Posts Tagged ‘Philadelphia Eagles’

Say It Ain’t So: It’s Time for Tebow in Philadelphia

Monday, April 20th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Time to get your Tebow on, Eagles fans.

Time to get your Tebow on, Eagles fans.

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.

According to Jay Glazer of FOX Sports, the Eagles will sign Tebow on Monday. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that the QB will be signed to a one-year deal.

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.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

One small step towards football season: Eagles preseason opponents announced

Friday, April 10th, 2015

by Brandyn Campbell

Brandyn Blog

 

 

 

 

Eagles2015SeasonSchedule

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.

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Brandyn Campbell of Philly Sports Muse, for War Room Sports

Chip Kelly: Genius?…or Arrogant Dictator?

Wednesday, March 4th, 2015

by Robert Williams

Robert Williams Blog

 

 

 

 

(Image via WhartonMagazine.com)

(Image via WhartonMagazine.com)

The Philadelphia Eagles have cut their best pass rusher and now they have traded their best running back in team history. They are about to let their best wide receiver and second best pass rusher test the open market.  Eagles fans throughout the nation are completely in shock. There are two things that can come from these moves.

 

1.) Chip is building his team with his players. As a coach who has been in the league for two years, he has a feel for what he wants. He has assumed complete command of the front office. His director of player personnel was picked by him, who was the head recruiter for Alabama. Kelly intends to maintain the balance of power he once had when he was in college; which lead to the success of the Oregon college football program. He had success without successfully recruiting top players in the country. He believes in the motto ‘hard work beats talent if the players are willing to work hard’. The owner Jeffrey Lurie wouldn’t have given Kelly so much power if he didn’t trust him. He did the same thing with Andy Reid and that turned out well in the long run. With these moves he has freed up to $50 Million+ in cap room. The team can potentially sign more players in free agency to build around their dilapidating defense. Plus Nick Foles and Mychal Kendricks contract are up next year, so this is a great opportunity to build for the future. Those players were Andy Reid players and he simply wants to bring in his own players. Hopefully they’ll be more successful.

2.) Chip Kelly is not making conscious decisions. He hasn’t recognized the team chemistry these veterans have been building. LeSean McCoy and Trent Cole wanted to restructure their contracts for the team. Brandon Graham wants to stay here (if the price was right). He noted he still had some unfinished business with the team. Kelly needs to understand these are not only players, but irreplaceable. Trent Cole draws so many double-teams, it leaves one-on-one matchups for the other players to get sacks. We’ve seen this with Jason Babin and now Connor Barwin. Not that they are not great players in their own rights, but they wouldn’t be as effective without the presence of Trent Cole. The other Eagle that will be missed (if he is allowed to leave) will be Jeremy Maclin. He is coming off a career year in which he made the Pro Bowl and was a strong candidate for Comeback Player of the Year. His impact will be missed to a young inexperienced Wide Receiving corps. Brandon Graham is a rare player to find. He can play either as a 3-4 OLB pass rusher or a 4-3 defensive end. He proved this year he can be a three down player. He was supposed to be a replacement for Trent Cole, instead he will be allowed to test the market. LeSean McCoy has been the most productive running back since he has been drafted. He is also coming off of back-to-back Pro Bowls. It was hard for him to gain yards last season due to injuries to the offensive line and repetitious play calling. Chip Kelly ridding himself of all of these players is a dangerous move. These are not players that can be replaced in the draft and free agency; these are polished NFL players. Kelly has brought his Oregon players onto the team and they haven’t been productive at all.  It is looking like the Eagles are trying to tank this season like their brethren across the parking lot.  The team needs to make some key moves in Free Agency and in the NFL Draft the next two seasons. If Chip Kelly cannot develop a deep postseason team in three years, he will be known as the biggest goat in recent memory.

 

Robert Williams, for War Room Sports

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

Top 8 Reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles should NOT trade for Marcus Mariota

Saturday, February 21st, 2015

by Robert Williams

Robert Williams Blog

 

 

 

 

(Image via philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

(Image via philadelphia.cbslocal.com)

It will be an interesting 8 to 9 weeks till the NFL Draft. The Philadelphia Eagles have a new Director of Player Personnel and several new position coaches. They also have NO General Manager (at least not in title). We can expect the Eagles not to be too aggressive in this free agency period and pick up role players for cheaper prices. The release of James Casey could be a sign of picking up a fullback. Does that mean the team will switch to a traditional way of getting the ball across the goal line? The NFL Scouting Combine is happening, which some people call “The Underwear Olympics”; slave auction with a homogenized element to it. It is just another way to evaluate players.

 

Top 8 Reasons why the Philadelphia Eagles should NOT trade for Marcus Mariota:

 

1.)  They already have a QB; Nick Foles has established himself as the Philadelphia Eagles signal caller: He is 14-4 in his first 18 starts under Chip Kelly. He still has ways to go but I believe he can IMPROVE in time. Chip Kelly has to be more creative and less animated with his play calling. He needs to pound the ball to keep the defense honest. This takes pressure off of Foles and balances the attack on the defense.

 

2.) Chip Kelly had a Mariota “type” before and didn’t do well: Eagles fans forget about Michael Vick being the Eagles QB. He was 2-4 under Chip Kelly and had 5 turnovers in 6 games. The Eagles weren’t playing up to the standard of Chip Kelly. It wasn’t until Vick got injured and Foles took his place to lead the team to the playoffs. Plus Chip Kelly knows how to change his system to fit Nick Foles. It not only worked, it was better!

 

3.)  Nick Foles has the support of the locker room: LeSean McCoy and others have already voiced their opinions on a potential idiotic trade. LeSean McCoy called Foles “OUR LEADER”. Trading a player that the WHOLE team supports will put in doubt the decisions that Chip Kelly will make throughout his tenure.

 

4.)  Nick Foles balances out the madness of Chip Kelly: As people praise him as “offensive genius”, he still displayed some flaws in his strategy. The running game was non-existent in the first five games of the 2014 season; running virtually the same play, making the game awfully simplistic. Not including the passing situations in which Chip Kelly would call screens or obvious go to routes with Darren Sproles. Nick Foles forces Chip Kelly to play a pro-style system with a touch of “Kellyness”.

 

5.) The “Combo Meal” never worked:  Most teams who trade away their future for one player hasn’t worked; See the Herschel Walker and Ricky Williams trades for starters. We already see what is happening to the Redskins. This savior complex is not only dangerous, but detrimental to a franchise and its future.

 

6.) The TEAM needs help elsewhere: The Eagles secondary is atrocious. 3 of the 5 starting offensive lineman are over the age of 30. The Eagles need younger pass rushers. Not including a more tone receiving corp. SPECIAL TEAMS. There are more positions to worry about than the quarterback position.

 

7.) Elephant in the room: The team doesn’t really have their front office in order. We cannot trust the front office. It is really scary that they tried to interview people for GM and nobody wanted the job. Plus Chip Kelly is just learning about the draft process and how to properly draft players. We can tell from the previous two drafts that he has a lot of LEARNING to do.

 

8.) Nick Foles Contract: This is Nick Foles’ contract year. Let him EARN his money!

 

Robert Williams, 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

 

 

 

 

NA

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