intention of reporting until he receives a long-term extension, and the two sides aren't close on the numbers. Walker has two years left on his Philadelphia contract, at base salaries of $1.3 million for 2007 and $1.4 million for 2008. The Bills have offered to nullify the 2008 portion of the contract, but that hasn't swayed Walker, a penetrating-type tackle the Bills could really use.

Looks like Walker is coming back. I doubt he will be any happier here, but I think they should try to keep him, and release Ian Scott. That would be in a perfect world of course, and we all know that this world is far from that.

Chicago could use a defensive tackle, since they have cut ties with the problematic Tank Johnson. The Bears know the Eagles would most likely release Darwin, but then he would have to clear waivers before the Bears could claim him. That is a risk, that a trade could avoid, and maybe the Eagles get another 5th round pick for Walker.

The worst case scenario, is if the Bills send him back to Philadelphia, and the Eagles end up releasing him. They would then lose a 6th round pick to Buffalo as compensation, and have to absorb a cap hit.

This is an intriguing story that has many possible outcomes. I will be sure to follow up with any more updates as soon as I hear them.

'Invincible' up for ESPY

A year ago, Vince Papale was able to go to the restroom at a sporting event unnoticed. Now, he can't reach the facilities without signing 10 autographs along the way.

"Here in Philadelphia, it's almost like a rock star," Papale said.

Or a movie star.

Papale, an Eagles receiver and special-teams player from 1976-1978, had a movie made about his life - Invincible - that was released last August.

Since then, Papale's story as a 30-year-old off-the-street rookie has gone from a Philadelphia success story to a national tale. And, after spending the last year traveling around the country delivering motivational speeches, he has become even busier now that Invincible was nominated for an ESPY award.
..more at philly.com>>

McNabb Training Like Rocky

..."The thing that helped in my regard was to have that confidence and trust in the leg, knowing it's pretty much fixed," he says. "Now I have to just strengthen the quad and calf muscles."

Phase 2 is under way now in Phoenix, where McNabb resides in the offseason. He is working out at MakePlays.com, a combination athletic performance and rehab center where McNabb has trained during the offseason since 2000. He also goes to two other facilities in Arizona — one to lift weights and develop his core strength, the other to work on flexibility.

Tim McClellan, the director of strength and conditioning at MakePlays.com, is helping McNabb bridge the gap between what he started in Philadelphia and what he hopes to be able to do at training camp. They are focusing on traditional exercises that emphasize strength training, stability, acceleration/deceleration and change of direction.

McClellan also incorporates some unusual drills. In one, McNabb wears a pair of Strobe Specs, glasses with lenses that open and close at varying speeds. This gives McNabb the sensation of "feeling" a pass rush without being able to see everything clearly. In another drill, McClellan tosses odd-shaped dog toys on the ground, and McNabb must catch them on the bounce. The toys have nubs that cause them to change direction abruptly, so McNabb is working on his hand-eye coordination. (Think of Rocky Balboa chasing chickens.)

..Read More at Sporting News>>

Holcomb to Minny?

QB Trade?

Tarvaris Jackson is going to be a very good player eventually in this league. But with only the underwhelming Brooks Bollinger behind him, don't be surprised if the Vikings go after a veteran quarterback for insurance.

Here's a name for you: Kelly Holcomb.

It's a situation that even intrigued Holcomb when we talked.

"You do think about situations like that," Holcomb said. "Every now and again, you hear some rumblings and rumors about that. I think it makes sense. Coach Childress was a coordinator in Philadelphia. It is the same offense. Obviously the Eagles just drafted Kevin (Kolb) to go with Donovan (McNabb) and AJ (Feeley). I love the guys in Philadelphia and love the professionalism and Andy Reid and the staff and I'd like to stay. But there is a logjam here and that situation you are describing, with the young talented quarterback in Minnesota, is one I've thought about."
...Fox Sports>>

This makes a lot of sense. Minnesota needs a QB bad, and The Eagles have too many quarterbacks. They might as well get something for Kelly. I am liking this connection with Brad Childress, hopefully we can just keep on making good trades with them.

Beautiful Day

Still one of the best videos ever. Chad Lewis had the game of his life. The O-line just dominated. The defense brought it too. Time to get another chance at the Super Bowl. See you in Arizona!

Bethel Johnson NOT cut?

The Eagles cut Bethel Johnson. Or did they?
As I was checking out the new look of the Eagles website, I noticed something very strange. Bethel Johnson's profile still appeared on the active roster. Many published reports have said that Johnson was released. I even reported the same news on this blog. So why would he still be on the home page? I thought it could have just been an error, since they are re-doing their entire site, but then after further investigation, I think people may have jumped the gun on this one.

According to the Eagles new re-designed website, Bethel Johnson is still on the active roster, he is listed as the first string kick returner on the depth chart, and there is no mention of him being axed on the transactions page.

Looks like those reports were premature. I wonder why this has not been clarified yet? You would think that the Eagles would have made an announcement by now? So who is right? The Eagles site, or the Trenton Times? Was I in a coma for a few days, and just missed that he really was not cut? Where is the Eagles Message Board when you need it? Looks like we will all have to wait until this afternoon to get that back.

Eagles Website Gets New Look

I joked last week about the fact that Eagles fans were going to lose their minds due to the official Eagles Message Board being taken offline for a week. It turns out, the boards were down -- and still are -- as part of a complete overhaul of the Philadelphia Eagles website.
...continue reading at Fanhouse>>