Life After Mcnabb?

Brian Segen — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:45:01 -0500

Life after Donovan Mcnabb. That is a topic that was much more freely spoke a couple weeks ago when The struggling Philadelphia Eagles seemed to be fading fast. Coming into the game against the Cardinals on Thanksgiving day nobody was really sure where the eagles morale might be standing, The week before against the Baltimore Ravens Mcnabb was benched at halftime for the first time in his career. And after that performance coming into this past week Mcnabb was 53 for 112 with just 4 TD's and 6 INTS. Then the talk followed by numerous people/fans/media figures around the sports nation "Is the Donovan Mcnabb Era over in Philly?"

Well Mcnabb had an answer for all those doubters questioning his status as the leader of the Philadelphia Eagles. Mcnabb came out on Thanksgiving night with a chip on his shoulder and with something to prove, and did he ever. Mcnabb came out against the NFC West division leading Cardinals and put on a show for everybody to enjoy. He went on to complete 27 of 39 pass attempts for 260 yards and and 4 touchdowns. Finally the Eagles looked like the contenders the should have been all year long.

So whats next for the Philadelphia Eagles franchise? Is Donovan down to his last season in Eagles green? Well Mcnabb showed he still has gas in the tank. A couple years down the road, where does that leave us? Mcnabb's apprentice and potential replacement Kevin Kolb was less then impressive when he replaced the struggling Mcnabb for the second half against the Ravens. The Eagles were down by 3 when he came in and he went on to complete a measly 10 of 23 pass attempts for 73 yards no TD's and 3 INTS and lose the game 36-7.

A tempting probable free agent to chase after this off-season might the surprising Matt Cassel. The young 26 year old Cassel who has the replaced the NFL MVP Tom Brady has filled his shoes quite well. He took some time to adjust to the starting roll but once he did, he looked great. A quarterback out of USC who had 1 start since high school has thrown back to back 400 yard games in the past 3 weeks which has only been done by a handful of quarterbacks. He defiantly has superstar potential in him. Chances are you won't see him in a patriots uniform next year either with the 3 time Superbowl winner and MVP Brady back under center.

So with the Donovan Mcnabb era nearing its end, which direction should the birds fly? It has been a good 10 years for Mcnabb in Philly but he only has a few left. Not many quarterbacks can stay consitantly good for that long but he has. However recent injury filled seasons and the young supporting cast behind him, he is running on low. He will always have a place in Eagles fans hearts and still has a good couple years left. But it is time to start looking towards the future and planning for 2 or 3 seasons down the road.

Philadelphia 76ers Struggling to Find Their Stride Early

Brian Segen — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 01:58:45 -0500

Coming into the 2008-2009 season, the Sixers were looking like a different team—a better team.

A team that was ready to make that push from just barely making the playoffs into being a solid playoff contender throughout the season.

With the addition of big name All-Star Elton Brand to their young team, the Sixers were ready for the first solid season they have had since the Allen Iverson era.

So what has happened? The team that everyone was talking playoffs has started off the season at a division-worst 8-10, which places them 8.5 games back out of first to the powerful defending champion Boston Celtics.

The big-name, $82 million dollar Brand is performing—but with a career low 44.5 field-goal percentage and is averaging a career low 17.4 ppg.

So is this start a sign of things to come, or is this start just showing a young team just off to a slow start? Whatever it is, it has to change soon—before that 8.5-game hole gets too deep to dig themselves out of.

Another issue with the Sixers is the slow fade of Samual Dalembert. The 6'11", 250-lb. center was handed a big-money contract not too long ago. He was never a proven player to begin with when handed that contract, but he did have star potential. However, with his minutes fading as every game goes on it looks like that potential will stay put.

Dalembert is due to make close to $11.5 million this season, and with decreasing minutes the Sixers sure aren't getting their money's worth out of this young player.

Dalembert saw just 12 minutes of action in Tuesday nights win over the Chicago Bulls. At 27 years old the former first-round pick could have good enough trade potential to pull some big-name players into the city of brotherly love—but that big contract lying on the shoulders of an unproved player may work against our favor in that scenario.

Bottom line is that Philadelphia 76ers in this early season have shown the occasional spark of life and hope to Philadelphia fans, but overall have been one big flop. They are not all to blame though—a team that just made the playoffs last year and without much experience besides a few exeptions should not have had so much hype and promise around this season.

Especially in a newly-dominant Eastern Conference, which is home to the defending champions and three of the last five NBA champions, was it really fair to assume that one player was going to give them that push that they needed?

The season is young still but not looking good. How much time will Elton Brand need for that breaking-in period in his new environment—and will it be too late when it does happen?

Bleacher Report - Articles by Brian Segen

Life After Mcnabb?

Philadelphia 76ers Struggling to Find Their Stride Early