"Westbrook Breaks Free..."

Chef Spouse first truly became an Eagles fan in the Andy Reid era. His position, with which I cannot argue, was that for many years, the three most exciting words in football were, "Westbrook breaks free..."

This week, another great Eagle has retired, as an Eagle, as it should be.


Thanks for everything, West36. You were part of a small, special group of players that defined Eagles football for nearly a decade.

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Preseason: Eagles at Patriots, Monday, August 20, 2012

It's Foles-sanity!

I Loved: that the Eagles won their second pre-season game in a row.
I Did Not Love: that the Eagles won their second pre-season game in a row without starting QB Michael Vick. Who hasn't sustained a major injury - yet - but has had two different "contusions" in two games that required removing him from the game and carting him off for x-rays and MRIs and CT scans.
In the history of my Eagles fandom, we've had four main starting quarterbacks: Jaws, Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, and Michael Vick. Know what three of those guys have in common? They're constantly one play away from a season-ending injury. Which means Eagles fans spend every weekend from August through (if we're lucky) early February in a constant state of panic. And this year? Is shaping up to be just like every other single damn year since Jaws retired. When I die early, you can blame Cunningham, McNabb and Vick for twenty years of weekly heart attacks.
Bright spots:
After two games where he was unexpectedly thrown to the lions, so to speak, it seems like Nick Foles might have been a good draft pick. Maybe. Let's not get too excited. It's the pre-season. Of course, if history is any indication, he'll be starting by week 4. Hope he's ready.
Brandon Boykin wants to make the team so badly I can taste he. And he's making a strong case.
DeSean Jackson made a tackle! That Patriot should be embarrassed. I'm bigger than DeSean. And he didn't just ride the guy down - he flipped him! Go DJax!
DRC seems to be getting the hang of the system in Philly. Finally.
The defensive front is going to be scary dominant.
Clay Harbor had a big night. And Shady brought his usual awesome.
Dim spots:
Why oh why are there always so many goddamn stupid penalties? The worst ones - the absolute worst - are defensive penalties that extend drives. Time and again, just when the guys are about to get off the field, somebody pulls some dumb shit that keeps them out there. This has been going on for 10 years? 15? Forever?
People seemed upset that Andy Reid was yelling at Cullen Jenkins. Why wasn't he yelling at everyone? These guys have to shape up. I am not alone among the fans in not wanting to see another season of [this] close.
And did I mention that Mike Vick got knocked out of a second game in a row right at the beginning of the game?

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Is It Football Yet?

Since I do this on the side and for fun only, I usually basically take the offseason, well, off. But this year has been exceptionally quiet. There is a reason, but what's important now is that the draft is long over, training camp is in its second week, we're a week from the Eagles first pre-season game versus the Steelers, and it's time to brush off the dust and kick my football brain back into gear.

Seeing as I've been pretty out of the loop for the key mini camp months, I'll be watching the pre-season games carefully to see how the Eagles new acquisitions fare, how the guys who stuck around from the shopping spree last year are looking, and whether the team's superstars are ready to lead a deep playoff run for 2012 (the answer to that last one better be "HELL yes!").

I plan to post at least some games notes from the pre-season games I'm able to catch, and OF COURSE I'll post my annual walk-of-shame pre-season picks. Making a fool of myself since 2005 all for you.

For my DC area peeps, things are going to run a little differently for game day this year. Rather than just having an open invitation every week and often not getting a critical mass of people, we're going to choose ONE Sunday/game per month and do actual invitations, so we get a good crowd and can plan accordingly.

The first one will be Sunday, September 30, when the Eagles face the Giants on Sunday Night Football and honor Brian Dawkins by retiring his number. Life-Long Eagles Fan Mom and You-Two-Calm-Down-or-I'm-Turning-Off-the-TV Dad will be in town for the weekend to celebrate Dad's birthday. The menu will feature 100% from scratch enchiladas, and the evening is likely to include a tequila tasting. We'll be open for business starting with the 4 pm game. Mark your calendars now!

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