THINKS THE EAGLES STOLE ONE
Eagles coach Andy Reid vowed that he still has confidence in kicker David Akers during his news conference today.
"I do," the coach said the day after his team's 24-20 loss to the Chicago Bears. "He needs to make those kicks, but I do (have confidence in Akers)."
The Eagles' veteran kicker missed wide right on a 50-yard field goal and hit the right upright on a 47-yarder in the third quarter. Had he made one of the two, the Eagles would have only needed a field goal to win the game when they were stopped near the goal line in the fourth quarter.
"The wind was blowing toward our bench," Reid said. "Where he was aiming was closer to the right side of the goal post. That's where he aimed and the wind didn't blow it back."
Reid said the two misses were more a case of miscalculating the wind than Akers' leg strength.
"I think the leg strength is still there," the coach said. "You can see it on his kickoffs."
INJURY NEWS. Reid said he wasn't certain if running back Brian Westbrook (strained right ankle) would be able to return to practice Wednesday when the team starts preparing for Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.
"If he had to practice today, he wouldn't be able to do it," Reid said. "As far as how he feels, he feels better (than last week)."
Westbrook went through warmups before Sunday night's game, but he wasn't able to play.
Reid also said that Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews' back issue is not improving.
"He's going to see (a specialist) this week," Reid said. "We have to find a way to get it better. The doctors are optimistic about it."
Reid said surgery is not an option for Andrews right now.
The coach said that tight end L.J. Smith's sore back was improving.
Brian Westbrook will not play tonight against the Chicago Bears. The Eagles' star running back warmed up before the game at Soldier Field, but it was determined afterward that he should not play on the strained right ankle he suffered in the second quarter of last week's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
This will be the 10th time since 2003 that the Eagles have played a game without Westbrook. They are 5-5 in those games and have averaged 17.6 points per game. This is the first game Westbrook has missed since Week 4 of last season when he sat out a Sunday night game against the New York Giants. The Eagles lost that game 16-3.
Correll Buckhalter will start at tailback. This will be Buckhalter's fourth start in the last three seasons and first this year.
In addition to Westbrook, tight end L.J. Smith will be out with a back injury and guard Shawn Andrews will miss his second straight game with a back injury. Neither Smith nor Andrews made the trip to Chicago with the team Saturday. Also inactive were defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and Bryan Smith, guard Mike McGlynn and wide receiver Kevin Curtis.
Devin Hester will play for the Bears after missing last week's game against Tampa Bay with torn rib cartilage, but Pro Bowl defensive tackle Tommie Harris will not play because of an injury to his left knee. Israel Idonije will start in place of Harris.
It was as strange a sight as you'll ever see on Michigan Avenue. On a comfortable cloudy day with a pleasant breeze, the Magnificent Mile was filled with people on both sides of the street when out of blue (or is that green?) came a giant RV detailed to be an Eagle-mobile. Speakers from inside the giant party vehicle blared the Eagles' fight song much to the dismay of the Chicago natives and Bears fans.
One of those street mimes practiced in the art of standing still had a sign in front of him telling his onlookers that he'd move for tips, but he also moved when he saw the bus.
"Boo," the silver man screamed at the bus. "What is that crap? This is Chicago. This is Bears country."
It was quite the scene.
As for the game, the inclination is to look for a low-scoring defensive game like the one the Eagles won last week against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
I don't think it will be that low scoring, however.
The pick: Eagles 24, Bears 16
Eagles defensive end Trent Cole was fined $5,000 for his facemask on Pittsburgh quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, an official from the NFL office in New York said today.
Cole was flagged for a 15-yard personal foul penalty on the play, which occurred just before the two-minute warning in the first half of the Eagles' 15-6 win over the Steelers Sunday. Flagrant facemask penalties often result in fines from the league and there was substantial evidence that the Eagles' defensive end held onto Roethlisberger's facemask far too long after grabbing it. Cole also was credited for a sack on the play.
Steelers defensive end Orpheus Roye, however, was not fined by the league for his helmet-to-helmet hit on running back Tony Hunt at the end of the Eagles' first offensive series. Hunt suffered a concussion on the play and was knocked out of the game. The play resulted in a fumble by the Eagles' fullback, which was recovered by the Steelers at their own 20-yard line. Referee Walt Anderson appeared to have botched the review process because Hunt's left knee was clearly down before he fumbled the football.
The league did not say why Roye was spared a fine on the hit.
You can also find an earlier Birds' Eye blog on the Eagles' injury situation by clicking here.
Quarterback Donovan McNabb was back running the first-team offense this morning at Eagles practice, which means he'll likely be ready to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears.
Both McNabb (chest contusion) and running back Brian Westbrook (strained right ankle) were listed as questionable on the Eagles' injury report after practice. Westbrook, however, did not participate in practice. Westbrook still had a slight gimp in his walk Thursday inside the locker room, but he is the player on the Eagles' roster most experienced at missing an entire week of practice and still being able to play in the game. Westbrook missed the practice week on a number of occasions last year because of a sore knee and still played in games.
Tight end L.J. Smith (lower back pain) also missed practice for the third straight day. Unlike Westbrook, Smith was in attendance at practice, but his status is listed as doubtful for Sunday. Guard Shawn Andrews (lower back) missed practice again and is also listed as doubtful.
McNabb, according to Inquirer reporter Joe Juliano, looked fine throwing the football inside the NovaCare Complex practice bubble. McNabb said Wednesday he expected to be ready for Sunday's game against the Chicago Bears.
If Westbrook is unable to play, Correll Buckhalter will start at tailback. Smith would be replaced in the lineup by second-year tight end Brent Celek and third-year guard Max Jean-Gilles will likely make his second straight start at right guard in place of Andrews.
The Eagles piped in crowd noise in preparation for Sunday's game at Soldier Field.
The Eagles have eight men on their practice squad and almost as many on the non-practice squad these days.
Coach Andy Reid said this morning that quarterback Donovan McNabb (chest contusion), running back Brian Westbrook (ankle), tight end L.J. Smith (back), fullback Tony Hunt (concussion) and guard Shawn Andrews (back) would all miss practice this afternoon.
Second-year defensive end Victor Abiamiri (thumb) also remained out of practice and will miss his fourth straight game as will wide receiver Kevin Curtis, who was expected to work with the scout team for the first time during this afternoon's practice.
McNabb said was still sore but expected to play Sunday against the Chicago Bears. Surprisingly, Westbrook is also holding out hope that he'll be recovered enough from the injury to his right ankle to play.
"I'm optimistic about getting out there and being able to play," Westbrook said. "I've been rehabbing pretty agressively, doing everything I can to be out there on the field Sunday night."
After leaving Lincoln Financial Field in a walking boot and on crutches Sunday night, Westbrook definitely appeared to be moving much better this morning when he made his weekly podium appearance at the NovaCare Complex.
"I've gotten better ... so I have that hope that I can get out there and play," he said.
Reid said Andrews, Smith and Hunt were all showing signs of improvement.
Three blogs in one day. I deserve a raise. A big raise.
Now that I've got that off my chest and I've reviewed another game on my DVR, it's time for the Week 3 Up-Down Drill, sponsored by my eyes. This week, a flying Brian Dawkins will represent the ups and a grounded Ben Roethlisberger will handle the downs.
BRIAN DAWKINS
Look, up in the air, it's a bird, it's a plane, it's a 34-year-old man. What a play. What a game. What kind of idiots would think this guy's career is over?
BEN ROETHLISBERGER
Bet you the Steelers' quarterback had a headache today. We know he had a handache.
SAV ROCCA
This guy must have been a lot of fun to watch in his Australian Football League prime.
WILLIE PARKER
For one of the few times in his career, he looked like a backup running back from North Carolina.
JUQUA PARKER
He was in so many places, it seemed as if Juqua Thomas was on the field with him.
MIKE TOMLIN
The Steelers' coach had a good game plan, but he must have lost it at the airport.
JIM JOHNSON
Or perhaps the Steelers' game plan mistankly ended up in the mail box of the Eagles' defensive coordinator.
PITTSBURGH'S OFFENSIVE LINE
Their heads turned so often it appeared as if Adam Eaton was protecting Big Ben.
HANK BASKETT
He's another reason Reggie Brown may never start for the Eagles again.
BRIAN WESTBROOK
It'll be shocking if the Eagles' star running back returns from his ankle injury in the near future.
Eagles coach Andy Reid described running back Brian Westbrook's situation as day to day after the running back underwent an MRI examination on his right ankle this morning, but the running back admitted on his 950 ESPN radio show this evening that he is still in pain and it's more than a run-of-the-mill sprain.
Westbrook compared it to an injury suffered by teammate Brian Dawkins in the past, but he did not specify which injury. Dawkins missed the final game of last season with a foot injury, but he also had the more severe LisFranc sprain in 2003 when the safety missed nine games.
Asked if it was a high ankle sprain, Westbrook hinted that was the case.
"I know it's not a regular ankle sprain where you take a couple days off and you're fine," Westbrook said. "I think it's closer to being a high ankle sprain than anything else."
The ankle injury, which occured on the first play of the second quarter, knocked Westbrook out of the Eagles' 15-6 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers Sunday. Reid continued to describe the injury as an ankle strain. Westbrook said his right foot got caught in the turf at Lincoln Financial Field after he lost his balance because his left foot landed on teammate Tra Thomas.
"It was painful," Westbrook said on his radio show. "I've sprained my ankle before and I've had different ankle injuries, so I knew it was something. Of course you never know exactly what it is until you get it checked out. I went ahead and got an X-ray, the X-rays were negative and I started rehabbing today. It's going to be painful. I had ligaments and tendons in there that may have been sprained."
Reid, ever the optimist when it comes to injuries, suggested that Westbrook might be able to play Sunday against the Bears in Chicago, but that sounds unlikely.
"He was on crutches yesterday and he's limping around without crutches today," the coach said at his noon news conference. "I guess that's a positive. It will be a race to get him ready for Sunday. It's not torn or damaged, but there is a strain in there, yes."
If Westbrook cannot play, Correll Buckhalter would get the start. Reid said he thought fullback Tony Hunt would be able to return against the Bears after being knocked out of Sunday's game with a concussion in the first quarter.
Reid also seemed to think that quarterback Donovan McNabb will be ready for the Bears.
"Do I think he'll be sore this week? Yeah," Reid said. "He's sore today and I think he'll get progressively better as the week goes on. He's got a contusion on his upper chest."
The coach did not have an update on tight end L.J. Smith, who left the game with a back injury.
It did not sound as if Pro Bowl guard Shawn Andrews was close to returning to the lineup. Reid said Andrews' lower back injury had not improved.
REPLAY IT AGAIN SAM. It’s one thing for the officials to get things wrong on the field because the players and the game move ultra fast in the NFL. But the replay official has the modern technology of super slow motion and plenty of time to get the calls right.
And still replay official Dale Hamer whiffed when he overturned a ruling by line judge Byron Boston that Tony Hunt was down by contact in the first quarter. That should never happen. Hamer’s gaffe cost the Eagles the football and probably at least three points.
The Steelers challenged the play and Hamer determined that Hunt lost the football after simultaneously taking three jarring hits from
From the angle that the ball is most visible, it’s clear that Hunt is losing the ball as he goes to the ground. What’s not clear, however, is whether his left knee has already hit the ground when the ball comes loose. Watch the back angle replay, which is the final replay shown by CBS, and it’s clear that Hunt’s knee is down before the ball starts to come loose.
The most conclusive evidence on the replay is how Hunt suffered the concussion that ended his day. Defensive end Orpheus Roye had a running start before applying a helmet-to-helmet hit on the running back. If the NFL watches the replay, it might consider fining Roye. Hunt was hit so hard he almost came out of his pants as he hit the ground.
The comment by Dave 582 makes an outstanding point. Referee Walt Anderson does have the final say on the replay because he's the guy examining the replay from field level. So apologies to Dale Hamer and Dave, but Anderson still got the call wrong.
Sometimes the games seem far less important and this is certainly one of those times.
Jamaal Jackson, for the second straight game, will be playing with a heavy heart today after attending the funeral of his older brother Kamar, a father of four who was killed instantly in South Florida by a driver who was later charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving under the influence.
A South Florida television station had details of the gruesome hit-and-run accident.
Teammates Todd Herremans and Tra Thomas reportedly attended the funeral yesterday. Kamar Jackson was killed Sunday night, so Jamaal, the Eagles' starting center, knew about his brother's death when he played Monday night against the Dallas Cowboys. Jamaal, 28, grew up in Miami, but went to college at Delaware State. His brother was 29.
Regardless of what happens today, you have to admire Jamaal Jackson just for being able to play the game.
PREDICTION: Eagles 20, Steelers 17.
In response to Whitey's counterpoint column in today's Daily News, this blogger would like to say thanks and well done.
Whitey -- one of columnist Rich Hofmann's nicknames -- wrote an intelligent piece on how Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb can and has rallied his team to victories in the past.
This column came one day after yours truly pointed out that the quarterback has had his share of problems finishing games, especially in comparison to the great Tom Brady and some others. My point was that if McNabb wants to be great rather than very good, he has to finish better. I stand by my point, but agree with my good friend Whitey -- no, really, we are good friends -- that McNabb is quite capable of getting the job done.
You don't get to the Super Bowl and come within four points of winning it if you are not capable of getting the job done.
The one problem I had with Whitey's well-written and researched column was that he used the Tampa Bay loss from two seasons ago as an example of a game the quarterback deserved credit for rallying his team that was botched by the defense. That part is true, but you have to take into account that the only reason the Eagles were behind in the first place was because McNabb had thrown two touchdowns to Tampa Bay cornerback Ronde Barber on a day when the Bucs had about as much chance of getting an offensive touchdown as I do of scoring at a supermodel convention.
Barber, by the way, has just two fewer career TD receptions from McNabb than Freddie Mitchell, but that's another story entirely. McNabb also cost the Eagles points at the end of the first half of that Tampa Bay game when he failed to throw a pass in the end zone and let the clock expire without giving David Akers a chance to kick a field goal.
Anyway, I really want to thank Whitey for giving me something to blog about. Without your column, I had nothing.
P.S. I did link to your story this time.
