by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com

​Love the guts.

Really do.

That Eagles de facto GM Howie Roseman had the stones to do whatever it took to get in position to select the guy he wanted most of all in the 2016 NFL Draft says a lot about the conviction he now has to his own beliefs. In a cut-throat business, and, believe it or not, professional sports qualify, especially at that billion-dollar-industry level, it’s a trait that could prove highly beneficial to the Birds.

In trades, contract negotiations, future drafts, you name it.

But let’s hold off on anointing him Executive of the Millennium a few months into his second shot at running the club’s player-personnel show just yet.

There was a price tag attached to Howie wheeling and dealing his way to the No. 2 pick Thursday night, seemingly while channeling his inner Steve Stifler, and, frankly, it’s a lot bigger than those dancing along Delaware Avenue seem to grasp.

Not for nothing, but in his quest to make North Dakota State quarterback/massive question mark Carson Wentz the next face of the franchise, whatever that really is, Roseman parted with quite a few, umm, possessions belonging to the Birds.

When the dust settled after deals with Miami and then Cleveland allowed them to maneuver all the way from 13th to right behind the Los Angeles Rams in the draft’s first-round pecking order, the Eagles were in the hole three starting players and three picks – a third-rounder tonight, next year’s first-rounder and a second-rounder in 2018.

Plus, all of that, not to mention merely the expected selection of Wentz, unearthed a soap opera with current starting QB Sam Bradford that, at best, will result in a rocky locker room all next fall or, at worst, the Eagles having to unfurl Wentz from one-season protective bubble wrap in order for him to play, ready or not, because Chase “2 Starts” Daniel is the only veteran signal-caller on the roster with, uh, experience.

Irony is, Roseman never should have been buried by anyone – media, fans or owner Jeffrey Lurie – his first time around as GM. He proved more than capable in contractual scenarios, and certainly nothing less than the league average with drafting or free agency.

That was unnecessary overkill, the likes of which has only been surpassed by the recent misguided, all-hands-on-deck attacks directed at Bradford’s character and toughness.

But now it’s going too far the other way.

​Comically so.

Indeed, Howie is now proclaimed the leader, the linchpin behind it all, that Eagles Nation always needed.

Yep. Without a single return to date on the massive investment that, thus far, is his greatest claim to fame.

Apparently, guts really do get the glory.

You know, just so long as Wentz doesn’t fall flat on his face of the franchise.
​

​by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com

​It’s here.

D-Day for the Eagles.

Time to make the move that could shape, or shake up, the franchise for years to come.

The soap opera surrounding Sam Bradford, his hurt feelings and his wanting out of Philly after being misled in reality or merely perception by Eagles de facto GM Howie Roseman aside, the team’s fortunes will be forever changed by whom they pick tonight with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft and how that pick’s career arc ultimately evolves.

For me, though, the fantasy is over. There will be no pre-pick epiphany at the NovaCare Center in South Philly, where the minds of Roseman, head coach Doug Pederson, owner Jeffrey Lurie and anyone else with a vested interest are hit by lightning strikes of common sense and actual talent evaluation, instantly recognizing in unison that the only quarterback available for selection who has the potential to be a “franchise” guy is Paxton Lynch, not Carson Wentz or Jared Goff.

Heck, even everyone’s favorite football sensei/QB guru/media mogul Jon Gruden has come to that conclusion, naming the Memphis standout, and just the Memphis standout, as having the tools to be a possible superstar in the future.

But, let’s digress …

At this point, with the hours bleeding down to the final minutes before the most over-hyped dog-and-pony show, human division, starts in Chicago, it’s a foregone conclusion that the Eagles love Wentz in a way Bradford can only dream a team would feel about him. Hell, screw Sammy Sleeves, in a way anyone dreams another would feel about them.

The 6-5, 237-pound project – and, keeping it real, Wentz still is one at this point – made the hearts and minds of the Birds’ braintrust, not to mention a media contingent and fan base beyond starved for a winner in town, turn to mush the moment he started showing a strong arm and even stronger mind at the Senior Bowl and Combine … long before his recently penned mini-bio of self-promoting blustery for Derek Jeter’s cater-to-players rag that highlighted his toughness moreso than his talent.

Yo, if we love anything more than talent in this town, it’s toughness … especially when the supposed owner of it has a knack, or skill, for bringing attention to it.

Anyway … Wentz is the Eagles’ guy, and if, for some reason the Los Angeles Rams throw a curveball at the masses and take him at No. 1, then Howie and Co. will be just fine with Goff.

Regardless, best-case scenario to me remains the same:

Bradford never takes another snap for the Eagles, his exile coming in record-setting expeditious fashion, and the Wentz/Goff experience begins in earnest. A little perfunctory grace period learning under Chase “Knows the Offense Like No One Else” Daniel, Bradford’s former caddy, is fine. Anything more than that would be a waste.
​
The whole idea of having Wentz/Goff sit an entire season while somehow developing through osmosis as Bradford took a beating as a lame-duck starter was, is and forever will be ridiculous. Maybe not as ridiculous with expecting Bradford to be on board with that, but …

There is no point – none AT ALL – in putting so much into a single entity, and then keeping it in cold storage. For anyone’s sake.

If you think Aaron Rodgers “grew” behind Brett Favre for three years or Philip Rivers “blossomed” as Drew Brees’ backup for two, you’re either a fool or an old-school player-personnel guy who fails to grasp that a player succeeding in spite of a dumb, outdated process is NOT a tip of the cap to that dumb, outdated process.

So, pull the trigger Birds … and put your guy in place.

The future is now.
​

​by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com

Have had this feeling before.

Like the instant before watching Joe Theismann getting sacked by Lawrence Taylor back in the day, Louisville guard Kevin Ware crumpling to the floor in the 2013 NCAA men’s basketball tournament, or any NASCAR driver in a hard-charging vehicle careening out of control into a wall.

As the mind projects at lightning speed what the eyes are about to see, the heart gets heavy and prepares to plummet from chest to some nether region below … instantly.

The same pre-apocalypse vibe that existed in each of the aforementioned cases looms within me now, only it is lasting longer and hitting home in more intense fashion as the Eagles’ move into a potential abyss goes in painstakingly slow, ship-sinking fashion.

Ah, yes, Thursday night’s expected drafting of Carson Wentz with the No. 2 pick in the NFL draft, the bane of Sam Bradford’s existence. Will that prove to be the franchise’s salvation or its doomsday?

For me, disaster is written all over this. Forget all the recent drama between Sammy Sleeves, agent Tom Condon and wheeling and dealing master in his own mind Howie Roseman of the Eagles, just focus on Wentz.

A veritable no-name a year ago. A fringe NFL prospect eight months ago. A top-5 quarterback five months ago. A first-round given four months ago. A top-3 QB certainty three months ago … and, now, a guarantee to go to the Los Angeles Rams at No. 1 overall Thursday night or to the Eagles right after – should they be so lucky with such a consolation.

Here’s hoping he ain’t the booby prize.

Seriously, let’s get real here …

There is very little to base all of the ballyhoo about Wentz. Aside from his size, solid arm and the “very good athlete for someone so big” statements from player-personnel pods seemingly placed on a never-ending tape loop for all to hear ad nauseam, what is there?

He wasn’t a dominant player in college. Even at a lower level. His numbers pale in comparison to others coming out this year at the same position who played at a higher level, and played longer, period, to boot.

He didn’t carry North Dakota State to back-to-back national championships. He was merely a cog in a well-oiled FCS machine that, in fact, has now won five straight titles.

He didn’t steal the show at the Combine or Senior Bowl. He held his own, showing that his size, solid arm and athleticism were NFL worthy.

But not No. 2 pick in the draft, at the cost of three starting players and three draft picks, worthy.

His meteoric rise is beyond any Hollywood-script realm. Heck, Roy Hobbs wasn’t as fast in becoming a sensation – and Wentz ain’t even technically in the proverbial “bigs” yet.

The Eagles’ investment in him, should he be their choice … well, it’s off the charts for a relative unknown in which preposterous, stretching all bounds of sanity links to justify it are being made.

This is not a repeat of Donovan McNabb going No. 2 to the Birds 17 years ago. The team never had to make a single transaction to move up to acquire him. He also was a known commodity. For years. At a higher level.

This is not Big Ben 2.0, either. For starters, Pittsburgh selected Ben Roethlisberger with the 11th pick back in 2004. For clinchers, he was a high-profile NFL prospect – yep, even with FBS low-level Miami of Ohio – for a full two years before he got drafted.

Joe Flacco? You know what, if Wentz is able to go back in time and carry his FCS squad into a title contest, OR if he grows a couple inches, packs on another 20 pounds and adds “bazooka” strength to his arm, get back to me.

The fear here is that the Wentz craze has gotten completely out of control, with the Eagles, headed by Roseman, totally wrapped up in it – much to their own eventual demise.

May have to close my eyes for this one.

Bradford supporters disappear
No doubt Eagles are entertaining
Let all the craziness commence
This man crush a bit outta control
Mixed feelings on move by Birds
Rams deal to get top pick in draft
Birds gotta do what they feel best
Draw your own conclusions

by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com

Won’t shed a tear if Sam Bradford leaves town.

Won’t waste a second on mentioning any merits with keeping him here.

Won’t suggest that he did anything while with the Eagles to deserve another snap, never mind season, to prove himself as something more than an incredibly average, injury-prone quarterback.

But, c’mon, Philly. Ya gotta get real with your beloved Birds … or yourselves.

Good against evil?

If you’re not with us you’re against us?

If you want to be an Eagle, that makes you a great player, but if you don’t, that makes you a sucky one?

Not for nothing, but the vast majority of those casting aspersions on Bradford now for expressing his desire to be traded were singing his praises just four, five months ago – when he was still the same old Sam he is now. Ever mediocre.

Frankly, have never witnessed a high-profile athlete in town receive more rationalizations and excuses for his performance – before, during and after it occurred.

Clearly, aside from a few Bradford diehards, that was representative of the overflowing hope that burns within fans, including those in the media. Hope solely for their Birds, that someone, anyone, could lead them somewhere, not any actual belief in Bradford.

That was silly then. This is silly now.

Bradford never deserved the support he got before, and he doesn’t deserve the exact opposite now.

Really, the guy should be fine that the team brought in the new coach’s pet to be – wink, wink – Bradford’s backup … he should be fine that the team wheeled and dealed its way up to the No. 2 pick in Thursday night’s first round of the NFL Draft in order to select Bradford’s successor … all after the team re-signed him under the guise that Bradford was “the man” and it would build up around him a bit and the two sides should revisit things in a couple years to see if they wanted to make this engagement a long-term marriage?

Oh, and the minute he shows any dissatisfaction with being misled, he should be summarily dismissed as a gutless loser who hasn’t done a damn thing … even by those kissing his ass as recently as last week?

Puh-leeze …

The bigger concern is that anyone was kissing Bradford’s ass at any point since he arrived in Philly. But let’s digress.
​
Think about this: the Eagles made a deal with Bradford less than two months ago that will pay him $36 million over the next two years to be their starting QB. Despite comments to the contrary, especially on Philly sportstalk radio right now, that is NOT “stopgap” type money. That is “we’re serious, but let’s hold off on tying the knot until we’re absolutely sure” type money.

Hell, they even put a timetable on it – two years, max.

Then they got their hearts swept away by someone else, and acted on it, hoping that a union with Carson Wentz will ultimately take place.

In short, they changed their mind and went after what they considered a better deal for their future.

Yet, people are PO’d that Bradford now wants the same for himself?

That’s like saying the husband is cool to start dating other women, but the wife shouldn’t even consider dating other men because they’re still under contract.

Me? Would be happy to drive Bradford to the airport for a permanent flight outta town. Never wanted him here in the first place.

But ripping the guy for having a normal, eye-for-an-eye, “human” response to being, as he feels, wronged, disrespected or lied to? Sorry, ain’t going there.

Eagles are entertaining
Let craziness commence
Man crush out of control
Mixed feelings on move up
Steered off Wentz scent?
​Gotta do what's best for them
Draw your own conclusions
There is no QB controversy
Definition of mediocrity
The Captain If Only brand
Fine as overpriced caretaker
Bradford debate still raging
Mourning loss of GM's mind
Franchise QB? Hardly
It's time to bail on this QB
Babying of Bradford unreal

by Jack Kerwin | ydkjack1@gmail.com

​It is fascinating theater.

The pampered and ever-privileged lead, always given the benefit of the doubt or an outright excuse to justify yet another bad performance, is once again provided reassurance, plus some added insurance, and starts to inhale a good portion of air.

Before an exhale can commence to complete that symbolic sigh of relief, though, the script undergoes a major rewrite, the stage gets revamped and, guess what, a new, wildly ballyhooed understudy is rumored to be joining the show and already has the producers’ hearts atwitter.

Not to mention, in this case, Twitter abuzz.

As the Eagles’ latest drama careens seemingly out of control into a telltale Thursday night viewing of NFL Draft 2016 first-round action, one thing appears to be certain: whether owner Jeffrey Lurie or de facto GM Howie Roseman is Gepetto doesn’t matter. Neither one has any idea what he’s doing.

Not trying to suggest the marionettes, er, players, run the asylum. Indeed, Lurie, Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson still hold the ultimate cards – contracts and playing time.

Thing is, incumbent starting quarterback Sam Bradford can huff and puff and push all he wants for a trade now that the team has parlayed two significant trades into the No. 2 overall pick a few evenings from now, with Roseman announcing to a roomful of reporters that, yes, the Birds would be using it to select a quarterback, and it means absolutely nothing.

Bradford has no leverage for, ummm, anything … and, frankly, what exactly is he hoping to achieve anyway?
​
Granted, get the fact that he feels misled, either directly or indirectly, with Roseman and Co. re-signing him to a two-year deal that reeked of an extended trial period for the Once Chosen One to prove himself as a “franchise QB,” as the guy to direct the organization from middle-of-the-pack status to a championship one.

But, fact of the matter is, nothing has changed. He’s still under contract, will receive a king’s ransom of $18 million for this season, and, get this, still has been named first-string QB – no matter what newly acquired backup Chase Daniel does this spring and summer or who the Eagles grab with that coveted initial pick, be it Carson Wentz, arguably the most distorted hype job in the history of the draft and the guy the Eagles truly want, or Jared Goff.

Spin it any way you want, though, and the reality is the Eagles botched things on the harmonious, team-unity front, and, oddly enough, it started with them bringing Bradford back into the fold – at a ridiculous price.

The veteran QB’s agent had floated out an obscene number to indicate what it would take to keep Bradford here, or have him lured anywhere else. Though the Birds got off “easy,” shaving a cool 7 mil off that initial demand, they didn’t exactly escape the obscene contract spectrum (that, basically, makes Bradford untradeable) … and then tossed more green on the fire by giving insane money to Daniel, too.

All with the intent, and expectation, of Bradford starting and Daniel filling in if ever need be.

Then the NFL started going gaga over a largely unknown and unproven prospect from North Dakota State, the Eagles got swept up in the commotion and the entire script was scrapped.

Frankly, it’s comical. The whole thing … and made even more so by the team thinking Bradford would be on board with taking a proverbial shiv to the back in keeping the Eagles somewhat respectable while Wentz or Goff rests comfortably in cocoon-like existence, waiting things out until it was safe again to take the field.

Funniest of all would be if all this fumbling and bumbling and stumbling actually sparked a fire in Bradford that allowed him to become the special player so many, including the Eagles, felt he was capable of being somewhere else while Wentz or Goff flopped here.

Likely, no. Fascinating, yes.

Hear the comparisons all the time.

He’s just like Joe Flacco.

He’s a carbon copy of Ben Roethlisberger.

He’s gonna be the next Tom Brady or Aaron Rodgers, depending on whether the speaker is seeking to link with the best ever or best right now.

But, really, for me, the guy North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz resembles more than any other in the NFL is Sam Bradford.

There it is, my greatest fear … revealed.

It’s not that Bradford sucks and that Wentz is destined to end up sucking right along with him. It’s just the hype is the same kinda outta control deal now for the latter as it was for the former back in 2010 – with two caveats: Bradford at least had a Heisman Trophy to call his own, and, statistically, he dominated at the level he played.

Yeah, got it. Wentz was the starter for two FCS-level national championship teams that capped off a five-year, title-winning run of excellence at North Dakota State. He also put up nice numbers: 5,115 yards, 45 TDs and 14 INTs in his Bison career.

But Bradford’s numbers (8,404 yards, 88 TDs and 16 INTs) dwarf those, and they came against tougher competition while directing FBS power Oklahoma.

Frankly, couldn’t stand Bradford in college. Thought he benefitted from playing with NFL talent all around him. So, to me, him being pushed as the No. 1 overall pick he eventually became in was ridiculous, and, thus far, his lackluster and injury-riddled career has proven me right.

The concern here is Wentz, essentially, is the same guy, winning as much due to those around him than anything he did … and, frankly, he has displayed even less in terms of production than Bradford did. A lot less.

But, you say, they’re different. Wentz is a big guy, and Bradford ain’t. He’s a better athlete, too.

Well, keep these facts in mind before completely latching onto those beliefs. Wentz measured 6-5, 237 pounds at the combine. Bradford, in 2010, checked in at 6-4 and 236. Wentz ran a 4.77 in the 40-yard dash. Bradford a 4.78.

Oh, and for the nitwits ad nauseam, including the NFL “experts,” who continuously claim Wentz in the second coming of Big Ben, only that he’s faster, consider this: Roethlisberger ran a 4.75.

Frankly, his arm doesn’t stack up with that belonging to the Steelers QB or Flacco, either. But it is similar to Bradford’s … a quality one, not special.

Yeah, sad irony is, the Eagles may dump Bradford … and then pick another him at No. 2 Thursday night.
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Football gods, say it ain’t so …