Eagles News: Kenny Pickett grew up as a big Birds fan

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DAN PATRICK: Favorite quarterback growing up?

KENNY PICKETT: Donovan McNabb. I was a big Eagles fan.

DAN PATRICK: Did you meet him?

KENNY PICKETT: I met him once at a kind of fan fair, I got some pictures. I was like six or seven years old, so it was back in the day.

DAN PATRICK: Do you remember what it was like, that feeling?

KENNY PICKETT: I do. I was a huge Eagles fan. I used to go to the games with my dad all the time. It took like an hour-and-a-half drive from my house. And we grew up big Eagles fans. That one famous game against Green Bay and Brett Favre, I was at that game. Back in I think like 2005, maybe. So, yeah, it’s way back.

DAN PATRICK: The Eagles have three first-round picks there, Kenny.

KENNY PICKETT: They do. They do.

Weapon X Mailbag: Should Jalen Reagor lose his special teams roles? - BGN
Gordon sent this email before Sunday’s game against the Jets. He knew something bad was going to happen! Jalen Reagor muffed a punt while also reading a kickoff terribly, assuming it was going to bounce into the end zone before it stayed in play, giving the Eagles the ball at their own six. Not great! Boston Scott received the opening kick of the second half following the mistakes. I’m of two mindsets when it comes to Reagor’s involvement on special teams. My first is that when he fields a punt, I find myself screaming, “GO DOWN! JUST GO DOWN!” instead of dealing with the anxiety of him repeatedly running sideways and the fear that he’s going to fumble the ball or have some other gaff. The other is that they need something, ANYTHING, to give his flailing career a spark. Would a huge punt return leave him inspired and more engaged offensively? He’s made a few nice returns over the last two years, but the headaches are increasingly adding up and I’m sure they’re infuriating the team as much as they’re infuriating the fan base.

Odds and End Zones #11 - Minshew Mania and Playoff Vibes - BGN Radio
Shamus and Zo discuss Minshew Mania, the Eagles’ path to the postseason, Jets game bets and more on this week’s episode on BGN Radio!

Eagles mailbag: Five pleasant surprises this season, and five disappointments - PhillyVoice
WR Jalen Reagor: Reagor is the obvious No. 1 choice here, as he has done more harm than good in his second season in Philly after the Eagles selected him in the first round of the 2020 draft. Some receivers take a few years to mature and grow into productive players, but what is especially troubling about Reagor is that he had a disappointing rookie season, and then somehow regressed in Year 2.

NFC East roundtable: Where the Cowboys, WFT and Eagles stand entering division-heavy finish - The Athletic
Berman: With four games against NFC East opponents to finish the season after this weekend’s bye, the Eagles have a realistic chance to earn a wild-card spot. Given early-season expectations (their over/under was 6.5), it’s a surprise they’re even in the conversation. The Eagles should be able to beat the Giants in Week 16. The key will be what happens in two games against Washington. If the Eagles are swept by Washington, they can forget about the playoffs. If they sweep Washington, they can likely make plans for the playoffs. A more realistic expectation is to split those games and take an 8-8 record into a Week 18 game against Dallas. At that point, it might depend on the Cowboys’ circumstances. A Cowboys team that needs a win for seeding purposes would be tougher to beat than a team resting starters. If the Eagles host a win-and-in season finale against Dallas, one can bet that Lincoln Financial Field will be a tough place for an opponent to visit. The Eagles should hope they’re playing in a Week 18 relevant game and then take their chances at home.

10 things Howie Roseman got right in 2021 - NBCSP
1. The Dolphins trade and DeVonta: The 2021 draft overall is looking like possibly Roseman’s best, and the centerpiece is DeVonta Smith, who despite just 37 yards the last two weeks is enjoying an outstanding rookie year. Smith has 50 catches for 701 yards and four touchdowns in 13 games, which puts him on pace for an Eagles rookie record 917 yards. But more than the numbers is just that Smith gives the Eagles a true WR1 for the first time in a decade. Of course, the Eagles wouldn’t have needed Smith if Roseman had drafted Justin Jefferson instead of Reagor or Terry McLaurin instead of J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. But at least he finally got a WR right. And he snagged a 2022 1st-round pick from the Dolphins along the way.

‘I sleep next to it’: From mom’s house to undisclosed locations, here’s where NFL players keep their Heismans - ESPN+
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (Oregon, 2014) said his trophy is at his parents’ house in Hawaii. The newest Heisman winner, Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (Alabama) said his award is with him in Philadelphia. “It’s just sitting in a room with all the rest of the trophies and stuff,” Smith said. “I’m trying to find a way to get all that put together, find somewhere to put that.”

Darius Slay nominated for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award - PE.com
Don’t call him Darius. Do call him the Eagles’ nominee for the Art Rooney Sportsmanship Award. The NFL announced on Thursday the 32 nominees for the distinguished honor, which recognizes players around the league who exemplify outstanding sportsmanship on the field. The award was created in 2014 in honor of the late founding owner of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pro Football Hall of Famer Art Rooney, Sr. All-Pro cornerback Darius Slay presents himself as a confident, fun-loving player during his press conferences, but that belies his value in the locker room. Slay is one of the most liked, most respected teammates in the NovaCare Complex with a resume befitting an elite talent who has been among the best at his position for nearly a decade. Since entering the league in 2013 as a second-round pick, no player has more pass deflections than Slay’s 117.

NFL Week 14 Playoff Picture: Playoff & division title implications for all 14 games - PFF
Washington was the sexy preseason underdog to win a division, and their odds went from +400 to around +150 before the season opener. After starting 2-6 and being left for dead, they are now back in it and have an almost a one-in-three chance to make their bettors happy with a win. This line opened at WAS +5, but bettors have liked the Football Team so far.

Cowboys news: Coach Mike McCarthy’s confidence in a win on Sunday causes a stir - Blogging The Boys
A head coach having confidence in his team shouldn’t be a shock, but when its rivalry week everything gets magnified. “We’re going to win this game,” McCarthy stated Thursday. “I’m confident in that.” “What am I supposed to say?” McCarthy asked, via the Dallas Morning News’ Michael Gehlken. “I fully expect to win every game I’ve ever competed in.”

Three key matchups to watch in Sunday’s Dallas Cowboys vs. Washington Football Team game - Hogs Haven
If you let the Cowboys community tell it, McCarthy is about to coach the most significant game to date of his Cowboys tenure. Rivera is in the same state as McCarthy in a way. While Washington won the division last year, 2020 was a wacky season in the NFC East. Each team sucked. This year, the Cowboys and Eagles are worthy divisional foes, and Washington has to play each of them twice. While Washington has won four straight games, Rivera’s name will hold much more weight if he continues to take care of business within the division, especially when the division is competitive. 5-2 overall in the NFC East is an impressive start to his tenure in Washington, but can he add to his solid start? The true test begins with Mike McCarthy, who, according to Rivera, may have already made his first mistake in preparing for this game.

Russell Wilson rumors: BBV staff discusses potential trade to New York Giants - Big Blue View
Yes, you can re-structure Wilson’s deal. That’s not going to be nearly enough to get under the cap, though. The Giants already have hard choices to make. Trade for Wilson, you can say goodbye to Sterling Shepard, Jabrill Peppers, Evan Engram, Kyle Rudolph and probably Blake Martinez and James Bradberry, too. Maybe more. So, you would have little premium draft capital and would have to gut your roster of veteran talent. Would you really want to do that? Would Wilson really want to come to New York if he knew the team would have to be gutted to fit him in? I don’t see it.

Breaking Down the Future of Five NFL Coaches on the Hot Seat - The Ringer
Giants fans should have known they were in trouble the moment that Judge hired Jason Garrett to run the offense. You know, the same Jason Garrett who was fired as the Cowboys head coach largely because he clung to an outdated offense that doesn’t fit the modern NFL. New York needed an offensive mind who could get the most out of a quarterback who gets worse the longer he holds the ball and a dynamic but somewhat unorthodox group of skill-position players. Garrett might have been the worst possible candidate for that job. One more thing: Even though Judge has a background as a special teams coach, the Giants special teams haven’t even been that good! New York ranked 12th in special teams DVOA last season, and ranks 11th in 2021. Those are decent results, but this is supposed to be his thing! What exactly does this guy bring to the table? Should they keep him? Maybe Judge deserves another season under a different general manager. Maybe one from the New England system whose roster-building plan more closely aligns with Judge’s philosophy. But given everything we know about Judge as a coach, is that really something the Giants want? I’d say no.

Chip Kelly could be headed back to Oregon - PFT
Nearly a decade after Chip Kelly left Oregon for the NFL, Kelly could be heading back to Oregon. John Canzano of the Oregonian reports that Oregon has requested permission to speak with Kelly for the vacancy created by Mario Cristobal’s departure for Miami.

NFL divisions were given a perfect redesign by this TikTok creator - SB Nation
On first pass I know this seems ridiculous, but it’s unintentionally perfect. So the big thing is that I know we have really unbalanced divisions, as is. However, I’m not sure that’s really a problem. As it stands we have six wild card spots in the NFL as is. What if we used those as a way to balance it out? For instance, the Birds and Humans would automatically get a wild card spot. Because of their division size they’ll always get two teams in to the playoffs each. The Horses and Working Class would never be eligible for a wild card, because of their three team division size. This gives us another four to be split around the league, based on overall record like we have right now.

Denver Broncos’ great Demaryius Thomas dead at 33 - Mile High Report
Heartbreaking news today as reports have surfaced that former Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas has passed away at the age of 33. Jeff Legwold has reported that Roswell, Georgia, police said Thursday night Thomas was found dead in his home. Preliminary reports show Thomas’ death could have come from a medical issue, according to police. Legwold also reported that several former teammates said Thursday night Thomas might have suffered from seizures in recent months. Thomas was drafted by the Broncos in the first round of the 2010 draft a few spots ahead of Tim Tebow. He would finish near the top of every meaningful receiving record in Broncos history. In nine seasons with Denver, Thomas piled up 665 receptions for 9,055 yards and 60 touchdowns.

The Look Ahead #67: Prove it week in the NFL + Week 14 Lightning Round - The SB Nation NFL Show
Rob “Stats” Guerrera and RJ Ochoa take deep dives into the biggest games of the week and hit every other game in the lightning round. The Browns and Ravens are in a weird spot. The Chiefs are looking to stay hot against the Raiders. The Bills have to prove they belong against the Bucs. It’s hard to believe in the Bengals at this point. Week 14 Lightning Round.

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