What they're saying about the Eagles
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What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
I needed to switch things up this week, so you'll get Five Eagles numbers that matter on Tuesday.
And if you missed it from Sunday, I posted some final thoughts on the Birds' front-office shakeup.
Meanwhile, here's a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles:
SI.com's Peter King thinks last week's Joe Banner move made sense:
I think the Eagles' changes last week -- the rise in influence of GM Howie Roseman, the consolidation of power to coach Andy Reid, the decline of president Joe Banner -- was a pretty easy decision. Roseman, 36, was the ideal man to handle football operations for the Eagles. Don Smolenski, 45, was the ideal person to handle the business operations for the Eagles. Why ideal? Because Roseman and Smolenski have the jobs of their dreams, running the football and business side of a pro football team. Banner, the outgoing president, wanted to do more. He wants either to have final say of a professional team or own one. That wasn't going to happen in Philadelphia. There's no animosity here. Just a common-sense move by owner Jeff Lurie.
ESPN.com's Dan Graziano says Andy Reid is gaining power and on the hot seat at the same time:
The people running the Eagles do not believe they will flop or finish under .500, or that they'll have to make a tough decision about Reid. The Eagles are running their organization with a long-term perspective, and on the assumption that 2012 will be a good year in which they field a strong contender and continue to build on Reid's long record of success as a head coach. Assuming that happens, 2011 becomes easy to regard as an aberration, and the plan can proceed in the way it's being outlined for us all today.
Clark Judge of CBSSports.com buys the Eagles' story that Banner is just seeking a new challenge:
Let's get something straight: Joe Banner's departure as president of the Philadelphia Eagles was not forced, has nothing to do with the team's performance last season, has nothing to do with a power struggle and has nothing to do with conflict -- real or perceived -- with coach Andy Reid.
Nope, Joe Banner's departure is all about one thing: Joe Banner's ambition.
With Banner gone, Greg Bedard of The Boston Globe says the pressure's now on Reid:
It will also be interesting to see how the Eagles operate. Both Reid and Roseman are known for being friendly with players and agents. They’re both personable and want to do right by the players. Banner served as the bad guy a lot of the time, and he understood that was his role. Somebody had to make sure the team was in the proper financial position to field a winner year after year. Banner did that. Now it’s Reid’s turn. And there won’t be anyone else to take the blame.
Gary Horton of Scouts, Inc. has Jason Kelce tabbed as a breakout player in 2012:
He was a sixth-round pick in 2011 and started every game as a rookie but played like a veteran. His guru offensive line coach, Howard Mudd, developed longtime center Jeff Saturday at Indianapolis, and Kelce's skill set is similar. He doesn't have great size, but he is very savvy and he can get to the second level and block in space. Best of all, the coaches trust him to make the line calls and adjustments, which is a huge help to QB Michael Vick. He can become an anchor of a vastly improved unit.
Dan Pompei of the National Football Post says Michael Vick is doing the right things this offseason:
This is the first time Michael Vick has had an offseason as the Eagles starting quarterback, and he is determined to take advantage of it. Vick, according to those who know, has been first in, last out at the NovaCare Complex. After accounting for 18 turnovers in 13 games and enduring a disappointing season, Vick wants to make sure he is in prime physical shape and in prime mental shape and is working hard on both fronts.
ESPN.com's Ashley Fox has LeSean McCoy ranked as the best running back in the NFL:
The running back position has evolved. The best backs are multi-faceted. McCoy is versatile, reliable, young and coming off a season in which he set a franchise record with 20 touchdowns. Best of all for the Eagles, he just signed a five-year extension.
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Please don't post any fire Reid remarks. Im the first that wants him gone but if you believe he will you are just a fool and I got some tap water to sell you so stop by. This will be a 10-6 team and maybe one playoff win and that's all is needed for him to stay.— Deaweeave
I don't think it will happen, but if the Eagles finish 8-8 or worse Reid will probably be a front office guy and one of his coordinators will be head coach. Banner leaving didn't go down with a possible firing of Reid IF the Eagles don't reach the playoffs. Andy will be around for as long as he wants.- Reid has been here for FOURTEEN long, long years....Reid needs to finally win a SUPER BOWL (Giants coach has won TWO in only last 4 years)...Finishing 10-6 again will not cut it...Reid needs to finally win a SUPER BOWL...or Reid will be fired.— phil500
- Deaweeave are you joking?! I don't necessarily want reid fired but come on!!! The Niners AND Giants had the same short camp and pre-season, Niners with a new coach so there goes the excuses. It ALL starts at the top. The Eagles have the line-up to not only win the division but possibly be the number one offense in the NFC...but that all starts with how the COACHES USE THE PLAYERS!!!!!! I don't care how many TDs McCoy had: when you don't use Asomugha against Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter of a game you ABSOLUTELY have to win, then BENCH a guy who is arguably the biggest offensive threat you have in that same game, something is seriously wrong with your game planning against the FRIGGIN CARDINALS!! Oh, yeah: having Vince Young throw 4 picks against the Seahawks in yet ANOTHER GAME you MUST WIN??! Maybe they would have learned by that point that Seattle's offense was a joke and they maybe should have allowed their big pay-day corners to play the way they are used to against such poor QBs. Reid abondons the run. 14 years of this. Other coaches can smell the blood in the fourth quarter against this guy like sharks. It's not rocket science to know Andy/Marty are going to pass, pass, pass, punt when they are down with the clock running. 10-6, 8-8, whatever, there is no room for excuses this season; they have the players, they have the time, they have the division. Eli, Romo and a rookie?! Come on.— girouxforpresident
- Deaweeave are you joking?! I don't necessarily want reid fired but come on!!! The Niners AND Giants had the same short camp and pre-season, Niners with a new coach so there goes the excuses. It ALL starts at the top. The Eagles have the line-up to not only win the division but possibly be the number one offense in the NFC...but that all starts with how the COACHES USE THE PLAYERS!!!!!! I don't care how many TDs McCoy had: when you don't use Asomugha against Fitzgerald in the fourth quarter of a game you ABSOLUTELY have to win, then BENCH a guy who is arguably the biggest offensive threat you have in that same game, something is seriously wrong with your game planning against the FRIGGIN CARDINALS!! Oh, yeah: having Vince Young throw 4 picks against the Seahawks in yet ANOTHER GAME you MUST WIN??! Maybe they would have learned by that point that Seattle's offense was a joke and they maybe should have allowed their big pay-day corners to play the way they are used to against such poor QBs. Reid abondons the run. 14 years of this. Other coaches can smell the blood in the fourth quarter against this guy like sharks. It's not rocket science to know Andy/Marty are going to pass, pass, pass, punt when they are down with the clock running. 10-6, 8-8, whatever, there is no room for excuses this season; they have the players, they have the time, they have the division. Eli, Romo and a rookie?! Come on.— girouxforpresident
- Eagles go 9 and 7 but miss Playoffs. Reid resigns and is promoted to President of football Operations. Juan Castillo is promoted to Head Coach. Who needs experience? The Insanity continues without Joe!— cooperhawk
- Eagles wins SB. Reid keeps job and gets more authority. Marty retires. Castillo leaves for HC job we get 2 second rd and a 3rd round pick in return. DB coach promoted to DC. Did I forget anything? OH yeah...MV wins MVP! Poof! (alarm sound) Time for work and im late.— NC Eagle Fan
Banner's act plays well with the clueless national media. The same ones who could not understand why #5 was not beloved and wanted before the the Skins/Vikings debacle............— Earl J- When Vick gets hurt (and he always does) none of this superbowl hype will matter. Why hasn't Reid been able to convince Vick to slide when running and not take any more unnessary shots to his fragile body?— farley
- The Eagles are built to win 12 or 13 games this year. Last year I felt they were capable of 12 wins, I failed to figure in on all the new additions to the team. That's not the problem this year.
So who here thought that in July the Giants and 49ers would have successful seasons and meet each other in the NFC Championship?
Joe Banner wasn't fired based on the reports coming from the Eagles, I could never understand why there was a General Manager and President of Football Operations. That would seem to me that the President is stepping on the historic responsibilities of the general manager in negotiating player contracts. The new Kid, Howie seemed to have picked up the ins and outs of contract negotiating and managing the teams affairs, and he has help coming from the President that takes care of all things other than player performance in the operations. Banner was the guy, as I can imagine who was a wiz in negotiating contracts and organizational development. That's what makes sense to me, he was at that function a very long time. He is probably more suited now to own and run his own team. I've read a number of opinions the Phila writers have on this issue. It's apparent to me that the writers in phila are as loss and in the dark as the fan are...... It doesn't seem as dramatic and suspenseful as the Phila Writers make this reorganization out to be. However, some of the post made exceptional fictional reading.
All of the articles amounted to speculatory bs— Dexter - The Eagles are built to win 12 or 13 games this year. Last year I felt they were capable of 12 wins, I failed to figure in on all the new additions to the team. That's not the problem this year. So who here thought that in July the Giants and 49ers would have successful seasons and meet each other in the NFC Championship? Joe Banner wasn't fired based on the reports coming from the Eagles, I could never understand why there was a General Manager and President of Football Operations. That would seem to me that the President is stepping on the historic responsibilities of the general manager in negotiating player contracts. The new Kid, Howie seemed to have picked up the ins and outs of contract negotiating and managing the teams affairs, and he has help coming from the President that takes care of all things other than player performance in the operations. Banner was the guy, as I can imagine who was a wiz in negotiating contracts and organizational development. That's what makes sense to me, he was at that function a very long time. He is probably more suited now to own and run his own team. I've read a number of opinions the Phila writers have on this issue. It's apparent to me that the writers in phila are as loss and in the dark as the fan are...... It doesn't seem as dramatic and suspenseful as the Phila Writers make this reorganization out to be. However, some of the post made exceptional fictional reading. All of the articles amounted to speculatory bs (HTML deleted)— Dexter
- That Seahawks Game, I've always thought of Pete Carroll as a more superior coach than Andy Reid. Coughlin has that same edge over Belicheck.— Dexter
- Interesting, I'm not a McNabb Fan, however, without McNabb there would be on five NFC Championship Games in Phila. Say we had not taken McNabb, you would have had a succession of quarterbacks in phila, each of them object failures.
Same talk today, without Vick starting, who would be the Eagles Quarterback, Kevin Kolb...... Kolb has yet to start and finish a season in the NFL, as the go to guy, and he was traded for a second round pick and a starting Corner.
Lincoln Financial Field is the house McNabb Built. I am pretty sure without McNabb there would not be a 50,000 People waiting list on Eagles Season Tickets. I will go further to say without Mike Vick as Quarterback the Eagles would not sell out consistently, and be a main draw on the road.
If neither of those quarterbacks were ever in Philly,none of the success the Eagles had over the last 13 years would be realized. The Eagles would be the Cleveland Browns.
— Dexter - Dexter; You are wrong, Eagles fans have been filling Franklin Field, The Vet and now the Linc for over 50 years. Season tickets are passed from one generation to the next. Vick has been here only two years and has absolutely ZERO to do with the Linc being sold out, it would be sold out regardless of who the QB is, in fact Vick has divided the fan base more than any player in history.. and many Eagles fans will not root or support the Eagles until Vick is no longer on the team (maybe Vick's done after another failed season this year)...botton line is Eagles football is much bigger than any one individual player.— phil500
- "Vick, according to those who know, has been first in, last out at the NovaCare Complex..." Nice to read. Let's hope that leadership translates in to wins.— Commish
- Gah, way too early to make any season predictions. Need to see how the new guys fit into the team, how many injuries there are in training camp, etc. Plus how the other division teams do. Let's all chill for a few months first.— verve
- It's Andy for life, I'm afraid.— NM Eagle fan
Ashley Fox - Yuke- CASTILLO promoted to head coach I read....hmmm can you say Kotite II, make it a double no ice bartender....— glove69
- Last year nobody was on the same page. Position roles were not defined causing chaos and ill-perceived attitudes. I do not agree about Bean-counter Banner, he set the disrespect in motion before players got on the field. We need awesome TE plays, and Vick well-prepared. 12-4— Homersez
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