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Lifestyle  |  Got a verse for ya ... it's versus, you knuckleheads

1/28/2018

1 Comment

 
It is next-level annoying.

For me, it takes something “special” to go beyond the normal eye roll or what-the-heck blurt in reaction to any uttered or written bastardization of the English language. After all, when we have kids today who can’t spell or speak to an acceptable third-grade level but hold PhD’s in digital communication knowledge serving as the end-all and be-all to reaching and teaching the masses, it’s kind of to be expected that we’re undergoing a bit of devolving in terms of actual intelligence.

Even yours truly, by and large, accepts that.

But, sometimes, just wow. You know, one of those “oh, my Gooood” wows. Repeatedly. Without fail.

Been through the “It or They” struggles, the “There, They’re or Their” issues and the “Who or That” brain farts, all of which still famously exist. For my money, though, it’s now people saying “verse” when they mean “versus” that ranks up there with the preposterous use of the non-word “heighth” for decades, all because the masses overthought themselves into believing “height” had to match up with its more girth-riddled partner, “width.”

Lord, give me strength …

Never thought anything could catch up to that with teeth-gnawing brain pain for me, but so-and-so “verse” so-and-so is right there. If not beyond.

As someone who follows sports closely, am susceptible to the mental electric shock this craze concocts often since “vs.” in that realm is such a commonly used grouping of letters and punctuation that nowadays seems to spark an immediate “verse” by those who see it. Umm, word to the wise out there, “vs.” stands for versus, not verse.

But, really, the problem exists all over. It’s a vocabulary botching that has plagued the U.S. for half a decade – at minimum. Can’t nail down exactly where it started, but it afflicts all ages apparently.

It’s like a virus that keeps spreading. Doesn’t matter if your kid is an honors student or your middle-aged friend holds a degree from Harvard, because chances are they’re been infected – and succumbed to the stupidity.

Heck, turn on any radio station and the host talking about politics or sports is bound to utter “verse” in an incorrect sense – i.e., they ain’t talking about a song, a poem or something they came across in last night’s reading of the Bible.

Yo, Eagles fans, did you know it will be Nick Foles “verse” Tom Brady this coming Sunday … and Doug Pederson “verse” Bill Belichick, too?

Ugh, nails on the goddam chalkboard.

Annoying, beyond words.

Especially when you have such an easy solution to cure the “verse when you mean versus” disease.

No idea? Try this: “against” instead of either.

“Facing” works as well.

So, too, does “confronting.”
​
Try it, if only to spare me an annoyance-fueled aneurysm.

- Jack Kerwin


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NFL  |  Non-believers calling out Foles' followers? Gimme me a break

1/26/2018

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Nick Foles celebrates after leading the Eagles to a 38-7 win in Sunday's NFC title game at Lincoln Financial Field. The backup-turned-starter went 26-for-33 with 352 yards and 3 TDs.
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by Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Not saying he's a better quarterback than Carson Wentz.

Not saying the team is necessarily better off with him at the helm.

But, am saying ... yo, the dude can play, and play well – sometimes exceptionally so.. That he ain’t no freakin’ game manager.

With that, don’t hate on those of us who have known that all along.

Throw disbelieving, “gotta play close-to-vest, perfect now” scaredy cats like yourself under the bus, not us.

Look, we get it. Nick Foles has that droopy, hang-dog exterior view to him with a matching, goobery, “How y’all doin’ ” way of speaking. But the sport, any sport, ain’t about that periphery, personality-based crap that often is misread anyway. It’s what happens between the lines.

Frankly, anyone who claimed that Foles had never given any evidence of being able to produce a Herculean effort like the one he put up this past Sunday evening, well, it’s time for them to take a gander in the mirror and admit, “hey, maybe I missed the boat on this guy, maybe I’m not this all-knowing evaluator of talent and predictor of how things will play out, maybe I’m off-base to accuse others who actually believed in the guy of lying and own that I’m a little too wrapped up in myself and way too caught up in first-impression superficial crap at times.”

You want frames of reference, huh? Then forget the stupid sound drops, misguided notions and, apparently, bad eyesight, and pay attention.

For starters, we’re not talking 10, 12, 15 years ago that Foles posted one of the all-time standards of efficiency and production for an NFL quarterback. It was four years ago that he earned “Mr. 27-2” recognition, and the following season – the apocalypse to his first stint in Philly – was hardly the nightmare it has been painted as being.

The guy produced a brilliant 27-for-41, 325-yard, 3-TD, 0-INT effort in a wild, 37-34 win against Washington in 2014. Even after he left town, Foles posted 125 passer-rating games for both the Rams and Chiefs in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

Go to this year. Coming off the bench once Wentz went down, Foles did rally the Eagles to victory in L.A. He also tossed four TDs against the Giants next time out and that 23-for-30, 246-yard outing in the team’s playoff opener against Atlanta was hardly “nothing.”

Thing is, Foles has given a multitude of examples that he was capable of going off like he did against Minnesota. On national stages, no less.

The guy wasn’t exactly a stiff in college. During his time at the University of Arizona, the top three programs in the Pac-12 were Oregon, Stanford and Southern Cal.

Foles lit them up, all of them, every time he faced them. In nine combined starts against that triumverate in his three years running the show for the Wildcats, he threw for 3,079 yards and 24 TDs with just 6 picks while completing 64 percent of his passes. He burned each of them with at least one 400-yard, 3-TD performance, too.

Clearly, this is a guy able, if not prone, to go off in gawdy fashion at times.

Truth be told, if we’re talking just throwing the ball, he is better than Wentz. Hell, so is Sam Bradford.

​By a lot.


Neither are better QBs, but they do pass it better – more accurate … short, intermediate and distance.
​

If you really paid attention, you’d know the best ball during the Birds’ regular season was delivered by Foles to Nelson Agholor in mop-up duty of Wentz during that early November blowout of the Broncos. He tear-dropped that sucker perfectly into the receiver’s arms 35 yards down the right sideline. It was a thing of beauty.

So, spare us who knew about the guy, recognized his ability and acknowledged it, as to how we didn’t know and that we’re just jumping on board – like you are now.

Don’t blame us for your arrogance with not listening, and not knowing, before.
​

YO, FRAME THIS

Those questioning Nick Foles' background being a precursor to him producing in a big way such as last Sunday's NFC title-winning, 26-for-33, 352-yard, 3-TD effort against the Vikings may want to take a closer look at his career.
TOP OF THE FOLES
​Year-by-year
2017
Dec. 17 vs. Giants
24-for-38 (63.2%)
237 yards (6.2 per att)
4 TD, O INT
115.8 passer rating

2016
Oct. 30 vs. Colts
16-for-22 (72.7%)
223 yards (10.1 per att)
2 TD, 0 INT
135.2 passer rating

2015
Oct. 4 vs. Cardinals
16-for-24 (66.7%)
171 yards (7.1 per att)
3 TD, 0 INT
126.9 passer rating

2014
Sept. 24 vs. Redskins
27-for-41 (65.9%)
325 yards (7.9 per att)
3 TD, 0 INT
114.4 passer rating

2013
Nov. 3 vs. Raiders
22-for-28
406 yards (78.6%)
7 TD, 0 INT (14.5 per att)
158.3 passer rating

2012
Dec. 9 vs. Buccaneers
32-for-51 (62.7%)
381 yards (7.5 per att)
2 TD, 0 INT
98.6 passer rating

2011
Oct. 1 vs. Southern Cal
41-for-53 (77.4%)
425 yards (8.0 per att)
4 TD, 2 INT
​162.1 passer rating

2010
Nov. 25 vs. Oregon
29-for-54 (53.7%)
448 yards (8.3 per att)
3 TD, 1 INT
138.0 passer rating

2009
Oct. 17 vs. Stanford
40-for-51 (78.4%)
415 yards (8.1 per att)
​3 TD, 0 INT
166.2 passer rating

​THIS AND THAT NICK
Career NFL passer rating
87.4
*-Carson Wentz 88.7
​1st year passer rating
79.1
*-Wentz 79.3
2nd year passer rating
119.2
*-Wentz 101.9
​400-yard passing games
3
300-yard passing games
9 (1 postseason)
​3-TD passing games
9 (1 postseason)
​100+ passer rating games
19
​(3 postseason)
​Career TDs
66
(5 in postseason)
Career INTs
29
​(0 in postseason)
Record as Eagles QB
19-11
​(2-1 postseason)
​*-Wentz 18-11
 

 
​
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NFL  |  That perceived disrespect to Birds? Better look in mirror, fans

1/17/2018

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By Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

It’s a self-inflicted wound.

As Eagles fans and sports yakkers alike bemoan the lack of respect being given to Philly’s NFL entity as it currently, popping off about how outsiders don’t realize the true quality of the team, that those outsiders don’t focus on the right things, that those outsiders are too hung up on Nick Foles filling in for Carson Wentz, here is the cold, harsh reality:

Yo, you brought it on yourselves.

At least the vast majority of you did.

The moment Wentz went down a month ago in the L.A. Coliseum, suffering an ACL injury that ended his MVP-worthy 2017 campaign and suddenly altered that beeline to a Super Bowl appearance, you, yeah, that’s right, you who bleed midnight green and worship at the altar of an incredibly ballyhooed second-year quarterback, set all the wheels in motion for questioning the Birds’ viability in the postseason as anything more than a one-and-done.

The panic, the gloom and doom, even the pathetic rationalizing of how to negate Foles’ expected ineffectiveness, that didn’t originate from the national media.

That came from you. Period.

It was as ridiculous then as your projecting crap on others is now.

The hilarity is, even as this emotional/verbal uprising rears its head this week as Sunday’s NFC title tilt with Minnesota approaches, the same people bitchin’ about stuff are the same ones professing all the tactics needed to minimalize Foles’ impact – apparently, it’s a given to be negative – on the outcome.

Short passes. No passes. Runs on every down. Special teams touchdowns. Defensive touchdowns.

Oh, and for Carson’s sake, no damn turnovers. Can’t possibly win with any of those – even though the Birds had 2 and Atlanta 0 in last week’s divisional-round victory against the Falcons.

But, hey, it’s those national guys and gals disrespecting the Eagles. Just like always.

Are we on a Rodney Dangerfield comedy routine tape loop here or something, people?

Sheeesh …

Can’t have it both ways.

In short, if you don’t want the outsiders agreeing with you, which is essentially what your whining is about, since all the outsiders are regurgitating the same damn stuff coming out of your own mouths, then just shut the hell up in the first place.

Frankly, take away all the “woe are we” talk that started here – oh, yeah, that’s right, here in Philly … and has remained, no less – the moment Fox Sports sideline reporter Erin Andrews noted that Eagles staffers were shaking their heads en masse after witnessing Wentz “in the tent,” and it’s likely the team wouldn’t be looked at as last on the totem pole of the four playoff teams still standing.

Again, self-inflicted wound.

You brought it on yourselves.


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NFL  |  Birds' D caving at end vs. Atlanta a bit disconcerting

1/16/2018

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PictureThe game-clincher Saturday night.
By Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Lasting impression? One, big, tangible, audible “phew.”

If anything sticks with me about the Eagles’ defensive effort from Saturday night’s 15-10 NFC divisional playoff victory against Atlanta it is that.

No doubt, Fletcher Cox and Co. answered the bell. They held the defending conference champion Falcons in check most of the night. Kept Atlanta from rekindling any potential lingering fire from its 2016 high-octane offensive self.

Commendable, to say the least.

But, when push came to shove, at the most crucial part of the contest, when the home-standing Birds had to get a stop, they had … nothing. The tank was empty.

Stand?

At the goal line?!!

Dude fell down. Julio Jones. One of the best receivers in the game fell down. Just, whoops. Then had the ball go right through his hands after getting up and pogo-jumping above a flat-footed Jalen Mills in one awkward, scrambling, panicky mess ... for both sides.

Phew.


This was no impressive showing in the end. No final statement to a dominating performance. Certainly, it wasn’t worthy of the type of confidence in the Eagles’ D displayed by players and fans since that, paraphrasing comedian Jim Gaffigan, would make Beyonce blush.

Put it this way.

They were, in a word, fortunate.

Fortunate the Falcons botched their final offensive play.

Fortunate the Falcons’ coaching staff had a collective meltdown with rushing things in the final 1:19, having just earned a first-and-goal at the 9.

Fortunate that Eagles’ O ran the ball to some measure of success.

Fortunate that the same O won the time of possession battle.

That it didn’t collapse after turning the ball over twice.

That its largely panned backup quarterback Nick Foles played well – not just well enough, but well.

The second half, in fact, he was money.

This isn’t an attempt to rip the defense. It’s a call to recognize reality by all those ignoring it or distorting it. The blunt truth, teams don’t typically win when their defense folds like a cheap suit at crunch time – no matter how well it played earlier.

Having extended the lead to five on a brilliant, 14-play, 80-yard drive dominated by Foles’ brains and right arm, and culminated by Jake Elliott’s 21-yard field goal, the Eagles kicked off to their visitors.

The Falcons, following a 23-yard return, lined up first-and-10 from their own 24 with 6:02 to go. The Birds’ defenders were well-rested, having just sat back and watched their offensive mates eat up close to 8 minutes on the clock. They were in prime position to shut the door.

Then proceeded to allow Atlanta to march down the field, including a conversion of a fourth-and-6 that was overturned once and upheld without debate the second time. All told, the Falcons covered 74 yards on 14 plays in 5:02.

Save for that odd mismanaging of the clock once they got inside the 10 with 79 seconds to go, and Jones’ multiple faux pas on fourth down, it’s highly unlikely the Eagles would be looking at a win.

Frankly, wouldn’t count on one this week in the NFC title game against Minnesota with the same kind of late-game collapse. Certainly wouldn’t be confident if the same situation arose. That’s for sure.
​
Even with Case “Comparable to Foles” Keenum as Vikings quarterback.
​

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NFL  |  Fear of Foles has far too many failing to see him play well

1/14/2018

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Eagles quarterback Nick Foles completed 23 of 30 passes for 246 yards in Saturday night's 15-10 victory against Atlanta.
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By Jack Kerwin  |  ydkjack1@gmail.com

Time to knock it off.

Yeah, we get it. Seriously, we do. Even those of us who don’t crush on athletes and list our top three reasons for breathing as being directly in relation to the health of the Eagles’ forever-promoted franchise quarterback.

But, enough already.

Carson Wentz is out. Nick Foles is in.

Deal with it, and start accepting reality.

No need to distort the facts, ignore what happens and downplay the positives, unless you claim to be an Eagles fan but really don’t want them now to advance to the Super Bowl and – gasp – possibly win it, because then we’re talking about a whole different level of pathetic, mindless and hopeless.

Right here, at this point, we’re just focusing on the lost souls out there who have handed their hearts over to No. 11, so hurt by his season-ending injury that they’ve become such babbling fools as to suggest, if not believe, that a title just won’t mean as much if Wentz isn’t leading the way. That, you know, while it would be great if the Birds won it all, but wouldn’t be all that upset if the Birds fell flat following their 13-win regular season if that meant someday, perhaps, they made another run with Wentz back at the helm.

Only seems right, right?

Uh, maybe to you and the nutjobs out there who keep rationalizing that the only way the team can survive this postseason is if Foles hands off the ball on about 90 percent of the offensive snaps, throws only 2-yard checkdown passes when death is the other option and lets the defense “win the game.”

Yeah, played out just like that in that playoff opener at the Linc, didn’t it?

Look, here’s the reality – if you inserted Wentz’s name in place of Foles’ on the stat sheet from Saturday evening’s 15-10 divisional-round victory against defending NFC champion Atlanta, the vast majority out there would be stumbling all over themselves in trumpeting the young man’s brilliance while the rest would be standing in a corner peeing themselves unable to express their excitement in any other fashion.

There would be no talk about the defense securing next week’s spot in the conference title tilt, either, had it been Wentz, and not Foles, who completed 23 of 30 passing attempts for 246 yards and was unflappably brilliant in baiting the Falcons’ defense to jump offside in the final minute with the Eagles’ backs up against the end zone and needing a little breathing space to, well, breathe.

For heaven’s sake, Foles even displayed “the sun is shining down on me” aura that typically envelopes Wentz by pouncing on his own fumbled handoff near the goal line in the second quarter to set up a fourth-down TD run by LeGarrette Blount and later seeing a sure-fire INT somehow get knee-capped off an Atlanta defender into the arms of Eagles receiver Torrey Smith that resulted in a 20-yard gain leading to a 53-yard field goal right before intermission.

Here’s more reality: the defense collapsed at the most crucial time. As good as it was in limiting the Falcons’ offense to a pair of turnover-aided scores for the game’s first 54 minutes, the tank was empty on Atlanta’s last drive.

Taking over from their own 23 with 6:02 remaining, the visitors, behind quarterback Matt Ryan, churned up clock and yardage, including a fourth-and-six conversion, before suddenly being hit by a massive brain fart upon attaining a first-and-goal from the 9 with 1:19 to go. For some inexplicable reason, Atlanta threw on first down and then attempted a silly shovel pass on second, as if time was running out.

Funny thing is, had the Falcons scored on either play, or, frankly, either of the next two, they likely would’ve left too much on the clock to be secure with the lead.

If that played out, Foles, who’d just gone a combined 11 of 14 for 135 yards on his previous two drives, was looking at close to a minute to position the Birds for a game-winning field goal.

Yeah, get it – you’d prefer Wentz in such a situation.

Even if Foles is the one who succeeds in it.

Yo, enough already.
​

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