Archive for the ‘Brandyn Campbell’ Category

Eagles make it official: Todd Herremans released

Saturday, February 28th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

TH

In a move that was widely reported, the Philadelphia Eagles announced the release of offensive lineman Todd Herremans on Friday.

He helped protect Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick, and Nick Foles. He provided a consistent presence on the offensive line when the line was ravaged by injury. But the 32-year old veteran, who spent ten years on the Eagles, will no longer form the core of Philadelphia’s o-line.

In a statement, Chip Kelly said,

“Todd has been the ultimate professional during my two years in Philadelphia with him. He is a tough player and I wish him all of the best as he moves forward in his NFL career. I spoke to him earlier today and one of the things I told him was that by releasing him now, he will have a full opportunity to explore all of his options around the league.”

The move points to the business of the NFL – by cutting Herremans, the Eagles save $2.8 million in cap space. He had two years remaining on a five-year, $18 million extension he signed in March of 2012.

Herremans was a fourth-round pick for Philadelphia in 2005. He has played in 127 games with the Eagles, starting 124 at guard and tackle. Herremans and linebacker Trent Cole were the longest-tenured Eagles players.

It’s been a long time since we have seen a Herremans-less Eagles. He will be missed.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Nate Allen on arrest: ‘Having my name associated with something like this disgusts me’

Wednesday, February 18th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

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The assumption of innocence until guilt is proven is often overlooked in the court of public opinion. That is why Nate Allen is working hard to clear his name after his arrest in Fort Myers, Florida on Monday night.

Allen, who will soon become an unrestricted free agent, was detained by police in Fort Myers after being accused of exposing himself to a 16-year old girl. After the accuser’s story shifted a number of times, he was ultimately released.

Though no charges have been filed, Allen wants to do everything he can to distance himself from the serious accusation.

Allen told his hometown paper, the News-Press,

“The point I want to get across is it’s not even about football. Just having my name associated with something like this, and even that I’m sitting here talking about this disgusts me.”

Allen was not made aware of why he was held until after five hours in a cell, according to the News-Press.

To the Eagles defensive back, the whole situation is a dramatic downside to being a public person.

“The whole time I was sitting there in this holding cell, I’m thinking, ‘Football isn’t even worth all this. I don’t even like considering myself a celebrity. I hate how people idolize us. Because this is the type of stuff that comes with being idolized.”

Fort Myers police say that the investigation remains active in the case, though no charges have been filed.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Eagles issue statement over Riley Cooper calendar gaffe

Friday, February 13th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Whoops! The Eagles say that featuring a player known to have used the "n-word" for February was an innocent mistake.

Whoops! The Eagles say that featuring a player known to have used the “n-word” for February was an innocent mistake.

Awkward. Unfortunate. Embarrassing. Offensive. All describe the fact that Philadelphia Eagles WR Riley Cooper, who was recorded using the n-word at a concert almost two years ago, was the featured player for February in the team’s official calendar.

In case you’ve forgotten, February is also Black History Month.

Welp.

While it strangely took several days into the month for the anger to form, by Thursday it had reached a fever pitch. You know it’s deep when TMZ comes into the fray but that’s exactly what happened, with Eagles PR guy Brett Strohsacker telling the outlet,  “If anything, it was an honest mistake.”

In an unusual move for the notoriously tight-lipped team, the Eagles issued a statement on the matter.

“We do not oversee the production of the annual team calendar. We do not provide any input about the players who are featured or where those pictures appear in the calendar. The NFL licenses the production of that calendar to a third party and we do not have an opportunity to review the material.”

No proof of the calendar is shown to the teams in advance of production? That just begs for problems.  Just a guess, but methinks that will be an added part of the process moving forward.

With hire of Marynowitz, Eagles seek to repair front office rift

Saturday, January 31st, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

With the hire of Ed Marynowitz, Chip Kelly got his man.

With the hire of Ed Marynowitz, Chip Kelly got his man.

Chip Kelly got his man. On Thursday, the Philadelphia Eagles named Ed Marynowitz as vice president of player personnel.

Marynowitz has been with the team since 2012, when he worked  as the team’s assistant director of pro scouting. He  was promoted one year later to assistant director of player personnel. During his overlapping tenure with Marynowitz, Kelly became acquainted with the new VP’s skill set – and liked what he saw.

Via the team’s press release about the news, Kelly said,

“Ed is someone who has really impressed me going back to my interview process with the Eagles two years ago. He’s very bright, detailed, organized and his vision was aligned with what we want to accomplish. I spoke with a lot of people outside of our organization over the past few weeks and in the end, Ed was the most impressive.”

“I can’t tell you how well thought of Ed is in the scouting business. What many people in the football community told me matched exactly what I thought of him from Day One.”

Can the move help to repair what was viewed by all accounts as a toxic situation in the Eagles front office due to owner Jeffrey Lurie’s relationship with former GM Howie Roseman? Former team scout Louis Riddick, now with ESPN, was no holds-barred in a radio interview on Friday when speaking of Roseman, the Eagles front office, and the Marynowitz hire.

“He has been a constant there through a lot of the change,” Riddick said of Roseman. “It’s no secret. I don’t think him and I will be sharing any Christmas cards anytime soon. Ed Marynowitz is in there now. He’s a quality dude. He comes from a great, great football background as far as the people he’s been around.”

“Chip Kelly is someone who I have admired from afar. I’ve been able to talk to people who really know him, know what he thinks, knows what he believes in. If him and Ed can get on the same page, I think it could be a great, great thing … I know Ed. I worked with Ed for a year. I know what he thinks.”

Marynowitz’ hire is the result of the release of Tom Gamble and the ensuing power struggle between Kelly and Roseman for ultimate supremacy.  All eyes will be on the team to see if the move will help Kelly and the Eagles to better evaluate talent and, ultimately, get the Eagles closer to a playoff win and a run at the game we will all be watching tomorrow.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Jeremy Maclin pulls out of Pro Bowl

Tuesday, January 20th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Pro Bowl shuffle continues.

The Philadelphia Eagles’ Pro Bowl shuffle continues.

Last week, RB LeSean McCoy pulled out of the game due to a minor knee injury. Soon thereafter, it was announced that long snapper Jon Dorenbos and WR Jeremy Maclin were added to the Pro Bowl roster and would soon be making the trip to Arizona. Maclin was to replace the Broncos’ Demaryius Thomas; Dorenbos was selected as a need player by Pro Bowl coach Jason Garrett.

But now, that has changed.

Maclin has opted out of his Pro Bowl spot “for personal reasons,” according to CSNPhilly. One of the major snubs on the roster initially, the wideout was finally named to the roster after a career season.

Lions WR Golden Tate will replace Maclin.

After finishing the season with a 10-6 record, Philadelphia had nine players named to football’s all-star game. Jason Peters, Jason Kelce, LeSean McCoy, Darren Sproles and Connor Barwin were all named to the initial roster. Cody Parkey, Evan Mathis, Dorenbos and Maclin were alternates.

After suffering an ACL injury and missing all of 2013, Maclin cut a one-year deal with the Eagles to prove that he was truly back to form. He did exactly that. Now, Maclin is an impending free agent looking to negotiate his first contract since his rookie deal. While I’m sure the Pro Bowl recognition is appreciated, it’s not worth the risk of sustaining injury.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

With front office moves, Philadelphia Eagles ride or die with Chip Kelly

Tuesday, January 6th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

New York Giants v Philadelphia EaglesIt has been several days since the Philadelphia Eagles’ front office turmoil ended with a restructuring that resulted in the promotions of former general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Chip Kelly. Does the move look as good now as it may have appeared then?

In truth, we know that the change from GM to Executive Vice President of Football Operations was a promotion in name (and salary) only for Roseman. He went from having a direct hand in evaluating and acquiring talent for the Eagles, to now managing the team’s contracts, medical staff and equipment. Important work, but a demotion nonetheless.

Kelly was the true winner of the situation. As announced on January 2, he now heads the player personnel department and will hand-pick an executive to replace the ousted Tom Gamble, whose departure lead to last week’s power struggle at the NovaCare. If having the ultimate say in who was on the roster was his goal, Kelly has more than achieved that aim.

For his part, Kelly proved that, for now, he is the top man in Philadelphia.  What Chip wants, Chip gets. Since his inaugural season with the team ended with a 10-6 record and a trip to the playoffs, the motto “In Chip We Trust” has been a favorite line of fans. Team owner Jeffrey Lurie decided to give the sentiment a go when he awarded Kelly the win in the struggle for supremacy with Roseman.

Lurie didn’t have much other choice. Philadelphia has bought in completely to Kelly’s way of doing things, from the tempo of the offense to smoothies to changes in the team’s culture. Abandoning that after just two years due to a coach who was very unhappy with the Gamble firing was simply not an option.

For better or for worse, we will all now “ride or die” with Chip. We will not have to wonder who’s responsible for the Marcus Smiths on the roster. The buck stops with Kelly. Now, it’s all in his hands. And we are left to wonder if that is truly the best move for the team.

The Daily News’ Les Bowen sums up the high stakes of the move well:

“I think Chip Kelly is really, really smart, one of the sharpest people I’ve met in sports.

Eagles fans had better hope I’m right about that, because the restructuring the Eagles announced Friday, buried beneath layers of horrid ‘corporatespeak’, means their hopes and dreams are now totally riding on Kelly being not just a good coach but a transcendent, bronze-bust-in-Canton-level figure.”

Under Kelly, Philadelphia has gone 20-12 in two years, with a trip to the playoffs in 2013. It certainly is an impressive start. But even with two winning seasons, a number of issues were apparent with the team, from play calling down to the level of talent. Has Kelly shown in his short time in the NFL that he is ready to handle the power he now wields as head of the player personnel department? Regardless of how much you like Kelly, the answer is no.

It has been argued that the new structure is more in line with those of teams that have seen prolonged success in the NFL, such as the New England Patriots. It’s clearly worked for them. Will it work with similar levels of success for the Eagles?

Philadelphia made it clear in 2013 that they wanted Chip Kelly, and in the opening days of 2015 Lurie reaffirmed that commitment. Without great risk, there can be no great reward. The Eagles have long been in search of the great reward that is the Lombardi trophy. As the offseason continues to unfold and the team acquires draft picks and free agents, we will begin to see if clear steps are made towards that faith paying off.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles uninspired, undisciplined in critical loss to Washington Redskins

Saturday, December 20th, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

(Sanchez Inaction Figure, via @RobTornoe of the Inquirer)

(Sanchez Inaction Figure, via @RobTornoe of the Inquirer)

There are few times when I am rendered speechless, but the Philadelphia Eagles’ 27-24 loss to the lowly Washington Redskins – with absolutely everything on the line – has left me as such. As RG3 , DeSean Jackson and Jay Gruden yuk it up, celebrate the win and agree to let bygones be bygones, Philadelphia has some serious soul-searching to do. The lack of discipline has cost the team its third-straight game and revealed an uncomfortable reality: this is not a very good team. While we shake our heads at the frustration of being Philadelphia sports fans, this is a team that is very lucky to have a winning record. But, the luck seems to have finally worn out.

But don’t cry for the Eagles. They’ve done this entirely to themselves. Perhaps the Cowboys will lose to the Colts tomorrow. But it likely won’t do much for the Birds. To win the NFC East now, Philadelphia needs for Dallas to then lose to the Redskins in their final game. Then, the Eagles need to win against the Giants. Say what you will about Eli Manning, but his passing attack can be potent. And he has a receiver that you may have heard a little something about – one Odell Beckham, Jr. Do you trust this secondary to diffuse that potentially deadly combination? Didn’t think so.

You know who is thrilled with his Sanchez inaction figure under the tree? Nick Foles. Controversy? What quarterback controversy? But while we make fun of Sanchez, this Eagles defense is a real problem. Billy Davis’ inability to react to the limitations of his secondary is an indictment of the coaching staff as well as the players.

My one-year old son kept walking up to the television and turning it off. While frustrating at first, it turns out that he wasn’t being bad. He was trying to spare his mother and father the pain and humiliation of a loss to Washington. The kid already knows what it’s like being an Eagles fan.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles face must-win against Washington Redskins to keep playoff hopes alive

Saturday, December 20th, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Eagles-vs-Redskins

The task for the Philadelphia Eagles this Saturday against the Washington Redskins is the same as it’s been all season: to win. But that goal now takes on an added edge of importance. It is what they must do in order to hold on to their already diminished odds of landing a playoff berth by taking the NFC East.

The Birds will step on FedEx field coming off of two humbling, back-to-back losses, first to the Seahawks and then to the Cowboys. Philadelphia’s season-long struggle with turnovers has proven to be too much to overcome against winning teams. A victory over the Cowboys in Week 15 would have given the Eagles’ ticket to their own destiny. Instead, they require help from other teams around the NFL to claim the top spot in their division.

So here we are. Fortunately, the Redskins are a team in complete meltdown, with coaches and quarterbacks battling each other rather than opponents. But that does not mean that this game is a given. Philadelphia has its own issues with lackluster performance from its quarterback, Mark Sanchez. The Birds can no longer overlook their mediocre secondary. The flaws of this 9-5 squad have been exposed and teams are taking advantage of that fact.

It’s conceivable that the Eagles will win their final two games and finish the season with an 11-5 record and still not make the playoffs. If that is the case, they have no one to blame but themselves. “Shame on us if that happens”, says Chip Kelly.

DeSean Jackson has a leg injury that has limited his production in recent weeks, but if he can find a way to light up his former team you know he’ll do it. But first, he’ll have to catch passes from an upright quarterback. Robert Griffin III has been sacked 23 times in his last four starts. His struggles with Jay Gruden’s offense are obvious, and they may serve to send the 3-11 team to 3-12. Washington’s running game shouldn’t prove to be much of a factor in this game, as Alfred Morris has yet to get 100 yards rushing against Philadelphia.

This week, we just need for Mark Sanchez to outplay RG3. That should be doable, right? With the playoffs on the line, the Eagles can ill afford to shoot themselves in their collective foot in what should be very winnable game against a divisional foe.

However, there is an added hurdle this weekend. Philadelphia can exhale if the Eagles defeat the Redskins, but only slightly. Sunday, all eyes will be on Dallas. Let the Cowboys’ ugly streak of home losses continue as they duel the Colts.  As much as the Eagles need this win today, they need that Dallas loss tomorrow.

But let’s focus on one thing at a time. Get that W today and head on home.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Philadelphia Eagles can’t hang on in loss to Dallas Cowboys

Monday, December 15th, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

RB

The Dallas Cowboys got out to a quick 21-0 lead over the Philadelphia Eagles, a nightmare beginning to the rematch of the NFC East rivals. The 24 unanswered points then scored by the Birds in the second and third quarters were a rousing flash of the team we saw on Thanksgiving Day. Then came the final collapse, where Philadelphia ultimately fell 38-27 to Dallas at the Linc.

We waited for Tony Romo to be Tony Romo in December, but it didn’t happen. Instead, he finished the game 22/31 for 265 yards and 3 TDs. No interceptions. Boo.

The Eagles’ secondary could not contain Dez Bryant, who had 114 yards and three touchdowns. A slew of penalties against Cary Williams added insult to injury. Once Philadelphia pulled ahead to  a 24-21 lead in the third quarter, they quickly let it vanish.  The Cowboys scored two TDs within 2 minutes and 51 seconds – a DeMarco Murray touchdown, followed by Mark Sanchez throwing an interception and giving the football to Dallas at the Philadelphia 42-yard line to start the fourth quarter, ultimately ending in a Bryant score.

Philadelphia running backs put in work – Chris Polk saw the endzone twice as his team was mounting its comeback, and Darren Sproles got one in late in the third quarter. And that was all she wrote for the Eagles offense this game.

A now 9-5 record has covered many issues on this Eagles team, which have been terribly exposed in each game against a winning opponent. A woeful secondary can only get you so far, and Mark Sanchez has shown himself to be who he truly is: Mark Sanchez. He finished the game 17/28 for 252 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions. The Eagles now lead the league with 34 turnovers, a distinction that has made all the difference against playoff-caliber teams.

What does the playoff picture now look for for the Birds? Philadelphia is now one game behind the dreaded Cowboys. Dallas controls its own destiny – if they win out, they win the division. For the Eagles to win the NFC East – far more likely option than getting a wild card berth – they need to win the final games on their schedule – road games against the Redskins and Giants. Philadelphia then needs for Dallas to lose one of its final two games – next week against the Colts, or the following week at Washington.

Philadelphia would also get the NFC East title if the Cowboys lost both of its final games and the Birds won both of theirs. That seems unlikely, given that the unsightly Redskins are one of their upcoming opponents.

Winning the division is still a possibility for the Birds, though they have made the situation far more difficult on themselves. But the question we all have to wonder at this stage is this: Even if this team gets a playoff berth, what have we seen that convinces us that they can do anything with it?

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Eying the enemy: Dallas defense looking for redemption in rematch with the Eagles

Saturday, December 13th, 2014

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

And it’s McCoy with the facepalm to the Dallas defense!  (Image via Marine Barracks Washington 8th & I on Flickr.)

And it’s McCoy with the facepalm to the Dallas defense!
(Image via Marine Barracks Washington 8th & I on Flickr.)

It’s the day before the big Dallas Cowboys-Philadelphia Eagles rematch, and it seems like a loong time until Sunday night. To get (more) riled up, I decided to work on my pre-holiday diet and scour the stories of the Dallas media in advance of the huge primetime meeting.

There was an absence of the trash talk that led up to the first meeting this season between the teams, presumably  because both sides need to get rather convincing recent butt-whoppings out of their systems.

Former Cowboys DT Chad Hennings had a lot to say about the Eagles and its fans, from an interview published Friday:

“As players, you always want to be complimentary of your opponent, unless it was the Eagles. That’s the one team I think that gets in my craw more than any others, from past experience. Well the fans, first and foremost. There’s just something about Philly. The City of Brotherly Love, it was the antithesis of that. It was total opposite. Their fans, on both sides, they’d be throwing snowballs, iceballs at their own cheerleaders. When we would get briefed coming in and out of the locker room at old Vet Stadium, ‘make sure you wear your helmet because you’re probably gonna get something thrown at you. That speaks volumes.”

In case you’re wondering, he did go on to mention how Philadelphia fans booed Santa Claus. Now that he’s off the field, he has time to sit around and make digs at the Eagles. Sounds awesome.

Jerry Jones weighed in (of course) on what he expects the Philadelphia game plan to be: The exact same as it was on Thanksgiving Day:

“Why wouldn’t you, if you’re Philadelphia, play just exactly like you played us before? They kicked our butt.”

And why wouldn’t you, if you’re Philadelphia, expect that if you play the exact same game plan, the outcome won’t be nearly as favorable as it was on Thanksgiving? Let’s show just a little respect for Chip Kelly there, Jerry.

The Cowboys defensive line is coming into the Linc looking for redemption after being completely and thoroughly humiliated by the Eagles last month, and on a holiday, no less. Corner Orlando Scandrick called it “one of the worst games we’ve played in the Jason Garrett era.”

DE Jeremy Mincey did not enjoy other men having their way with him and the rest of the Dallas defense:

“We definitely got a chip [on our shoulders]. They had their way with us. No man on this roster likes that. We know we didn’t play up to our potential. We didn’t do what we were supposed to do.”

And, DT Tyrone Crawford weighed in on what the Cowboys D sees as a battle for their redemption:

“We are definitely going to go out there and show them and everybody else who has doubts about our defense that that wasn’t our defense the last game. We are going to play how we like to play and how we do. Hopefully, it’s a different outcome.”
Don’t bank on it, Tyrone.