Chundles

Over the course of his 10 year career in Philadelphia, there's always something with Donovan. It could be the fans booing his selection by the Eagles in the draft (good job Eagles fans), the controversy with Rush Limbaugh, the TO situation, feeling under-appreciated, this year's benching, etc. I love that Donovan is the face of the franchise, and I want both him and Ried back next year. But in analyzing his situation as the franchise QB in the City of Brotherly Love, Donovan would do well to take some advice from the Michael Jordan School of Media Training. Don't say anything. Be bland, give stock answers to questions, end press conferences as frequently as possible, and never, ever, talk about your feelings.

Donovan's a good natured guy, and I think he probably would prefer to not make the media's job any harder then it is, so he talks. But everytime he opens his mouth, something comes out that the media then spins and turns into a story. The same thing happened after last Monday's game against the Browns, in which the Eagles took care of business by beating the hapless Browns 30-10. For much of the second half of the game, the commentators had nothing to talk about. The game was over, the Browns QB and coaching situations only take a few minutes to dissect, so they talked about a "fissure" between Andy Reid and Donovan. And they talked and speculated, and kept on doing so, endlessly, through the post-game interviews. Most notably, the one with Donovan.

Donovan really didn't say anything controversial, but the fact that he said anything at all gave the media something to spin. There's a fissure, there's going to be an off-season chat, are Eagles fans really ready for the Kevin Kolb era, why is Donovan so underappreciated, etc. All of this could have been avoided, and the media would've had to gone back to the drawing board for the next day's stories if McNabb said this: "Andy is my coach, I respect him, I believe we can win a Super Bowl together, and I want to finish my career in Philadelphia." Period, end of story. But instead, he let the post game commentators egg him on, and he ended up saying some things that were better left for intimate, soul-bearing conversations with his family, not with the rabid media.

So Don, I know your focus is on Football. But do yourself a favor. Go watch a few press conferences from Michael Jordan's career. He never said sh*t, and the media still loved him.

The Birds have yet to play this week--they host Cleveland tonight--but they got no help from yesterday's games, mathematically making it a little harder for them to make the playoffs. Without going into all the possibilities, here's the jist of it:

SUMMARY: The current Wild Card participants are the Buccaneers (9-5) and the Cowboys (9-5). The Bucs lost in OT to Atlanta (also 9-5) in a game they should've won. The Cowboys overcame their dysfunction to beat the suddenly vulnerable Giants pretty handily in Dallas. Both these teams have an opportunity to win 11 games, unlike the Eagles, so if they both win-out, the Eagles will not make the playoffs.

THE BUCS: Their final two games are at home. Next week against the inconsistent and underachieving Chargers, and then the Raiders in the final week of the season. On an unrelated note, isn't it curious that the Eagles last two games are against division rivals, and the Bucs get to finish up against two AFC teams? Anyway, the Chargers are still playing for something, but who knows what team will show up. And then in Week 17, the Bucs should destroy the Raiders, who forced Gruden out of town earlier this decade. I would not be at all surprised if the Bucs win their next two games and hold their Wild Card spot.

THE COWBOYS: Next week, they face a tough Ravens D in Dallas, and then finish against the Eagles in Philly. Romo is beat up, so that should work in our favor, but don't expect Dallas to fall easily next weekend. They played very well last night against the Giants, despite the alleged distractions from last week. No matter what happens, Week 17 in Philly will be a battle. So, if they win-out, they too hold their Wild Card spot. In terms of the Eagles chances, however, which rely on them winning out, I'm counting Week 17 as a loss for the Cowboys.

THE FALCONS: The Falcons are definitely the real-deal, holding on to beat a tough Tampa team in OT yesterday. Next weekend, they travel to Minnesota to play the division leading Vikings, who need to win to hold off the Bears. I don't expect the Falcons to win this game on the road, but you never know. They've played like winners all year. And then they're lucky enough to finish the season against the Rams at home. They won't lose this game. Because the Falcons still sit a half game ahead of the Eagles, we need them to lose one of their final two games or we don't have a chance, even if we win-out.

OTHER SCENARIOS: Chicago is quietly only a game behind the Vikings, and they finish against Green Bay at home, and then Houston on the road. Chances are, if the Bears end up winning the division, it will not affect the Wild Card, but who knows. If Atlanta wins-out, and Tampa doesn't win again, the Eagles still have a shot, but I don't expect that to happen. Who knows though. It's great for fans and the league that there are so many different outcomes this late in the season. That's why the NFL is king.

Tonight's game against the Browns should be fun. Here's hoping that the good Eagles show up.

I love it! TO the sociopath is back. ESPN's Ed Werder wrote a long article about the dischord that's brewing in Dallas. You can read the full piece here.

As someone who's been through it before, I have no sympathy for the Cowboys. They knew what they were getting. Yes, one of the most talented players in NFL history, but also one of the biggest head cases this side of Jack Nicholson in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.

Keep going TO. Spread that cancer in Dallas as far and wide as you can. Don't stop until they release or suspend you. You're right! You do deserve the ball more, so do whatever you need to get what you want. Don't hold back. Attack everyone. Wine, pout, scream and shout. Dog it in practice. Bitch during the games. Call a meeting with the coach and GM. You are righteous and worthy.

Yes you can and Yes you should!

Yes, I know I said a few weeks back that the Birds were not going to make the Playoffs. In the spirit of a season of highs and lows (i.e. inconsistency), I'm proud to say I was wrong. Or rather, that the door is not closed. They have a shot. Here's my take on what may happen, done without the aid of any of playoff scenario calculators or any of that nonsense.

First things first, the Eagles must win their final 3 games. Monday night against Cleveland, the following week in Washington, and closing out the season against the Cowboys at home. While it might not be a mathematical certainty, I cannot see them making the playoffs if they lose even one of those games, as that would put them at 9 wins and open up the field to teams like the Bears, Saints and Redskins. As it is, if they win out, they're still only going to be 10-5-1. The tie very well could either get them in, or keep them out.

For purposes of this analysis, I'm only considering the teams that are currently ahead of the Eagles in the Wild Card race because, like I said above, they need to win out to really have a shot. As of today, there are 3 teams ahead of them: Tampa at 9-4, Dallas at 8-5, and Atlanta at 8-5. If the season ended today, Tampa and Dallas would be the NFC's Wild Card teams.

Of the 3 teams being considered, I think Tampa has the easiest schedule. @ Atlanta, and then the Chargers and Raiders at home. While I'd love to see them implode after losing to Carolina on Monday night, the team is coached by Jon Gruden, so that's unlikely. I think there's a reasonable chance they win all 3 of their remaining games, especially with no games in cold weather over the last 3 weeks of the season. At worst, they probably win 2 of the 3 games, putting them at 11-5.

Dallas has the toughest schedule. They host the Giants and Baltimore, and then travel to Philly for a Week 17 showdown that very well might determine the second Wild Card spot. If both the Birds and the 'Boys win their next two, that would put the Eagles at 9-5-1, and the Cowboys at 10-5 headed into their matchup in Philly. In that scenario, if the Eagles win-out, the tie gets them in the Playoffs. More likely, however, is that Dallas will at least lose one of their next 2 games, putting them at 9-6 before the Eagles game. The tie has no impact on this scenario if the Eagles beat the Cowboys. Dallas is on shaky ground right now, so there's a chance they lose their next 2 games, which would effectively take them out of the hunt, and continue the winless playoff record for Romo and Wade Phillips. That would make me happy.

Last but not least is the Falcons, who have had an incredible year led by rookie QB Matt Ryan. Their final 3 games are Tampa, @ Minnesota, and then St. Louis. Again, no cold weather games for this team. I think there's a good chance they only beat St. Louis, putting their record at 9-7. A great year for a team that no one expected anything from, but not enough to get them into the playoffs in the tight NFC.

It's all clear now, right? Seriously, in a way, I think the Eagles control their destiny--if and only if they win out. Atlanta isn't going to win all of their remaining games, and we have the extra half game to help us with the Cowboys even if they pull out a miracle and win their next 2 before closing the season with a loss in Philly.

One thing that's interesting is that all of the Eagles remaining games are in cold weather. Because cold weather games are often lower scoring, closer affairs, it probably means that the margin of error for the Eagles is very, very small. They have to play superb football and not make mistakes to win the next 3. Here's to hoping that they don't lay an egg against Cleveland on Monday night and throw all of this to shit. I don't expect it to happen, but I tell you this. I won't be the slightest bit surprised if it does.

I'm telling you, Hollywood couldn't have scripted something more brilliant than what we learned Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich has been up to for the last year. The whole affidavit was nearly 80 pages, but here are some excerpts from a CNN.com article detailing some of his indiscretions:

Trying to get some critics from the Chicago Tribune editorial board fired in exchange for state money to assist in the sale of Wrigley Field.

As the governor delicately put it in his demand for a quid pro quo to his deputy; "fire those f---ers." Charming. Watch the prosecutor lay out the case »

And then, as if no one would notice -- or believe -- the crooked governor was behind the brilliant idea, he suggested his chief of staff, John Harris, make the suggestion, "not me." As if that would confuse the feds.

The stupidity (I'm running out of synonyms here) is only compounded when the governor decides it would be a good idea to raffle off Barack Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder.

And, if no one bid high enough, then he just might take the seat himself. "If ... they're not going to offer anything of value, then I might just take it," the governor said.

Later, the governor put it more, er, succinctly: The Senate seat "is a f---ing valuable thing, you just don't give it away for nothing."

Maybe an ambassadorship. Maybe an appointment as Health and Human Services secretary -- a "trade" as he put it. Or maybe Energy, a loyal aide suggested, because that department is "the one that makes the most money."

Now we're all getting nauseated.

But it gets worse. Ever the caring hubby, he's looking out for his wife's bottom line, wondering aloud to his top staffer "if there is a play here, with these guys, with her" to work for a lobbying firm in Washington or New York at a better salary. Pay to play? Gee, wonder if the feds listening in got a laugh out of that one. Watch Sen. Durbin say 'it's a say day' for Illinois »

And here's the coup de grace: This governor, who apparently hasn't been paying attention to anything Obama has said over the past two years, wonders aloud what he can get from Obama.

His general counsel, ever helpful, suggests that maybe Obama would get the gov's wife on some corporate boards, according to the criminal complaint. Really? Is that something Obama -- who won't even hire lobbyists for his administration -- would do?

Seriously, this is straight out of a Sopranos episode. Scratch that. This is straight out of an entire season of the Sopranos. All I can say is that I'm glad the Feds actually used their resources to do something good. This guy is a crook and will hopefully spend a long time behind bars. The people of Illinois deserve better.

I don't think there's a team in the NFL that epitomizes Dr. Jeckyl and Mr. Hyde more so than the Philadelphia Eagles. The latest example comes after they dominated arguably the best team in the NFL on their home turf. The game was not nearly as close as the final score of 20-14 indicated. One of the TDs came on a blocked FG, and the other came late in the 4th Quarter when the Eagles were in a Prevent D. Preventing what, I'm not sure. Maybe preventing them from stopping the Giants. But whatever--every NFL does that.

D Mac completed almost 2/3 of his passes, Westbrook carried the ball 33 times (not a typo), and the D held the Giants dominant running game to 88 yards. The offense had long, sustained drives, and the D was shut-down. Aside from the running game, one big difference in Sunday's version of the Eagles is that people made plays--particularly Donovan's receivers. They didn't drop balls and they fought for the extra yards, picking up first downs and keeping drives alive. The Eagles were clearly the better team on Sunday.

So, why the Jeckyl and Hyde? The biggest reason is the health of Brian Westbrook, arguably the most well-rounded RB in the league when he's healthy. Andy Reid never let on how hurt Westbrook must've been earlier in the year, hence the heavy reliance on the passing game. The lesson here is that if Reid doesn't trust the RB backups he currently has, he better upgrade them next year. RBs get hurt, and you need a viable alternative if you don't want one injury to tank your whole season.

With every other team in the division losing Sunday, the Eagles are still in the thick of the NFC playoff race. It is very likely that the tie on their record will make a difference at the end of the season. Let's just hope that the extra half win gets us in the Playoffs, as opposed to the other way around.

Next up is a Monday night game against the hapless Browns. My expectations are still low, but I'm hopeful that the Birds are finally finding their stride and will win this game in convincing fashion.

Amid all the current and impending controversy surrounding the BCS standings, there's one team no one is talking about that I think deserves to be in the conversation. And that's the USC Trojans.

The Trojans are getting dinged because they play in the Pac-10 and because their single loss came to a sub-par team--the Oregon State Beavers. But that's not their fault. They can't relocate to the SEC or Big 12, nor can they adjust their schedule to play those teams more frequently. But they are a one loss team just like the rest of the teams in contention for the national title. They have the best D in the nation, and their offense is explosive. In no way would a game against Florida, Alabama, Oklahoma, Texas, or Texas Tech be a foregone conclusion. USC would give all those teams a run for their money, and anyone who argues otherwise is full of it.

I know I'm beating a dead horse here, but again, this shows a major flaw in the current system. USC (and Penn State too!) should have an opportunity to compete for the title, as their record is the same as everyone else's in the mix, other than 'Bama.

If money is the issue, I'm sure all the smart folks running the NCAA can figure out a way to have some sort of playoff system generate more revenue than the current system does. It's not that hard--more big games will equal more money. Please, fix the system. It stinks.