Aah. Paradise.

Did you watch the Pro Bowl on Sunday night? Don’t worry, I only made it through the first half. If you’re truly dying to know how the game went, find out from someone who suffered through watched the whole thing.

Plays by Eagles on the NFC’s Pro Bowl squad included a fumble from LeSean McCoy (boo) and a deflected pass by Andy Dalton by Jason Babin (yay!).

While the “game” itself isn’t really entertaining, some of the lead up to it is.. Like when players are mic’ed up and harass some of their NFL peers.

Below is the best the Pro Bowl–LeSean McCoy mic’d up, asking the heavy questions.

http://youtu.be/HuFFtuCwr0Q

Seriously, Marshawn Lynch. What IS up with those Skittles?

If you’re itching for more video of Eagles players at the Pro Bowl, CSNPhilly caught up with Shady and Jason Babin to find out how it was all going.

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As we wait for the Super Bowl that we don’t want to watch, there is a placeholder game that we also don’t care much about. But at least the Pro Bowl features three Eagles players–RB LeSean McCoy, OT Jason Peters and DE Jason Babin.

LeSean McCoy and Jason Babin are living it up in Hawaii with their colleagues from around the league. And from their tweets they seem to be having a wonderful time.

While it’s an honor to be at the Pro Bowl, every player there realizes that the reason they are able to play on Sundy is because of one thing: Their team didn’t make it to the Super Bowl. And for competitive men who excel at their positions, that’s just not okay.

But they’re trying to make the best of it. The best running backs in the league, LeSean McCoy and Maurice Jones-Drew, are both present at the Pro Bowl and took some time to speak with the Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk about their seasons on the NFL Network.

Each back was asked what they admired in the other. MJD complimented Shady’s elusiveness, his vision, speed–and his inexplicable ability to hang onto the ball even in such a precarious position. LeSean was complimentary of Jones-Drew’s ability to take over games and pounds defensive players. He also stated that, “he’s short but he’s not small. He plays like he’s 6’6.”

Here is the interview, which is part mutual admiration society between MJD and Shady, part discussion of the every down back in the NFL with Faulk, but entirely entertaining. To check it out, click here.

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Eagles players reflected on the season that was and took the opportunity to highlight the best among them.

LeSean McCoy was named as the MVP of the team’s offense for obvious reasons–breaking team records and leading the league in number of touchdowns will do that for you.  Jason Babin was named the most valuable for Philadelphia’s defense for his 18 sacks, the most for an Eagle since 1992.

And though he missed the last four games due to injury, Colt Anderson was given special team MVP honors for his importance to that unit this season.

One year later: No looking back

David Akers is one of those players who, regardless of where they go, will always be a Philadelphia Eagle. The former Eagles kicker showed Philadelphia several times this season that he is the fabulous player that he always was, earning yet another Pro Bowl berth this year.

A year after being let go by the team that was his home for a dozen years, Akers is doing just fine in San Francisco. In fact, one could argue that he got the better end of the deal, as the 49ers went 13-3 on the season (including a defeat of the Eagles) and earned a bye for the first week of the playoffs, now preparing to face the Saints in the NFC Divisional round.

More important than all of that? Akers’ young daughter Hally, who had a tumor on her ovary discovered around this time last year, is now cancer free.

Good on ya, David.

Who do you want back in 2012?

As the Birds are done for the season, fans have plenty of time to think about who they want to see back in Eagles green next season. And who they overwhelmingly do not.

Philly.com conducted a poll of Eagles fans and the results are in. A number of offensive players are overwhelmingly wanted back by fans for 2012 by overwhelming majorities: 98.1% want to see LeSean McCoy back (um–duh. Who exactly were the 1.9% who said otherwise?); 98.4% want to see Brent “tough guy” Celek return; and 97.8% are looking forward to seeing what Jeremy Maclin can do in 2012.

On defense, the players who fans said they most want to see return include Trent Cole at 98.4%; Cullen Jenkins with 98.1% of votes; and  95.5% saying they want to see Jason Babin back in an Eagles uniform.

On the other end of the spectrum, only 7.5% of fans want to see Vince Young back (again I ask, who are these people?). The next lowest scoring Bird was Victor Abiamiri, who has been extremely unlucky with regard to injury, with only 7.8 wanting to see him back next year.

The full results are featured and broken down here. The article features a comparison of, where applicable, support for a return for the 2011 season versus that for 2012.

Also featured is fan support for Philadelphia’s front office, including owner Jeffrey Lurie. Which seems a little silly to me, as he’s never going to un-own the team based on what we think, but I suppose the point of the exercise wasn’t to bog things down in reality/fact.

As I’m sure you’re wondering, 49.3% of respondents want to see Andy Reid return in 2012–which is actually almost an 8% increase over last year.

Go figure.

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Steve Spagnolo

Could it be? Could the Philadelphia Eagles be preparing to make some significant changes to their defensive coaching staff?

The situation has been confusing as of late, what with the continuing silence of head coach Andy Reid and then a report on Monday stating that Steve Spagnuolo may not even want to work in the coming year.

If I were getting paid $3 million a year and didn’t have to work, I would be very pleased to stay home, but thankfully coaches in the National Football League tend to be cut from a different cloth.

According to the NFL Network’s Jason LaCanfora, Spags not only plans to coach in the 2012 season, but he plans to do so with a return to Philadelphia by the end of this week.

It remains to be seen whether there will be any other changes on defense before this reported move is announced.

Oh yeah, and about that announcement: Don’t expect for anything official to come this week. The Eagles coaching staff has the week off and Andy Reid is on vacation and, per Les Bowen, is not expected to return until Sunday.

A dire situation on defense and Andy Reid is nowhere to be found…where have I heard that before?

The firing of secondary coach Johnnie Lynn has thus far been the only shakeup on the Birds embattled defense following their 2011 season. The move was seen largely as an effort to make space for current DC Juan Castillo to return to the team in a lesser role.

Will Andy Reid truly be ready to acknowledge that hiring Castillo as defensive coordinator was a mistake?

That remains to be seen. LaCanfora’s report interestingly includes the following provision/caveat, cited below via Jeff McLane:

LaCanfora, citing NFL sources, wrote that Spagnuolo will replace embattled defensive coordinator Juan Castillo, perhaps not in name, but as the leader of the Eagles defense.

Do you think that Juan Castillo will return to the Eagles in 2012, and if so, in what capacity?

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A number of Eagles players are earning accolades for their work on and off the field in 2011.

RB LeSean McCoy and OT Jason Peters were honored for excellent performances in the 2011 season by being named to the Associated Press All-Pro first team.

McCoy led the league in touchdowns, with 20 total and 17 rushing TDs. He now holds the Eagles franchise record for most  touchdowns in a season. McCoy was the NFL’s 4th leading rusher, amassing 1,309 rushing yards.

Jason Peters had a stand out season, being the only veteran returning to the same position in the team’s offensive line.  Peters, along with McCoy, also earned a Pro Bowl nod for his success this season. Pro Football Focus, who included Peters in their list of 10 best offensive players in the NFL, said

Peters has surrendered just 20 total pressures (sacks, knockdowns, and hurries) on the season and has allowed Vick to hit the deck just four times.

DE Jason Babin was voted to AP’s second team for his 18 sacks in 2011, which is the third most in Eagles history.

Though they did not make the team, two other Eagles players received votes for All-Pro honors: DT Mike Patterson received one vote and OG Evan Mathis received two votes. » Continue reading “Eagles Briefs: Accolades Rolling In For Eagles Players”

Brent Celek fends off Redskins safety DeJon Gomes. Photo via D Hallowell

It was a tortuously boring and messy game to watch, but the Eagles’ 34-10 win over the Redskins is the last Eagles football we’ll see until the summer so I hope you soaked it all in.

The 2011 season is over for the Philadelphia Eagles, and they finished with an 8-8 record. The team went on a 4-game winning streak to reach that record, but that is little consolation for a woefully painful and disappointing season.

“Too little, too late.” That, and not the cursed label of “Dream Team,” should be the term applied to the 2011 Eagles.

RB LeSean McCoy was not active for the game, so there went one compelling reason to watch the game. In fact, there went the one reason to watch any Eagles football all season. Jason Babin ended his season with 18 sacks, as his teammate Trent Cole had the only sack for the Birds against the Redskins.

The game was perfectly summed up by Governor Ed Rendell on Postgame Live:

“I’ve never seen a less impressive 34-10 win in all of my years of watching  football.” » Continue reading “It’s a Wrap: Eagles Finish 2011 at 8-8″

Let’s be honest. Of the two NFC East matchups that will take place on Sunday, the Redskins (5-10) v. Eagles (7-8) games is not the one that will garner the most attention. The Sunday Night game between the Cowboys and the Giants will determine who wins the NFC East. The Washington v. Philadelphia game represents the teams that didn’t play well enough throughout the season to have a hope at the title.

That said, there are still plenty of reasons to tune in to the Eagles’ final game of the 2011 season. First, the result of the game will determine whether the Eagles will end the year with a losing season or if they will wind up as a .500 team.

Second, two Eagles are chasing records in the final game of the season. Unfortunately, RB LeSean McCoy probably won’t gain on Maurice Jones-Drew to get the rushing title for the season–he would have to get 128 yards, and that would be before MJD even took to the field. Shady has said that he will play against the Redskins, but keep in mind the fact that he is listed as questionable for the game due to an ankle injury. [UPDATE: It was announced at around 11:30 on Sunday that McCoy will be inactive for today's game. Cue sadness.]

DE Jason Babin has 18 sacks on the season, currently tired with DeMarcus Ware. Both Ware and Babin are a 1/2 sack behind league leader Jared Allen of the Vikings. Should Babin get 3 sacks on Sunday, he will tie the Eagles record held by the late, great Reggie White.

Also of note? Sunday may mark the last time that WR DeSean Jackson plays the game as an Eagle.

Philadelphia’s final game of the season will be an understated matter against a team that they should easily beat. But if they don’t, will it really matter?

If you can tear your eyes open from your New Year’s fun, tune in to the end of the season action at 1 pm on Fox.

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Congratulations to RB LeSean McCoy, OT Jason Peters, and DE Jason Babin–these three Eagles are headed to the 2012 Pro Bowl! All three players will start for the NFC in their respective positions.

Two other Eagles received notice as alternates: DT Cullen Jenkins is a first alternate, and Corner Nnamdi Asomugha is a second alternate.

LeSean Shady McCoy:

McCoy is enjoying one of the finest seasons in the history of the franchise, setting team records and leading the league in touchdowns (20) and rushing touchdowns (17), while becoming the first Eagle ever to score in nine straight games. His 1,309 rushing yards rank second in the NFL behind Maurice Jones-Drew (1,437), and he has amassed a league-leading 102 first downs and 48 rushes of 10-plus yards. He has surrendered just one fumble all season, despite ranking fourth in the NFL in rushes (273), offensive touches (321) and scrimmage yards (1,624). Originally a second-round draft choice out of Pittsburgh in 2009, McCoy became the fifth player in Eagles history to eclipse 1,000 rushing yards in back-to-back seasons, while setting the team mark for most rushing (3,026) and scrimmage yards (4,241) in his first three campaigns. His career 4.8-yards per carry also ranks as the highest average ever by an Eagles running back.

Jason Peters:

Originally a rookie free agent signing in 2004 out of Arkansas, Peters has emerged into one of the elite tackles in the league, earning his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl nomination (tied with Browns T Joe Thomas for longest streak among NFL tackles) and becoming the second tackle in team history to make it to three straight (Frank Kilroy – 1953-55). He ties Tra Thomas (2002-03, 2005), Bob Brown (1966-67, 1969) and Kilroy for the most appearances ever by an Eagles tackle. In 2011, Peters has anchored an offensive line that paved the way for the NFC’s leading rusher, while ranking third in the NFL in total offense (399.7) and fifth in rushing yards per game (146.7). The Eagles 30 sacks allowed this season are the team’s third-fewest since sacks became an official stat in 1982. Peters, who was acquired in a trade with the Buffalo Bills during the 2009 offseason, has started in 40 games for the Eagles.

Jason Babin:

Babin ranks second in the NFL in 2011 with a career-high 18.0 sacks, trailing only Jared Allen (18.5), and contributing to a relentless Eagles pass-rush that sits atop the NFL with 49 sacks. His sack total this year is currently tied for the third-most ever by an Eagle, trailing only Reggie White (21.0 in 1987) and Clyde Simmons (19.0 in 1992). Only 16 players in NFL history have ever amassed more in a single season. This is Babin’s second-straight selection after racking up 12.5 sacks as a member of the Tennessee Titans in 2010. He is one of just three players (DeMarcus Ware, Tamba Hali) to have at least 12 sacks in each of the last two years. His 30.5 quarterback takedowns during that span are second behind Ware’s 33.5. Prior to those last 31 games, Babin had registered just 17.5 sacks in 66 games. Originally a first-round draft choice of Houston in 2004, Babin spent time with the Texans (2004-06), Seahawks (2007-08), and Chiefs (2008) before joining the Eagles in 2009. He re-signed with the Eagles as a free agent prior to the start of the 2011 season.

Screenshot of the Eagles website after the announcement of the Pro Bowl roster.

» Continue reading “These Eagles Are Headed To Hawaii!”

The Eagles revealed today via their Facebook page that 5 Eagles players are in the  top 5 in their categories for Pro Bowl voting:

 LeSean McCoy (2nd), Jason Babin (2nd), Cullen Jenkins (3rd), Nnamdi Asomugha (3rd) and Kurt Coleman (5th).

LeSean McCoy at number two? Aw hell naw. And so few Eagles overall in the top for their positions. We must fix this!

Have you voted for your favorite Eagles yet?  Go here to cast your votes and help your favorite players get some recognition around the league and a trip to Hawaii to boot.

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I'll have my coffee strong...like the Eagles defense on Sunday.

The story of Sunday’s game was the fact that the Eagles defense finally showed up, playing 4 quarters of good football. It wasn’t only a strong performance by the players, but also by the coaching staff, who put together some inventive and effective packages in their game plan. Have things finally clicked for Juan Castillo and co.?

Today’s Morning Muse takes a look at some of the excellent articles around these here interwebs that try to pinpoint why the defense had such success against the Dolphins.

Sheil Kapidia re-watched the game and broke down the performance of each and every Bird on defense. He offers no excuses for Nnamdi Asomugha and found that Casey Matthews “had some issues,” but has high praise for almost everyone else – Moving the Chains

Speaking of the Matthews boy…Jonathan Tamiri evaluates his return to the field. He did get a sack, but overall found his performance to be mixed – philly.com

An excellent breakdown of the Eagles play on both sides of the ball. The findings on defense?

[Castillo] had an aggressive and creative game plan against the Dolphins. Mixed up his coverages, attacked the Dolphins with a variety of blitzes, moved his front four around, occasionally lined up with just two players with their hand on the ground.

The result: they sacked Dolphins quarterbacks Matt Moore and JP Losman nine times, allowed a season-low 11 first downs and 204 yards and held an opponent under 14 points for just the fifth time this season.