The day has finally arrived. The NFL draft starts tonight and finally, we will have answers. Eagles fans will find out how much more–or less–they understand the enigma that is Chip Kelly.
In the lead-up to the main event, there is an intense scramble of rumors and goings-on behind the scenes, as is always the case. Here’s a roundup of the latest rumors as they relate to Philadelphia:
The Mariota Madness will not end until he is drafted by one of the many teams in the league speculated to be after him. Chief among them are the Eagles, who reportedly are doing “all they can” to get him. –ProFootballTalk
In Mike Mayock’s lone mock draft, he has safety Damarious Randall headed to the Eagles, saying, “Randall is probably the fastest-rising prospect in this draft class. He has coverage skills and great range on the back end. This kid is today’s NFL safety; he has great range but you give up some physicality.” – NFL.com
Part of the draft mix is trade talk, and the Birds reportedly have Brandon Boykin and Mychal Kendricks on the trading block. – Inquirer
Oh yeah, those Kendricks rumors? The Eagles reportedly want a second-round pick for him. And teams aren’t the league aren’t having it, apparently. – CSNPhilly
Wondering what kind of wideouts Philadelphia plans to target? In this case size is much of what matters. – Daily News
An overview of the Eagles’ needs this draft. Shocker: there are many. – Inquirer
Wondering what the draft process is like for the families of soon-to-be NFL rookies? Some NFL moms, including Mama McNabb, talk about the big day. –NFL Player Engagement
Who will go first, Mariota or Jameis Winston? And who will be the better pro-quarterback? Fivethirtyeight answers the question by building a model, as they do. – fivethirtyeight
You excited yet? Get in the mood until the official start tonight with this clip from the movie Draft Day. Pretty sure that with this draft, real life will be even better than the movies.
After five months of talk and speculation, the 2015 NFL draft is almost here. The intrigue surrounding Chip Kelly and the Philadelphia Eagles is at record levels. Have his series of bold moves this offseason all been part of a brilliant master plan to snag Oregon QB Marcus Mariota? Will all be revealed (and make sense) come Thursday night?
The stakes are as high as they’ve ever been for the Birds. It is the first draft where Kelly will fully wield power. After a disastrous selection of Marcus Smith in the first round last year, the Eagles have got to make a pick able to make a positive impact on the field this season. No room for excuses.
We know that Philadelphia has a number of areas of need that it must fill, safety and wide receiver chief among them. And we know that Kelly will say, as we’ve always heard from the Eagles, that the draft is about taking the best player available, not about addressing needs.
But still…we must mock. Mock draft, that is. The mock drafts don’t even wait until the NFL season ends these days, and the mock madness is at fever pitch in these final days leading up to the draft. They are never close to the reality that unfolds during the draft, but they are still worthy of discussion.
Many experts like Alabama SS Landon Collins for the Eagles. In fact, three of the eight experts on NFL.com’s “Mock Draft Central” predict that he will be Philadelphia’s first round selection, with the 20th pick overall. In what is viewed as a weak safety class, Mike Mayock rates Collins as the second-best safety in the draft, behind Arizona State’s Damarious Randall.
But the Eagles themselves may be throwing shade at the prediction. When Eagles director of player personnel Ed Marynowitz spoke with the media last week, among a series of interesting comments he provided remarks on how he viewed Collins:
“He can do it, to a degree. I think all these guys have strengths and weaknesses. Landon has the potential to do that. Maybe not to the degree that some other guys do, but he certainly has the ability to do that.”
Certainly not a ringing endorsement.
ESPN draft experts Mel Kiper, Jr. and Todd McShay have the Eagles still addressing needs in the defensive backfield with their first-round pick, but at the cornerback position with the selection of Washington’s Marcus Peters. Of the pick, Kiper said:
“Marcus Peters, cornerback from Washington, is the pick at No. 20 for Philadelphia. Marcus Peters has an attitude and approach: physical. When you think about in press coverage there against [Jaelen] Strong. You think about a guy who can upgrade a secondary that desperately needs it, that defense. You can’t keep outscoring people. You need to start stopping people and containing people. […] He went up against some really good receivers in the PAC-12 and at the cornerback spot for Washington, he held up exceptionally well when he was challenged and put up to the test against those guys who are going to be in the NFL as high picks.”
If the Eagles went for a wideout with their top pick, names like Breshad Perriman from Central Florida and Phillip Dorsett from Miami have been mentioned as possibilities for the team. Mayock ranks Perriman as the fourth-best wideout of this year’s class, and doesn’t feature Dorsett in the top 5 of version 4.0 of his position rankings. Perriman’s elite combination of size, speed and explosiveness could be an enticing target for Kelly.
Dorsett is projected as a first or second rounder, with his average of 25 YPC getting teams’ attention. Does Kelly want to make his mark with his top pick in what is truly his first draft on a 5’10”, 185 lb receiver? I don’t see that happening.
Who do you want the Eagles to snag at the top? Hold on tight, ladies and gents, we’re going to get our answers soon.
Check out some Landon Collins highlights and decide if you think he’s the man for Birds:
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #687 SHOUTOUT to you DAVE CASPER…..((MLB)) winners include WHITE SOX(susp)…TIGERS…CUBS…MARLINS…RAYS…ORIOLES…PHILLIES…BREWERS…WHITE SOX…RANGERS(11)…ASTROS…TWINS(11)…PADRES…giants/rockies postponed…PIRATES…YANKEES……SUBWAY SERIES won by YANKEES (what else is new ??)…METS are going to be good (AFR surprise team)…ADRIAN BELTRE (rangers) sends pitcher GARRETT RICHARDS (angels) an invoice for three broken bats…..”cash only..no checks”…..ADAM WAINWRIGHT (cardinals) OUT FOR SEASON{ankle/achilles}….MAX SCHERZER (nationals) hurt batting too…says NL needs DH((((thats NATIONAL LEAGUE and DESIGNATED HITTER))))…..what do YOU think ?????……will discuss in THE SPORTS HOUSE RADIO SHOW with THE MAYOR tonight !!!!—-646-478-5337—-6pm—-WACKO BOB NETWORK—->…..((NBA))**PLAYOFFS** EAST—> WIZARDS 125(beal 23) RAPTORS 94(lowry 21)—washington wins series 4-0..CAVALIERS 101(james 27/10) CELTICS 93(sullinger 21/11)—cleveland wins series 4-0….HAWKS lead NETS 2-1….BULLS lead BUCKS 3-1…./WEST—>MAVERICKS 121(ellis 31) ROCKETS 109(harden 24)—HOU 3-1….CLIPPERS 114(paul 34) SPURS 105(leonard 26)—TIED 2-2….GRIZZLIES lead BLAZERS 3-0….WARRIORS win series over PELICANS 4-0….((NHL))**PLAYOFFS** EAST—> CANADIENS 2 SENATORS 0-CANADIENS win series 4-2….RED WINGS lead LIGHTNING 3-2….ISLANDERS/CAPITALS tied 3-3….RANGERS win series over PENGUINS 4-1…./WEST—>WILD 4 BLUES 1-WILD wins series 4-2….BLACKHAWKS win series over PREDATORS 4-2….FLAMES win series over CANUCKS 4-2….DUCKS over JETS 4-0…..((BOXING)) WLADIMIR KLITSCHKO (champ) defends HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE with unanimous decision over BRYANT JENNINGS (yawn)……SADAM ALI wins unanimous decision(dunno bout all that) over FRANCISCO SANTANA in WELTERWEIGHT bout…..((MLS)) NY RED BULLS 1 LA GALAXY 0….TORONTO FC 2 ORLANDO CITY SC 0….SEATTLE SOUNDERS 1 PORTLAND TIMBERS 0….((NASCAR)) KURT BUSCH wins SPRINT CUP SERIES at RICHMOND(((((toyota owners 400)))))…..kyle harvick…jimmie johnson…….MLB GAME of the day ASTROS(mchugh) v PADRES(shields)….NBA PLAYOFF game of the day HAWKS v NETS (east game 4)….NHL PLAYOFF game of the day ISLANDERS v CAPITALS(east game 7)……TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “ROCKIN IT”-FEARLESS FOUR……its MONDAY…..make it happen……the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!….AFR.
There are still five long months to endure until football is back, but hope arrived in the form of the Philadelphia Eagles 2015 schedule release on Tuesday evening.
The season starts for the Birds with the Monday Night Football opener on September 14 at Atlanta. The thrill of a new season continues to soar when the Eagles meet the Cowboys in Week 2 for the home opener at the Linc.
Philadelphia’s next meeting with a divisional foe comes on the road in Washington on October 4. The first game against the Giants comes on October 19 at home in another Monday night matchup. Philadelphia’s season will end against the Giants on January 4 at the Meadowlands.
Anticipation is on high for Chip Kelly’s third season with the Eagles, as evidenced by the fact that the team will be featured on national broadcasts no less than six times: Week 1 (at Atlanta) and Week 6 (vs. Giants) on Monday Night Football; Week 7 (at Carolina) and Week 9 (at Dallas) on Sunday Night Football; a Thanksgiving Day feast at the Lions in Week 12; and Week 16 (vs. Redskins) on the NFL Network.
The NFC East matchups will be filled with emotion, but a few other games also leap out as being heated battles. Namely, Week 13′s game against the Super Bowl winning (bleah) Patriots at New England. Immediately following is the Week 14 contest against the Bills at the Linc, or the return of Shady McCoy to his former home. It’s always good when it’s personal.
Fansided calls the Eagles 2015 schedule the 3rd toughest in the league. Philadelphia has their work cut out for them this year regardless of who they face, with a number of key pieces, especially at quarterback, that will need to step up and perform quickly. There remain many unknowns, but with the schedule release this week and the draft finally arrive next week, critical pieces of the puzzle have slowly started to fall in place.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #685 SHOUTOUT to you WILLIAM “REFRIGERATOR” PERRY…….((NFL)) schedule dropped last night and at first glance it seems there are a lot of interesting matchups in 2015…..STEELERS v PATRIOTS (sept 10…KICKOFF WEEKEND)…..LIONS v EAGLES…PANTHERS v COWBOYS….BEARS v PACKERS (nov 26)….THANKSGIVING)…..TITANS v BUCCANEERS (week 1…who dint see that one coming)….COWBOYS v EAGLES (week 2)….BILLS v EAGLES(week 14)….three LONDON games——–> JETS- DOLPHINS(oct 4)….BILLS-JAGUARS(oct 25)….LIONS-CHIEFS(nov 11)….first MONDAY NIGHT sees EAGLES v FALCONS / VIKINGS-NINERS….((MLB)) winners include NATIONALS….PHILLIES….CUBS….BLUE JAYS….YANKEES….METS….RED SOX….CLEVELAND….ROYALS….REDS….PADRES….RANGERS….ANGELS….ASTROS….GIANTS…..guess we wont be hearing too much from a certain group about YANKEES getting swept in DETROIT….oh well….that be life…..((NBA)) **PLAYOFFS** EAST—->CAVALIERS 99(james 30) CELTICS 91(thomas 22)—(clev leads 2-0)….WIZARDS 117(beal 28) RAPTORS 106(derozan/Williams 20)—(wash leads 2-0) ….ROCKETS 111(howard 28/12) MAVERICKS 99(ellis 24)—(hou leads 2-0)……..((NHL)) **PLAYOFFS** EAST—–> RED WINGS 1 LIGHTNING 0(det leads 2-1)….CAPITALS 2 ISLANDERS 1-ot (tied 2-2)…..WEST——> BLACKHAWKS 3 PREDATORS 2(chi leads 3-1)….FLAMES 3 CANUCKS 1(cal leads 3-1)…gonna make VEGAS wait till 2017 for their expansion bid….first league to have a professional team there….sheeeeeeesz…..AFTER FURTHER REVIEW 2.0 got busy of course ….wanna thank KIA and MR HOLLYWOOD for comin thru to chop it up with THE MAYOR…….and a BIG EXTRA STRENGTH SHOUT to all the callers and people that rock wit AFR….the lines are open and ummm..if you feel safe “typin” sports …then THATS WHATCHOO ARE !!!!!…….a sports typer….don’t FB about it….TALK about it………unless you umm…cant……..MLB GAME of the day CARDINALS(lackey) v NATIONALS(fister)……TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “”INTERNATIONAL ZONE COASTER” – LEADERS OF THE NEW SCHOOL……its HUMP DAY…..make it happen for yourself……the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!!…….AFR.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #684 SHOUTOUT to you DOYLE ALEXANDER….((MLB)) winners include YANKEES…BRAVES…TIGERS…METS…ORIOLES…PIRATES…NATIONALS…TWINS…ASTROS…ROYALS…PADRES …DIAMONDBACKS…DODGERS…MARINERS…CARDINALS…long streak (METS 8 ) wrong streak (BREWERS 5)…..((NBA)) ***PLAYOFFS*** CAVALIERS 113(irving 30) CELTICS 100(thomas 22/10a)—clev leads 1-0….HAWKS 99(korver 21) NETS 92(lopez 17/14)—atl leads 1-0….GRIZZLIES 100(udrih 20) BLAZERS 86(aldridge 32)—mem leads 1-0….CLIPPERS 107(paul 32) SPURS 92(leonard 18)—lac leads 1-0….WASHINGTON leads TORONTO 1-0…CHICAGO leads MILWAUKEE 1-0….GOLDEN STATE leads NEW ORLEANS 1-0….HOUSTON leads DALLAS 1-0…..like whats been seen so far….still think CLEVELAND is not a cinch to win title…….then what ????….((NHL)) ISLANDERS 2 CAPITALS 1–ot(NYI lead 2-1)….CANADIENS 2 SENATORS 1-ot(MON leads 2-1)…BLACKHAWKS 4 PREDATORS 2(CHI leads 2-1)…..FLAMES 4 CANUCKS 2(CAL leads 2-1)…..RANGERS/PENGUINS tied 1-1….BLUES/WILD tied 1-1…..DUCKS lead JETS 2-0…..TAMPA BAY/DETROIT tied 1-1……..((MLS)) NEW ENGLAND REVOLUTION 2 PHILADELPHIA UNION 1…..PORTLAND TIMBERS 1 NEW YORK FC 0….EAST———>NY RED BULLS…DC UNITED…NE REVOLUTION all tied 11pts……WEST———> VANCOUVER WHITECAPS 16 pts……yep we rock wit soccer too……((BOXING)) ANDRZEJ FONFARA tko JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ JR (it might be a “wrap a zoid” for that dude)…LUCAS MATTHYSSE majority decision over RUSLAN PROVODNIKOV (great fight !!!!….and you call yourself a sportshead !!!!….sheesh)…TERRENCE CRAWFORD(champ) 6th round KO THOMAS DULORME to win JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT TITLE ……MLB GAME of the day YANKEES(sabathia) v TIGERS(simon)…..NBA playoff GAME of the day BUCKS v BULLS (game 2 east conference)….NHL playoff GAME of the day RANGERS v PENGUINS…TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “REAL ESTATE” – CYPRESS HILL…..HAPPY EXTRA APPETITE DAY…..HAPPY SHOOOBIE “DOOBIE” DAY….HAPPY HAPPY DAY !!!!!!!…….keep the shorties warm and dry …..the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!
The Philadelphia Eagles are no strangers to the spotlight, particularly in an offseason that has seen the team rid itself of top-flight talent like LeSean McCoy, Jeremy Maclin and Nick Foles for the likes of the perennially injured Sam Bradford. Now the squad is about to sign Tim Tebow, a move that will ensure that the sports media (read: ESPN) camps out in Philadelphia until it is forced to tear itself away for the upcoming NFL draft.
Chip Kelly made news last month when he brought in the 27-year old Tebow for a workout, but left Philadelphia with no deal. According to Schefter,
“Before signing Tebow, the Eagles first wanted to try to trade backup quarterback Matt Barkley. But when the team could not get enough in return, it decided to bring in Tebow anyway so that he could be present for the team’s entire off-season program.”
Tebow will be reunited with former Jets teammate Mark Sanchez. He joins a crowded field of quarterbacks for the Eagles, which includes Sanchez, Bradford, Barkley and G.J. Kinne.
Tebow has been out of the league since August of 2013, when he was released by the Patriots. While in New England, he completed 11 of 30 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns and two interceptions in three preseason games. While some argue that all he does is win, Tebow has notoriously struggled with throwing in the NFL, with a career a 47.9 completion percentage. He has thrown 17 touchdowns to nine interceptions during his time in the league. The quarterback has worked with QB coach Tom House in an attempt to spur an NFL comeback, work that has impressed the Eagles.
The divisive quarterback will clearly have to compete for a spot on the team, but the move is another head-scratcher in an Eagles offseason filled with them. Kelly must have been impressed by what he saw from Tebow in March, but signing the quarterback brings a circus-like level of attention to a team that needs to keep its focus among a sea of changes. Media interest should not dictate football decisions, but this will be interesting, to put it mildly. Let’s see what Tebow’s got – and what Kelly’s got up his sleeve.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #683 SHOUTOUT to you TED “THE STORK” HENDRICKS…..((MLB)) TWINS 8 ROYALS 5….CARDINALS 4 BREWERS 0….NATIONALS 5 PHILLIES 2….RAYS 4 BLUE JAYS 2….METS 7 MARLINS 5….DIAMONDBACKS 7 GIANTS 5(12)…..KRIS BRYANT finally gets called up by CHICAGO CUBS…..see keeping him in minors a few more days gives organization more control…((no free agency until after 2021))….we will see if it makes a difference this summer !!!!!…..((NHL)) **PLAYOFFS** EAST–RANGERS 2 PENGUINS 1 (NY leads 1-0)….RED WINGS 3 LIGHTNING 2 (DETROIT leads 1-0)….WEST–WILD 4 BLUES 2 (MINNESOTA leads 1-0)….DUCKS 4 JETS 2 (ANAHEIM leads 1-0)……tonights GAME 2 stuff might be crazy in CANADIENS – SENATORS series…..yep PK SUBBAN (we talked about him on radio show) is a wanted man again for his hit(slash) on MARK STONE resulting in fractured hand for rookie….its about to get wild in that one…who is best goalie in this years playoffs ?????…..((NBA)) league will begin testing for HGH for 2015-16 season…players will be testee three times….twice during season once in off season….1st violation–20 games….2nd violation 45 games….3rd violation the dreaded “ban” from the league….whatever that means…..((WNBA)) ***2015 WNBA DRAFT*** 1.STORM-JEWELL LOYD(notre dame) 2.SHOCK-AMANDA ZAHUI B.(minnesota) 3.STORM-KALEENA MOSQUEDA-LEWIS(connecticut) 4.SUN-ELIZABETH WILLIAMS(duke) 5.SKY-CHEYENNE PARKER (middle tennesee state) 6.SILVERSTARS-DEARICA HAMBY(wake forest) 7.SPARKS-CRYSTAL BRADFORD(central michigan) 8.MYSTICS-ALLY MALLOT(dayton) 9.LIBERTY-BRITTANY BOYD(california) 10.DREAM-SAMANTHA LOGIC(iowa)………camp opens MAY 17….19th WNBA season tips JUNE 5…..its DOUBLEHEADER FRIDAY….NHL GAMEs of the day——> ISLANDERS v CAPITALS (game 2 east..metropolitan division) / CANADIENS v SENATORS (game 2 east..atlantic division)……MLB GAMEs of the day WHITE SOX (samardzija) v TIGERS (price) / PADRES (shields) v CUBS (hammel)…….TRUE SCHOOL JAMs of the day “SOLID” – ASHFORD & SIMPSON / “ON THE RUN” – JUNGLE BROTHERS…..its FRIDAY……make it happen for yourself…..the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!……AFR.
AFTER FURTHER REVIEW #681 SHOUTOUT to you ART MONK……((NBA)) BUCKS 96(ilyasova 21) NETS 73(lopez 12/10)….CELTICS 117(thomas 17) CAVALIERS 78(shumpert 15/10)….PISTONS 116(meeks 24) HORNETS 77(vonleh 16/12)….NUGGETS 122(faried 30) KINGS 111(casspi 22)….PACERS 116(miles 30/10) THUNDER 104(westbrook 54)….WIZARDS 108(wall 24) HAWKS 99(scott 19)….ROCKETS 121(harden 30) PELICANS 114(davis 27)….SPURS 107(duncan 22/10) SUNS 91(green 23)….MAVERICKS 120(chandler 20/10) LAKERS 106(clarkson 26)…..EAST three teams (CELTICS…NETS…PACERS) two spots……WEST two teams (PELICANS…THUNDER) one spot….NBA PLAYOFFS begin APRIL 18…will discuss tonight on THE SPORTS HOUSE (6pm…..TWBN…..646-478-5337)…..come thru and chop it up…..((NHL)) ****STANLEY CUP PLAYOFFS**** EAST div matchups—1.CANADIENS v 4.SENATORS….2.LIGHTNING v 3.RED WINGS….1.RANGERS v 4.PENGUINS….2.CAPITALS v 3.ISLANDERS / WEST div matchups—1.BLUES v 4.WILD….2.PREDATORS v BLACKHAWKS….1.DUCKS v JETS….2.CANUCKS v 3.FLAMES…….will be discussing on SPORTS HOUSE tonight….you know what to do…..unless YOU are “not into hockey”……LOLski !!!!!!!!!!!……((MLB)) NATIONALS 4 PHILLIES 3(10)….YANKEES 14 RED SOX 4….TIGERS 8 CLEVELAND 5…CARDINALS 7 REDS 5(11)….RAYS 8 MARLINS 5….BLUE JAYS 10 ORIOLES 7….METS 4 BRAVES 3….WHITE SOX 6 TWINS 2….PIRATES 10 BREWERS 2….ASTROS 6 RANGERS 4(14)….ROYALS 9 ANGELS 2….MARINERS 8 ATHLETICS 7(10)….PADRES 6 GIANTS 4….CUBS 6 ROCKIES 5….DODGERS 7 DIAMONDBACKS 4….SHOUTOUT to TIGERS ..ROYALS…for not lettin got of their egg-0 YET ((6-0))…..gonna pick first SPORTS HOUSE players to watch on tonights show !!!!!!……((GOLF)) JORDAN SPIETH wins MASTERS by going wire to wire …finishing (-18)….ELDRICK TIGER finished (-5)……do the math…..((BOXING)) DANNY GARCIA defeats LAMONT PETERSON by UNANIMOUS DECISION…((good fight…little too much showboatin’ for nothin))…..PETER QUILLIN(dinnt make weight !!!!) and ANDY LEE (champ) fought to a split draw….network TV is definitely making a strong comeback…….MLB GAME of the day REDS (leake) v CUBS (lester)…..NBA GAME of the day BULLS (48-32) v NETS (37-43)….TRUE SCHOOL JAM of the day “TALES OF THE DARKSIDE” – KINGS OF PRESSURE…..its monday…..make it happen …….the BALLISTICS have been kicked !!!!!!!……AFR.
The Philadelphia Eagles’ 2015 preseason opponents were announced on Thursday, getting us one small step closer to football season.
We don’t know the exact dates and times, but we know the opponents and where the games will take place. That’s all we really need right now. A morsel to whet the appetites of hearty fans.
The preseason will begin for the Birds with a home opener against the Indianapolis Colts (game held between August 13 – 17). Week 2 (Aug. 20 – 24) will see the Eagles face off against the Ravens in Philadelphia. In Week 3 (Aug. 27-31), the team hits the road to Green Bay for the all-important dress rehearsal for the season, and they will round out the preseason against the Jets in New Jersey (Sep. 3 – 4).
That’s a schedule stacked with playoff winners from last season (Colts, Ravens and Packers). It may just be the preseason, but at this stage any football is something to be excited about. Full details of the schedule will be released later in the offseason.
