How Cowboys simulated DeSean
Rounding up some links and news:
* The names Jesse Holley and Manuel Johnson probably do not sound familiar to you. They are Dallas Cowboys receivers, who spent last season on the team's practice squad. Per the Cowboys' Web site, both were counted on to simulate DeSean Jackson for Dallas on the scout team last season. The Cowboys limited Jackson to eight catches for 90 yards in three meetings.
"They gave us a tremendous picture on how tough it would be to cover their receivers," Phillips said. "They're not DeSean Jackson but they work hard and they gave us that kind of picture. And it really helped us. They're the right kind of guys and they're talented, so I think they're coming along well."
Per the article, the receivers got game balls after the Week 17 win over the Birds.
* Great news for all Eagles fans over the age of 25. The Birds will bring back the kelly green jerseys and honor the 50-year anniversary of the 1960 championship team during their home opener against the Packers. It would be impossible to find anyone who thinks this is a bad idea. The Birds wore some version of the kelly green jerseys until the 1996 season when they switched to the current look.
You still see the old jerseys around the city and at the Linc, whether it's Chuck Bednarik, Randall Cunningham, Eric Allen, Harold Carmichael or whoever. But now, you can expect to see quite a few DeSean Jackson, Kevin Kolb, Brent Celek and Trent Cole kelly green jerseys.
* Too early for power rankings? ESPN.com doesn't think so. They've got the Eagles at No. 13:
The Eagles picked a tough time for Kevin Kolb to take over as quarterback. Their schedule features 11 top-level QBs, including two games against Donovan McNabb.
That puts them seventh in the NFC, behind the Saints, Vikings, Cowboys, Packers, Falcons and Cardinals. The Giants are 17th, and the Redskins 23rd.
* Speaking of the Redskins, Donovan McNabb was in attendance at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner. And apparently, he was a little star-struck at seeing Justin Bieber.
From washingtonpost.com:
Justin Bieber, the tiny tween idol with a big bow tie, was striding out of the dining room of the Hilton Washington Saturday night when a much larger man stopped him and asked to shake his hand.
"My daughter loves you," said Donovan McNabb.
Bieber, 16, with a swagger way beyond his years, turned and took the new Redskins quarterback's outstretched hand. "You might want to shake it before I go to the bathroom," the singer said. McNabb waited for Bieber to emerge from the men's room and asked for photo with him. "This is going to help me at home," he said.
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