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Everyone who keeps saying the Eagles are making the playoffs... please re-read below. Pay specific attention to the bolded text.

The Eagles won't make the playoffs in 2011.
I guarantee it.
 

NoShame

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You don't see how a north of 30 5'11", 195 QB with a propensity towards scrambling, or a 160lb (if that) receiver are more likely to suffer injuries?

Really?

It hasn't happened yet. We can only go on what we know. And what we know is that neither of the two are injury prone. So I don't see how we can sit here and say its some kind of formality and bound to happen.

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm waiting for a safety to get one good hit on DeSean and I HOPE it breaks him in half.
 

Bob Sacamano

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yeah but it's kind of like the Seattle playoff game - terrible corners, but because they knew JJRobot and Co. weren't going to gash them they could just sit back and play coverage all day.

Unless even that can't stop the Dez...

Except for we didn't test their corners that game.
 
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The holdout got the spotlight, but Maclin's unknown illness may prove more important.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - At some point before the end of training camp, the Eagles will announce that team president Joe Banner and player agent Drew Rosenhaus have agreed on a contract extension for wide receiver DeSean Jackson.

Terms will not be disclosed but will immediately be leaked to the media, and life with Jackson will return to normal, or whatever the reasonable facsimile of normal is when you're dealing with a young man who is very talented and very accomplished but not as much of either as he believes


In the world of everyday employees, Jackson would have to abide by the terms of his present contract, which is in its last year and will pay him a base salary of $565,000. In the world of the NFL, where leverage is everything and guys like Jackson aren't found on the waiver wire, he has the muscle to elicit a better deal, and that is what the dance of the last two weeks is all about.

Before we get to the point when the contract is reworked, however, there will have to be some tedious but unavoidable dramatics of the kind that played out on Monday at Lehigh. Jackson ended his 11-day absence from camp and returned with a full entourage of publicity handlers, family, agent's assistants and - roll in the klieg lights, open the door to the Caddy, cue the tacky fashion consultant - Drew Rosenhaus!

The agent showed up for the afternoon walk-through, accompanying Jackson's first appearance on the practice field, and was promptly shooed away by general manager Howie Roseman. The Eagles don't allow agents on the field, apparently, and Rosenhaus had to get behind a barricade on the far side of the complex, mingling with actual fans and pretend-talking on the phone, until that became tiresome and he got back in his car to wait it out.

Jackson had to come back on Monday or he would lose a year of service toward free agency. The Eagles are even money to forgive the fines Jackson might have incurred during his holdout, but the service time isn't a chip the NFL will return, so the receiver had to show up.

What did the holdout accomplish? Well, it kept him out of practice in the hot sun for 10 days. He didn't get hurt. He let the Eagles know he wasn't happy, as if that was a shock. Otherwise, not that much.

"At the end of the day I have to be a professional. I can't cry. I can't moan about it," Jackson said. "I think my game speaks enough for everything. The only thing I can really control is playing in between the white lines. I can't control contracts, I can't control anything else."

Not that he didn't try. But assuming Rosenhaus and the Eagles can come to a reasonable middle ground, the contract will take care of itself and the drama can resume its previous course. Any time will be fine, fellas.

Meanwhile, away from the television lights and the noise, the real issue with the Eagles' receiving game is still a question mark and it might take more than money to solve it.

Jeremy Maclin has been in camp for a week but still hasn't been on the practice field. The team says he has an "illness," but won't divulge its nature. Maclin was sick in April with a mononucleosis-like illness and lost 15 pounds. It isn't known if the effects of that are lingering, but as recently as Sunday, head coach Andy Reid said Maclin was still undergoing tests.

It's a mystery and Maclin is entitled to his privacy, but there is at least as much at stake in getting him back on the field as in getting Jackson back. Last season, Maclin led the team in wide-receiver receptions with 70, catching 60 percent of the passes in which he was targeted, and in touchdowns, with 10. Jackson had 47 receptions, catching 48 percent of the passes in which he was targeted and had six touchdowns.

There's no denying Jackson's season was more explosive. He averaged 22.1 yards per catch, highest in the league among the top receivers, and racked up a total of 1,056 yards as a result. He was the only receiver among the top 25 yardage leaders in the NFL with fewer than 50 catches.

There are two ways to look at that production, and those points of view will be represented by Mr. Rosenhaus and Mr. Banner in their contract chats. Either it represents a super-human ability to break long gains, or it represents a freak season that probably won't be duplicated.

And on the other side of the field, steady as a metronome as he quietly ticked off receptions, Maclin became the go-to guy when the Eagles absolutely needed a catch. Jackson wouldn't have had the season he enjoyed without Maclin opposite him to keep the safeties honest.


So, if you want to worry about the one guy and hang on every twist in the dramatic saga of Jackson's return, that's fine. Holdouts and Drew Rosenhaus are always a good diversion. But that one will work out eventually.

Elsewhere, though, away from the lights, the Eagles aren't even sure they know the question, let alone the answer. The days pass by and Jeremy Maclin still isn't on the field. There's no way to renegotiate that.
 
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Brother says Jeremy Maclin is 'fine', announcement coming Tuesday

8/15/2011 2:24:40 PM | More

Jeremy Maclin’s “mysterious illness” will be more clearly defined Tuesday, according to an older brother of the Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver.

“When I say definitely, we definitely will have some news tomorrow,” Andre Maclin told Steve Greenberg of the Sporting News.

“That’s when we find out exactly what’s going on and when (the Maclin camp) will address it and talk.”

---------

Well... that sucks.
 
C

Cr122

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Well... that sucks.

Yeah it does. Plus, Steve Smith told Sirius radio today that he'll be ready for the opener.

If Jackson and Maclin weren't enough to defend, now we have to watch out for Smith too?

Damn...
 
C

Cr122

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Anyone watching NFL Countdown with ESPN?

Parcells said don't anoint the Eagles yet. Where have we heard that before? :awkward
 
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Was listening to the Steve Czaben show on my way in to work. They had Paul Domovich (sp?) from one of the local Philly newspapers in. Here's some of what he said:

  • Vince Young looked good against Baltimore, but that he has been pretty bad in practice. He doesn't know the playbook yet.
  • If something happened to Vick early in the year, the team would have a tough decision to either go with Young or Kafka. Kafka knows the playbook back and forth, but doesn't have much of an arm.
  • Asante still might get traded. If he doesn't, then the Eagles will likely trade or release Julio Hansen.
  • Washburn has been someone for Juan Castillo to lean on as he's transitioning to DC. But Juan is still going to be faced with dificult decisions on gameday, and no one knows how he'll handle that.
  • Mike Vick wore down at seasons end last year when teams kept blitzing them. It'll be interesting to see how teams play Vick early in the year.
  • Philly only got 15 sacks the last 8 games of the season. They didn't have a good Dline coach. Washburn is very good. The hope is the addition of him, as well as Babin and Jenkins improves that.
  • Still no word on Maclin, but that should be resolved soon. Hasn't practiced all off season.
  • Steve Smith won't be ready to practice until mid to late September. Depending on how his micro-fracture surgery takes, he likely won't be much of a contributor until late in the year.
 
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No word yet on Jeremy Maclin

8/17/2011 9:40:11 AM | More


Despite a report that there would be an announcement on Jeremy Maclin's unidentified illness, neither the Eagles nor the Maclin family had issued an update on the wide receiver's condition as of Tuesday night according to Jeff McLane and Jonathan Tamari of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said during a radio interview that the team expected Maclin to return from St. Louis "shortly" and rejoin the team.

He did not say anything about the wide receiver's being able to practice, nor did he say he would be ready by the start of the season, although Eagles coach Andy Reid has said he was optimistic about Maclin playing by Week 1.

"We totally anticipate Jeremy being part of our football team," Roseman said on 97.5 the Fanatic. "We anticipate him being back here shortly, with us when we get back to NovaCare."
 
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McClane: 10 Things Learned During Eagles Training Camp

Link

BETHLEHEM, Pa. - Eagles training camp 2011 was all about learning.

Defensive players learned a new, simplified scheme from first-time coordinator Juan Castillo, who in turn had to learn a new coaching position.

Offensive linemen had to adapt to new offensive line coach Howard Mudd's more instinctive, primal blocking methods.

With new defensive line coach Jim Washburn bringing his "wide-nines" approach to the pass rush, the defensive ends had to grasp a new way to get after quarterbacks.

Rookies, without the benefit of spring minicamps because of the NFL lockout, had lots of learning to do - on the field, in team meetings, and with the playbook.

And with live hitting limited at camp and afternoon practices about as strenuous as lying on the couch, coach Andy Reid and his assistants essentially took the chalkboard out of the classroom and onto the field.

But what did we - after camp broke Tuesday - learn about an Eagles team that departed Lehigh University with sky-high aspirations?

Here are 10 answers:

Vick was the right choice at quarterback. There still are legitimate concerns about Vick's ability to pick up the blitz and become less reliant on his legs. But he came into camp in great shape, devoted to improving his blitz pickup, and willingly has shouldered the role of leader. The Eagles are committed to signing Vick to a long-term contract. Getting a deal done before the start of the season would be a wise good-faith gesture.

This roster is as deep as any under Reid. Plenty can happen before the season opener Sept. 11 in St. Louis, but the team that heads to Pittsburgh on Thursday for its second preseason game and then relocates its operations to the NovaCare Complex on Saturday is loaded at several key positions. There are seven legitimate cornerbacks competing for five roster spots, six defensive ends vying for five places, seven receivers challenging each other for five spots, and on and on.

Relying on a pair of rookie kickers could create growing pains. It would be near paranoia to suggest that kicker Alex Henery's inconsistency in camp and punter Chas Henry's shanked punt in the first preseason game mean they will fail this season. The Lehigh fields were a soggy mess on many days, and Henry's 28-yard boot against the Ravens was nowhere near as bad as Sav Rocca's worst. But when has a team with valid Super Bowl hopes ever gone into the season with rookie kickers?

DeSean Jackson won't let his contract situation distract him from having a monster season - we think. It's almost as if he didn't hold out for 11 days. Since reporting to camp more than a week ago, Jackson has done everything the Eagles could have asked. He's been phenomenal on the field and forward-looking in his interviews. But what happens if the mercurial receiver doesn't get a new contract by, say, midseason? It's a fair question.

The Eagles trio of superstar cornerbacks needs a nickname. They're that good. Nnamdi Asomugha, Asante Samuel, and Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie each had spectacular moments in camp. While getting all three on the field at the same time remains something to watch - as does a potential Samuel trade - fans should enjoy a threesome as special as the Three Amigos.

We still don't know about Casey Matthews. It was a long shot that three weeks of camp and one preseason game would give an accurate reading on the rookie middle linebacker. Matthews hasn't embarrassed himself. But his size (6-foot-1, 232 pounds) and inexperience make handing him the starting job a risky proposition.

The addition of Washburn is paying off. The Eagles have rotated ends for years, but never with as much frequency as Washburn has. He has brought intensity to the position that was lacking in previous seasons and he even has an undersize former CFL end in Phillip Hunt and a would-be rookie bust in Daniel Te'o-Nesheim raising eyebrows.

Right tackle is still a major concern. For a brief moment - all of one week - the Eagles appeared to have found their starting right tackle in Ryan Harris. But the free-agent signee injured his back against Baltimore and, well, we know how it goes with offensive linemen who have chronic back problems (see: Shawn Andrews). Winston Justice appears to be getting closer to a return after off-season knee surgery, but he hasn't even had time to work with Mudd in practice. And right now, King Dunlap is the protector of Vick's blind side. Enough said.

Two of the three starting interior offensive linemen may be rookies. Top pick Danny Watkins appears locked in at right guard, which wouldn't be a major concern if he had veterans at his side. But fellow rookie Jason Kelce is making a major push to supplant Jamaal Jackson as the starting center. He may be better than Jackson and may be a better fit for Mudd's idea of an athletic center, but is it prudent to hand him the job so soon?

Reid has two seasons to win a Super Bowl. That's it. He may have said Tuesday that "expectations are always high," but not as high as they are after an "all in" approach to free agency. Reid has three years remaining on his contract. He won't see the third without a Lombardi Trophy.
 

Maveric

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Offensive line and linebackers: the two weak points that everyone has pointed out so far mentioned again here. Really bad spots to have weak points imo; I'm not nearly as sold on this team as a lot of the "experts" are.
 
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Jeremy Maclin had cancer scare. Healthy and cleared to play.

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
Just spoke w Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin, who said he's been cleared to play finally after months of tests for Lymphoma, type of cancer

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
Maclin told me final test came back today after he got a scare on his bday May 11th. Had lymph nodes removed last week

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
Told me he's totally fine and was a virus that has left his body and expects to return once he recovers from last week's procedure.

Jay_Glazer Jay Glazer
Full interview being posted shortly on foxsports.com
 
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Even though he's healthy, you can't tell me him not practicing or likely even working out isn't going to negatively affect his game this year.
 
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mortreport Chris Mortensen
As expected, good news for Jeremy Maclin. Sources say he's cleared final tests & series of exams . No lymphoma, no cancer, no leukemia!
 

lons

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The Eagles seem poised to either make the Super Bowl or make the Jersey Shore Series look like a British Comedy.
 

dbair1967

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He's reportedly lost alot of weight. Might be a month or two before he is really back up to 100%
 
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Jeremy Maclin will be able to practice in 7-10 days

8/17/2011 6:53:36 PM | More


Philadelphia Eagles trainer Rick Burkholder via Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News said "I feel pretty safe" to say that Jeremy Maclin can play in St. Louis on opening day, Sept. 11. "That's our goal."

The Eagles knew he was going to have laproscopic surgery on the lynmph nodes, which is why he returned to St. Louis last week. Maclin and the Eagles were then waiting for the results of the tests.

Burkholder said Maclin will be able to practice in 7 to 10 days, if there are no setbacks following the procedure. He will be able to rejoin the team this weekend for rehab.
 
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