Update [2007-9-30 15:29:24 by BleedGreen]: As far as Giants injuries, starting RB Brandon Jacobs and backup RB Derrick Ward have both been ruled out of tonight's game according to ESPN. They will start Reuben Droughns in place of the two injured backs. WR Plaxico Burress has already said he'll play. On the Eagles front, the latest updates don't sound promising. PFT claims to a have a source that says "Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Brian Westbrook can barely move without experiencing abdominal pain. He is pressing hard to play, but coach Andy Reid is reluctant to let him."
As Andy would say... first, the injuries
TE LJ Smith as we know is out - He'll be missing his second straight game with Matt Schoebel and Brent Celek splitting time at TE in his absence.
LT William Thomas & CB Lito Sheppard are Doubtful - Both are very unlikely to play with Lito now missing his 3rd straight game. He'll be replaced by William James, if James himself is healthy. William Thomas(knee) will be replaced by last year's second round pick and presumably next year's starter Winston Justice.
CB William James(finger), FS Brian Dawkins & RB Brian Westbrook are Questionable - What I've been hearing is that there's a better chance Westbrook will play than Dawk, but both will basically be a game time decision. William James should apparently be starting, but he did only If Dawk doesn't go Quintin Mikell, who played fantastic last week in place #20, will take his spot again. If Westbrook can't go... well that's not good. Buckhalter, who has looked solid this year, will get his carries and rookie Tony Hunt would likely pick up a few more carries as well. If Buck was the starting RB, JR Reed would take over his duties as kickoff returner.
I spent most of yesterday over a friend's watching first the Mets v the Marlins and then the Phillies v Nationals hoping to see the Phils clinch the NL East... Unfortunately that was not in the cards. We also had the Rutgers v Maryland game in picture in picture and I saw my alma mater suffer their first defeat of the season. Had it not been for a win earlier that morning by my favorite adopted english soccer club, Liverpool, I may have been shut out yesterday!
Today will be yet another day filled with sports, but hopefully not heartbreak. It should go something like this...
9a - As of this writing I'm watching AC Milan of the Italian Serie A soccer league take on Catania. I don't really have a rooting interesting in this one, just thought it would ease me into the day.
11a - Head over to ESPN for Sunday NFL countdown
12p - Out to lunch. I'm not really interested in the Fox or CBS pregame show today, they'll just be previewing the games they show and probably won't mention the Eagles.
1p - It's over to baseball, Mets v Marlins. I could really care less about most of these early games. Dallas v Rams? Jets v Bills? Completely uninteresting. Dallas again will not play a team with a winning record... Instead, I'll be rooting for a great performance from one Dontrelle Willis.
1:30p - It's over to Phils v Nats. This will be my primary viewing interest with plenty of flipping over to the Mets game.
4p - Back to the NFL. By now, the Phils game should be over. Frankly, my prediction is that we'll see a one game playoff tomorrow night in Philly. It's what I thought going into this weekend and I still think it. There are a couple more interesting games on late in the NFL today, I'll be checking out the Seahawks @ 49ers & Broncos @ Colts.
7p - NBC's football night in America. I'll get myself a little recap of the days action and catch the preview of Eagles/Giants
8:30p - This one should be obvious... and no it's not the season premier of Desperate Housewives.
BTW feel free to use this as an open thread for today's early baseball/football action. You can also chat about the Phils over at The Good Phight.