Updated Sep 28, 2011 5:41 PM ET

A war of words on Twitter between two Philadelphia Eagles beat writers escalated into a physical altercation Wednesday, with one writer landing a punch to his counterpart’s head.

Les Bowen of the Philadelphia Daily News and Jeff McLane of The Philadelphia Inquirer had to be separated by their peers at the Eagles practice facility, according to local sports radio personality and WCAU-TV contributor Howard Eskin.

The two men were involved in a Twitter spat Tuesday, during which McLane called the elder Bowen an “old hack that hasn’t broken a story in years.”

Bowen, who vowed on Twitter to handle his “business in person” landed a punch to McLane’s head before the feuding beat writers were quickly broken up, according to Eskin.

Tempers flared after McLane posted a tweet Tuesday regarding the status of Eagles quarterback Michael Vick, in which he wrote Vick would likely start Sunday despite a bone bruise in his non-throwing hand.

The tweet prompted a line from Bowen which read, “Oh, and [by the way], nobody has any idea on Tuesday whether Michael Vick is starting this week.”

McLane apparently took offense to Bowen’s tweet, prompting the younger reporter to issue a slamming indictment.

“How about if Vick starts Sunday you have to say on [cable show] Daily News Live, ‘I’m an old hack that hasn’t broken a story in years, needs my editor to keep my blog fresh, and missed Vick on Monday because I was cluelessly tapping away on my computer and had to steal quotes from hard-working reporters who have a clue,’” McLane wrote directly to Bowen.

Bowen’s only response to McLane’s unflattering assessment was to say he would handle it “face to face.”

“I don’t intend to have any tantrums on Twitter, myself,” he replied to one follower. “If I have something to say to someone, it will be face to face.”

“I will handle my business in person, not thru yapping on Twitter,” Bowen wrote.

According to Philly.com, Bowen has covered the Eagles for the Daily News since 2002. He spent nearly 13 years covering the Flyers prior to taking the Eagles beat.

McLane began covering the Eagles for The Inquirer in 2009.

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KINGSVILLE — Any chance he gets, Juan Castillo likes coming home.

And Castillo is coming home this week for a few days.

Castillo, who was recently promoted to defensive coordinator of the Philadelphia Eagles, is speaking on Tuesday at Texas A&M-Kingsville as part of the University Lectureship Series on campus.

Castillo played and coached for the Javelinas from 1978-1984 then again from 1990-194 before moving on to a career in the NFL with the Eagles.

A native of Port Isabel, his promotion made big news in South Texas, especially the Rio Grande Valley.

Castillo arrived in South Texas on Sunday and spent the day in PI with family. He plans on making his way to Kingsville today and will share his story: Journey from South Texas to the NFL on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at Jones Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

And Castillo hopes to see a lot of familiar faces.

“I have a lot of friends down there that I haven’t talked to in a long time and I would really love them to come out,” Castillo said. “There are a lot of coaches and players I played for and with down there and some times it’s hard to communicate with all of them. But I’d really love for as many of them to come join us.”

Castillo, who graduated from PI in 1978, played linebacker for the Javelinas from 1978-1980 and was part of the 1979 NAIA championship squad. He got hired on as an assistant with the Eagles in 1995 and worked on the offensive side, the last 13 seasons as the team’s offensive line coach.

But in February, Castillo returned to his defensive roots as head coach Andy Reid gave him an opportunity to be the team’s defensive coordinator.

The move was heralded amongst NFL coaches but welcomed with some opposition by fans, who’ve viewed Castillo as only an offensive coach.

But Castillo’s roots are on the defensive side. And even though it took him 16 years as an offensive assistant, Castillo said he’s ready to make a name for himself and the Valley as the new DC at Philly.

“No one’s given me anything,” Castillo said. “I’ve had to work to get where I am. But the key point I want to make on Tuesday is that it’s not about ‘me.’ It’s about ‘us.’”

And by “us,” Castillo is referring to the Valley and Kingsville.

“I really hope to see some old friends,” Castillo said. “That’s where I draw my motivation from. My family and friends back home are my motivation to succeed in the NFL.

“It’s not just about me up here. I’m proud of where I’m from. And when I’m up here, I’m representing the Valley and South Texas.”

Eladio Jaimez is a sportswriter for RGVSports.com. He can be reached at 956-430-6285 or eladioj@valleystar.com

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PHILADELPHIA — On a bizarre day when the Philadelphia Eagles were snowed out, they celebrated an NFC East championship.

The NFL moved the Vikings at Eagles game from Sunday night to Tuesday because of a blizzard that could dump more than a foot of snow on Philadelphia.

The game — the first on a Tuesday since 1946 — will be played at 8 p.m., and televised nationally by NBC.

Sidelined by the storm, the Eagles went home and watched the Green Bay Packers beat the New York Giants 45-17. That gave Philadelphia its first division title since 2006 and sixth in 12 seasons under coach Andy Reid.

Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter declared a snow emergency as of 2 p.m. EST Sunday.

“We are urging all Philadelphians, please be careful, please be safe,” the mayor told reporters in a news conference at City Hall on Sunday morning.

The decision to postpone the game came shortly after noon — before there was any snow accumulation in Philadelphia.

In announcing the postponement, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said:

“Due to public safety concerns in light of today’s snow emergency in Philadelphia, tonight’s Vikings-Eagles game has been postponed. Because of the uncertainty of the extent of tonight’s storm and its aftermath, the game will be played on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. This will allow sufficient time to ensure that roads, parking lots and the stadium are fully cleared.”

The postponement did not sit well with Gov. Ed Rendell, who told KYW-TV he did “not at all” agree with the decision.

“This is football; football’s played in bad weather,” Rendell said. “I think the fans would have gotten there, the subways work and the major arteries are still open, and other fans would have stayed home — but you play football regardless of the weather.”

The governor, who does football commentaries after Eagles games, also said the decision would be a “serious handicap” for the Eagles and was unfair to the team.

“I, for one, was looking forward to sitting in the stands throughout the snow and seeing an old-time football game,” Rendell said.

Asked what Vince Lombardi would say about the decision, Rendell said “he’d be mocking us.”

Reid agreed with the league’s decision.

“We’re OK with it,” he said. “We’re organized and prepared for this, and we completely support what the league did from a safety standpoint for everybody. We got the guys out of the hotel and home, and they’ll come back for a walkthrough tomorrow and then to the hotel, and it will be just like a Saturday night before a Sunday game, just a normal Saturday night-Sunday schedule.”

The Vikings already have had two home games affected by the weather this season. Their game against the Giants on Dec. 12 was postponed a day after Minneapolis got 15 inches of snow. It was then moved to Detroit when the Metrodome roof collapsed.

Their game against Chicago the following week was played at the University of Minnesota’s outdoor stadium because of the damaged roof.

“What else can you say? Just add this to the list for the 2010 season,” Vikings defensive end Jared Allen said. “But you know what, we have to remain together as a team and keep a positive mind frame. It’s important to be a professional and be ready to play on Tuesday night.”

Minnesota (5-9) is out of playoff contention, but the Eagles (10-4) have plenty at stake. They need to win their last two games and hope Chicago loses at the Packers next week to secure a first-round bye.

“We have every reason, because of the season, to say, ‘This is the last straw and I’m checking out,’” Vikings interim coach Leslie Frazier said. “But this is the NFL and you can’t do that. You have to show up ready to play Tuesday night and that’s what we’re trying to get the young guys and everybody to understand.”

NBC will broadcast the regular “Football Night in America” from 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m. EST followed by a “Minute to Win It” repeat from 8:30 to 10 p.m. and then a “Law and Order” repeat until 11 p.m.

The Eagles went to their practice facility for workouts and film study and then went home. They’ll now have just four days off before playing Dallas (5-10) next Sunday in a game that could determine whether they get a week off.

“I don’t think it’s a problem,” Reid said. “I think we’ll be all right. We’ve had Monday games, Sunday night games, we had a Thursday game, so we’ve been through a lot of this already, and that will help us. We’ll be fine.”

Many players wished the game wasn’t moved. They made their feelings known via Twitter.

“It’s only snow!!!! Let us play… It must b alot of fun… I’m ready let’s get it on!!” wide receiver DeSean Jackson wrote.

The game originally was supposed to be played at 1 p.m., but was switched because of the flex scheduling.

“Thank you flex-scheduling….,” guard Todd Herremans wrote.

Quarterback Michael Vick looked at the positive side.

“Just a few more days to get ready !” he wrote.

This will be the 23rd NFL game ever played on a Tuesday. The New York Giants beat the Boston Yanks 17-0 on Oct. 1, 1946 in the last one.

There won’t be any conflicts with the Flyers or 76ers because both teams are on the road. However, a Disney on Ice show Tuesday night at the Wells Fargo Center was canceled.

n AP writers Dan Gelston and Ron Todt contributed to this report.

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PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvania (AFP) – The NFL postponed the Philadelphia Eagles’ home game against Minnesota from Sunday night to Tuesday because of an expected blizzard.

The NFL made the move on Sunday afternoon, before any snow had fallen but amid forecasts for perhaps more than a foot of snow in Philadelphia.

The game, with the Eagles chasing a playoff berth, will become the first NFL contest to be played on a Tuesday since 1946.

“We are urging all Philadelphians, please be careful, please be safe,” Philadelphia mayor Michael Nutter said as he declared a snow emergency as of Sunday afternoon.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said the league decided to postpone the game to insure that the stadium, parking lots and other infrastructure can be cleared of snow and made safe for fans and workers.

“Due to public safety concerns in light of today’s snow emergency in Philadelphia, tonight’s Vikings-Eagles game has been postponed,” Aiello said.

“Because of the uncertainty of the extent of tonight’s storm and its aftermath, the game will be played on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. This will allow sufficient time to ensure that roads, parking lots and the stadium are fully cleared.

“The National Weather Service states that a winter storm warning in Philadelphia remains in effect until 1 pm on Monday.”

Eagles coach Andy Reid said he thought the league made the right move.

“We’re OK with it,” he said. “We’re organized and prepared for this, and we completely support what the league did from a safety standpoint for everybody. We got the guys out of the hotel and home, and they’ll come back for a walkthrough tomorrow and then to the hotel, and it will be just like a Saturday night before a Sunday game, just a normal Saturday night-Sunday schedule.”

The Vikings had already had two home games affected by severe winter weather this season.

Their game against the New York Giants on December 12 was postponed a day after Minneapolis got 15 inches of snow. It was then moved to Detroit when the Metrodome’s air-supported roof collapsed in several places under the weight of snow.

The Vikings’ game against Chicago the following week was played at the University of Minnesota’s outdoor stadium because of the damaged roof.

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Inside slant · Notes, quotes · Strategy and personnel

 

The Minnesota Vikings and Philadelphia Eagles will play on Tuesday night due to a blizzard scheduled to hit the Philadelphia area Sunday.

The game was scheduled for 8:20 p.m. ET Sunday night, but the expected blizzard could dump up to 20 inches of snow in the area, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter has declared a snow emergency beginning at 2 p.m. ET.

The NFL decided to move the game to Tuesday, and it will still be aired by NBC.

In a statement, NFL spokesman Greg Aiello said: “Due to public safety concerns in light of today’s snow emergency in Philadelphia, tonight’s Vikings-Eagles game has been postponed. Because of the uncertainty of the extent of tonight’s storm and its aftermath, the game will be played on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. This will allow sufficient time to ensure that roads, parking lots and the stadium are fully cleared. The National Weather Service states that a winter storm warning in Philadelphia remains in effect until 1 pm on Monday.”

It’s the third consecutive week the Vikings will have a game affected by severe weather. A snowstorm in Minneapolis on Dec. 11 caused the roof of the Metrodome to collapse, and the Vikings played their past two home games at Ford Field in Detroit and at the University of Minnesota.

–The Eagles, who already have given up a franchise-record 30 touchdown passes, will go from one rookie in their secondary to another Tuesday night against the Minnesota Vikings.

Kurt Coleman will make his second start of the season at free safety, replacing Nate Allen, who is out for the year with a ruptured patellar tendon in his right knee. Allen was a second-round pick in the April draft. Coleman was a seventh-rounder, the 244th player taken.

But Eagles defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has a lot of confidence in Coleman. He played the better part of three quarters last week against the Giants and played well. He forced a critical third-down incompletion late in the game with a blitz.

“With Kurt, we’re talking about a very instinctive football player,” McDermott said. “I know a lot of people focus on the seventh-round draft pick thing, but that’s not what we focus on.

“I mean, he’s a good football player and he’s made plays for this defense this year. So it’s just a process where he needs to continue to get experience. And there’s going to be bumps in the road, not only for him but for some of those other young guys. And there have been bumps in the road. But they stay aggressive, they take the right approach and have the right attitude, and in the end that will pay off for us.”

The Eagles have defended the run very well most of the season, holding opponents to 3.8 yards per carry over the last 10 games. But their pass defense has struggled. In the last four games alone, they’ve given up 12 touchdown passes.

Asked Thursday whether the problem has been his young, inexperienced secondary or an inconsistent pass rush, McDermott said, “Well, there’s a lot that goes into it and you mentioned two of the factors, there, a young defense, a young secondary, and then pass rush, you can always have more pass rush.

“But I’ll just say this, with those points have come turnovers (the Eagles have a league-high 23 interceptions). And it’s hard to have both. Is that what we’re shooting for? Absolutely, we are. But with those turnovers we give the ball back to our offense and we’ve been a factor and one of the reasons why we’re 10-4.

“Now, am I happy about those points? Absolutely not. Some of those points are coming in the red zone, in addition to the big plays, so we have to get that corrected and we’re working hard at that. So that’s a big goal of ours coming down the stretch here.”

–The Eagles are coming off one of the most emotional wins in franchise history, when they rallied from 21 points down in the final 7 1/2 minutes to beat the Giants on a history-making, walk-off punt return for a touchdown by DeSean Jackson.

It’s the kind of win that can propel a team to great heights. But coach Andy Reid, who was brought to tears by the comeback after the game, has been around long enough to know that it’s also the kind of win that can set a team up for a big letdown the following week.

“It’s very important that we eliminate any distractions that might be there with the holiday and then also with the media attention you get when you come off a game like we did,” Reid said Wednesday as he began preparing his team for Tuesday night’s game against the 5-9 Minnesota Vikings. “Our players need to be focused in.”

He’s right about the attention. The comeback almost, but not quite, earned the Eagles more air time on ESPN than Brett Favre. Jackson and quarterback Michael Vick, who threw for 242 yards and three touchdowns and ran for 130 yards and another touchdown, were in demand by just about every national media outlet in the country.

Sunday’s win gave the 10-4 Eagles a one-game lead over the 9-5 Giants in the NFC East. Philadelphia needs just one more win in its two remaining games or one more loss by the Giants to win the division.

The potential for a letdown is significant. But Reid’s strength as a coach always has been his ability to keep his team on an even keel. It’s why the Eagles are one of the league’s winningest teams in November and December in the 12 seasons Reid has been the team’s coach.

He has reminded the players that the reason they needed a fourth-quarter comeback Sunday was because they didn’t play very well in the first three quarters. They fell behind 31-10 as the Giants’ Eli Manning became the latest quarterback to use their secondary for target practice, throwing four touchdown passes.

“The thing you know is we didn’t play very well for three quarters, and then I thought the coaches and players reached down deep and won the game,” Reid said. “Nobody gave us anything. We went and won the game.

“So, it’s important that you build on that part, but you better figure out the problems that happened in the first three quarters and get those taken care of and make sure you see those and work on that.”

The Eagles are playing a Vikings team that is coming off a 26-point loss to the Bears. Minnesota probably will be without its starting quarterback and its star running back, and it was down to two healthy safeties by the end of the Chicago game.

“I’m proud of the guys,” Reid said. “I’ve been proud of them the whole year the way they’ve handled themselves and they’ve gotten better every week. And I think this group has big hearts, and so I appreciate that part.

“But listen, last week doesn’t matter for this week. I will guarantee you the Vikings couldn’t care less coming in here, what we did last week. That’s not what they’re thinking about. They’re thinking about coming in here and disrupting your world on the 26th (of December). And so, they have an experienced team there, in most positions, so you better be ready to roll.”

SERIES HISTORY
21st regular-season meeting. Vikings lead series, 11-9. The Eagles have won the past five meetings, including a 26-14 victory in the playoffs after the 2008 season.

Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.

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The Philadelphia Eagles-Minnesota Vikings game at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field has been postponed until Tuesday night at 8 p.m. because of the impending snowstorm, according to the Eagles’ website.

To contact the editor responsible for this story: Joe Sabo at jsabo@bloomberg.net

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