Bretty Favre is a tool

You know how I'm always all like: "Brett Favre is a tool" and everyone else is all like: "No, he's the GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYER EVER. Bow to the Favre. BOW TO HIM."?

Turns out, I was right.

2009 Schedule Is Out!

Full listing on the Eagles' website.

A few observations/comments:

NFC South and AFC West this year, plus the Bears and the 49ers.

Opening away against Carolina should be exciting. And tough.

Early bye. Sucks.

Only one planned MNF game - October 26 at Fed Ex Field against the Skins. I'll have to see if I can get some tickets to that, yo!

Several planned SNF games - Bears and Cowboys in November and Giants in December. And we have four nationally televised games (home AND away against the Giants and at the Chargers and the Bears).

Tough road schedule - we're traveling to the West Coast twice (Chargers and Raiders) and play the Panthers, Falcons, and Bears on the road, too.

We play the Broncos at home in the second to last game of the regular season, so Wolverine will get to have at least one more game at the Linc. Likely to be a hard day for everyone, since I'm betting it will have playoff implications for one or both teams.

We get to end the season by whuppin' the Cowboys asses again, only this time it will be in Texas. As Chef Spouse observed, that's a long time to have to wait to see Tonyboy cry, but it will be worth it when we kill their playoff hopes. Again.

Remember this?



Good times, y'all!

So what do you think about our 2009 schedule, fellow Eagles fans?

Madden Retires

OK, John Madden drives (drove?) me crazy as a commentator, but with him stepping down, who's going to be Al Michaels' sidekick?

Also, who else other than J.Mad. would rip a turducken to pieces with his bare hands on national TV?

It's the end of an era....

2009 Pre-season Schedule's Out!

It's ready. Looks like we're playing the Patriots and Jaguars at home, and the Colts and Jets away. First game will be on Chef Spouse's birthday, and it's in only 4 1/2 months. Can't get here soon enough!

Just when I thought I had it all figured out...

No posts for awhile, I know, but it's not my fault. The Eagles' Front Office has spent the free agency period of the off-season doing exactly what they usually do: reading that stack of New Yorkers that's been sitting by the Barcolounger and catching up on all the episodes of South Park they taped during the regular season. In other words, doing nothing other than picking up Leonard Weaver on a one-year contract and letting Wolverine leave town.

However, Shoegal issued a plaintive email to me today, requesting that I comment on the NFL rule changes for the 2009 season. So here we go:

Loose balls that could have been the result of a fumble or an incomplete pass are now subject to video review, aka the Hochuli rule: well duh. Raise your hand if you didn't see that coming.

Video replay can be used to determine if a loose ball stayed in bounds or hit the sideline. Hey, it was WAY cheaper than springing for LASIK for all the zebras.

No more rekicks after an illegal onside kick. It immediately becomes the other team's ball. Not that most teams try an onsides rekick anyway, since now the other team is EXPECTING it. But whatever.

The draft order has been reworked to reflect playoff results, not regular-season results. Unfortunately, it's one year too late to stick the Cardinals with the #31 pick. Damn.

Forming a "wedge" on a kickoff return is no longer legal. Fortunately, this will not in any way affect the Eagles, who have never been accused of forming a successful wedge.

On onside kicks, the kicking team can't have more than five players bunched together. What is with the onside kick rules this year? Have they run out of other things to legislate?

A blindside block cannot be delivered with a helmet, shoulder or forearm to an opponent's head or neck. Apparently now you have to throw your shoes at the guy.

Contact to the head of a defenseless receiver is also illegal. How exactly do you define "defenseless"? Does that mean no one is allowed to hit any of the Lions' receivers EVER?

A defensive player on the ground may no longer lunge or dive at the quarterback's lower legs. Aka, the Brady rule. Actually, if the QB's last name is Brady, Manning, or Romo, you're not allowed to hit him at all. You're not even allowed to hit ON him. So ladies, if you had dreams of being Tom's next baby mama or of stealing Tony away from J. Simp, you can just forget it. QB's last name is McNabb? You can use clubs to take him down, but only under 18 inches, because otherwise you risk hurting other players.

2009 draft kicks off in less than a month, y'all!

Whoa.

I'm in shock. I knew Lito was leaving, and honestly, even Buck's not that big a surprise. But Brian Dawkins is now a Bronco? I cannot get over this.

I know he'll come back to retire as an Eagle. I know we're the most unsentimental Front Office in the NFL with the possible exception of the Patriots. I know he had some really poor games in the 2008 season.

But I'm just stunned.

The NFL network's posted a nice video of his game highlights from 2008. If it won't depress you too much, I recommend checking it out.

I hope AR has a plan, because I'm losing faith a little here.

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

Free agents! Get your free agents here!

Here's how it breaks down - and what I think we should do

Unrestricted
Corell Buckhalter - keep, particularly if AR can remember that, at the end of the 2008 season, he tried this crazy new thing called a "running game." It may be just a fad, but I've got a good feeling about it....
Sean Considine - dump.
Brian Dawkins - keep, if he's not ready to retire and he's willing to do what he needs salary and playing time wise to start bringing up the younger guys. Dawk came on strong at the end of the season, but the fact remains that he has lost a step. But he's still the heart & soul of the defense. And I'd like to see him get a ring.
Joselio Hanson - keep. Bye, Lito.
Jon Runyan - Big Jon needs to retire. If he won't, I think we have to let him go.
Tra Thomas - I think Tra goes, too, assuming we can still make the O-line work without him.
LJ Smith - there's an anvil shaped like Brent Celek about to drop right on LJ. See ya!

Restricted
Hank Baskett - keep. He's got great hands and a hot fiancee.
Nick Cole - well, if we start shedding experienced/old O Linemen left and right, someone has to stay around. And he did well late in the year. Keep.

Exclusive Rights
Tank Daniels - eh, don't have a strong feeling about Tank. Oh wait - I just looked it up. NFL regulations clearly state that all teams must have one player named "Tank." Guess he stays.

What do you all think? Who stays? Who goes?

No draft/free agency talk. Not yet, anyway.

For more, check out the Eagles' website.

Also, did you hear that Brett Favre retired? Again? But not until he cost Eric Mangini his job. Think it'll stick this time? Here's hoping....