Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...
Randy Gregory suffered relapse in August, might face discipline from NFL - ESPN
Dallas Cowboys defensive end Randy Gregory, who played in his first regular-season game since 2016 on Sunday, suffered a substance abuse relapse last month that the NFL could rule on as early as this week, league sources told ESPN. Sources in Dallas thought the league would decide whether to discipline Gregory last week, before Sunday’s regular-season opener against the Carolina Panthers, but the league still is studying the case and factoring in the steps that Gregory has taken over the past month since his setback. Gregory suffered a concussion in the second quarter Sunday and didn’t return to the game.
One last chance to get a Philly Special shirt! - BGN
In honor of the new “Philly Philly” statue featuring Doug Pederson and Nick Foles at Lincoln Financial Field, our friends over at BreakingT decided to restock their Philly Special shirts for our great BGN readers!
An Ode to Dak - BGN Radio
Brandon Lee Gowton and Michael Kist have a casual Sunday chat about the day that was. Dak Prescott was bad, the Giants offensive line is limiting the offense, and the Redskins look like numero dos in the East. Plus discussions on the impact of the Panthers’ injuries and the Patrick Mahomes Experience!
Wentz Update - Iggles Blitz
GPS data? That only comes from the coach or GM. I guess someone on the Sport Science staff could leak the info, but they would be risking their job. Most likely this is Doug or Howie leaking the info to control the narrative and also to punish Ian Rapoport, the insider for the NFL Network. Rapoport has broken a couple of stories about Wentz’s comeback and Pederson has not been happy about those. No better way to get at him than to leak a story to an insider from ESPN.
Week 1: On Seven-Hour Games, Undefeated Browns and the Greatest Game Aaron Rodgers Ever Played - FMIA
Take a bow, Howie Roseman, for realizing how important the offensive and defensive lines are. The Eagles GM built great depth especially on the defensive front (Michael Bennett, Haloti Ngata, Chris Long) at the expense of offensive skill players.
Aaron Rodgers’ Magic Caps a Wild First Sunday - MMQB
What I liked about the Eagles on Thursday: It was ugly for a while, and they rode their defense, until the offense got the running game in gear, and they just found a way—which illustrates how they’re a team that wins by a lot of different means. That’s a great sign for Philly, and coach Doug Pederson agreed when I asked him about it on Thursday. “There are a lot of ways to win a football game. That’s a great thing, because until all three phases catch up and click, it’s great to see the defense step up, and it’s great to see the offense make some plays in the second half, the special teams cover some kicks, [punter] Cam [Johnston] kicked the heck out of the football tonight. It’s coming. it’s a slow process, but we’ve got some time and we’ll keep working.”
Film and numbers: Takeaways from the Eagles’ Week 1 defensive performance - The Athletic
The key to the game was the Eagles’ pressure on Ryan — both with the front four and timely blitzes. Schwartz blitzed on 12 of 49 passing plays, or 24.5 percent of the time. When Schwartz sent five or more rushers, Ryan was 4-for-10 for 73 yards, an interception and two sacks. He averaged 4.8 net yards per pass play when the Eagles blitzed and had a passer rating of 26.3. Two particular blitzes stood out. The first came on a third down in the second quarter. Schwartz brought Hicks through the A-Gap against Devonta Freeman. It’s great when blitzes produce free rushers, but that doesn’t always happen. Here, Hicks had to beat the running back. He unloaded on Freeman and then finished with the sack.
First Look: Tampa Bay Buccaneers - PE.com
Dave Spadaro and Brian Westbrook look ahead to next week’s opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and reveal some of their early thoughts on the matchup.
DeSean Jackson injury update: Buccaneers WR suffers concussion - Sporting News
Jackson will now enter the concussion protocol and face a race against time to get cleared before next week’s game against the Eagles.
Birth and rebirth for Eagles LB Jordan Hicks - Inquirer
During the Eagles opening win over Atlanta last Thursday, linebacker Jordan Hicks could not, and was not allowed to, stop playing football. After it was over, he couldn’t stop smiling. “Being a part of it and feeling the win…it’s been in my mind for a long time. It’s special to be back on the field,” Hicks said, and then he said it again. “It’s special.” Hicks is one of the group of players – a group that includes Darren Sproles, Jason Peters and Chris Maragos – that missed the final chapters of the Eagles storybook Super Bowl tale. They were part of it, even though sidelined by injury, and they celebrated it, and they received rings for it, but they didn’t get to feel it. Not how it was to be out there and fight for the championship and feel it. “When you’re (playing), you take it for granted. Making plays on third down and making sacks and interceptions, just regular plays, you take those things for granted,” Hicks said. “Having the ability now to get back out here and have fun and celebrate and have passion, no matter the situation, it just feels good.”
Roob’s 10 random stats from Eagles-Falcons, Week 1 - NBCSP
Peters on Thursday night became the Eagles’ oldest opening-day starter in 38 years and fourth-oldest ever. Peters was 36 years and 227 days old when the Eagles beat the Falcons, 18-12, at the Linc, making him the Eagles’ oldest starter since guard Woody Peoples started the 1980 opener against Broncos at the Vet at 37 and 22 days. The only older opening-day starters in Eagles history are Chuck Bednarik for the 1962 opener against the Chicago Cardinals at Franklin Field [37, 135] and Vic Lindskog [36, 297] for the 1951 opener against the Chicago Cardinals at Comiskey Park.
The Winners and Losers From NFL Week 1 - The Ringer
Loser: Cowboys kicker who isn’t Dan Bailey. The Cowboys made one of the more surprising cuts of the NFL preseason when they decided to release kicker Dan Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history. They cut him in favor of Brett Maher, who graduated from Nebraska in 2013 and has failed to make a roster in each of the five seasons since. He did play in the CFL, making last year’s CFL East All-Star team … as a punter. Last year, he tried to make the Browns but got cut in favor of Zane Gonzalez, who was 29th in the league in accuracy. Maher made his NFL debut Sunday. He got to attempt one field goal. He missed it. Bailey had declined in recent years, and Maher’s field goal was a 47-yarder, which isn’t exactly a chip shot. But Maher’s Cowboys career will be an attempt not to be thought of as The Guy Who Isn’t Dan Bailey. He’s also missing on that attempt.
Refocused, NFL Week 1: Carolina Panthers 16, Dallas Cowboys 8 - PFF
The Cowboys were unable to get much going for three quarters on offense as only Cole Beasley hauled in over 30 yards and the Cowboys had to fight for every yard. Seemingly no receiver looked capable of making a play downfield. The Cowboys offensive line without Travis Fredrick struggled to be its dominant self and the problems at right tackle and left guard were still an issue as Connor Williams was clearly outmatched in his debut game at guard.
Who was that guy posing as Sean Lee in the Cowboys loss to Carolina? - Blogging The Boys
A curious thing happened during the Dallas Cowboys loss to the Carolina Panthers on Sunday. There was a linebacker on the field for Dallas wearing #50, but that was the only resemblance he had to the player we know as Sean Lee. It was almost as if an undrafted rookie had kidnapped Lee, stolen his uniform and made his way onto the field. All kidding aside, this might have been the worst game any Cowboys fan has seen Sean Lee play. [BLG Note: Maybe it has to down with Sean Lee being 32 years old and having an extensive injury history.]
Giants vs. Jaguars: 6 things we learned - Big Blue View
Eli is in serious danger. Manning was sacked twice. The official NFL stats have him being hit six times. He was under pressure constantly. The Giants went from taking a number of deep shots early in the game to throwing more short, quick routes as the game wore on. Take out the spectacular 68-yard run by Saquon Barkley, most of which he did on his own by breaking three tackles, the Giants rushed for 46 yards on their other 22 attempts, 2.09 yards per attempt. There were 6 runs for no gain or negative yardage.
Monken calls plays, Tampa Bay has flawless offensive performance - Bucs Nation
The question was whether Koetter was willing to set aside his ego and turn play calling over to his offensive coordinator Todd Monken, who was previously the head coach of Southern Miss. It’s not that anyone thought or knew Monken was better than Koetter at calling plays, or even good at it, just that it was obvious Koetter was not, or that he was too resistant to change. So it was a pleasant surprise when it was announced that Monken would call plays in the preseason. While it was a gamble for Koetter, it was also a big admission, and one that could not have been easy to make. It paid off in a good way during the preseason, and the Bucs’ offense, and especially their quarterbacks, played lights-out football. It was obvious to everyone watching what needed to happen.
Arizona Cardinals blown out in season opening loss to Washington Redskins - Revenge Of The Birds
Yet, despite the accuracy and carefulness we heard about throughout the offseason, Sam Bradford was nothing short of brutal in his debut. Bradford finished 20/34 for 153 yards no touchdowns, one interception and one fumble. 4.5 yards per attempt is not ideal for a quarterback.
Herm Edwards wins big, Chip Kelly loses big on Saturday - PFT
For Kelly, Saturday’s loss was ugly, but an ugly loss to a national title contender like Oklahoma is excusable. Less excusable was that Kelly’s team lost at home to Cincinnati a week earlier. On paper, the home game against Cincinnati should have been the easiest game on UCLA’s schedule. If Kelly’s guys can’t win one, it’s hard to think they’ll win many games this season.
SMQB: My Patience With UCLA Football Is Being Slowly Chipped Away - Bruins Nation
On one hand, like so many of you, I’m starting to question whether we were wrong for wanting Chip Kelly so badly. I’m growing more and more disillusioned with the UCLA Bruins offense with each possession. For all the talk we heard from Chip Kelly about running an offense based on his available personnel, it just doesn’t feel like he’s doing that so far to this point. It feels more like he’s trying to fit a square peg through a round hole by running the ball as much as UCLA has.
The Bears gave Aaron Rodgers a chance for a comeback, and he pulled it off ... on one leg - SB Nation
What else would you expect from the best quarterback in the NFL?
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