Bleacher Report - Philadelphia Eagles

QB class of '07 endures tough times

Wes Bunting — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 15:17:11 -0500

It’s been a brutal week for the 2007 quarterback draft class.

JaMarcus Russell, the first overall pick that year, has been benched in favor of Bruce Gradkowski in Oakland. Third round pick Trent Edwards’ career in Buffalo looks to becoming to an unproductive end. And, first-rounder Brady Quinn continues to struggle in Cleveland. Not exactly what their franchises had in mind when they drafted those players.

Today, let’s take a look at the ‘07 quarterback class and see which QBs have made the most of their time in the NFL and which have not.

The Good

Kevin Kolb: Philadelphia Eagles, Second Round, 36th Overall

AP Kevin Kolb stepped in for Donovan McNabb this year and displayed his second-round ability.

Kolb’s career got off to a rocky start as many in Philadelphia questioned his ability to mature into a capable starting quarterback after brief appearances in 2008. But after starter Donovan McNabb went down earlier this season, Kolb stepped in and performed brilliantly in two starts.

He threw for a combined 718 yards to go along with four touchdown passes and a gaudy 96.9 quarterback rating.

Sure, he was only 1-1, but he looked efficient enough to warrant his second-round draft selection and may end up being the only quarterback from the ‘07 draft class starting in the NFL in the coming years.

Tyler Thigpen: Minnesota Vikings, Seventh Round, 217th Overall

I know I might be grasping at straws with this one, but when you look over the rest of the 2007 quarterback class, there really isn’t much else to work with.

Thigpen is currently a backup in Miami, and I don’t see him taking over the starting job any time soon playing behind Chad Henne. However, Thigpen has proved in the past that he’s capable of leading an NFL offense and has the skill set to eventually fight for a starting role elsewhere.

In 2008, he started 11 games for the Kansas City Chiefs, completing 54.8 percent of his passes and throwing for an average of 213 yards per start. He also tossed 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions, and if anything, he looks like one of the best quarterback values to come out of the 2007 class.

The Bad

John Beck: Miami Dolphins, Second Round, 40th Overall

AP Former Dolphin John Beck is now with the Ravens.

Beck was the fourth quarterback chosen in the draft and started four games as a rookie. His performances, however, were abysmal. He averaged 106 yards through the air and threw no touchdown passes and three interceptions as a starter. He was quickly relegated to the bench in 2008, working as the team’s third-string quarterback, and was eventually released in 2009.

He signed with the Baltimore Ravens in May, reuniting with offensive coordinator Cam Cameron, who served as the Dolphins’ head coach in 2007, and is currently third on the Ravens’ depth chart.

Trent Edwards: Buffalo Bills, Third Round, 92nd Overall

Trent Edwards at least got off to a good start in Buffalo.

As a rookie, Edwards played in 10 games, leading the Bills to a 5-5 record and looking like a guy who had the makings of a potential franchise quarterback. But after a 5-1 start in 2008, Edwards finished the year 2-6, throwing eight interceptions over that span compared to six touchdowns.

Now, because of his inability to get the ball down the field and into the hands of play-making wideouts Lee Evans and Terrell Owens, Edwards has been benched in favor of backup Ryan Fitzpatrick. Edwards is 2-5 as the Bills' starting quarterback this season and again has more interceptions (seven) than touchdown passes (six).

In his defense, this situation isn’t entirely his fault, and some blame should fall on the shoulders of the Bills' scouting department for thinking a weaker-armed quarterback could be successful throwing the football through the cold and wind of Buffalo in December. If given an opportunity elsewhere—preferably in a warmer climate—I think Edwards has the talent to produce as a team’s starting quarterback, but it looks like he’s worn out his welcome in Buffalo.

The Ugly

Brady Quinn: Cleveland Browns, First Round, 22nd Overall

AP Brady Quinn does not look like the answer in Cleveland.

The Brady Quinn experiment looks to be all but over as the former Notre Dame signal caller hasn’t shown the ability to be consistently accurate with the football or make plays down the field in the pass game.

Quinn has a career completion percentage of only 52.2 percent and has thrown more than twice as many interceptions (seven) as touchdown passes (three) during his first three seasons in Cleveland. Quinn has started only seven games in his short tenure as a Brown, but during that time, he has averaged only 145 passing yards per game and has thrown for over 200 yards only twice.

At this stage, Quinn doesn’t look capable of throwing the ball down the field and manufacturing big plays in the pass game, and will likely force the Browns to select another quarterback in the first round of next year’s draft.

Words Can’t Even Explain

JaMarcus Russell: Oakland Raiders, First round, First Overall

It looks as though former Raiders coach Lane Kiffin knew exactly what he was doing bringing Russell along slowly and trying to prepare the rookie quarterback for the NFL. And, to be honest, after a 2008 season that concluded with wins against Houston and Tampa Bay, there looked to be some hope that Russell might develop into the franchise QB everyone imagined.

But, things have gone terribly wrong since then, as Russell has not only failed to improve on his performances from last season, he looks as though he’s taken steps backward.

The 6'6", 260-pounder is completing just 46.8 percent of his passes and has averaged a mere 118 yards per game. Russell looks slow to decipher information, lacks awareness in the pocket and struggles tremendously with his accuracy.

Worse, the Raiders have more than $60 million wrapped up in a player now heading to the bench in favor of journeyman Bruce Gradkowski. Russell looks nowhere near ready from a maturity standpoint to lead an NFL offense, and it will be interesting to see how patient the Raiders front office is, waiting on its investment to develop, while the team keeps losing.

Follow me on Twitter: WesBunting

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Who Is the Best Running Back in Philadelphia Eagles History?

DMtShooter Five Tool Tool — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:28:00 -0500

News today is that Brian Westbrook will make a full recovery from his second concussion in three weeks, and while everyone is talking as if he'll return to the field (perhaps in time for a hoped-for playoff), I'm just happy to hear the man isn't looking at reduced capabilities. And since I'm still not convinced that I'm ever going to see him in the active laundry again, it seems as good a time as any to see how he stacks up for the title of Best RB in Franchise History.

Realistically, there are three choices for the honor. The first is more or less unknown to modern fans, but given that he's got infinitely more rings than the others, that might not be fair.

Steve Van Buren

8 years, 5,860 career rushing yards, 69 TDs on the ground. Led the league in rushing and rushing touchdowns in four different years. Played both ways, as usual for the era, with 9 career interceptions as a secondary player.

Added another 523 yards on the occasional screen pass, and scored 3 TDs through the air, and another 3 as a kick returner. Star player on two championship teams, 28th in career rushing touchdown, and a member of the Hall of Fame.

First running back to win three straight rushing titles; only three other backs (Emmit Smith, Earl Campbell and Jim Brown) have done that. As a 6'-1", 200 pound back who ran a 9.8 100-yard dash, I'm pretty sure he could hold up to today's game.

There is also this: before SVB, the laundry never finished above fourth, and barely survived World War II for fear of being contracted with the Pittsburgh franchise.

Had he not played for the club, there's a very real chance that the franchise would have had only one championship (the 1960 title over the not quite ready Packers) in over 75 years.

Old-time Eagle fans swear by van Buren, and for good reason. In both championship games, he was the best player on the field, and in the second championship, he set a then-league record with 196 yards on the ground.

A seven-time All-Pro, he was basically Jim Brown 1.0, and by doing what he did in the late '40s and early '50s, it's not like he was doing this before people knew what they were doing. If you want to call him the best, I'm not going to argue.

Wilbert Montgomery

9 seasons, 6,789 career rushing yards, 2,502 career receiving. 45 touchdowns on the ground, another 12 as a receiver. 42 fumbles, including a league-leading 14 in his big 1979 year.

At 5'-10", 195, he was a little small for every down use, and had good hands as a receiver and was just plain shifty. His emergence as a star after being picked in the sixth round in 1977 from Abilene Christian gave the populace the big clue that the Dick Vermeil/Carl Peterson era was going to be a good one in terms of finding untapped talent.

Wilbert led the league in all-purpose yards in 1979, and went to two Pro Bowls, and was the best offensive player for the Super Bowl losing 1980 season. He also had the ball in his hands for the best moment in the history of the franchise. Let's look at again now, shall we?

Forty two yards, untouched, and a generation of losing to Dallas was done. Now let's watch it again, but with Merrill Reese.

Yeah, it is better. Merrill's got a way.

The twin chinks in Montgomery's armor are injuries (he only played the full 16-game slate once), and fumbles (42 is a lot, especially when you are being considered for the title of best RB in franchise history).

Basically, he was fairly close to the late '70s Clinton Portis...or the next guy.

Brian Westbrook

Now in his eighth season, with 5,946 yards rushing and 3,765 yards receiving, which actually puts him just ahead of Montgomery for yards from scrimmage. 37 career rushing touchdowns and 29 through the air, so he's got the edge in total touchdowns, but this is an era in which more points are scored.

Dub has only 12 career fumbles so far, which is a huge advantage. Possibly the most dangerous back I've ever seen on a screen pass. At 5'-8" and 200, has never really been seen as a workhorse back, with only three years of over 200 carries.

Despite the waterbug size, was never really a change of pace back, mostly due to one of the best stiff arms in the business, and he never seemed to take a game off. He also had four straight years where you could count on him for 700 yards on 70+ catches.

Outstanding at blitz pickup, with two rookie year kick returns for touchdowns, one of which helped the team absolutely steal a win in New York. This clip has that highlight and four other minutes that produce much happiness.

To my mind, Dub gets the gold, despite his similar or worse injury problems. I'm also inclined to and not just because he is doing it in the modern eras, with presumably better athletes and coaching.

The fumbles are just too many for me to give the nod to Wilbert, and I'm also inclined to downgrade the better rushing TD numbers, since Captain Andy and the modern era have conspired to take away goal-line touches from many of the best backs.

Now, Dub's candidacy isn't perfect. Unlike SVB, there are no rings, and unlike Wilbert, he's never been as absolutely necessary to the team's success, and even more injury-prone.

Running yards should matter more than passing yards for a running back, too, and the very best Eagles RB in franchise history is probably SVB in between the tackles. Wilbert on any handoff that goes outside, and Dub on any pass play.

But all in all, give me Dub for everything. (And, shh, maybe Ricky Watters as a surprisingly good option. Only three years in the laundry, but the full career looks more like Walter Payton, Thurman Thomas, or Jim Brown than you might imagine.)

But again, if you want to argue for SVB, or just tell me how Wilbert had your vote now and forever for 42 Untouched Yards, that is your prerogative.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles' Sean McDermott Has Chance To Earn His Stripes in Bears Battle

Lou DiPietro — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:21 -0500

You know how analysts or pundits will say that “Player X at 80 percent is better than most players at 100 percent” or something like that to tap dance around an injured player suiting up out of necessity?

The Philadelphia Eagles do, and they’re going to need to believe that on Sunday night for the sake of their defense.

And if it doesn’t hold true…the season may just be over.

Right now, the Chicago Bears are a perfect tonic for a bad defense, and an even better one for a potentially potent offense.

They have no offensive identity, Jay Cutler averages two turnovers a game and Matt Forte—who had a breakout rookie season and looked ready to emerge as an elite back—is averaging yards per game and has been fairly pedestrian in seven of nine games.

Defensively, they’re down three starters and can’t stop anyone. Since a hot 3-1 start—which included a win over the Steelers—the Bears are 1-4 (with the win against the Browns) and have given up more than 40 points twice in that span.

And yet, this is the one game where the defense is going to have to have a monster game.

But outside of the front four, it’s a big ol’ mess on Sean McDermott’s side.

At linebacker, the Eagles will most likely trot out their fifth different combination of starters this season. Moving Chris Gocong to the middle didn’t really work out, so with Akeem Jordan still out, it appears as if Joe Mays will become the fourth different man to start at the MIKE.

Gocong moves back to the SAM spot, with usual MIKE Will Witherspoon making his second straight start at the WILL. It will be a patchwork lineup, but even a decent game will be a huge step in the development of Mays, whose stock fell faster and harder than just about anyone not named Reggie Brown.

As rough as the linebacker situation may seem, it’s worse in the secondary…and if it wasn’t for that “80 percent” player, it might be disastrous.

Sheldon Brown, who suffered a hamstring injury against the Chargers, has been limited in practice but is expected to start on Sunday.

That’s a good thing, because Brown at 80 percent probably is, in fact, better than 100 percent of any other active corner on the roster who could play alongside Asante Samuel.

Unfortunately, hamstring injuries are usually nagging and all it takes is one tweak to shoot his season to pieces. That’s a bad thing, because beyond him is Dmitri Patterson—a special teams ace who himself is coming off a pair of injuries—and the recently-signed duo of Ramzee Robinson and Jack Ikegewuonu.

And that’s the strong half.

While both starting safeties, Quentin Mikell and Sean Jones, are healthy and ready to go, the return of Macho Harris will be huge.

Quintin Demps’ ankle has kept him from practicing all week and he is out for Sunday, so Harris is the only depth behind the starters. But he missed practice Wednesday with an eye infection, and while the rookie returned on Thursday, he will have to play with a visor on his helmet.

He’ll also be returning kicks in the absence of Demps and Ellis Hobbs, so if there are any flare-ups of the infection, it could mean huge trouble in paradise.

Good thing the Bears are in flux.

Sean McDermott said when he took over as defensive coordinator that it would be a smooth transition and not much would change from Jim Johnson’s regime.

Surely he meant it, but this Sunday he’s going to have to work magic with his unit that would make even Johnson proud.

If he can manipulate the smoke and mirrors and hold it together, a win over the Bears would give the Birds a huge leg up in the playoff race—especially with games still left against both the Giants and Falcons.

If not, it could mean the season.

Welcome to Chicago.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Brian Westbrook Ruled Out for Sunday's Game at Chicago

Bob Cunningham — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 13:28:00 -0500

After suffering his second concussion in only three weeks, the Eagles are being very, very cautious with their star running back, Brian Westbrook. Reid has continuously said that Westbrook's health is their primary concern, and now he's proven it by ruling Westbrook out for Sunday's game.

Even when healthy, Westbrook has not been very impressive this season and has lost some carries to the rookie LeSean McCoy and newcomer fullback Leonard Weaver.

With only 381 total yards and two total touchdowns, Westbrook's production has been worse than it was even last season. The concussions and other knee/ankle problems, along with his age, have taken their toll and we may never see the old Westbrook again.

The whispers around the city are that Reid could very well shut Westbrook down for the entire season, perhaps opening the door for a veteran running back to enter the mix. However, the odds are better that Reid would use the roster spot on the defensive side of the ball for a unit that has been decimated by injuries this season.

With LeSean McCoy, Eldra Buckley, Leonard Weaver, and newcomer P.J. Hill all on the roster, odds are good that Reid will be content with his backfield. Considering that he hasn't used them a whole lot this season anyway.

Expect a decision to made on Westbrook sometime early next week, most likely Monday or Tuesday, giving the Eagles enough time to bring in another player if need be.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Philly Fans Must Face Reality: Eagles Just Aren't Great

Eric Marmon — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:17:04 -0500

Over the summer, Philadelphia Eagles Team President Joe Banner declared his roster the most talented in the entire NFL. Despite a fast start, the Eagles find themselves at 5-4, in a three-way tie for the final Wild Card spot, and a game behind the Dallas Cowboys, who just defeated them on their home turf. Now, following two straight losses, Philadelphia fans are beginning to question what’s going on with their football club.

The truth is…their team just isn’t that great.

They are not a bad team, by any means. In fact, they are a good team, with the ability to be a very good team. They have an explosive offense with a Hall-of-Famer playing quarterback and a steady defense that is capable of making big plays. On any given Sunday, this team could beat anybody.

But they are not a great team. A series of injuries to key positions and a lack of veteran leadership has given this boat too many holes to stay afloat.

There offensive line, thought to be a strength at the beginning of the season, has been decimated by injuries. Shawn Andrews, a former Pro-Bowler, is on injured reserve. Pro-Bowler Jason Peters has been bothered by injuries, missing this past week, but even when he’s been healthy he has left much to be desired.

While the strong play of back-ups Winston Justice and Nick Cole have been pleasant surprises, this is hardly the dominant, earth-moving offensive line Banner imagined a few months back.

The wide receivers, as talented as they are, are still quite young. While the blazing speed of DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin makes them both threats to catch 50-yard TD catches every week, their diminutive body sizes make them less-than-ideal red zone threats.

LeSean McCoy is not Brian Westbrook. And what’s even worse is that Brian Westbrook no longer appears to be Brian Westbrook either. Critics were calling into question his diminished skills before his second concussion. His return this season seems unlikely, and his career appears to be in jeopardy.

The loss of MLB Stewart Bradley in the preseason created a void the team is still struggling to fill. Will Witherspoon, Jeremiah Trotter, now Chris Gocong. The position has become a game of musical chairs where everybody is losing.

Asante Samuel, who always seems a step away from a pick-6, has shown the tackling ability of Pittsburgh Steelers kicker Jeff Reed. Injuries and a J.C. Romero-esque suspension have left the secondary depleted. Quintin Mikell, who is still a very talented player, seemed to be playing a lot better when he had a Hall-of-Famer alongside him.

Even punter Sav Rocca is inconsistent, following up 60-yard kicks with 25-yard shanks.

And then there is the quarterback. Donovan McNabb’s inconsistency mirrors that of his team. He can come out one Sunday and play like Peyton’s equal, or he can look like he’s completely unqualified to be in the NFL.

The truth is, on any given Sunday, in any given quarter, the Eagles have no idea which Donovan will show up. With Andy Reid’s well-documented reluctance to use any sort of running game, McNabb’s success or struggle will always determine the efficiency of their offense.

This team is just not great, no matter what Joe Banner is selling. They are too young and too injured. Eagles fans should be content with the feeling that, as this roster gets healthier and more experienced, they will have what it takes to contend for a Super Bowl.

The problem is, it won’t be till 2010.

But have no fear, citizens of Philadelphia. Pitchers and Catchers report in a hundred days.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Memo to Andy Reid: Back Up Your Words, Place Westbrook On IR

Lou DiPietro — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:52:41 -0500

There are a lot of things someone who covers the Eagles could write about today.

In the wake of Sunday’s loss to San Diego, the Birds have dropped two straight. Andy Reid’s play-calling continues to be questionable, the defense fell apart, and they’ve now been embarrassed twice on the West Coast.

But at 5-4, they’re still tied with the Giants, Falcons, and Packers for the two NFC Wild Card spots and have seven weeks to figure it out.

In the interim, there’s something much more pressing to figure out: Brian Westbrook.

Specifically his future, as No. 36 suffered his second concussion in a month in that loss to the Chargers.

After the game, Andy Reid said that “Football right now for Brian Westbrook is not the important thing.” If that’s truly the case, there’s one giant way the Eagles brass can back up their coach’s words:

Put Westbrook on injured reserve.

Yes, I know that might sound like a hypocritical statement on a number of levels, but for both his and the Eagles’ future, it’s the right move.

The biggest con about that move, besides the fact that he’s definitely lost for the season, is that the Eagles rushing game is anemic at best without him. The Birds racked up a whopping 29 yards on the ground, almost all of it by Westbrook before he left.

That speaks as much to the fact that they were down by 19 at one point, but still; the Chargers had more than that on just their second touchdown drive alone.

But what if Westbrook sits out three, four, or five weeks? The Eagles’ season could be over by then, and one more hit to the head could end Westbrook’s career. Is that worth the gamble?

The Eagles drafted LeSean McCoy to spell Westbrook and eventually replace him…and trotting out Westbrook, who hasn’t been 100 percent healthy period in years, can only make that eventually come a lot sooner than they want.

Putting him on IR and trusting the keys to McCoy, Leonard Weaver, and maybe Eldra Buckley or PJ Hill will give them a glimpse of that; it will serve as another reminder of how valuable Westbrook really is.

Plus, there would be the side effect of opening up a roster spot to help other ailing areas. Cornerback could use some help; with Ellis Hobbs on IR, Joselio Hanson suspended, and now both Sheldon Brown and Asante Samuel hurting, the only truly healthy corner on the roster is newly-signed Jack Ikegwuonu.

Quintin Demps is hurt and the offensive line still has issues, as well. That fact alone is enough to know that the running game can’t be 100 percent effective—which means it can’t be 100 percent safe, either.

If there’s one light at the end of that tunnel, though, it’s this: The Eagles beat the Giants and almost toppled the Cowboys without Westbrook.

It’s within their best interest to try to do it again this season.

Because if they don’t, and something bad happens…they might just have to do it forever.

Injured reserve would give him eight or nine months to recover from the concussions and all the nagging injuries he's dealt with in the last couple years.

At 30, time and the NFL average dictate Brian Westbrook's career is on the downswing. The Eagles might as well do everything they can to make his final years fruitful ones.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Brian Westbrook's Career Could Be Over

Bob Cunningham — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 12:27:00 -0500

With the new concerns surrounding concussions, Brian Westbrook's recent problems have gotten a lot of publicity in and outside of Philadelphia.

It's not such much surrounding what the Eagles do with Westbrook this year, as it's almost the consensus opinion that he head to the IR for 2009. But that's where the opinions then fork to either side.

Many people believe that two concussions in three weeks is enough for a 30-year-old running back to get the hint and hang up the cleats in the offseason, while others believe that if he sits out this year, he'll be able come back in 2010 without any nasty side effects.

Eagles fans are on pins and needles waiting to find out, but as always, coach Reid isn't giving anything away just yet.

"I don't know," Reid said after being asked if Westbrook would play again in 2009. "I think it's too early to tell right now. It's the last thing on my mind. First thing is that he's OK and that we take care of him. Football right now for Brian Westbrook is not the important thing. It's making sure that we get him analyzed, tested and taken care of and then we'll go from there.

"Not that we didn't do that before. We took every precautionary measure that we could before and it happened again. Obviously we're going to check with experts and make sure that we listen to them like we did before. The number one thing is Brian's health. You can put football aside and make sure that he's taken care of here."

Reid is spot on in this situation. Football has to take a backseat to the man's health. He may be getting over the hill as far as the NFL is concerned, but in the grand scheme of things he's got a long and full life ahead of him.

After all, he's only 30.

There were some encouraging signs this time around however, as Westbrook didn't lose consciousness after sustaining concussion number two.

"He was foggy," Reid said. "He stood up and walked off the field, but you could sense that there was something wrong there."

If he has to head to the IR, the Eagles could seek the help of a veteran free agent like Warrick Dunn, someone who suits the role Westbrook was filling. Dunn could be a great teacher for LeSean McCoy as a guy who has done it very well for a long time.

Not only that, but Dunn might just be the very best locker room presence in the entire league, so it's not like there's a risk in bringing him in.

More information is sure to come out later this week once Rick Burkholder and the team doctor's get a chance to check Westy out and see how serious this is.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

How Sean McDermott's Fear of the Chargers' Passing Game Cost the Eagles a Win

Bob Cunningham — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:57:00 -0500

With a depleted secondary and linebacking corps, defensive coordinator Sean McDermott was obviously afraid of Philip Rivers, Antonio Gates, and the pair of 6'5" receivers the Chargers boast in Vincent Jackson and Malcolm Floyd.

He feared their big-play ability to the point that he got out of what this defense does best, which is blitz and get pressure on the quarterback. Instead of sticking to the defense's strengths, McDermott opted to sit the safeties and linebackers in coverage in the 31-23 road loss.

The front four got some decent pressure on Rivers, but he was easily able to step up past the pressure into a clear pocket, allowing him to find Gates in the middle of the field, along with every other receiver on the team.

McDermott's inexperience came to the forefront yesterday by allowing himself to get scared of the opposing offense and take him out of his element.

There's a difference between tweaking your defense to best defend an opposing team, and it's another thing entirely to change your entire philosophy. When you change the philosophy of a defense, only bad things can happen.

These linebackers are not good enough to sit back in coverage and be effective. They have to constantly be attacking the line of scrimmage to fill gaps on running plays, and get at the quarterback on passing downs.

Will Witherspoon was playing the WILL position, a position he has played in the past, but Chris Gocong was forced to play the MIKE—a position he has never played in either college of the NFL, which was quite evident during the course of the game—and Moise Fokou made only his second career start at SAM linebacker.

Were it the original starters in Stewart Bradley, Akeem Jordan, and Chris Gocong, this defense could have probably worked, but it was doomed with the trio the Eagles put on the field yesterday.

For that matter, even having guys like Omar Gaither at WILL or Witherspoon at MIKE might have worked, but this trio was absolutely not ready for what McDermott was asking of them.

If this happens again, Reid is going to have to step in and talk with his young defensive coordinator. This is not something that can be allowed to happen again because it lost the Eagles this game. Even with their red-zone woes on offense, just one defensive stop could have given them the win.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

NFL Fantasy Football Risers: LeSean McCoy

kevin roberts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:25:51 -0500

LeSean McCoy 's value was already rising with a slightly increased role, as he was sharing the ball with Brian Westbrook prior to his first concussion. But now he’s really going to have some value.

Brian Westbrook is officially no longer stiff competition for looks and carries, as he has sustained his second concussion in three weeks, and will likely miss an extended amount of times, and could even miss the rest of the season .

We can’t take Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers as a fair assessment of what to expect out of McCoy going forward, especially since he began the game sharing the rock with Westbrook, but also because the Eagles were playing from behind for almost all of the game and he received just six touches.

McCoy has solid RB2 value going forward , as he’s shown his abilities as a starter, as he registered over 110 total yards against the Dallas Cowboys two weeks ago as the starter, and had topped 90 total yards while sharing the ball the week prior.

McCoy will be the full-fledged starting back in Philly with Westbrook sure to be on the sidelines for the next few weeks, and with decent matchups against the Bears and Falcons coming up in two of his next three games, he could be a very valuable asset to any fantasy team.

As for Brian Westbrook, his value has diminished greatly and should have been tossed on the trade block weeks ago, but consider this your final warning to get what you can for him or simply cut your losses and find the best possible replacement the waiver wire has to offer.

For more fantasy news and advice, go to NFLSoup.com

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Brian Westbrook's Second Concussion Could Be Season-Ending

kevin roberts — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 00:20:55 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles' running back Brian Westbrook was active against the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, but finished the game the same way he did the last game he played in: nursing a head injury on the sidelines .

Westbrook sustained his second concussion in three weeks, which is now prompting speculation that he could miss several weeks, if not the remainder of the season.

Andy Reid and Co. are sure to take extra-special precaution with Westbrook, both due to his age and position, as well as the distance between the two concussions.

Fantasy Perspective: Westbrook was a bit of an inconsistent play and was dealing with other injuries on top of his latest concussion bout, but a second head injury in three weeks should be the icing on the cake. In a bad way, of course.

Look for LeSean McCoy's value to rise as the lead back in Philly for at least the next two to three weeks, while the odds are not in favor for a Westbrook return before the regular season comes to a close, if at all.

For more breaking NFL news and fantasy assistance, go to NFLSoup.com

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

My Dream Headline: Eagles Fire Andy Reid

Will Holt — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:54:19 -0500

Every Philadelphia Eagles fan should be so lucky to wake up Monday morning and read the above headline in their local paper following the Eagles 31-23 loss to the San Diego Chargers.

I sincerely apologize to any Eagles fans that read this and got their hopes up. Similar to Andy Reid, I thought I too should get your hopes up only to dash them and leave you feeling like you got punched in the gut.

The idea of firing a head coach in the middle of the NFL season is terrible. It is even worse when you consider the coach being fired is in the midst of competing for a playoff berth and a division title.

Do you want to hear another terrible idea?

How about you do the following during an NFL game: Turn touchdowns into field goals, establish a predictable offense, run out of timeouts, not use your time wisely and not understand when a two-point conversion is warranted.

Sounds like someone had a bad game. Let’s be honest though, you can't get fired for such offenses.

In the case of Andy Reid not only can you get fired for this, you should be fired for this.

Immediately.

Reid finds a way to botch one of the aforementioned issues each week. The beauty of the game in San Diego is that it all happened in the same game and they all contributed to the Eagles loss.

So let's start at the beginning of this hot mess and slowly work our way through it. Consider this the first dot on the paper. As we connect the dots you will see a big fat "F" appear on the paper. It can stand for “Failure,” “Fired,” “Funny,” or another word of your choice.

Efficiency in the Redzone

Field goals are valuable when a drive stalls at the 35, you trot out the guy most players on your team don’t consider a football player and earns you three points from 52 yards out.

Field goals cost you games when they split the uprights from distances of 18, 25 and 25 yards.

The Eagles first trip the redzone saw the offense facing a first and goal from...gasp...the 1-yard line. I know it sounds scary and the end result was nothing short of a nightmare.

Run, Play action pass, run, field goal.

I know what happened the first time around: The Eagles were too close to the endzone and they ran the ball too many times.

The second trip to the redzone offered the perfect remedy. The Eagles had first and goal from the nine. Now they could ditch the run and really use those weapons they have on offense.

Pass, run, Pass, field goal.

No big deal. Andy has it all figured out now. The Eagles need to find themselves in a manageable third down situation without facing the daunting task of goal-to-go.

The third trip was offered such a scenario.

With third and one from the San Diego seven Andy decides to run Sprint Right Option or a variation that looks very similar to it. Do you know what this play is?

It is the same play where Joe Montana and Dwight Clark connected on the Catch.

The quarterback rolls right and has three options. He can run, throw to a receiver in the flat or throw to a receiver in the back of the endzone.

Well that's great. Too bad Donovan McNabb isn't Joe Cool and Reid isn't Bill Walsh.

McNabb tossed the ball away and we were lucky enough to see David Akers kick another field goal, genuflect, and then point his finger to the sky as he mutters something that I'm sure no one in Philadelphia cares about.

Thanks Andy. Your team looked like it was prepared to convert on golden opportunities.

Balanced Offense

I am sitting here in front of my laptop with the TV on and my dog Wes snoring. This isn't exactly what I would call a "film session."

It sounds weird, but somehow I figured out it might be wise to run the ball against the 25th ranked rushing defense, which gave up 130 yards per game entering today's contest against the Eagles.

I guess you don’t need to lock yourself in a room for hours on end and remove yourself from human contact to figure that idea out.

I wonder if Andy knows there are 32 teams in the leagues. Maybe he thought the Chargers were 25^th against the run out of like 122 teams. Perhaps if someone told him the Chargers were 7^th to last against the rush the point would get through to him.

Forget it. Everything makes sense now. When the opposition is expecting you to run you need to completely abandon the run. If I had 69 offensive plays I would probably throw it 69 times or until Donovan went Dave Dravecky on everyone.

Thank goodness Reid is at the helm because he scaled back the pass considerably more than I would have. He only let McNabb air out 55 times, Michael Vick once and a hefty 13 runs.

Random though: Do you think McNabb would object to Kevin Kolb coming into the game to throw one pass? Yeah. I doubt he would like it. So then why in the world doesn’t he throw a hissy fit when Vick comes to disrupt the offense?

Back to the topic.

I know you're thinking Reid passed a lot because the Eagles were trailing big in the second half. Thanks oh mighty football genius, but take a look at the first half and you will see the Eagles passed 26 times and ran it only seven times.

At that pace you are looking at 52 passes and 14 runs. It really is weird how the pattern held true.

To put things in further perspective Brian Westbrook's last run of the day came on the fourth play of the third quarter.

He still ended up leading the team in rushing attempts and nearly accounted for half of the rushes.

Timeouts

You get three in each half and they carry the magical ability to stop time. It is a powerful tool that many great people in history have longed for. Yet Reid uses them up like those little paper cones that accompany a water cooler.

I can see him standing next to the water cooler thinking, "No big deal if I use one here, there are more left." He sort of haphazardly goes about his business and thinks nothing of it.

And then all of sudden when he is really thirsty he runs out of paper cones and stands there in a state of shock wondering what to do next. Following a deep breath he collects his thoughts and realizes how foolish he was not save a couple for later use.

It's kind of like that with the timeout issue.

I'm not saying the Eagles win the game if they have all three timeouts, but it certainly changes the dynamics of the game and it gives the Eagles a better chance to win the game.

And the last time I checked a major job responsibility of a coach is to make sure the team has pinnies for practice, directions to the game, and oh yeah, the opportunity to win.

Clock Management

The Eagles trailed by 12 with 12 minutes to go and they're out their frolicking around like a kid trying to catch butterflies in an open field.

While the Eagles were out in the own little world every fan in Philadelphia said, "This looks like the Super Bowl against the Patriots, huh?"

I'm sure the conversation was much more colorful, but you get the point.

Where was the urgency?

Maybe urgency was hanging out with the abundance of timeouts. Oh. There was no abundance of timeouts? I guess urgency had nowhere to hang out..

Two-point conversion

The Eagles trailed 28-9, which is a 19 point deficit for those lacking strong mathematical skills.

When you trail by 19 points in the NFL it is possible to tie the game up in three possessions with one of those possessions yielding a field goal.

Andy decided it was best to put the Eagles behind the eight ball and asked them to score three touchdowns. Heck, one touchdown was tough to come by, so why not ask for three in the fourth quarter.

If anyone knows Andy maybe they could drop off the following scenario on his desk. Thanks in advance from me and every Eagles fan out there.

You can tie a 19-point game with with two touchdowns (12 total points), two two-point conversions (4 total points), and a field goal (three total points). Add up the numbers in the parentheses and you get 19 points in three possessions.

Is that asking a lot?

Sure.

But why not go for it on your first touchdown?

If you miss the first two-point conversion you are still down 13 points and you need two touchdowns to take the lead. If you kick the extra point, which is what Andy did, you trail by 12 points. And guess what? You still need two touchdowns.

However, if you convert the first conversion you are looking at an 11-point deficit and we all know that means you don't need two touchdowns.

The time has finally come where Andy Reid must go and it must happen immediately.

When I rest my head down on my pillow Sunday night I will pray that I wake up to read a headline telling me Andy Reid is no longer the head coach of the Philadelphia Eagles.

Goodnight.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles Struggle In Red Zone, Lose To Chargers

Mike Lewis — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:53:33 -0500

The Philadelphia Eagles fell to the San Diego Chargers by a score of 31-23 on Sunday.

Failures in the red-zone doomed the Eagles, who failed to score a touchdown in each of their first three red-zone tries. After falling behind 14-0 in the second quarter, they had a first down on the one yard line, but failed to punch it in and settled for a field goal. Before the end of the half, they marched down the field and were inside the San Diego ten yard line but once again settled for three points and went into halftime trailing 14-6.

After San Diego took a 21-6 lead in the third quarter, the Eagles drove inside the Chargers ten yard line again, but settled for another field goal and a 21-9 Chargers lead. Many have questioned Andy Reid’s decision to play conservatively with just over five minutes left in the third quarter.

The Chargers responded by scoring another touchdown against the Eagles defense and took a 28-6 lead. The Eagles responded with two impressive drives which lead to touchdowns and were able to get within five points with just over seven minutes remaining.

The offense wouldn’t get another chance as the Chargers took advantage of poor clock management by the Eagles, who had used two timeouts already, and ran the clock down to just 30 seconds while adding a field goal. The Eagles weren’t able to make a comeback in such little time.

The red zone struggles were not the only problem. The defensive secondary struggled badly with the losses of Ellis Hobbs to injury and Joselio Hansen to suspension. The rest of the defense played poorly, resulting in 31 points for the Chargers.

The offensive burden was placed squarely on Donovan McNabb’s shoulders as Reid abandoned the run after the first drive. McNabb attempted 55 passes while the team attempted just 13 rushes. McNabb performed admirably, completing 35 passes for 450 yards and two touchdowns.

Jason Avant had a career performance, catching eight passes for 156 yards. The Eagles seem to have a very talented trio of young receivers as Desean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin also played well.

Brian Westbrook left the game early with another concussion. This is a serious issue as few players return from multiple concussions to make an impact in the same season. The Eagles and Westbrook should proceed cautiously as concussions have lead many former NFL players to experience serious long term mental deterioration after their careers.

Luckily for the Eagles, rookie running back Lesean McCoy has shown potential and may be on the verge of emerging as a very good feature back. He was a nonfactor on Sunday, though as he carried the ball just three times for only five yards.

At 5-4, the Eagles have a lot of work to do if they plan on contending for a Super Bowl. Luckily for them, they are just one game out of first place in an NFC East that is full of flawed teams. The Eagles have been hit hard by injuries and have been very inconsistent, but they have a lot of talent and at times they have played very well.

While they have disappointed so far, nobody should count them out yet. They looked dead in the water last season before rallying late and ending just one drive short of the Super Bowl.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Despite Loss To Chargers, Eagles' Jason Avant Has Career Day

Dan Parzych — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:32:51 -0500

There once was a wide receiver on the Philadelphia Eagles who wore No. 81 and would be unstoppable for opposing teams to defend.

While his time has come and gone in the City of Brotherly Love, the Eagles have to be satisfied with the latest performance of another wide receiver wearing the No. 81 jersey.

Before Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers, Philadelphia Eagles WR Jason Avant had just 15 receptions for 198 yards in the eight games he's played so far during the 2009 season. In 46 games, he’s recorded 77 receptions for 910 yards and six touchdowns.

On Sunday, Avant had the best game of his four-year career, hauling in eight receptions for 156 yards in the Eagles 31-23 loss to the Chargers.

While the Eagles may have ended up on the losing side of Sunday’s game, they have to be satisfied with the performance of Avant against the Chargers considering he’s never been the go-to guy at wide receiver.

Throughout his career, Avant has been one of those wide receivers who always seemed to be under the radar. With the Eagles, he has always played with other wide receivers ahead of him, such as Kevin Curtis and DeSean Jackson. Even coming into this season, rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin was expected to be ahead of Avant on the team’s depth chart.

But Avant has managed to establish a reputation as a key player to throw to on third down. Throughout his career, he’s moved the chains on 14 of 17 third-down passes thrown to him by Donovan McNabb.

With the emergence of Jackson and Maclin as No. 1 and No. 2 wideouts, the Eagles could have a solid trio of receivers if they can find a way to use Avant in the offense like they did against the Chargers.

With running back Brian Westbrook suffering his second concussion of the season, the Eagles may need all of the extra help they can get on offense.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles-Chargers: A Loyal Fan's Perspective

DMtShooter Five Tool Tool — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:29:00 -0500

In all of the ways your team can lose a game, the least satisfying has to be when your coaching staff goes "Maximum Pussy."

Repeatedly in this game, with no evidence that the defense was going to be able to win a low-scoring affair, the Eagles went for field goals instead of touchdowns...and in an eight-point game, you can do the math.

If you want to declare the Reid Era to be over from this game, or announce that you aren't going to watch this team anymore, feel free, but we know you're lying.

Lifelong fan-rooting interests don't work like that.

Besides, you are still here after the Raiders game, and that was a lot worse than this.

When your defense doesn't make stops to give you a chance to win for the second straight week, that's officially more disturbing than knowing the men didn't quit. It's especially irritating given that the Cowboys were playing their worst game of the year in Green Bay, which means the division is still up for grabs.

In Sunday's game, the Eagles ran it 13 times, and threw it 55. I'm pretty sure you could see more "balance" in Arena football.

As one of Donovan McNabb's biggest fans and supporters, I'm prone to looking the other way on a lot of things. In today's game, he threw for 450 yards and was as sharp as he's been all year; the fourth quarter first-down conversion to Celek is a throw that very few people can make, and he went down swinging.

But he really needs to stop palling around on camera with players from the opposing team. It looks horrible. If you have to be a guy before a player, do it in private.

How much do opposing TEs look forward to playing the Eagles?

I'm thinking that the schedule gets circled, in red, and the wives and significant others of these players know that they're going to be taken out to dinner and a show after the game. Antonio Gates didn't exactly light up the scoreboard today, but he made the back-breaking third-down conversion the Chargers needed.

Were you holding out hope for a classic Norv Turner choke job in this game?

The Chargers kicked off with 30 seconds left, up by eight, and allowed the Eagles to move the ball 40 yards on the sidelines with absolute ease. There is a difference between a Hail Mary from 60 yards out and one from 35; it has to do with the trajectory of the ball going from arm-punt to actual throw, and Norvalicious was happy to give that up.

Charger Fan, you do realize this man is taking years off your life, right?

How much does Sav Rocca suck? Enough that I think he's the worst long-term punter the Eagles have ever had and I've been watching this laundry for (gulp) 30 years.

On the first touchdown of the day, Mike Tolbert scored on a screen that I'm pretty sure I could have gotten in on, and I don't have the quickness I once had.

Does anyone in Eagles Nation get excited to see Michael Vick on the field anymore? I'm fairly sure that you can buy his jersey to use as a car rag. (To be fair, DeSean Jackson really should have caught his first-half pass.)

I've had FTT comments that ask me to write about Fox's "Lunch With Benefits" line. I'd say something about this, but from a network that promotes teabagging, I'm not sure that Irony is a concern.

For the second straight week, the announcing crew expressed amazement that the No. 1 WR (last week—Austin, this week—Jackson) against the Eagles hasn't done much. It's as if Asante Samuel isn't good, or that the opposing team doesn't know how to throw to the tight end. Is it hard for an announcing team to notice this as a trend?

Brian Westbrook, concussed for the second time in a month, and I suspect that it might be the last time we see him on a football field. It's as sad of an ending as you could imagine, and such an unfair way for the best RB in franchise history to be done.

In the long run, that was the most meaningful thing to happen to the Eagles on Sunday, and should prevent any fan of the laundry from having their anger outweigh their sadness. LeSean McCoy might be a better back right now, but there's no way he's going to be a better back for his career.

Be well, B Dub, and football writers—send this man to Canton with speed.

http://fivetooltool.blogspot.com —The Sports Blog That Loves You Back!

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Chargers Score Touchdowns, Eagles Kick Field Goals

Bob Cunningham — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 17:34:00 -0500

Now is the perfect time to use Michael Vick in the Wildcat.

With the score 14-6 at halftime, the Eagles are in great position to get blown out of the water.

Yes, it's only an eight point game, but the Eagles cannot close the deal in the redzone and have twice had to settle for field goals. The Chargers have the momentum and the confidence that they can stop the Eagles whenever they want.

DeSean Jackson now has two drops and an ankle injury, Jeremy Maclin still doesn't want to get hit returning kicks, and Westbrook couldn't find a cutback lane with a chaperon and a chauffeur.

Add all that onto the fact that Reid's playcalling is atrocious, the line can't run-block, and the linebackers all look confused and you've got the makings of an awful second half.

Sean McDermott is playing scared at this point by just sitting back and playing coverage. He's afraid to get beat at this point, and if JJ was still around he'd be losing his mind. This defense is about pressure and attacking and at this point they're doing neither.

If Reid doesn't start running the ball more often and fails to get more effective play out of his line, we're going to see a complete offensive implosion which will then be followed by a complete defensive implosion.

But everyone knows that Andy Reid won't put more emphasis on the run game, including Howie Long on FOX's halftime show.

"What is it about the Eagles going to the West Coast? They just refuse to run the ball on the West Coast," said Long.

Amen, Howie. Amen.

Prepare yourselves Eagles fans, this could get very, very ugly.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Keys to the Game: Eagles at San Diego Chargers

Bob Cunningham — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 13:22:00 -0500

Any real fan can tell me what was going on here.

If you ask most fans in Philly what the keys to this game will be, you may be told that it doesn't matter. Apparently the season ended with a Week Nine loss to the Dallas Cowboys at home, dropping the Eagles to 5-3 with a 2-1 divisional record.

Negadelphia strikes again.

So for those of you who still think this season in salvagable, stick around and we'll see what it's going to take for the Birds to move to 6-3.

Be Creative With Secondary Depth

It is going to take some real creativity, innovation, and ingenuity on the part of defensive coordinator Sean McDermott to work with the lack of depth he now has in the secondary.

With Ellis Hobbs out for the season and Joselio Hanson serving a four-game suspension, Dimitri Patterson moves up from the fifth corner to the third and puts this team in a bad spot.

The Eagles did sign Ramzee Robinson and call up Jack Ikegwuonu from the practice squad, but between them there's only 19 games of playing experience—all belonging to Robinson.

That said, we could see a lot of Macho Harris and Quintin Demps lined up at corner over the next few weeks until Robinson and Ikegwuonu earn the trust of the coaching staff.

Chargers week was certainly not the week to lose depth in the secondary, but hopefully McDermott knows what he's doing and will be able to make up for it with some creative blitzing and coverages. If not, it's going to be a long day for the Birds in sunny San Diego.

Run the Football Up the Middle

Overall, the Chargers are not very good against the run, ranking 26th overall with just over 130 yards per game allowed. However, it's up the middle that the Chargers are most susceptible to the run.

With Jamal Williams landing on Injured Reserve earlier in the year, the Chargers have been scrambling to find a replacement who can eat space the way Williams could. However, the problem is that there is no one in the league who can play the position the way Williams can.

The Eagles need to take advantage of that and the duo of unimpressive linebackers manning the inside for the Chargers defense. They need to do that by running Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, and most importantly Leonard Weaver right behind Herremans, Jackson, and Cole/Andrews.

Jaw at Phillip Rivers

As much as physical prowess obviously plays into this game, the psychological side cannot be overlooked. Phillip Rivers is known to lose his cool, it doesn't make any sense not to take advantage of it.

There's not really that type of guy on the Eagles defense, except maybe Asante Samuel, so someone is going to have to step out of their comfort zone and do a little yapping at Rivers.

Samuel is a good candidate, but as a corner he doesn't have a lot of interaction with the quarterback. A guy like Trent Cole could get into Rivers' head with a little talk, but again, he's not really that type of guy.

It might be a dirty move, but you've got to do all you can against a talented team like the Chargers. The Eagles would be fools not to take advantage of Rivers' hot head.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Eagles' DeSean Jackson Using Facebook To Raise Money For Cancer Research

Dan Parzych — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 10:08:48 -0500

Philadelphia Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is the type of player who loves to give 100 percent on the field and in the community. When the Eagles travel to the west coast to take on the San Diego Chargers this Sunday, he will be giving his all on the field and raising awareness for pancreatic cancer–at the same time.

Jackson is taking the approach most NFL players have taken this season by interacting with fans through popular social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter . He even has his own website DeSeanJackson10.com that is expected to launch shortly for his fans to enjoy.

Not only is Jackson using these social networking sites as a new way for him to interact with his fans, but also as a way to raise awareness for a good cause.

As part of a way to interact with his fans through Facebook, Jackson will be auctioning off his gloves from Sunday’s game against the Chargers to raise money for Pancreatic Cancer Research. Fans can bid on the gloves once the auction begins at 4:15 pm ET by visiting Jackson’s fan page on Facebook .

Last season, Jackson’s father Bill was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer while the Eagles were participating in the 2009 playoffs. After he passed away last May, Jackson decided to honor his father by dedicating the 2009 season to him. So far, he’s hauled in 26 receptions for 530 yards and six total touchdowns.

Sunday’s auction towards Pancreatic Cancer Research is just another small part of how Jackson wants to serve the memory of his father and help raise money for others who have been diagnosed. Pancreatic cancer is a malignant tumor of the pancreas and is the fourth leading cause of death in men and women.

For the average football fan, this is a great way not only to own a collector’s item of one of the most explosive wide receivers in the NFL, but an opportunity to help raise money for a good cause.

If interested in participating in the auction for his game-worn gloves, be sure to check out the official DeSean Jackson fan page on Facebook once the Eagles-Chargers begins on Sunday.

Dan Parzych Is the Eagles Fan Voice for NFLTouchdown.com

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com

Andy Reid: Many Records Set, Yet Two Will Always Haunt Him

Will Holt — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 16:55:55 -0500

No matter where you go, it is easy to spot a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

They stand with their chest puffed out proud and they can withstand any critical comments made about their beloved Eagles or the city of Philadelphia.

Eagles fans are a special breed. They have the rare ability to sniff out Cowboys, Giants, or Redskins fans and lambaste them with insults that have been known to make grown men either blush or cry.

But once they huddle up with each other, they admit the Eagles really are a sad sight for sore eyes and then these four words are usually uttered: "Andy Reid's gotta go."

Truth be told, not every fan has these feelings about Andy Reid, but it is safe to say the majority of the fans feel this way.

But why?

Why, in a city that yearns for winning, do they shun a coach who has the most wins in franchise history?

How can fans who hate Dallas more than out-of-town imitation cheesesteaks be infuriated by a man who is 13-8 against their archrival?

And doesn't he deserve a ton of credit for turning around a rather dull franchise?

Yes, I am taking a knock at the Eagles franchise for not being all that exciting and for being rather pedestrian.

The Eagles were established in 1933 and success was not their forte.

Actually, winning and the Eagles were rarely synonymous.

The Eagles experienced only 25 winnings seasons between their inception in 1933 and the year Reid arrived, 1999.

That means Philadelphia Eagles fans experienced a winning season only 38 percent of the time.

To take it a step further, the Eagles only made 14 playoff appearances before Reid's arrival. That calculates to the fans watching their team in the playoffs only 21 percent of the time.

And if you really want to get down in the dumps about the Eagles, then all you have to do is look at the nine playoff games they won in the 65-year gap.

Reid obliterates all of those numbers and makes you wonder why fans could hate him.

In his 10 full seasons here, Reid has racked up seven winning seasons. The 70 percent clip nearly doubles the 38 percent mark established before him.

Reid has also made the playoffs in seven of his 10 seasons. This means Eagles fans were treated to playoff football 70 percent of the time. This is astounding considering what the fans used to witness every year.

Even more remarkable is the number of playoff wins under Reid. In 65 years, the Philadelphia Eagles won an astonishing nine playoff games, while Reid already has 10 playoff wins in 10 years.

It is extraordinary to think about the kind of success Eagles fans have experienced under Reid.

And he is not winning because he inherited a great team.

In the two years before Reid took over at the helm, the Eagles were 6-9-1 and then 3-13.

In his first season, he watched his team go 5-11, with Doug Pederson making a majority of the starts.

Things looked bad.

He lost to Dallas twice that year and his rookie quarterback, Donovan McNabb, was not a fan favorite.

And then he started to win.

Not only did he make the Eagles winners; he made them Super Bowl contenders.

Yet none of that matters.

Why? How can a city of losers hate a winner? It makes no sense.

Ah, but there are two records missing. There are two incriminating facts that have been left out.

The first is that Reid is a pathetic 1-4 in NFC Championship games. You want percentages? I got your percentages right here. He's won 20 percent of the time in Conference title games.

Wanna make it sound worse?

He’s lost 80 percent of the time his team was in the NFC Championship.

He would get a pass if the Eagles were favored in only one of the five, but as fate would have it, the Eagles were a favorite four times.

That stat alone should be enough to erase a lot of the fan's love for Reid. But there is one record that eats away at Eagles fans. There is one record that tells you Reid is not a winner.

0-1.

That is Andy's Super Bowl record.

In a city that thirsts for a winner, only a Super Bowl will quench that thirst.

As awful as the Eagles were pre-Reid, they still won two league championships in '48 and '60.

As someone who appreciates what Reid has done here and defends every move he makes and every game he coaches, there is no defense for not winning a Super Bowl. You can't defend someone who had all of this talent and produced nothing with it.

Sorry national media, unless the fans of Philadelphia have a Super Bowl, it is the same old story. It does not matter how close you get to winning the Super Bowl.

The fact is, the Eagles' season has ended without a Super Bowl every year Reid has been here. The Eagles' season ended the same way the Detroit Lions' season did—with no Lombardi trophy.

It’s a harsh comparison, but it’s true. The fans did not suffer through an 0-16 season, but they were punched in the gut one more time in the NFC Championship. The pain from those blows are adding up.

Unfortunately for Reid, he will always be remembered as the guy who choked. He will be thought of as "The Little Engine That Almost Could."

And as long as Reid never wins a Super Bowl, it will still be easy to spot a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

Read more Philadelphia Eagles news on BleacherReport.com