My Trial By Erosion Of Words

Thinking About The Eagles

Wow.

What a weekend to be an Eagles fan.

Nnamdi Asomugha. Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. Cullen Jenkins. Jason Babin. Man.

Cowboys and Giants fans will tell you that these moves don’t mean much. Building your team via free agency (which the Eagles aren’t doing) isn’t the way to go about things. It’s doomed to fail.

They’re all in denial.

Are the Eagles now the team to beat in the NFC as some are saying? No. The Packers still have Aaron Rodgers and that steroid freak Clay Matthews, not to mention a plethora of great young Wide Receivers. They’re still the gold standard at the moment. But are the Eagles close behind them?

You bet your ass they are.

With the moves the Eagles have made in the last few days, anything less than a Super Bowl is a failure.

So here are my thoughts on what has transpired thus far concerning the Eagles:

I was as shocked as the next person that the Eagles signed cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha on Friday. Even though I mentioned it in my end of the season post in January, I certainly didn’t expect it to happen given that the Eagles got Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (DRC) in exchange for Kevin Kolb, but they swooped in and got him even after New York Jets head coach Rex Ryan had Adam Sandler call him.
Just how good is Nnamdi? He’s given up one touchdown in the last three seasons. One. And he does loads of charity work. Nnamdi is a better human being than you’ll ever be. Praise Nnamdi.
What does this mean for Asante Samuel? Time will tell I suppose, but it wouldn’t shock me if they traded him. I’d like for the Eagles to keep him though. The guy is still one of the best corners in the game, but it’s a matter of how well he fits into the Eagles new defensive system under Juan Castillo. Asomugha and DRC are press coverage guys. Asante is more of an off-corner that tries to bait the quarterback into throwing his way. I do believe that if the Eagles were going to make a run at the Super Bowl, Asante Samuel needs to be part of it.
On the Kolb trade: I love what the Eagles received. They got a starting cornerback (DRC) and a second round pick for a guy that they now value as a back-up. The Eagles front office (Joe Banner and Howie Roseman in particular) did a great job of not blinking when they supposedly “lost their leverage” after the Seahawks signed Tavaris Jackson.
The influence that Michael Vick has had on these signings is huge. Guys want to come play for the Eagles because of Vick. He brings an energy to the team that is unreal.
They also want to come because the Eagles have money. I’m not that naive.
I like the Cullen Jenkins signing as well. Yeah he has a history of injury problems, but the guy is a great pass rusher, which the Eagles desperately needed.
Ditto on Jason Babin, who had a breakout season last year under the tutelage of Jim Washburn (now with the Eagles) and the Tennessee Titans.
Not too worried about DeSean Jackson’s hold out. The guy is grossly underpaid and deserves a new contract. I just wish he had gone about things a bit differently. He’ll get his money.
On that note, I imagine once the Eagles extend Michael Vick’s contract and re-structure his deal, DeSean will quickly get a new contract. Vick is owed $16 million this season under the franchise tag policy- a number that will surely go down once he receives an extension.
I really wish new backup QB Vince Young hadn’t made his “dream team” comment. I think it is being blown out of proportion, but he shouldn’t have said it. As if the target wasn’t already placed squarely on the Eagles back after they got Nnamdi.
While the Eagles certainly have great defensive backs, the group of linebackers that are currently on the team is still a big question. Jamar Chaney is good, but he only played in a handful of games last year. Moise Fokou wasn’t very consistent last year. The biggest question mark will be rookie Casey Matthews, brother of the aforementioned Clay Matthews. He is currently the starting middle linebacker, which scares me. You never want your middle linebacker, essentially the quarterback of the defense, to be a rookie. While I think Casey Matthews will be a solid player, it is easy to forget that he was a 4th round pick in the draft and there is probably a reason for that. It wouldn’t shock me if the Eagles brought in another MLB, just in case Matthews isn’t ready. I suppose I just have to trust Juan Castillo and the other coaches on defense.

So how far can this Eagles team go? I’d be lying if I didn’t say they had potential to win the Super Bowl, but I also know better than to say these free agent signings put them over the top. Nnamdi, DRC, Jenkins, and Babin are nice, but this team will only go as far as Vick takes them. Near the end of the year, Vick struggled. Part of that was due to offensive line play (something that probably improves with Jamaal Jackson returning), but there were times when he made some bad mistakes. If he continues his progression as a true QB, he can lead the Eagles to the promised land. Obviously the linebackers are a huge concern, as are the health of guys like Cullen Jenkins.

It’s going to be a fun year though.

Fly Eagles Fly.

1 August 2011 • Philadelphia Eagles Nnamdi Asomugha Praise Nnamdi Michael Vick DeSean Jackson

Michael Vick Endorses Anti-Dogfighting Bill

What a human.

What a role model.

Every professional athlete should take note.

While other NFL players are off doing whatever during the lockout, Michael Vick is using his time to make the world a better place.

One of my favorite stories of the last year or so has been the tale of Michael Vick’s redemption and what he is doing to try to restore his image.

Coincidentally, one of my favorite things to do is bother everyone that says he should still be in jail.

We can all learn something from this great human being walking among us.

19 July 2011 • Michael Vick Philadelphia Eagles Suck it crazy animal people

Thinking About The Eagles

I think I speak for all Eagles fans when I say that this was a rather humbling week, but it is one that was needed if the Eagles want to get better.

Ever since the Redskins game, the Eagles have been falling into the disturbing trend of trailing late in games and they’ve had to come back to win.

Last week’s loss doesn’t mean that the Eagles are now in the worst of the possible scenarios that they could be in. The worst possibility would have been winning both games, getting guys banged up, and still not getting a bye. People seem to think a bye was guaranteed had the Eagles beat both the Vikings and the Cowboys. It wasn’t.

But the Eagles get a chance to rest guys like Michael Vick and that’s a good thing. Vick needs the rest.

More importantly, and I hate to say this, Vick needs to get his mind right (for lack of a better term). Even when Vick has played bad, which has been seldom this season, he is still better a better overall quarterback than he was in Atlanta. But I’m starting to wonder how much Vick is “sticking to the game plan”. Improvisation is good, but you still want Vick “playing within the system” and there have been many times in the past few weeks where it seems like he reverts back to old habits and takes off running when he shouldn’t. This is just the opinion of an outside observer of course. I don’t pretend to be an expert on football other than I can tell you facts about my team. In no way should what I say about how the game is actually being played be taken seriously.

I guess what I’m saying is, I don’t want to see Michael Vick taking off every play. Sometimes he tries to do too much like he did this past Tuesday and it can hurt the team.

I’m just hoping that the Eagles can somehow find a way to give the guy time in the pocket. Teams are blitzing him at will and it gets him off of his game. Not sure how the Eagles do that, but I trust Andy Reid and Marty Mornhinweg to come up with something.

So how do the Eagles look going into the playoffs?

Honestly, I’m a bit worried. The Packers, who will more than likely be their opponent in the first round, are a dangerous team. They have had lots of injuries but they are still a team that could give a team like the Eagles fits. Basically, the Packers defense matches up very well with the Eagles offense and it could be trouble.

Also, I just don’t know if I see the Eagles defense being able to show up in the playoffs. There are simply too many holes. Not as many holes as there were last year, but there are a few weak spots. Outside of Trent Cole, Asante Samuel, and MAYBE Quintin Mikell, the other players on the defense are pretty expendable.

This most disappointing thing about the Eagles defense this season has been LB Ernie Sims. I expected Sims to dominate when the Eagles acquired him from the Lions in the offseason and I figured he’d be a force to be reckoned with, but he has only been ok this season. He’s fast, but that’s about it.

One final point: DeSean Jackson has to show up. It is imperative that he do so if the Eagles are going to win in the playoffs. He appeared to give up at times on Tuesday. He can’t do that and for a guy who is expecting to get paid like a Top 5 receiver, he sure isn’t playing like it. If the Eagles have Jackson spreading the field, opening things up for McCoy, Maclin, and Celek they will put up points. If Jackson gives up on routes like he did on Tuesday, the Eagles season will be over after next week.

Tomorrow I will enjoy as much of the Kevin Kolb/Jerome Harrison/Riley Cooper/Clay Harbor show as I can. After that it’s on to the playoffs.

Fly Eagles Fly

(Photo Courtesy of Yahoo Sports)

2 January 2011 • Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick

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I support Michael Vick. Let me say that again, just to be clear: I Support Michael Vick.

Not just because he is a member of my beloved Philadelphia Eagles. I don’t care if he were a member of the Dallas Cowboys, I would support his right to a chance to redeem himself.

Which in my eyes he is doing.

In the blink of an eye, he went from being one of the best and most popular football players to a man who most everyone saw as a monster. He lost everything (deservedly so) and became a person who many people will never forgive. That is understandable.

I’m not going to criticize a person for hating Vick. I’m not going to criticize a person for thinking he shouldn’t be allowed to play professional football. That is their right and they are allowed to feel that way. All I ask in return is don’t criticize me for believing he deserves to be able to redeem himself.

This is something that I could have written about a year ago, but I think it is even more relevant now that Michael Vick is once again a Starting Quarterback in the NFL and he is doing very well at the moment. Last year, people only expressed outrage when he got signed. They forgot about him as he was simply a backup. This year, now that he is in the spotlight again, the detractors are out in full force again.

Earlier today, I “tweeted” about ESPN.com’s Bill Simmons’ latest article. I basically said that I couldn’t agree more with what he was saying in the article. Whenever I put something about Vick on Facebook/Twitter/Tumblr, I prepare for criticism. I prepare to get called an awful person. Usually it doesn’t happen.

Today it did.

A person (I won’t give you their name on twitter) sent me a picture of a dog who had been injured as a result of dog-fighting. It appears he sent this to everyone who has expressed support and said that they are rooting for Vick. I then sent him a message that said, “I don’t know who you are, nor do I care. All I’m going to say is get a life and quit being a sanctimonious asshole”. He called me an ignorant douchebag (probably after he went a googled “sanctimonious”) and I left it at that.

If that’s what I am for believing that a man should be allowed to get a chance to make things right then go ahead and just refer to me as an ignorant douchebag. Just be prepared for me to tell you some not so pleasant things.

The thing that annoys me the most about all of this is that I seriously believe that some people value the life of a dog more than that of a human. Nevermind that Donte’ Stallworth killed a person while driving drunk. Nevermind that Ray Lewis was involved in a murder investigation (if he didn’t do it then he knows who did- you don’t get charged with obstruction of justice for nothing). Nevermind that Ben Roethlisberger exposed himself to a woman in a women’s restroom in Georgia and has been accused multiple times of rape.

No. We care about how dogs feel. Not how the actions of those three ruined HUMAN lives.

Before I go on: Yes, those guys deserve chances at redemption as well. One can argue that maybe Ray Lewis didn’t, but again, he was just charged with Obstruction Of Justice. As they say, it isn’t what you know, it’s what you can prove. Gotta love the American Criminal Justice System.

What Michael Vick did was sick. There is no arguing that. He deserved the punishment that he got and he has paid that price. In other words, he paid his debt to society. Whether you agree with that or not is insignificant. Again, gotta love the American Criminal Justice System.

Like Bill Simmons, I love comeback stories. I love hearing about people that had it all and lost it that are working to get it back, which is what Vick is doing. Most of all, I agree with righting your previous wrongs and becoming a better person, which Vick is also doing. Vick is now a spokesman for the Humane Society. Vick has brought something that has been around for probably two generations of people and made it something that people are genuinely concerned about now. Before this happened, most people probably didn’t even know how cruel and inhumane dog-fighting was.

Is he doing it to help his public image? Probably. But I believe he is sincere in doing it and if he isn’t he is doing a damn good job of lying about it.

I never believed the whole, “It was just a part of the culture he grew up around and he didn’t know any better”. But now I actually think there is some truth to that. Believe it or not (especially in some places in the South where dog-fighting is big), dogs aren’t seen as “man’s best friend” or as these lovable animals. As Simmons mentioned: In the 1960s, what was used to attack African-Americans to stop racial protests? Dogs. Does that mean that this is a race issue? No. Go to rural areas and see how some people (black, white, blue, green, whatever color they may be) treat dogs. Go to a major city in the South such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Baltimore (ok south-ish) and take a few left turns out of the city. You may see a few things that you don’t like.

I’m not defending Michael Vick’s actions in that regard, but as Simmons said, Vick probably never got to play fetch with a dog or experience any displays of affection that a dog may show towards a human. He probably just saw a dog as another animal. That’s just how he grew up. Does that make it right? Not at all. Vick should have ended all ties he had to dog-fighting as soon as he left home. But he didn’t. Again, he is paying the price for that decision making.

So leave me alone when I say that I support Vick. I promise to leave you alone when you say that you don’t.

2 October 2010 • Long Posts Michael Vick

Don’t F With The Birds!

Eagles 34
Falcons 7

It was nice to be able to enjoy a stress-free Eagles game.

It was also nice to see Michael Vick finally get in the end zone although I was curious as to why Falcons fans were cheering when this happened. I realize that the guy provided them with a lot of good memories, but lets not forget, he screwed them over with the decisions he made.

Thats Atlanta sports fans for you though. These are the same people that started cheering in the later innings for Randy Johnson when he threw a perfect game against the Braves.

I guess what I’m trying to say is, don’t cheer against your team while the game is still going on. It’s ok to applaud a guy after the game, but don’t do it during the game.

6 December 2009 • Philadelphia Eagles Atlanta Falcons Michael Vick

I apologize for all of the Michael Vick entries, but it as an Eagles fan, it’s quite obviously what is on my mind.

With that being said, in wake of Vick’s interview on “60 Minutes”, it annoys me when people say that they don’t think Michael Vick “is remorseful for what he’s done”. I completely understand why someone wouldn’t support Vick because what he did was sick, but to say that you think he “isn’t remorseful” isn’t remorseful.

First of all, show me your degree in psychology and/or sociology and I’ll respect your opinion because quite honestly, your opinion on human behavior means nothing.

Second of all, how could he NOT be remoresful after he lost all of that money? He had a 10 year/$135 Million contract and lost it all because of the stupidity of his actions. That alone would cause me to be remoresful about this situation.

Also, what do you expect him to say? Would you be happy if he said, “I’m not remorseful about a god damn thing. I hate dogs and I’d do it all over again.”? Something tells me you wouldn’t be.

Eagles CEO Jeffrey Lurie said it best when he said that Vick will have to prove he’s worthy of a second chance with his actions off the field, not his words or what he does on the field.

Does Michael Vick DESERVE your forgiveness support? Not at all. What he did was sick and disgusting. But I think he deserves a second chance. I’d support him even if he wasn’t playing for my favorite team.

If Ray Lewis can lie to a grand jury about a murder and have no suspension what so ever, then Michael Vick deserves a second chance. If Leonard Little and Donte’ Stallworth can kill a HUMAN BEING by driving drunk and not get an ounce of the scrutiny that Michael Vick is getting, then Mr. Vick deserves a second chance.

I don’t think that Michael Vick deserves full reinstatement at this point. He has to prove that he does by not just saying the right things, but doing the right things as well. When he does that I think he should be reinstated.

I hope that Michael Vick succeeds. Not just because he’s a Philadelphia Eagle, but because he’s a damn good football player.

I support Michael Vick.

(Photo Courtesy of PhiladelphiaEagles.com)

P.S. I’ll probably give my thoughts on the “60 Minutes” interview in another post and that will be my last Michael Vick entry. I promise.

16 August 2009 • Philadelphia Eagles Michael Vick

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Let the show begin.

14 August 2009 • Michael Vick Philadelphia Eagles

Just when I was about to write an entry on why the Philadelphia Eagles, my favorite football team, should sign Michael Vick…

Wow.

Me= Stunned.

As stated in the first sentence, as soon as Eagles backup QB Kevin Kolb went down with an injury, I immediately thought “Michael Vick? I’d like him, but it won’t happen.” Well, it happened. Michael Vick will suit up for the Philadelphia Eagles.

Here is why I wanted Vick: He’s one of the best athletes in the world (a friend of mine disagrees and says that honor belongs to Lance Armstrong. In the words of Kenny Powers, “I play real sports…. not trying to be the best at exercising”)*. I realize that he hasn’t played in over two years, but IF (and that’s a huge if) he can still be the type of player he was before all of these legal issues came up, the Eagles will be fun to watch this year.

Here are the Pros to signing Vick:

Great Athlete.
McNabb, Vick, DeSean Jackson, Brian Westbrook, LeSean McCoy, and Jeremy Maclin possibly on the field at the same time= Holy Shit.
Not only is he a great athlete, he’s a damn good football player.
He won’t be under any pressure to perform right away…. Nevermind, this is Philadelphia we’re talking about here.
Can be used as a Wide Receiver, Quarterback, or Running Back.
No more Kevin Kolb?
This

I feel like I’d be cheating you if I didn’t give you the Cons to signing Vick as well:

The Philadelphia Eagles are about to experience a media circus like they have NEVER seen.
No matter what he does, he’ll always be the guy that funded and participated in a dog fighting operation.
As much as I like Vick, I’ve always thought he was overrated and would be better suited as a WR/QB/RB hybrid, which is what he’ll probably be in Philly if I had to guess.
As great of an athlete as he is, he hasn’t played football in over two years and who knows if he’s in playing shape.
We won’t even know if he is in playing shape until Week 6. That is unless Roger Goodell reduces his suspension, which is unlikely.
The saddest thing of all, and I’m a PERFECT example of this, is the fact that as soon as he scores a touchdown, no one will care about the dogfighting. Unfortunately, we sports fans are fickle.

I’m not going to begin to speculate how Michael Vick will do as an Eagle. I’m still too stunned by this signing to even think about that right now. One thing I can promise, you won’t see me in a Michael Vick jersey.

With that being said, I hope that Vick is rehabilitated because he’s a damn good football player and he was very fun to watch.

*Sorry to the Lance Armstrong supporters. Lance is one of the best athletes in the world and I am by no means belittling his accomplishments. All I’m saying is call me when he runs a 4.2 40.

(Photo Courtesy of ESPN.com)

14 August 2009 • Michael Vick Philadelphia Eagles

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NOTE: Before I begin, I’d like to say that I’m not some sort of animal hater.

If you’ve been following the news today, you know that Michael Vick was released from prison. The question on every football fans mind is “Should he be let back into the NFL?”.

My opinion is that yes, he should be reinstated. If St. Louis Rams Defensive End Leonard Little can drive drunk and kill a person while doing so and have no punishment bestowed upon him, then how could the NFL possibly justify banning Vick? They can’t.

What Michael Vick did was wrong. I think everyone agrees with that. But was what he did any worse than what Leonard Little did? I don’t think so. Michael Vick has been punished and will probably receive even more punishment seeing as NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell will probably give him some sort of suspension when he is in fact signed by some team. So why not let him back in?

The thing that I’ve always found interesting is how society is more sympathetic to a dogs life than a human life. People can watch a movie like Saving Private Ryan and see hundreds of people killed and not even flinch. But let Owen Wilson’s yellow lab die in Marley and Me, and there isn’t a dry eye in the theater. I never got that.

I apply that way of thinking to this case. If Michael Vick had done what Leonard Little did, he’d probably be with a team right now. But because he killed dogs, some people think he shouldn’t be allowed to play football.

I’m sure Michael Vick will be playing football again and there isn’t a fan in football that will let him forget what he did when he comes to play against their respective teams.

Nor should they.

But to say that he shouldn’t be allowed to play football again is a ludacris argument if you ask me.

20 May 2009 • Michael Vick NFL