I’ll be the first to say that I have not been concerned about Jeremy Maclin and his mysterious illness. I heard about it in the offseason, but didn’t really worry because I’ve had Mono before (a really bad case), and while it’s absolutely awful, you do get over it.
Even when the Eagles continued to say in training camp that they didn’t know what his illness was, I wasn’t worried. After all, the guy isn’t practicing, but he is standing on the sidelines out on the field. It’s not like he’s laying in a hospital bed plugged with tubes. So, I wasn’t all that concerned.
Now, it’s probably time to worry. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer said on Twitter that Maclin is now headed to St. Louis for more tests.
“#Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin has returned to St. Louis to undergo further testing to identify his illness, as @howardeskin first reported,” McLane tweets.
So, what is wrong with this guy? I thought for sure that most people in the organization had an idea, but just didn’t want to share it with the public. But, now seeing this I’m not so sure. Everyone was expecting him to be back Week 1 (which is odd if you don’t really know what’s wrong with him), but I don’t think that’s a possibility now.
It’s not just the illness, but the weight loss. There were reports this offseason that Maclin had lost some 15 lbs, and he doesn’t really look like he’s put that back on. He’s got to get that weight back up for him to be healthy and effective.
The word is that the Steve Smith signing had nothing to do with Maclin. Some claimed that they are different players so the two couldn’t be related. I disagree. While the two aren’t similar players, you need talent and depth and that’s what Smith would be if he’s healthy.
just saw this on twitter….not good…..
Yea, not good at all. Losing our best receiver (Maclin) and then our most dangerous weapon might be gone after this year (D-Jacc), it doesn’t look good for the offense. Someone pray for Vick to stay healthy.
Whoa..whoa..whoa..put the car in park and get down off the ledge there Birdbrain..Although discouraging news as it may be, this is no way a death knell for the Eagle’s offense.. Nor is Maclin the best WR on this team.. DJax and Avant will both shoulder the work load and it will give our bench WR’s a better opp to contribute. No team is immune to injury, at least our team is literally bursting at the seams with talent and speed. Were fine and my prayers go out to Jeremy for a speedy recovery. Now lets play football.
I agree that Maclin is the #1 WR on this team. It would be devastating if he missed significant time. Having Desean and Avant line up on the outside is a huge downgrade. Avant will never need double coverage because he is too slow. Maclin can stretch the field and just like Desean he opens up the field for others and keeps the safeties deep. No, he doesn’t have Desean speed but he has more than enough to keep them honest. No one else on our roster has the combination of speed and hands that Maclin brings.
Maclin is a stud and it would be a hit to the O if he isnt back. As far as who the best wide on the team is im gonna say Snax….he blows the roof off coverages and has done more in my opinion.
Its a football team…Cooper,Jvant,Smith,Hall,Celek,and whomever will pick it up for the team. Our backfield is better this year and as much as this concerns me im not ready to call this a death blow.We have no idea the time table for his return. Lets get a answer to that before we talk about how bad this is,real talk.
Anybody that thinks Maclin is NOT the best overall receiver on the team is a complete moron. I won’t continue the debate, I’ll let the QB do it for me. Go look up who Vick targeted more than anyone. Case closed.
Who cares if Maclin is better than Jackson, or the other way around?
Nearly anything is debatable and there’s no reason to compare.
We have both and I’m happy we do, let’s just get these 2 on the field.
They are different type or receivers. Their similarity is play-making ability.
If we’re assuming anything, I think it really is Mono or some STD(s).
Not to ruin the guys reputation or anything, just taking a guess.
I don’t know what to really think, but this whole time I’ve been thinking that we’re getting him back in shape and actually shooting him up with stuff.
Yeah, I know it’s illegal, just look across the state at the Pittsburgh Steelers tho.
Even Clay Matthews. The league still juices up.
Could be why Arian Foster hurt his hamstring after a monster year.
Now Steve Slaton is fighting to make the team and he pulls his hamstring too.
Part of it is because of the lockout, but the league turns away from HGH and other substances (Yes, they are required to test, don’t know how half the league passes if they’re even tested at all).
I wouldn’t be surprised if they are helping Maclin regain strength and his weight.
This does look bad for Maclin but he is not the best WR on this team. He is an excellent #2 WR in this offense and gets so many looks due to the coverages getting rolled to Desean’s side of the field. Desean is the most dangerous Wr in the NFL. He isn’t a 100 catch guy and he didn’t have as many targets last year due to the missed games( concussions ). Desean missed 2 games last season. Desean can change a game in one play and has done so many times. Jermey is a good consistent Wr but is not the Playmaker Desean Jackson is.
wmonell — you are right, we shouldn’t really care…..but I hate it when these so called EAGLES fans just say Desean is the best receiver on the team just because he is the most flamboyant and dances and makes the sportscenter highlight reel. It’s like they only watch highlights and not the games.
There is no clear cut #1 receiver in Philly, it’s 1a and 1b, respectively.
Actually, the Houston Texans seem like a prime team to test.
Brian Cushing was suspended last season for 4 games too.
Purely speculation on my part…
I agree 1a and 1b. I believe Desean is coveted more by teams, because of his special teams play.
As receivers, I think if we polled the other 31 teams that it would be 16-15 (split basically).
IMO – I choose Desean because he is a Superstar. I will take the player with his strengths AND weaknesses.
Their durability is too similar for Maclin to surpass Desean. Again, they are different and that’s only if I had to choose.
Desean is already in the record books and is one of the most dangerous players in football.
Maclin will be a stud, we all love the kid and he is well on his way.
Hopefully they both have healthy careers.
Maclin is not the playmaker Desean is?! LMFAO, wow, the stupidity from some of you is astounding.
I tell ya, return a punt to win the game and all of a sudden you’re the best thing since sliced bread…..nevermind that it was because of Vick and Maclin that he even had a chance to return that damn punt.
So nice to argue about who the best WR is on this team..It wasnt all that long ago we had Thrash, pinkston and brown..Ahh…the memories..
Birdo –
Before you continue to blindly type, separate yourself from your strong bias.
I actually like Maclin better than Desean personally.
With that said, Desean is a proven thousand yard receiver.
He is a Pro Bowler, and can score on any given touch.
He gets an occasional carry/reverse, returns punts, and does everything Maclin does as a receiver thus far.
Once Maclin gets healthy, he needs to use his body to his advantage.
He’s not the biggest WR, but he plays bigger by getting jump balls and he should be going over the middle (could be a faster Boldin).
Let Maclin grow into his own. Not everyone has Jerry Rice teaching them how to run routes lol.
Again Birdo – you don’t have to pick and it’s almost a waste of time to do so…to get overly emotional about it…and be stubborn lol.
The Eagles have both and I’m loving every play these guys contribute.
Chill out a bit…you remind me of these average football fans that complain about not getting the players they want in a fantasy football mock draft.
Don’t be that guy!
Jimmy Mac – Amen Brotha!
someone please tell BirdoBeamen to please shutup and appreciate everyone on the team…if he doenst like djax then he should keep it to himself its not like your running out there 150lbs while guys much bigger then u are looking to chop off your head….and 2nd can someone tell this idiot to stop being negative all the time abt every damn little thing damn…
Wmonell, I wasn’t coming at you in my last rant but ok. J-Mac for president.
The whole is greater then the sum of the parts –
they each have strengths that complement the other and together they are much better then they are as individuals – Get Djax signed long term – get Smith healthy – that is one lethal 4some (with Avant) and Smith looks versitile enough that if any one of the three currently onboard get hurt he can fill in without missing a beat
I agree with Birdo,
No real #1 or #2 Wr with this Offense,
WHose it say if Macling ran deep routes all the time (like D-Jax) that he wouldn;t make big plays.. They are both very Good WR who are utilized to their biggest assets which Good Coaching and Schemes should srive for..
D-Jax has the track man’s speed and Maclin has very good speed but better size to work inbetween the #’s in the middle of the field in front of D-Jax deep routes..
Thrash has good hands, but Pinkston can get down-field, but Freddy has that moxy that all great receivers need.
I think 2002 is going to be a good year for our birds.
only in philly do we fight about what amazing player is more amazing…. sheesh. They are great together;
Djack gives you speed and a bit of “tude”. He can beat you on a screen, a deep pass or an end around or a punt return. Jmac is not that guy.
Jmac give you the hands and the all around game u want from a WR. He has more catches… and maybe more TD’s at some point but he’s not the guy who will break a 75 yarder out of nothing week in and week out.
We love and need both these guys. BUT- if Jmac’s not ready by the start of the season, we have some depth i think. Maybe not the kind of high flying wr’s we need but for sure mis matches with our RB’s and who knows… maybe Vick figures out who Celeck is before the year is out. and dare i say it…. maybe Andy figures out how to do something other than run bombs away on 1,2,and3rd down.
To argue which WR is better is hard to do because they are complementary to eachother. While Maclin gives you that consistant threat, DJax gives you the wow factor and the ability to turn any play into a big one. They cannot exist and won’t be effective without eachother.
With that said, I rather have DJax if I have to choose. Because it is easier to find a WR like Maclin, than to find a DJax type player.
well at least we arent fighting over Mcnabb anymore…. ugh
Just another reason for the Eagles to committ themselves more to the Running Game and utilize both RB’s McCoy and R Brown and maybe use more Double TE set’s and utilize the good blocking skills of TE D Lee …
To Pcrow
Would you rather have a “D-Jax type” for 4-5 Seasons or a “Maclin type” for 8-10 Seasons..
Anyone have any Chad Hall updates..
should have drafted hakeem nicks
Paulman, I’d like a TO type with Randy Moss speed, Jerry Rice attitude, Hines Ward blocking and Todd Pinkston’s fearlessness.
RELAX – it was reported last week that he would be going to St Louis this week when the team played their 1st PS game. Let’s wait and hope AR is right and he will be ready for the start of the season.
Is this 2011
They can’t find out what is wrong with him
Don’t we have great hospitals in Philly
Jefferson
U of PO
Hanneman
What the heck is going on that he has to go to ST Louis
Ask anyone in the NFL who is the better receiver and see who they tell you. He finished as the 29th best player on NFL top 100. This team without desean goes no where. Teams game plan starts with 2 questions. How to stop Vick and how to stop desean. Everyone is entitled to their opinion and im not one to judge but you are an absolute baffoon if you think maclin is better than the two.
rcp – It is not at all uncommon for complex/serious diagnoses to take several months to properly pinpoint. It really isn’t. There’s also some great hospitals – Wash. U – in St. Louis. Who knows, there could be a particular specialist he’s going to.
They won’t be gameplanning for D-Jax after 2011 Season Vricchini,
He will bolt to the West Coast as a free-agent next off-season (Raiders or 49ers)
unless I am mistaken, the family that raised him is in St. Louis, and the father is a doctor, that is why he is heading back. according to the Eagles this trip was planned, not a spur of the moment emergency thing. he’ll get better and play or he won’t, the Birds seem to be doing their best to cover all the bases, why sweat things you have no control over?
Maclin is from the St Lous,Missouri area (Chesterfield) and probably is following up with hios own personal Physcians, Remember he has his bout with “mono” back in the Spring and is probably dealing with the same Physcians who have been treating him ever since..
Good Call Schiller on Washington University ,which is one of the best Universities, Medical and Law schools in the Country. (not everything revolves around the East Coast)
Chesterfield is a western Suburb of St Louis and a pretty nice area..
I would consider it similar to a West Chester/Downingtown area relative to Philadelphia..
Phew! Thanks Paul, I was worried there for a second that you might not know something.
jesus what does this guy have ?
paulman , chesterfield is an ale made by yuengling in pottsville PA ! just saying~!
Did I actually read someone say “Pinkstons fearlessness.”? BWAHAHAHA!!! Did you forget the alligator body he used to get over the middle.
Not to speculate, but something else has to be wrong, other than MONO. If he was diagnosed with MONO, in early February, I doubt it is still there. Hopefully it’s nothing like HIV or the big C.
GOD FORBID! GET WELL JMAC!
Many of you have probably seen the Pass To Pinky online game. If not, it’s funny as can be and is still online. You have to turn the audio up while playing it for a few minutes. Just google “Pass To Pinky – John Kalnin”. Any time I think of him I play it for a minute and always get a good chuckle. Funny stuff
ha, hilarious mtc
Look I like Maclin alot. Besides Desean he is the best WR this FO has ever drafted but if both of their carrers ended with Philadelphia right now, who would be the one everyone remembers??? Thats all I’m sayin. One guy has been to the Pro Bowl twice in his 3 years in the NFL. One guy has NFL records next to his name. One guy game in and game out draws double coverage every play. Thats not saying Jeremy Maclin isn’t any good. He is very good. he may one day be an Elite NFL WR, but he is not there yet and to say he is better than Desean is like saying Anquan Boldin was better than Larry Fitzgerald when they both played in Arizona. They both compliment each other but one is more of a playmaker than the other.
I agree with vricchini. Just Imagine if the Eagles drafted Hakeem Nicks! I beleive he went to NYG about 8 spots after Maclin.