Eagles, LeSean McCoy Agree To Deal

The Eagles have locked up their starting Running Back. LeSean McCoy and the Eagles have agreed to a 5 year extension, worth $45 Million. He is guaranteed over $20 million. 


The 23 year old McCoy rushed for 1309 yards and scored 17 Touchdowns. His rushing total was good for fourth best in the NFL, but was first with 17 rushing touchdowns. 


Both sides make out pretty well here. McCoy gets a massive raise from his rookie contract, but the Eagles did not have to break the bank on one of the best Backs in the NFL today. More importantly, the Eagles were able to work out a deal before the Ravens could with Ray Rice. 


Rice and McCoy put up similar numbers in 2011, and a big payday was in line for Rice. If the Ravens overpaid for Rice, the Eagles would most likely find themselves digging a little deeper into their pockets. 


Philadelphia has done a good job locking up their youthful core, signing DeSean Jackson to an extension, and now McCoy. Next in line is WR Jeremy Maclin, whose deal is set to expire in 2014.

Jason Peters Re-Ruptures Achilles

In what a may be the most "doh!" injury story of all-time, Jason Peters has re-ruptured his achilles, according to CSN's Derrick Gunn.


Peters first injured his achilles during workouts in Texas on March 27th, and had surgery soon after. Coach Andy Reid said there was a chance he could return in 2012.


No chance now.


Apparently Peters was using his Roll-A-Bout, a device he has used to help him get around. The device broke, and Peters 340 pound frame slammed face first into the floor, re-repturing  his achilles. 


If I could make a suggestion to his doctors, it would be to put him in a bubble. Now, his career is in jeopardy. 


On the bright side, Peters joins the Ridiculous Injury Hall Of Fame, with Sammy Sosa for hurting his back while sneezing, Felix Pie's twisted testicle, and Orlando Brown for being hit in the eye with a penalty flag.


Jason Peters, first ballot RIHOFer. Has a nice ring to it.

Eagles Sign 3 More Draft Picks, Jacory Harris

The Eagles have signed three more late round picks. 4th round pick CB Brandon Boykin, 6th round pick OG Brandon Washington, and 7th round pick RB Bryce Brown. All received 4 year deals.

Boykin will battle Joselio Hanson for the starting Nickel job, while Brandon Washington will play a reserve role. For Brown, he will most likely have to fight for a Roster spot.

The Eagles finally filled their 90 man roster, signing Washington's former teammate at the University of Miami. QB Jacory Harris signed a contract with the Eagles as the last roster spot on the team. A four year starter at Miami, Harris threw for 2,486 yards and 20 Touchdowns. In his 4 year career, he threw for 8,826 yards.

Rookie Jersey Numbers

The Eagles have released the jersey numbers for their 2012 rookie class.

They are the following:

DT Fletcher Cox- #91
LB Mychal Kendricks- #95
QB Nick Foles- #9
CB Brandon Boykin- #22
OT Dennis Kelly- #67
WR Marvin McNutt- #83
RB Bryce Brown- #34
RBI Chris Polk- #32

Obviously jersey numbers are no big deal, but 95 on a Linebacker? It's like dressing a dog. Weird.

Brandon Boykin inherits Asante Samuel's 22, and the Eagles try and erase the painful memory of Vince Young and Ronnie Brown by giving their former numbers to Foles and Bryce Brown.

Eagles Sign 3 More Draft Picks

Yesterday, the Eagles signed their 2nd round pick Mychal Kendricks.

Today, they have officially 3 more draft picks: 2nd round pick DE Vinny Curry, 5th round pick OT Dennis Kelly, and 6th round pick WR Marvin McNutt, according to Eagles Insider via Twitter.

All contracts are four years.

Curry will most likely be a rotational Defensive End, while McNutt and Kelly will most likely play a reserve role.

Curry had 10 sacks in his Senior season at Marshall, and McNutt lead the Big 10 in Touchdowns at Iowa.

Eagles Agree To Deal With LB Kendricks

According to Eagles GM Howie Roseman, the Eagles have signed Cal. Linebacker Mychal Kendricks. 


The Eagles used their 46th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft to select Kendricks.


Roseman also said the deal is for 4 years, but did not disclose terms. He is the first Eagles draft pick to be signed. 

The Passing Of Junior Seau And What It Means For Football

After a long and exhausting investigation into the New Orleans Saints "Bountygate", the NFL finally hoped to get rid of one of the biggest black marks to cover the sport. 

The New Orleans Saints coaches, as well as players, paid members of the Saints active Roster for "kill shots" delivered to a targeted player. Jonathan Vilma was suspended an entire season, the Packers Anthony Hargrove received an eight game suspension, and Scott Fujita was given a three game suspension. 

The Saints players listed above, as well as many others under Defensive Coordinator Gregg Williams participated in acts that are unspeakable: paying players to deliver illegal hits with malicious intent. 

Players such as future HOF Quarterback Kurt Warner of the Cardinals were victims of these horrific hits, and sustained brutal concussions.

Concussions in Latin mean to "shake violently". Violence is a word used very commonly in the sport of Football. 

And for Junior Seau, the violence became too bad. 

It was so bad it was enough to take his life.

Seau, the 19 year NFL Veteran who spent time with the Chargers, Dolphins, and Patriots, was found dead in his San Diego area home. 

He shot himself in the chest, and was found dead by his housekeeper.

Seau was 43. 

So what does this mean for the NFL?

Probably nothing. Another statement released by the NFL as to how saddened they are to have lost a former player. A deceased retiree, his death chalked up to the toll a violent sport takes on the body.

However, this is a death that could have and should have been prevented.

The over use of the word violent is ridiculous. Football is a physical sport, and one that the players understand what is at stake.

What is violent about football is what the players go through after their playing career. It is the impact of concussions and addiction to painkillers that have become almost as horrifying as the passing of the players themselves.

Ray Easterling, formerly of the Atlanta Falcons, committed suicide in April. His wife believed Easterling had developed symptoms of dementia, due to the hits he had taken during his career.

The year before, Dave Duerson, formerly of the Chicago Bears, was found dead in his Florida home after sustaining a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the chest. A study of his brain revealed Duerson had suffered from a neurodegenerative disease linked to concussions.

Duerson and Easterling were by no means the first players to have committed suicide because of concussion like symptoms. Countless players from all different positions on the field ended their lives because of the pain and suffering they had gone through each day. 

It is not just a recent problem, either. Former Eagles Safety Andre Waters committed suicide in 2006, the cause being the multiple concussions he suffered throughout his career.

And why won't the NFL and the NFLPA do anything? Because there are players in the league who still hide their traumatic head injuries. 

It is apparent neither party has done enough to educate the players. While the NFLPA spent the entire NFL lockout of 2011 demanding that the NFL cut back on its OTAs because of the harmful effects of the body, the Players Association has made a mockery of themselves.

The main goal there is not to preserve the health of the players, but rather to give them the chance of earning more money.

Seau left behind three children. Time with family is far more valuable than any millions amassed over ones career. 

Scott Fujita is a member of the NFLPA, and helped advocate for more off time for the players. His role in the use of bounties on players is disgusting. 

If the players cannot respect other players, and the league is not doing nearly enough to protect them, who is there to help?

The answer is simple: nobody. The players are left to fend for themselves, heading down a path of chronic headaches and other body pains. And for those aches and pains they get daily, they begin to abuse prescription painkillers.

And why do they rely on painkillers?

The answer is even simpler: they were not taught any better. The Commissioner's office as well as members of the Players Association have not done nearly enough to educate the players on how to protect their bodies.

Roger Goodell can hand out as many $150,000 fines as he pleases. It is not enough. 

It will be enough when new players entering the league are required to take special courses on concussions and its effects. It will be enough when Goodell starts handing out suspensions similar to Anthony Hargrove for targets to the head. 

It will be enough, when the NFLPA tells its players that hiding their injuries will only hurt them, rather than sit at a table an argue over salaries.

This all should have stopped with Andre Waters. It should have ended with the passing of Dave Duerson. Ray Easterling's death should have been the last straw.

With Junior Seau's passing, it needs to stop now.

Eagles Pick Up 4 UDFAs

A busy day for the Eagles continued long into the night. As reported yesterday, the Eagles signed CB Cliff Harris, S Phillip Thomas, WR Damaris Johnson, and RB Chris Polk.


Well the Eagles have added 4 more guys to that total.


Overnight, the Eagles agreed to contracts with UMass FB Emil Igwenagu, Miami TE Chase Ford, Louisiana WR Darnell Williams, and Montana St. WR Elvis Akpla.


During his Sophomore year at UMass, Igwenagu caught 23 passes for 283 yards and a touchdown as an H-back. He moved to Fullback in 2011 and grabbed 38 passes for 375 yards and 3 touchdowns.


Chase Ford's stats don't really stand out. In 7 games, he caught 9 passes for 88 yards and 1 touchdown. He helped himself even land an NFL contract with a great showing at the annual East-West game.


In 2010, Darnell Williams led all of College Football in kickoff return average (48.5 yards). He caught 57 passes for 1,170 yards and 14 touchdowns. According to nfldraftscout.com, Williams also runs a 4.49 40 time.


The name Elvis Akpla sound familiar? It is because he did this against Sam Houston St. In 2011, Akpla scored 11 touchdowns, and 18 in his College career.


UPDATE: Eagles have signed 5 more UDFAs: Stanford FB Jeremy Stewart, BYU WR McKay Jacobson, ASU WR Aaron Pflugrad, UTEP LS Matt Camilli, KY P Ryan Tydlacka.

Eagles Work On Offense In 3rd Day Of The Draft

Iowa WR Marvin McNutt.

The Eagles continued to have a very strong draft in Day 3.


They used their 4th round selection to take Georgia CB Brandon Boykin, a very good value at Pick #123. 


Boykin is an extremely versatile player, so much so he actually contributed to the Bulldogs Offense as well as on the Defensive Side. He scored 1 TD receiving, and 1 TD rushing, and would be a perfect fit into the Wildcat formation, if the Eagles choose to use it.


On the Defensive side of the ball, Boykin had 3 INTs, all which came against SEC teams. He also is an extremely good return man, tallying 4 KRTDs in his 3 year career at Georgia.


He will challenge Joselio Hanson for the Nickel back position.


In the 5th round, the Eagles turned to the Offense, drafting Purdue OT Dennis Kelly. Kelly is a massive Tackle, standing at 6-8, 321 lbs. In the 2011 season, Kelly only missed 3 out of 796 snaps. Not the sexiest pick ever, but indeed a solid one.


The Eagles had two picks in the 6th round and stayed on the Offensive side of the ball, selecting Iowa WR Marvin McNutt and Miami OG Brandon Washington.


I believe McNutt was one of the most underrated WRs to come out of the 2012 Draft. In his Senior season with the Hawkeyes, McNutt led the Big 10 in receiving yards with 1,315 yards (16 yards per catch) and set a school record with 12 Touchdowns. He does not necessarily fit the typical description of an Eagles Wide Receiver, but possesses star qualities. His effort has been called in to question, but a big target like McNutt to compliment the speediness of Maclin and Jackson would be a great asset to Michael Vick.


A projected 3rd-4th rounder, Washington fell all the way to the Eagles late in the 6th. He started 15 games at LG, and 12 games at LT. In the 1,727 snaps Washington took, he was penalized only 8 times. Washington is a good run blocker, and his massive 320 lb. frame makes it hard for Defensive Linemen to get into the backfield.


With the Eagles last selection, they chose Kansas St. RB Bryce Brown. Brown is a very interesting story. Once the most coveted High School football player in America, many forgot he was still playing anywhere. Brown committed to Tennessee, and spent one season there, totaling 460 yards and 3 TDs on 101 carries. 


Once Lane Kiffin left for USC, Brown transferred to Kansas St. Brown was forced to sit out the '10-11 season, and his 2011-2012 season was less than ideal.


His stats for his last CFB season: 3 carries, 16 yards. Brown, if he evens make the final roster, would most likely be a 3rd down back. If he can play like he did in 2009, the reward will have been well worth the risk.


Even after the draft, the Eagles were not finished, as they signed UDFA Oregon CB Cliff Harris. Harris had a remarkable 2010 season with the Ducks. He had 6 interceptions (one which he returned for a TD), and 4 Punt Returns for Touchdowns. Harris was dismissed from the team last season after two off the field incidents, one of him driving 118 MPH on a suspended license, and a violation of team rules. 


UPDATE: Eagles grab their second UDFA, this time Washington RB Chris Polk. He had an incredible 2011 season with the Huskies, rushing for 1,488 yards and 12 TDs (16 total TDs) on 293 carries. Polk was expected to be a mid round pick, but went undrafted due to two bad shoulders. I believe Polk would be a better option than Bryce Brown if it came down to the two of them.


Eagles have also added Syracuse S Phillip Thomas. He had 6 INTs in 2011, which tied him for 3rd in the country. The Eagles are stacking up on ballhawks this year.


UPDATE #2: I do not think anyone in the Eagles franchise puts down the phone. Ever. The Eagles have signed another UDFA, this time Tulsa WR Damaris Johnson. Johnson holds the NCAA record for all purpose yards with 7,796 yards as well as kickoff return yardage with 3,417 yards. In 2011, he caught a ridiculous 182 passes for an even more ridiculous 2,611 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

Eagles Grab Kendricks, Curry, QB Foles in 2nd And 3rd Round

The Eagles have honed on one thing during the 2012 NFL Draft: speed on the Defensive side of the ball.


After the addition of DT Fletcher Cox, the Eagles continued to add to the Back 7. They used their 2nd round pick to select LB Mychal Kendricks, from Cal.


Kendricks earned the honor of Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, tallying 106 tackles (14.5 for loss), a sack, a forced fumble, 2 recovered fumbles, and a interception he returned for a Touchdown.


If these stats did not impress you, Kendricks had 13 tackles in one game against Andrew Luck and the high powered Stanford offense.


The Senior Linebacker is undersized at 5-11, but has scorching speed. He ran a 4.47 40, a phenomenal time no matter what position you play.


Kendricks can play both inside and outside, and get after the Quarterback. With the addition of veteran MLB DeMeco Ryans, the Eagles have vamped up their offense.


The Eagles traded down from Pick #51 with the Packers to Pick #59, and picked up a 4th rounder as well. 


The Eagles decided to take the best player on the board at #59, and grabbed DE Vinny Curry from Marshall. 


Curry is a pure pass rusher, something the Eagles needed to add. His Senior season at Marshall he had 11 sacks. 


Vinny Curry also grew up in Neptune, NJ, and said he was a big Eagles fans growing up. 


The Eagles now have 5 Defensive Ends, and Curry will provide some depth.


With their 3rd round selection, the Eagles surprised fans and media alike and selected Arizona QB Nick Foles.


Foles had his best statistical season last year, completing 69.1% of his passes with 28 TDs and 14 INTs. 


Foles is a very big guy and can survey the field in the pocket. He has an NFL arm, but forces passes.


He also needs to work on his footwork, as well as not holding on to the ball to long. Foles has at least 2 years before he may be called on to take over for Michael Vick, and Reid and Morhinweg are very capable of developing him into a star. 

Eagles Move to #12, Grab Fletcher Cox

The Eagles are getting their guy, without giving up the farm. 


Mississippi State's Fletcher Cox had been coveted by the Eagles all along, and somehow slid all the way to Pick #12. 


The Eagles knew they had to strike and did it quickly, trading up to Seattle's #12 in exchange for Pick #15, a 4th rounder and a 6th rounder.


Fletcher Cox is easily the best DT in the NFL Draft, and will make an immediate impact. 


In 2011, the Junior had 56 tackles and 5 sacks. 


Cox is 6-4, 298 lbs. but has a motor that makes some Linebackers jealous. Cox is a Nose Tackle, yet ran a 4.79 40 time.  His 40 time showed how elusive Fletcher Cox can be, and is able to finesse his way around Offensive Linemen. 


The Mississippi State product is a great run stuffer. Opposing Offenses will have to think twice before trying to run it up the middle. 


More importantly, Fletcher Cox will be able to take some pressure off of Cullen Jenkins. Jenkins was easily worn down at the end of the season because he was seeing plenty of double teams. Now, O-Linemen will be forced to keep an eye on both men.


Most scouts believe Cox is just scratching the surface of his potential. Then there is no better person to coach him than the Eagles Jim Washburn. Washburn has resurrected many careers, and has been responsible for grooming many rookies.


Andy Reid has said "Jim Washburn is very excited." to work with his new DT, and he should be.  Washburn will be able to command the best out of Cox, and will help him mature very quickly. The Wide 9 scheme fits Cox perfectly, because he can play outside as well as his natural position inside.


Cox seemed like a surefire Top 10 pick, and his fall to Pick #12 was shocking. GMs will lose sleep over passing up a talent like Fletcher Cox.

NFL Mock Draft (21-32)

Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden

Ah, the last 10 picks, the ones everyone is forced to stay up until midnight to see. But the talent pool is still large in the back half of the first round.


Pick #21: Cincinnati Bengals Select Alabama CB Dre Kirkpatrick
Cincinnati adressed their issues on the offensive side of the ball, and now Kirkpatrick will cover some holes on the defensive end. Kirkpatrick is your prototypical cornerback, standing at 6-2. However, his man coverage play separates himself from the pack. He has pretty good speed, and is very good at reading the Quarterback's eyes. He was a very well liked guy while at Alabama, and will bring some character to a locker room that desperately needs some good guys.


Pick #22: Cleveland Browns Select Okla. St. QB Brandon Weeden
This may not be a popular pick with Browns faithful, but it is probably a good one. Weeden is a 2nd round talent, but will be snatched up before the Browns pick (yes I know this because I'm psychic). Weeden's only red flag is that he's 28, but age is simply a number. He has good arm strength stemming from his time as a former pitcher, and can fit the ball into tiny windows. Frankly, the Browns need to groom a QB, and Weeden is the best guy on the board when their pick rolls around.


Pick #23: Detroit Lions Select Stanford T Jonathan Martin
Martin is the best Tackle in the entire draft. For a team that needs some O-Line help, it will be pretty hard to pass Martin up. The Stanford Linemen runs a 5.35 40, but don't let that time fool you: the guy can move. He does not get beat easy on the pass rush, and uses his massive frame to keep defensive linemen in check. Stafford favorite target is easily Calvin Johnson and that is no surprise, but he is going to need some time in the pocket so the two can continue to connect.


Pick #24: Pittsburgh Steelers Select Georgia T Cordy Glenn
Glenn saw his name skyrocket up draft boards after a fantastic NFL Combine. His 5.15 40 time left scouts in shock, seeing that Glenn happens to be 345 pounds. What is great about Glenn is his versatility. While at Georgia, he had 28 starts at Left Guard, 18 at Left Tackle, and 4 at Right Guard. He bulldozes through defensive linemen with ease and leads the way for his running backs. Glenn never missed a game at Georgia, and Pittsburgh will expect him to be a stalwart on the Steelers Offensive Line.


Pick #25: Denver Broncos Select Michigan St. DT Jerel Worthy
Jerel Worthy like Glenn has seen his name climb up draft boards because of a great Combine. Worthy is a big problem for Offensive Linemen, beating them off the line and using brut force to maneuver around them. Denver's Defense allowed an average of 24 points a game, as well 126.3 rushing yards, 10th worst in the league. Jerel Worthy will surely be a welcomed defensive addition.


Pick #26: Houston Texans Select LSU WR Ruben Randle
Randle may not be the best WR there at Pick #26, but he fits the Texans Wideout mold: Big and fast. Randle turned some heads in his last season at LSU catching 53 passes for 917 yards and 8 TDs. Andre Johnson has practically done it alone during his career in Houston, but the addition of a target like Ruben Randle will take some of the pressure off of him. 


Pick #27: New England Patriots Select Syracuse DE Chandler Jones
New England could end up with the steal of the draft. Chandler Jones has been touted as the best pass rusher in the 2012 draft by many, although he only has 10 sacks in 33 career games. His athleticism could allow him to flourish in both a 3-4 or a 4-3 scheme. It is a very good thing the Patriots have Tom Brady to carry them, because their defene last year was horrid. They allowed a ridiculous 411.1 yards, 2nd worst in the league. The Patriots desperately need some help, and Jones will help them off the end. Oh yeah, Chandler Jones is also brother of UFC champ Jon "Bones" Jones. Don't mess with him.


Pick #28: Green Bay Packers Select Boise St. OLB Shea McClellin
The only team to allow more yards than the Patriots...you guessed it, the Green Bay Packers! The Packers have A.J. Hawk and Clay Matthews, but are missing the 3rd OLB to pose a serious threat. McClellin could fill that void. Like Hawk and Matthews, McClellin is extremely agile, and can get after the Quarterback. He may need some grooming due to not playing against extremely tough talent, but the Boise St. product could pay off down the road. Sadly, McClellin does not bring the flow like Hawk and Matthews. Would have been the coolest threesome ever.


Pick #29: Baltimore Ravens Select Alabama ILB Dont'a Hightower

Alabama's Dont'a Hightower

Sadly, Ray Lewis & Terrell Suggs will not be around forever. The Ravens need to start grooming a replacement, and Hightower is a good choice. Hightower is a very good run stopper, something that Ray Lewis specializes in. He is a guy with good speed and has pretty good instincts. The Ravens will be glad they took Hightower.


Pick #30: San Francisco 49ers Select Georgia Tech WR Stephen Hill
The 49ers were so close, yet so far to making it to the Super Bowl. A guy like Stephen Hill could help them get there. Hill has blazing speed, and runs a 4.36 40 time, which was the best at the NFL Combine.The GT Wideout has great reach, and his 6-4 frame his part of the reason for that. If Hill can contribute throughout his NFL Career, he will make Alex Smith one happy man.


Pick #31: New England Patriots Select Notre Dame SS Harrison Smith
The Patriots will stay on the defensive side of the ball with their second 1st round pick, and Harrison Smith will be the guy at #31. Smith is so strong, he actually spent some time playing Linebacker during his Sophomore season at Notre Dame. He is an extremely good open field tackler as well, something very uncommon in safeties. He is a little raw, but under good coaching, he could become a pain for opposing QBs.


Pick #32: New York Giants Select Ohio St. T Mike Adams
Mike Adams is a skyscraper. Adams stands at 6-7, but his athleticism is phenomenal. Ohio St. is part of the Big 10, filled with some of the past rushers in the country. Adams was able to hold his own protecting Braxton Miller's blindside last year, and Terrelle Pryor the year before. New York loves giving the ball to Ahmad Bradshaw, and Adams can get out and lead the way. New York fans will love seeing Adams block for years to come.

Asante Samuel Traded to Atlanta

After weeks of speculation, the Eagles have dealt CB Asante Samuel to the Atlanta Falcons for a 7th round pick in 2012.


Samuel was due $10.5 million this season, and $11.5 million next season. The only way Atlanta would agree to a trade would be if Samuel reworked his contract.


Samuel obliged, and signed a 3 year deal with Atlanta worth $18.5 million, which averages out to a little more than $6 million per year.





Samuel will be missed...sort of. Asante Samuel was a great ballhawk, but was horrendous in man coverage. He flourished in zone coverage, which is where most of his 23 INTs with the Eagles came from.


Getting rid of Samuel allowed the Eagles to dump a lot of cash, and concentrate on giving LeSean McCoy the contract extension he deserves.


Cash was part of the reason for moving him. The Samuel trade also allows Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie to move to RCB (right cornerback).


Acquired in the Kevin Kolb trade, DRC was the odd man out of the Cornerback carousel, and was forced to play in the slot. Bad news was, Rodgers-Cromartie can't play slot, and the Eagles learned that out the hard way.


DRC will move to the outside this season, which he is much more comfortable playing. 


The Eagles play the Atlanta Falcons in Week 8. 

Brian Dawkins Retires

Today, the NFL lost a warrior. Former Eagles Safety Brian Dawkins announced via Twitter he will be retiring from the NFL.


For 13 seasons, Dawkins wowed Eagles fans. Dawkins carried himself with a swagger only he could. Off the field, he was quiet and kept to himself.


On the field, "B-Dawk" was thee leader. When he steppe on to the field, he made sure he left it all out there.


He played with no regard for his own safety, as his career is filled with jaw dropping, heart stopping, vicious hits.


Wide Receivers knew better than to cross Dawkins, or they would find themselves with their back on the ground and eyes to the sky.


In a league where defensive players were remembered for their hard play, Dawkins made sure he made a name for himself. Now the Dawkins name will be apart of Eagles history for the existence of the Eagles franchise.


For an extremely physical player, Dawkins made sure he was on the field every Sunday. In his 16 year career, Dawkins played in at least 13 games 13 times. If fans showed up to the stadium, and they always did, "B-Dawk" made sure to put on a show.


There will never be another Brian Dawkins. He is the epitome of a Hall of Famer, and was exemplary on and off the field


The Eagles have reached out to Dawkins about retiring as an Eagle, and will be honored during a pre-game ceremony before the Giants-Eagles on September 30th.

NFL Mock Draft (11-20)

BC Linebacker Luke Kuechly

This is the second installment of my NFL Mock Draft, this time picks 11-21. Still plenty of great talent outside of the Top 10 picks.


Pick #11: Kansas City Chiefs Select Boston College MLB Luke Kuechly 
Kansas City has a very talented group of Linebackers, including the likes of Jovan Belcher, Derrick Johnson, and the surprising strong play of Andy Studebaker. But KC runs a 3-4 Defense, and needs another strong LB to solidify the middle of the field. Kuechly is easily the best Linebacker in the 2012 class, and his presence would immediately help solidify the run defense which was 26th in the league in 2011. If Kansas City does not take him, Seattle would be sure to at pick #12. 


Pick #12: Seattle Seahawks Select North Carolina DE Quinton Coples
Coples, once a surefire top 10 pick has been sliding down draft boards all over. However, he will not get to far, as the Seahawks would be smart to snatch him up. He spent time playing Defensive End and Defensive Tackle while at North Carolina, and racked up 17.5 sacks in his last two seasons. He is very explosive off the snap, and will have linemen all over the NFL on their heels. Lately Coples has been subject to questions about his character. He has been labeled as selfish, and reportedly refused to move to DT during his Senior year because it would hurt his draft stock. With a little mentoring from Pete Carroll & Co., Coples could develop into a great pass rusher.


Pick #13: Arizona Cardinals Select Iowa OT Riley Reiff 
When the Cardinals drafted OT Levi Brown in 2007, it was expected the former Penn State Linemen would solidify the Offensive Tackle position. Five years later, Brown has not lived up to the hype. With QB Kevin Kolb still learning how to run the offense, he will need a guy like Riley Reiff to protect his blindside. Reiff is a big guy, standing at 6-6, 313 pounds, but is still very athletic. He is able to get out on the run and lead the way for his backs. If Kolb wants to connect with Fitzgerald for multiple touchdowns this year, he is going to need time in the pocket to do it. Reiff is the man for the job. 


Pick #14: Dallas Cowboys Select Alabama Safety Mark Barron
The Dallas Cowboys have not had a good safety in years, and it really showed last season. The Cowboys allowed a whopping 336 receiving yards, 24th in the league. Barron is a ball hawk, plain and simple. With Barron in the 'Boys secondary, he will make it much harder for defenses to go over the top. He is quite the good blitzer, and gets into the backfield quickly. Plain and simple, the Cowboys need a guy like Mark Barron.


Pick #15: Philadelphia Eagles Select LSU DT Michael Brockers

LSU DT Michael Brockers

Several names have been rumored to the Eagles. Guys like Dontari Poe, Luke Kuechly, even guys like Chandler Jones and Jerel Worthy. However, Brockers makes the most sense at Pick #15. Brockers is bigger than most Offensive Linemen, standing at 6-6, 322 pounds. He is a strong, physical defensive linemen who can bulldoze linemen and get into the backfield quickly. He also played some DE while at LSU, showing his great versatility. The Eagles need a play maker inside to help out Cullen Jenkins, and Brockers is the man for the job.


Pick #16: New York Jets Select Alabama OLB Courtney Upshaw
When it comes to athleticism, Courtney Upshaw is easily the best LB in that department. The Jets play a 3-4 defense, but that should not be a problem for Upshaw, according to his former coach at Alabama Nick Saban. Saban says Upshaw could play Outside Linebacker in a 3-4 or "stick his hand in the dirt and play defensive end". In a league that is all about versatility, teams will drool over an athlete like Upshaw. One thing he specialized in at Alabama was locating the running back. With NT's Sione Pouha and Muhammad Wilkerson pushing the way for the Jets, Upshaw could get in the backfield with ease.


Pick #17: Cincinnati Bengals Select Stanford G David DeCastro
There is no better Guard on the board than David DeCastro. Standing at 6-5, 316 pounds, he spent three years at Stanford protecting QB Andrew Luck. Luck will be going #1 to the Indianapolis Colts, and he can thank DeCastro for helping him get there. Andy Dalton had a fantastic rookie season, but the addition of DeCastro to the O-line would give him some peace of mind. 


Pick #18: San Diego Chargers Select South Carolina CB Stephon Gilmore
Stephen Gilmore's stock has been through the roof so much so, some have him going to Jacksonville at pick #7. However, I feel he will fall to the Chargers at Pick #18. The Chargers run a zone defense, and Gilmore played in one while at South Carolina. At 6-1, 190 pounds, Gilmore stands taller than most Cornerbacks in the league. His size helps him muscle around Wide Receivers and puts him in position to make plays. Quentin Jammer is 32 now, and will soon need a predecessor. Gilmore can be that guy for San Diego.


Pick #19. Chicago Bears Select Memphis DT Dontari Poe
Dontari Poe has been overshadowed by fellow DTs Fletcher Cox and Michael Brockers, but has the ability to make a name for himself in the NFL. Poe is 346 pounds, yet ran a 4.98 40 time. He is a strong guy with a massive frame, but his 40 times shows his athleticism. Poe recorded just five sacks, but had four forced fumbles to go with it. Poe will have to learn to play against better talent, as he played in the Conference USA, and average conference at best. But Chicago lost stalwart DT Amobi Okoye this offseason, and Poe is the best guy on the board for "da Bears".


Pick #20: Tennessee Titans Select Illinois OLB Whitney Mercilus
22.5 tackles for loss and 16 sacks. That is not very indicative of a guy who is a mid-late 1st rounder. But Mercilus will be on the board at pick #20, and the Titans would be wise to snatch him up. Mercilus is explosive off the line, and his pure speed helped him rack up those 16 sacks in the QB heavy Big 10. The Titans only proven LB is Will Witherspoon, and he plays inside. If the Titans select him, Mercilus will bring stability to the outside, as well as a ferocious pass rush.

2012 NFL Mock Draft (1-10)

Andrew Luck is set to be the #1 pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

With the 2012 NFL Draft right around the corner, I decided it was time to make one of my own. I have no idea who will be picked after the Colts and Redskins are off the clock, but here is who I think fits best:


Pick #1: Indianapolis Colts Select Stanford QB Andrew Luck
This pick should come as no surprise to anyone. The Colts dumped the face of their franchise, Peyton Manning, in hopes of Andrew Luck becoming their savior now. The former Stanford Quarterback has all the tools to be just as good as Manning was in Indy.


Pick #2: Washington Redskins Select Baylor QB Robert Griffin III
The Redskins almost sacrificed as much as the Colts to move into the second pick. Originally held by the St. Louis Rams, the Redskins traded 3 first round picks and a second round pick to move up from #6 to #2 to select RG3. Griffin III is, in my opinion, and even more talented athlete than Luck is. The 2011 Heisman Winner has drawn comparisons to last year's #1 pick Cam Newton. However, I consider RG3 as Michael Vick 2.0. Griffin has the smarts, the speed, and most importantly, an arm Mike Vick could only dream of. Ten years down the road, the Redskins may be able to say RG3 was better than Luck.


Pick #3: Minnesota Vikings Select USC OT Matt Kalil
Last season, rookie QB Christian Ponder was thrown thrown right into the middle of the battlefield, and basically left to die. The Vikings O-Line gave up 49 sacks last season, good enough for 5th worst in the league. Matt Kalil is the best non quarterback on the board, and if Minnesota wants Christian Ponder to even make it out alive this year, they will draft Kalil.


Pick #4: Cleveland Browns Select Alabama RB Trent Richardson
Although the Cleveland Browns have been rumored to be interested in selecting A&M QB Ryan Tannehill, the would be silly to pass up on a talent like Trent Richardson. With Peyton Hillis signing in Kansas City, the starting RB job has been vacated. Enter Trent Richardson, who only stands at 5-9, but weighs 228 pounds. He was a bruiser his entire collegiate career at Alabama, and ran a 4.45 40 time. Oh, and he can bench 475 lbs. There is no doubt among anyone that Richardson won't become a bonafide star.


Pick #5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Select LSU CB Morris Claiborne
As much as Bucs fans do not want to believe, Ronde Barber's career is wrapping up. It has been reported that Barber had been taking reps during OTAs as a Safety, which opens the door for Claiborne at Cornerback. The former receiver is a ball hawk, and has the chance to return anything he gets in his hands for a Touchdown. Back in 2010, teams targeted Claiborne because Patrick Peterson was on the opposite end of the field. However, Claiborne held his own and won the Jim Thorpe trophy for top defensive back in the nation. Needless to say, Claiborne would fit nicely in Tampa.


Pick #6: St. Louis Rams Select Okla. St. WR Justin Blackmon 
Even if the Rams were unable to trade down from the #2 spot, they would have most likely drafted Blackmon anyway. The Rams became one dimensional last year; the passing game stalled and the Rams were forced to give Steven Jackson the ball constantly. By drafting Justin Blackmon, QB Sam Bradford now has a #1 target to throw to. Standing at 6-1, 207 pounds, Blackmon is able to create separation from opposing cornerbacks, and his 35 inch vertical will allow him to make many highlight reel plays. Blackmon is also a burner too, clocking in at a 4.46 40 time at his Pro Day. St. Louis would be insane to pass up an incredible offensive talent like Blackmon. 


Pick #7: Jacksonville Jaguars Select South Carolina DE Melvin Ingram
Jacksonville needs help....everywhere, and the pass rush is a good place to start. During his three seasons with the Gamecocks, Ingram tallied 21.5 sacks, as well as 30.5 tackles for loss. Ingram provides a lot of speed on the line, but his explosiveness off the snap is somewhat inconsistent. With a little mentoring, Ingram could develop into a beast. 


Pick #8: Miami Dolphins Select Texas A&M QB Ryan Tannehill 
Without a doubt Miami will be totally reaching for Tannehill, but they quite frankly have no choice but to draft him. Tannehill possesses an NFL arm, and was very good outside of the pocket as well as inside. However, Tannehill struggled severely with pre snap reads, mostly because he is still learning to play the position (came to A&M as a WR). Miami needs to take a Quarterback, but are setting him up for disaster because he has few offensive weapons.


Pick #9: Carolina Panthers Select Miss. St. DT Fletcher Cox
Fletcher Cox has been flying up draft boards, and for good reason. Once considered a mid first round pick, many have him in the Top 10. Cox is an explosive pass rusher, and is able to muscle his way through offensive linemen on his way to the Quarterback. Cox, who only weighs 298 pounds, would be even more of a force to be reckoned with if he bulked up a bit. The Panthers play a 3-4 defense, and Cox would command a lot of attention as a nose tackle. If the Panthers do not select Cox, it may haunt them for years to come.


Pick #10: Buffalo Bills Select Notre Dame WR Michael Floyd
The Bills have a very hard decision with the 10th pick: take a OL like Riley Reiff, or surround  Ryan Fitzpatrick with more talent? My guess is they go with the latter. The Bills made a serious commitment to Fitzpatrick when they signed him to a $59 million extension, and will need plenty of talent for him to flourish. The wide receiver tandem of Stevie Johnson and Michael Floyd would cause headaches for any defense. Johnson beats the corners with speed, while Floyd muscles them around on the other side. Floyd had three alcohol related incidents, but if he can avoid off the field issues in the NFL, Buffalo will not regret drafting him. 

Eagles 2012 Season Schedule

The NFL has released the Eagles schedule.

Here it is below:

Week 1: Eagles @ Cleveland Browns 1 PM

Week 2: Baltimore Ravens @ Eagles 1 PM

Week 3: Eagles @ Arizona Cardinals 4:15 PM

Week 4: New York Giants @ Eagles 8:30 PM (SNF)

Week 5: Eagles @ Pittsburgh Steelers 1 PM

Week 6: Detroit Lions @ Eagles 1 PM
Week 7: BYE
Week 8: Atlanta Falcons @ Eagles 1 PM
Week 9: Eagles @ New Orleans Saints 8:30 PM (MNF)
Week 10: Dallas Cowboys @ Eagles 4:15 PM
Week 11: Eagles @ Washington Redskins 1 PM
Week 12: Carolina Panthers @ Eagles 8:30 PM (MNF)
Week 13: Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys 8:20 PM (SNF)
Week 14: Eagles @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1 PM
Week 15: Cincinnati Bengals @ Eagles 8:30 PM (Thursday)
Week 16: Washington Redskins @ Eagles 1 PM
Week 17: Eagles @ New York Giants 1 PM


The Eagles have a chance to get off to a hot start. The Cleveland Browns have been horrendous for the past few seasons, and a win in Cleveland, the worst place on Earth, would be a fantastic start. 


When Baltimore comes to town, a win over Joe Flacco and the Ravens would be a great statement win.


Week 4 brings the Eagles first division test against the defending Super Bowl Champions, and under the bright lights of Sunday Night Football. That game is followed up by an Eagles matchup in Pittsburgh to take on the Steelers, a team the Eagles have not played in the regular season since 2008
Weeks 6-10 will be the most crucial for the Eagles. 3 of the 4 teams they play over those weeks made the playoffs, and had a combined record of 31-17. If the Eagles want to make the playoffs this year, those games may determine if they do so.


What I notice most about this schedule is the amount of Monday Night Football games they have this year, and the teams they play. Last year they played the Bears in their only Monday Night game. This year they play the up and coming Panthers, led by Rookie of the Year QB Cam Newton. The other team they play are one of the Panthers division foes, the New Orleans Saints.


The Saints will be without Sean Payton for the entire season, but are still as dangerous as ever. 


Another interesting part of the schedule will be the Eagles games against the Washington Redskins on Week 11 and Week 16. The Redskins are poised to draft Baylor QB Robert Griffin III, and he may be given the starting job by the time the Eagles have their first matchup against the 'Skins.


The Eagles have a challenging schedule this year, and every game counts this year. Last season, the Eagles lost countless winnable games to teams like the Cardinals and the 49ers. The Eagles play eight teams that made the playoffs last season, and they cannot afford to give away winnable games this season.


Early Record Prediction: 10-6