What they're saying about the Eagles
Are national writers predicting a postseason berth for the Eagles? How are Jason Babin and Lito Sheppard adjusting to their new teams? Here's a roundup of some links and notes.
What they're saying about the Eagles
Sheil Kapadia, Philly.com
It's only late June, but that hasn't stopped the national media from making predictions about the 2010 season.
Here's a roundup of links and what they're saying about the Eagles.
NFL.com's Vic Carucci predicts division winners and has the Cowboys taking the NFC East. He says the Giants will be Dallas' strongest competition. What about the Eagles?
Without McNabb, the Eagles suddenly look vulnerable. Kevin Kolb could eventually prove to be an outstanding replacement, but the fact he only has two career NFL starts is likely to be a problem. So is the fact Eagles coach Andy Reid will be relying on plenty of other young players.
Houston Texans offensive lineman Eric Winston would agree with Carucci. Winston pinch-hit for Peter King as Monday Morning Quarterback this week on SI.com. Here are the teams Winston has going to the postseason in the NFC: Cowboys, Vikings, Saints, 49ers, Packers, Falcons.
But Winston's got some love for the Eagles:
Philadelphia was hard to leave off but first-time starter Kevin Kolb will have his hands full. I got to know Kevin my first couple years in Houston when he was lighting up the scoreboard for the Cougars, and I like his mental makeup. I don't think the notorious Philly media and fans will bother him as much as people think it will. The NFC East simply will be tough sledding. They are all going to knock each other around this year.
Give Winston some credit for making predictions. In general, it's extremely rare for current players to do that sort of thing. He left the Jaguars and Titans off his list of playoff teams and will have to face each of those squads twice this season.
One guy who's not counting the Eagles out is CBSSports.com's Clark Judge. Judge says the NFC East is the strongest division in football and warns readers not to underestimate Andy Reid:
I don't know what to make of Philadelphia, either, other than I would never, ever, ever, underestimate Reid. Two years ago disgruntled fans and irate talk-radio hosts wanted to run him and McNabb out of town after a listless midseason tie with Cincinnati. But Reid and McNabb didn't go away, and neither did the Eagles, reaching the playoffs and making it to the conference championship game for the fifth time in eight seasons.
Let's catch up with some former Eagles who now have new homes, starting with defensive end Jason Babin.
Babin signed with the Titans this offseason and seems to be content with his decision.
"I think the biggest thing here is just that I'm getting coached,'' Babin told The Tennessean. "In Seattle, they didn't want me, didn't coach me, didn't talk to me. Here, I'm wanted. I'm getting coached. (Washburn) tells me what I need to work on and boom, boom, boom, it works.''
Babin didn't take any jabs at the Eagles in the article, and he really would have no reason to. The Birds gave him a shot last August when he was without a team and his NFL career was at a crossroads. He worked his way on to the roster, into the D-line rotation and now has extended his career. It'll be interesting to see how the Titans use him and what kind of success he has there. His teammates better get ready for some training camp skirmishes. Babin was in the middle of quite a few of those at Lehigh last summer.
And finally, Mr. Lito Sheppard. Hard to believe it was just a couple offseasons ago that the Eagles dealt him to the Jets. Sheppard spent one bad season in New York before being released and signing with the Vikings. Minnesota's system has more similarities to the Eagles' system, and former Birds assistant Leslie Frazier is the defensive coordinator there.
"I think I’m about 80-85 percent in the system right now as far as the different techniques and what I needed to work on to make that transition," Sheppard told the Minneapolis Star-Tribune. "I feel comfortable with my progress at this point, but there’s still a lot of work to be done and I’m looking forward to it."
Hard to believe Lito's only 29. Seems like he's been in the league for 15 years.
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Only on this comment board is Reid not highly-regarded.— Jim C.- Kevin Kolb will be a bust. Andy Reid has become stale. I predict we will have a 4-12 season.— josh moneyman
They love me on the Chowhound board too! Burrito time. Time's yours.— ANDY-IS-FAT- It's extremely hard to assess the prospects of any team going with a first time starting QB. I don't put any stock in any of the predictions this year for the Eagles since no one knows how Kolb will rise to the occasion. As an Eagle fan in D.C., I feel confident in saying that McNabb will confound Redskin watcher by coming up small causing Skins to lose 2 games they mentally put in the pre-season win column.— Claudio Vernight
- Call me overly optomistic- but I think the Eagles and Kevin Kolb in particular are going to pleasantly surprise everyone this season. The Birds may not take the division this year, but they will probably earn a wildcard spot. And then, NEXT year- they will be right back on top. I just don't see Kolb being a bust- between is college numbers and performance, his performance thus far in the NFL- you take take a franchise like the Eagles, one of the most profitable in the ENTIRE NFL, and put it in the hands of a QB gamble- you have to be sure about your decision. And i am pretty sure that the brass has made a decision they are very confident in. You don't give away a future HOFer like McNabb for a penny, wish and prayer of a QB. I think they know something the rest of the NFL pundits don't... and that is Kolb could be the real deal.— ArcaneAlchemy
Comment removed.- I don't get it...all of the brainwashed 610 listeners("Andy is fat" and "Josh Moneyyman"), listen to the negative garbage spewed by the so-called "sports" stations(really just spew contradiction so you idiots will get fired up) and then on Sunday put on their Eagles Jerseys and once again become Eagle's fans. Wake up Monday morning and start with their negative vibe again...guys I'm not breaking your balls just think about the rut you're in. So many of these guys coach youth teams, if your youth team loses or makes mistakes in the game do you kill them all week? NO, you take a positive spin...try it with the Birds, it makes the the whole fan experience much more enjoyable.— Gray Areas
- They hate Reid, they hate McNabb, they have Kolb, they hate Lurie, they hate banner ... what else is new ?— Gringo4
- Jay Grace: Abdomen, artichoke, adenoids, ...what are you trying to say?— mccloudmj
Any Eagle fan not booking a trip to Dallas for the Super Bowl is nuts. Take out a second mortgage sell your car or take on a second job just make sure that whatever you do book it early as it's a virtual lock. Kevin "Mr. Clutch" Kolb leadership alone places them in the Conference Championship and his will to win gets us over the hump which McNabb couldn't do with all the weapons McNabb had in his tenure. Kolb will dominate this league and easily place 12-20 of his teammates in the Pro Bowl. Wolf Out!- Lighten up gentlemen, it's called "humor".— ANDY-IS-FAT
- Look this team is young and rebuilding if they have a 500 season everyone should rejoice. Reid needs to devote himself to coaching, and give up (or have Lurie take it away) player personnel. His model for running a team Mike Holmgren was more effective after giving up a similar position. Let him devote his plans for games around what he has. He can send a wish list upstairs and they can get it for him. He cleaned house, this should be the year he proves himself or follows McNabb out he door.— drpfs
- @mccloudmj - don't bother trying to get anything more out of Jay Grace. That's where his intellect ends.
- It is interesting to see some on here that pretty much dislike everything about the Eagles, yet, remain so-called fans. I guess the days of backing your team regardless of the owner, coach, GM, QB...etc, are long gone. For me, unless my money is invested in them, I'm just a fan. GO EAGLES!!!— PhillyFanSouth
- Kolb Sucks. This team on paper is a joke. 4-12 looks like a fair assumption. Come on fat man, prove me wrong.— Big Ragu
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