Kaspers Korner

The Philadelphia Eagles reached the NFC Conference Championship game for the fifth time behind quarterback Donovan McNabb, but like most of the other times they lost.  For the upcoming 2009 season the rookies will be the key.

The Eagles offense has several rookie starters that will make or break the season for them.  The two main players are tight end Brent Celek and rookie wide receiver Jeremy Maclin

Celek will be a rookie starting tight end next year for the Eagles.  That has happened, because in the 2008 post season Celek was a monster catching 19 passes for 151 yards with three touchdowns.  His performance in the post season then led the Eagles to let starting tight end LJ Smith walk in free agency.

Maclin carries all the hopes that Eagles have been waiting for.  That being a star wide receiver since wide receiver Terrell Owens left town, but even before that the Eagles have not had a wide reciever go to the Pro Bowl, besides Owens in 2005, since Fred Barnett in 1993.

The problem is that wide receivers usually take three years to develop, which may be too long since McNabb turns 33 in November.

Unfortunately, the 2009 season may be one where they come up just short again.  That is unless these two rookies turn in solid years.

The Philadelphia Eagles look like they have moved on past tight end LJ Smith.  The question is now can tight end Brent Celek fill his shoes.

Smith has been one of starting quarterback Donovan McNabb’s main targets.  However, Smith has missed games in the regular season the last two years.  That and Celek’s performance in the postseason allowed the Eagles to let Smith just walk.

Celek in his limited time during the regular season caught 27 passes for 318 yards and one touchdown.   It was his performance in the postseason that caught eyes as he caught 19 passes for 151 yards and three touchdowns in three postseason games.
Smith has been criticized by critics for not being that good of a blocker.  So, if Celek is going to be an upgrade, then he needs to show that he is better at that.

With rookie wide reciever Desean Jackson performing as well as he did last year the Eagles can now take a gamble and see if Celek is just as good.

More importantly for the Eagles is that Celek would cost less as he still has two years left on his rookie contract.

Simply, moving on to Celek was the right move for the Eagles no mater if it works out or not his performance in the postseason is something you cannot just ignore.

Hank Baskett WR restricted

Correll Buckhalter RB unrestricted signed with Broncos four years
Nick Cole OL restricted

Sean Considine S unrestricted signed with Jaguars two years three million.
Brian Dawkins S unrestricted signed with Broncos five years $17 million $7.2 guaranteed
Joselio Hanson CB unrestricted

Jon Runyan OT unrestricted

LJ Smith TE unrestricted signed with Ravens one year $1.5 million
Tra Thomas OT unrestricted signed with Jaguars three years

The Philadelphia Eagles reached the NFC title game after only a month ago was looking to be impossible.  Even though they made the NFC title game the Eagles are still going to have to make a tough call on quarterback Donovan McNabb.

McNabb had the Eagles in Arizona Cardinal territory with a little over two minutes left in the game.  The Eagles were driving to tie up the score.

On 2nd and 10 from the Cardinals 47 yard line McNabb over threw a wide open man in wide receiver Desean Jackson.   McNabb on the following play had a wide open man crossing the field in wide receiver Hank Baskett, but McNabb threw the ball behind him and Baskett could not catch it.

McNabb simply cannot get it done.  This is the fifth time that McNabb has been to the NFC title game and has only converted one of the games into an appearance in the Superbowl.

Now, is the time to make a quarterback change, which they will have to eventually do.  The reason being that backup quarterback Kevin Kolb was a second round pick in the 2007 draft.

Draft picks in the second round, and beyond, can only receive a contract as long as four years.  That means with Kolb serving two years as backup to McNabb he now has only two more years left.

That means either this year, or next, the Eagles will have to move on from McNabb and find out what they have in Kolb.

So, say goodbye Eagles fans, because you probably seen McNabb play his last game as a Eagle.

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Andy Reid is known for his grueling physical training camps.

However, for this year Reid is going to have to tone it down.

The reason being that for whatever reason people are falling like flies.

It first started with starting middle linebacker Stewart Bradley who tore his anteriot cruciate ligament and is now out for the year.

Also, out for the year is tight end Cornelius Ingram as he tore his knee and quarterback Kevin Kolb is out for awhile with a sprined medial collateral ligament.

The Eagles are getting a little luck as wide receivers DeSean Jackson and Hank Baskett suffered knee injuries, which later turned out to be just hyperextensions.

In the end if Reid doesn’t start to tone practices then another starter is going to be lost for the season soon.

The Philadelphia Eagles are still alive in the playoffs after defeating the Minnesota Vikings this past Sunday.  When it is over the Eagles will face a tough decision on the future of quarterback Donovan McNabb.

McNabb was benched in the regular season when he hit a rough stretch, and was facing former Eagle’s assistant coach John Harbaugh.  So, most likely the benching was for his play, and the fact that Harbaugh most likely knew to many of his tendancies as Pro Football Talk.com suspects.

According to Pro Football Talk.com ESPN’s Sal Paolantonio reports that McNabb wants to sit down with with owner Jeffrey Lurie, and head coach Andy Reid why he was benched. 

Also, it is expected that McNabb will request a contract extension so that he will remain with the team until he retires.  His current contract runs through the 2010 season, but of McNabb’s $10.3 million cap number only $1.1 million is prorated bonus.

McNabb has had his best season in four years in throwing for 3,916 yards passing, with 23 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.  Also McNabb played in all 16 games, which is the first time since 2003.

McNabb turned 32 in November, and given McNabb’s history giving him a huge pay day is just ridiculous.  McNabb has a history of suffering injuries, which has affected the Eagles season for the past several years.

Also, McNabb’s performance depends on running back Brian Westbrook.  When Westbrook was playing hurt in the regular season Westbrook was not as effective, thus McNabb’s play also slipped.

Also, they spent a second round draft pick on quarterback Kevin Kolb.  With Kolb being a second round pick Kolb’s contract also runs out after the 2010 season.

That means the Eagles will for sure get rid of McNabb by then, so they can have a look to see if Kolb will be the future of the team in the 2010 season.

Lets face it if McNabb did not have an injury prone history there would be a good case to keep him. 

However, that is not the case, and keeping him, and giving him more money is not the smart thing to do.

With the Philadelphia Eagles tying the Cincinnati Bengals last sunday all hopes of the playoffs have disappeared for the Eagles.  Finally, fans are coming around that head coach Andy Reid’s philosophy is not working anymore.

Many fans have been turning on the Eagles head coach.  Even his most staunchest supporter in former Eagle Via Sikahema has turned on him.

Eagle fans need to step back from the ledge, and calm down.  Yes, they do not have a top wide receiver, but they are in the position they are  for several reasons.

First, running back Brian Wesbrook did not play in a close loss to the Chicago Bears.  Westbrook is by far their biggest weapon, and when he is out it hurts the offense significantly.

Secondly, the Eagles are in one of the toughest divisions in the National Football League.  If the Eagles were in a division other than the NFC East they would most likely be leading the division.

Finally, the Eagles are getting older.  McNabb is 31, Westbrook is 29, and several key starters are getting up in age in offensive tackles William Thomas, Jon Runyan, and free safety Brian Dawkins.

Simply, the Eagles this offseason need to go out, and find a veteran wide receiver that will help the team.  Once they do that they will contend again.

The Philadelphia Eagles are third place in their division.  The Eagles must win this Sunday as they face first place division rival New York Giants.

The Eagles have lost both of their previous division games against the Dallas Cowboys, and the Washington Redskins.  Thus, making this weeks game a huge must win if the Eagles are going to continue having any hopes of winning their division, and even making the playoffs.

Besides the Eagles the Washington Redskins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and Atlanta Falcons all have thee losses.  Howeverm the Redskins and Buccaneers have six wins, while the Eagles and the Falcons have only five.

It does not get any easier for the Eagles after the Giants.  For in their finals seven games face each division rival again, as well as the Arizona Cardinals, and the Baltimore Ravens.

Simply, the game against the Giants this week will tell Eagle fans if they have a shot at anything, or not.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb is off to a good start this season with five touchdowns, one interception, and over 800 yards passing this year.  However, he is hurt again, and only one can only start to wonder when the howls of replacing him within the organization start.

It is the one problem with Donovan McNabb, and that is he cannot stay healthy enough anymore to play a full season.  With all the injuries it is only a matter of time the 31 year old quarterback starts seeing his play decline.

The  game has changed in the early 90’s a starting quarterback could go down, and the team would not miss a beat, because it had a quality back up on the team that could pickup where the starter left off.  That is not the case anymore with free agency, as any decent looking young backup is swooped up by a quarterback hungry team.

Another statistic that is against McNabb is the fact that he has not thrown over 20 touchdowns in four years.  In a West Coast style offense that is not good. 

The Eagles are in a tough division right now.  The top team in the league is the Dallas Cowboys.  The reigning Superbowl Champs are the New York Giants.  Also, Washington Redskins quarterback Jason Campbell is starting to look real good.

Simply, the Eagles cannot afford to give McNabb anymore chances.  If he cannot stay healthy, and lead them to the playoffs, then it is not worth while to keep him around.

This could be the last year we see McNabb as the Eagles starting quarterback.

Philadelphia Eagle running back Brian Westbrook is looking for a new contract.  The Eagles are in a tough situation with Westbrook turning 29 September 2nd.

The key age for running backs is 30.  The reason being that running backs after that age cab raidly lose their skills, due to years of wear, tear, and being tackled.

Westbrook pretty much looked like he carried the team on his back last year.  That is defeinately what he is thinking, as he is demanding nearly $10 million a year.

The plain simple fact is that he is almost 30.  The Eagles would be nuts to pay him that kind of money.

With that being said, it looks like Westbrook will not be in camp for the whole preseason.