THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Not that he can't play at all, not that he doesn't do some things that are quite good -- all right, one thing, block shots -- but an instinctive, read-and-respond motion offense is just not the place for our Sam Dalembert.
I tried to make that point in the Sunday Inquirer as we took a stab at predicting the future under new coach Eddie Jordan, who is a motion offense kind of guy.
Beat writer Kate Fagan looked at it from another angle, from the perspective of how the backcourt will have to adjust and what kind of players are required there.
Back to Sammy, I like the guy personally. He's funny and quirky and his Haitian French is as strange as my college French, so we ask each other how we are doing a lot, say fine, and then nod a lot. We boys.
On the court, however, it has always been obvious that just as English is a second language, basketball is a second sport. He's a soccer player -- heck of a target striker, probably -- who was pushed into the game because he just kept growing. It is game he has learned but it is not at the core of his being the way basketball is for kids who have played since they were old enough to get the ball to the rim. Pickup hoops, playground hoops... it's all about screens and motion and cuts to the basket. It's elemental basketball. Sammy didn't get that, and for what he did get he's done well.
But....the Sixers have to move on. The question is how. Dalembert has two more years left at a hefty salary and he looks untradable. We also know that he isn't going to play much, particularly if Elton Brand is healthy and Jason Smith comes back able to play. We also also know that Dalembert gets sulky and could become a problem. He asked for a trade last year when it became apparent he was going to play 25 minutes and not 33 per game. What will he do when it's more like 10?
Easy for me to say, but I think the Sixers have to pay a team to take him away. I don't know what it would cost, maybe half the salary, but he's 6-foot-11 and the goal is still 10 feet off the ground. Someone must want him at some price.
Having him around would not only be a problem for Jordan, but it will make the fresh start seem a little stale. Better to move on now. Comprendre?
"You don't have to call me darling, darling. You never even called me by my name."
-- Steve Goodman
Nothing like a good, old country song to put that lingering divorce spat between the Dallas Cowboys and our good buddy Terrell Owens into perspective.
Tony Romo had nothing but kind words for his departed receiver, except that he, in the words of another quarterback, "kept his name out of his mouth" when asked about Owens during the Cowboys' mini-camp rituals.
Owens laughed it off and reminded people that Bill Parcells never referred to him as anything other than "the player." Yeah, it's all funny now.
Maybe Romo was showing some support for offensive coordinator Jason Garrett, who Owens allegedly speared in a Twitter post recently. The text of which was: "blame the OC & Romo!! but i'm happy 2 b where i am but i miss the other guys tht were & r true teammates."
Now, we say "allegedly," of course, because reputable news organizations such as Post Patterns are aware that anyone with a computer can create a Twitter account that looks as if it is operated by Terrell Owens, but one must check these things out before presenting them as fact.
Does the post sound like Owens? Sure. Are we convinced it was Owens? Not entirely, although "happy 2 b where i am" is strong circumstantial evidence.
Heading off to the OTA. More later and make sure you check out "You Talkin' To Me?" in Friday's Inquirer. It returns after a week-long suspension with a new lineup. Ringo's kid is playing drums now.
Cornerback Ellis Hobbs said an interesting thing this week when someone asked if it felt a little strange for him, as an established veteran, to be at a non-mandatory Organized Team Activity usually reserved for rookies, free agents and selected veterans trying to hold onto their jobs.
"No, brother. I came from New England. Everybody's there. If you could walk, you were there," he said. "It was voluntary-mandatory, if you know what I mean."
We know what you mean, and maybe some of that undercurrent of discipline -- even if the NFLPA might disagree -- is why the Patriots won three Super Bowls recently. It is certainly why quarterback Tom Brady was there this week, getting a jump on knowing the new guys and re-acquainting with the old guys.
Brady is coming off an injury this year, but that's not the motivation. He's there every year, because it is expected that the players, in exchange for their nice salaries, do the extra work that they don't really have to do.
In another organizational environment, Brady could stay at his vacation home with his beautiful wife and he could have passing drills with whatever receivers happen to live in the same resort area. This would qualify as "working hard," even though it wouldn't help his own receivers learn to run routes the way he likes them to be run, or learn to catch the kind of passes he throws.
In other words, he could have the same deal with his team that Donovan McNabb has with his.
McNabb stays in Phoenix when he isn't required to be here, and he has rigorous workout sessions there with his buddies. That's fine. It's what he believes is best for him. But is it best for the Eagles? Is it possible that the five days of OTAs from last week and this week would have benefitted the offense if McNabb got to know and work with LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin?
We'll never know, because that isn't what happens here, even leading up to a season that is pivotal for both the Eagles and McNabb. For all the sternness attributed to Andy Reid, his team operates a lot more loosely than Bill Belichick's. He plays by the rules of the collective bargaining agreement and, perhaps, hopes that players will want to come in even if they don't have to.
When the team leader doesn't take that approach, it is difficult to sell it to the others. Just mark it down as another difference between the Patriots and the Eagles, a difference that is more than three points.
Hard to know who to root for here: the highly paid athlete with a false sense of his own leverage, or the sports agent who preens and preys on the market?
Let's call it a tie. Nevertheless, Anquan Boldin, unhappy with the pace of negotiations with the Cardinals to get him either: a) a big, fat raise, or b) a trade out of town and...then, a big fat raise, has fired Drew Rosenhaus as his agent.
Rosenhaus will simply face the cameras and say, "Next client." but Boldin's options aren't great, either. He won't get the $10 million a year upgrade he's seeking and, according to that loose-lipped Andy Reid, the Cardinals don't really want to trade him.
Best, though, was Rosenhaus' Twitter feed on the situation, which couldn't be contained in one tweet, but spilled over for several posts.
It went like this:
"We are pleased to announce that we re-signed Jeremy Shockey. Regarding Anquan Boldin, I have great respect for him. I'm hopeful.."
(quick breath, new tweet)
"that we can work things out and he will return to the Rosenhaus Sports family in the near future. We are proud to continue to represent.."
(reload! reload!)
"his brother D.J. Boldin. We would also like to announce that we have signed Will Allen to a 2 yr extension with the Dolphins worth $16.2"
(see Anquan, we make deals!!!!)
"million over the next three seasons."
(what about the damn guarantees?)
"Will's deal includes $10 million in guarantees."
Well, there you have it and more at this site. Always entertaining.
***
At the Eagles OTA today, Lorenzo Booker said he felt, as a veteran, he was the No. 2 running back, behind Brian Westbrook, but ahead of rookie LeSean McCoy.
That opinion is at odds with what Andy Reid said on the radio recently and what the "unofficial" depth chart on the Eagles Web site says. Well, whatever.
Jeff McLane wrote a good story on the running back situation that will appear in Wednesday's editions of the Inquirer.
***
I'd like to address the hundreds of e-mails and phone calls regarding "You Talkin' To Me," the lively, edgy look at today's sports world through the eyes of three wacky columnists.
Talkin' has been in the shop since late last week when it blew a tire in the composing room and skidded into the managing editor's office with smoke coming out from under the hood.
There's a big meeting tomorrow -- Post Patterns loves those -- and we'll let you know how it comes out.
Michael Vick went to court to visit with his probation officer on Friday, and one of the first things those guys always ask is if you are looking for employment.
Until mid-July, Vick is just looking to get this damn monitoring device off his ankle, the one that will make sure he remains home under the home-confinement portion of his federal sentence for animal cruelty and lying about it and all sorts of unsavory things.
There is a certain irony to Vick being fitted for what is essentially a collar-like device, and then being penned up, but we'll leave that where it is.
As for the employment question, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell has a thorny one there. We live in a country that believes people who break the law and serve their time are then allowed the opportunity to rebuild their lives.
In the case of Vick, that means playing football, and if he is prevented from doing so, there is the possibility he could bring action against the NFL for denying him the chance to resume his career. On the other hand, the NFL probably isn't all that interested in having a dog-beater out on the field. Wife-beaters? Thugs? Accused accomplices to murder? Sure, sure, sure, but not dog-beaters.
Goodell could probably make a short suspension stick, for bringing disrepute to the game or something, but until he suspends the entire Cincinnati Bengals franchise, it seems he'll have no choice but to let Vick back in the kennel. If some team will hire him, that is. If the phone rings and it's Al Davis, Michael, make sure to answer it.
Your thoughts? Should he be allowed to play?
Brookie said Sean Jones was a good story and he's always right, so read what the new safety with the Eagles has to say in the Friday Inquirer.
Jones took a one-year deal with the Eagles after the Browns chose not to keep him. He is in his sixth NFL season, but has only been a starter three years. The Eagles see him as a strong safety, which puts him behind Quintin Mikell, but if Jones shows enough to the Eagles, it is possible he either gets the free safety job from Quintin Demps, or that Mikell moves to free and Jones gets the strong safety job.
He's a big guy, 6-foot-1 and 225 pounds, and says he can't wait to start hitting, but all defensive guys say that. He has the motivation of needing to get a contract beyond next season and that never hurts, either.
As a group, the defensive backfield is deep and it wouldn't surprise anyone if cornerback Sheldon Brown were traded before the start of the regular season. The addition of free agents Jones and Rashad Baker make the safety position very solid and it won't be as necessary for the cornerbacks to be as large a part of the nickel and dime packages.
No idea at this point if Jones is a better player than Demps. Everyone looks good in light pads in May. He was very active on the field this week and appeared to be adjusting to the defensive sets, but, yes, it is May.
For those who might be wondering, it is true that "You Talkin' To Me?" is on suspension. Won't be in the Friday paper. Won't be in the paper at all until Cohen gets back from the wedding. I can't speak for Gonzo or Phil, but it's an awful disappointment to me.
Send your letters of protest to sports@phillynews.com. Bad journalism is a terrible thing to waste.
There is a joke somewhere in here about getting the key to the city of Buffalo, but that would only bring some more nasty e-mails from upstate New York pointing out that it has finally stopped snowing, or at least tapered off to flurries.
Terrell Owens showed up for the OTA's at Buffalo Bills camp this week and, heavens, you'd have thought it was a big deal. The mayor did in fact greet him and present him with the ceremonial key to the city. Fans met him at the airport.
He co-hosted one of the nightly television sports reports, leading off with, "The top story tonight is...I'm here."
If only there were some way to fast-forward this process to the point where T.O. is stomping around the sidelines, screaming at his offensive coordinator and making himself a general pain in the ass. As always, he will eventually be traded away or released, but right now, it's all smiles on the evening news.
Oh, well. It will be fun to track from afar, even if the story will have the feel of another fall re-run.
Our buddy Matt Mosley over at ESPN.com ranks the five best off-season moves made by teams in the NFC East and thinks the Eagles made more than the other guys.
Here's his take on the brightest moves so far.
Now, all of us would have our own lists and we can quibble with someone else's, but there's no disputing that the addition of Jason Peters at left tackle and the combined drafting of offensive threats Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy make the Eagles a much more dangerous and effective offensive team heading into the 2009 schedule.
Mosley thinks the Redskins' signing of Albert Haynesworth is the best move in the division this off-season. Yes, the 'Skins needed big help on defense, but the size of the contract handed out by Daniel Snyder makes this a questionable move to me. There's no way Haynesworth can live up to it, and no way a team with as many holes to fill as Washington can conscience tying up that much money in just one guy.
Whatever, you have to like any list that properly classifies releasing Terrell Owens as a brilliant move.
(Noted NFL enthusiast Honore Daumier provided the art for this post.)
Still ruminating on the Shawn Andrews official-unofficial switch to tackle? Find the details here.
There are a couple of ways to interpret the Eagles' quiet little depth chart shuffle that the Post Patterns crew posted on Sunday.
Figuring out how Shawn Andrews will interpret it is another matter, of course. He has been working through personal issues and physical issues and it's been a confusing time for a kid who has always seemed to look at the world a little differently.
Shawn is now listed as the right tackle and brother Stacy is the right guard on the depth chart for the Eagles. Up until this point, the positions were always reversed, but Andy Reid is telling us, and the players, the new order is how he wants things to work.
Which interpretation would you choose for the move?
Interpretation 1: Shawn, we have confidence in you. Tackle is where you should be playing and you will dominate there. We think you are a great football player and this was our plan all along when either Tra Thomas or Jon Runyan lost one of the tackle posistions. We are not worried even a little bit that the added pressure will bother you, because we believe you have your Mohawk on straight and are committed to the task of playing football.
Interpretation 2: Shawn, we can't mess around much longer finding out if you are interested in playing football. We babied you along for a good while last season -- couldn't seem to get you out of California for a very long time -- and that approach didn't seem to work. So, it's going to have to be tough love. There will be no safety blanket, no going back to the more comfortable guard position. Either you make this football team as a tackle or both of us will move on to something else. Sorry, but that's how it has to be.
It doesn't actually matter what the Eagles intended. It matters how Shawn Andrews takes the news. He's got two ways to go there, too, and it might be that the front office just needs to know which it will be.
There wasn't a press release or an announcement, but the Eagles have indicated a significant shift in direction this week with an updated "unofficial" depth chart on the team's web site.
Andy Reid had indicated the team would look at playing Shawn Andrews at right tackle and just-acquired brother Stacy Andrews at right guard this season. Reid said Andrews was drafted as a tackle project, but placed at guard only because the tackle slots were already manned.
Well, they aren't just looking at it, as the Eagles head into the first of two OTA camps this week. Shawn is the tackle and Stacy the guard on the depth chart.
The Eagles don't do this kind of thing lightly. You have to watch them every minute and read the hints the way the Chinese used to read Democracy Wall in Beijing for hints what the government was thinking.
It may say "unofficial," but the change wouldn't have been made unless it was going to be a fact.
Now, it is May and it doesn't matter if Reid puts the Andrews Sisters (above) in the depth chart. Nothing matters until training camp and thereafter. Shawn has to stay focused and stay on the field. Stacy has to complete his rehabilitation from injury. But the Eagles think Shawn is going to play the rest of his career here at tackle and it's nice they told us.
Note that LeSean McCoy is listed ahead of Lorenzo Booker at running back, but Jeremy Maclin is not listed ahead of Shaheer McBride at receiver. What do you make of that? I don't know. Maclin gets his mention as a special-teams returner and McBride would be left off otherwise (the chart doesn't show a fourth string). Weird, though.
