Jason La Canfora, for NFL.com:
Kolb will earn a $10 million signing bonus and $2 million salary in 2011. He’s due a $7 million roster bonus this March, which conceivably could be declined by the Cardinals, meaning they would could get out of Kolb’s deal after paying him just $12 million over one year.
Hypothetically, could the younger namesake end up back in Philly in the not-too-distant future?
Jeff McLane, for the Inquirer:
Washburn defended Babin’s play and said he’s actually become stouter against the run this season. Taking to the chalkboard, Washburn diagrammed how the ends in the wide nine are to rush upfield and squeeze running backs inside to the tackles or an unblocked linebacker or safety.
“There might be some other reason why we hadn’t played the run as well, but it’s not the [wide-]nine technique,” Washburn said. “That might be the last thing. I won’t go into it any more than that.”
I wonder what, or who, he’s referring to.
Ryan Messick, at Philly Sports Report:
“We talk to [Castillo] a lot because we, especially the older guys, like myself and Asante, we’ve been in the league, you know, and we kind of know what goes on with defenses and what call is good and not good at any particular time,” said Asomugha. “So we talk to him a lot but he goes out there and he still has his game plan and he makes all the calls and he’s got a better feel of when to call what.
“Obviously we’re going to keep talking to him, because this is his first year, so you’ve got to keep talking to him, but he’s doing a good job, he’s getting it on his own.”
That is the most damning, condescending praise I’ve ever heard.
You may be surprised to hear this, but the Eagles are two more solid defensive efforts away from retaining Juan Castillo. One can see how the notion is going to start gaining momentum.
Since the Eagles left Seattle in disgrace, their defense has played two straight good games, albeit not against world-beaters. Over the final two weeks, they play two teams that they held to a combined 20 points the first time around.
Now you’ve got a “strong end to the season ” storyline that lends to the idea that Castillo just needed time to work things out, especially with the lockout. Avoiding collapse means the players will rally to this storyline, and writers will throw around the fact that Sean McDermott got a second chance.
Inside Novacare, Andy Reid’s already on a make-or-break 2012 season, so he might as well go out with his guys. Joe Banner and Howie Roseman will let Reid dig his own grave… and, voila. Juan, season two is born.
(Just to head everyone off at the pass, this is an awful idea.)
83% = Catch rate by Brent Celek. Celek’s 156-yard performance was impressive, even if he couldn’t quite punch his 73-yard catch-and-run into the end zone. In fact, it was the most receiving yards for a tight end in Eagles history since “Pistol Pete” Retzlaff in 1965. But even more important was the indication that Celek is really back, after dropping passes at a high rate in 2010.
0 = Eagles turnover margin, including the muffed punt. It’s amazing how many times these two teams tried to give the game away. The Eagles converted more of them to points, though.
20% = Jets red zone touchdown rate. Winning is easier when you don’t allow a touchdown every time the opponent gets inside the 20.
20 = Total all-purpose touchdowns for LeSean McCoy. What a ridiculously fine season for Shady. No one expected this type of historic performance.
3 = More sacks by Jason Babin. Some writers keeping trying to discredit Babin by linking him to the poor run defense. But that’s neither fair, nor particularly relevant. Even if he was a big problem against the run (which he’s not), 18 sacks evens that out a little bit.
Photo from Getty.
Mark Sanchez screams like a girl.
Week Fifteen
New York Jets @ Philadelphia Eagles
4:15 pm EST on FOX
Paul Domowitch, for the Daily News:
“Oh yeah, I really believe that,” Mudd said this week. “If anyone doesn’t think [Peters is the best left tackle in the league], I would categorically ask them to give me one who is as good. I didn’t say better. I said as good. So that puts him in a pretty rarified place.
“The only other guy I’ve coached who’s like him is Walter [Jones]. That’s it. He’s got remarkable talent. Balance. Athleticism. Strength. He’s so fast. You’ve seen him lead screens and things like that. It’s kind of awesome really the physical talent that he has.”
Great profile of Jason Peters, who’s arguably the best Eagles player right now. Honorable mention to Shady.
Les Bowen, for the Daily News:
Brandon Graham has fled Twitter lately, Graham said yesterday, because he is tired of fans’ critical comparisons with Giants defensive end (and NFC defensive player of the week) Jason Pierre-Paul.
“It’s ridiculous, how bad the fans are, saying how they wish they had JPP,” Graham said following yesterday’s practice. “I understand, ‘cause I haven’t done anything. I got nothing to say. That’s why I’ve been laying low, just can’t wait to erupt.”
I feel bad for Brandon Graham. Here’s hoping he can rebound in 2012.
