The700Level.com - Philly Sports & Minutiae

ALL YOUR CHANTS WORKED: J.ROLL IS THE NL MVP!!!

Jimmy Rollins in field, originally uploaded by sfink16.

We've been waiting and debating (ok, other people were debating), but it was just announced that our own Jimmy Rollins is the National League MVP. Matt Holliday had a helluva season, and his Rockies made a great run. There was plenty of room to argue for him to be the MVP, but what we saw every day in this city, from spring training til September, was all-out hustle, constant production, and fantastic, Gold-Glove play in the field. That's a combo that's tough to beat, and Jimmy is the type of player that makes us all proud to be Phillies fans. Plus he made the Mets and their fans look like idiots.

From Zo:

The Phillies shortstop, with 16 first-place votes and 353 points, became the first player in baseball history to have 200 hits, 15 triples, 25 home runs and 25 stolen bases in a season. He beat Colorado Rockies leftfielder Matt Holliday, who had 11 first-place votes and 336 points in balloting by the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Congratulations to the MOST VALUABLE PLAYER!

Nate Ilaoa a Big Dude

Before this weekend's draft, NFL Network's Mike Mayock picked RB Nate Ilaoa as one of his sleepers and had this to say:

There is this bowling-ball running back out of Hawaii named Nate Ilaoa. He is a 255-pound, overweight bowling ball. He didn't run well at the combine and if he gets drafted it will be probably be in the sixth or seventh round or he'll be a free agent. This kid came to Hawaii as a wide receiver and was a productive wide receiver until he stated gaining all this weight.

I put the tape on to watch a free safety from Boise State and this running back kept running people over and making people miss. I said: Who is this kid? I made a few phone calls and watched some more tapes. You don't want to buy into him because he is so out of the box, but he's just the kind of kid that has something. He intrigues me.

Definitely an intruiging late round pick from the Birds.  Does anyone else find it funny that the Eagles drafted two running backs and they run the ball four times a game?

>>Head-to-head comparison: Mel Kiper to Mike Mayock [Sports Illustrated via]

Donovan McNabb is Thirty Years Old

Eagles fans may be beating a dead horse with the talk surrounding Kevin Kolb, but it's such a hot topic that we can't stop thinking about it.  As for Kolb as a player, I'd venture to guess that none of us really know very much about the guy.  I don't doubt that he could turn into a great NFL quarterback.  Fans didn't boo Kevin Kolb on draft day, they booed the fact that the Eagles selected a quarterback with their first pick on Saturday.

The NFL draft is full of posturing and misinformation.  The Eagles trying to tell us that the Kolb pick had nothing to do with Donovan McNabb is garbage if you ask me.  Number five is 30 years old and will turn 31 during the 2007 season.  That isn't exactly old for a QB.  I think a safe estimate of when McNabb will hang it up would be between the age of 35 and 37 depending on a number of factors.  That means Donovan could play another 5 to 7 years.  Do you really use the 36th overall pick on a guy who will sit the bench for that long?

When the Eagles tell us that this has nothing to do with Donovan McNabb, they're not fooling anybody.  The only way the Eagles will ever live this pick down is if Donovan McNabb retires in a couple of years and Kevin Kolb takes over the reigns and is immediately a superstar.  Anything else and you're going to hear many more boos.

Good luck, Kevin.  We're all hoping you make Andy Reid look brilliant.  We're certainly not holding our breath.

Previously: Eagles Select Kevin Kolb.. Kevin Who? [The 700 Level]

Day 2: Eagles Finally Draft a Safety

In case we can't get back to the laptops on a beautiful day in Philly, we're opening a thread for Day 2 of the draft. Just a few moments ago, the Eagles selected C.J. Gaddis, Free Safety/Cornerback from Clemson, with the #159 pick, their first of the 5th round.

Just a few picks later, the Birds took TE Brent Celek from Cincinnati, who is a house of a man and may have been targeted to replace L.J. Smith when he becomes a free agent after this season.

We've been impressed with the knowledge kicked down in the comments yesterday and today, so if you feel so inclined, fill us in on your impressions the picks the Eagles (or anyone else) make today.

Much love to the St. Louis Cardinals organization, as they mourn the loss of RP Josh Hancock, a former Phillie who died in a car accident this morning.

Stewart Bradley, Tony Hunt Round Out Strange First Day

With their two 3rd round picks, the Eagles finally took a few players the fans can get behind. We've long thought that LB was a position that needed an upgrade, and at the #87 pick, Nebraska LB Stewart Bradley had his name called. Three picks later, the Birds picked Penn State RB Tony Hunt, the change-of-pace, between-the-tackles big back that fans have been hollerin for.

Each player is considered a good value pick at this point in the draft, but each comes with a few question marks. Bradley has some injury concerns, and Hunt coughed the ball up a few too many times at State College. Still, both of these picks could have a positive impact on this year's team, and their upsides look to be far greater than their possible flaws. Bradley also has a ridiculously smooth 80's mane going.

So after a surprising trade with the Cowboys and an astounding first pick, the Eagles did fairly well with their next three selections. We'll see what craziness tomorrow's rounds have in store for us.

Stewart Bradley>>NFL.com
Tony Hunt>>NFL.com

Birds Take South Bend DE Abiamiri; Reid and McNabb on Kolb

After a total head-scratcher of a first pick, the Eagles selected Notre Dame DE Victor Abiamiri with the 57th pick, their second overall and second of Round 2. I didn't have DE high on their list of needs, but I guess after a weak season from Darren Howard and Jevon Kearse never once making it through a full season, the Birds wanted to put some depth into the D-Line. I know next to nothing about Abiamiri, but here's a good summary. Kiper seems to like him anyway, although he does raise some doubts.

Quote from Andy on the Kolb pick: "The last time they booed a QB, he turned out to be pretty good." Ziiinggg.

He also referred to Kolb as a "Coach's kid." Um... Is that a good thing, considering...

Reid then said this has nothing to do with McNabb, that Kolb was simply the best player available. That is, at the very least, debatable. He concluded by saying he wanted to acquire Keyshawn, who was working the draft for ESPN and doing a pretty nice job, despite arguing with MKjr all day. When Keyshawn retires after this season, he looks to be a nice fit at the ESPN NFL studio desk. The ESPN guys informed Reid that his comment was tampering, and he quickly backpedaled. Hopefully Roger Goodell can appreciate a joke.

D-Mac apparently was "befuddled" by the Kolb pick, according to Michael Smith, who was e-mailing with him. We are too. How could taking someone at your position with the team's top pick have nothing to do with you?

The Phils are getting smoked. We're done for the day. Time's yours.

Kevin Kolb Selected By Eagles.. Kevin Who?

I hope you enjoyed your Saturday, Eagles fans. We waited all day for the 26th pick, then waited some more once it was traded to Dallas. Finally, in a pick nobody saw coming the Birds draft QB Kevin Kolb at 36. Kevin who?

He's a shotgun passer who seems to be a product of his offense at Houston. People knocked Brady Quinn for not beating top teams. Kevin Kolb didn't even play top teams. Honestly, I don't get the pick. Do the Eagles know something we don't? Is Donovan McNabb really that injury prone? Is this guy capable of becoming a franchise quarterback? This seemed to come out of nowhere. What about those needs in the secondary? What about the LBs?

I've been sitting here all day excitedly waiting to see who the Birds would take. I think these fans sum up my feelings pretty well on the pick.

>>All of my posts live from the Draft

Click To Play

Eagles Fans Boo Kevin Kolb 2007 NFL Draft

Eagles Trade First Round Pick to Effing Dallas

With most of the defensive backs taken off the board, the Eagles traded their #26 pick to the Cowboys for 2nd, 3rd, and 5th round picks. The move puts the Eagles much higher in the 2nd round (36 in addition to 57), and gives them some depth in a draft in which they were down a pick (still nothing in the 4th round, but two picks in the 2nd, 3rd, and 5th).

Paul Posluszny was still there, and may still be there at 36, but the Birds haven't taken an LB in the first round under Andy Reid. As a PSU football fan, I'd love to see it... ::Update:: Buffalo traded up to take Paul Posluszny...

Do you like the trade? Are you worried that the DE taken by Dallas will haunt us by terrorizing Donovan McNabb? Was it a good trade, considering how many starters the Eagles have returning next season?

Joe Thomas.. Boo!

Live From Radio City: Joe Thomas! Boo! [FanHouse]

Live From Radio City Draft Floor

Click for my first post over at the FanHouse.

Live From Radio City, The 2007 NFL Draft

Some exciting news to pass along to you.  I will be covering the 2007 NFL Draft tomorrow live from Radio City Music Hall in New York, New York.  The bulk of my posts will be over at the FanHouse because I'm getting press credentials through AOL.  Should be a pretty nice little Saturday.

What will I cover you ask?  I've never been to a draft of any kind nor have I ever been a member of the press.  I'm just hoping for a Cheese Doodle moment or two.  If we have solid Internet access, we may set up an AIM screen name for you to send in your questions and tips for what from TV to look out for.

So tune in tomorrow to see what kind of coverage we provide.  Should be a fun little endeavor.  We'll see if the Eagles go D-back or something different.

Photo above courtesy of Getty Images.  The only player I can make out for sure is Brady Quinn.