Frankly, (Eagles defenders) had the opportunity to get off the field just as fast as Dallas defenders did ... and failed to do so. CHAT 'EM UP While the radio wars battle between the Fanatic’s Mike Missanelli and WIP’s Josh Innes has been so quiet of late you’d imagine a treaty had been reached, the two afternoon sportstalkers keep popping off on other things to their listeners. Sometimes even making sense. To wit … 1. Mikey Miss called out members of the Eagles’ defense for whining about being on the field too much, not to mention those who supported the whines as rational or reasonable or having merit. Reality is, his rip in this regard is regard and it’s astounding how the common sense of it escapes anyone who doesn’t grasp it. OK, the Eagles’ offense goes three-and-out on Sunday. Repeatedly. Series after series. Got it. In turn, that placed the Eagles’ defense out on the field quickly to face the Dallas O. It didn’t stop it. That isn’t on Sam Bradford and Co. The D didn’t do its job. If it matched what its counterpart for Dallas did, which was forced three-and-outs, then there wouldn’t have been an imbalance of plays in the Cowboys’ favor and, hence, Eagles defenders being on the field “too long.” Frankly, they had the opportunity to get off just as fast as Dallas defenders did … and failed to do so. Point to Miss, BIG TIME. 2. Innes hasn’t let up on the arrogance of Kelly and how ill-conceived the coach/GM’s gameday scheming and overall planning is, so much so that even his players may start to not have his back. I agree. On all counts. Whole heartedly. Kelly’s roster “revolution” in theory wasn’t such a bad idea, but his choices when doing it seem to be – mostly in whom he acquired and sometimes those he let go. It’s almost like he prefers hired guns prone to injury or not as good as their paychecks would suggest over battle-tested vets with an actual connection to the organization. Odd. Worse, he’s not as smooth and slick as he thinks he is in shielding himself from any blame. Players who are not succeeding, in Kelly’s system, within his “culture,” are not going to back him or avoid “saving themselves” the longer that continues to go. On the other hand … 3. M2’s constant condescending comments, or flat-out gripes of disbelief, to those who claim to have never fallen for the Kelly hype or were never on board with what he was doing … has to stop. The guy, clearly, was fooled into believing that stuff himself and just can’t accept the fact that someone, at least emotionally, was smart enough not to get wrapped up in All Things Chip. The afternoon host was one of the biggest proponents of Kelly coming here from the jump. He’s always railed on about the guy’s Xs and Os genius, his “pedigree,” his success in the college ranks – all, by the way, on display in abbreviated fashion and, frankly, at a level that M2 isn’t exactly qualified to play himself off as an “expert.” My guess, M2 always has been enamored by the guy’s arrogance more than anything else, and the fact he shows it with heavy hints of intelligence. Hmmm, sound like anyone else? | Just tossing it out there … While the rumors and innuendo and assorted suggestions were bound to arise about Ruler of Philadelphia Eagles Universe Chip Kelly’s imminent return to the college football stage, jumping, as expected, from off-the-cuff sort to hyperbolic rage following Sunday’s deathly, 20-10 loss at the hands of the Dallas Cowboys, another more likely possibility seems to be avoiding discussion. Sam Bradford’s disappearance. Oh, we’re not talking poor performance leading to a benching, or even the dreaded injury-forced sidelining. We’re talking retirement. Like soon. Maybe within weeks. Yeah, yeah, preposterous, right? Umm, not to me. If anything, he has that look of “it’s just not worth it anymore.” Kudos to WIP sports yakker Josh Innes for putting the hilarious take on it that Bradford has the appearance on the field, basically every time the camera pans to his eyes thus far this season, no matter where he seems to be, of someone who has just seen a UFO. That is a near-perfect description, encased in humorous, snicker-to-guffaw form. Good stuff. Funny. Only, laughing isn’t quite the result here since what I see is someone who is finished, that he’s checked out, that his heart just isn’t in it anymore. Oh, he’ll put effort into things. He’ll try. He’s a professional and, yeah, he has some pride and some skill. But this is something over and above that … the extra it takes to truly keep going all out, no-holds-barred style in a profession that requires such effort, desire, dedication and passion just to survive, never mind succeed. In many ways, a player at Bradford’s position have to be more fearless, or more capable of dealing with fear, than those at any other. As the guy with the ball in his hand most, he’s going to endure more hits, pregame, during game and postgame, and have more responsibility than anyone else in the organization, save for his coach, or in this, case, his genius ruler. Bradford, from what I can see, has a spirit no longer. It’s been broken. By injuries. By bad performances. By lack of help. By lack of protection. By seeing the dream of a super career that ranks among the all-timers in NFL QB lore fade quicker than memories of Jordan Matthews’ sure hands after another dropped pass. By considering retirement not that long ago before being talked out of it. Kelly, the talk of him leaving was expected … just as the unrelenting push to bring his reputed breaking-new-ground brilliance on board in the first place. I even think the suggested SEC landing-spot for Chipster – South Carolina – makes sense. Wouldn’t even be surprised if Steve Spurrier had satisfied his own ego enough to give way to Kelly’s more massive one. Of course, that would mean switching allegiances after all these years with Nike to its primary competitor, Under Armour, the official outfitter for Gamecocks athletics. But I digress … Point is, I got no vibe about Chip bailing, aside from the one which has me hoping he does. Never been a fan. His “system” and “culture” are hype, control-freak bluster and basic blandness covered in this mask of “he knows something you don’t” arrogance that had been confused by the masses for being smart and innovative. Why, I’m not really sure. Yes, he had success in college. He also stepped into an already great program that, again, the masses misread or did revisionist history work on, crafting this “he created a dynasty out of nothing” garbage. Kelly has soaked it all up, when he hasn’t been out there promoting it himself. For those of us who wouldn’t mind him heading out of town (and, frankly, never wished he came), don’t get your hopes up. If nothing else, Kelly has the confidence in himself, and the almost psychotic belief in his scheme, to hang in there against all the questions, all the naysayers, and, yes, even the unsightly examples of his own failings. Bradford, no. He’s not that kind of cat. He’s not a self-involved nutjob who can point fingers at others without actually been recognized for doing so. He’s a decent QB with vastly overblown, but decent, talent who happens to be a decent human being as well. He’s not going to inspire greatness at this point in his career because, well, he doesn’t have it in him himself anymore. At this point, he doesn’t need the game anymore. He’s made enough money to last several lifetimes. He’s an intelligent, well-spoken young man who, if the mood/need/itch struck to work, could succeed in many avenues, even, say, as a color analyst if he wanted to maintain that football connection. But he doesn’t need the game anymore, and, really, it doesn’t even seem that he wants it, either. - Jack Kerwin | [email protected] | UM, OH YEAHAnyone else miss it? You know, the news with the Phillies. BIG stuff. Not only will Pete Mackanin be back next season as manager, but Ryan Howard will be as innings/at-bats eater. Yep, uh-huh. Better better believe it, baybee. Zzzzzzzzzzz … Pardon me while my heart does NOT skip a beat, but, wow, never knew the Andy MacPhail regime could start off with such a splash … or resounding thud of dullness. Actually, I take that back. You ever listen to A-Mac? Holy cow, bring on the paint drying and let’s get this party started. Forget all the talking heads, and that really means the mindless drones who continue to support moves being made by the Phillies because they believe those moves are good based on one thing, those mindless drones hoping they are, speaking up about what positives are coming out of Citizens Bank Park now that Ruben Amaro is gone. The reality is, until the franchise really grasps the concept of “starting over,” or its prettier sister “rebuilding,” and makes a clean break from the past, it will be nothing more than the current standard of organizational flatlining. They’re not going up. Hell, they’re not even going down. They’re just dead. Yeah, yeah, Mackanin really “reached” the kids since taking over once Ryne Sandberg slinked out of town, never to be heard from again. Well, the Phils are 31-46 under his watch, following the 26-48 start under Ryno. Is it better? Um, maybe, but not when you consider the team is 10-34 under ol’ Pete in the last 44 games. As for Howard … what else is there to say? They’re anchored to him by a franchise-crippling contract. Then again, they don’t have to play him, but still plan to do so. That’s like trying to shock a flatline … with no electrical charge. Clear! … Zzzzzzzzz. |
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