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Film breakdown: Charting the Eagles' 48 sacks allowed: Part 4 - JimmyK, Philly.com
As we continue on with Part 4 of this series, we'll detail each sack allowed against the Vikings, Bears, Cowboys (2nd meeting), and Saints. The Eagles did not allow a sack in the Snow Bowl against the Lions. Here's the final tally of sack responsibility in the Eagles' 17 games in 2013.
Fall From Grace - Tommy Lawlor, Iggles Blitz
There was a time when Joe Banner was one of the most powerful men in the NFL. He came to the Eagles when Jeff Lurie bought the team back in 1994. Banner was an outsider that many thought would prove to be a failure, but he used brains and good business acumen to carve out a key role on one of the best teams in the league. The story is something straight out of the movies. The underdog that no one takes seriously proves to be brilliant and adept in his field. He figures out ways to be unconventional, but successful. People start to acknowledge the success and then steal his ideas. And then hubris sets in. The guy who worked so hard to make himself into something starts burning bridges and at some point finds himself left high and dry. That’s Joe Banner from 1994-2014.
Counting Down the Eagles’ Needs: No. 6, Wide Receiver - Andrew Kulp, The700Level
He’s slow, he has trouble beating press coverage and he had what amounts to three good games in 2013, but Philly fans sure do love themselves some Riley Cooper. Cooper emerged as a big-play threat once Nick Foles took over under center, going over 100 yards in three of five games and hauling in six of his eight touchdown passes for the season. Few in the Delaware Valley seemed to take notice when he didn’t have anywhere near that kind of impact over the final seven weeks though. Cooper’s high the rest of the way was 74 yards and he found the end zone just two more times.
Offseason outlook: Wide receivers - Zach Berman, Inquirer
I’d be surprised if No. 3 wide receiver Jason Avant returns to the Eagles, at least at his current contract figure. Avant’s value goes beyond statistics, and he's a strong voice in the locker room and the type of presence that teams need. But he had his worst statistical season since 2008 and his production does not merit $3.25 million – especially if the Eagles pay Maclin and/or Cooper big money.
Eagles Wake-Up Call: On Barwin’s Role - Sheil Kapadia, Birds 24/7
Barwin ended up being one of the Eagles’ best free-agent acquisitions. He provided leadership, energy and was by all accounts a great teammate. In terms of production, he was arguably the Eagles’ most consistent defender. The key word with Barwin is versatility. Using Pro Football Focus’ numbers, we looked at the 31 3-4 outside linebackers who played at least 500 snaps last year to see how often each was used in coverage. Among that group, only Buffalo’s Manny Lawson and the Jets’ Calvin Pace dropped with more frequency than Barwin.
Snow cancels Vick appearance, protest - Phil Sheridan, ESPN
Michael Vick's controversial appearance at an event in Raleigh, N.C., will not happen after all. Vick was scheduled to appear at the Evening of Champions, an annual event sponsored by the Raleigh Sports Council, on Wednesday night. The event was postponed until Feb. 27 because of a snowstorm forecast for the area. The Sports Council said on its website that Vick was not available for the rescheduled date: "We had hoped that our special guest interviewee, Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, would be available on the 27th but we have been advised that he can't be in Raleigh on that date due to a previously scheduled engagement."
Retired NFL Receiver Destroys Argument Against Gay Players - Huffington Post
Former NFL player Donte' Stallworth doesn't buy the argument that an openly gay player would be too distracting for an NFL team to be successful. In a series of tweets, the retired wide receiver responded to the suggestion -- floated by former NFL coach Herm Edwards -- that intense media attention may discourage teams from drafting gay players. "Can the players handle the media attention they are going to get when they get the question asked, 'Are you okay with a gay teammate?'" Edwards asked in an ESPN interview Sunday night. Stallworth, who last played for the New England Patriots, didn't mince words. If a team can't handle the media scrutiny of drafting a gay player, he wrote, "Your team is already a loser on the field."
Ray Rhodes, Hiring Guru - Tommy Lawlor
Ray Rhodes was not a perfect coach, but he had quite a track record of surrounding himself with smart people. Did you know that Ray has a coaching tree?
Richie Incognito feud with Jonathan Martin turns ugly - SB Nation NFL
There is no clear reason why Richie Incognito picked the middle of the afternoon on Wednesday, Feb. 12, a day as innocuous as any on the calendar, to take to Twitter and send out a string of tweets against Jonathan Martin. Incognito is unhappy with his former teammate, that we knew. Whatever precipitated the tirade -- bad news, restlessness or anything -- led to this ...
