Archive: November, 2011
Daily News staff
It has been a rough rookie season for Casey Matthews.
Thrown into the fire immediately as the starting middle linebacker, coming off an offseason with no playbook to learn, no OTAs and a defense struggling with all its new parts.
Matthews took a lot of heat, and probably unfairly.
Daily News staff
Quarterback Michael Vick and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin have been ruled out of Thursday's game against Seattle.
Vince Young will make his third consecutive start at quarterback while Vick is sidelined by broken ribs. Vick threw on the side yesterday, but has not participated in practice.
Maclin, who has shoulder and hamstring injuries, has not practiced. Coach Andy Reid said the hamstring was a bigger concern.
Daily News staff
NFL Network analyst Mike Mayock concedes some trepidation about calling Thursday night's game between the Eagles and Seattle.
A Haverford School graduate and Newtown Square resident, Mayock said he is a little bit nervous about how to explain the current situation in Philadelphia to a national audience.
"I'm excited about doing a hometown game," he told Sports Illustrated's Peter King during a podcast this week. "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't. A part of me feels a little nervous about how to conveny what's going in Philadelphia and what the fair thing is and what's going to happen here next year and all those things. There is a lot more than meets the eye and I think it has to be handled with respect."
Marcus Hayes
Owen Schmitt landed in Philadelphia last year embittered and angry.
Schmitt returns to Seattle in much the same mood. He played in 30 games in 2008 and 2009, but the Seahawks cut Schmitt out of training camp in 2010 because new coach Pete Carroll's system does not employ a conventional fullback.
"Not that I haven't been playing hard, but I'm sure there will be a little animosity built up a little bit," Schmitt said. “It was a scheme thing. Everybody’s got their way of doing things.”
Daily News staff
The Eagles have placed linebacker Moise Fokou on injured reserve, ending his season.
Fokou injured his ankle during Sunday's loss to New England.
The team has promoted rookie linebacker Greg Lloyd from the practice squad to take him place on the 53-man roster.
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
Looks like a third consecutive start for Vince Young at quarterback for the Eagles when they travel to Seattle for Thursday night's game.
Michael Vick will not practice today, although he will throw on the side and is making progress, coach Andy Reid said today.
Vick "can't put heavy torque on the ball without feeling some pain," from his broken ribs, Reid said, adding that Vick won't practice until that issue is resolved.
Les Bowen and Daily News staff
Looks like a third consecutive start for Vince Young at quarterback for the Eagles when they travel to Seattle on Thursday night.
Michael Vick will not practice today, although he will throw on the side and is making progress, coach Andy Reid said today.
Vick "can't put heavy torque on the ball without feeling some pain," Reid said, adding that Vick won't practice until that issue is resolved.
Zach Berman
DeSean Jackson indicated after Monday's walk-through that he did not receive additional explanation for why he was benched in the fourth quarter of Sunday's loss to the Patriots, when Jackson dropped a pair of touchdown passes.
Jackson shook his head when asked about the benching, which represented more turbulence in a season that's been complicated by ongoing unhappiness from the Eagles receiver. Jackson also indicated that he does not need an explanation.
He is in the final year of his rookie contract that pays him about $600,000, although he said Monday he still wants to return to Philadelphia next season without exactly providing a resounding endorsement.
Paul Domowitch, Daily News NFL Columnist
Breaking down Sunday’s 38-20 loss to the Patriots while wondering what the odds would be on a Marty Mornhinweg-Jim Washburn fight:
* The Patriots converted six of 11 third-down opportunities against the Eagles. And that doesn’t include two more the Eagles converted for them with penalties.
In the last four games, the Eagles’ opponents have converted 24 of 55 third-down opportunities (43.6 percent). Their third-down pass defense has been terrible. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged 11.0 yards per attempt and have completed 63.4 percent of their pass attempts on third down in the last four games.
Daily News staff
The Eagles held a walkthrough this afternoon and cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (knee), quarterback Michael Vick (ribs) and wide receiver Jeremy Maclin (hamstring, ankle) did not participate.
Tackle King Dunlap (concussion) and linebacker Moise Fokou (ankle) also did not participate.
Defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (thumb), running back LeSean McCoy (toe), cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (ankle) were all limited.
