Plax, DJax and Lehigh's Looking Unlikely
The Philadelphia Daily News - Eagletarian
Plax, DJax and Lehigh's Looking Unlikely
Les Bowen, Daily News Staff Writer
NFL owners are convening in Indianapolis for their spring meeting, amid no signs whatsoever that this confab will produce any sort of movement in the labor impasse.
At this point, it's hard to say what will spur any sort of resolution, and that's scary. The Eighth Circuit three-judge panel that stayed the injunction ending the lockout hears the NFL's formal appeal on June 3, but isn't expected to rule for weeks after that. The ruling that stayed the injunction made it pretty clear that two of the three judges are inclined to rule for the NFL, even though the players' filing in response to the stay decision argues forcefully that the Norris-LaGuardia Act, which the NFL and the two judges are arguing keeps injunctions from being issued in such matters, was never intended to be used as a tool against labor. In fact, interpreting the law the way the NFL urges might make the courts pretty much unable to do anything in labor matters, which is not the way things have been done in this country during the 79 years the law has been on the books.
Whatever the court rules, let's say that happens in late June. The losing side might be moved to reenter talks, but nobody thinks the whole mess will then be quickly resolved. This brings us to the topic of Eagles training camp, a huge event for fans each summer in Bethlehem. You might recall my story last month in which Lehigh University said it would like to know by early June whether the Birds are coming or not; Lehigh might be able to offset the lost revenue by running a high school sports festival or something if it has enough notice.
I have a call in today to Lehigh athletics director Joe Sterrett, to make sure nothing has changed, but I don't think there's any way Lehigh is going to know anything from the Eagles in early June. More and more it seems like if there is a training camp, it's going to be some sort of highly pressured, truncated affair at NovaCare, where the Eagles have assured neighbors they would not hold public workouts.
So there's that bright, cheery note for your summer plans.
The biggest deal in Eagles Nation over the weekend was the New York Daily News piece in which writer Gary Myers said he'd heard the Eagles might be "first in line" when wideout Plaxico Burress is reinstated to the NFL. I'm not sure what the reasoning is here. I am pretty sure this didn't come from the Eagles. The sense I got from the piece is that somehow the Eagles' signing of Michael Vick makes them the logical destination for Burress, that Andy Reid somehow is running "The Longest Yard" in midnight green.
I dunno. Because you signed one guy who'd just gotten out of jail, you're now the team that loves all ex-cons? Not feeling that.
Wouldn't upset me if the Eagles DID sign Burress. All he did was shoot himself in the leg. I think most fans could live with that. However, Burress hasn't played since 2008, turns 34 in August, and his yards per catch declined every year for five years in a row BEFORE he shot himself. He'd be the Eagles' fourth receiver. Maybe help a little in the red zone. If you believe Riley Cooper is worth developing, this probably wouldn't be a good move. And if you believe the fourth wideout should be a special teams standout, this probably wouldn't be a good move.
Finally, DeSean Jackson (represented by Drew Rosenhaus, as is Burress), really has found a cause in the anti-bullying movement. Glad to see. This and his efforts to fund pancreatic cancer research make the most explosive Eagle seem like less of a showboating caricature and more of a real, thoughful guy with a big heart.
"Andy Reid is running The Longest Yard in midnight green"... hahaha classic.— jmazz84- Haha I second that. However, I saw that same comment posted in a few places on Facebook this weekend. Have you resorted to stealing lines Les? Huh? Have you!?
— thegamepa - I can't help but think about the differences in these two Rosenhaus clients. D-Jax wants a new contract...so what does he do? He creates charities, joins causes, says he'll keep working to becoming a better player. T.O., wanted a new contract..acted like a baby, insulted players, coaches, FO and tried to use the fans love affair with him as his leverage for a new contract. Keep Burress far away as possible from this team.
- There will be a an NFL season this fall. There's too much money involved. Billion$. The only folks worried about it not happening are sportswriters.— Don Cornelius
i'm not a fan of bringing Burress to the nest. no thank you- Is Bam Morris available???? When is his parole hearing? How about Rae Carruth as a number 4 possession receiver?— rvb2321
- What a colossally stupid & self-destructive group of clowns. Of course, don't forget Eagles "fans" that your season ticket money is due & payable in two weeks. YAY!— Jerome99RIP
- This guy will take you right to a Super Bowl. This guy is the best player in all of football.— atomic clock
- Wouldn't Plax be out of shape like Vick was?— ej610
- Are the Eagles gonna bail out Mercury Morris and sign him too?— recGUY
- We should hire all ex-cons who would carry concealed guns under their uniforms. When there is a blown coverage and someone is streaking down for a TD, just shoot them.— BigMike100
- GREAT STUFF I LOVE PHILLY FANS— brjsphila
- Vick...Burris... How about Andy's Sons— gogoruch
- Plax would be a decent red zone threat. They could've beat Green Bay last year in the playoffs if the had him there to catch that last pass that was intercepted from Vick. We could use his wing span and hands in clutch situations like that.
— Shawnadelphia - Burris is old, vick was still in his prime wen he got out of prison, burris would be a waste, we don't need a veteran to mentor the young guys anymore cuz djax was mentored by jerry rice, and djax can mentor the others. If burris isn't here to mentor younger guys, he has no use, old out of shape and not worth it.— lighterfluid
