Archive: September, 2012
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
JEFF MCLANE
Week 1: For the second straight season the Eagles open on the road at an opponent that is expected to finish near or at the bottom of its division. The Browns, in fact, could end the year with the worst record in the NFL. They’re ranked last in the AP Pro32, a poll of 12 NFL writers and broadcasters, heading into Week 1. (The Eagles are eighth.)
Cleveland will be starting its fifth opening day quarterback in five years. Brandon Weeden may be 28 and he may have shown signs that he can play in this league, but it’s too much to ask him to deliver a victory in his first career start. The same goes for ballyhooed rookie running back Trent Richardson. He had arthroscopic knee surgery a month ago and is expected to start, but his carries may be limited.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
QUESTION OF THE DAY
What should the Eagles' starting linebacking corps be? Comment and answer below.
FROM THE INQUIRER
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Eagles first-round pick Fletcher Cox was limited during Thursday's practice with knee inflammation. Asked about the injury after practice, Cox said it happened yesterday and was unconcerned.
"Individuals, planted wrong yesterday, and that's about it," Cox said.
He said it's a little swollen and will play on Sunday against the Browns.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
There's been a merry-go-round at linebacker over the last few seasons, but the Eagles made efforts this offseason to make it stop with the acquisitions of DeMeco Ryans and Mychal Kendricks.
Could it start spinning again when the season opens Sunday at Cleveland?
Kendricks said Thursday after practice that the coaches had each of the Eagles' six linebackers practicing in various permutations in several packages on defense.
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie joined the NFL in 1994, when Art Modell was still the Cleveland Browns owner. He moved the Browns to Baltimore, where they became the Ravens in 1996, and continued to own the team until 2004. Modell died on Thursday morning.
Here is a statement from Lurie:
“I will always be thankful for the way Art Modell reached out to me and made me feel welcome when I first became owner of the Eagles. Art was a man with a wonderful sense of humor. He also had a visionary grasp of the importance of making professional football accessible to television audiences, helping build the sport’s popularity to this day. We extend our condolences to the Modell family on his passing."
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
QUESTION OF THE DAY
Did you see anything in the Giants-Cowboys game that made you any more excited or less excited about the Eagles' chances of winning the NFC East this season? Answer and discuss below.
SPECIAL EAGLES PREVIEW: OWNING UP
Philly.com Sports
Video: The Inquirer's Jeff McLane, The Plain Dealer's Mary Kay Cabot and CineSport's Noah Coslov preview the Eagles-Brown opening game. Brandon Weeden will make his NFL debut during the matchup.
Philly.com Sports
Video: The Inquirer's Zach Berman reports from Eagles practice as the team gets set for their season opener against the Browns. Michael Vick talked about recovering from his rib injury.
Jeff McLane, Inquirer Staff Writer
Fletcher Cox said there's no additional pressure because he's a No. 1 draft pick.
Even if the defensive tackle is feeling the heat, Andy Reid and the Eagles coaches are doing their best to unburden Cox.
"I've heard stories where guys had a lot of [expectations]. I'm sure there's a lot of expectation of me," Cox said Wednesday, a few days before the Eagles open their season at Cleveland. "I just can't come in and things happen right then. You got to grow into the system. I feel like I'm doing pretty good. I don't feel like there's any pressure on me."
Zach Berman, Inquirer Staff Writer
It looks like the NFL will go into the season with replacement officials. Jason Avant, who is entering his seventh NFL season and is a respected voice in the Eagles locker, sees potential danger in the NFL's inability to reach an agreement with the officials' union, which he believes contradicts NFL commissioner Roger Goodell's stance on player safety.
"Our commissioner is all about player safety, and a deal not being done, there's a definite compromise, kind of an oxymoron, so to speak, when it comes to player safety with the refs not being there," Avant said. "A lot of guys are kind of concerned about it. That's a big deal for us, as far as player safety. Around the locker room, everyone talks about it. All the players know about it."
Avant said that players will know what what calls the officials will make, and what calls a player can get away with. And players will use this to their advantage -- and potentially risk opposing players in the process.
