Eagles Sit Out Supplemental Draft

The annual Supplemental Draft took place Thursday with just two players selected. The Philadelphia Eagles decided not to spend a future pick to take a player, but Baltimore and San Diego decided otherwise.

..Read more at Scout.com>>

McNabb Feeling Better

Rob Alberino and his Eagles Television Network crew are in Arizona filming quarterback Donovan McNabb's workouts. McNabb took a breather to give an update on his rehab and discuss the importance of building the team chemistry while in Arizona ...

Click here to check out photos from McNabb's training in Arizona.

1. The big question is, how are you feeling?

"I'm getting better. I think at this point it's hard to say because I'm pushing it to a point where it will prepare me for what we do in training camp. Obviously, you're trying to be smart with it still. At this point, again, you want to continue to strengthen. You want to take it slow, but in doing that you're working to prepare yourself for a good season."

..Read more at PhiladelphiaEagles.com>>

Eagles best run franchise in pro sports?

Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie claims that the Eagles are the "gold standard" of the NFL. Yesterday in an interview with Comcast Sportsnet Joe Buck declared that the Eagles were 'The best run franchise in the NFL'.

I was never a big fan of Buck's Football broadcast, but it is nice to see that he thinks so much of the Birds. I only wish that what he said could be true.

Until the Eagles win three Super bowls in four years, the New England Patriots are the best run team in the NFL.The Eagles have been run very well, but unless they actually break through, and win the Super Bowl, they can not even be considered for 'the best franchise in pro sports'.

Interior Trio Key To The Running Game

You read and heard me raving about the play of Jackson, Andrews and Herremans last year and there was good reason for it.

They were the big reasons the Eagles running game dominated down the stretch. Jamaal Jackson, Shawn Andrews and Todd Herremans won the battle with every group of defensive tackles and nose tackles which they battled with and paved the way for the Eagles to go to the playoffs. If you see a offensive team running the ball consistently and the backs always have the ability to cutback for yardage, the center and two guards are doing a great job.
..Read more at GCobb.com>>

Heavy Hitters

A cool video of the best hits from the 06-07 season from PE.com. The Sheldon Brown hit on Reggie Bush is classic.

Former Eagles all pro lineman 'Bucko' Kilroy died yesterday. I am too young to remember him play, but I have heard he was a mean dude on the football field.

The 07-08 Eagles Cheerleaders calender unveiling date has been announced. I am looking forward to watching the fashion show.

Westbrook is again getting his respect, as Tom Curran lists Brian as the 3rd most complete RB in the NFL. Here is the excerpt from his article:

3. Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles
Want him to run it? Westbrook will do that to the tune of 4.7 yards per attempt in his career and 1,217 last season. Want him to catch it? He did that 77 times for the Eagles last year. When deployed as a punt returner, he’s one of the league’s most dangerous (20 returns with a 15.3 average in 2003). Planning for Westbrook is a nightmare. It’s hard to find a scout team back to give your defense a good look at his style. He may not last long but he’s making an impact now.

Well in honor of this news, I am giving everybody a cool Brian Westbrook highlight video!

Darius signs with Oakland

Anybody who wanted the Eagles to pursue Donovin Darius, will be dissapointed to know that he has signed with the Oakland Raiders.

The Raiders bolstered their secondary by signing former Jacksonville Jaguars
safety Donovin Darius on Tuesday. Darius, 31, has played both free and
strong safety positions during his nine-year NFL career. He began as a free
safety in 1998 but switched to strong safety his second season. Darius,
6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, is a hard-hitting player who has averaged more than
100 tackles during his pro career.
..Read more at Contra Costa Times>>

It turns out Bethel Johnson was cut after all. KFFL is reporting that he signed with the Houston Texans.

Texans B. Johnson contract update - from www.KFFL.comTue, 10 Jul 2007
07:54:07 -0700
Updating previous items, Megan Manfull, of the Houston Chronicle, reports the Houston Texans signed free-agent WR Bethel Johnson (Eagles) to a
one-year deal worth $650,000.

This clears up any previous confusion people(me) may have had. So much for bringing him back later in training camp.

Training Camp kicks off July 27th. Here is the practice schedule.

Zach Tuiasosopo was released today. He was my favorite Tuiasosopo.

QB Rankings: Scouts Inc. gets it right

After reading the last NFL QB rankings from Sports Illustrated, I had to rip Peter King a new one, for having McNabb ranked so low. Scouts Inc. knows football, and they are on the ball with their ranking of McNabb being number five. I actually made my own rankings, and I have the same top six as Scouts Inc. Props to them for not forgetting how good Donovan really is. Here is their top five:

1. Indianapolis Colts
Peyton Manning continues to play at a level that most QBs can only dream about. He is a master at reading defenses, getting in and out of plays and is so well prepared, he can even adjust the blocking assignments up front before the snap. He makes better presnap decisions than any QB in the history of this league and his career completion rate is 64 percent. He has even improved his one weakness, mobility, over the past two years, and now does a good job of moving around and avoiding sacks. Backup Jim Sorgi has limited arm strength and lacks Manning's presnap creativity, but he's played pretty well in some mop-up situations and has an excellent feel for the Colts' offense. Veteran John Navarre is big and strong and will occupy the No. 3 spot, but with Manning being the most durable QB in the NFL, the Indianapolis backups don't get a lot of work.

2. New England Patriots
There is no better QB at accomplishing more with less than Tom Brady. In 2006, with a mediocre receiving corps, he threw 24 TD passes to 11 different receivers. He is the consummate leader and combines outstanding toughness with great physical skills. He has a better feel for pressure than any other QB in the league and has an uncanny ability to move around the pocket, beat the blitz and find the matchup he wants. With a better group of receivers in 2007, Brady should put up huge numbers. Backup Matt Cassel is a young guy with a lot of Brady-like qualities and the coaches have a lot of faith in him. Still, he hasn't started a game since high school, which is not a major concern as long as Brady continues to be Mr. Durable.

3. New Orleans Saints
In a short amount of time, Drew Brees has become the face of this organization and a favorite son to a city that needs a diversion. He may have the best touch and accuracy of any QB in the league and does a great job of spreading the ball around to all of his receivers. He does not have great arm strength, but he doesn't need it because the Saints' offense puts the emphasis on underneath routes. He is the unquestioned leader and has a calming presence that seems to filter through the entire team. Backup Jamie Martin has the confidence of his coaches, but he's probably not a long-term answer if he had to replace Brees. Still, he does know the system and could step in for a short run. Rookie Tyler Palko has the inside track for the No. 3 job, but this is clearly Brees' team.

4. Cincinnati Bengals
Carson Palmer rebounded from a devastating knee injury in 2005 to play all 16 games last season, throwing for 4,035 yards with a 62.3 completion percentage. He is big, strong, has a great arm and can be lethal running the no-huddle offense. He has worked hard this offseason to improve his mobility -- he was sacked 36 times last season -- and passing on rollouts. He did not play great at the end of the 2006 season and seemed to force the ball at times, but his weaknesses are fixable and he is poised to have a great year. Following Anthony Wright's signing with the Giants, the backup role goes to veteran Doug Johnson, who has a good feel for the offense and good overall skills. Rookie Jeff Rowe will fill the No. 3 spot and will be brought along slowly.

5. Philadelphia Eagles
Donovan McNabb is the heart and soul of this team, but now 31, he has lost significant playing time due to injuries over the past several seasons and durability is a big question. Still, he's big-play guy capable of putting up huge numbers in the Eagles' pass-oriented offense and his arm strength, accuracy, mobility and leadership remain top-notch. The No. 2 spot starts with A.J. Feeley, who has shown glimpses of promise in stops at Miami and San Diego and knows this system, but he may have to battle Kelly Holcomb, who was obtained in an offseason trade from Buffalo. Holcomb has average skills, but he's tough and competitive. Rookie Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia's top draft pick, will be brought along slowly as the QB of the future.
..Read the rest of the list at ESPN>>

Eagles Sign DT Lopez

After playing overseas in NFL Europa for three years, defensive tackle Mauricio Lopez will get his chance to prove that he can play in the NFL.

The Eagles signed the 27-year-old native of Mexico City on Monday. The 6-foot-1, 329-pound Lopez played for the Cologne Centurions this past season and recorded nine tackles (six solo) and one sack. He played for the Centurions in 2006 and appeared in one game for the Amsterdam Admirals in 2005.

Lopez was also a member of the Mexican National Team for three years. He played his college ball at Monterrey Tech in Mexico, where he helped lead his school to the 2000 and 2003 Borregos Championships.

Lopez is the easily the biggest defensive tackle on the roster, in terms of weight. Jeremy Clark, also a rookie free agent, is listed at 309 pounds, the second-biggest total on the team. Lopez will battle a mixture of veterans and young players for a spot on the 53-man roster.

The addition of the former NFL Europa player continues the overhaul at the defensive tackle spot. Since the end of last season, the Eagles traded away veteran Darwin Walker, released Sam Rayburn, signed Montae Reagor from Indianapolis and Ian Scott from Chicago and have added Clark and Lopez, both rookie free agents.
>>PhiladelphiaEagles.com

Run Defense is Key to Success

I think more than any other area, the Eagles run defense will decide how successful they are this year.

Here's an interesting article by Dave Spadaro of PhiladelphiaEagles.com about Jim Johnson and the Eagles run defense .

The Eagles will run the football well if they choose to do so. If they run it well they will destroy teams on the ground and in the air. McNabb has an outstanding group of young recievers, who I think will turn heads this year. I've got a lot of confidence in the Eagles offense. But the defense I'm not as sure about. They will destroy teams on 3rd down with their coverage and pass rush but they'll struggle if they can't stop the run, so I consider the run defense, the key to their season.

Jim doesn't plan on making any major changes when it comes to stopping the run. He's going to rely on bigger, better players doing a better job of executing their defensive assignments in order to stop opposing running games. Jim plans on rotating his defensive linemen and he'd better follow through with it. The run defense went into the tank when Johnson stopped rotating his smallish defensive line. If the Eagles defensive line unit gets tired, they'll get destroyed because they're undersized. Andy needs to look over Jim's shoulder and make sure he rotates that line each and every game.
..Read More at GCobb.com>>

Banjo Boy throws D-line under the bus

In a recent appearance on NFL Network's Total Access, former Eagles Dhani Jones blames the Eagles front four for the linebackers(his) poor play in 2006. Sounds like he is taking a page out of Trotter's book. The difference is Trotter is a three time pro-bowler, and has the right to speak.

I agree that the front four is clearly important, but could somebody tell this clown Dhani he almost never made a play in three seasons as an Eagle. This would include the 2004 Super Bowl team, that had Derrick Burgess, Corey Simon, Hollis Thomas, Jevon Kearse, Darwin Walker, and Sam Rayburn all playing at a high level.

When the clown actually made his one tackle a game, he would bust out the stupidest celebration ever, the air banjo. I know it is a flashy NFL these days, but players should try to act like they've been there before. All Dhani has ever done, is conduct orchestra's wear stupid bowties, play his "field guitar", and act like an NFL linebacker.

To view Banjo Boy video on Total Access, you must have Real Player.
>>Bow Tie Guy