:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/27485009/20140122_gav_al2_051.0.jpg)
Don't forget to follow the wonderful BGN writers on Twitter:
Brandon Lee Gowton - @BrandonGowton
Mike E. Kaye - @mike_e_kaye
James Keane - @JeromesFriend
Brent Cohen - @EaglesRewind
Mark Saltveit - @taoish
Josh Collacchi - @JoshCollacchi
BGN Radio - @BGN_Radio
Let's get to the links...
Let's stop saving the Pro Bowl - David Roth, SBN NFL
The NFL is entirely too violent and too self-important for an all-star game that works the way all-star games are supposed to. So maybe stop trying to make the Pro Bowl be that?
Some Draft Q&A - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
What about Trent Murphy as a fit for the Eagles? I get this every few days. Murphy plays OLB for Stanford, but he is a limited athlete. I don’t think he’s got the explosion to be the ROLB. I don’t think he has the cover skills to be the LOLB. You could see about bulking him up for DE, but Murphy is 6-6, 261. He’d need to add 25 pounds to be 3-4 DE size. Murphy is a great college player, but not a great pro prospect. He’s not even a good pro prospect. Some 4-3 team will give him a shot at DE. I’d love to see him end up with Lovie Smith (TB) or Rod Marinelli (DAL). Those guys put a premium on effort and would be a great fit for Murphy’s motor. I think Murphy has a major uphill battle to make it in the NFL. I hope he proves me wrong.
Different League, Same Package: How the Oregon Offense Ran Through the NFL in 2013 - Fishduck
Despite several reports to the contrary, the Chip Kelly Oregon offense is alive and well in the NFL! The Eagles’ offense we saw go up and down the field in South Philly this fall bore a strong resemblance to the Oregon offense I studied from 2008 to 2012. Operating out of the shotgun and rarely huddling, the Eagles led the league in rushing, were second in total offense, fourth in scoring and set an NFL record for explosive plays (of 20 yards or more) in one season. The ‘college offense’ (and coach!) who was predicted to fail at the highest level of football, instead enjoyed record-breaking success . . . and did so with an offense Oregon fans easily recognize.
Three Eagles Leftovers - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
The second point is about the Eagles’ expectations. Players and coaches preached "one day at a time" all season long, but the sense I got in Mobile is that the team felt it really had a chance to make a run. The Eagles thought the draw set up nicely for them. They liked their chances in Carolina against the Panthers and were hoping for a home matchup against the 49ers in the NFC title game. Of course, in the end, the two best teams made the NFC championship game. But the feeling among some Eagles players and coaches was one of disappointment, not accomplishment, following the loss to the Saints.
NFL's problem with underclassmen declaring for draft is getting bigger | The MMQB with Peter King
And it's only getting bigger. Due to the collective bargaining agreement in 2011, college players are eager to enter the NFL as soon as possible. The influx is negatively impacting the prospects and current players, with no end in sight.
Chip's Right: Players Drive NFL - Dave Spadaro, PE.com
Of the 1,700 or so players in the NFL, there are about 200 players still on the field, either preparing for the Pro Bowl or next Sunday's Super Bowl. The standouts play the longest
