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Eagles’ Jackson sorry for year-long distractions

Anaenia — Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:11:15 +0000

Philadelphia Eagles DeSean Jackson acknowledged that his contract situation was part of a larger problem that led to a disappointing 8-8 record for the Philadelphia Eagles this season, according to ESPN. The 25-year-old receiver apologized for letting himself become a distraction this season.

“I can admit to certain things affecting me during the season. I just want to apologize,” Jackson told ESPN. “I probably could have handled it a little bit different, but now sitting here after the season’s over I can just say I was able to put it behind me and really just fight for my teammates, fight for my organization.”

“I can’t really get frustrated over contract situations, or if I’m not paid how I think I should be, whatever the case may be. I can’t really allow that to go on as a professional,” he continued.

Jackson hauled in 58 receptions this season for 961 yards and four touchdowns. Last year Jackson hauled in 47 passes for 1,056 for six touchdowns in 14 games.

What do you guys think about this.

Eagles, Jackson Ending Year on Best Behavior: A…

epilscesy — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 18:43:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles are putting a lot of things together when it is way too late. While this only makes Eagles fans like myself more furious about how 2011 ended up, Philadelphia will still try to hope that the groundwork for a bigger 2012 has been laid out. Of course, since the Birds’ three-game winning streak means that Andy Reid will be back and Juan Castillo has a shot to return, it’s hard to say how good 2012 will turn out.

It would be a better sign if the DeSean Jackson of the last month returns for 2012 as well. The Eagles certainly can’t afford for the September-November Jackson to show up again. But ever since his bad behavior and the terrible Eagles peaked in the Dec. 1 loss to the Seattle Seahawks, they have both somehow been on their best behavior.

Jackson’s stats haven’t been mind blowing during the winning streak, as he has combined for 11 catches, 177 yards and one touchdown. However, the fact that he is catching the ball and getting more yards – and has stayed pretty quiet in the meantime – has been a relief after how the previous few weeks went. It still doesn’t erase the accusations of how he gave up before then – which loom even larger now when more effort and at least one more win would have made Week 17 very meaningful.

At this point, however, Jackson and Philadelphia fell so far during the first 13 weeks that anything other than another meltdown looks better. And now that the team is winning and there hasn’t been any new Jackson controversy lately, the hope is that both sides are cooling down before they get back to contract negotiations. Yet that leaves the question of whether too much damage has been done already.

Too much has been done to save the 2011 season, although it likely hasn’t been enough to fire Reid after all. However, if too much has been done to salvage negotiations with Jackson and to not just franchise tag him or trade him, 2012 will look more ominous. The Eagles already learned the consequences of keeping Jackson without paying him, and they cannot waste 2012 re-learning that lesson. Since 2012 stands to be Reid’s very last chance in Philadelphia, he certainly won’t want to waste that year figuring it out as well.

Going from 4-8 to a potential 8-8 record will be touted as a step forward, even though it really isn’t. If they want to make this last month of wins mean something, the Eagles will take this cooling off period to reassess Jackson and act accordingly. Whether that means resigning him or trading him is yet to be decided, but it has to be settled before training camp this time.

Philadelphia fans are skeptical that the good Eagles in December will show up for 2012, so maybe that should be the case with the good Jackson as well. However, if that good Jackson justifies a resigning at last – just as it somehow justifies keeping Reid around – then perhaps this big finish is worth something. If it’s too late, then at least his last month in town hasn’t been tarnished as much as his next-to-last month was.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

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Philadelphia Eagles’ Jackson has Patriots on the…

vipstar79 — Sat, 26 Nov 2011 09:59:18 +0000

Action, Jackson.

“He’s a multiple-threat guy,” Patriots head coach Bill Belichick said in speaking about Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver-punt returner DeSean Jackson on Friday.

Assuming he does play against the Patriots at Lincoln Financial Field on Sunday – Jackson is listed as probable with a foot injury – the fourth-year player will indeed provide them with challenges on multiple fronts.

The proof lies in the 2009 Pro Bowl balloting when Jackson, in just his second year in the league at the time, became the first player in NFL history to earn a berth in the game at two different positions.

“Fast, quick, explosive player,” Patriots cornerback Antwaun Molden said of the Eagles’ second-round pick in the 2008 draft. “He can make a play at any time, anywhere on the field, whether it’s special teams or on offense.”

While his numbers no longer rival the ones he posted in earning those dual Pro Bowl berths in 2009 – 62 receptions for 1,156 yards (an 18.6-yard average) and nine touchdowns along with 11 carries for 137 yards (a 12.5-yard average) and one TD on offense; 29 punt returns for 441 yards (a 15.2-yard average) and two TDs on special teams – there is always that threat.

Over the course of 54 games spanning a little more than 31/2 seasons, Jackson has averaged 18.0 yards and scored 19 touchdowns while catching 206 passes, averaged 7.2 yards and reached the end zone three times on 48 carries, and averaged 10.8 yards on 111 punt returns with four more TDs.

Via punt or pass, with the occasional handoff thrown in, Jackson has the ability to go deep.

“He’s a very explosive player. He can go anywhere,” Belichick said in addressing Jackson’s return ability. “He can hit it up the middle. He’s got the speed to get outside and cut back. (He’s) very elusive and it’s kind of the same thing offensively.

“They get him the ball on plays like reverses and tear screens, which are a problem, and then he’s got his normal routes and deep routes. So he can beat you deep, he can beat you on a normal over-route or in-route and there’s a lot of catch-and-run plays or reverse plays where they just put the ball in his hands and let him go, so those are like punt returns, too. He’s very dangerous. You can’t give him much space.”

Said Patriots special teams captain and wide receiver Matthew Slater: “He can change the game in one play, and we’re very well aware of that.”

Active for nine of the Eagles’ 10 games to date, Jackson has caught 35 passes for 591 yards (a 16.9-yard average) and two touchdowns and carried the ball four times for 9 yards (just 2.3 yards per carry) on offense; he’s returned 12 punts for 87 yards (a 7.3-yard average).

The one game Jackson sat out this season, well, that’s a story unto itself that speaks of an unsettled relationship between the player and his team.

Displeased with the fact that he was operating under the parameters of the four-year, $3 million-and-change contract he signed as a rookie, Jackson held out at the start of training camp this season.

That wasn’t the only time he’s been tardy for an appointment with the Eagles this year.

That one game Jackson missed, a 21-17 loss to Arizona on Nov. 13 that dug the Eagles a deeper hole in their bid for a playoff spot, occurred when head coach Andy Reid chose to sit him one day after he overslept and missed a special teams meeting.

And therein lies the problem, at times, with Jackson, who also exhibited a lack of discipline during last Sunday’s 17-10 win over New York.

On the plus side, Jackson he caught six passes for 88 yards and returned a punt for another 51; on the minus side, Jackson negated a 50-yard reception from Vince Young by drawing a penalty when he was run out of bounds and taunted Giants defensive coordinator Perry Fewell by flipping the ball at him.

Set his alarm clock and keep him on the field and away from the opponent’s sideline, though, and there is no denying the threat Jackson can pose.

On offense…

“Tremendous player, tremendous talent, very explosive,” Patriots cornerback Kyle Arrington said. “We just have to try to do our best in disguise, mix it up on him, not give it all to him on one play, make him work for it.”

And on special teams…

“We know we have to have a sense of urgency when dealing with a guy like this,” said Slater. “I’ve been dealing with him since college (Slater was at UCLA; Jackson at California) so I’ve seen him at the college level and at the pro level and he’s gotten the better of me and our unit a couple of times. So we have to go out there and prepare for him and be ready for him come Sunday.

“Shiftiness, speed, he’s not afraid to field the ball and take chances. He wants the ball in his hands. He wants to make plays. The speed, that’s just something you can’t coach. You have it or don’t, and he has plenty of it.”

What are your opinions.

Eagles beat Giants again in 4th quarter, win 17-10

ksc.cver — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 00:24:22 +0000

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) — The Philadelphia Eagles finally got it right in the fourth quarter, and it’s no surprise they did it against the New York Giants.

Subbing for the injured Michael Vick, Vince Young threw a go-ahead 8-yard touchdown pass to Riley Cooper with 2:45 to play and the undermanned Eagles posted a 17-10 victory over the Giants in what was a must-win game for Andy Reid’s struggling team Sunday night.

The Eagles (4-6) had lost five games in the fourth quarter this season but found the solution this time with an 80-yard, 18-play march over 8:51 that sent the Giants (6-4) to their second straight loss.

Philadelphia converted six third-down plays with DeSean Jackson setting up the first-and-goal with a 10-yard catch to the 10, and Young capping it with his second touchdown pass of the game to a wide-open Cooper, who came in without a catch this season.

Jackson, who was benched for last week’s game for missing a team meeting, finished with six catches for 88 yards. Cooper had five receptions for 75 yards.

The Eagles, of course, made Reid sweat out the final minutes. Eli Manning, who tied it with a 24-yard TD pass to Victor Cruz earlier in the quarter, drove the Giants from their own 10 to the Eagles 21 with the final 47 yards coming on a catch-and-run by Cruz with 1:25 to play.

However, Manning stepped out of the pocket on the next play and was hit from behind by Jason Babin and fumbled. Derek Landi recovered at the 26, sending the Giants to their second straight excruciating loss to the Eagles and second consecutive tough loss overall.

It dropped New York into a tie for first place with Dallas in the NFC East with six games to play and left the Eagles two games behind. The Cowboys beat the Redskins in overtime after Washington missed a game-winning field-goal attempt.

It also marked the second straight year the Eagles rallied late to beat New York at the Meadowlands with last year’s 38-31 decision coming in a game that Philadelphia rallied from 21 points down late.

Young was 23 of 36 for 258 yards and two touchdowns, and LeSean McCoy had 113 yards rushing — with 60 coming on a game-sealing scamper in the closing moments.

While Young made several big plays to spark the Eagles’ offense, he also threw three interceptions, the most costly being one that Aaron Ross picked off in the end zone on a second and 9 from the New York 16 with Philadelphia ahead 10-3 with 5 minutes left in the third quarter.

New York eventually tied it early in the fourth quarter on a 24-yard TD pass from Manning to Cruz. It was set up two plays earlier when Manning rolled out of the pocket and found Hakeem Nicks for a 47-yard gain on third down to the Eagles 24.

Manning was 18 of 35 for 264 yards, and Cruz had six catches for 128 yards. The Giants’ running game failed to get going, rushing for just 29 yards.

The first half was typical of an Eagles-Giants meeting: chippy, intense, hard-fought and, not surprisingly, ugly.

If there was a surprise, it was that the defenses dominated. The norm was Jackson taunting the Giants in more ways than one, including one that cost the Eagles a 50-yard pass completion.

Jackson set up both of the Eagles’ scores in the first half. He caught a 32-yard pass early in the second quarter to set up a 33-yard field goal by Alex Henery and then brought back excruciating memories from last season with a 51-yard punt return that was a carbon copy of his winning 65-yard punt return on the final play of the Eagles’ 38-31 Meadowlands Miracle, a game Philadelphia rallied from a 21-point deficit in the final seven-plus minutes.

What made the return so eerie was that Jackson fielded Steve Weatherford’s punt at his own 35, circled right and then ran down the sideline in front of the Giants’ bench — the same thing he did last season. The only difference was Weatherford pushed him out of bounds at the 14; Matt Dodge was the Giants’ punter last season.

It didn’t matter. One play later, Young found former Giants receiver Steve Smith cutting under the zone and he easily outran linebacker Mathias Kiwanuka into the end zone with 1:22 left in the half.

It was enough time for Manning to get the Giants on the board. A 21-yard pass to Cruz on the first play got the ball the 41 and a late 10-catch by running back D.J. Ware on a play in which he suffered a concussion set up Lawrence Tynes’ 48-yard field goal.

What are your opinions.

Eagles Need Jackson to Actually Show Up Against…

hirlrhype — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 23:00:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles weren’t expected to need DeSean Jackson(notes) to beat the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 13. Even when he was benched, Eagles fans like myself worried more about what this meant for Jackson’s contract status.

Although he could have argued that Philadelphia does need to keep him after they lost to Arizona, Jackson can make a much better statement a week later. Basically, he and the Eagles have no choice since Jackson is one of the few offensive stars left in the Birds’ lineup against the New York Giants on Nov. 20.

Michael Vick(notes) and Jeremy Maclin(notes) are both out for a team that needs a win to have any slim hope left for the season. And since the Cardinals’ game showed the Eagles’ lack of depth at receiver without Jackson and Maclin, Jackson will need to carry the receiving core on his back. After the week he has just had, no one needs to come through more than him.

Jackson took a big step backwards by getting himself benched – as if his mediocre performance on the field beforehand was helping before. If he has another poor game in his return, especially when he is needed more than ever, it could be another sign of his deteriorating relationship with the team. And at this point, the fans are starting to protest less about his lack of a deal as well.

With Young now at the helm and with Maclin gone, Jackson is going to need to get the ball a lot – and catch it more than he has lately. He is long past overdue for one of his explosive series of big plays, and so are the Eagles. Even if he gets one against the Giants it might not be enough on its own to win, and it might be too late for the Eagles’ season if they do. But if Jackson wants to turn things around and remind Philadelphia of his actual value, he will start racking up big numbers again.

Technically, he shouldn’t really get that much of a chance because the Eagles should not be throwing the ball that much. Considering the injuries, what they need to do is keep feeding LeSean McCoy(notes) the ball and never let up, so that Young doesn’t have to win the game. But since Philadelphia is allergic to giving McCoy 25-30 runs a game unless they have 20 point leads early on, it can’t be expected to do the logical thing now.

Since the Eagles will probably keep throwing 30-40 times against all reason, it means that it will be Young’s game to win or lose. By extension, it will make it Jackson’s game to win or lose since he is the only star left to throw to.

It also may be his Eagles career to win or lose as well, for if he can’t come up huge when the team truly can’t afford to have him disappear, when will he ever? That is not the question Jackson needs Philadelphia to ask as another offseason of contract disputes gets closer.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

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Feel free to leave your comments below.

DeSean Jackson Benching No Excuse for Eagles Loss:…

aarnestora — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 19:13:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles got off on the wrong foot even before they faced the Arizona Cardinals on Nov. 13. When the Eagles benched DeSean Jackson(notes) for missing a team meeting the previous day, Philadelphia fans like myself had to be weary off the bat.

We still thought it wouldn’t affect the Birds’ ability to defeat the 2-6 Cardinals, especially when a loss would have destroyed what was left of the season. But now that the Eagles have suffered a 21-17 defeat, the temptation is to blame Jackson for getting himself benched or Andy Reid for sitting him in the first place.

With Jackson out and Jeremy Maclin(notes) getting himself injured early, Michael Vick(notes) certainly didn’t have reliable weapons. And without Jackson to use as a decoy, it could have given the Cardinals’ secondary more room to roam. However, his benching is just one more scapegoat that the Eagles cannot use as an excuse.

Jackson wasn’t the one who threw balls off target that neither he nor any other receiver could have caught. Vick was the cause of that, as he never found a groove and was wild with the ball all day long. And it wasn’t Jackson who still decided to let Vick keep throwing the ball away instead of letting one of the NFL’s leading rushers take control of the offense. Reid did that by letting LeSean McCoy(notes) get just 14 carries while Vick heaved the ball 34 times – although he didn’t have Jackson or accuracy on his side.

Jackson wasn’t the one who let Cardinals’ backup quarterback John Skelton(notes) throw for an inexplicable 315 yards. He also didn’t let Larry Fitzgerald(notes) run wild in the fourth quarter to catch tapped balls and set up tying and game winning touchdowns. Those were the sins of the Philadelphia defense – as if it didn’t have enough to atone for during fourth quarters.

As I stated earlier, there was little reason to suspect that losing Jackson would be enough to lose to the 2-6 Cardinals. Even without him, the Eagles should have had the bare minimum to beat an Arizona team that didn’t even have Kevin Kolb(notes) in action to get revenge. Even if the Eagles had Jackson, there was reason to believe that it wouldn’t have turned out any better for them, especially with his lack of big plays all season.

It wasn’t like Philadelphia was winning with Jackson on the field, and now there is less reason to suggest that it can win when he comes back. One player cannot win or lose a game – although the Peyton Manning(notes)-less Indianapolis Colts could probably poke holes in that argument. But with the Eagles, it took a team effort – or a lack of one – to not bail Jackson or Reid out for their latest controversy.

Robert Dougherty is a life-long Philadelphia resident who has followed the Eagles since he was eight years old.

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That’s all for today guys, i’ll be back to blog you tomorrow.

Embarrassing Eagles are now done

Tvliozd — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 04:19:51 +0000

Well, that’ll do it for the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles. Another blown fourth-quarter lead at home to a team they should have beaten. Sunday’s loss to the John Skelton Arizona Cardinals was their worst yet, and it dropped their record to 3-6. You don’t fall apart and lose to the Cardinals at home and rebound to make the playoffs. Not when so much has already gone wrong and you arrived at the must-win-every-game portion of your season three weeks ago. The Eagles are going to have to win every one of their remaining seven games just to have a chance to make the postseason, and the problem with that is that they’re just not very good at winning games.

No team loses games the way the Eagles do. In some ways, no team ever has. Shortly after the game ended, Reuben Frank of CSN Philadelphia tweeted that the Eagles had just become the first team in NFL history to blow four fourth-quarter leads at home in a single season. And if that sounds incredible on its own, add in the fact that Sunday’s was just the Eagles’ fifth home game of the year. They’ve led in the fourth quarter of every home game they’ve played this year and are 1-4 at Lincoln Financial Field.

Nine games into a season that packed so much promise, the thing at which the Eagles seem best — the one thing at which they truly seem to excel, on a historic level — is losing. For all of the glittering resumes, big contracts and loud fanfare that accompanied the very good-looking pieces of this roster into town, the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles are going to go down in history as a bunch of losers.

You want to talk about the particulars of this latest rotten day? OK. It started before most of us were awake with the news that wide receiver DeSean Jackson would miss the game because he missed a Saturday team meeting. Jackson was ruled inactive for the game and, according to his spokesman, ordered to stay home, which apparently aggravated him. The statement Jackson’s spokesman released during the game called the stay-home order “totally inappropriate” and labeled it part of the team’s ongoing contract dispute with Jackson. Maybe true, but the core issue is that Jackson missed a meeting at a critical time of the season, and winners don’t do that.

So that’s what was going on before Michael Vick even took the field for one of the worst games of his career. With Jackson watching on TV at home, Vick threw two interceptions, had one overturned on replay and another called back for holding. He averaged 3.8 yards per pass attempt and never looked right. It’s entirely possible he was affected by Jackson’s absence and the in-game injuries that limited Jeremy Maclin. But if that’s the case, it’s an indictment of Vick himself. The Eagles have plenty of offensive weapons — certainly enough with which to beat the Cardinals — and even if it meant constant dump-offs to LeSean McCoy and Brent Celek, Vick should have been able to make it work.

In the end, he didn’t. Not when it counted. Not in the fourth quarter, when games are won and lost and quarterbacks forge their legacies. Not once this year has Vick led the Eagles to a fourth-quarter comeback. Not once has he toughened up when it mattered most and delivered the kind of clutch plays or throws that Eli Manning or even Tony Romo have in their teams’ big wins. Vick has been handed the keys to this franchise, and he keeps finding ways to stall out on the final lap while the John Skeltons of the world drive right past him.

And he’s not alone. The same thing can be said of the Eagles’ defense. Not once this year has the Eagles’ defense made a big stop on an opponent’s would-be game-winning fourth-quarter drive. The receiver always gets behind the cornerback — or is given too much room to make the catch. The Eagles never snag the key turnover the way their opponents always seem to. I and others wrote last week that the Eagles aren’t tough enough, on either side of the ball. They snapped back, vigorously denying accusations that they were “soft.” But then, provided with a perfect opportunity to prove themselves right and all of the rest of us wrong, they failed again. As they always do.

People want heads to roll, and maybe some will. Maybe Juan Castillo can’t survive as defensive coordinator. Maybe Jackson’s out the door after this year. (Maybe he was anyway). But the wholesale changes for which the fans clamor remain unlikely. Andy Reid isn’t gong anywhere. Vick isn’t going anywhere. The so-far-disappointing Nnamdi Asomugha isn’t going anywhere. The only good news for all of these guys is that it appears their offseason is going to be very long, and offer them ample time to reflect on the many, many things they did wrong to cost themselves their dream season.

When the Eagles look back on this season, they’re going to see a lot of opportunities to make the big play, to prove their toughness, to establish themselves as winners and not losers. And in nearly every single case, they’re going to see that they let those opportunities slip away. That will be their punishment for this inexcusable mess of a season, and it will have been well earned.

What are your opinions.

Arizona Cardinals-Philadelphia Eagles inactives:…

UjdhTgdgb — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:42:41 +0000

by Kent Somers – Nov. 13, 2011 10:21 AM
The Arizona Republic | azcentral.com

As expected, quarterback Kevin Kolb (foot) is among the Cardinals inactive. He’ll miss his second consecutive game.

Latest NFL power rankings | Top football games to watch on TV

The team’s best two receiving tight ends, Todd Heap (hamstring) and Rob Housler (groin) also are inactive.

The other inactive players are: WR Stephen Williams, safety Kerry Rhodes, linebacker Jerry Porter and offensive lineman D’Anthony Batiste.

Eagles receiver and punt returner DeSean Jackson will be inactive today against the Cardinals because he missed a team meeting on Saturday, according to Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News.

That’s a break for the Cardinals, obviously, because Jackson is the Eagles’ best deep threat. On the Eagles depth chart, Jason Avant is listed as Jackson’s backup.

Leave your comments on the news below.

AP sources: Eagles WR Jackson inactive

SDAasync — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:11:34 +0000

PHILADELPHIA (AP)—Two people familiar with the situation said Philadelphia
Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson(notes) is inactive against Arizona on Sunday
because he missed a team meeting.

The people spoke on condition of anonymity Sunday because the team did not
officially announce the punishment. Jackson skipped a meeting on Saturday. It
wasn’t the first time Jackson has been late or missed a meeting, one person
said, calling this the “final straw.” He has 29 catches for 503 yards and two
touchdowns this season.

Jason Avant(notes) replaces Jackson in the starting lineup. Free safety Nate Allen(notes)
(concussion) and left guard Evan Mathis(notes) (toe) also are inactive. Rookie Jaiquawn
Jarrett(notes) takes Allen’s spot and King Dunlap(notes) fills in for Mathis.

For Arizona, quarterback Kevin Kolb(notes) is inactive for the second straight game
because of turf toe. John Skelton(notes) starts in his place. Kolb began last season as
Philadelphia’s No. 1 quarterback, but lost his job to Michael Vick(notes) after
sustaining a concussion in Week 1. He was traded for cornerback Dominique
Rodgers-Cromartie(notes) and a draft pick.

Jackson is in the final year of his rookie contract and held out for 11 days
during training camp.

Jackson had 110 catches for 2,223 yards and 15 TDs as a receiver the last
two years and already owns the franchise record with four punt returns for
scores.

Thanks for visiting our blog =).

Eagles will bench DeSean Jackson for missing a…

KateMeri — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 19:52:33 +0000

(Photo credit: Getty Images)

When the Philadelphia Eagles take on the Arizona Cardinals today, they will aparently do so without the services of their best receiver. According to Les Bowen of Philly.com, Jackson missed a special teams meeting on Saturday morning and is listed as inactive.

Jackson has claimed that he slept through his alarm, and that’s why he wasn’t in attendance.

It’s unknown whether dissatisfaction was another root cause behind Jackson missing the meeting, but the 24-year-old receiver has long been unhappy with his contract — he’s in the last year of his rookie deal and making just $600,000 in base salary. Team president Joe Banner has said that Jackson is entitled to a contract extension, but confusion regarding the new collective bargaining agreement prevented that from happening.

While it’s difficult to excuse any player from missing a meeting without prior notice, you could understand why the Eagles’ reasoning wouldn’t necessarily wash with Jackson. The Eagles were by far the most aggressive team in free agency once a new CBA was reached, spending big bucks on star players like Nnamdi Asomugha(notes) and Cullen Jenkins(notes). Results have been mixed, and the Eagles currently stand at 3-5, right down at the bottom of the NFC East with the plummeting Washington Redskins.

So far this season, Jackson hasn’t done much to forward his case on the field — he’s caught just 29 passes for 503 yards and two touchdowns in 2011, and those are not elite receiver numbers. The formerly elite returner fumbled a punt that led to a Chicago Bears touchdown in last Monday’s loss. He also caught just two passes on eight targets against Chicago.

“Of course, everybody in this locker room can say there’s something they can get better at, so I’m not sitting here saying there’s nothing I can get better at, but at the end of the day, I’m putting my best effort up and I’m trying my hardest,” Jackson said after that game.

The Eagles probably won’t need Jackson to beat the moribund Cardinals at home, but the way the team’s been playing overall, an “all hands on deck” mentality would serve this team much better, and it’s the one thing this team hasn’t really enjoyed this season.

Related: Nnamdi Asomugha, Cullen Jenkins, DeSean Jackson, Arizona Cardinals, Chicago Bears, Philadelphia Eagles, Washington Redskins, A Higher Level of Nonsense

Leave any suggestions in the comment box.

Fantasy Standouts for Eagles Offense Through Bye…

stybripsy — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:12:00 +0000

The Philadelphia Eagles have a bye in Week Seven. That means fantasy owners don’t have to worry about how any members of the team will perform this week. With the bye week here, it is a good time to evaluate which Eagles players have stood out the most so far in the 2011 season. In terms of offensive players, the Eagles have gotten some big numbers from several players. Here are the five Eagles that have stood out the most through the first six games of the season in terms of fantasy numbers.

1. LeSean McCoy(notes)

McCoy has been a superstar so far in 2011. Through six games, McCoy has run for 569 yards and six touchdowns. That is all the more impressive when you consider the fact that McCoy was non-factor in one game, getting only nine carries for 18 yards. Generally speaking, he has been the most consistent fantasy player on the team. To make him even more appealing to fantasy owners, McCoy also has a pair of receiving touchdowns.

2. Michael Vick(notes)

Vick has already thrown more interceptions than he did in all of 2010. However, he has also put up some big numbers on offense. Vick has already passed the 1,500 yard mark and thrown nine touchdown passes. He has also picked up 372 yards on the ground. Vick’s interception total was boosted by the terrible game against the Buffalo Bills. Many of his picks were also the fault of the receivers. Overall, he has been a quality fantasy starter.

3. Jeremy Maclin(notes)

Maclin has been a strong receiver for the most part during the season. His 37 receptions, 489 yards, and three receiving touchdowns all top the team. Maclin has blossomed into one of the leading receivers in the NFL. His fumble might have hurt some fantasy owners, but Maclin is still a viable starter every week. He has benefited from a healthy Vick getting the ball in big situations.

4. DeSean Jackson(notes)

Jackson has been up and down. But when he is on, he is good. Overall, Jackson has good numbers among NFL receivers. He was pretty quiet during the home losses to the New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers but has found his stride since then. Jackson only has two receiving touchdowns but has made up for that with a lot of yards. Like Maclin, Jackson is a great choice to start because he can post a big game at any time.

* – Mark Paul is a regular fantasy football player and fan of the Philadelphia Eagles.

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Running low on time today, i’ll be back tomorrow hopefully with some more news.

Bills are on a roll! Take out Eagles 31-24

ralptaundar — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 08:28:29 +0000

Read more: Buffalo Bills, Football, Philadelphia Eagles, Turnovers, Local Pro, NFL

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. (AP) – Running back Fred Jackson and an opportunistic Buffalo Bills defense combined to defeat the slow-starting, underachieving and turnover-prone Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Jackson finished with a combined 196 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 5-yard run in a 31-24 victory. Linebacker Nick Barnett had two of Buffalo’s four interceptions.

After scoring on a 31-yard interception return in the second quarter, Barnett sealed the victory by grabbing Michael Vick’s tipped pass intended for Jason Avant with 1:49 remaining at the Bills 26. It came as the Eagles were attempting to tie the game and overcome a 21-point second-half deficit.

The Bills took over and never gave the ball back. The game was decided on – what else? – another Eagles miscue.

Facing fourth-and-inches at midfield with 1:23 left, Bills quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick was successful in getting Eagles defensive end Juqua Parker to jump offside. That gave Buffalo a new set of downs and a chance to run out the clock after Philadelphia had used up its timeouts.

The Bills (4-1) bounced back from blowing a 14-point lead in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati last weekend. Buffalo has matched its best start since 2008.

The Eagles (1-4) continue to unravel. And not even Vick’s suggestion of dropping their “Dream Team” label this week has put a stop to this ongoing nightmare.

Vick went 26 of 40 for 315 yards passing and two touchdowns, but was undone by a career-worst four interceptions. He added 90 yards rushing give him 4,948 for his career, passing Randall Cunningham for most yards by an NFL quarterback.

Philadelphia has lost four in a row – it’s longest skid since 2005 – and is off to its worst start since 1999, coach Andy Reid’s first season.

The Bills rolled to a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter on Brad Smith’s 6-yard scamper.

The Eagles rallied back by scoring 17 points on three of their next four drives before their sloppiness resurfaced on their final possession.

Facing third-and-3 at the Bills 29, Vick attempted a swing pass to Avant at the left sideline. Cornerback Drayton Florence got his hands on the ball, which tipped off Avant as he was falling backward. Barnett then scooped it up before the ball hit the ground.

The Bills defense made up for allowing 489 yards offense by forcing five takeaways, including a fumble recovery. Buffalo now has 12 interceptions – one more than it had all last year. And the defense has scored touchdowns on interception returns in three straight games, matching Buffalo’s best stretch since its inaugural season in 1960.

Safety George Wilson led the defense with 11 tackles, an interception and broke up three passes.

Vick had three of his first four possessions end with interceptions.

After his third interception to Barnett, Vick walked off the field with his head down before being consoled on the sideline by several teammates and coach Andy Reid, who put his arm on the quarterback’s shoulder. As Vick returned to the field, guard Danny Watkins patted Vick on the helmet.

LeSean McCoy scored on a 10-yard run, while Vick hit DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin for touchdown passes.

The Eagles offense didn’t get much help from its high-priced defense, which had difficulty tackling in allowing Buffalo 331 yards offense and 21 first downs.

Receiver Donald Jones set up Jackson’s game-opening touchdown with an 18-yard catch-and-run, in which he broke three tackles before being brought down at the Eagles 6.

And they were totally caught off guard on a screen pass to Jackson, who ran free for 49 yards to set up the Bills’ second score, David Nelson’s 6-yard catch.

Fitzpatrick went 21 of 27 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

Not much else going on in the NFL world today.

Eagles continue fall in 31-24 loss to Bills

affiffadulp — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 04:05:24 +0000

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. —

Just when it looked as though it couldn’t get any worse for the underachieving Philadelphia Eagles, it did.

Now the most-hyped team in the preseason finds itself with one of the worst records in the NFL after a 31-24 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

After squandering fourth-quarter leads in each of their past three games, the Eagles were in position to rally from a 21-point deficit against the upstart Bills. But Michael Vick’s fourth interception of the game late in the fourth quarter gave the Bills the ball, and Juqua Parker jumped offsides with 1:23 left on a fourth-and-inches play on Buffalo quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick’s hard-count to allow the Bills to run out the clock and secure a win over the free-falling Eagles.

Philadelphia’s 1-4 record was expected to be reversed at this point. Instead, they’re a team that commits too many turnovers and penalties, and isn’t opportunistic enough on offense when they get deep into the opposition’s territory.

“I’ve never been a part of anything where you feel like things are snowballing on you,” Eagles tight end Brent Celek said. “You feel like when you’re in the game, things just continually feel like they’re not falling your way. But that’s up to us, we can turn it around.”

Vick went 26 of 40 for 315 yards passing and two touchdowns, but was undone by his career-worst four interception day. He added 90 yards rushing give him 4,948 for his career, passing Randall Cunningham for most yards by an NFL quarterback.

Philadelphia has lost four in a row _ its longest skid since 2005 _ and is off to its worst start since 1999, coach Andy Reid’s first season.

“We’ve just got to put it all together for four quarters,” Vick said. “At this point, it’s out of the coach’s hands. I think it’s the players, because we’re the ones out there.”

Buffalo running back Fred Jackson finished with a combined 196 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 5-yard run, and linebacker Nick Barnett had two of Buffalo’s four interceptions.

After scoring on a 31-yard interception return in the second quarter, Barnett sealed the victory by grabbing Vick’s tipped pass intended for Jason Avant with 1:49 remaining at the Bills 26.

The Bills took over and never gave the ball back. The game was decided on _ what else? _ another Eagles miscue.

Parker’s gaffe gave the Bills a new set of downs and a chance to run out the clock after Philadelphia had used up its timeouts.

The Bills (4-1) bounced back from blowing a 14-point lead in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati last weekend. Buffalo has matched its best start since 2008.

“We’re putting ourselves in a tremendous opportunity,” Jackson said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re happy where we are right now.”

The Bills rolled to a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter on Brad Smith’s 6-yard scamper.

The Eagles rallied back by scoring 17 points on three of their next four drives before their sloppiness resurfaced on their final possession.

The Bills defense made up for allowing 489 yards offense by forcing five takeaways, including a fumble recovery. Buffalo now has 12 interceptions _ one more than it had all last year. And the defense has scored touchdowns on interception returns in three straight games, matching Buffalo’s best stretch since its inaugural season in 1960.

“Guys are doing a great job making plays on the ball,” Barnett said.

Safety George Wilson led the defense with 11 tackles, an interception and broke up three passes.

Vick had three of his first four possessions end with interceptions.

After his third interception to Barnett, Vick walked off the field with his head down before being consoled on the sideline by several teammates and Reid, who put his arm on the quarterback’s shoulder. As Vick returned to the field, guard Danny Watkins patted Vick on the helmet.

LeSean McCoy scored on a 10-yard run, while Vick hit DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin for touchdown passes.

The Eagles’ offense didn’t get much help from its high-priced defense, which had difficulty tackling in allowing Buffalo 331 yards offense and 21 first downs.

Receiver Donald Jones set up Jackson’s game-opening touchdown with an 18-yard catch-and-run, in which he broke three tackles before being brought down at the Eagles 6.

And they were totally caught off guard on a screen pass to Jackson, who ran free for 49 yards to set up the Bills’ second score, David Nelson’s 6-yard catch.

Fitzpatrick went 21 of 27 for 193 yards with a touchdown and an interception.

There is the quick update of the day.

Philadelphia Eagles continue to free-fall, drop…

Acedaoff — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 03:52:40 +0000

Philadelphia has lost four in a row — its longest skid since 2005 — and is off to its worst start since 1999, coach Andy Reid’s first season.

“We’ve just got to put it all together for four quarters,” Vick said. “At this point, it’s out of the coach’s hands. I think it’s the players, because we’re the ones out there.”

Buffalo running back Fred Jackson finished with a combined 196 yards from scrimmage and scored on a 5-yard run, and linebacker Nick Barnett had two of Buffalo’s four interceptions.

After scoring on a 31-yard interception return in the second quarter, Barnett sealed the victory by grabbing Vick’s tipped pass intended for Jason Avant with 1:49 remaining at the Bills 26.

The Bills took over and never gave the ball back. The game was decided on — what else? — another Eagles miscue.

Parker’s gaffe gave the Bills a new set of downs and a chance to run out the clock after Philadelphia had used up its timeouts.

The Bills (4-1) bounced back from blowing a 14-point lead in a 23-20 loss at Cincinnati last weekend. Buffalo has matched its best start since 2008.

“We’re putting ourselves in a tremendous opportunity,” Jackson said. “We still have a lot of work to do, but we’re happy where we are right now.”

The Bills rolled to a 28-7 lead early in the third quarter on Brad Smith’s 6-yard scamper.

The Eagles rallied back by scoring 17 points on three of their next four drives before their sloppiness resurfaced on their final possession.

The Bills defense made up for allowing 489 yards offense by forcing five takeaways, including a fumble recovery. Buffalo now has 12 interceptions — one more than it had all last year. And the defense has scored touchdowns on interception returns in three straight games, matching Buffalo’s best stretch since its inaugural season in 1960.