NFL News & Rumors: Vince Young To Start + More

29 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

  • According to Jim Wyatt of the The Tennessean, Titans head coach Jeff Fischer will announce later today that Vince Young will get the starting nod over Kerry Collins this week.  The move is not all that surprising, considering that owner Bud Adams informed Fischer several days ago that he wanted Vince Young to become the starter.  Tennesse has started the season 0-6 after finishing last season with a league best mark of 13-3 during the regular season.
  • Looks like the Dolphins might be shaking things up at wide receiver.  Brian Hartline has been impressive and should see more snaps, he may even be promoted to the starting lineup this week.
  • Injuries at the tight end position have forced the Browns into using former Philadelphia Eagles center Hank Fraley at the position!
  • Don’t be surprised to see Malcolm Floyd take Chris Chambers starting spot in San Diego.  Chambers has been terrible while Floyd continues to improve.
  • Despite an impressive performance in Sunday nights game against the Giants, rookie Chris “Beanie” Wells will not get the start over Tim Hightower in the Arizona Cardinals upcoming matchup with the Carolina Panthers.  His touches, however, should continue to increase and it likely won’t be long until head coach, Ken Whisenhunt, gives him the starting nod.
  • The Redskins have actually banned fans from bringing signs to their home games.  Hey fellas, an easier way to limit criticism would be to….IMPROVE!  Oh, and hiring guys out of bingo halls isn’t the best first step.
  • Dwayne Jarrett may get his opportunity to shed the “Bust” label this week if Muhsin Muhammad is unable to go for the Carolina Panthers.

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Sunday News & Notes

25 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

  • Miles Austin looks like he’s the real deal. After being thrust into his first start of his career last week due to an injury to Roy Williams, Austin busted out with 10 catches for 250 yards and two touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs.  He was inserted into the starting lineup week 7 after that performance and didn’t disappoint, torching the Atlanta Falcons to the tune of 6 receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. He seems to have an amazing knack for running after the catch.  If he somehow slipped through your fantasy league’s waiver wire last week, make sure you put in a claim for him this time around.

    • Read the rest of this entry »


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Phils: Game 5 Afterthoughts

21 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

Q: Is there anything less accurate than TBS’ ball trax strike zone?
A: Yes, the umpire’s.

Remember that just over a year ago, many people thought that Jason Werth was nothing more than a platoon player incapable of hitting right-handers?

The city of Philadelphia greased utility and light poles to keep all post game celebration grounded….BOO!

Last team to reach consecutive World Series? The 2000-2001 New York Yankees.

As much as I’m rooting for a Phils vs. Yankees series, I’d still love to see the Yanks have to play seven first!

Who’s going to DH for this team? I’m hoping it’s Ibanez with Francisco in left but something tells me Charlie goes with Stairs vs. lefties and Dobbs vs. righties.

Go Phils!


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Breaking News: Eagles Trade For Witherspoon

20 10 2009

According to Jay Glazer of FOX, the Philadelphia Eagles have acquired middle linebacker Will Witherspoon from the St. Louis Rams for receiver Brandon Gibson and a 2010 draft pick.  Adam Schefter of ESPN later reported that the pick is a fifth rounder.

Witherspoon spent his first four seasons with the Carolina Panthers before becoming a member of the Rams, where he has spent the past three years.  He is signed through 2011 with a current base salary of $2.5 million, $5 million for 2010, and $5 million for 2011.

After losing Stewart Bradley to injury in the preseason, the Eagles had moved Omar Gaither back inside to middle linebacker.  Gaither was adequate but not spectacular before injuring his foot in Sunday’s fiasco in Oakland. Jeremiah Trotter was brought back to the team just last week in order to help on rushing downs.  Witherspoon is far more talented than both men and should be a valuable addition to the Birds staff.  He can play both the WILL and MIKE positions and rarely comes off the field.  Eagles head coach Andy Reid has already indicated that he intends to keep Witherspoon on the field in nickel situations.


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The Duke’s Picks – NFL Week #6

17 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

Alright, so I’ve slacked off a bit. But after a 12-2 week against the spread in Week #5, I figured what better time to hop right back in and throw out a new edition of The Duke’s Picks. Week #6 sees me bucking my usual trend of favoring high upside underdogs and swinging straight for the fences by laying some big time points. The reason is simple, there’s no more parity in the NFL…some teams are just really friggin shi**y!

PITTSBURGH STEELERS - 13.5 Cleveland Browns – Polamalu’s back. Cleveland sucks. Pick = Pittsburgh Steelers

MINNESOTA VIKINGS -3 Baltimore Ravens – Having a hard time understanding why this spread is only three points. Regardless, it’s my pick of the week. Pick=Minnesota Vikings

GREEN BAY PACKERS -13.5 Detroit Lions – Detroit has one good player…he’s hurt. Pick = Green Bay Packers Read the rest of this entry »


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Phillies – Dodgers, Wild Thing, Bowa and more!

14 10 2009

audio_icon_big (MLB Network Analyst, Mitch Williams talks Phillies)
audio_icon_big(LA Dodgers coach and former Phillie, Lary Bowa)
audio_icon_big(Phillies beat writer Andy Martino looks at Phils – Dodgers)
audio_icon_big(Phillies beat writer Scott Lauber with a report from LA)


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Phils/Rockies – Game 1 Thoughts

7 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

  • With so many incredibly talented recording artists coming out of the City of Brotherly Love, who else should sing the national anthem but….Kevin Bacon.
  • Cliff Lee got off to a shaky start but was brilliant after the first two innings. Going the distance in game one was huge, last thing we needed to do was tax the bullpen early on.
  • Raul Ibanez looked on point, flashing the swing we saw in the first half of the season.
  • Ubaldo Jimenez makes funny faces.
  • Major League players should know how to slide into a base.
  • At least the umps didn’t get a single call right for either team.
  • Not sure who came up with the idea to make the volume of the commercials louder than that of the game…but just stop it. I, personally, choose something else to watch during commercials since I’m too lazy to lower the volume for every commercial break and too irritable to tolerate 18,000 watts of house rattling Cialis commercials.
  • Major League outfielders should learn how to get in front of balls.
  • What do they do, bring an extra folding chair to every game so they can continuously announce they’ve set a new attendance record?
  • Go Phils!

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Lee to Start Game 1…Lidge to Blame?

6 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

Phils’ skipper Charlie Manuel has announced that Cliff Lee will start Game 1 of the National League Division Series for the Philadelphia Phillies against Colorado on Wednesday afternoon. Lee, the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner, got the nod over Cole Hamels, who was MVP of both the World Series and National League Championship Series last year for the Phils. After being traded to the Phils midseason, Lee went 5-0 with a 0.68 ERA in his first five outings. He stumbled down the stretch, however, going 2-4 with a 6.13 ERA in his last seven starts. Manuel’s decision wasn’t very surprising, considering that Lee had pitched against Houston last Thursday and has five days rest while Hamels would have had to come back on just three. Had Manuel wanted the postseason rotation to start off with Hamels, he certainly could have made adjustments prior to those outings.

While I won’t say that I disagree with the decision (I kinda do), I do wonder if it’s what Charlie really wanted to do? Manuel’s a loyal guy and you’d think he’d be compelled to go with a guy that carried his team to the promise land just last year. I have to wonder if Manuel’s unwavering (and unrewarded) loyalty to Brad Lidge throughout the season forced his hand when making the decision on the game one starter?


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The Duke’s NFL Persiflage

1 10 2009

by Michael DeLuca

per⋅si⋅flage
–noun
1. light, bantering talk or writing.
2. a frivolous or flippant style of treating a subject.

Just learned this word and instantly fell in love with it. Kind of fun to say too, give it a try.

  • Crap

    "Crap!"

    PCPSPORTS.COM readers can look forward to a new weekly column titled, “Bird Droppings.” It will consist of a summary of the week’s Philadelphia Eagles news. Not because we need any more of it, just because I came up with the title and didn’t want it to go to waste. (UPDATE – As one of our readers has pointed out in the comments, I did not come up with this title, it already belongs to a blog by David Weinberg of the Press of Atlantic City…which I no doubt have heard of at some point in the past and then attempted to gank for my own after my “Memento” like short term memory kicked in. On the bright side, I am fairly certain that nobody else has an article titled “The Duke’s NFL Persiflage,” so we should be safe there.)

  • Dallas Cowboys WR Roy Williams on Carolina Panthers CB Richard Marshall, “He’s terrible. Print that.“
    • flasher

    "Looks like coach is getting ready for another motivational speech."

  • Mike Singletary appears well on his way to becoming just as memorable a head coach as he was a player. He’s chock full of fantastic quotes, has his team playing inspired football, and hasn’t exposed himself to his team yet this season. Said Singletary this week, “All the other stuff, you guys can write about it,” he said. “To me, the most important thing that you judge a coach by: is he winning? That’s it.” Read the rest of this entry »

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