A vote for Andy, today's picks
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
A vote for Andy, today's picks
Before we get to the staff predictions on today's playoff games, and let's hope they are more competitive than yesterday's, a few notes to pass along ...
* Eagles coach Andy Reid received one vote for NFL Coach of the Year by the Associated Press. A 50-member national media panel makes the selection. Cincinnati's Marvin Lewis won the award with 20 1/2 votes, followed by the Saints' Sean Payton (20 1/2), San Diego's Norv Turner (9), Indy's Jim Caldwell (7) and Reid and Arizona's Ken Whisenhunt with one piece. In case you were wondering, our Paul Domowitch is on the panel and cast his vote for Turner.
* The Michael Vick to Rams speculation continues with today's Bernie Miklasz column in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. He cites a reader poll with 62 percent in favor of Vick becoming a Ram. His bottom line:
"Vick would be an upgrade, at least until the Rams draft and develop a young quarterback to take over.
"The Rams have a severe shortage of playmakers, and Vick is a playmaker. The Rams are boring, and Vick is anything but dull. Pro football is supposed to be entertainment, and Vick is a charismatic performer. The Rams must create some sizzle, and Vick would have people buzzing about the franchise again. Pro and con.
"Vick might not immediately transform the Rams into a winner, but at least he'd make them relevant again. Whether you love him or hate him, Vick is a compelling reason to watch the games."
* The Cleveland Plain Dealer takes a deeper look at new Browns GM Tom Heckert and analyzes his work in the draft over the last few years with the Eagles. Not a lot new here for devout Eagles fans, but it does provide a little bit of the guiding philosophy that the Eagles tried to use in selecting players.
"The best-case scenario is to get some of your needs done in free agency and then worry about the draft and then take the best available player," Heckert said. "Because that's the last thing you want to do is force a pick in there just because of a need.
"That's our goal, to hopefully build this team where you don't have to do that. You can draft the best player that's available and then you don't have to worry about reaching for somebody."
*
TODAY'S PLAYOFF PICKS
The Vikings are favored by 3 over the Cowboys at the Metrodome (1 pm, Fox)
Les Bowen: Cowboys
Ed Barkowitz: Vikings
Bill Conlin: Cowboys
Paul Domowitch: Cowboys (weekend best bet)
Marcus Hayes: Vikings (weekend best bet)
Mike Kern: Vikings (weekend best bet)
Vegas Vic: Cowboys
The Chargers are favored by 7 1/2 over the Jets in San Diego (4:30, CBS)
Les Bowen: Chargers
Ed Barkowitz: Chargers
Bill Conlin: Chargers (weekend best bet)
Paul Domowitch: Chargers
Marcus Hayes: Jets
Mike Kern: Jets
Vegas Vic: Jets
If Andy Reid is coach of the year, then McNabb must be MVP. What a joke. I'd love to send them both out of town, quickly!— Tar Heel 1
Comment removed.- I guess someone in Philly has a vote for Coach of the Year. That's a joke!— epbowls
- It doesn't take much to make them a winner in the NFC West. If Warner retires, Vick and Steven Jackson are probably division winners. Not much else out there.— Amir Everette
- Comment removed.
- Chargers win Super Bowl, its their time. The only thing that can stop them is named Norv.— JerseyCityDon
- Andy Reid is probably woofing down his third cheesesteak of the afternoon.— MJPD345
- Sorry to interrupt the sports-talk here folks, but I am just finished reading the news, and continue to be heartsick and tearful about the absolutely outrageous devastation in Haiti. The loss of life makes me weep. But even WORSE-Oh Lord, SO much worse-is the awful plight of the survivors.Despite unstinting efforts by many people, backed by resources and heavy contributions of everything needed, MOST survivors don't have the basics of fresh water, and any kind of food.With gangs of looters, or worse, roaming everywhere to steal almost anything, most folks engaged in the relief effort are afraid to go out into the afflicted areas without armed protection. Very understandable! It is a very sad, horrible thing for those poor, thirsty, hungry, possibly injured people to put up with. But the devastation is everywhere, and I understand that it is just impossible to do all that is needed, as quickly as it is needed. And despite my monetary contributions of the past several days, I wish to high heaven there was more that could be done.I am afraid that by the time the logistical problems have been overcome (and they WILL be overcome) the additional loss of life will be worse than imagined because of the inherent delays in getting food, water and medical support to those that need it TWO DAYS AGO. But all I can do is contribute money....and I strongly urge ALL of the Sports Fans of this area to find a RELIABLE place to make whatever financial contributions they can. I personally suggest WaWa as a reliable place. To those of you that consider this posting as inappropriate....I feel sorry for you too.— TBear
Already done. You are a good man and the definition of a real human being, TBear.— tpizza
We just saw how yet another great quarterback -- Favre, following Brees and Manning -- plays in postseason. Funny, didn't look much like the way McNabb does it. Just sayin'...- And we also just saw what happens when a team with a clue (unlike Andy Reid's team) plays the Cowboys. The Vikes 1) on defense, pressured Romo and 2) on offense, kept running the ball even though they weren't getting big chunks of yardage. Because Dallas had to respect the run, Favre was able to play-action meaningfully and find receivers deep.
- It seems to me that the Cowboys scored a total of 78 points on the beloved Eagles. Although it took 3 games the Saints scored 48 on the Birds in 1 game. So let me ask which of the QB's playing next weekend could have led the Eagles to the big dance? If the Birds have 10 priorities to address in the off-season QB may be number 6 or 7 on the list. After watching the Vikings handle the Cowboys, it is apparent that the Eagles are no even close to the Vikings. That is a well rounded team in all aspects of the game. After hearing the discontent in Philly all week and the narrow focus on McNabb it appears that #5 might be the least of our worries. But this ranting about McNabb is no different than Schmidt was subject to for 80% of his career. Fortunately Reid is running the show and say what you want about him and his staff but he knows what needs to be done to right the ship. It is a good thing the the blowhards o the airwaves do not have a vote. Please remember this the Cowboys scored 3 points today!!! Ask yourselves this week, what do the Eagles need to do to shut down the Cowboys or better yet Cardinals, Saints or Vikings.— phillyz
- GM Andy Reid needs Vike's D-coordinator Leslie Frazier as new Eagles head coach. Best move the big kahuna could make. He's got brains.— ItalianSausage
- Great point. Andy could slip into a new role as GM/President air apparent. That would allow the hiring of Cowher, Gruden or any one else but rememeber those coaches are short term guys at this point 4 maybe 5 years.— phillyz
- I'd like to see no team showing interest in Vick. I hope he just gets released. Let him go to work for a living. I want him to suffer like those dogs he tortured.— oldhat
