• March 28, 2024

Random Odds And Ends From Eagles Training Camp

DeSean Jackson is getting better and should be back on the field in a few days, according to head coach Andy Reid. Jackson suffered a back strain a few days ago and hasn’t been on the field since as the team is taking a cautious approach.

— In more injured receivers news, Jeremy Maclin is said to have suffered only a bone bruise according to CSNPhilly.com’s Derrick Gunn. It will likely keep him out for a few days, but it could have been a whole lot worse.

— Eagles’ first-round pick Brandon Graham received a five-year deal worth $22 million. Of that, roughly $14 million is guaranteed.

The rookie salary system is definitely broken, but if Graham turns into a full-time starter he’ll be well worth it at only a little over $4 million per season.

— Reid always picks one day of Training Camp to give the “30-plus” guys a day off. Tuesday was that day, but Juqua Parker was the only guy eligible for the day off. David Akers, Sav Rocca, and Michael Vick are also 30 or older, but special teams guys and quarterbacks don’t count.

Maybe Parker would have been better off practicing and trying to give the Eagles a reason not to replace him with the already impressive Brandon Graham?

— Vick has been cleared by Commissioner Goodell, who was in Lehigh on Tuesday.

— Speaking of Goodell, he continues to push for an 18-game season and tries to swear the move is not motivated by revenue, but expanding the NFL’s brand and helping the game.

Who exactly does it help when star players are injured and unable to play when the playoffs finally come rolling around? Or what happens when teams start sitting their star players, as they do in baseball, in the middle of the season because they need them for later?

Guys are already sitting in the final couple weeks because a 16-game season is too long. The season should have stopped expanding after 14, but 16 games has worked. Goodell needs to stop trying to push it and realize it would only hurt the league.

Casual fans might not get this, but anyone who has played football can tell you that 18 games is just far too much for a guy’s body to go through.

But, if you’re a fan of a watered-down product that includes games that “don’t really matter” like they have in the NBA, MLB, and NHL, then the 18-game season is for you!

— I hate the idea of an 18-game season. Did I articulate that well enough, yet?

— One last Eagles note: They had better find a way to keep Chad Hall around. There is just way too much to love about this guy. He will play wherever they ask, can contribute in every area of special teams, and would overall be a great teammate.

More NFL rosters need more guys like Hall.

Bob Cunningham

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Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 9:16 am

Good stuff Bob,
I don’t like the 18 game schedule myself, too many games with too many meaningless games the last 3-4 weeks of the season
I think they can eliminate 1 Pre-Season game and only have 3 Pre-Season games…(play 1 home,1 away and maybe 1 game at a neutral site in the teams local area to garner fan interest)
Maybe as a enticement and to give the fans more football, add a game at the end of the season for only the teams that are in the Wild-Card chase, reward division winners with a week off and let 2 more teams in each conference make the playoffs
weeks to prepare for their 1st gaier

keep 5
keep 5
August 4, 2010 10:26 am

I also hate the idea of 18 games. This is the only sport in America with the perfect number of games in the regular season. If I had to choose between 4 preseason games or an 18 game regular season as much as I hate it I’d say stick with the 4 preseason games.

navyeaglefan
navyeaglefan
August 4, 2010 10:31 am

I agree with keep 5 – the 4 pre seasons serve a purpose (finding the right 53) and 16 games is fine for a season – I’d leave this one alone – focus instead on coming up with a better solution for OT – and a better playoff formula – doesn’t make sense an 11-5 wildcard team plays away while a 9-7 divsional champ gets a home playoff game – it would keep the season mor einteresting until the final week.

jphalines
jphalines
August 4, 2010 10:40 am

Along Random thought idea: I now am now more concerned about the offensive line than the defense. Last year I drank the green kool-aid and thought the offensive line was top 5 with Peters, Herremens, Jacskson, Andrews, and Andrews. Is it time to sour on Stacy Andrews? I made the comment last year he may have been able to play tackle or gurad because of his body type. His potental ceiling seems to be better suited for Mini Me instead of Shaq.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 11:04 am

I am with Jphalines on the concerns of the O/Line and espeically Stacey Andrews on whether he will be able to be a high-caliber type NFL Lineman.. They jusry is still out and I have a bad feel about him moving forard… In camp, Winston Justice has not looked all that sharp in the one-on-one drills and has been beaten badly by Parker,Graham,Tapp and even M Fokou on drills that I have seen…
Center is already a question mark and with HErremans out for another couple of weeks, it’s hard to expect a player to miss all of camp and then announce that they are fit and ready to go come the opening week of the season.. The first few weeks of the seeason may be very ugly for this O/Line as a whole..(I hope I am wrong and Justice,Cole,Jean-Gilles,Stacey all step up and that Herramans and Jackson return sooner than planned, but this may be wishful thinking)
I do think that free-agent OT A Howard is a keeper and will see some time in the future..(maybe Practice squad this yead) but he has looked awesome in one on one drills..

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 11:23 am

My worries are also with the O-line and also the secondary. The other parts of the team should be ok (without injuries) but those 2 are the real concern. It’s interesting that this line hasn’t really been healthy since Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan. Those guys were warriors. They guys we have now are mostly just ok and then they get hurt. Not sure what we will do there.

Iggles
Iggles
August 4, 2010 11:29 am

Leave schedule as is! Can just imagine league giving the intra-season break to a couple teams after the first 3 games, then having to play 15 games each of following weeks. Too hard on those bodies!!! I don’t like the widely-staggered breaks as it is… either give all teams break at midpoint of season, or at least limited scheduling and off either at games 7, 8 or 9. Fairer that way.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 12:03 pm

Have the Bye weeks in Week 8 & 9 (half the teams have week 8 off, the other teams have week 9 off)
Play the silly game in London on one of these weeks, and then all teams are ready for the home stretch
on a more fair basis..
Reduce the Pre-Season from 4 games to 3 games allowing 2 weeks to prepare for Opening week.
Change the Injured Reserve system which if a player is placed on IR, he misses 3 weeks minimum but can come back afterwards.. Increase the Active Player Roster to 55 players available on game days
and expand the Practice Squads from the current 6-7 players to 10 players who can be activated and moved back and forth on any given week during the season. ( I can’t stand where a player practices and plays for one teams OTA/Training camps, only to be scooped up by another team). These practice squads should be more developmental where the players stay with that team for the Season unless they are flat out released by the squad

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 12:21 pm

I want them to stay at 16 games and reduce it to 3 preseason games. I think that’s enough to evaluate and also get back in being ready for real football. It wasn’t that long ago that some teams played 5 regular season games. If they go 18 they’ll have to change the bye week structure and roster spots. They may also have to change the post season format eventually as well. I mean now you have more chances of teams winning more games. So that team that would have ended the season at 9-7 now finished at 11-7 because they won those last 2 games that would not have been there. Just stay at 16 games, fix overtime, get rid of 1 preseason game and we’re good.

JoePa89
JoePa89
August 4, 2010 12:25 pm

I think the pre seaon games are a total waste of time and it sucks for the season ticket holder who have to pay for those games. I’m all for an 18 game season and getting rid of the pre season completely. College football doesn’t have a pre season and they come out firing and with a lot less experience and talent.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 12:57 pm

Please get rid of Fox’s/NBC Game Day shows too…
Rodney Harrison,Jerome Bettis,Howie Long and even COcah Jimmy Johnson are good to listen to,
but Boomer Esiason,Dan Marino,Terry Bradsahaw,Bill Cowher,Shannon Sharpe,Dan PAtrick and Keith Olberman are terrible and are nothing but distactions.
On ESPN, Boomer, Coach Ditka and Tom Jackson, Steve Young are great, Chris Carter is pretty good but Keyshawn Johnson is horrible

drummerwinslow
drummerwinslow
August 4, 2010 12:58 pm

Here’s the most important statement made: Casual fans might not get this, but anyone who has played football can tell you that 18 games is just far too much for a guy’s body to go through.

Anyone who’s played in the NFL will certainly agree, even though it could mean higher salaries for the players.

The second most definitive statement: But, if you’re a fan of a watered-down product that includes games that “don’t really matter” like they have in the NBA, MLB, and NHL, then the 18-game season is for you!

As is, the NFL is perfect. Every game is important and the season ends at the right time of year. Anything later than early January could be adversely affected by weather.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 2:25 pm

JoePa, I think you need at least 2 preseason games to evaluate talent and see who’s going to make the team. College football doesn’t have the same concerns about roster size and salaries. With the NFL it’s too much at stake to not be able to evaulate guys in real game situations. I do think it sucks for people to have to pay for them. They should be very cheap, almost free since you’re mainly going to see 2nd and 3rd string talent.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 2:28 pm

Yeah drummer, I agree. I actually don’t think it means more money for the players if they knock off 2 preseason games. I’m sure in the owner’s eyes, it’s still the same amount of total games and players still get paid even if they don’t play a whole preseason game and the ticket prices are the same. I’m not sure they would get much more if it’s still 20 games in total. I think what will have to happen, is increase the roster size and maybe another bye week if that happens.

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
August 4, 2010 2:33 pm

Paul..I’m confused, first you say Boomer along with others are terrible then you go on to say he’s good on ESPN, which one is it. I don’t care either way if we go to an 18 game schedule or stay the way it is. However, if we do go to an 18 game schedule they will need to increase the roster to about 55-58 players as PM said, perhaps the PSquad too, also 2 preseason games become 2 regular season games. Preseason tix cost the same as reg season tix but you just don’t get to see the same type of game so more tix get sold. Also as far as meaningless games the league is looking into making the last 2 weeks inter- divisional games so they mean more are are worth playing for the starters.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 2:41 pm

@well well well, not Boomer Esiason. Chris Berman nickname is also “Boomer”.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 2:47 pm

Boomer Esiason is bad, and Chris “Boomer” Berman is good
As far as meaningless games being played, the last few seasons have seen some of these where
the Colts have run away from it and have rested Starters the last 2 weeks or so in a 16 game schedule
(much to their detriment I might add), The,Vikings,Saints and Bengals all played meaningless games the final weeks last year..maybe they can add a playoff team or 2 from each conference to make more teams in the playoffs and the final weeks more exciting..

WellWellWell
WellWellWell
August 4, 2010 2:57 pm

Thanks for clearing up the Boomer for me.

scorpiodsu
scorpiodsu
August 4, 2010 3:09 pm

Paulman, I would love to see more teams in the playoffs, but I wonder how they would do that and still give a bye week. It works with 6 teams because the top 2 teams get the bye and the other 4 play. But if you had 8 teams not sure how that would work. And I don’t want to get rid of the 1st round bye because teams should be rewarded in that way for being 1 of the best 2 in the conference.

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 3:14 pm

Talking about Boomer Esiason though for a moment,
One of the best football games I ever saw live was Clemson vs Maryland in 1982 or 1983 when he played he played for Maryland. The winner was going to win the ACC Conference and go on to the Orange Bowl and the game was being played at Maryland. It was like 31-10 late in the 3rd Period and
MAryland came back and won like 36-34 on a late field goal.. Boomer throw something like 60 passes

Paul Mancini
Paul Mancini
August 4, 2010 3:25 pm

I am trying to think of Maryland’s TE Name.. He must have caught 20 passes for over 200 yards
The name Frank Wysocki or something Polish comes to mind.,, anyone remember this …
(William “Fridge” Perry was a DT/NT for Clemson at the time)
College Park,MD went beserk after this comeback and the whole town was on fire that Sat Evening..

Boyer
Boyer
August 4, 2010 11:33 pm

Agreed. 18 games is way way way too long