Well, it's time: E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES! - Page 2

Well, after I pulled the remote out of the TV screen....

First, Green Bay didn't win. The Eagles lost. They beat themselves. TWO PR fumbles? Losing the game despite the opposing team not scoring an offensive touchdown? Pathetic. The special teams coach should be fired on the spot. I'm deadly serious. That second fumble was straight up amateurish. Totally unacceptable.

I was much more upset during the game. Afterwards, I see it this way:

-McNabb had kind of a bad game. I'l give him the benefit of the doubt since it's his first back. He didn't really lose the game for them though. He just didn't play his best.

-Curtis look really good. He's going to be something.

-For the most part the defense played really well. They pretty much totally stopped the offense. Without the two special teams mistakes, the score would have 13-3 Eagles, probably higher since they would have had two more possessions. This really should have been a 24-3 game. It might well have been. No excuses though.

-The offense was out of sync. That happens, but this is supposed to be a super bowl team?


Overall, a REALLY disappointing loss that makes me question my predictions quite a bit. In the end this was the Packers, who only have the redeeming value of a decent defense. Their offense blows. So if the Eagles can't beat them, I don't know. Then again, in 2002 they started 0-2 and went to the NFC Championship.

I'll be at the home opener Monday. I'm sure I'll be a raving lunatic and will have forgotten about today's loss by then.

What I can't stand, and I know I've posted this before, is how the commentators are so UP NEW ENGLAND'S ASS. It's been like for years.

Point 2: One thing I forgot to my annual bitching about the one black referee who did the GB-PHI game (don't know his name). He is a BIASED PIECE OF SHIT. You can actually see him call against Philly with more enthusiasm. He puts a little delay in the call when calling against them....like this:

(signal) Pass interference.....OFFENSE! (penalty).

When calling against the other team (whomever...it's been going on for at least two years) he doesn't do that and calls the "offense/defense" part with less vigor. I've seen it at least a dozen times and I know I'm not imagining it.

So let me get this straight. You're accusing a ref of possibly being on the take, and yet I'm not objective? You sir, are full of horse shit.

I have been clear and candid about the Eagles loss. The loss was squarely on special teams and the tepid play of Donovan McNabb. I'm not making excuses. What exactly is your issue?

As for the ref, I have seen it for at least two years now. Before dismissing me, you should watch him. Do you even KNOW who I mean? I've never, ever felt this way about another ref, even if I think that ref is an ass. I noticed it last year and it continues, sometimes worse than others.

Well, bad calls happen. What can I say. I saw the one missed call at the SD-CHI game. The defense jumped offsides egregiously, it wasn't called, and it forced a fumble. Possession was awarded to the defense (CHI). Worst of all, "non calls" are not reviewable. Clearly that rule needs to be changed. "Non calls" should, in fact, be reviewable when the missed call results in a change of possession.


He does use that cadence, but it's almost always more excited when he calls against Philly. There is no way I could be imagining it over a two year period. I've watched it carefully.


I don't really know what all of that means. Could you point to some examples? I mean look, I'm a fan. I get pissed off and excited. I have been hard on Reid many times, and even McNabb. But I don't see why that makes me any different than you. I can still objectively look at the refs. You don't have to agree with my statement. In fact, I'm not even saying he makes calls against them wrongly...just that he clearly calls with more enthusiasm against them.


Dude, are you kidding me? Because I must tell you, that is a crock of shit request if I've ever seen one. I'm talking about MY perception of this referee over a few years time. You don't have to agree, and neither does anyone else. I don't need to go dig up a link for me to feel better about my perception. I am confident in it because I have eyes and ears.

Well, that much is clear. Why?

1. You took my statement utterly out of context.
2. You have 2 posts.
3. You're not adding anything meaningful to the discussion.

Funny, because I've talked to several people in person that agree with me. Whatever.

Now, on to a more serious note: The Patriots Cheating! Have you been following this?
Word is Bellichick may get suspended, the team will be fined, and they'll lose draft picks (multiple picks).

A decent opinion piece from sportsline:

http://www.sportsline.com/columns/story/10347994

Now, let me say I have never liked Bellichick. I really always thought the guy was a classless schmuck. The way he treated the media, other coaches and players was disgusting. He looks disheveled and doesn't take pride in his appearance. Anyone see how he pushed the camera guy and blew off Peyton Manning's overture at the end of the AFC Championship last year?

But putting that aside, I did respect his raw abilities as a coach. At this point though, I am wondering what everyone else is: How good were the Patriots the last 5 years or so. Did they deserve to win all those games, including the Super Bowl against the Eagles in 2004? Or at San Diego last year? Many, many Eagles fans felt that the PAts knew what was coming in the second half and were bewildered. I don't think anyone actually believed they were cheating though.

So..my thinking is this: Bellichick must be suspended for 8 games. The team should be fined at least $100,000 (I prefer $500,000) and lose their 1st, 2nd and 3rd round draft picks entirely...AND the money that goes with them (meaning they can't spend it elsewhere). It's severe, but what they've done is severe. They may very well be a fraudulent team in terms if championships. They may have cheated the Eagles and Rams out of Super Bowls. They probably did the same for the Chargers at the playoff game last year, which cost Marty Shottenheimer his goddamned job. And God only knows how many times they cheater the Colts. The amount of damage they have done the to league and it's fans is simply unreal.

And if it happens again? Bellichick gets kicked out the league. Period.

Well, the language was definitely heated, but why would you not go that far specifically?


I disagree. That's nowhere near severe enough. Allow me to repost a few sentences from my last post. See if it changes your mind:


Consider that. For me, that's a half season suspension, multiple top draft picks and a huge ass fine. Think about it: They may have cheated their way into winning the Super Bowl three times. It's not just those teams that suffered either. Think about the playoff teams they beat. Football is big business too...imagine the money Philly lost by not winning the Superbowl. Imagine the potential damage to revenue for the Chargers. And as I said...Shottenheimer might not have lost his job were it not for his first round loss. I mean...it just keeps getting worse the more one things about it. They hurt literally thousands of people, AND the image of the league.


I don't know as I believe that. I guess we'll never know, 'cause they're going to stop now!


Fuck the players association. In fact, the opinions I've heard state that if they lose picks, they lose the cap room with them. That's what should happen.


I didn't hear that, though I knew there had been proposals for radios in the defensive player's helmets for the purposes of play calling. It will almost certainly pass now, or so I'd think.

Not specifically, no. But it should be taken into consideration. I am actually pretty happy with the decision. The fine is huge...way more than I thought it would be. I still think he should have suspended for half the season. Goodell presented a false dilemma of the suspension not being as long lasting as the draft pick and the fine. But it really should have been all three.

Dude...that Philly/McNabb article is AWESOME. hahaha.

Dude...it was a BLATANT violation. They cheated. It's not anywhere near the same as sitting down with a clipboard and pencil. What's worse is they've been caught doing it before. You have to be kidding.

I think the decision is a good one, but I still think Belichick should have been suspended for 8 games. I want you to think abut it like this: A head coach in the NFL knowingly cheated.

Again, consider the damage:

• Possible fraudulent championships
  
• Possible fraudulent playoff wins
  
• Loss of confidence in league's integrity
  
• Impact to Patriot's ticket sales and/or merchandising
  
• Damage to Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, and St. Louis
  Rams. All three may have won without the Pats cheating.
  
• The loss of Marty Shottenheimer's JOB.
  
• Possible fraudulent win streak against Colts. Subsequent financial impacts.
  
• Inflating of Tom Brady's stats in QB rating, passing yards, interceptions, sacks, et al.
  

The list goes on. Worst of all, it's irreversible damage. So don't tell me a half season suspension of that sleaze bag would have been "over the top." He did it on purpose. Jesus.

Obviously I have been critical of him and called for him to go before. It's a very tough call. We've been to the NFC Championship game 4 years in a row, going to the Super Bowl once. We've been in the playoffs consistently.

That said, my problem with Reid has been three-fold:

1. He doesn't emotionally/mentally prepare and motivate the team. They often come out flat. Only the team seems to be able to turn itself around. In that same vein, we often notice a lack of urgency because Reid doesn't DEMAND it.

2. He makes poor, amateurish coaching decisions and mistakes at times...or at least lets them happen.

3. He doesn't show loyalty consistently. Take McNabb vs. Trotter. Trotter slows down a bit and he gets the boot despite being a morale leader. McNabb, Mr. Captain of the Ship (TM) makes rookie mistakes, but unquestionably stays on board (not that he should go...I'm just saying).

As for the loss and the team this year:

1. McNabb is not throwing well. His running is improving, but he's still not confident.
2. The defense has been soft. Missed tackles, lack of big plays, etc.
3. The offense has been soft. Where is that explosiveness we had? Consistency was always a problem, but now the big plays seen to be gone too.
4. Kickoff and return teams are a joke.
5. McNabb, with Reid, has created too much of a laid back atmosphere and thinks too much about his team and not enough about his own play. He's always talking about he needs to get the team back to such and such a point and how he is going to lead. Dude, just shut up and play. You'd play better and more success. And let's fact it Donny...you're not the head coach. Your job is to execute, which you are not doing. Lead more by example.

Also, I don't see any goal setting. One thing the oft criticized T.O. brought was that sentiment that "We won't be happy until we win the Super Bowl." I don't want to hear how "this is super bowl team" and "well it's a long season and were gonna go make some plays <insert dumb grin> and maybe this, maybe that...blah, blah. Set the goal and work like bitches until you reach it. I don't want to hear about how much "fun" football is. You all need to have your asses kicked a bit since my $200 tickets are paying your gazillion dollar salaries. Fuckers. Win or go home.

Dude...what a fucking game! Biggest point total for the Eagles since the 50s. 56-21. I just don't get this team. What was it, the uniforms? McNabb looked like his old self, Westbrook was great...the D played well against a hot offense. And, all this without Dawkins or Sheppard.

I guess we just wait and see at this point. This is the team I thought they had from the start. Time will tell.

Uh, the Lions were 2-0 and are NOT the team they were in the last....uh, 20 years. They are a decent team. Fine, they're not the Patriots. But they're decent. It was a quality win.