Yet in the new documentary DeSean Jackson, The Making Of A Father’s Dream that will come out around Father’s Day, it is revealed that Reid was apprehensive about working with Jackson because of his father Bill.

According to Philly Mag.com, Reid told DeSean Jackson on his draft day in 2008,  that his father who guided him to that point, was no longer a welcome part of his professional circle.

The report plays out a scene from the film.

“Hey, I just want to say one thing,” said Jackson, calling together his inner circle. “I was on the phone with Andy Reid. He said, ‘I don’t want your family to be a problem. I don’t want to deal with your dad.’ He said some bad things. I just wanted to let you know. That’s kind of messed up, though.”

Reid had been tipped off by DeSean’s coach at Cal, Jeff Tedford about Jackson’s father who died of pancreatic cancer just after his rookie NFL season came to a close.

“While I understood what Bill’s motives were he didn’t always go about it the right way,” said Tedford. “As far as alienating people or really being loud outside of the locker room and things like that. If DeSean only caught a couple balls in the game, he wanted him to catch 10. He was driven for DeSean to be successful.”

Bill Jackson stated in the film that there was a reason why he pushed his son so hard.

“I never gave him time off. People used to say, ‘Why are you doing him like that. You’re trying to kill him.’ Because he had so much energy, he would be running the streets.”

This small slice of DeSean’s journey to the NFL maybe the most headline worthy per se, but it certainly won’t be the most important.

The video below provides a little more insight to Jackson’s relationship with his dad.

Video: DeSean Jackson talks about his father

The post Andy Reid told DeSean Jackson that he did not want to deal with his father appeared first on Players View.

The Chiefs are now being coached by Andy Reid who led the team to numerous NFC championship games and a Super Bowl.

According to the Philadelphia Daily News, on that date, Reid’s mainstay quarterback Donovan McNabb will retire as a Eagle.

McNabb spent back-to-back years 2010 and 2011 under center for the Washington Redskins and Minnesota Vikings.

Both of those runs were crash and burn disasters.

McNabb recently went back to Syracuse University where he played his college ball.

“I will retire as an Eagle and I look forward to that opportunity and that day,” McNabb told ESPN, via Syracuse.Com

McNabb also talked up his relationship with Eagles fans.

“There was never any animosity from the Philly fans,” McNabb said.”The handful of fans that are the ones that are kind of being seen, they’re not a high percentage of fans who truly appreciate what you were able to do while you were there. I have nothing but love for the Philly fans, even the ones who were highly criticizing me or opinionated in any way. I can’t get upset at them because my job is to get out on the field and be productive. That’s what quarterbacking is all about.

McNabb discussed his Hall of Fame credentials.

“I didn’t play the game for the individual accolades,” he said. “I didn’t play the game to say, ‘Hey, I want to make the Hall of Fame.’ Yeah, that’s great. I think that’s a goal that you kind of write as a kid up on the sheet, you look at it like, yeah I wanna be like Warren Moon or I wanna be like Jim Kelly, Randall Cunningham. Those were guys I watched and tried to watch and take parts of their game out and add it to mine. And when I had an opportunity to compete against those guys, I wanted to be better. Now that I’m not playing, you look at my numbers, yes my numbers speak for themselves, but none of that would’ve been able to happen if I didn’t play with a great group of guys around me.

“If I’m rewarded by getting in the Hall of Fame, hey that’s great. But to me it’s like graduation. You step across the stage and say you know what, I made it, and I’m happy for it.”

More on this story as the ceremony details are released from the Eagles camp.

Video: Donovan McNabb Eagles highlights

The post Donovan McNabb to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle appeared first on Players View.

However with a weak draft class and free agent market, Kelly could be making the smartest move of all.

The Eagles provided Players View with Kelly’s thoughts on all things related to the quarterback situation in Philadelphia.

At the moment although Vick may have the bigger name, it is still an open competition between he and upcoming NFL sophomore Nick Foles.

“There is an open competition,” Kelly said.  Michael knows that.  Nick knows that.  Nick knew every step of the way what we were doing.  I wanted to make sure Nick was included in the plans, and I think both of them have outstanding qualities in terms of being quarterbacks in this league.

Both of them have started in this league. So I also know in this league, you better have two, so I’m excited about the two of them.  They’re both going to compete.  And who the starting quarterback is to start the season off is going to be won on the practice field.”

Vick was as good as gone in many minds for a variety of reasons. What did the Eagles see that made them decide to keep him on board?

“I think in terms of Michael, we look at everything,” Kelly said.  ”What I look at is skillset first and foremost.  What he can do, how he can throw the football, how he can beat people with his feet.  There are a lot of different factors he has.  And you have to look at the landscape for other quarterbacks. I guess the best way I can put this is I agree there is a change of scenery going on here.

For Michael Vick, there is a change of scenery, but not a change of address.”

Kelly’s fast track offense that he ran in Oregon may be better suited for Vick than Foles. The catch is Kelly says that the Eagles may not run one specific thing that benefits either quarterback more than the other.

“I don’t think it’s two different systems,” Kelly said. ” Again, people try to look at what we’ve done in the past and where I’ve been and kind of paint it with one brush because everybody wants a sound bite to say your offense is this. I don’t think what we do offensively can be said in one or two words that we’re either this or we’re this.

We’re an equal opportunity scoring operation. Whether we run the ball over the goal line or throw the ball over the goal line really doesn’t bother me, it’s how do we move the football.  There have been games we’ve had to throw it in our league 50 times and there are games we have to run it 50 times.  You need to be built for the long haul.

There is a skill set that Nick has that really excites me about him.  And I had the opportunity to see him up close and personal for three years and I know what he can do. So I’m excited to work with him.  I think we’ve got an older quarterback in Michael who is 32 now, and have a younger guy in Nick who is going into his second year, and I think it’s the ideal situation for us moving forward this season.”

All of this skillset and I love what both guys can do talk does not rule out anything…including exploring trade options.

“We’re not ruling out anything right now,” Kelly said.  “I think our job and we know that from day one, is to put the best team on the field.  We open up the season on September 13th or whatever day we open the season on.  So I don’t rule anything out, I don’t rule anything in.  But I know moving forward we, as an organization, had to make a decision what to do with Michael, and I want Michael to be part of this team.”

Vick obviously feels the same way as he was flexible in his contract dealings with the Eagles now that he has roots in the city.

“Yeah, he didn’t give me any indication except he wanted to be here,” Kelly said.  In my meetings with Michael, I met with him twice, actually the second time was today because he stopped by after he signed his contract.  I had never met him before.  So I didn’t have he any preconceived notions of what he’s about and not about.

Talk to me about your life, talk to me about where you’re coming from, and talk to me about your mindset. The one thing that attracted me to Michael after visiting with him, he’s a competitor.  I don’t think he’s afraid of anything, and he wants competition.

I’ve seen Nick Foles up close and personal.  I think Nick want it’s too.  I think anybody, when you really look at it in probably the most competitive position on the field is the quarterback spot.  So you want guys that want to compete. I don’t think anybody, whether you’re in one of the other 31 franchises in this league, do you want something handed to you?

And nobody wants anything handed to you.  That’s one of the thing that’s stuck out to me about Michael was his competitive nature.”

The post Chip Kelly:I want Michael Vick to be a part of this team appeared first on Players View.

His new title has yet to shed the ghosts of his recent past.

Reid did not do himself any favors when he failed to immediately squash the idea of bringing the Michael Vick Experience to Kansas City.

Andy Reid on Mike and Mike on if he has any interest in Michael Vick: “He’s still property of the Philadelphia Eagles. But he’s a good kid.”

— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) January 10, 2013

Andy did not say he was bringing Mike on board once he sheds the color green from his life.  But he also did not say no. The coach has mastered the art of informative vagueness over the course of his lengthy career.

The problem becomes that by not saying no Reid forces observers to wonder.

He did not shut the door.

Common sense states that Reid will use his new home as a fresh start.

Less than a month ago he was being booed.

Now he has the opportunity to be embraced.

Bringing MV7 along for the ride will kill any goodwill that he has right out of the gate.

The Chiefs deserve a fresh start also.

2012-13 was a bad as a NFL season as anyone could drum up.

Vick is not a washed up quarterback.

He too deserves a fresh start.

To be successful…no scratch that…to stay alive he has to hang up his dancing shoes.

Behind the right offensive line, Vick could easily retire as a high-caliber passer on the strength of his cannon of an arm.

Very few guys in the league can launch a football like Mike can.

It’s time for that to become the focal point of his game.

For that to happen he needs two things.

Optimism and four seconds at a clip to make the right decision.

Vick has to accept the fact that his veteran status should beget some wisdom.

Reid and Vick have a great deal of respect for each other.

Through his rehabilitation process, they accomplished something very special together.

Andy Reid along with Tony Dungy assisted Vick in opening his eyes to what it takes to make it.

Now it’s time for Reid to let him go blow-up the highlight reel for another coach.

Duty calls for him to help another young man bring out the best of himself.

The post Andy Reid fails to refute Michael Vick rumor. appeared first on Players View.

Reid announced on Monday that starter Nick Foles broke his hand during their loss against the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

A follow-through MRI revealed a fracture in his right hand, the league’s website reported.

Vick’s most recent comments have centered around his desire to start again in the NFL.

Reid obviously heard him loud and clear.

“There’s a pretty good chance that Mike will be the starter,” Reid said. “That’s what I’m looking at right now. That’s the direction I’m going as we speak right now.”

Vick will get his chance to put on a show against the Giants who are gasping for air in the playoff race.

The Eagles provided Players View with additional comments from Reid.

[Vick] had a couple weeks of practice, ” Reid said.  ”I thought the first week he was a little bit rusty out there. This past week I thought he threw it around well. He feels good and I think he deserves that opportunity to play. He’s excited about it and I’ve had a chance to talk to him this morning. He’ll be ready to go.”

“He was the number one quarterback [prior to his concussion]. We said the point before was making sure he was healthy and remained healthy and we had Nick in as the starter. You’ve got two veteran players back there and Michael had been the number one of those veteran players so this gives him the opportunity to play.”

Reid also commented on whether or not this will allow Vick to showcase his skills to other perspective NFL teams if he is indeed cut by the Eagles.”

“Listen, I’ve told you that he’s healthy now. It’s a matter of getting his timing and getting himself back in the swing of things. I think he’s there and it’s not that Michael doesn’t want to play. That hasn’t been the case. It gives him an opportunity to get in and play.”

The post Michael Vick to start against Giants after Nick Foles breaks his hand. appeared first on Players View.

In their spare time both recently took part in a recent high stakes battle rap competition that involved rapper Meek Mills’s protoge Lil Snupe.

The end result for Jackson and his Jaccpot Records’ artist Retro was less than satisfactory.

Vick judged the competition along with others that included multi-platinum superstar T.I.

This video is pure comedy if only for the moment in which Jackson realizes that Vick sold him out and voted against him costing him $10,000.

There are multiple moments here in which Jackson nearly all-the-way loses his mind.

Shout-out to Crossingbroad.com for posting this video which contains salty language.

Visit our PV-TV area which is updated multiple times daily with video content.

The post Video: DeSean Jackson gets irked at Michael Vick in rap battle appeared first on Players View.

He allegedly lost his spot due to a concussion but there have been conspiracy theorists that have stated that his injury just gave coach Andy Reid to pull the plug on a then-struggling Vick with dignity.

The following Q&A was provided to Players View by the Eagles and it shines a lot of light on where Vick’s head is at right now.

On how hard it was to sit out for an extended period of time with his concussion

“It’s been tough sitting out for this long. You want to be out there playing. You want to be out there helping your team, but it was a situation where we just wanted to take precaution and let me get as much rest as possible and it paid dividends for me. I’m back and I’m healthy and I’m fresh now.”

On how difficult it is coming back in a supporting role rather than as the starter

“It’s different, but that’s just the way things are right now and I have to roll with the punches and deal with it; make the most out of it, continue to work hard, continue to try to get better, continue to help [QB] Nick [Foles] out, continue to help [QB] Trent [Edwards], continue to help this football team. That’s my job as a leader, continuously, as the leader of this football team. Regardless of whether I’m the starter or the third-string quarterback, I’ll continue to [lead].”

On whether he agrees with the decision to start QB Nick Foles

“I’m a competitor and I’ve always felt like and will continue to feel like I’m one of the best and I can play at a high level and I know I can. Saying that, I feel like I want to be out there, I want to play as a competitor, but it’s just not the ideal situation right now, the way things are. So, I have to accept my role, accept it like a man and continue to find positives out of it.”

On how he feels the decision to start Foles will affect his future with the Eagles or with another team

“By not playing, I don’t think it can affect my future. Like I said, I came back healthy and I’m strong. I’m ready to go. The thing is to just keep improving, keep working, continue to get better as a quarterback and that’s about the only thing I can do. As far as my future here, I don’t know. Elsewhere, I don’t know. I’m just enjoying each and every day right now.”

On whether he was on board with how the team was handling his concussion

“I just rolled with punches. Whatever the doctor tells me, I go with it. I don’t question that. They’re professionals just like we’re professionals at what we do. I respect their opinions and their judgment and that’s just the way it was. Right now, I’m back. I’m healthy. I feel good, feel confident and [I’m] out there just playing ball, enjoying every day.”

On whether he feels his starting job was lost due to the circumstances of the season

“Regardless of what the situation was, I understand it. I see that certain things have to be done and I sit back and continue to be observant, continue to want to learn, and continue to want to just help this football team in whatever way I can. I can’t get upset or be disgruntled about anything that happens. It’s just a blessing to be back and playing football. From where I came from and the opportunities that I’ve had over the last three or four years, I would have never thought [they were possible]. I’m just rolling with the punches, I’m going to continue to work hard to get better and keep enjoying the game of football because this is what I love. I realized that today, throwing some balls on the scout team.”

On whether he felt that the nature of the season after his injury vindicated his play early on

“Just as a team, we had a lot of things that we needed to work on, a lot of areas that we needed to improve week in and week out. That’s what makes a championship football team and I think, as players and as coaches, everybody has to understand that and be on board. Of course, being the quarterback, you’re going to get the blame and I accept it even though it was tough.

[There were] a lot of hardships this year, not only for me but for a lot of guys in this locker room because we wanted to win. When we don’t win, we know what comes along with it. I’m proud of the guys because they kept their heads held up high. I kept my head up. We’ve continued to try to make strides in whatever way we can and try to get wins. The one thing I can say is we’ll fight to the end.”

On whether he wants to be in Philadelphia and would accept coming back in a backup role

“I just feel like I’ve got a lot of football to play. I feel like I’ve got a lot left in my tank. I’m enjoying the game, I feel fresh. I don’t know. I’ll have to talk it over with my agent and just see what happens. As of right now, I’ve got to continue to help this football team win these last two games and the future will take care of itself. Like I said, [I’m] just blessed to still be in the position to play good football and to enjoy the game. Like I said, from where I came from, I would have never thought [this was possible]. It’s a blessing.”

The post Michael Vick opens up on his status and his future appeared first on Players View.

County District Attorney John Morganelli said Monday that anabolic steroids were found in the room where Garrett Reid was staying when he overdosed on heroin on Aug. 5.

Garrett was working with the team as part of their staff during their training camp.

In a statement released to Players View from the team, Reid’s tone was as could be expected.

“As you all know, my son Garrett battled addiction for many years. While there were some victories along the way, it ultimately was a battle that he lost and that cost him his life. Our family feels the pain of that loss every day.

“Today’s report saddens me greatly, but only confirms the troubles Garrett encountered in the final years of his life. As parents, we were encouraged by his apparent progress but, like many addicts, he was able to conceal the signs of relapse.

“Jeffrey Lurie, the Eagles organization and the people of Philadelphia have been remarkably supportive of my family throughout our ordeal. I am confident that my son’s decisions did not affect our football team in any way. I cannot apologize enough for any adverse appearances that my son’s actions may have for an organization and a community that has been nothing but supportive of our family.”

Morganelli’s report stated that there is no evidence that the steroids were intended to be used by or distributed to Eagles players.

Eagles Chairman Jefferey Lurie also released a statement to Players View regarding the findings.

“The news today on Garrett Reid’s possession of steroids is disappointing. It’s clear the conduct in which he apparently engaged runs counter to the values and principles mandated for everyone associated with our organization. We have spoken with the league office and have pledged our full cooperation with their requests should there be any. While we remained saddened by the tragic end of a young man’s life and know how hard this must be for the entire Reid family, we are extremely confident that Garrett’s actions were unknown to those around him and did not involve our football team.

“The NFL has a rigorous drug testing program for its players. It is a matter of record that none of our players has tested positive for any of the steroids mentioned in the district attorney’s report.”

Situations like this never get easier for anyone that is involved.

The post Andy Reid responds to report that his son possessed steroids at his time of death appeared first on Players View.

As some predicted that a short list of contenders would quickly upgrade their pass rush to head into the playoffs, it was obvious that a non-contender would earn his rights thanks to how waivers work.

That is exactly what happened as Babin ended up with the Jacksonville Jaguars that quite frankly have performed as one of the NFL’s worst teams for the bulk of the season.

Two weeks ago, Babin would have been upset to jump from a bad team to an even worse team but with the emergence of quarterback Chad Henne, he’s looking forward to a better day.

Babin spoke with the Florida Times-Union in regards to playing with the Jaguars for an extended period of time.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “I think they’re thinking the same thing and I am on board with that. I like it here. You have great weather, great coaches, great team and no state income tax.”

Besides the sunshine and the financial advantages, Babin also spoke to the team’s daily routine as a benefit for him.

“Just the tempo, the urgency, the way the guys went from drill to drill, how they practice, the way they communicated, the way they ran, it was the way a practice is supposed to be. It was refreshing,” he said.

I am sure you enjoyed the dig at a sinking Eagles team that obviously does not function in a similar manner.

He went onto to discuss the state of his departed team from his point of view.

“It’s been a tough year. We’ve had a lot of issues,’’ he said. “Things are kind of stagnant there. They could ultimately get worse before they better. So being part of something that is about to blossom is definitely an exciting feeling.”

The post Jason Babin digs at the Eagles as he joins the Jaguars appeared first on Players View.

On Tuesday coach Andy Reid announced that starting wide receiver DeSean Jackson will miss the remainder of the season due to multiple rib fractures suffered incurred during Mondays loss to the Carolina Panthers.

Jackson is the latest Eagles offensive starter to take a seat on the shelf.

Quarterback Michael Vick, offensive lineman Jason Peters and LeSean McCoy are the highlight names that were taken down before Jackson’s addition to that group.

When asked if injuries provided an excuse for the team’s dismal ways Reid refused to take that way out.

“Injuries are not an excuse for our record. The next guy plays. There are no excuses,” Reid said. “Hopefully you have the character on the team where guys will fight to the end. You saw that last night. We’re just not getting it done.”

The biggest topic going is when and not if Reid will be fired by owner Jeffery Lurie.

In a statement provided to Players View, Reid stated that he and his boss have yet to discuss his exit but he did not deny that changes may be headed his way.

“We’re going to keep battling. I’m going to control what I can control, and that’s getting better as a team. I have to do a better job with that obviously by how we’ve played here. I’m not worried about all of the other things. I’m worried about winning football games and making sure I get my players coached up to where we do a better job with that.’

“We really haven’t talked about that. He’s been supportive. Obviously he’s as competitive as anybody and he wants to win games. That’s what he’s in this business for. But we really haven’t gone there. I’m trying to get this football team to win games, that’s what I’m trying to do. That’s where my energy is.”

It seems that it will get worse before it gets better.

The post DeSean Jackson is out for the season with rib injury appeared first on Players View.

The man who was once considered the best cornerback in the business has performed as a mere shell of his former self since he joined the Eagles.

When he spoke to CSN Philly, he did not makes any excuses for his mediocre play.

“It’s just,” he said, “my expectations of myself are always going to be high, no matter what scheme I’m in or what team I’m playing for. I expect to figure things out immediately.

“Obviously, it hasn’t been as good as I wanted it to be. As far as team and individually, my expectations were so high, and then things just kind of just hit really quickly and it was like team-wise and player-wise, it was kind of like playing catch-up, trying to get it back on the right foot.

“So that part of it has been difficult. But I still keep that faith and believe that at some point the thing will turn, because the mindset is keep working hard, keep pushing and at some point, it’s going to turn. And that’s just what I believe.”

When asked about whether or not he has lived up the hype since becoming an Eagle, the former Oakland Raider spoke in slow measured cadences.

“Not even close,” Asomugha said. “Not even close.

“When I came in, everybody was on the same page that we were going to get it done first year. Then we saw that we had to gel, and we started to gel it looked like at the beginning of the season and things were on a roll, and then we started losing and that momentum went the other way for us, so it just hasn’t gone well.

“I’m mentally strong, because I haven’t had the success in the league that I’ve wanted since I was a rookie, but mentally I’ve been able to deal with that and know that or believed that at some point it’s going to turn around. I think I’ve dealt with it well. I think mentally I’m doing fine. Mentally, I still have that belief that things will turn around.”

These common sense answers sound great but when you rewind his footage this year, it’s easy to see that despite all of the humble talk, Asomugha’s effort level has fallen off.

For fans that chose to call him out on that or anything else he says that he won’t put up a fight.

“If a fan has an issue with that, they’re not going to get me saying that’s wrong or anything like that,” he said. “I can look back to being a fan and teams I liked and when a player I like comes in and … it’s not working out, being upset about that.

“So I can’t now be that guy and then look at them and say, ‘You can’t be upset that we haven’t won and I haven’t been, you know, Superman on the field,’ even though that’s been expected of me.”

The talk is that Nnamdi Asomugha will have to restructure his contract in the upcoming year if he is to remain an Eagle.

The post Nnamdi Asomugha comes clean on poor performance appeared first on Players View.

Jackson described incumbent Michael Vick as “uncomfortable” with the different “looks” that defenses are showing him. He went on to champion what challenger Nick Foles can bring to the table.

“I know as far as Nick Foles what he is capable of doing coming out of college from Arizona, he’s definitely a great quarterback,” Jackson said. “Very young, too, at the same time. It’s just one of those things, you never know until it happens. … We’re just honestly just sitting around, and we’ll go to work tomorrow see if anything’s changed or what’s new, just ready to get going and turn this thing around.”

“As far as games, I think he’s able to do it,” Jackson said. “I think the sky’s the limit for him. He’s a talented player. He’s just hasn’t really gotten that opportunity, as far as this season. We’ll just see how it goes.”

“It’s one of (those situations when) we just stay in tuned and whatever the coaches decide to do, definitely just have to move along with it and hopefully we can get things turned around out here,” Jackson said. “We’re too good a team to be on a three-game losing streak, so whatever it is we need to do to fix it and get things rolling, that is what we are here to do.”

Although Jackson seems to be leaning towards working with Foles, the team announced on Wednesday that Vick will start.

The post DeSean Jackson: Nick Foles just hasn’t really gotten that opportunity appeared first on Players View.

As Philadelphia prepares to face another struggling group in the New Orleans Saints, coach Andy Reid certainly can’t handle trying to repair his suspect defense and work in a new signal caller in the same week.

There must be order and the Saints can without a doubt offensively carve-up a flailing team.

If that were to happen, the public feeding frenzy will hit epic heights.

If there is one person that knows how Vick feels, its former Eagles leading man Donovan McNabb who provided some sound advice for Vick on the league’s morning TV show NFL AM.

“I think you get in a situation where once you start hearing the boos and hearing the radio stations talk and people on the outside begin to bring your name up of being benched then you begin to lose focus and now your play begins to fall and you begin to focus on other things. … I think it’s important for him (Vick) to feed off of what he did last week, not turning the ball over, protect the football, give his guys an opportunity to make plays for him and good things can happen.”

McNabb also like many recognizes that the team’s defense is not doing Vick any favors.

“What if the offense goes out and scores 24 points, but the defense gives up 42 points?” McNabb asked of the game against the New Orleans Saints. “Now do we go back to the benching and talk about Foles again or is this another situation where we begin to start mentioning some of the defensive players that need to be benched. Maybe the offensive line needs to be benched. There’s other people that need to be in this situation besides Michael Vick.”

The finger pointing is certainly becoming divisive and it looks like it’s every man for himself.

Reid has a lot of work to do but it does not look he will start with his dynamic front-man.

The post Eagles to stick with Vick as McNabb chimes in appeared first on Players View.

That still does not stop them from being notorious and that is why Matt Ryan’s family took precautions when they came out to celebrate their boy-gone-big-time.

Ryan is an area native so the Falcons’ quarterback’s guest list was a bit padded.

To prepare for the game the 60-deep crew concealed their No.2 jerseys during their visit to Lincoln Financial Field.

This group included Matt’s grandfather Sam Loughery who told CBS that he will always be an Eagles fan except for when they play one team.

“It’s always been about bat, ball and glove, not your mouth, it’s what I preached to all of my grandchildren,” said Loughery, 87.  “I’ve been an Eagles’ fan and Philadelphia sports fan my whole life, but when Matt was drafted by the Falcons, they say blood is thicker than water, and that’s what the whole family roots for today. I’m still an Eagles’ fan and will always be an Eagles’ fan, except when they play my grandson, and when the Falcons play.”

Sadly enough, judging from the looks of frustration and apathy from a disgusted fan base that feels letdown, I doubt the Eagles fans would have cared much about what colors the Ryans and the Lougherys were wearing on Sunday.

Why take passion overboard when there is nothing to be passionate about?

Head coach Andy Reid was correct in his assessment that the defensive side of the ball was a huge problem.

What he has not done as a head coach is motivate an extremely talented group to get it done.

Offensively, the Eagles played well enough to generate 17-points and running back LeSean McCoy played lights out.

Michael Vick did not turn the ball over and was not reckless in his decision making.

For the Eagles to bounce back, they need to start talking about benching a certain high-priced free agent that can’t hold down single coverage to save his life.

The post Matt Ryan’s family hid their Falcons colors from Eagles fans. appeared first on Players View.

Castillo spoke of his firing to Comcast Sports Philadelphia and had nothing but to but nice things to say about the situation.

“Last year, Coach hired me to do a job. The job was to help him win a championship. And I didn’t get that accomplished,” Castillo said. “I know the guys are looking out there, we always talk about being a warrior. A warrior means that you get the job done no matter what. And the bottom line is we should be 5-1. The hard part for me was that I let down Coach Reid, I let down the organization and I let down the city.”

“I love Coach,” Castillo said. “I said it before, I’d take a bullet for Coach. Coach gave me the opportunity of a lifetime, man. And I didn’t get it done. And that’s hard. But as my players know, keep working hard and if you outwork people, maybe somebody will give me a second chance. And then I can get it done.”

All things considered, Castillo has to take the higher road if he wants to work in the NFL again.

Nobody is going to bring in a guy that has the possibility to be a problem later on down the road.

There is a strong bond of friendship between Castillo and Reid.  Yet, Reid may have in his quest to hold on in Philly for as long as he can, may have thrown his boy under the bus.

It is not uncommon for a coach to take the axe and walk into another job with his entire staff intact. I’m just saying.

Reid can and will get another job elsewhere when his time is done in Philadelphia.

It’s hard to predict when and under what circumstances that time will present itself, but it is seemingly clear that his run will not end the way that he envisioned.

Even if he benches Vick and starts Nick Foles and Foles does well, Reid will be held accountable for the large amount of money that was seemingly wasted on Vick.

When he cut ties with Donovan McNabb and had what seemed like a strong plan B for Kevin Kolb, he looked like a genius.

Yet he failed to build a strong offensive line that would protect Vick and consistently enforce the agenda of a strong running game.

Losing the war in the trenches may be the battles that define Andy Reid’s exit.

Time will tell how this sorts itself out.

The post Juan Castillo takes the high road after being axed by Eagles appeared first on Players View.

In a media statement that was released to Players View on Monday, Reid refuted the idea that Castillo was out the door.

“That’s the way I’m looking at it right now,” Reid said. “That’s the way I’m looking at it as I stand right here.”

However Reid did spend a lot of time speculating on the team’s defensive woes after a lost against the Detroit Lions.

“Defensively, I thought we came and did a pretty good job for three quarters,” Reid said.  “We hold them to 0-8 on third downs and have 163 yards against you and against that team, that’s a pretty good thing. The fourth quarter, however, was a different story. You come back and give up three of your last third downs, and give that team 349 yards of offense. That’s obviously too much, in particular what they got in plus yards and penalties. It comes down to [the fact that] they made plays when they needed to make plays. I’ve gone back and looked at the film a couple of times, and as coaches, we need to make sure that we’re putting guys in the position to make plays. When given that opportunity, we need to make sure that we take care of business as players. There wasn’t a great change of scheme on what we did in the first three quarters. It wasn’t that we blitzed more or had unsuccessful blitzes. We blitzed throughout the game and it wasn’t that we played more zone, less zone, or different zones. It wasn’t that we didn’t continue to double 81 even though he made a couple of plays in the fourth quarter when he was doubled. A couple of plays he made were against man coverage, but there were also a couple against zone. It wasn’t a big changeup, even though we held him during the first three quarters to only the one catch, which we were probably a little bit too loose on [because] he was doubled on that one, too.”

Today? Reid was kind towards Castillo as he swung the axe.

“I want to make it clear that I have nothing but the ultimate respect for Juan Castillo as a coach and as a person,” Reid said in today’s statement.”  ”He’s one of the finest football coaches that I have ever worked with. He has served this organization extremely well for 18 years and letting him go was a difficult decision. I know he will continue to be a successful coach in this league and wish he and his family nothing but the best.

“We’re six games into the season and average isn’t good enough. I know the potential of our team and insist on maximizing it.”

As we stated on Sunday, the Eagles current bye week was going to be one of choppy currents.

The fact with Castillo is that he’s blown several fourth quarter leads during his brief tenure as the team’s DC.

How much different of a story are we writing today if the Eagles’ defense had protected the leads against the Steelers and the Lions over the past two weeks?

The post Eagles fire defensive coach Juan Castillo appeared first on Players View.

#10 The Atlanta Falcons Need To Step Up

You can only dodge bullets for so long and for the third week straight, Atlanta almost gift wrapped a victory for a team that they should have defeated.  The old football proverb about good teams finding a way to win only goes so far.

#9 The Dallas Cowboys Are The Unluckiest Team In Sports

The evidence that the Cowboys are cursed is so convincing it’s ridiculous.

But wait a minute.

Do they just find a way to collapse in crucial moments?

I’ll take curtain number two for $500.

How could coach Jason Garrett and his quarterback Tony Romo BOTH mismanage the closing seconds of their game against the Ravens is beyond me.

There is no reason why they did not run at least one more play to edge their kicker closer for the game winner.

It was sloppy, it was clumsy and it was something that even a high school group could have pulled off.

#8 The Jets (Sorta) Got Their Swagger Back

They were not crushed by the Houston Texans on Monday Night Football as predicted, they were just defeated.

They used that minimal slice of self-esteem and went back to the ground-and-pound formula that works for them and stuck it to the Colts.

The Jets may not even make the playoffs but they can at salvage some sort of dignity in this a year where they have lost a lot.

If they can pull off a Week 7 victory over the Patriots, seriously all bets are off.

#7 The Packers Showed Up For Work

Aaron Rodgers dismantled the Texans defense in the offensive display of strength that we have grown accustomed to.

They did it with an injured and disgruntled Jermichael Finley, a patchwork running game and without their number one receiver Greg Jennings.

J.J. Watt had a few moments to shine but as a whole his now mortal Texans team got it handed to them. Speaking of which…

#6 The Texans DO Need Brian Cushing

When linebacker Brian Cushing was lost for the year on Monday night, the Texans and even Cushing himself issued propaganda that stated that with or without Cushing they were as good as ever.

The Packers dismantled that theory as they tore up the second level of the Texans defense on Sunday night.

You don’t replace a guy like Cushing but they are certainly second-guessing trading ILB Demeco Ryans to the Eagles for almost nothing in the off-season.

#5 The Eagles Are Almost Down For The Count

Unless their fans, their local media and their team unites and learns to look at the bright side of things, the finger pointing is going to break the will of this team.

Yes they have not generated sacks, yes Michael Vick needs to protect the football and yes the offensive line has some work to do.

These things are the self-evident.

But with the Cowboys slipping on banana peels, the Redskins only winning every couple of games or so and a win over the Giants, the Eagles can still easily take the NFC East.

Like the song says, “Don’t Worry Be Happy.”

The post Top 10 NFL moments of week six appeared first on Players View.

After losing what should have been a runaway game to the Detroit Lions,  a large section of the Eagles fanbase  have become pretty resolute in the theory that they want to see what backup quarterback Nick Foles can do.

Vick has turned the ball over on multiple occasions in each of the team’s six games

On Sunday Vick completed 28 of 46 attempts for 311 yards, two interceptions and two touchdowns.

It does not look that bad if you look at the numbers.

But in the climate in which those numbers were generated anything less than a dominate win adds to the hostility.

Is it warranted or justified?

Take a look at some uglier numbers.

LeSean McCoy rushed 14 times for 22 yards.

One of the greatest running backs in the league only averaged 1.6 yards per carry on Sunday.

Do the Eagle have problems?

They do and then some. Those problems are exclusively on the head of coach Andy Reid.

Reid’s inability to put together an offensive line that can spring his star running back LeSean McCoy on a much more consistent basis and that can protect the quarterback he has based his career on, could be the death of him.

In pre-season action Foles had a quicker release than Vick did and he seemed to spark his team their near full-potential.

Foles saw your trademark base vanilla defenses that are easy to pick apart.

Defensive coordinators are not going to throw their complex blitz packages on tape that early into the year.

Seeing that Vick is getting hit, hurried and bruised a record number of times, how would Foles do under such duress when he has to take an extra second to run through his reads?

This is the dialogue that will be come to define the next two weeks of the Eagles’ universe.

When they return from their bye they will do so against a rested and undefeated Atlanta Falcons‘s team that has no love lost within the City of Brotherly Love.

The post Eagles set to enter turbulent bye week after loss to Lions appeared first on Players View.

Last week, the shifty one tweeted a family photo that accidentally hosted a box of Milk Bone dog biscuits in the background. With over a million followers watching his every social move, it was on.

Thursday, Vick stepped out in a statement to not only admit that he does in fact own a dog and that he will continue to fight the good fight in the crusade against animal cruelty.

“I understand the strong emotions by some people about our family’s decision to care for a pet,” Vick said. “As a father, it is important to make sure my children develop a healthy relationship with animals. I want to ensure that my children establish a loving bond and treat all of God’s creatures with kindness and respect. Our pet is well cared for and loved as a member of our family. This is an opportunity to break the cycle. To that end, I will continue to honor my commitment to animal welfare and be an instrument of positive change.”

On Wednesday, Vick was reluctant to discuss the situation in media quotes that were sent to Players View.

“I’m here to strictly talk about football. What goes on in my personal life is not to be talked about. What’s most important right now is the Philadelphia Eagles and getting a win this Sunday.”

“I expect everybody who gets close to me to be reaching for the football. It’s totally my responsibility to take care of the football and especially for the sake of this football team. It’s something that I [have to get] corrected. I set a goal for [reducing] interceptions and now I have to set another goal. That’s the least that I should be worried about right now at this point in the season. It’s just a situation that I created for myself and I definitely have to take care of it.”

For those that are bugging out over this, it’s really not that serious. It was better to get a serious direct answer out of him in regards to his fumbling issue than dedicate space to his mandated desire to satisfy people who can’t let an old issue go.

The post Michael Vick admits that he owns a dog and is trying to curb fumbles. appeared first on Players View.

Dawkins was not a great Eagle. He was the greatest Eagle. His play was strong and he was the heartbeat of a team that came close to reaching the pinnacle of the mountaintop on multiple occasions.

His time spent with the Denver Broncos was in fact borrowed time and football freaks acknowledge that as fact.

Eagles quarterback paid tribute to Dawkins in a statement issued by the team.

“Brian Dawkins was a great player. I think the hardest hit I ever took was from Brian Dawkins. He was an outstanding leader, a competitor, and an ambassador for the NFL.”

Team coach Andy Reid feels that the ceremony won’t hinder how his current players approach the game.

“I don’t think that’s the direction the players will go. They’re happy for Brian, especially the ones that know him and played with him, or the ones that admired him from afar. I think they’re very excited for him but they understand they’ve got to focus in on their job and do that part of it.”

Reid compared Dawkins’ fight with migraines to that of defensive tackle Fletcher Cox’s.

“Brian Dawkins had the same thing. We’ve had different players that have had migraines and it’s a part of life. You deal with that part and make sure medically you’re sound and if it gets too bad then you keep them out. Whether it is practice or a game you back off until it gets right.”

The mood at Lincoln Financial Field will be electric during Dawkins’ ceremony. It will be even more so if his former team can honor him with a halftime lead and eventual win over his greatest foe.

The post Brian Dawkins to be honored by the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday. appeared first on Players View.

Arizona’s starting quarterback Kevin Kolb is doing what he can in the absence of the team’s official starter John Skelton to perhaps hold on to the gig permanently upon Skelton’s return from injury.

Eagles coach Andy Reid who initially drafted, mentored and eventually traded Kolb to Arizona from Philadelphia feels personally good about the direction that Kolb’s life has gone in.

Reid’s comments that ran in the Modesto Bee detail exactly how the situation played out that set-up Kolb’s exit from Philadelphia and the resurrection of Michael Vick.

“It wasn’t anything Kevin didn’t do. It’s just that Michael took off and ran with [the opportunity once Kevin was hurt].”

“Who knew that Michael would end up playing that well?” Reid said.

“Our initial thought when Kevin got hurt and he went in was, ‘If he could help our football team while Kevin was out, great.’ At the time, nobody really knew [Vick] was in a position to do what he did.”

That sort of, kind of, not really puts an end to the speculation that Kolb was walking on a thin line to begin with as Vick’s post-jail progression was becoming more and more evident.

Reid stated that regardless of what the situation is or was that Vick and Kolb are still cool and that the situation ended up well for everyone.

“They have a great friendship. They still do,” Reid said. “I thought about it first, then talked to Kevin. I said this will all come around. Just keep being you. It came around for our football team. He was able to come back in a couple of games there that were important, and played well.”

“And then it’s helped him out in Arizona, where he actually came in as a starter and signed a big contract. So he was able to take care of his family. For the rest of his life, he’s set. And he’s still a good football player.”

Some would say that Reid is being awfully nice with the good football player line but it is what it is.

For the Eagles, they have a cornerback in Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie who will be eager to show his former team that trading him for Kolb was a foolish mistake and that they would have been better off teaming him with first round draft pick Patrick Peterson than letting him go.

Emotions will run high in this one.

The post Andy Reid is happy for his former QB Kevin Kolb appeared first on Players View.

His opening day performance even in the face of victory was not less-than-stellar. There were the turnovers and the lack of points on the board that this jet-powered offense is supposed to create.

To have this happen against the lowly Cleveland Browns only compounded the issue as the Eagles were predicted to lick their chops and beat them down.

In this Q&A session, Vick was open and honest about how things got to this point and what he plans to do about it moving forward.

Q: [Were you] able to just focus on the positives after the Cleveland game?

A: “You just have to go on to the next week. I can’t dwell on what happened last game because I just don’t plan on having that type of ballgame again. Regardless of what the situation dictates, I think you just have to go out there and just play your game – don’t get frustrated or get too high or too low when things aren’t going your way. You just keep pounding and keep plugging. That’s what this game is all about, in the end, coming out again.”

Q: [What] good can you take out of [your] performance against the Browns?

A: “I think, offensively, we did some good things. We moved the ball consistently in the first half and we had some turnovers, but we had some minor setbacks as well with the turnovers and the penalties. We started to become frustrated a little bit, but we just kept plugging and kept fighting. That’s all you can do. The positives are the plays that we made that we know we can make over and over again.”

Q: [Is it] frustrating to have people ask how will [you] respond?

A: “I really haven’t listened to what people are saying. I don’t really feed into that. This is a tough game and it’s never easy. Like I said, give a lot of credit to the Cleveland defense last week. We’re onto Baltimore now and it’s all about getting better week in and week out and bouncing back from it. That’s what I plan on doing.”

 Q: [Why were there] so many mistakes [that] happened on Sunday?

A: “It happened because it happened. There’s nothing you can change about it. There are plenty of throws that I wish I would have had back and that I wish I would have pulled down and maybe checked it down or ran with it. It’s options. The thing is, I know why I did the things that I did and it wasn’t like mental errors. When it’s mental errors, that can become a problem but that’s not the case.”

Q: [Did your] decision making factor into it?

A: “I think it’s decision-making, pressing, and not pressing as hard to try and make things happen when things aren’t going your way. One thing you can’t do in this league is you can’t force throws and you can’t try to stick a ball in a tight spot when a guy is not really open and try to make something happen at that given time. You just have to work your way down the field and take what the defense gives you. Play keep away and keep it simple.”

Q: [How much will you use] the criticism from your week one performance as motivation?

A: “The thing is that nobody really has to motivate me. I have to motivate myself. I watch the film. I’m the one who lived it, and everyone else watched it from afar and is just speculating about it and what they think. That’s just perception and people going off of what they see. I’m the one who has to deal with it and go out there and make it right. This is a game that I love, and every game is not going to be easy. Every game is not going to be what everybody thinks, and sometimes it might not be easy on the eyes.”

 Q: [What] type of quarterback should [you] be?

A: “I think I should go out and play my game within the system, and use my God given abilities whenever the time calls for it. Just play and get back to having fun playing the game of football. I shook off the rust last week and I’m ready to get back out against Baltimore. The thing that I can tell you is that we will progress and get better as the season goes on.”

The post Michael Vick talks about getting over the Cleveland game appeared first on Players View.

One of which is that they have commissioned a new flak jacket for him which is longer to ensure that gets better protection within his torso area.

Coach Andy Reid commented on the new gear. “It’s a Kevlar vest, so it’s the latest, greatest. It’s supposedly the best. That’s what I can tell you. They’re not quite as cumbersome as the other ones and it’ll still protect you. He took a good shot. I mean, it wouldn’t have mattered what he had on. He took a pretty good shot [from the New England Patriots].”

Watching Vick’s back is not the only topic running through the halls of the team’s facility when it comes to quarterbacks. As for right now, they have one more preseason game to play and there is a stir amongst the backups.

Rookie Nick Foles has come through and for the most part looked incredible during his playing time. Despite being the primary backup for one of the league’s elite players, Foles is still adjusting to not being the starter that he has been for his career thus far.

“It’s definitely different, but we’ve all played this game a long time. [You need to] just keep your head in the game,” Foles said. “I’ll have the headset on when [QB] Mike [Vick] is playing, and me and the other quarterbacks will be visualizing the play and visualizing what we’d do in that situation. It’s keeping your head in the game, and stretching out and staying warm. It will be an adjustment going from Arizona, but that’s an adjustment that most rookies know about going in that you’re going to have to make. Always stay ready because your team might need you sometime, so you have to be ready.”

When Reid was pressed for comment in regards to whether or not Foles is the official second stringer he stated “yeah, he’s in that position right now.” The problem is that one of the presumed names in that chase is Mike Kafka who has been with the Eagles for some time. Kafka has not seen much field time this preseason due to a hand injury that deeply cut into his practice and on-field reps.

Still, Reid feels pretty good about his past knowledge of Kafka’s capabilities. “I know [Kafka] well enough, I think, to be able to make that evaluation. We’ll give Trent [Edwards] an opportunity to play [in the fourth game] and hold Mike out, not because I have all the information. That’s not what I’m saying. I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t want him to be injured.”

For his part, Edwards is glad to have a chance to play his way into a potential regular season roster spot.

“I don’t know. I’ve said all along that I’m going to control the things that I can control, and those decisions aren’t up to me. I’m going to do what I’ve been coached to do. I feel that I have progressed, and I feel that I know where guys are going and what I should do with the football now. This is a great offensive system to be in. That’s one of the reasons that I came here was to be coached by these guys and play with the guys in this locker room. It’s going to be fun on Thursday night to get out there.”

If we were to put money on it, Players View would call it as if the Eagles keep three quarterbacks, they will be Vick, Foles and Edwards. Edwards is not dealing with an injury right now and he has historically played at a much higher level than Kafka has. He just seemingly needs one nice performance to get it done.

The post Status report on the Eagles quarterbacks. appeared first on Players View.

He will retire as an Eagle according to the team who released a statement today.

Eagles Chairman/CEO Jeffrey Lurie on Westbrook: “I will always remember Brian for the electrifying, game-changing plays he made during his great career in Philadelphia. He was one of those players you knew could score from anywhere on the field and one of the most exciting players I have ever watched.

He was a great runner, receiver and returner and was certainly a fan favorite. We are thrilled to have him retire as an Eagle and we look forward to honoring him at Lincoln Financial Field on December 23 against the Redskins in what should be a very exciting atmosphere.”

Westbrook currently ranks second in franchise records in rushing yards (5,995), and third in receptions (426) and total touchdowns (68).

As someone  that played with heart and class, Westbrook was one step away from cementing his statistical legacy before his career was cut down by a series of concussions.

He will always be a franchise favorite even if he fell short of generating Hall of Fame numbers.

The post Brian Westbrook to retire as a Philadelphia Eagle appeared first on Players View.

Van Buren was remembered fondly in a statement that was released by the team.

“On the field and off, as a player, a leader and a man, Steve Van Buren embodied the finest characteristics of our city and our sport,” said Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie. “He was a friend and an inspiration to generations of fans, and the model of what an Eagle should be.”

“Watch those old films and you know that Steve Van Buren was something special,” said head coach Andy Reid. “He was special in person, too, humble about his own accomplishments and encouraging to others. His memory will be with Eagles fans for as long as this team takes the field.”

“Steve Van Buren is one of the all-time Eagles,” said Eagles president Don Smolenski. “He made his mark on the field, in the city of Philadelphia, and in the record books of the NFL. We honor the passing of one of our great ones.”

Survived by three daughters, 16 grandchildren, and 16 great grandchildren, the former number one draft pick from LSU was a pure playmaker before the term even existed.

During his career he held the NFL rushing title four times. He finished his career with 77 TDs.

A five-time all-pro, he was selected to the NFL’s 75th Anniversary Team in 1994, and was the first Eagles player elected to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Players View extends our thoughts and prayers to his loved ones as we all remember one of the best to ever do it.

The post Hall of Fame RB Steve Van Buren passes away at 91. appeared first on Players View.

Going into the 2012 season, some coaches are in must-win situations to keep their jobs. Some are in must win situations as the window closes on their current group. Others have to get it done because their fan base simply needs to have their faith justified after decades of desire.

Each situation is different but they all have one thing in common: winning is the only cure.

#1 Mike Smith-Atlanta Falcons

“Smitty” has lifted the Falcons to heights that they have never seen before. On the surface he’s loved by the players but he doesn’t enable them like Jim Mora Jr. did.  He’s passionate on the sidelines but he’s not a freak like Jerry Glanville was.He keeps his composure but he’s not out-of-touch like Dan Reeves came to be.

The one thing that these coaches have that he doesn’t is a playoff win.  All of the back-to-back-to-back winning seasons don’t mean anything if the Falcons don’t advance in the playoffs.

In the off-season after another one-and-done playoff loss to the Giants, the team parted ways with both their offensive and defensive coordinators.

For the foreseeable future, owner Arthur Blank has no plans to make any further changes as he told CBS News’ Pete Prisco. “He will be fine. He will be here for a very long time.”

Blank is and always has been about bringing a Super Bowl to the city. He’s also pitching a new stadium to a town that has never hoisted a world championship banner into it’s rafters. The Falcons are stacked offensively and are strong enough defensively to make a deep playoff run. If that doesn’t happen in 2012 after embarrassing outs in 2011 and 2010, the push for a new stadium gets even harder.

The post 5 NFL Coaches That Must Win In The Playoffs appeared first on Players View.

Take today’s shots fired at Philadelphia Eagles RB LeSean McCoy.

The two have a rich history of ill content that often surfaces on Twitter.

In the past McCoy has used words such as “soft” to describe Osi’s game. Of course Umenyiora has fired back consistently using the word “she” to refer to McCoy.

Well this morning Osi was kind enough to send holiday greetings to McCoy.

“Happy Mothers Day Lesean Mccoy! Enjoy your special day!!”

He followed with another tweet that said “the beef is never over.”

With the contract extension between the Giants and Umenyiora looking less and less likely, what happens if Giants GM Jerry Reece decides to be funny and deals Osi to the Eagles?

While the likely hood of that ever happening is nil, that would indeed be very, very funny.

The post New York Giants DE Osi Umenyiora tweets holiday diss to Eagles RB LeSean McCoy. appeared first on Players View.

In a press statement the Eagles without much fanfare announced  that they picked up former Miami Hurricanes QB Jacory Harris.

Harris like starter Mike Vick can make plays with both his feet and his arm. At 6’4, 195, Harris has the stature and the acumen to grow into being a starting gunslinger in this league.

I’m not sure what the Eagles plans are for him long-term but under the tutelage, Harris can grow into something special.

As a Hurricane, Harris had two faults. He often made poor decisions when he felt the pressure to put the game on his back and  at times he felt the need to run as throwing lanes were developing.

Both of these problems can be cured working underneath coach Andy Reid and offense coordinator Marty Mornhinweg.

That is if Harris is ready to come in and do the work to elevate his game to the next level.

His numbers suggest that he might be.

At Miami he compiled 8,826 passing yards and 70 touchdowns, while adding five rushing scores.  He finished his career ranked second in school history in both yards and touchdowns, behind Ken Dorsey (9,486 yards; 86 touchdowns).

He was selected as the team’s recipient of the 2011 Offensive Most Outstanding Player award, as well as the 2010 Community Service Man of the Year award.

On a interesting note, he played high school and college ball with  Eagles G Brandon Washington.

The post Philadelphia Eagles sign rookie free agent QB Jacory Harris appeared first on Players View.

“Can you feel that? Can you feel this that dog-gone beating in your chest? Can you feel what is about to happen out here on this field man?”

That Brian Dawkins pre-game speech given in the huddle  to his then Eagles team mates has been recited by my kid to his teammates before just about every game he has played since 2008.

Brian Dawkins inspired him like so many others to reach for greatness when the opportunity presented itself.

Now as Dawkins prepares to leave the NFL after 16 seasons, he will leave as one of the best.

He will leave as one of the best safeties in the history of the game.   He will leave as one of its best motivators. He will leave as one of its best hitters. He will leave as one of its best playmakers. He will leave as one of its best men.

Today one his Twitter account he relayed the news of his retirement.

“The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years,” Dawkins said. “I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing in me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that I have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL.”

Dawkins has struggled with a neck related injury last season that may have played into his decision to leave the game. That has not been suggested or said, it’s a just something that I am thinking out loud.

If he is not a first ballot Hall-of-Fame inductee then the system is as flawed as many suggest that it is.

Dawkins played in one Super Bowl, nine Pro Bowls and was a six-time All-Pro.

If there was a stat for plays made during crunch-time, he would own it.

That discussion can wait until 2017 when he  is up for enshrinement. Until then there is only the matter of the day.

It doesn’t matter who you root for or against to recognize that greatness has left the building.

The post Brian Dawkins retires from the NFL as one of it’s greatest men. appeared first on Players View.

After stints with the Jaguars and the Panthers, Landri came to the Eagles and enjoyed the best single season of his career so far with 43 tackles (eight for a loss), two sacks and a blocked field goal.

His 6-2 290 lb frame is perfectly suited for the “wide nine” alignment that the Eagles employ.

His return brings continuity to a defense that is entering its second year under defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

The Eagles have placed a premium on returning guys that make big contributions and upgrading positions of need (i.e. the acquisition of MLB Demeco Ryans).

The post Philadelphia Eagles continue to solidify defense with the return of DT Derek Landri. appeared first on Players View.

This is not news as much as it is a declaration of an obvious writing on the wall. When the Eagles traded for Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and lured in then free agent Nnamdi Asomugha, Samuel was reportedly very upset.

Once he was not moved, it was felt that was due to the Eagles not getting the right deal more so than a situation working itself out.

A team such as the Detroit Lions comes to mind as an obvious trade partner for him.  Samuels, 31 is a playmaker and can be a hard hitter when he wants to be and could fit in with the way that the Lions do things.

Still, it would benefit all parties for Samuel to stay put. Football is a business and business will always be done.

From a strategy perspective, the way that Samuel plays the game is different than the  way that Asomugha plays the game. With Rodgers –Cromartie on deck the Eagles have the opportunity to become the most dominant secondary in the league.

That states the obvious and for fans that were excited about this trio, the duo that will be left with will still be incredible.

A disgruntled Samuel can be a distraction that would defeat the purpose so if the Eagles have not been able to get him to “buy in” it is what is.

As soon as somebody pulls the trigger, we will update you.

The post Eagles CB Asante Samuel To Be Traded Before Draft? appeared first on Players View.

Today, the Eagles e-mailed a press statement to Players View with Reid’s take on the story.

“We look into everything, as all teams do. And I have the highest regard for Peyton Manning. But as I said publicly last month, that wasn’t the direction we were heading in. Michael( Vick) is our guy.”

“As far as the personnel control, I have had final say on personnel matters for quite some time here and that’s never been an issue or a point of contention.”

“Our front office works very well together and that’s one of our strengths.”

The Eagles have gone on a tear of signings, trades and re-signings but that doesn’t point to some third world coup in which Reid stormed the place armed with a pistol in one hand and a grenade in another.

Last off-season, the Eagles made a lot of free agent moves, resigned Vick and were active as a whole.

The pure numbers of what they have done in 2012  is consistent with how they have behaved in the past.

As for the Manning thing, I think at some point it’s going to come out that every team was in some, way shape or form interested in Peyton Manning.

Unless, I was Alex Smith, Kevin Kolb, Tim Tebow and now Mark Sanchez, I couldn’t really have an issue with the situation.

Behind closed doors, people could be upset but it’s doubtful. Just like with anything else, human nature dictates that the more public a perceived slight is the worse it will feel.

By the numbers though, Peyton in Philly doesn’t make sense. Throw all of that extra baggage about playing in Eli’s division out of the window.

The chemistry that Vick has established with DeSean Jackson, LeSean McCoy and Jeremy Maclin within itself would derail anything good that could come out of that move.

It just was never going to happen.  So now that a few teams are out in the open, I can’t wait to see what team had interest next.

I wonder if Jerry Jones ever….you know… seriously…did he…?

The post Andy Reid is the latest coach who was ” interested” in Peyton Manning. Who’s next? appeared first on Players View.

The Eagles will swap spots with the Texans in the second round of this year’s draft. The Eagles will now pick in the 89^th slot and the Texans will pick in the 77^th slot.  The Eagles will also give them their fourth round pick.

This in a nutshell detonates the ongoing speculation/negotiations that were ongoing with MLB Curtis Lofton who is an unrestricted free agent.

In a press statement sent to Players View, the Eagles have also stated that “Ryans, head coach Andy Reid and general manager Howie Roseman will be available to the media at 3:00 pm on Wednesday in the NovaCare Complex auditorium.”

In the meantime, the front office’s enthusiasm is apparent.

“DeMeco is a proven Pro Bowl linebacker in this league and we’re excited to be able to plug him into the middle of our defense,” said Reid. “He’s been the signal caller and a leader on a very good Texans defense for the last several years. He’s a tough, instinctive football player and he’ll be a great fit for our team.”

“We’re thrilled to be able to add a young and productive linebacker in DeMeco Ryans,” said general manager Howie Roseman. “We’d like to thank [Houston general manager] Rick Smith and the Texans. Once we found out that he could be available to us in a trade, we quickly found a way to work together to produce a good outcome for both teams.”

The Eagles have spent the past two off-seasons filling their defensive gaps with a slew of top-shelf free agents and making important moves like locking down DE Trent Cole.

We will update this report tomorrow just after tomorrow’s press conference.

As for the before mentioned Curtis Lofton, Tampa Bay could still be in the picture and the New Orleans Saints have shown serious interest.

The post Eagles Trade Two Picks To Houston For MLB DeMeco Ryans appeared first on Players View.

This Thursday, he will be brought up on charges along with Richard Walls and Jamie Russ-Walls, both of Bensalem, Pa for accusations related to filing tax returns on behalf of non-existent businesses and claiming large financial losses, according to court documents.

The people allegedly doing the work for the operation were Richard Walls and Jamie Russ-Walls. Mitchell supposedly acted as a “scout” for the business by recruiting other pro athletes to their tax return business.

Once in the web, the Walls’ allegedly prepared fraudulent tax returns for the athletes and setup partial refunds to be deposited into bank accounts held by Freddie and the Walls.

Court documents sited one case where an unnamed athlete received a 1 million dollar refund and a fake document asking for an extra $638,000 to be deposited in Walls’ account and $280,000 in Mitchell’s.

Fred Ex surrendered to authorities in Orlando on March 12 and is facing some serious charges on a federal scale.

We all want to ball out-of-control but please tell me why a group of adults actually felt like they could play the government for millions of dollars and get away with it?

Another question is why does Freddie Mitchell get so attracted to crimes that can be associated with the letter f? Is that he has to coordinate?

The post Former Eagle WR Freddie Mitchell Facing Charges For A Tax Scam, Allegedly Lured In Other Players. appeared first on Players View.

“We are excited to be able to sign Trent to a new contract,” said Eagles head coach Andy Reid. “Trent plays the game with a level of tenacity that’s hard to replicate. He’s one of the premier defensive ends in the league. We have always said that when you watch the tape of him, it’s hard to tell the difference between his first play and his last play. He has an unbelievable motor that does not stop. And as good as he is rushing the passer, he is equally as good against the run. His energy is contagious on the field.”

This afternoon Cole met with the media and was very candid in regards to how he felt when the team brought in a plethora of high priced free agents and did not extend his deal last year.

“They have to do what they have to do. They have to conduct business and run the team here. They had to do what they had to make the team successful. My time has come, and I knew my time was going to come. It’s just that I had to play my role and hopefully everything would work out.”

Cole even took the time to comment on how he feels about the return of defensive line coach Jim Washburn and defensive coordinator Juan Castillo.

“I wasn’t surprised one bit. When you have Wash, he’s done a lot for our d-line and we led in sacks, quarterback knockdowns, and you can go on and on about the things we’ve done with the defense, especially with Juan. Look at our stats. It was a brand new team they brought in here and he was jumping into – we only had half of a summer in order to prepare for the season and everything was really short. I’m just glad that he has another opportunity here. Like I said, as a coach I think he did well under pressure and being in the situation that he was in this past year.”

The “wide 9” look that the Eagles show on their defensive line is made possible by what Trent Cole brings to the table.

He’s a rare gumbo of speed, power, intelligence and raw aggression.  By locking him up for the next four years, the Eagles are forgetting all of the hype that perhaps swallowed them whole last year.

They are looking towards becoming a serious contender every year.

The post Eagles DE Trent Cole talks the return of DC Juan Castillo, his contract extension and more. appeared first on Players View.

In a statement sent to Players View, the team seemed firm in their commitment to Jackson.

 “We want DeSean to be an Eagle for the long haul and this is a step in the right direction to accomplish that,” said Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. “DeSean is a talented player and a proven playmaker in this league and we look forward to him continuing his career in Philadelphia. It’s our understanding that he has the same desire. We will continue our efforts on getting a long-term deal done with him.”

The last sentence is the magic phrase as Jackson spent much of last season lobbying for a new deal that never came.

Jackson’s production may have slipped in 2011 but what did not was the united front that he, his team mates and the coaching staff presented during a crucial stretch of the year when the team was losing games and outsiders were pointing fingers.

If there was any reason why I would predict a successful 2012 run for the Eagles it would be a moment such as this when you look at a group that has stuck together after going through the fire so to speak.

The resolution of Jackson’s situation puts a lot of speculation to bed especially since the team has officially commented on their desire to put together a permanent situation.

If he ends up playing out the season under the franchise tag (i.e. a long-term deal is not reached), Jackson will earn $9.4 million dollars.

On a day when we sit back and ponder how one legend will look in a different uniform, it’s good to see that 33% of the Eagles Young Guns trio is not going anywhere.

The post The Philadelphia Eagles franchise DeSean Jackson & talk long-term deal. appeared first on Players View.

Nearing age 35, Burress has clearly lost the explosiveness that made him one of the most feared receivers in the NFL. After receiving a 1-year/$3 million contract from the Jets after being released from prison, nobody really knew what to expect from the 6’5″ receiver.

However, one year later, Burress is what he is: a player who lost his speed and is only a viable threat in the red zone. He won’t receive the $3 million he got from New York’s other team and most likely won’t be resigned as Rex Ryan’s crew are looking to get young at the position. So why Philadelphia and why the announcement?

Easy. Burress has always been a glory-hound and before his Super Bowl-winning catch, he was perceived as a nuisance, just ask Tom Coughlin and Eli Manning. The former Giant hasn’t really gotten over being unceremoniously abandoned by the team and with them winning this past season’s Super Bowl, it only cemented the fact that they were right to not resign him this past offseason. So why not stick it to them by signing with Big Blue’s biggest rival?

Back when he was relevant

At this point in his career, Burress is at best a third receiver. Combining forces with Vick, DeSean Jackson (assuming he’s resigned), Jeremy Maclin and the rest of the Eagles offense, Burress is hoping to stick it to the Giants one last time. He had his chance when the Jets had a chance to stick the proverbial knife through the Giants heart on Christmas Eve, but we all know what happened then. Spite and revenge are the two reasons why Burress is willing to sabotage his chances with almost every other time, unless he caught wind that he’s a player in decline and that his services aren’t as sought after as they used to be.

Too bad. Once upon a time (by that I mean last year), the receiver announcing he wanted to play somewhere would have been big news due to the unknown quality he provided after two years in the slammer. But now? Who cares.

The post Plaxico Burress Wants to Play For Philadelphia. Who Cares? appeared first on Players View.

Ryan Braun

Sportsman of the Year: Ryan Braun, Milwaukee Brewers

Why: Over here we believe in innocent until proven guilty, so we won’t let his recent scandal taint the current facts. The NL MVP had a year for the ages and proved that loyalty to one’s franchise is not a lost ideal.

Who Almost Won: Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints

Team of the Year: Dallas Mavericks

Why:  In what in basketball terms amounts to a rebel alliance defeating an evil empire, the Mavericks beat the odds, knocked a monkey off their back and pretty much shocked the world on their way to an NBA title.

Who Almost Won: St. Louis Cardinals

Coach of the Year: Lane Kiffin, USC Trojans Football

Why:  This spot was one of the most highly contested around the office per se.  What earned Kiffin the nod is his ability to redeem himself, repair what was believed to be broken and position his team to be dominant in the long-run.

Who Almost Won: Tony LaRussa

Comeback of the Year: Tiger Woods

Why: After winning the Chevron World Challenge, Tiger has finally put all of his injuries and that rather sorted mess behind him. 2012 promises to place him back on the throne.

Who Almost Won: Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions.

Cam Newton

Rookie of the Year: Cam Newton

Why: The records, the swagger and most importantly the work ethic allowed Newton to prove almost everyone wrong during his rookie year. If he can step his leadership game up and elevate the play of his team mates, he could easily earn MVP honors sooner than anybody expects.

Who Almost Won: Blake Griffin, L.A. Clippers

People’s Champ: Victor Cruz, New York Giants

Why: Cruz is a cross between Randy Moss and Wayne Cherbet.  This translates into an incredible playmaker that came out of nowhere with a blue collar work ethic.

Who Almost Won: Jordy Nelson, Green Bay Packers

Commentator of   the Year: Deion “Prime Time” Sanders

Why:  Sanders is the primary reason why the NFL Network’s programming has dominated the competition for the past two years. His stand-up approach to realistic commentary has redefined how it’s done.  Ask anyone in the 21 Club or Tampa Bay running back LeGarrette Blount.

Who Almost Won: Warren Sapp 

Game of the Year: Tony Stewart’s Ford 400 race to win the NASCAR Championship.

Why:  There’s something about a contest that comes down to the wire that’s for all of the marbles.  There’s also something about a race that makes you say ‘maybe NASCAR is a legit sport after all.’

What Almost Won: Game six of the World Series.

Fight of the Year: Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard, UFC Lightweight Championship

Why:  It came down to a draw after the most intense action seen in mixed martial arts or boxing all year long.

Anderson Silva Almost Pulled It Out

What Almost Won: Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort

Moment of the Year: David Freese’s home run in the bottom of the 11^th inning in game 6 of the World Series.  

Why: It was the to coin an over-used phrase, the shot heard round the world. We watched in awe as the ball left the park and regardless of team affiliation, celebrated pure baseball at its finest hour.

What Almost Won: Nothing…

Arrest of the Year: Jerry Sandusky, ex-Penn State

Why: Jerry Sandusky took down an icon, the reputation of one of the greatest college programs of all time and most importantly the lives of boys who will be forever destroyed by his hideous actions.

What Almost Won: Sam Hurd, Chicago Bears

Tweet of the Year: “Hey I think the Urban Meyer rule is in effect right now. When the going gets tough…QUIT.” Maurice Jones Drew (@Jones_Drew32) on Bears QB Jay Cutler not finishing the 2011 NFC Championship Game.

Why: When a “tweet” generates death threats, you know you hit a nerve. MJD simply said what we all thought and I am sure that applies to Bears players that were at the game that lost their shot at immortality.

What Almost Won: The Rashard Mendenhall, Osama Bin Laden, we should not be so happy that he’s dead fiasco.

Rex Ryan

Beef of the Year: Brandon Jacobs vs. Rex Ryan, Kris Humphries vs. Kim Kardashian (tie)

Why: It’s hard to figure out what was more entertaining, the fact that Brandon Jacobs was seconds away from screaming ‘put a jersey on!’ or the fact that Kim Kardashian found a way to sink her teeth into and out of another professional athlete.

Who Almost Won: In the event of a tie, they’re all winners!

Could Have, Would Have, Should Have: The Miami Heat’s 2010-2011 season.

Why: In another lesson in regards to why you just can’t buy a championship team, the Miami Heat came so close to glory it was disgusting. It will most likely happen and probably this year but still…

Who Almost Won: Philadelphia Eagles

Agree? Disagree? State your case in the comment box below.

The post The Stars Come Out For The 2011 Players View Awards! appeared first on Players View.