Monday Extras: Catching Up With the Philly Sports World

Who is having turkey salad for lunch! An old school Monday Extras!

Bill Conlin points out the fact that having the number one draft choice is a sign of your ineptitude and bids adieu to Philly icons Pat Burrell and Donovan McNabb in the first of many long goodbyes.

So here we all are today, still deeply involved in the career endgames of Burrell, the veteran outfielder who led the fabulous World Series victory parade, waving joyously behind the famed Anheuser Busch Clydesdales, and McNabb, the quarterback who showed up on Thanksgiving night disguised as engineer of the 2004 Super Bowl express.

He goes on to express his hope that the parting of ways does not come back to haunt Philadelphia but also adds that the time for these relationships to end is now. Perhaps true on both accounts.

Extras:

• Things are going to start to get interesting in Phillies land with today being the final day to offer arbitration to players like Jamie Moyer. Zolecki breaks down many of the scenarios of who will likely get offered arb. Expect the Phils to offer it to Grandpa Moyer. [Inquirer]
• The Sixers have really stunk it up over their past few games. They got manhandled in Boston on Friday and then smacked around last night against Chicago. Exhibit A: Andre Miller meets Derrick Rose.
• The body language says it all in the Sixers fourth straight loss ... [Inqy]
• After trailing for much of the game against a formidable St. Joe's Prep squad, Malvern found the magic to keep their undefeated season alive on Thanksgiving. Malvern ended the year without a loss and will go down as one of those teams that was frigging awesome but doesn't really have a championship of real significance to show for it. [Daily News]
• So the Giants are a great football team and beat up on Washington on Sunday. But at least Plaxico, a receiver who usually gives the Eagles fits, has the IQ of a mountain troll. [Deadspin]
• I'm torn between watching the Eagles trying to win out and catching lightning in a bottle or simply starting the rebuilding process after a loss on Sunday to the Giants. My brain tells me they should lose and start the grieving process while my inner fandom wants to see a win and a run.
• I didn't spend a single minute in front of my computer on Saturday but I did sit on my ass to watch three movies: Milk (great), Smart People (good), and Four Christmases (not good).

This post has been brought to you by the letter 'D', WaWa Light Whip Cream, and Daniellie Lloyd in a bikini.

Comments

[Rick Sanganoski]

As far as the Eagles go, I agree with you. Why prolong the agony? Both Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb have had a good run here but the front office should start looking now to establish some sort of "Wish List" and maybe their items can at least put on "lay away" and not on "back order."

[Chris]

Am I the only one who thinks both McNabb and Reid are not going anywhere?

[zfg]

As much as I wish it were otherwise, I doubt Reid will be going anywhere. I'm really not sure about McNabb, though. I'd like to see him stay as I think he's still better than Kolb and the team has much more pressing needs to address.

[DLo34]

Andy Reid should go, Donovan McNabb should stay. Putting aside McNabb's 4 TD's on Thanksgiving and his two bad performances against the Bengals and Ravens, I still believe that McNabb gives you the best chance to win over the next few years. Let's look at the reality of things:

1. For those of you who are so quick to get rid of McNabb, I ask you who is the replacement? Getting rid of McNabb leaves you trading for a QB or starting Kevin Kolb/a draftee from next year's draft. So those who are so quick to simply get rid of a 32 year-old franchise QB, please tell me who you plan to replace him with week 1 next year.

2. Coaches are a dime a dozen, a solid NFL QB is not. Kyle Orton, Matt Cassel, Gus Frerotte, Matt Schaub, Tyler Thigpen, Jamarcus Russell, J.T. O'Sullivan, Derek Anderson, Matt Hasselbeck, Trent Edwards, and Jake Delhomme are all starting QB's in the league right now. Just because the coach doesn't know what he is doing, doesn't mean you should throw out the QB too.

3. Most comparisons of Donovan to other QB's to play before him, are to John Elway. John Elway was Super Bowl MVP when he was 38 years old. In games when Elway started here were his records at McNabb's age:

32: 8-4
33: 9-7
34: 7-7
35: 8-8
36: 13-2
37: 12-4
38: 10-2

4. What QB is realistic for the Eagles to get via trade or draft?

5. AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, trading McNabb and rolling the dice on Kolb, another drafted QB, or a QB via trade does not guarantee any sort of improvement. In this city, especially folks ages 18-25 have gotten so used to the Eagles winning, I believe we take it for granted. We think that we can just plug an play any QB in there and be successful. This is not reality. The division is much tougher now than when we plugged in AJ Feeley and Koy Detmer, the Boys, Redskins, and Giants are no longer push overs. Further, we all saw what the likes of Mike McMahon did when called upon to run a vanilla offense, see 42-0 on national television against the Seattle Seahawks. With the way the Giants, Redskins, and Cowboys D play in this division, you want a veteran QB who can run an offense in there. I totally understand that some of you may be saying well look at Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco. Well, they do not play in the NFC East, that's the bottom line. You need a veteran back there with someone to throw to.

6. We do not have to rebuild. Some of you are ready to just turn it in and say f*** it time to rebuild totally. You do not have to do that if you keep McNabb. With McNabb and Westbrook intact, add a receiver/tight end, you improve the offense. There definitely need to be personnel changes on D, suring up our safeties, but for the most part this is still a young team, see Desean Jackson, Brent Celek, Todd Herremens, Trent Cole, Victor Abiamiri, Trevor Laws, Stewart Bradley, Mike Patterson, Brodrick Bunkley, Q Mikell, Q Demps, Chris Gocong, just to name a few.

7. Voice of reason: if everyone here agrees that Reid should go, why must we get rid of McNabb too? If Reid's playcalling is as bad as everyone says it is and is hurting the team's chances of winning, the who is to say Reid's playcalling isn't hurting the success of McNabb? I certainly know a that a coach's playcalling in this city has hurt his pro bowl QB's performance on the field, see Ryan/Cunningham. Oh and Randall by the way went on to go 13-1 as a starter with Minnesota at age 35 and win player of the year. Deja vu?

[Tartan69]

Pretty easy for Malvern to go undefeated when they play such a creampuff schedule. Try joining the PIAA and play some real teams and then come talk to me about your undefeated season.

Just sayin...

[Paul]

The most notable team that Malvern Prep beat this year were the Catholic League Champs, Lasalle, who went out in the first round of the AAAA playoffs. What makes it worse in my opinion is that Lasalle lost to the D12 champs who generally suck when compared to the rest of the state.

[jpaldigi]

zfg ... great post and I definitely agree with your argument that dumping on McNabb because he has been "associated" as joined at the hip with the coach is not wise.

While the Bengals situation was bad, it was an odd duck and more of the blame should fall on Reid than anyone else. Lest we not realize that all 4 teams in the NFC East have a defenses with NFL ranks in the top 10 (NYG 3, WAS 6, PHI 7, DAL 9) and playing the AFC North puts us up against #1 (PIT) and #2 (BAL), Arizona is #10 and Donovan lit 'em up because of the broken record that is offensive run/pass balance. It's all the coach and more importantly the GM.

LJ should have been gone last year and while I like Celek, he's just another LJ/Chad Lewis clone. Somebody tell the GM that a blocking tight end would be nice. Enough with the Reggie Brown experiment too. The guy doesn't have it and we could have drafted Felix Jones (instead of the Cowboys), but we traded our pick for the Panthers first which now looks shitty. The thing that sucks most about that, is that Donovan said publicly "we need another playmaker" and the coach could've drafted one, but instead traded the pick. I saw that as a slap in Donovan's face.

In the end, I think the root cause on the field is that the offensive line is not good enough to the point where they can deal with having to protect Donovan for an eternity on every down because the Eagles receivers can not get open quick enough. Harrimans, Jackson, and whatever RG we choose to plug in there aren't good enough and Thomas' skills are definitely at their ass end. Why not try Justice out there again now instead of waiting for Osi "Human-urine" to spank him again cause the coach put him on a skill (thereby deflating our 2007 NL East boner).

Anyway, great post bro!

[shedd]

@DLo34

I agree with you. I think coaching and personnel moves have been as much the cause for McNabb's woes. More than McNabb himself. If we get rid of him he will end up playing incredibly and probably winning a Superbowl. Watch. That's what will happen. Meanwhile we'll wonder why Kolb isn't throwing for near 300 yards every game or winning.

That said. It may be time to move on anyway because it seems that is everyone's mindset. Sometimes that feeling means more than anything. I just hope Eagles fans understand we are preparing to trade McNabb for 4-5 years of mediocrity at the best, but probably just NFC East bottom feeding. At times I think people forget that our feeling that we deserve to be the best exists because of McNabb. Anyone remember what the Eagles were like before him? We have been considered an elite team for years. Before McNabb (and admittedly Reid) we were bad. Straight up, no silver lining bad. That being the case can we show some class and send him (or them) out with honor?

[Matt Kwasiborski]

I definitely think that one or both will be gone after this year. It will either be Reid or McNabb. I think Reid, because he is in charge, should go. It isn't working anymore and if Reid stays, no new injection of energy will be enthused into this team.

However, if Reid goes, and a new coach is hired, McNabb should stay. A new coach will recognize that McNabb cannot will the team to victory but with a solid running game, you could do a whole lot worse than 5 under center.

If Reid stays then McNabb will go and probably become a Pro-Bowl level QB in Minnesota next year. I might even buy a Minnesota jersey!

[mike c]

@Paul

Yes Lasalle is a solid win but you can't argue that the Inter-Ac is a complete joke of a league. Malvern blew out every single team. Play more quality opponents and join the PIAA then you will be able to brag about a good team. Look at the AAAA Catholic League...There were 4-5 good teams that had a shot at winning the Catholic League and maybe make some noise in states (Lasalle Judge Prep O'Hara Roman), but they beat each other up in the regular season because it was a tough division. I'm not saying that was a good thing but if a team were to come out of that division and make noise then they woul be considered good, not coming out of the inter-ac then barely beating a beaten up Prep team.

[bryanslist]

I'm sure it's already been all over deadspin and that Simmons has nabout 47 emails in his inbox, but still I can't believe that I got the first comment on here about the fact that, going forward, for all you sports fans, it's "Cheddar Bob" Burress, right?

DLo, seriously, how long did it take you to put together that comment? Half the morning? Someone call Brian Tierney and get this man a beat writing job.