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Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Eagles favored over Cards?

Just one more reason why I will never understand how it is possible to make money gambling on the NFL:

The Eagles are three-point favorites on Thanksgiving night against the Arizona Cardinals.

The Eagles can't get out of their own way right now. Their offense is in shambles. Their quarterback has been jerked in and out of the lineup. The home field might be a mine field by halftime, if Donovan McNabb's struggles continue. And it could very well take a big number to beat the Cardinals, given the number of points they have scored all season.

Yet the Eagles are favored.

I know, I know, they're the Cardinals. And they're traveling East to play in the cold. And the Eagles are desperate. And the short week is an enormous handicap for a team that has to travel 2,000 miles. And yada-yada. But just looking at the way the Eagles have played lately, and just looking at running back Brian Westbrook's lack of explosion because of a bum ankle, and just looking at the way McNabb's play has fallen off of a cliff the last couple of weeks, it is hard to make the case with your eyes.

But I defer to the geniuses of the desert.

 

Posted by Rich Hofmann @ 10:20 AM  Permalink | 19 comments
19
Comments   
Posted 10:43 AM, 11/25/2008
hairball
Hey Rich, you said yesterday on DNL that Andy Reid should stay because there wasn't a guaranteed successful successor on the radar screen. Even if Cowher doesn't come, what's wrong with taking a chance on a new young coach? Looks like Baltimore, Miami, Washington, and Atlanta have done pretty well taking that risk. Nothing is guaranteed in life and if that's your criteria, then what's the point in doing anything? Ever. And if memory serves me right, wasn't ANDY REID a young QB coach with no coordinator experience when the Eagles hired him 10 years ago?????
Posted 11:24 AM, 11/25/2008
warbird
Coach Spags is our only exit strategy. Were in 6-7 years of rebuilding anyway. No backs, Oline, LB's, QB, and TE. Other than that we're in good shape.
Posted 11:46 AM, 11/25/2008
terry_l
First person I think of as the next Eagles coach would be Steve Spagnolo. Is it me or would he be the perfect fit? His obvious next progression would be a head coaching job. Jeff Lurie, hope you're thinking in this direction as well.
Posted 11:52 AM, 11/25/2008
bobbyuk
It doesn't take 6-7 years to rebuild in the NFL. Look at the NFC South--the last 5 division champions ALL finished last in the previous year. How long did it take the Pats to rebuild? One season--they went from 5-11 in 2000 to SB champs in 1 year; same with the Ravens--they went from 6-10 to SB champs in one year. What it does take is someone with a plan, and someone other than Joe Banner controlling the purse strings--teams now don't have to fight to stay under the cap--with the way it keeps expanding, teams can sign anyone they want.
Posted 12:02 PM, 11/25/2008
mjskenal
If the Eagles Organization were smart, they should clean house after the season. Start with hiring a real GM. Someone with real football knowledge and can pick talent hint (Ron Jaworski). Let the GM bring in a coach like Spags or Rex Ryan, or Tenn D Cord. Someone who will run the football and will play an agressive style of defense. That's what wins in this League. Andy is more suited for Arena Football with throwing every down.
Posted 01:21 PM, 11/25/2008
oldBird
the Eagles roll over in Baltimore sealed Andy's fate and Andy ironically sealed McNabb's. It will take 3 years to get this team smoking again...by that time the GINTS, Redskins and Cowboys will have ebbed..helping out a bit....we need to be able to run and stop the run....and make the Linc the most hated place in the NFL to play a football game..and not a week off
Posted 01:57 PM, 11/25/2008
Ray
I'm betting the farm on the Cardinals. It's a lock!
Posted 04:02 PM, 11/25/2008
hairball
So Rich, after 2 days I see the best reasons you can come up with for keeping Andy as coach is (1) to develop Kolb and (2) no guarantee his replacement will be a success. Real powerful reasons all. Perhaps someday you can grow a pair and realize that winning a championship requires a significant level of risk-taking.
Posted 04:09 PM, 11/25/2008
jeffmacnow1234
Rich, did you realize the Eagles were favored by 3 over the Giants a few weeks ago? How'd that work out Richie? And to the rest of you ingrates advocating the firing of Andy Reid, how would you like it if someone advocated the firing of you in your profession?
Posted 05:37 PM, 11/25/2008
josma
" how would you like it if someone advocated the firing of you in your profession? " If someone asks for that is because obviusly I´m not doing the things correct....
Posted 07:37 PM, 11/25/2008
Bill1966
Perfect game for Donavan to win back the fans. Arizona's defense stinks, so Dmac can take advantage put up big numbers and put the rest any talk of Kolb. The big passing numbers should also quell any boos even if the Eagles lose. Smart move by Reid to start Donavan against this team.
Posted 06:00 AM, 11/26/2008
JamesJ
The days of taking 6 - 7 yeats to rebuild in football are long gone. A good coach and management can build a contender in 2. But I said "good"
Posted 06:03 AM, 11/26/2008
JamesJ
jeff, I,ve been fired before, and I didn't get a $10 mil severance
Posted 08:05 AM, 11/26/2008
Lockyer
Donovan seems to struggle as the weather gets colder. Maybe all the injuries have caught up to him. I can't imagine the Eagles winning this game, unless the defense scores twice and sacks Warner ten times. I think Andy is hoping McNabb plays well enough for the remainder of the season to command a third round pick in a trade.
Posted 09:58 AM, 11/26/2008
stevewnj1
Cards have too much offensive fire power and the Eagles don't have a RB this week. The heart says Eagles, the head says the Cards in a blowout.
About Rich Hofmann
Rich Hofmann arrived at the Daily News in 1980 for a job whose status was officially designated as "full-time, temporary." A senior at Penn at the time, he was hired to fill in on the copy desk during a staff illness. The notion of him covering the Eagles or being a columnist did not exist in anyone's imagination. It was supposed to be six weeks and out, but he never left. It is only one of the reasons why so many people have concerns about him as a potential house guest. Rich has blogged the postseasons of the Flyers and Eagles.

You can now follow The Idle Rich on Twitter.
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