The Challenges (No Internet Use before Answering!)

1) Two Philadelphia Eagles quarterbacks were the first (data since 1960) to rush for at least 75 yards and throw for at least 125 yards in their first NFL starts. Name the QBs, and give the years (plus or minus two) in which these feats were accomplished. (Four possible points.)

2) The Eagles have never won a Super Bowl, and yet hold an odd record regarding NFL championship wins. Give that record; give the teams they defeated, the years of their wins, and for “extra credit” give those championship game scores. (Seven possible points; at least four are total giveaways.)

3) Name the first Eagle inducted into The Pro Football Hall of Fame, and give that player’s most impressive statistic. (Two possible points.)

4) Active players: who has more receptions – TE Brent Celek (five-year career) or WR DeSean Jackson (four-year career)? Give their total receptions (plus or minus three). Which player has scored more touchdowns? Give those numbers. (Six possible points.)

5) Active players: LeSean “Shady” McCoy is about to negotiate a new contract with the Eagles. Last season he rushed for career-high 1309 yards; where would 1309 yards rank among the rushing seasons posted by former Eagles backfield star Brian Westbrook (first? fifth? ninth? etc.)?

The Answers

1) The first QB to accomplish this dual threat record was Jack Concannon in 1964; the second was Randall Cunningham in 1985.

2) The Eagles are the only NFL team to post back-to-back NFL championship shutout wins, defeating the Chicago Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams in 1948 and 1949, respectively, by scores of 7-0 and 14-0.

3) The first Eagle to get a bust in Canton’s shrine was Bert Bell in 1963. The matter of Bell’s statistics is arguably a trick question since he was basically elected to the Hall of Fame as a “League Administrator” (Commissioner, 1946-59) and “Owner” (the Eagles and the Pittsburgh Steelers). As a coach of the Eagles (1936-41), he lead teams that posted a woeful 10-46-2 record. As commissioner, he brought three All-America Football Conference teams, the Cleveland Browns, Baltimore Colts, and San Francisco 49ers, into the NFL. As a player, Bell quarterbacked Penn into the Rose Bowl in 1916. Either that fact or the morbid fact that Bell died of a heart attack while watching “his” two teams, the Eagles and Steelers, play at Franklin Field on Penn’s campus (October 11, 1959) would gain you the second point for number three.

4) The answers in order: Jackson; De Sean leads Brent in receptions, 230-223; Jackson; he leads the big TE in TDs, 28 (21 catches, 3 rushes, 4 kick returns) to 19 (all receptions).

5) McCoy’s third year rushing total would have ranked second only to Westbrook’s sixth-year total of 1333 in 2007.

The author, a long-time Eagles fan, thinks they should give Shady McCoy the big bucks.

Have you heard? The Philadelphia Eagles are having a great offseason. Yeah, again. They settled the DeSean Jackson contract mess, extended deals for a few key veterans, stole middle linebacker DeMeco Ryans from the Texans and, according to many analysts, may have had the best draft of any team in the league. If the season were starting today, I guarantee they’d be the most popular pick to win the NFC East, ahead of the Super Bowl champion Giants and everyone else.

But me, I’m not so sure. I need to see it from the quarterback.

Michael Vick will enter the 2012 season under more pressure than any other quarterback in the NFL. The Eagles have told anyone who’ll listen that they believe last year’s team was too talented to go 8-8, that it got better as the year went along and that the four-game winning streak that closed their season can have a carryover effect into 2012. But no matter how true any of those assertions turn out to be, it’s still going to be up to Vick to cash them in.

The defense took a lot of the heat for the Eagles’ 2011 disappointment, and early on it did struggle to come together. But it finished eighth in the league in fewest yards allowed and tied for the league lead in sacks. If the defense does that again, it’s going to be tough to blame whatever goes wrong on that side of the ball.

It was on the offensive side that Vick turned the ball over 14 times during last year’s 3-6 start, coughed up the Arizona game by playing with broken ribs and not telling anyone and then missed three games during which backup Vince Young threw enough interceptions to make Vick look like the world champion of darts. Vick was as responsible for the Eagles’ flop of a season as anyone else was, and it’s worth making a point of that as the Eagles look ahead to 2012 with high hopes. Because that word — “responsible” — is the one the Eagles would most like Vick to keep in mind.

The Eagles don’t need Vick to be the dazzling, electrified, high-speed wonder he was in 2010. It’d be nice, but no one expects him to repeat that once-in-a-lifetime performance and no one ever did. What the Eagles wanted from Vick in 2011 was to evolve a bit as a top-level quarterback — to assume more responsibility for the offense, not to mention the ball and his own body. Vick has undeniable athletic talent of a sort no one else in the league could ever dream. But what he has yet to do is take that critical next step that transforms quarterback talent into quarterback success.

The quarterbacks who become great in the NFL are the ones who treat the position as a craft to be perpetually honed and refined. Vick had that opportunity in 2011 as a clear starter on a team that surrounded him with brilliant weapons. At the urging of new offensive line coach Howard Mudd, who prefers things to work this way, Vick was for the first time in his Eagles career given the responsibility of calling the protection at the line of scrimmage — of reading the defense before the snap and calling out the assignments for the linemen based on what he saw. At the beginning of the year, it caused confusion, as one might expect. But even as the year went on, Vick struggled to get in sync with his line.

Part of that is the style with which he plays — running around behind the line, determined to keep plays alive past a point at which most quarterbacks would have thrown the ball out of bounds. But that’s part of this responsibility theme, too. Part of Vick’s maturation as a quarterback needs to include knowing what he should and shouldn’t try — and when. If he becomes more responsible about knowing the right and wrong times to take chances, that’ll help his protection, his turnovers and his health.

And he has to take care of those last two things above all else. No team can afford to turn the ball over as much as the Eagles in did in 2011, and the Eagles can’t afford to play without Vick. As proud as they are of their draft, last year’s free agency and the depth of talent on their roster, they’re not a contender if Mike Kafka or Nick Foles or Trent Edwards is the guy taking the snaps for an extended period of time. Just as they weren’t a contender last year when Young was under center. The Eagles’ offense is built around Vick and must run through him or it’s not going to operate on the level required of a team with Super Bowl aspirations.

So the pressure on Vick isn’t just to win — it’s to be responsible. To think more carefully about his throws and his other on-field decisions. To keep the big picture in mind. If he can do this — if he can take these next critical steps in his development as a quarterback, even at the age of 32, Vick is good enough to cash in his opportunity. He’s good enough to pilot an offense that has Jackson and Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy to playoff glory. He’s good enough to come up with that signature game-winning fourth-quarter drive his résumé still lacks. He’s got the talent and he’s got everything in place around him to help him succeed. But once the curtain goes up on this 2012 season, it’s going to be on Vick himself to make sure he does. It may well be the best and last chance he ever gets.

The 2012 NFL Draft is only two days away and it gives us a clearer look at what teams like the Philadelphia Eagles are thinking of doing on Thursday.

The Eagles possess the 15^th pick in the 2012 NFL Draft after going 8-8 last season. The Eagles have a few holes that they need to fill on the roster, especially on the defensive side. The Eagles are well-equipped on offense with quarterback Michael Vick, Lesean McCoy, Desean Jackson, and Jeremy Maclin, but won’t be able to compete with the ultra-competitive NFC East unless they improve on defense.

Don’t be surprised to see the Eagles take after the defending Super Bowl champion, the New York Giants, and load up on defensive linemen, according to Sports Illustrated’s Peter King. The Giants cruised through the playoffs with a dominating defensive line presence of Justin Tuck, Jason Pierre-Paul, Osi Umenyiora, and others on the way to defeating the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

“I think the way that NFL teams are playing today is to play waves of defensive linemen,” King said on a view preview of the Eagles’ draft preparations. “I wouldn’t be surprised if Eagles go defensive end to try to get a good rotation, maybe a Quinton Coples in the first round. “Someone to give Cole and Babbitt some help in a much needed blow.”

Coples, a huge 6-foot-6 defensive end/tackle hybrid, could be one of the most talented defensive players in the draft, but there are some questions surrounding him. NFL Network’s Mike Mayock said he “could be an All-Pro but he’s got bust potential written all over him.”

Sports Illustrated’s Chris Burke called him “without a doubt one of the best players in the draft,” but said that there are questions about his motivation and drive. King has the Eagles taking Coples with the 15^th pick, but others may have jumped ahead of him on the Eagles’ draft board.

One player who has jumped up the board is Syracuse defensive end Chandler Jones, according to Philly.com’s Sheil Kapadia. Kapadia reported on Tuesday that Jones was the top rated defensive end for the Eagles and that the team prefers him to Coples, Memphis defensive tackle Dontari Poe, and LSU defensive tackle Michael Brockers.

If not Coples, Jones, Poe, or Brockers, the Eagles could go after one of these players:

Fletcher Cox, defensive tackle, Mississippi State

Cox, a 6-foot-4, 295-pound junior, could be just what the Eagles are looking for on their defensive line, but will they even get a chance to draft him? By most accounts Cox is a Top 10 pick, but the Eagles might be willing to move up in the draft, according to DraftInsider’s Tony Pauline. Pauline reported that there’s buzz around Philly that the Eagles could try to make a move up for Cox, who would be “perfect for the Eagles wide nine/nine technique.”

Mark Barron, safety, Alabama

Barron had an impressive career as a part of the national champion Crimson Tide. The 6-foot-1, 213-pounder is rated by many as the top-ranked safety in this year’s draft and is known for his excellent run-stopping ability. The issue for the Eagles is that the Dallas Cowboys, picking at No. 14, are believed to covet Barron and are “locked in” to drafting him, according to Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks. If the Cowboys pass up on Barron, it might be hard for the Eagles to do the same.

Luke Kuechly, linebacker, Boston College

Kuechly, the all-time leading tackler in ACC history, is the smart, decisive linebacker that the Eagles need. The 6-foot-3, 237-pounder is known for great instincts and could play a major role for a team right off the bat. The problem, as with most of the Eagles’ targets, is that there’s a good chance he is off the board before the Eagles pick. Both King and Banks have the Chiefs taking Kuechly at No. 11.

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PHILADELPHIA – The calendar says Howie Roseman will preside over his third NFL draft as general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles.

It’s the first one he can really put his stamp on.

Roseman replaced Tom Heckert in January 2010, just a few months before the draft — when most of the scouting and grading of players already was complete. Last year, the lockout changed much of the landscape, and free agency came after the draft.

“You want to put your own spin on it and you want to bring in some of your own people and the people that share your philosophy,” Roseman said. “And I think that takes time.”

With three of the top 51 picks in this draft, and nine picks overall, one thing is clear.

The time is now.

“There’s an evolution of trying to get guys, guys who have contracts, bring them into the building and if you’re changing things, certainly in the first year, you can’t do that right away because you’re coming in in January, the scouting’s going on and then you have a draft right there,” Roseman said. “And the second year, last year was a unique situation. No excuses, but it was a unique situation in terms of the timing of the draft and free agency.”

There’s more pressure on Roseman this time around because the Eagles are coming off a disappointing season that began with tons of hype and Super Bowl expectations. They finished 8-8, which earned them the No. 15 pick on Thursday night.

“You feel like this is the first year that really the playing field is level and it is what it was supposed to be,” Roseman said. “I’m really excited about that. I’m excited about our football team that we have now, excited to add to that, and excited about the future.”

The Eagles need to bolster a defence that struggled badly before a season-ending, four-game winning streak. A pass rusher and a playmaking safety are tops of Philadelphia‘s list of needs. Safety Mark Barron (Alabama), tackles Fletcher Cox (Mississippi State), Michael Brockers (LSU) and Jerel Worthy (Michigan State) or ends Quinton Coples (North Carolina) and Nick Perry (USC) could be the choice with the 15th pick.

Of course, Roseman insists the Eagles will follow the popular pre-draft cliché, and take the “best player available.”

“I think when we go back and look back at our drafts, sometimes we have probably drafted based on need, based on some circumstances,” he said, “and we’re trying to make sure that we’re taking the best player available now, going forward.”

He may have been referring to trading up and taking defensive end Jerome McDougle at No. 15 in 2003. Or choosing wide receiver Freddie Mitchell at No. 25 in 2001. Roseman wasn’t the GM for either of those drafts, but he was part of the organization. McDougle and Mitchell are the two biggest busts during Andy Reid’s tenure as coach.

“We always look at the draft as a long-term decision for our franchise,” Roseman said. “If that best player happens to be at a position where someone’s already starting but we think this guy has a chance to be a really great player for the Philadelphia Eagles, we’re still going to take him because we’re trying to take the best player; we’re not trying to take the best player at specific position.

“I think that’s important.”

Maybe that’s why there’s been some speculation the Eagles will move into the top 10 and take quarterback Ryan Tannehill, even though they have Michael Vick. Despite making just 19 starts under centre at Texas A&M, Tannehill is expected to be the third quarterback taken in the draft behind Stanford’s Andrew Luck and Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III of Baylor.

It would be a stunner if he came to Philadelphia.

“We have so much confidence in Michael Vick leading our team,” Roseman said. “The way that he works, and the determination he has, we’re all in with Michael. Michael is still a young quarterback. He looks great to me. He’s healthy and he’s determined. We feel very lucky to have him as our franchise quarterback.”

Roseman’s first two drafts are still being graded.

In 2010, the Eagles traded up to No. 13 to draft defensive end Brandon Graham. He’s been limited to just 16 games because of injuries and has three sacks in two seasons. Jason Pierre-Paul went to the New York Giants two picks after Graham. Pierre-Paul had 16 1/2 sacks last season and played a key role in helping the Giants win the Super Bowl.

Clearly, that didn’t pan out for Roseman and the Eagles.

Last year, the Eagles stayed put at No. 23 and selected guard Danny Watkins, a 26-year-old former firefighter who hadn’t played football until college. Watkins had a solid rookie season.

The Eagles found another starter for the offensive line in last year’s draft when they took centre Jason Kelce in the sixth round. Kelce was the only player chosen in the final two rounds that started 16 games. Linebacker Brian Rolle was second with 13 starts, and he also did it for the Eagles.

“We clearly want to come out of this with a player that we feel really good about and get someone who can make a difference,” Roseman said. “That’s what we’re looking for as we go into the draft.”

Safety Brian Dawkins is retiring from the NFL after 16 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles and Denver Broncos, he announced Monday on Twitter.

“The Lord has blessed me to play in the NFL for 16 years,” Dawkins said. “I would like to thank the Eagles & the Broncos 4 believing In me. I would like 2 thank all my teammates & Coaches that I have been blessed 2 go to battle with. Along with u, the fans 4 helping make my career 1 that i have enjoyed tremendously. In other words. I am announcing my retirement from the NFL.”

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported after Dawkins’ announcement that the Eagles are working to bring the safety back this week so he can retire as an Eagle. The newspaper also reported that Dawkins would be honored during an Eagles game this season.

Dawkins finishes his career with 26 sacks and 37 interceptions. He played in one Super Bowl with the Eagles and made nine Pro Bowls (including this past season, as an alternate). Dawkins also was a four-time first-team All-Pro selection.

“Thank you, @BrianDawkins, for being a GREAT Bronco and showing such an incredible commitment to your team and community,” Broncos executive vice president of football operations John Elway wrote on Twitter, adding: “Congratulations on a Hall of Fame career, Dawk!!!”

Dawkins battled neck injuries toward the end of the 2012 season and missed two of the Broncos’ final three games of the regular season and the team’s two playoff games.

“Brian Dawkins is one of the best to ever play the game, a future Hall of Famer who changed the way his position is played,” Broncos coach John Fox said in a statement released by the team. “In many ways, he helped my job as a coach with his great leadership and preparation. He brought so much to the table and was such an enormous asset to our football team.

“His contributions go far beyond the wins, interceptions, sacks and Pro Bowls he accumulated during his career. Brian is the definition of class and is what you want in a leader. I know our players, coaches, fans and so many within the National Football League feel the same way.”

Dawkins’ contract with the Broncos expired after the season, and The Denver Post reported he spent close to six weeks mulling over his options.

“I’m a little emotional right now,” Dawkins told The Post shortly after announcing his retirement, adding that he needs some time before he can talk.

The Eagles will start the 2012 season with an easy (on paper) opener at Cleveland, but will face teams coming off playoff seasons in six of their next seven games.

The same cannot be said of the Birds, who got off to a miserable 1-4 start a year ago and missed the postseason for only the third time in 12 seasons.

That early slate was considered by many to be the gentler portion of the 2011 schedule, while the home stretch was deemed a more difficult test. The Eagles, though, in a case of too little, too late, swept the final four games to finish 8-8.

As challenging as the NFL schedule-makers have seemed to set the Eagles’ first half – one that could decide coach Andy Reid’s future in Philadelphia – April is still a long way from September, and the league increasingly has turnover.

Still, Reid, in his 14th season, will have to avoid a number of land mines if his team is to return to the playoffs. The Eagles will face four teams coming off bye weeks, and both meetings with Dallas will follow Monday night games.

After visiting the Browns on Sept. 9 – just two weeks after the teams meet in the preseason – the Eagles will host Baltimore in their Lincoln Financial Field opener on Sept. 16.

It will be the first time Ravens coach and former Eagles assistant John Harbaugh faces his old team in Philadelphia, and the first time Audubon, N.J., native Joe Flacco returns to the area as an NFL quarterback.

The Eagles then fly west to visit Arizona on Sept. 23. Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb could have the opportunity to play against his former team, a chance he didn’t have a season ago after he suffered a concussion.

The highlight of the first month, however, will be a Sunday night showdown Sept. 30 at the Linc against the defending Super Bowl champion New York Giants. The Eagles won’t say it publicly, but many believed they were just as good as their Eli Manning-led NFC East rivals last season.

The game, on NBC10, will be the first of five in prime time. The Eagles, still quite the draw, are one of only eight teams with as many nighttime starts.

The schedule doesn’t get any easier with a trip to Pittsburgh on Oct. 7, though some have the Steelers as an AFC team in decline. Detroit, on the contrary, is considered an up-and-comer. The Birds will host the Lions on Oct. 14.

After a bye, the Eagles will square off with Atlanta for the fifth consecutive year. Both teams will be playing with an extra week’s rest, but Reid is 13-0 after the bye. The Birds will have an additional day off the following week when they head south for a Monday night tilt at New Orleans on Nov. 5. That’s typically a tough assignment. This time, it’s tough to say what kind of Saints team the Eagles will see. Coach Sean Payton has been suspended for the season because of the team’s bounty scandal, and quarterback Drew Brees may not be a happy camper if he has to play under the franchise tag.

The Eagles then jump back into their division when the Dallas Cowboys come to town on Nov. 11, and they will drive down I-95 to face Washington on Nov. 18. The latter game likely will be the Eagles’ first shot at rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III, whom the Redskins are widely expected to take with the No. 2 overall pick in next week’s draft.

Last season’s dynamo quarterback, Cam Newton, will be on display when the Eagles welcome the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 26 – a Monday night. The Birds will travel to Dallas on Dec. 2 and to Tampa on Dec. 9.

They will have a short week to prepare for Cincinnati on Dec. 13, a Thursday night. Last season, the Eagles flew to Seattle for a mid-week game and were slaughtered by the Seahawks, essentially ending any postseason hopes.

The Birds gladly will accept the 10-day break before the Redskins visit the Linc on Dec. 23. And the season will end with a potential blockbuster against the Giants on Dec. 30 at the Meadowlands.

Here’s the Eagles’ entire 2012 regular-season schedule:

Sunday, Sept. 9: at Cleveland, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Sept. 16: vs. Baltimore, 1 p.m. (CBS)
Sunday, Sept. 23: at Arizona, 4:05 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Sept. 30: vs. N.Y. Giants, 8:30 p.m. (NBC)

Sunday, Oct. 7: at Pittsburgh, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Oct. 14: vs. Detroit, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Oct. 21: BYE
Sunday, Oct. 28: vs. Atlanta, 1 p.m. (FOX)

Monday, Nov. 5: at New Orleans, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN) 
Sunday, Nov. 11: vs. Dallas, 4:15 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Nov. 18: at Washington, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Monday, Nov. 26: vs. Carolina, 8:30 p.m. (ESPN)

Sunday, Dec. 2: at Dallas, 8:20 p.m. (NBC)
Sunday, Dec. 9: at Tampa, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Thursday, Dec. 13: vs. Cincinnati, 8:30 p.m. (NFL Network)
Sunday, Dec. 23: vs. Washington, 1 p.m. (FOX)
Sunday, Dec. 30: at N.Y. Giants, 1 p.m. (FOX) 

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Contact Jeff McLane at 215-854-4745, jmclane@phillynews.com, or follow @Jeff_McLane on Twitter.

PHILADELPHIA — A day after being traded to Philadelphia in a surprising deal with Houston, new Eagles linebacker DeMeco Ryans met the media and addressed his new city on Wednesday.

Ryans, a two-time Pro Bowl linebacker with the Texans, who was dealt for a fourth-round draft pick in 2012, was not shy about what he hopes to do with the Eagles, and made that known in a hurry.

“I feel the passion here from the fans and the love in here from the city. I’m just excited to get started,” he said. “We have a great team here with great teammates and I’m looking to come in here, do my part and be myself.

“I’m going to take this city to where we want to go.”

That would be — Eagles fans hope — to the Super Bowl for the first time since after the 2004 season.

Before any run at a title though, Ryan did admit — like many others — he was a bit taken back by the deal … as well as the timing. The 27-year-old linebacker and team captain, after all, left Houston as the Texans’ all-time leader with 637 tackles. He also contributed eight sacks, six forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries and two interceptions in his six-year career. He earned Pro Bowl honors following the 2007 and 2009 campaigns and was an Associated Press All-Pro selection in 2007.

“It was a little surprising when I first heard of the move, but at the same time, it was good because I knew I was coming to a good team,” he said. “I was excited about that because I know how good this team was in previous years and last year. I’ve gone down the road there and I knew I was coming to a good team. It was a perfect fit for me.”

The Eagles had problems at linebacker last season, and that weakness was evident in a 4-8 start. Philadelphia rallied with four consecutive wins to finish 8-8, but missed the playoffs a year after winning the NFC East.

“We were able to bring DeMeco into a good situation with his playing style,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said, “and obviously he will be a great asset to the defense. He’ll be playing middle linebacker for us.”

Ryans was a second-round draft pick by the Texans in 2006, the same year the team took Mario Williams with the top overall pick. Ryans made the bigger initial impact of the two stars, making 156 tackles to earn the Associated Press Defensive Rookie of the Year honor.

He was also durable, starting all 16 games in his first four seasons. He tore his left Achilles tendon in the sixth game of 2010 and the season collapsed, with the Texans dropping eight of their final 10 games.

“I can sense that everyone has been looking for that middle linebacker, and I’m happy to be the guy that they chose to step in and be the middle linebacker of this defense,” he said. “Like I said, it’s a perfect fit for me, and it’s what I like to do. I’m just eager to get started.”

He’s not alone.

“You’re talking about a really physical, instinctive linebacker. He’s in control,” Eagles general manager Howie Roseman said. “We always watch the middle linebacker in the biggest games toward the end of the season. We had the opportunity to watch him in a 4-3 defense a few years back, and saw him play against the NFC East. We felt very confident and comfortable making this trade.”

The Texans ranked second in total defense last season (285.7 yards per game), finished 10-6 and earned their first division title and playoff berth.

“It was great,” Ryans said of the postseason. “Houston was a place where we were building toward a playoff run. It took us a while to get there, but once we had the core guys in place, we did what winning teams do. We practiced the way winning teams practice, and we went out about our ways the way winning teams do.

“You saw that come to light with us making the playoffs, and us making a run on it.”

Now, if he can only do that in Philadelphia.

For weeks we have heard of a mystery team interested in Peyton Manning and now on the day of his release Philadelphia Eagles fans are hearing rumblings that it may be the Eagles. No way will Peyton Manning play in the NFC East against his brother Eli, many NFL experts are saying. No way will Peyton play in the NFC at all, say many others.

Peyton has three, possibly four years left to play in the NFL and he wants to win at least one more Super Bowl to equal his little brother’s accomplishment. Peyton’s best fit may be in the same division as brother Eli’s New York Giants. The teams with a glaring need for a legendary quarterback under center are in the NFC East.

If the Eagles put together the best offer, Peyton will wear Eagles green and he will play Eli twice a year in the regular season. The Eagles are the perfect fit for the former Indianapolis Colts legend. The Eagles have a top three running back in LeSean McCoy and they have an outstanding receiving corps headed by Jeremy Maclin and DeSean Jackson.

The Eagles also have an offensive-minded head coach in Andy Reid that will work well with Peyton’s offensive inventiveness. The combination of Reid, McCoy and the talented receivers on the Eagles provides a perfect fit for Manning but there is one problem: What about Michael Vick?

The Eagles are not committed to Vick long-term despite a six-year deal and this makes a Peyton Manning arrival in Philadelphia possible. An injury-prone Vick could work in tandem with Manning but will Vick’s ego get in the way and destroy the Eagles if Manning does sign?

The Eagles are the perfect fit for Manning and despite the potential issues, Philadelphia should campaign for the elder Manning’s services starting right now. If Manning wears the No. 18 for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2012 they are an instant favorite to win the Super Bowl. It is time for the Eagles front office to force the issue and pursue Peyton Manning—now!

*Todd Jacobs lives in Las Vegas but has been a Philadelphia Eagles fan since the ’70s. Members of Todd’s family were devout Eagles fans and he had little choice but to follow the Eagles from an early age.

Sources:

ESPN Clubhouse: Philadelphia Eagles stats and news

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The Philadelphia Eagles have enough of an uphill battle in the NFC next year. But now Eagles fans like myself, although with every other NFC and NFL fan base, will now be glued to the official start of the Peyton Manning sweepstakes. Although Philadelphia is too tied up in Michael Vick to make a run at Manning, it has to be weary of another NFC team making a run at him.

With Manning set to officially be released by the Indianapolis Colts on Mar. 7, a select few teams can officially start making offers for him. Since the possibility of his release came up, a few of those prospective contenders have been from the NFC. If one of them lands Manning, then the rest of the conference – including the Eagles – has one more big obstacle on the road to the Super Bowl.

The worst case scenario for the Eagles is that the Washington Redskins win the Manning lottery. In that case, both Peyton and defending Super Bowl champion Eli would face Philadelphia twice a season – and the lowly Redskins would be relevant again. Still, the Redskins might be a bit distracted now by the Gregg Williams scandal, since one of his bounty programs was allegedly in Washington.

If this makes D.C. less attractive to Manning – to say nothing of facing Eli twice a year – then he may join the NFC on another coast. The Arizona Cardinals and San Francisco 49ers have been tossed around as good fits, given that the Cardinals have been let down by former Eagles Kevin Kolb and the 49ers were a step away from the Super Bowl last year. If Manning joins Arizona, the Cardinals could be Super Bowl contenders again – while the 49ers would be instant Super Bowl favorites if he comes to San Francisco.

Any of those scenarios would make the NFC pecking order even more crowded – and it is already crowded enough for the Eagles to deal with. The best outcome is for Manning to stay in the AFC, where the NFC doesn’t have to worry about him save for the odd inter-conference game and Super Bowl.

Luckily, the Miami Dolphins also seem to be a top contender, while many are drooling over Manning joining the New York Jets as well. Yahoo Sports’ Michael Silver is also listing the Houston Texans as his best possible fit – although then he would face the Colts twice a year. Perhaps that would motivate him to go there, but if he wants to be a bit further away, then the NFC is more of an option.

The entire NFL may be shifted by Manning’s upcoming choice, to say nothing of the NFC. Of course, that all depends on whether Manning is actually his old self when he retakes the field. But if he is, whoever gets him might have the fast track to Super Bowl contention, at the least – and make other contenders like the Eagles feel even more cramped in the pecking order.

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

Other stories by this contributor

Redskins offseason hopes may be hurt by past with Williams

Eagles stall for time with Jackson once more with franchise tag

Eagles now have Burress to consider as D-Day nears on Jackson

Jackson latest Eagle to get one more chance

Kolb to get dumped for another A-list QB again?

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The Philadelphia Eagles are still a prime destination, despite their disappointing 2011 season. Eagles fans like myself are certainly asking for more help, or at least some new blood now that Andy Reid and his crew are still around. Plaxico Burress may or may not be ideal new blood, but he is interested in the idea – as if Philadelphia didn’t have enough factors to consider in the DeSean Jackson saga.

If the Eagles can work out a new deal with Jackson, or at least franchise tag him and decide to keep him for one more year, they might not need new receivers so much. Yet if things with Jackson collapse, Burress’s statement on Feb. 28 about his interest in the Eagles becomes much more interesting.

The former Pittsburgh Steeler and New York Giant – and soon to be former New York Jet – told a Philadelphia radio show that “nothing else would make me happier” than joining the Eagles. Of course, given how Burress made himself expendable to the Steelers and Giants, then ultimately made things worse with the dysfunctional Jets last season, the Eagles have to be a little weary.

But while Burress seems to have his best years behind him, he is primarily used as a red zone threat these days. And as everyone in Philadelphia knows, scoring in the red zone was a major problem in the first 12 games last season. Reid loves to throw the ball even in second and third-and-goal situations anyway, so having a relative giant like Burress to catch balls in the end zone could make a difference.

Burress’s last stint with the Jets could be held against him, yet the Jets turned out to be screwed up enough even without his help. Since Reid runs a tighter ship, despite a few slipups in 2011, he could help keep Burress in line. However, if Jackson returns to Philadelphia and only has a franchise tag instead of a long term deal, putting him and Burress in the same locker room is a nuclear bomb waiting to happen.

Should Jackson return with a big new contract, then there would be less room for Burress and it might still be risky to put these two on the same team. Still, Jackson is more of a long bomb threat than a red zone receiver, so Burress’s services may remain valuable to Philadelphia. But if Jackson is traded, then Burress will probably need to come here right away – although it could just be trading one problematic receiver for another.

Since the demand for Burress won’t be as high as it was years ago, the Eagles still have time to decide what to do. In any case, the deadline to land him isn’t as pressing as the one involving Jackson. But now that Philadelphia knows it could get Burress as a replacement for Jackson, or a complimentary piece, it is just one more thing to deeply consider as the Eagles near their potential season-changing decision.

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

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Plaxico Burress is a free agent this year. In an interview with 97.5 The Fanatic, he stated that nothing else would make him happy than to play for the Philadelphia Eagles. Burress has a strong friendship with Philadelphia’s quarterback, Michael Vick. Rumor has it that the New York Jets do not plan on re-signing him.

Plaxico and the Jets

The Jets signed Plaxico Burress to a 1-year contract in 2011 after he had missed almost 3 years of football. His absence was due to a weapons charge. During the 2011 season, Burress was a huge threat in the red zone.

Should New York let Plax go?

Plaxico Burress offers the Jets something that they do not have in any other wideout—a tall guy who can out-jump any corner in the NFL. In a one-on-one situation, Plaxico will come up with the ball. Double-teaming Burress in the red zone means leaving other receivers open.

The New York Jets do not have anyone else that can replace the threat Plaxico Burress offers inside the 20-yard line. It would be in the Jet’s best interest to keep Burress on the roster.

Plax as an Eagle

Plaxico clearly stated that he wants to play for Philly. He believes that Michael Vick and the Eagles stand a good chance of going to the Super Bowl if he is on the roster. Burress feels that he would make a good addition to the talent that Philadelphia already has.

About Plaxico Burress

Plaxico Burress made his NFL comeback during the 2011 season with the New York Jets. He had a total of 45 receptions for 612 yards, averaging 13.6 yards per carry. He had eight touchdown receptions making him one of the top scorers for New York.

It would be a mistake for the New York Jets to let Plaxico Burress go to another team. He displayed continual improvement over the course of the 2011 season. If Burress does not stay with the Jets or move to Philly—the Jets run the risk of him going to an AFC rival like the New England Patriots or the Miami Dolphins.

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The Eagles struggled early and never recovered. A four-game winning streak at the end came too late and they finished 8-8, missing the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and just the fourth time in coach Andy Reid’s 13 seasons.

“It’s going to motivate us to work harder,” quarterback Michael Vick said Monday. “It’s very disappointing.”

After an offseason spending spree brought several accomplished players to Philadelphia and added to a roster that already featured Vick, LeSean McCoy and DeSean Jackson, the Eagles were the talk of the NFL. They were defending NFC East champions and seemingly on the rise.

So when Young compared his new teammates to the Miami Heat, some people scoffed but most expected the Eagles to make a serious run at the first championship since 1960. Even team president Joe Banner declared the Eagles “all-in” and called this a Super Bowl-or-bust year.

But the team quickly imploded.

“There were definitely red flags,” said defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins, who won the Super Bowl with Green Bay last season. “A lot of people see Super Bowl, or I think they let the fact that the Super Bowl is there, and so many people talk about it right away. You can hear people nowadays, they come out of the draft talking about Super Bowl and I think it kind of gets thrown around too loosely now.

“It’s obviously the ultimate goal in where you want to get to, but you have to understand that you have to work hard. It’s something that is a process and you have to take it each step at a time to get to it and I think a lot of time people just want to jump from preseason to the Super Bowl without doing what it takes in between.”

Various factors contributed to a four-game losing streak that dropped the Eagles to 1-4 and doomed them from the beginning. Vick couldn’t finish two games in September because of injuries, the offense made critical turnovers and the defense struggled mightily as new players tried to adjust to new defensive coordinator Juan Castillo’s system.

Finishing games was a problem, too. The Eagles lost five games in which they led in the fourth quarter. One play could’ve made the difference in a season where the division was mediocre. The Eagles weren’t eliminated from playoff contention until right before their next-to-last game kicked off and they ended up second behind the New York Giants (9-7).

“It will be tough to sit at home and watch the playoffs, but we have to maintain a positive outlook about what we could be and go into the offseason knowing that we can play with the best teams in the league,” wide receiver Jeremy Maclin said. “Philly is not used to not being in the playoffs. I think guys will be hungry. This offseason will be very critical for us and I think it will be good.”

It’s uncertain whether the team will make major changes. Reid was criticized heavily this season and many fans want him gone. They chanted “Fire Andy!” during a loss to New England. Reid refused to discuss his future after Sunday’s game and wasn’t available to reporters on Monday. He’s expected to return, but his coaching staff may look different.

The Philadelphia Eagles played their best football too late.

Michael Vick threw for 335 yards and three touchdown passes, ncluding a 62-yarder to DeSean Jackson, and the Eagles beat the ashington Redskins 34-10 Sunday for their fourth straight win.

But the Eagles (8-8) are going home despite the strong finish after ailing to qualify for the playoffs for the first time since 2007 and just he fourth time in coach Andy Reid’s 13 seasons. They can’t be atisfied after entering the year with Super Bowl aspirations

“That’s the unfortunate part,” Vick said. “Everybody’s jelling together, ur team is getting closer as a unit, everybody’s understanding their oaches and what they’re trying to do and their philosophy. We know hat needs to be done. We’ll fly under the radar and try to shock eople next year. Next year will be totally different. I promise you.”

Reid refused to discuss anything about the future, including whether e wants to return or if defensive coordinator Juan Castillo will be ack. Reid took plenty of criticism this season, and heard “Fire Andy!” hants during a loss to New England in November. Castillo was ntensely scrutinized in his first season after serving as an offensive ine coach for 13 years.

“We’ve got to get better all the way around, starting with me,” Reid aid. “This wasn’t good enough.”

The Redskins (5-11) finished last in the NFC East for a franchise orst fourth straight year. It was Mike Shanahan’s worst full season in 8 years as a coach.

“I think the last five, six games we’ve done some good things, run the football against some good teams, not as good as we need, though,” Shanahan said. “We talked about adding a few pieces on offense, we need a few pieces on defense, a good draft, but we made some strides. Our football team is a lot different than a year ago, and that’s a positive.”

One of four NFL games on the final day that had no playoff ramifications, this had the feel of a preseason game. There were thousands of empty seats at the always sold-out Linc, and there was far more interest in the Mummer’s Parade on Broad Street.

The Winter Classic alumni game between the Philadelphia Flyers and New York Rangers across the street at Citizens Bank Park on Saturday generated more excitement.

Playing without NFC leading rusher LeSean McCoy, the Eagles relied mainly on their passing attack. Vick delivered, becoming the second player to have consecutive seasons with 3,000 yards passing and 500 yards rushing.

Rex Grossman had 256 yards passing, one TD and one interception, and Evan Royster had 113 yards rushing for Washington.

“I really enjoy it here,” said Grossman, who will be a free agent. “I really enjoy this offensive system and what they’re building here. I’d love for this to be the place where I end up.”

The Redskins were 3-1 and leading the NFC East when the teams met on Oct. 16. A 20-13 loss to Philadelphia started their six-game losing streak and knocked them out of the playoff picture.

The Eagles weren’t eliminated from playoff contention until last week, and finished with the best record in the division at 5-1. But they’re starting an early vacation while the winner of the New York Giants-Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday night advances.

“You have to analyze everything that happened and figure out how not to let it happen again,” Vick said. “We’ve got a lot of soul-searching to do, a lot of thinking to do. I think our opportunities will arise.”

Vick’s 7-yard TD pass to Chad Hall in the second quarter gave Philadelphia a 10-0 lead after Derek Landri blocked Graham Gano’s 36-yard field-goal attempt.

Vick connected with Jackson to make it 20-10 in the fourth quarter. It could’ve been Jackson’s last game with the Eagles. The two-time Pro Bowl wide receiver played the final year of his rookie contract and never got the extension he wanted after holding out in training camp.

A 4-yard TD toss from Vick to Brent Celek made it 27-10.

Roy Helu turned a screen pass into a 47-yard TD to get Washington within 10-7 on the opening drive of the second half.

The Redskins turned the ball over on downs at the Eagles 35 in the final minute of the second quarter. They got the ball back when Brian Orakpo sacked Vick and forced a fumble. Perry Riley recovered at the 17, but the Redskins wasted the field position.

An unsportsmanlike penalty on Santana Moss for taking off his helmet and arguing a non-call for pass interference pushed the ball back, and the clock expired before Gano could attempt a field goal after Jabar Gaffney was tackled at the Eagles 7. Long snapper Nick Sundberg wasn’t on the field as players scurried to the line of scrimmage.

“A little mix-up there relative to communication, coupled with not getting the play,” Shanahan said, explaining that the headsets weren’t working at the time.

Notes: The Eagles set a franchise record for total yards with 6,386. … Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin had eight catches for 105 yards. … Eagles rookie K Alex Henery finished the season 24 of 27 on field goals for the best percentage (88.9) in team history. … Jackson became the fifth player in NFL history to have 900 yards receiving in each of his first four seasons. … Grossman finished with 20 interceptions despite not starting three games. … Shanahan’s previous worst season was 6-10 last year and with Denver in 1999. … Vick threw a career-high 14 interceptions. … Orakpo left with a left shoulder injury. He’ll have an MRI on Monday.