Posts Tagged ‘Mike Vick’

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It’s official: QB Matt Barkley signs 4-year deal with the Eagles

Friday, June 14th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Signed, sealed, delivered: Matt Barkley signs his contract with the Eagles.
(Photo via Barkley’s Instagram account)

 

The Philadelphia Eagles have come to terms on a four-year agreement with QB Matt Barkley, the team announced on Thursday. Details of  Barkley’s contract are not yet known.

Barkley was the Eagles’ fourth-round  selection in the 2013 NFL Draft (98th overall pick). The 22-year old player was the all-time leading passer in both Pac-12 Conference and USC history. A four-year starter for the Trojans, Barkley finished his career with over 12,000 passing yards and became the only player in conference history to throw for over 100 touchdowns (116) in a career.

Barkley fell to the 4th-round in this year’s draft when, had he decided to go pro last year, he would likely have been a 1st-round pick. Chip Kelly and the Eagles believed in the USC player’s talent and believed that they obtained the quarterback for tremendous value when he fell to the fourth round. Since the selection, the topic of what Barkley’s presence means in the continued battle of supremacy between  Mike Vick and Nick Foles have been constant topics of Birds-related conversation.

Barkley’s signing means that 7 of the 8 of the team’s 2013 draft picks have contracts in place. 1st-round pick Lane Johnson is the last draft pick that remains to be signed.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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DeSean Jackson on knowing the Eagles’ starting QB before training camp: ‘The team wants to know, too’

Thursday, June 13th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Vick has made it clear in recent days that it would be his preference to have a  starter named before the start of training camp. And though perhaps it would have been best for him to keep this thought to himself, you can’t really blame him for feeling that way. Who wouldn’t want to have certainty about their job status heading into camp?

But Chip Kelly has made it clear that’s that’s not how he rolls. It’s too soon for him to make those decisions and they will not be made until he is ready. Sorry, Vick. It’s good to want things.

As it turns out, Vick isn’t the only one who would like to know the starting quarterback prior to the start of training camp. Teammate DeSean Jackson spoke to the issue during an appearance on the NFL Network on Tuesday night.

Jackson was careful not to say who he thought had the advantage in the competition, noting that both Vick and Nick Foles had similar amounts of reps with the first team at OTAs and minicamp. However, the wideout said that Vick isn’t the only one who would like to head into camp with a named starting QB.

“I have been hearing some things about Vick saying that he wants to know. At the same time, the team wants to know too. We need to go into training camp prepared and know who is going to be our starting quarterback. Whether it is Foles or Vick, I think they would both do a great job and we will be ready for the season.”

It’s a fair point, and again makes sense—of course things would be easier if there was a known starter at the beginning of camp. I’m sure it would be easier for Coach Kelly as well. It’s easy to speak of ideal scenarios, but that’s not what we have at the moment. The reality is that there are many unknowns for the Eagles this team, and part of the mental preparation of the game is learning to adapt to challenges.

Though it will be the overriding topic through the next several weeks leading up to training camp and throughout camp, we should settle in for the reality that, no matter how much we want it to happen early on, Kelly will name his starting quarterback when he is good and ready. And that may not be until well through the preseason.

But on the plus side, what else would we have to occupy our days until training camp if not talk of the very real quarterback competition with the Eagles?

To see the video of Jackson’s appearance on the NFL Network, where he also talked about—wait for it—Timmy Tebow, go here.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Chip Kelly has early praise for LB Mychal Kendricks, QB Matt Barkley in 3rd week of OTAs

Wednesday, May 29th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Eagles at work.
(Image via the Philadelphia Eagles’ Facebook page)

The third straight week of Eagles OTAs took place outside in Monday’s rain, and head coach Chip Kelly wasn’t apologetic.

Perhaps it’s not ideal for reporters, he joked, but this is real life.  Football is played outside and his players must be prepared to play in any kind of weather.

It’s more of Kelly’s desire to simulate real game experiences for his team.

Kelly unveiled another practice technique new to the NovaCare yesterday — one that a journalist described as using “fly swatters”.  Objects that meet that physical description were taped to the shoulders of assistants, a technique the coach used at Oregon.  Okay, but what on Earth for?

“It simulates a pass rush.  So when you’re in seven on seven, obviously, you’ve got to throw through the lane.  We made those at Oregon, and it gives us an opportunity.  It’s the exact height of a 6’4″ defensive lineman with his hands up.  You can’t throw over everybody, so you have to throw through throwing lanes. It’s the best way we can simulate that.”

Ahh.  Rather clever, that.

While continually stating that it’s too early to read anything into what transpires in practices, Kelly did take the opportunity to praise certain players when asked about them.  For instance, he is clearly high on second-year linebacker Mychal Kendricks’ abilities.

“I think Mychal’s an athletic, real physical linebacker, but I think his biggest attribute is his athleticism.  He’s a three‑down linebacker, he doesn’t have to come off the field on third down.  He excels in pass coverage, but he’s physical enough to play on first and second down.  He’s one of the more athletic linebackers in this league, so really excited about his future and what he can do.  He can do everything we’ve asked him to do.”

As has been the case previously, Kelly said it’s too early to read too much into which players are playing with the first team.  He stated that he and his coaching staff were just “rolling guys through” the different practice teams to see how they perform.

Mike Vick was back to taking reps with the first team after Nick Foles had an opportunity to do so last week, but it was Matt Barkley who garnered much of Kelly’s praise at Monday’s press conference.

“Matt’s done a great job.  He’s a real student of the game.  Had a great background to begin with.  Started every game in high school and in college, so his experience that he came in here with.  I don’t know if anybody’s done that, having that much experience coming in as a rookie.  Real student of the game, does a great job of grasping concepts and understanding what we’re trying to do and not just what the receivers are running for routes.  I think that’s kind of sometimes with the rookie, what routes are they running, and I’m going to throw the ball.  Matt does a great job understanding the overall concept that’s being run and then being able to kind of change…It’s not just he’s so much more gifted than anybody else.  It’s really how hard he works at the game.  Lot of fun to be around and lot of fun to coach. “

When asked specifically about Danny Watkins, Kelly revealed his approach to reviewing every player on this Philadelphia squad.

“No, I have no expectations of anybody.  When I got here on January 16th, it didn’t matter to me if you were a first round pick or an undrafted free agent.  It’s about putting the best team on the field.  Where they got picked in the past or those things, it was a clean slate with us coming in.”

No player can rely on his past successes or failures on this team.  It’s about how they perform now as they acclimate to a new system.

Other notes from Monday:

-LT Jason Peters was absent from practice for undisclosed reasons but Kelly stated that it was not injury related.

-Safety Kenny Phillips was also absent from Monday’s practice but was at the Complex in the training room.

-Kelly revealed that he’s not one to talk much about injuries, but said what has already been disclosed about TE James Casey: He should be ready for training camp this summer after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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A sensory experience: Speed, music and energy the new norms at Philadelphia Eagles practice

Tuesday, May 14th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The first Chip Kelly-led practice with the Philadelphia Eagles held under the watchful eye of the media is in the books, and

(Image via NFL.com)

the sentiment was unanimous: it didn’t disappointment.

It was a sensory experience.  The loud music and the playlists (featuring the likes of Duran Duran, Tupac, Flo Rida, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Dropkick Murphys, to name a few).  The speed at which plays were conducted, with only 10 seconds “down” time.  Where to look?  What to watch for?

The Daily News’ Les Bowen, like many in attendance,  went to where much ink already has been and will continue to focus in the next several months: the quarterbacks.

As far as the QBs went, there were no real surprises.  The read-option was brought out from the beginning and Mike Vick got the  most snaps with the first team, but only just – Nick Foles got almost the same amount.  Oh Chip, always keeping us guessing.  Then there is Dennis Dixon, brought to the team from the Ravens’ practice squad, who has the distinction of being the only quarterback in the league with experience under Chip Kelly from their days together at Oregon.  Not surprisingly, Dixon performed smoothly at practice, according to reports, familiar with the sign language being used on the sidelines.  Matt Barkley seems to be a quick learner, connecting with receivers when given the opportunity.  G.J. Kinney, the oft-forgotten fifth quarterback on the Eagles’ roster, was largely forgotten at this practice as well.

On defense, Trent Cole and Connor Barwin lined up as the first-team outside linebackers, while DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks were on the inside.  The other big area of curiosity, the secondary, didn’t provide much insight into how things may actually play out as offseason signing Cary Williams was absent from practice, having married over the weekend.  Curtis Marsh got a number of reps, presumably in Williams’ sted, along with Bradley Fletcher.  The starting safeties were Patrick Chung and Nate Allen.

Kelly was asked specifically about Dennis Kelly at right tackle, but he gave words of caution that can and should be used with anything read into practice this early on:

“It’s May 13th, so I would make that of it.  I don’t think we play the Washington Redskins until sometime in September.”

Sheil Kapadia put together an excellent timeline of what it was like inside practice on Birds 24/7.  You should definitely take a look.  One of many interesting tidbits from Kapadia:

“We begin to see the new play-call structure.  Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur stands on the sideline with a walkie-talkie and calls the play into the quarterback’s helmet.  But before each snap, every offensive player looks over to the sideline.  An offensive assistant plays the role of third-base coach and runs through a variety of hand signals that relay personnel grouping and formation.”

Exciting times in Eagles-land.  It’s only May 13 but ever so slowly, the pieces to the puzzle of what the Birds will look like in the 2013 season have begun to be assembled.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Get ready for a look inside Chip Kelly’s Philadelphia Eagles practice

Monday, May 13th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

(Image via GCobb.com)

Today is big day for the Philadelphia Eagles.  It will be the first time that Chip Kelly will lead a full-team practice via OTAs, and it’s the first opportunity media will have to observe first-hand what they’ve heard about.

The super-fast pace of practices.  The communications that will change the league, at least according to Brent Celek.

This comes right on the heels of this weekend’s three-day rookie minicamp.  Philadelphia’s youngest members will be tired after their crash course but will also be enlivened at the opportunity to now practice alongside their more seasoned teammates.

Two of the Birds’ drafted rookies will be absent, however — TE Zach Ertz and DB Jordan Poyer.  No, they don’t need a rest after the intense weekend.  They will be out of action until they graduate from college, adhering to an NFL rule that permits participation in only one minicamp until the completion of finals.  Ertz will graduate from Stanford on June 16, and Poyner from Oregon State on June 10.  Each will miss a total of seven practices between then and now.

Aside from Ertz and Poyer, the rest of the Eagles had better be well-rested  to compete in Kelly’s “track meet.”  In addition to the excitement of seeing the new normal for Eagles practice, much attention will be payed to how players are used in these practices, first and foremost in the quarterback competition.  How will reps be split between the five QBs currently on the Eagles roster, and how will former USC quarterback Matt Barkley perform in initial competition against Nick Foles and Mike Vick?  1st-round selection Lane Johnson lined up at right tackle over the weekend — will that remain the case, and what will that mean for the rest of the offensive line?  And who will line up in the first team defensive backfield for the Eagles, an area that remains a concern?

While the final answers to these questions won’t be revealed for some time, we’re getting closer.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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With the 4th pick in the 2013 draft, the Philadelphia Eagles select, OT Lane Johnson

Friday, April 26th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Lane Johnson has his moment on the NFL Draft stage with Commissioner Roger Goodell after being the 4th overall pick.
(Image via the Philadelphia Eagles Instagram)

Eagles fans, the wait is over.  There was no trading down — instead, when Oklahoma OT Lane Johnson was still available at number 4, the Philadelphia Eagles took him.

The 6’6, 303 lb tackle will be an integral part of the Eagles’ offense, helping to protect Mike Vick, who at this early stage will presumably be Philadelphia’s starting quarterback for the 2013 season.  Johnson is an extremely athletic player – he has played both sides of the o-line as well as played quarterback and tight end in his career.  Here is an excerpt from Johnson’s scouting report, via The National Football Post:

“With rare foot quickness he is able to slide out to the corner easily to stop speed rusher’s initial burst.  His ability to block with base helps him to slide easily side to side to adjust to quick pass rush moves at the contact point.  Although he does not punch aggressively in pass pro, he flashes the ability to get his hands on pass rusher quickly, can “get a good fit” and is able to lock-out and tie up pass rusher.”

Head coach Chip Kelly said that Johnson is one of the players the team had targeted and was extremely excited to add him to the Eagles.

“I know [Oklahoma head coach] Bob Stoops extremely well and I talked to Bob about [Lane Johnson] extensively last week.  He just remarked what a tough player he is and what a selfless player that he is; he’s moved positions.  He wants to play.  I think he is going to be a great addition to our team.  The game is won up front.  He’s another tough, physical guy and that’s what we were looking for.”

For his part, Johnson is thrilled to be heading to Philadelphia for many reasons, including the fact that his experience with Oklahoma’s up-tempo offense should fit in well with Kelly’s plans.

“I know that at Oregon, they ran a very fast-paced offense that was very similar to Oklahoma and I think I fit with what they need…I’m excited.  I think Coach Kelly brings a lot of energy and enthusiasm to the Eagles.  I know we’re all anticipating what’s going to happen and so am I.  I’m ready to get started and I’m very fortunate to be with the Eagles.”

Johnson also thinks that his style of play will be a good fit for Philly’s notoriously intense sports fans.

“I view myself as kind of an aggressive player on the field, but off the field I’m a down-to-earth guy.  I’m not arrogant at all.  I know Philly is a good blue-collar town that works its tail off and they’re very passionate about their sports, especially football.”

It’s a solid pick for the Birds.  After tackles Eric Fisher and Luke Joeckel went 1-2 to the Chiefs and Jaguars, respectively, and Oregon DE Dion Jordan, who was rumored to be of interest to Philadelphia, went third to the Dolphins, Philadelphia decided to stay put and get one of the top talents on the board, which was their strategy all along.

With the tattered o-line one of the biggest detriments to the Eagles’ efforts in 2012 and the unknown of if Jason Peters will truly be back to his former self going into 2013, picking one of the most talented players in a draft stacked with offensive line talent was a no-brainer for Philadelphia.  And, as offensive lineman typically experience less of a gap in performance from the college to the professional level than other positions, Johnson will hopefully make his presence well known on the Birds’ line for years to come.

Welcome to Philadelphia, Lane.

Here is some film of Johnson, the first draft selection of the Chip Kelly era for the Eagles.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Mike Vick Cancels Book Tour After Receiving Threats

Tuesday, March 12th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Mike Vick is and will probably always remain one of the most controversial figures in the public arena, not just in sports.  As such, it comes as no surprise that the release of his autobiography, Finally Free, and book tour  surrounding the work has garnered harsh criticism after his past involvement with dog fighting.  But after the NFL star received threats of violence via social media, Vick and Barnes and Noble bookstores announced that his schedule of signings in Atlanta, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have been canceled.

According to Worthy Publishing, the book’s publisher, they support Vick and his work about his life, including his time in prison for dog fighting and continuing the fight to rebuild his life and public image.  However, they don’t want to put innocent bystanders in harm’s way.

Said Byron Williamson, the publisher’s president,

“While we stand by Michael Vick‘s right to free speech and the retailers’ right to free commerce, we cannot knowingly put anyone in harm’s way, and therefore we must announce the cancellation of Mr. Vick’s book-signing appearances.  We’ve been assured these threats of violence, which have been reported to the police, are being taken very seriously by local authorities.”

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer,

The Facebook page promoting the event was filled with threatening and vulgar messages.

A spokesman for Vick stated the following:

“Michael Vick is committed to helping make his community a better place.  He is one of the most active players in the NFL in terms of community service.  It is a shame that a few extremists would threaten violence to try and prevent him from meeting fans and inspiring them to make positive choices.”

No matter what he does, Vick cannot erase the past and that fact is what continues to make Vick such a polarizing figure. For many, his part in harming dogs is simply unforgivable, regardless of any efforts post-prison to take ownership of his crimes and attempt to be a positive presence in his community.  True turnaround or publicity ploy?  This is the debate that will follow Mike Vick for the rest of his life.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Philadelphia Eagles Load Up on Quarterbacks

Wednesday, March 6th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles added yet another quarterback to their roster on Tuesday, bringing the grand total to five.  That list includes Mike Vick, Nick Foles, Trent Edwards, Dennis Dixon, and now G.J. Kinne.

Erm…who?

Kinne (6-2, 234), was signed to a two-year deal with the Birds.  Obviously, he’s not a big name.  But he has ties to some presently with the Eagles organization.  He played at Tulsa with wide receiver Damaris Johnson and was coached by the Birds’ offensive quality control coach Press Taylor.  So, there’s that.  During his three-year career at Tulsa (he transferred there after attending the University of Texas his freshman year), Kinne ranked second in the school’s history in passing yards (9,472), total offense (10,831 yards), and passing touchdowns (81).

In 2012 Kinne was an unsigned free agent of the New York Jets before being waived by the team in June.  After the NFL didn’t pan out for Kinne, he held a brief stint in the UFL with the Omaha Nighthawks and in the AFL with the San Antonio Talons.

Confused as to what Chip Kelly’s overall vision is for the Eagles’ quarterback position at this stage?  Join the club.  Options can be good, but this latest signing seems to cast the proverbial net as wide as possible.  And, of course, the signing of Kinne gets us no closer to having an idea of what Kelly has in mind for his first NFL offense.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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The Ron Jaworski Interview: Why Chip Kelly Will be a Success in the NFL and Why the Philadelphia Eagles Need Mike Vick

Monday, February 25th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

 

Former Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and ESPN NFL analyst Ron Jaworski is a man who needs no introduction in the City of Philadelphia. But alas, I’ll give it a try.

Jaws, as he is otherwise known, remains one of the most popular sports figures in Philly sports history.  His place in Eagles lore was solidified when he took the 1980 team to Super Bowl XV and was named NFL MVP that year.  He remains active in the area’s sports scene as president and part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul.

Jaworski is a popular fixture on ESPN due to his analysis and insights revealed through hours of film study as well as his affable personality, all of which contributed to Jaws’ role as a commentator on Monday Night Football for five seasons.

Jaws joined me as well as Roy Burton and Kris Domingo of the Broad Street Line podcast to talk Eagles quarterbacks, Chip Kelly, his famous nickname and its connection with the Philadelphia Sixers and an exciting announcement about the Philadelphia Soul.  You’ll also find out the new project that has Jaws feeling like a 31-year old again.

QUESTION:  The Philadelphia Eagles are in the midst of a lot of transition, with Chip Kelly being the first new head coach in 14 seasons. We’ve had a chance to hear from Kelly briefly, but obviously there are so many questions about what he’s planning to do. What qualities make you believe that he can succeed as a head coach in the NFL, and specifically with the Eagles?

Jaws:  First and foremost, Chip Kelly has tremendous football IQ. He understands the game, and he comes from an offensive persuasion. I think in today’s NFL it’s so important that you have your offense in place. It’s a quarterback’s game. The quarterback is the most important player on the team. He is the heartbeat of a football team. So that’s one situation that Chip Kelly is going to have to clear up for the short-term and the long-term as well.

But what I really like about Chip, and I’ve watched his offense at Oregon for a number of years broken down on tape, tried to figure out what he’s trying to do and it’s very difficult to do that. Even a guy like me who’s a football wonk that studies all the tape–this guy is brilliant. He understands how to beat defenses. And he brings tremendous energy.

I know he is of the offensive persuasion, he cares about quarterback, but what I love is the energy he brings into the room that he will bring to the football team. That’s something you just can’t fabricate. I mean, he loves football and I think quickly the people of Philadelphia will understand that.

QUESTION:  Speaking of quarterbacks, right now there are three in the mix for the Eagles—Mike Vick, of course, Nick Foles and recently Dennis Dixon. Who do you anticipate succeeding the most in Kelly’s spread offense?

Jaws: I don’t think there’s any doubt it’s going to be Michael Vick. In fact, as Chip Kelly was hired I quickly announced that Michael Vick would be the quarterback, much to the chagrin of many people in Philadelphia who felt it was time to move on from Michael Vick and move to Nick Foles, or now we have a Dennis Dixon in the mix or whoever they deem in the draft or via free agency to acquire. But I think when you look at Michael Vick, he has a skill set that fits what Chip Kelly wants to run.  Mobility. The one thing, if you look at the Oregon offense, it’s not about throwing the football. It’s about a quarterback with movement who can run. Michael Vick can do both.

In the NFL it starts with throwing the football first. Mike Vick is still an outstanding passer of the football. We know he can run the football. Yes, he may have lost a couple tenths of a second in his 40 time, he may have gotten beat up a little bit over the past couple years, but even with those things going against Michael Vick he’s still a guy who can give you the burst, give you the big play.  I think he’s the absolute perfect fit for a Chip Kelly offense.

Then you go to Dennis Dixon, a guy that played with Chip Kelly out of Oregon, understands his system, has been with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has been with the Baltimore Ravens. He understands what it takes to run this system.

Nick Foles is your prototypical NFL pocket passer. I don’t see his style fitting in to what Chip Kelly wants to do. That’s not to take anything away from Nick Foles because I think eventually he is going to be an outstanding NFL quarterback. But he’s not a guy who fits in the type of offense that Chip Kelly wants to run.

QUESTION:  What do you think went wrong with the team last year, specifically? Can we chalk it up to talent or a lack of effort or was there something else going on?

Jaws: When we talk about professional football I never use the term “lack of effort.” I think these are highly skilled professional athletes that are paid to do their very best no matter what the situation is. Now, maybe there were some situations where they lacked the intensity and enthusiasm that we like to see from teams that are contending for a Super Bowl, but I certainly don’t think the Eagles would fall into the category of a team that lacked effort. Andy Reid got the best out of his football team.

When you look at last season’s 4-12 record, you have to go back to two years ago when the team struggled at 4-8. I believe going 8-8 masked their deficiencies. They were not a good football team at 4-8, they got their season to 8-8, Andy Reid got another shot but it was clear to me that there were problems within the football team that they needed to make changes. Those changes were not made, consequently the team comes back, suffers some very serious injuries–there’s no question of that–the offensive line was decimated and yes you did lose Michael Vick, your starting quarterback, for a number of games. But I look at this Eagles team now, this downfall where they won only four games this year, eight the year before, 12-20 over the last two years. This started a couple years ago. So clearly, I think all of the changes were mandated by a 12-20 record so time to move in another direction, and they are.

QUESTION: Is it true that Sixers’ current head coach Doug Collins gave you the nickname Jaws?

Jaws: That is correct! Doug Collins was my next door neighbor when he was playing for the Sixers and I was playing for the Eagles and he came up with the nickname Jaws. Now, most people think it was because the movie “Jaws” was very popular in the early 80s, but Doug said every time he saw me my jaws were always flapping so he gave me the nickname Jaws and it has stuck ever since.

QUESTION:  We all know and admire your analysis on ESPN but you’re working on a new project that’s pretty close to home, as it’s about your health.  You found relief from arthritis pain with a product called Stopain. Did your time playing football exacerbate your pain? Tell us a little about how you found your way to the product.

Jaws: I’m a 61-year old guy who played professional football for 17 years and 25 years total playing the game so when you get to be 61 there are some bumps and bruises that act up every now and then. Like most guys my age we’re looking for something that will provide us with some immediate relief and I found that in Stopain.

Before I got involved in the company I actually tried the product for months. I wanted to be sure that it worked, that it did help stop pain, that it allowed me to play golf, it allowed me to move freely, that it deeply penetrated my joints. It allowed me to swing the golf club, walk the golf course for 18 holes. Stopain had a remarkable turnaround in my life as far as being athletic and wanting to move and doing all of the things that I have to do at this age.

QUESTION: You’re part-owner of the Philadelphia Soul. We heard that you had some news that you wanted to share about the Soul. Is there anything you’d like to tell us?

Jaws:  There are so many great things happening with the Philadelphia Soul right now. Our training camp opens on March 2. We open our season in Arizona, which will be a replay of the Arena Bowl championship of a year ago in New Orleans. Philadelphia unfortunately lost that game to Arizona but we have a tremendous football team. We are very, very excited about bringing a championship back to Philadelphia. In 2008 we won the Arena Bowl championship and we kind of felt that we remained the team that everybody looked up to. Of course, a few months later the Philadelphia Phillies won the World Series and we feel that we removed the jinx of William Penn in the City of Philadelphia.

We feel very strongly about what we’ve been able to bring in terms of competitive football and championship football to Philadelphia. I think one of the really cool things that our ownership group of the Philadelphia Soul—Marty Judge, myself, Craig Spencer, Cosmo DeNicola, Pete Ciarrochi–we’re taking arena football to China. You heard me correct. We are taking not National Football League to China, the Arena Football League under the direction of our ownership group of the Philadelphia Soul is going to China. We are the only organization in football that is going to be playing football in China this fall. It’s very, very exciting.

****

I know you’re sorry it’s over but I have good news for you—it actually isn’t. Be sure to catch the full interview tomorrow, Tuesday, February 26 at 6 pm via The Broad Street Line podcast for more from Jaws, including his thoughts on other quarterbacks around the league.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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Newsflash: Mike Vick’s Not Changing

Monday, February 18th, 2013

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

 

Mike Vick. Not changin’.
(Image via NJ.com)

The news that broke one week ago today – that Mike Vick had restructured his deal to extend his stay with the Philadelphia Eagles – was met by strong reaction by the team’s fans.  As usual when Vick is concerned, emotions fell on opposite sides of the spectrum.

Toss out Vick along with Andy Reid and the dishwater.  If we are truly in rebuilding mode, let’s start with something new.  Let’s see what we have in Nick Foles.

Conversely, there are those who blame Reid and Marty Morhinweg and their horrific play calling as well as a cobbled-together offensive line in Vick’s recent struggles with the Birds.  Philadelphia signed him because of what makes him dynamic, then wanted him to turn into something that he’s not.  Let Vick be Vick!  With a healthy o-line and more balance with the run game, Vick can help this team to succeed.

The debate will continue to rage this offseason among fans, but one thing we know about Vick – sooner or later he lets you know exactly where he stands.  In an interview on Saturday with 97.5 The Fanatic, Vick made clear that he likes who he is as a person and a player and has no intention of changing who he is.

“Well if you think about what I endured [last season] and how many hits I took, I stayed upright for seven games and took about 180 hits.  I am going to train the way I train, I’m not going to change anything.  I’m going to be who I am and I’m not going to change.  I think everybody just has to accept it.  I am going to put in all the hard work to be the best player I can be, but it’s not just about me.  It’s about team, it’s about unity, it’s about everybody playing together.  That’s the only way we’re  going to win.”

C’mon.  Regardless of which side of the issue you reside those comments can’t really surprise you, can they?

Part of the challenge facing Chip Kelly this offseason is making an honest assessment of what he has at quarterback inVick, Nick Foles, and Dennis Dixon.  What are truly their strengths and how can they be played up in Kelly’s offense?

We saw with Andy Reid’s time in Philadelphia with Vick that trying to turn the quarterback into a pure pocket passer simply will not work.  And what do you do about the risky decision making that so often leads Vick to injury?  If Kelly is to keep Vick and make him a starter (which remains to be seen), he has to accept him as he is – the good, the bad and the ugly.  Another great offseason of film study is not going to transform the polarizing player into something that he is not.

And therein lies the reason for concern among so many Eagles fans.

Want more Philly Sports Muse? You can find me on Twitter at @sports_muse and on Facebook.

 

Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

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