The Eagles vs. the Washington Redskins featuring Donovan McNabb vs. Michael Vick could be the highest rated Monday Night Football game of all-time. Last week I heard Ron Jaworski, the former Eagles quarterback and current ESPN TV analyst for Monday Night Football make that statement.
Philly.com focuses on the controversy surrounding both these quarterbacks and how it could be a great script for a movie. I think if Michael Vick continues his heroics, his career and life will be made into a movie.
McNabb’s career is more like a soap opera with the benching and decisions by the coach and team which benches him to give him additional monies for their rash decisions. It’s hard to explain.
Philly.com asks the question: Will Michael Vick be able to ignore all of the talk about a huge new contract and being one of the current favorite to be the league MVP? In 2002 he got caught in the MVP talk and that foreshadowed the demise of the Atlanta Falcons football team.
How did the Birds improve their defense against the run? Defensive coordinator Sean McDermott singles out strongside linebacker Moise Fokou and defensive tackle Antonio Dixon as the main reasons for the improvement for a player standpoint.
It seems like the entire defense has been more focused and it seems like they’re recognizing and attacking the blocking scheme much better. This helps the defensive linemen get penetration, which will force runners to change their path deep in the backfield which usually helps the defense.
I also think they’re getting off blocks much better. On each play a defender has to recognize what the offense is trying to do to him them attack it.
Jaworski talks about the way Michael Vick is playing the quarterback position. In the last game against the Colts, the Birds went maximum protection just about all day in order to block Dwight Sweeney and Robert Mathis. I don’t think they’re going to use that same strategy versus the Redskins tonight.
Earlier in the week Eagles defensive end Trent Cole said Donovan McNabb isn’t hard to defend. He’s been explaining himself the last couple of days. Why doesn’t he just stick to what he said? Philly.com breaks it all down for us.
Rookie Brandon Graham hit it on the head when said the Detroit Lions pass rush put a beating on McNabb. That’s what the Eagles need to do.
ESPN talks about how Mike Shanahan and his son Kyle have mismanaged the benching of Donovan McNabb so badly that they’ve lost many of the Redskins faithful along with the players on the football team.
How does McNabb always wind up in the middle of this type of mess?
It looks like he might get a new contract because of hit. How do you explain this?
Eagles rookie safety Kurt Coleman tells the South Jersey Courier Post that he’s not awed by the prospect of starting the first game of his career in a huge Monday Night game against the Washington Redskins. He points to all of the big games he played in college at Ohio State.
He may have played in big games, but you can believe that the Skins have been working all week to find ways to attack him with the deep ball. We’ll see how the rookie works out tonight.
I’ve poured a cup of kool-aid. I’m not even going to take a sip until the Eagles win a division game. When they show an answer to the slip screens and draws the Cowboys killed them with last year and the Colts used on them last week. (why the Colts stopped is a mystery) Dallas won’t stop. Thankfully the Giants were the team to find out the Cowboys are still dangerous. Thanks Coughlin. What a bubble head. His heart is 2 sizes too small.
Get Shady some more touches in space. Run from the power I. Our fullback smacks people.
Get Celek involed more.
Of course we should blow out the skins, But when was the last time that happened?
Hot and ready pizza and some cold drinks. Let’s get this party started!
We are starting to hear some immature and stupid comments from some of more expereienced players who you would expect would be above this and I don’t like it..
Last week B Celek stating that he thought Colts DE D Freeney quit late in the game…
T Cole stating that McNabb isn’t hard to defend when T Cole didn’t even show up in the 1st game versus the Redskins and was personally manhandled by a back-up LT In Stephen Heyer…
A word to the wise, this Eagle Team is as good as any in the NFC, but hasn’t won anything yet, so keep your mouths closed and let your playing do your talking for you.
And as far as veteran players commenting about opponents performance’s, I would say worry about your own game and stay focused..
I agree with you Paulman. They just need to be quiet and play ball. No one wants to hear how easily you think it is to defend McNabb. Because now when you make a statement like that (whether it’s true or not) you not have to defend yourself after the media has had time to play with it. And also given the fact that you didn’t do anything but get run over in the last game, that’s the last thing he should be talking about. And then Celek should be the last one talking about some one quit. Ask him how many blocks he whiffed on this year or dropped passes. He should be concentrating on playing better. Just keep your mouths shut about other teams and players and just play ball.
I will be making the trip down to DC for this game. Should be a good one.
yes trent for im sure there are plenty of offenses feeling that it easy to score on the eagles
o yea scorp how much were ur tix
stubb hubb?
Should be an awesome game and atmmoshpere to watch the Eagles
Have a great time and a dafe triup for whoever is going,..
95 bucks 426 section around the 30 yard line row 3. Not bad considering how last minute I got them.
And that includes the fees last minute pickup service charge
o thats almost cheap lol
should be a “Safe Trip”… I cannot spell anymore for some reason
For a game like this, you’ll be paying that amount for SRO tickets at the Linc.
This is the type of game that separates contenders and pretenders.
BTW, Scorp, you’re going to be sitting with the Birds, literally, lmao. — But have a good time man!
Winner if this game remains in the playoff Hunt,
Loser of the game is done in my opinion,,,
Here’s a list of NFC Teams that have better overall records than the Eagles (5-3) and Redskin (4-4)
and who they are competeting with for a playoff spot
(6 Teams make with the 4 Division Winners and then the bext 2 best records)
#1) Falcons 7-2
#2) Packers 6-3
#3) Bears 6-3
#4) Saints 6-3
#5) NY Giants 6-3
#6) Tampa Bay 6-3
#7) Seattle 5-4
If the Eagles win tonight and go 6-3, I move them up to the #2 position in the NFC Conference
If they are to lose and fall to 5-4, I would move them down to #9 behind the Redskins & Seattle
and the EAgles would have a uphill battle for a playoff berth
Birdo, yeah I know. But we just want to be in the building and that’s the best we could get 2 days before the game. But we will have a good time.
GCobb
Great stuff! I’ve been reading the articles.
Jaws states that Vick is 27 of 45 with 3 TDs in blitz situations. That works out to 60% passing when he’s blitzed. He is obviously not bailing on the play early.
BSM
The Power I? I would love to see that!!!
Scorp
Represent!!!
Jaws also states that the Birds have gone max-protect quite often, thereby allowing extra time for the deep patterns to develop. I guess that explains Celek’s lack of production in the passing game.
I’d like to see them return to the mixed-play, short-to-medium game,with occasional down-field strikes. That plan worked perfectly against Atlanta and I believe it would continue to work. Most importantly, it would keep the pass-rush pressure off of Vick and probably keep him healthy.
I don’t think the Redskins will enjoy the same success against us with their running game, because we’ve improved and they’re somewhat banged-up. Donovan can no longer carry a team and he has no weapons. Therefore, I expect something of blow-out.
Hey, no one expected us to dog the Colts. Were it not for some terrible officiating, that game could have been a shut-out.
JUST GOT MY TIX! 170 A PIECE! GOODNESS GRACIOUS! BUT I’LL BE THERE!
170? No can do for me. I still gotta get my ticket to the Houston games. Already got my Giants and Vikes ticket. Not sure about the Cowboy because that game may not mean anything and I’m not spending over 100 to watch the bench players.
Paul – the Packers have the tie breaker with the Eagles.
I am sure the Packers & the Bucs probably have some of the tie-breakes in their favor since they probably have a better record against NFC Dicisional oppenents. But an Eagle win will catapult the Eagles up my list due to being the hotter team and beating better opponents at this point of the season.
My Rankings do no take into any tie-breakers and are just my gut-feel of who is playing better ball versus better competition…
SCORP…..section 230….white desean jersey! lets gooo!!
So guys, i know my feelings, but what does everyone else think about what will be said if the eagles lose tonight? Whats the response, by the fan base, if McNabb goes out and lights us up and leads the Redskins to victory? Will there be a defining chorus of “I told you so” regarding trading #5 in the division?
I agree that this is a must win for us..might not totally break our season if we lose but we need to split with the Redskins on a division level.
Scorp and Birdo–go raise hell in the capital..have fun at the game.
I’ll be at work tonight trying to tune in 94.1 on the display of car stereos and blast the birds all over the store…
GO Birds!
WOW, SOURCES SAY THAT MCNABB JUST SIGNED A 5 YEAR 78 MILLION DOLLAR EXT. WITH THE SKINS!!!!!
If Vick stays healthy and plays well, what is his contract worth now! #5 you got us!
Wow. That’s weird. I don’t understand the extension, but it pretty much takes the Redskins out of contention for the next 4 years or so.
Even I think Vick is better than McNabb at this point. $40 million guaranteed for McNabb. Vick’s going to want more than that.
Drummer…that is exactly what is happening…on Vick’s 31 yrd scramble, there were only 2 wrs sent out and they both streaked down the field. Bombs away….(an interesting side note…all this praise for Vick making his reads when he only has 2 reads to make) I am not a fan of this of course. I don’t think you’re going to see the mix you want, ’cause that’s not what Vick does. The plan worked perfectly against Atlanta, but it wasn’t Vick orchestrating that plan. Andy loves the cannon. The cannon will be fired.
Be ironic if both starters get injured and the backups have to play
Not that far fetched as both do get injured
$40 million guaranteed to a 33 year old QB that is injury prone –insanity
Sans franchise tag, bye bye Vick.
Wowzas! McNabb just got a 5 year $88M deal…$40M guaranteed. McNabb should have waited and signed with the Cardinals in the off-season. He probably would have gotten close to the same money, but with exceptional WRs. The Eagles will probably have some issues tonight. I suspect the Redskins are going to try to get their two TEs more involved than in the last game and you know what happens when teams start using their TEs against the Eagles D. Hopefully, the D will be tightened up. I expect Vick and the offense to a great night.
BIG BOSS…..Vick ain’t going anywhere. We have plenty of money under the cap….we can sign Vick to double what McNabb got….we won’t, but we can. Vick will get a 5 yr / 90 mil deal with 40 gtd.
Butch,
If McPayday would’ve went to ARZ he wouldn’t really have much to work with actually. Fitzy is gone in FA next year and he cannot be tagged per his contract. That leaves what..Steve Breaston…he’s seen better days. Bennie Wells, injury bugged. Tim Hightower..OK, you can have him. Prolly be better off going to the Vikes but he’s gonna finish out his career in Washington? Who made the worst move, Snyder for offering him the money..or McNabb for taking it?
Vick will get top dollar next week after winning this Monday night match up in spectacular fashion.
The Eagles will pay Vick his worth about 6 years 85 million with about 30 million gauranteed with serious incentives and an insurance clause that makes him forfeit the money if any future problems arises. This Mcnabb signing ups the anty on a Kolb trade this off season…Things are finally falling in the Eagles favor.
Oh my goodness. The Foreskins actually get dumber by the year. Live and don’t learn is the motto down there. Can anybody see the Pats or the Steelers giving top end money to an aging veteran? The sign older players, but only to low money deals, and they are brutal when it comes to getting rid of guys when it looks like the production MIGHT start to decline. A $40 million guaranteed deal is just insane. They might win tonight, but that will not make this contract any less stupid. They are going to be an awful franchise as long as Snyder owns them, he is worse than Jerrah down in Dallas. The only smart one in this deal is our old qb, who realized he had best sign the deal the Redskins had offered, and do it quick before his value went down any further. Who wants to go to a team with a chance to win, when you can get overpaid to play with a bunch of stiffs? No Super Bowl for him, ever.
Vinnie
You say that’s not what Vick does, but Reid did the same with Kolb against the Titans.
It’s not Vick. It’s Reid.
Songs
If McNabb got $88M for 5 years (40 guaranteed), wouldn’t Vick be worth more?
Bird
What cap?
Songs what you fail to realize is if im Mike Vick I tell you to shove your incentives up your @%%. I hold the cards. Ill let you know what I want. Im not signing ANYTHING with provisions in it. If the Eagles dont like it let me hit FA. I have the leverage. 6 years 100 million with 50 guarenteed. Dont pay me take your chances with Kolb. Dont worry I will get a job. lol
Mike Vick has no leverage whatsoever. The owners are not going to give up the franchise tag designation in the next collective bargaining agreement, so he is here next year regardless of what he wants. If the Eagles wamt him, he stays.
Kolb Alert – Interesting Fact Reported by Pat Kirwin
At least five teams this weekend had to go to their backup quarterback at some point, and if more teams have to go to their third QB — as Miami did — it might get ugly.
Anderson
Vick has all the leverage. Because, there is currently no collective bargaining agreement, when the season ends, Vick is a free agent.
Even if they could franchise him, it would be at more than $20 million. I’m sure that Vick would have no problem with that figure.
Vick has no leverage?. How about this leverage. Im testing FA. How about that leverage. I want to see what Im worth.
As I understand the situation, if there is not new CBA, there is no 2011 NFL season. Tis is designated as a League Final Year (perhaps Final League Year), as in no years after it without a new agreement. Under the old rules, even an unrestricted free agent can be designated a franchise player. Ask Asante how that works, he had it in New England. Big paycheck for one season, and no rule against franchising for a 2nd year if the team wants to do so. I do not care what he does or does not have a problem with. I do not really care one way or the other how much he makes as long as he plays well. But he is not leaving without the Eagles being compensated in some way. He may be a free agent at the end of the year, but without a new CBA he cannot sign a contract with anyone else. The CBA dictates what language and terms of service may be placed in a contract. He’s not leaving unless the Eagles don’t want him. Whether he makes 10 million or 10 bucks is irrelevant to me, not my money.
what a game!
As per this today’s WIP morning show, if Vick is not signed to a new contract, it would be the Eagles’ choice to designate him as a Franchise player (assuming the new CBA does not eliminate the Franchise player tag, which it will not). He is not going anywhere unless the Eagles want him to leave. No trying free agency, no leverage other than sitting home and not playing. Of course, he will get a new contract, and he will get a boatlaod of money which he will not share with any of you who seem so invested in his financial situation (as if it affects anything at all.)