Posts Tagged ‘The War Room’

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The Eagles are Awesome at Firing the Wrong People

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

A strange story out of the Novacare Complex seems to point to a Philadelphia Eagles organization that, both on and off the field, simply doesn’t have a clue.

News of a firing by the Eagles broke overnight.  If you’re wondering why there’s no hubbub over it, it’s because it was of someone who has nothing to do with the mess that has unfolded on the field in the 2012 season.  Or anyone you’ve even heard of.  The team fired VP of Communications Rob Zeiger.

So….yeah.  Zeiger’s responsibilities included heading up the Birds’ public affairs department, as well as serving as a liaison between owner Jeffrey Lurie, other members of the Eagles’ front office, and the media.

More meaningful to many of us, Zeiger is the poor soul trotted out to confront fan outrage on WIP following the loss to the Cowboys over attempts to raise the volume of the music at the Linc to drown out the boos of Eagles fans to a primetime audience.

If you’re keeping track, this is the second firing of an Eagles big-wig this season that will do absolutely nothing to improve the situation in which the team finds itself.  The first, of course, was the firing of defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, who is sitting home cackling at how things have unfolded as I write.

There is already much speculation and trepidation about how things will go down on Monday night, both on and off the field.  Will the nation witness on Monday Night Football exactly how much fan disgust, disdain and outrage there is for Andy Reid and the Eagles’ woeful performance this season?  And just how badly will team officials botch up attempts to “manage” the situation?

Or, here’s a novel idea.  Perhaps  the team will actually play like it belongs in the National Football League and defeat the only team in the NFC with a worse record, the Carolina Panthers.  And then sure, there will be signs, but the Eagles fans who bother to show actually may have a little something to cheer about!

A little head shake for you as you start your Thanksgiving plans and preparations.   Be good and stay safe.

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

 

 

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Philadelphia Eagles: The Bottom of the Barrel

Wednesday, November 21st, 2012

by Stephanie Curry

 

 

 

Foles taking a beating just like Vick did.
(Photo via Nick Wass of the Associated Press)

There is only one question that people in this city will be asking themselves all week; how did we get to 3-7?  Where was the wrong turn that took us from the top of the pile to the bottom of the barrel?  There is not one person at fault here but everyone’s fault in this organization starting at the top.

Right now Jeffery Laurie and his cronies aren’t fit to tie my shoe, let alone run a billion dollar franchise like the Philadelphia Eagles.  This town is at its breaking point because there is nothing but excuses and no answers for the garbage that this team has trotted on the field for the last six games. 

I keep thinking about what Andy Reid said in his press conference on Monday; “This one’s on me.  We gotta do a better job.”  What?  That line has been on repeat for the last 13 years and it doesn’t hold weight any longer with me!  When you keep saying sorry and make the same mistake over and over, that apology becomes null and void. 

I don’t know about you but I’m tired of the excuses and the whining from men who are over the pubescent stage in their lives.  You were all smiles and giggles when you signed your name on the dotted line, but now it’s a problem when the person that buys your jersey and watches these sad excuses for games calls you out!  Get over yourself.

I only have one thing to say to my team and its head coach.  You are soft and you are weak, and I am not the only person that thinks so.  There are very few people who think you will win another game this season.  You gave up and the teams that you will face in the weeks to come will use this to expose you for the fraudulent football players that you are!

Improvement will be needed rather quickly because people are changing the channel and finding other ways to fill up their time on a Sunday afternoon.  You are unfulfilling and the sight of your resigned attitude is too much!  As we are getting used to saying in the fine city of Philadelphia, “There is always next year.”  Or maybe the year after that or the year after that!

 

Stephanie C. Curry, for War Room Sports

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Andy Reid Won’t Quit on Coaching the Philadelphia Eagles

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

(Image via USA Today)

Andy Reid’s job as head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles is safe at least through Monday night, per a report in the Daily News.  And if you’re hoping that Reid will show mercy and throw himself on the sword of unemployment, you’re out of luck.  It ain’t happening.

Reid was asked whether his own leadership has been rendered ineffective in trying to motivate his men.  As we know with our Andy, he likes to evaluate everything.  Including himself.

“Listen, I look at everything.  I’m not telling you I don’t look at that.  I think we’re not winning football games, so I take that responsibility and since I’m in that leadership spot, then my leadership right now isn’t good enough.  I’ve got to do a better job there and make sure that we play better.” (Emphasis mine)

Do you think that the phrase “we’ve got to do a better job” or any variation thereof sounds as hollow to Reid as it comes out of his mouth as it does falling onto our tired, saddened ears?

The questioning went further and Reid was asked point blank if there was a stage when he would consider stepping down from his head coaching duties.

“I’m standing in front of the team and telling them these are the things we need to do, one of which is to continue to battle.  So, I think that’d be a cop-out.  That’s not how I see things.  That’s not the way I’m wired.  We’re going to keep battling and do it as a team.  I’m not going to tell the guys one thing and then do the other.”

Big Red continues to stick up for his team, his players, and swears that there is no leadership void on the squad.  And he continues to say that the issues are fixable.  If the issues can be addressed but still are problems, then where do you go from there?  What’s the point in saying the problems are “fixable” when you have shown game after game that the team is, for whatever reason, not capable of fixing them?

There are no words that Reid can say that any of us want to hear at this stage.  We’re beyond that.  There is nothing that can be said to begin to address the failure that has been this season.  So Reid has stopped trying to explain.  And we are no longer willing to listen.

The Eagles currently stand in 15th place in the NFC.  The team in last place?  Monday night’s opponent, the Carolina Panthers.  Does anyone truly believe that there’s a team left in the league that the Birds can handily beat?  Or just beat at all?  If it doesn’t happen on Monday then a prime time audience will have a front-row seat to the revolt of a fanbase.

Injury news

Reid  stated that Mike Vick will be the starting quarterback if healthy next week, throwing aside the conventional wisdom that the season is Foles’ to ride into the sunset.  However, Vick failed his impact test and is still at baseline so still has a way to go towards health.

LeSean McCoy is also at stage one of his concussion and is day to day.  Reid stated that, in his non-medical opinion, Shady’s injury didn’t seem as “significant” as Vick’s but added, “who am I to judge?”

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 7 John Doe of the NBA

Tuesday, November 20th, 2012

by LeRoy McConnell III

 

 

 

 

 

How many times have you sat in front of the TV during the NBA draft and wondered who in the HELL did my team just draft?  What country is he from again?  Why did they draft him?  I’ve never heard of this guy, can he play?  Instead you always hear about international players being drafted and stashed for years to come.  What is our reaction?  “There goes another wasted pick!”   We could have had this player who is ready to play right now.  Believe it or not, international players have proven very well in the states in recent years.  Let’s take the San Antonio Spurs for example.  Tony Parker (Belgium) and Manu Ginobili (Argentina) have both been part of three NBA championships playing with the likes of Virgin Island’s own Tim Duncan.  There are other superstars such as Dirk Nowitzki (the greatest international player of all-time), the Gasol brothers, Andrei Kirilenko, and Andrea Bargnani, who have all played at an all-star level.  But there is a new crop of international players making their wave in the NBA today.  The 7 John Doe of the NBA are:

7.  Houston Rockets Omer Asik #3 Center

Houston Rockets tried all summer to lure the likes of Dwight Howard to their organization at all cost.  Instead, he took his talents out west to LA LA Land.  As a consolation prize they picked up a back up center name Omer Asik from the Chicago Bulls.  Who is second year OMER ASIK?  Hmmmm from Turkey?  He was an afterthought, especially when they made the blockbuster trade to acquire James Harden.  Have you seen his numbers?  No afterthought anymore.  Mr. Asik, in his first game as a Rocket grabbed an astounding 19 rebounds against the Atlanta Hawks.  However, he did go scoreless, missing all seven of his attempts from the floor.  Since then, he has managed 4 double-doubles in 7 games.  His early season averages are 10.5 ppg, 12.9 rpg, and 1.3 bpg.  James Harden may be a sexier trade pickup but OMER ASIK is starting to turn some heads himself.

6. Denver Nuggets  Kosta Koufos #41 Center

First off this Kosta Koufos is from America, go figure; but he does have Greek decent and also plays for the Greek national team.  The 7-foot Kosta Koufos played his college ball at THE Ohio State University.  He could easily be part of a trivia question of who was the guy to replace Greg Oden at OSU (then again, who is Greg Oden?).  Kosta is in his fourth year in the NBA and has finally found a home in Denver.  In his first six games of the season he is averaging 7.4 ppg, 6 rpg, and 1.9 bpg.  He has already posted his first double-double of the year with 15 points and 10 rebounds against Utah Jazz.

5.  Minnesota Timberwolves Nikola Pekovic #14 Center

The Yugoslavian center started off playing in the Euroleague before making his way over to the Minnesota Timberwolves.  He enters his third season with the Timberwolves and has taken on a more active role since all-star Kevin Love has been out with an injury.  Pekovic has shown that he can muscle with anyone in the low post as he is averaging 15.3 ppg, 6 rpg, 1 bpg in the first 7 games.  Nikola has two 20-point games so far.  The Timberwolves’ front court of Andrei Kirilenko and Nikola Pekovic will be even tougher when Kevin Love returns from injury.

4.  Minnesota Timberwolves Alexey Shved  #1 Point Guard

Alexey Shved is a Russian born player who has been in professional basketball since 2006…at the age of 16!  He is a member of the Russian national team and has played the majority of his professional ball in Moscow before joining the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Like his teammate Nikola Pekovic, Alexey benefits from injuries to Rickey Rubio, who is sidelined with a knee injury.  Alexey is a 6’6″ versatile player that can play the 1 or the 2 guard.  He has range and a quick release.  He is currently averaging 9 ppg, 3.9 apg, and 3.1 rpg in 7 games.  His season highs so far are 16 points and 7 assist.  He is gaining valuable experience in his first year as he is seeing around 22 minutes a game.

3.  San Antonio Spurs Tiago Splitter #22 Power Forward

 

This Brazilian basketball player is probably the most recognizable player out of the group.  Not for his play, but because ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith screams his name out in embarrassing fashion.  “TTTIIIAAAGGGOOOO SSSPPPLLLIIITTTEEERRR!!!!”  I don’t know any team that recruits international players better than the San Antonio Spurs organization.  Splitter is in his second year with the Spurs and has earned the trust of coach Gregg Popovich.  Tiago is averaging 6ppg, 4 rpg, and 0.9 bpg while giving an average of 15 tough minutes per game.  Against the Lakers earlier this year he produced 9 points, 9 boards, 2 assists, 2 steals and 1 blocked shot.  He is getting valuable playing time in crunch time, and if Popovich endorses him, then you know he can play.  Oh and one more thing, Tiago… Stephen A. Smith has given you enough motivation to take care of business!

 

2.  New Orleans Hornets Greivis Vasquez #21 Point Guard

This Venezuelan basketball star played college ball at University of Maryland.  Greivis Vasquez was the top point guard in the country his senior year receiving the Bob Cousy Award.  The 6’6″ point guard was traded from Memphis in 2010 to run the point down there in New Orleans.  Vasquez is averaging 12.8 ppg, 8.8 apg, and 4.2 rbg in 8 games.  His signature game so far was 24 points, 9 assists and 5 rebounds against the Houston Rockets.  He is comfortable at point guard and should be able to put up consistent numbers from that position.

Orlando Magic Nikola Vucevic #9 Center

Nikola Vucevic played three years of college ball at USC.  The Switzerland native is in his second season in the NBA and was part of the Andrew Bynum/Dwight Howard trade this past summer.  The Orlando Magic franchise is benefiting from Vucevic’s early play.  After 8 games he is averaging 11.1 ppg, 8.4 rpg, and 0.9 bpg so far this season.  He has recorded 4 double-doubles with his best game coming against the Phoenix Suns.  He managed to  put up 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists.

These players may be average JOE right now; but each of them deserve some mentioning.  Which player do you think has a chance to be the next Dirk Nowitzki, Pau or Marc Gasol, Manu Ginobili, or Anderson Varejao?

 

LeRoy McConnell III of “A Fan’s Point of View”, for War Room Sports

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Will the Philadephia Eagles Win Another Game in 2012?

Monday, November 19th, 2012

By Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Eagles were anything but a picture of confidence as they prepared to walk onto FedEx Field on Sunday.
(Image via the Philadelphia Eagles)

 

The Philadelphia Eagles may not win another game in 2012.

It’s not a statement made to be alarmist.  It’s one that may well be the reality.  I’ll still be watching/suffering through every single game.  But there are no longer any expectations from this Eagles team.

Nary a touchdown scored by the Birds in the 31-6 throttling by the Washington Redskins, who advance to 4-6 while the Eagles fall to 3-7.  Philadelphia is all alone at the basement of the NFC East.

Sunday was indeed about the quarterbacks, and the show was put on by the one not named Nick Foles.  Foles struggled, which wasn’t a surprise.  21/46 for 204 yards and no touchdowns and 2 interceptions for a 40.5 passer rating.  No one expected Foles to be a picture of polished precision after not taking reps for most of the season.  But you did hope to see some of the flashes of poise that impressed us so much during the preseason.

That’s probably hard to do when you’re in the midst of being sacked 4 times and hit many more with an offensive line who racked up penalty on top of penalty to add to their pitiful play.

Will there be cries for Trent Edwards to be the starting quarterback if Foles continues to struggle?  Perhaps.  But it would be foolish to think that a replacement at quarterback would matter at this point.  Philadelphia has to see what it has in Foles, for better or for worse.  And why not, as any hope for a meaningful run at the postseason for this Eagles team is gone.

We were treated to seeing RGIII notch a perfect 158.3 passer rating against the Eagles defense, completing 14 for 15 passes for 200 yards and 4 touchdowns.  If that wasn’t enough, Griffin III also averaged 7 yards per carry on the ground, totaling 84 rushing yards.

By contrast, LeSean McCoy averaged only 3 yards per carry getting 45 rushing yards, while Bryce Brown had 35, averaging 7 a carry.

For his troubles on Sunday, McCoy, who has for two seasons been the only consistent light for a struggling Eagles team, sustained an ugly concussion with just under two minutes left in the game.  Asked why on earth he or any of the starters were still on the field, Andy Reid stated, “Because we were trying to catch up and win the game”.

What?

A baffling remark for a confounding season.  Anyone interested in contributing to Philly Sports Muse out there?  Drop me a line.  Because I’ve run out of words.  It doesn’t just stay the same each week.  It somehow keeps getting worse.

Even Reid must realize that there is no option for him other than to leave at the end of the season.  Change is needed.  But don’t be fooled.  With regime change in our midst and no clear franchise quarterback waiting in the wings, the struggle of the past two seasons will not end when Big Red goes.  We’re in for a rough ride, but at this stage there is no other option.

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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All Eyes on the Rookie Quarterbacks as the Philadelphia Eagles Prepare to Face the Washington Redskins

Sunday, November 18th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

All eyes will be on Nick Foles today at FedEx Field.
(Photo via New York Daily News)

We all know that football is a team sport and that to get a win, all phases of the game must come together to propel a group to victory.  But come Sunday, it’s going to be all about the quarterbacks.

When the Philadelphia Eagles face the Washington Redskins at FedEx field on Sunday afternoon, the storylines and excitement overwhelmingly surround the two young quarterbacks who will lead their teams.

The reasons for the QB focus are manifold.  The playoff chances for both teams are grim, as today’s game represents a fight for the very bottom of the NFC East.  That’s not very fun.

The Washington Redskins have found their franchise quarterback in Robert Griffin III.  The hopes and dreams of a team who has been crap for years rides on the shoulders of this young man.  Is he the piece that’s been needed all along to start to turn things around for Skins?  It certainly looks that way.

As an added bit of intrigue, RG3 spoke about his meeting with Andy Reid at February’s scouting combine in Indianapolis this week.  While Reid portrayed the meeting as routine, Griffin stated that the Eagles head coach said that the Birds were “very interested” in him.  We know that the chances of Philadelphia actually getting this year’s #2 overall pick were slim.  But still, there will be an element of wistfulness at what could have been as we watch Griffin III go to work on today.

And then we have the Eagles.  Rather than being on the upswing of the curve like Washington, this is a team in decline.  If 8-8 was unacceptable to owner Jeffery Lurie in 2011, the team’s current 3-6 record is an abomination.  Two straight years of hope and hype and talent and the team has fallen apart.  It’s likely the last stand for Reid and Vick.  So that means all eyes are on third-round draft selection Nick Foles.

There is a lot riding on Foles’ young shoulders.  He will be fighting behind an offensive line that has performed so poorly that I’ve run out of adjectives to describe them.  Will Foles’ play be solid enough to give us hope that he could be the future for Philadelphia?  Or do you let him ride out the remainder of the season regardless of how he performs to better assess what you have in the rookie?

Updates on Mike Vick’s concussion reveal that, at least in the short-term, there may be no option other than to play Foles.  According to Rick Buckholder, the team’s trainer, Vick is not at all himself after sustaining a concussion last week against the Cowboys.

“He’s not very alert right now in terms of he just doesn’t have that energy.  He’s tired all the time, he’s slept a lot, and he’s not getting rid of that fatigue.  When I talk to him, he’s just not the Michael Vick I know when he’s healthy.”

At this point, Eagles fans are simply rooting for Foles to largely stay on his feet, put in a solid performance and prevent Philadelphia from falling to the very bottom of the division.

Foles, of course, will need a lot of help from his friends.  Thankfully, his first start in the NFL will be against a team that has the  29th overall defense in the league (30th in pass defense and a respectable 7th against the run).  But New Orleans was ranked dead last and we saw what happened there.  The Birds must utilize the incredible asset they have in LeSean McCoy and commit to the run to help Foles.  Defense has got get the Redskins off the field on third downs, a particular problem for the Eagles as of late.  In the last three games, opponents have converted on 17 out of 35 third down opportunities in the Bowles era of Philadelphia’s defense.  And Bobby April knows that special teams has done the Eagles no favors, this week taking full blame for the poor performance of the unit that led to a heart-stomping 78-yard punt return for a touchdown by Cowboy Dwayne Harris.

Football is a team sport, and at 1pm ET we will watch to see how — or if — the Philadelphia Eagles support Foles in his NFL debut by putting in strong performances during each phase of the game to help him succeed.  Vick certainly couldn’t do it by himself and there is no way Philadelphia’s rookie can, either.

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 War Room: You CAN’T Miss This Show!

Friday, November 16th, 2012

 

Message for those who hit us every week saying “damn, I missed the show this week”.  There is NO SUCH THING as missing our show.  It’s a podcast.  It is meant to be heard WHENEVER you have time to hear it!  Just in case you weren’t aware, here are ALL of the various ways to listen to The War Room:

LIVE on Thursdays from 6-8pm ET by clicking “LISTEN LIVE” at www.WarRoomSports.com, by dialing 323-410-0012

 to listen LIVE by telephone, or at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/TheWarRoom.

Fridays at 7am, 1pm, & 7pm ET at www.NuVibeRadio.com

Sundays & Tuesdays at 3pm ET at www.PhatzRadio.com

Fridays right here on our blog at www.WarRoomSports.com/blog

Here’s how you can listen to ANY episode we’ve EVER recorded at ANYTIME you want to hear them in your whole, entire life:

www.WarRoomSports.com/replay.html

www.BlogTalkRadio.com/thewarroom

On Itunes – subscribe at https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-war-room-blog-talk-radio/id403020145

On our RSS feed at http://feeds.feedburner.com/TheWarRoomBlogTalkRadioFeed

On our own FREE mobile app – Just search “War Room Sports” in your App Store or in Google Play (IOS app acting up a bit at the moment but we’re working on an upgrade – Android is fine)

On Stitcher SmartRadio (on the web or the mobile app) at www.Stitcher.com/thewarroom – enter promo code “TheWarRoom” (one word)

On Google Listen – Get the app in the Google Play Store

Long story short, if you own a computer and/or mobile device (which all of you do), there is NO SUCH THING as “missing our show”.  If you WANT to listen, there is a way.  If you don’t, that is your choice, but we’d prefer that you do.

This has been a War Room Sports public service announcement.

Happy listening everybody…and thanks for your support!

The Staff at War Room Sports

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Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: Should They Stay or Should They Go?

Friday, November 16th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

The Philadelphia Eagles have two highly touted corners in Nnamdi Asomugha and Dominque Rodgers-Cromartie whose futures with the team are uncertain after this season.

 

Rodgers-Cromartie is set to become a free agent.  However, making a deal with him or any other player is not a priority for the Birds at the moment.  With a 3-6 record and preparing to start a rookie quarterback on Sunday, the team’s focus is rightly on getting things done on the field.

 

DRC will make $1,963,750 this year.  But the far bigger paycheck goes to Nnamdi Asomugha, who is set to earn a staggering $15 million in base salary next season with $4 million guaranteed.  Jeff McLane of the Inquirer believes that the Birds will hang on to Asomugha, so as not to take a $4 million hit, but that his salary will be cut based on his production.

 

Speaking of on-field production, quarterbacks have a whopping 109.5 passer rating when throwing in Asomugha’s direction.  To say that’s damning is putting it mildly.  When throwing towards Rodgers-Cromartie  the figure is 62.4.  Nnamdi has only one pick on the season, while DRC has three, which all came in September.

 

Nnamdi Asomugha is in many ways the poster child for the Philadelphia Eagles in the 2011 and 2012 seasons.  So much excitement surrounding the potential, and then nothing.  Will the Eagles bring him back for one more try in 2013 or choose to cut their losses and move on in the blood bath that will likely come at the end of the season?

 

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’s ‘Significant’ Concussion Sets Stage for Nick Foles Start on Sunday

Tuesday, November 13th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

You going in to take a hit or is it my turn?

Andy Reid said on Monday that Mike Vick suffered a “pretty significant” concussion in Sunday’s loss to the Dallas Cowboys.  This fact sets the stage for Nick Foles to be the Eagles’ starter against the Redskins in Week 11, which is reportedly set to occur.

Said Reid,

“I’m just telling you Michael is hurting right now.  Nick is going to step in and be the quarterback until that point comes, and we’ll take it all from there.  Listen, I can’t project the future.  I’m just telling you what I’m telling you.  Mike is the quarterback.  Nick comes in, and he is a relief pitcher and does his thing.”

Yesterday I asked the question if Vick’s early exit from Sunday’s game is how things will end for the quarterback in Philadelphia.  Will that be his last appearance on the field as a starter?  After all, it’s how Vick got his own opportunity to start for the Birds in 2010, beating out Kevin Kolb for the role after Kolb suffered a concussion.

If Foles shows promise against the Skins on Sunday, how could Reid justify pulling him?  He wouldn’t have to because he wouldn’t do it.  And let’s say Foles does poorly and the team falls to 3-7 (UGH).  The season would be a wash at that point, with Vick virtually guaranteed to be gone at the end of the year.  So why not see what you have in the rookie?

Vick will focus on resting and getting better, but will the move to Foles mean any improvement for this Eagles team?  A squad already in desperate need of leadership now needs to get clamor behind a new quarterback.  Will that transition be the final piece to make the wheels come off of the 2012 Eagles or will Philadelphia finally make a play to stop its five- game losing streak?

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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Is This How it Ends for Mike Vick in Philadelphia?

Monday, November 12th, 2012

by Brandyn Campbell

 

 

 

 

A tough hit, a tough loss.
(Image via the Philadelphia Eagles)

With each successive loss, hope for this Philadelphia Eagles team was harder and harder to come by.

Five straight losses, the most in Andy Reid’s tenure in Philadelphia.  The last time the Birds saw a win was on September 30 — the non-playoff Phillies saw a win more recently than Philly’s football team.

Perhaps more disturbing, there were no signs of improvement anywhere on the squad.  You know the talent is there, but the hope of putting it together in a meaningful way?

Gone.

Then came just the slightest glimmer of hope on Sunday in the form of the implosion of the New York Giants against the Cincinnati Bengals, which resulted in a 31-13 loss for the current NFC East leader.

Suddenly, if the Eagles could somehow pull out a win they would still have a shot in the division.

There was hope in the first Philadelphia opening drive of the season that resulted in a touchdown, with a one-handed, 2-yard beauty caught by Riley Cooper to take a 7-0 lead.  Vick was off to a strong start — 6/9, 70 yards and a 127.1 QB rating.

But then came former Eagle Ernie Sims to make a play, a tremendous irony as he neglected to do that his entire time in Philadelphia.  With 11:29 left in the half Vick was down for the count, out of the game with a concussion and an eye injury.

And finally, it was time.  Time to see what Nick Foles could do to help this team.

He made some good plays, he made some ugly plays.  For a rookie quarterback who’s gotten no snaps in practice he made a good shot, finishing 22/32 for 219 yards with 1 touchdown and 1 interception.  Those numbers just so happen to make Foles the highest total by any Eagles rookie QB in his NFL debut.  He connected with teammates Jeremy Maclin for a 44-yard TD and Stanley Havili went up the middle for a yard with 1:57 left in the game.  And that would be all she wrote for the Eagles in their 38-23 defeat.

The defense was able to put some pressure on Romo and notched 3 sacks, tying a season high.  But tackles were missed, and the Eagles again performed their specialty of allowing a team with little running game before the meeting to find a successful one against the Birds.

If any segment of the game captures this five-game losing streak and this defeat in particular, it’s  that 2:35 stretch in the 4th quarter where the Cowboys scored 21 points in all phases of their team — offense, defense, and a 78-yard punt return by Dwayne Harris?  Which showed a total meltdown on all aspects of the Eagles squad.  A streak of total humiliation to put a cap on an unbelievably awful outing against a hated Dallas team that just isn’t good.

Sunday demonstrated that for as bad as the Cowboys are, the Eagles are worse.  That’s a hard pill to swallow.  But it’s reality.

For those who wanted to see what Foles could do in the regular season, there will be plenty of opportunity to do that now.  Despite Reid’s assertion that he’ll have to see how Vick’s health is before deciding who will be the Eagles’ quarterback against the Redskins next week, you and I know that there is no longer any reason to play Vick.  While Vick gave Philadelphia the best chance to win when there was some chance of contending, that time has passed.  And sadly, there is just nothing to play for at this point.

It certainly can’t be for heart and pride.  We haven’t seen that out of this team in weeks.  So might as well make it about seeing what you have in your rookie quarterback.

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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