Donovan McNabb – Fansmanship

Are the Philadelphia Eagles and Michael Vick, Zealous Hoarders?

Luke Johnson — Sat, 13 Aug 2011 06:33:29 +0000

Life beyond the Donovan McNabb bars, the Philadelphia Eaglesand Mike Vick had it made. The renewed veteran and NFL Comeback Player of the Year did as great stars do: He won, leading his team to a 10-6 record and a playoff relevance.

Yet, somewhere, somehow, a hoarders complex turned Eagles management insane this offseason with a spending an upward of $100 million for new talents.

Adding Namdi Osomugha is one thing, but to continue the gluttony with Culen Jenkins, Vince Young and Ronnie Brown is another. Stack in newly-acquired Steve Smith and things get more outlandish.

The acclaimed “Dream Team” is bringing lofty expectations with its high caliber of Pro Bowl talents. In an NFC East as unpredictable as a quarter slot machine, the moves seem like a small cry for help.

This season the Eagles have set themselves up for quite a storyline—though enticing and paralyzing—automatically placing them as the most hated team in football.

They also upturned a common divisional denominator—the Redskins—who are well-known for zealous spending and are now minuscule in comparison to the Eagles flaunt of cash.

But, why now ?

Considering that the best they ever got the future Hall of Famer Donovan McNabb was an unhappy Terrel Owens and injury prone Brian Westbrook, proposes a larger question that may be rumbling quietly beneath the surface.

Is Mike Vick for real? Signing the 31-year-old to a one-year franchise tag answers that as “no”.

What then can we make of this current spending spree that has catapulted the one-time prudent Eagles toward Miami Heat status?

You got me.

I am certain the impending embroilment between Vick, and an undervalued Vince Young is a storyline the Eagles management is interested in. The former Longhorn is 30-17 as a starter, and like Vick, can win games with his feet.

But more compelling will be what Vick can do this season with a fattened offense. As nice as he looked as a pocket passer all last year, he now will be forced to do so even more with Ronnie Brown in the back field—a talented player able to slot out and run with efficiency.

With three flankers in DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith and Jeremy Maclin, can Vick continue in a pass-first offense molded around a need for a governing slice and dice-wheeler dealer?

He is not a Brady, Manning or Brees—but a guy who at times still showed signs last year he is uncomfortable under pressure in the pocket, resulting in an injury that cost him two weeks, the Eagles a first-round bye and their loss to the Packers in the playoffs.

Two losses in a row from the man and four turnovers warrants team concerns. But it also, considering the nature of pro athletics, could be water under the bridge with an early rise this year.

Last night’s line: 13-6 W over Baltimore, 4-6, 74 yards and a touchdown says that is a fair possibility. We’ll have to wait and see whether or not this “Dream Team” will crumble in LeFraud fashion or flourish in a hoarder’s heap.

Vince Young Leading a List of Top 5 Quarterbacks Available

Luke Johnson — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 23:10:31 +0000

90 seconds ago the NFL exchange of commodity became the next greatest thing behind the Howard Stern Summer Especial.

Jest aside: things be a shakin’ in the NFL landscape.

Fault line players like Donovan McNabb and Nnamdi Asomugha headline the extravaganza.

Unproven yet dangerous others: Braylon Edwards, Matt Hasselbeck, Santonio Holmes, Kevin Kolb, Sydney Rice, Cedric Benson and Ronnie Brown round out this off-seasons flea market.

Toss in Kevin Orton, who’s become a sudden trade bit available, or the enigma of Vince Young, and the quarterback position is stronger than ever. Here are the top five splashes at the quarterback position.

1: Vince Young, 28 Years Old, 6 Year Veteran

Vince has and always will be, minus Steve McNair, the best QB in Titans modern history. No matter what the media parlays him as, he is 30-17 and a two-time pro bowler as a starting QB.

Whatever happened to sitting a young man down and optioning his life with either depression meds, psychological help or group therapy?

For the Titans and a league that has never done well with players of mental disorder: players like Vince Young and the great Ricky Williams, act as uncontrollable factors in a league of mathematical X’s and O’s.

Winning though, is not mathematical. Winning is a matter of the heart, which Vince has plenty of. The mobile runner reminiscent of a less-armed Big Ben has the goods to excel for a playoff competitor.

Despite the doubters who have him landing with the Eagles as a backup to Mike Vick, yardbarker.com reported Young spent time in South Florida this off-season to “build his reputation so that the Fins could consider him when time comes for them to add a quarterback once the current lockout ends and the league year opens.”

Boy wouldn’t he look nice in a Dolphins uniform?

Predicted landing spots: Miami Dolphins, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Philadelphia Eagles

2: Donovan McNabb, 34 Years Old, 12 Year Veteran

MJ in a Wizards uniform=Has been.

Rolling Stones still touring=Pathetic.

Donovan McNabb desiring to reset his hall of fame course=distinguished.

Normally a veteran trying to go on after leaving his first franchise love is one, blind, and two, insecure. But for the 12 year, 6 time pro bowler with 36,250 career yards it is needed.

McNabb has plenty left in the tank after unfairly put in the frying pan in Philadelphia and the garbage can in Washington.

The mobile QB who revolutionized the position is a lock first ballot hall of fame inductee. His career is 99% complete as he still seeks a Super Bowl ring.

According to Tim Cowlishaw of the Washington post the star QB has been “Shanahaned.” A man who is known for doing as HE pleases despite the players he tosses to the wayside, has routed McNabb into a Brett Favre-like unemployment.

Luckily for the superstar the riches of an upturned NFL economy are bustling.

Predicted landing spots: Miami Dolphins, Minnesota Vikings, San Francisco 49ers

3: Matt Hasselbeck, 36 Years Old, 13 Year Veteran

If Kolb is the spry unknown then Hasselbeck is the resurrected Lazarus.

A Lazarus who may not be removing grave clothes but a guy who is trying to shake off his awkward desirability after three injury plagued and erratic seasons in Seattle.

Unlike any QB available, Hasselbeck–whom is the leader for a Seahawks org that has been to one Super Bowl, six playoff appearances in his long tenure–is living on a 2010 playoffs that saw him and his upstart Hawks’ go into Marshawn Lynch “beas mo,” knocking off the Saints.

We can’t ignore his erratic nature the last three seasons: 34 TD/44 INT. He is also an elder sized 36, with maybe (a shy maybe) two or three seasons left in the tank.

But for a contender looking to build a run around a seasoned and successful vet, Hasselbeck is one of the best available. Yarkbarker.com has the veteran overwhelmingly landing in San Francisco.

Predicted landing spots: San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans

4: Kyle Orton, 28 Years Old, 8 Year Veteran

Falling from grace for a knock- off of Tim Couch is hurtful and down right lewd for the 8 year veteran out of Purdue. Though he is not necessarily a free agent, I still had to include this highly undervalued talent.

Like one of Newton’s gravity tools, Orton’s fall, reminiscent to a lesser degree of McNabb, is becoming one of the hottest topics around the league.Coming off a blowup season throwing for 3,651 YDS and 20 TD’s the short throwing pocket artisan has been linked to the Dolphins among others.

According to Mike Klis of the Denver Post, the teams interested in Orton are “Minnesota, Tennessee and Arizona. Seattle, Washington, Cincinnati and Miami also could be possibilities.”

This is a scandalous beginning for John Fox (who has nothing to do with it..) in the never-ending swirl of Bronco football.

For a guy like Orton, who’s thrown 41 TD to 21 INT in two seasons with the Broncos, it is perplexing and unfounded.

Predicted landing stops: Minnesota Vikings (sign and trade for S. Rice), Seattle Seahawks, Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins (sign and trade for R. Brown).

5: Kevin Kolb, 26 Years Old, 5 Year Veteran

No player has swept the NFL world like Kevin Kolb. And no player has blinded the NFL world quite like Kevin Kolb.

The four year veteran is the Ringo Starr of the quarterbacks available, yet heralded like a Sir’ Paul before he’s opened his lips.

Career numbers of 11 TD and 14 INT, stacked with 2,082 yards and a 73.2 career passer rating, is far from a franchise QB.

Pushed out by a resurgent Mike Vick, the 6’3″ slinger with an ineptitude for trying to seam passes where there is no opening, fell apart in a week 17 start against the Cowboys.

Throwing for 3 INT, Kolb looked more like a grade schooler tossing a Nerf football then the guy who pushed out future hall of famer Donovan McNabb.

Still living on his red hot 2 start effort in place of McNabb in 2009 (62-96, 741 yds) the 13.25 million dollar backup is an intriguing risk for a rebuilding team.

Predicted stops: San Francisco 49ers, Arizona Cardinals, Miami Dolphins

Awaiting Vick-tory

Luke Johnson — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 01:29:58 +0000

According to the AP, the Philadelphia Eagles have placed the ‘franchise tag,’ on the reigning “Come Back Player of the Year,” Mike Vick. It is bit surprising, considering Vick for much of the year was an MVP candidate. He established a winning way in Philadelphia after the departure of their past great Donovan McNabb. Replacing Kevin Kolb early in the season, Vick set a league record by not throwing an interception in his first nine starts. His 3,018 passing yards, in just twelve games on 62.6% accuracy, were a career best. Not to mention, his renewed attitude toward the media proves he’s trying. It would seem the perplexing move is a judgement call on the Eagles part. Yes Vick was impressive this year, but can the thirty one year old continue to build upon the greatest year of his dramatic career? His final two games, both losses, including a drubbing to the Packers in the first round, saw the old Vick re-emerge turning the ball over four times. The way he ended things has to make the Eagles worry about his consistency. As for us, we will have to wait and see if Vick can continue to overcome his odds.