Hmm, sure was a fair amount of hemmin’ and/ or hawin’ amongst the local blathermonkeys in re: a slightly snippy remark from Andy Reid in his Monday press conference. I hadn’t seen the clip until after I read the “stories” about it, and I think we can safely conclude that this wasn’t exactly a meltdown. More a gentle (and barely snide) suggestion that the blathermonkeys ixnay on the itolay.

But after the Garrett Reid news that surfaced in the 48 hours after Reid’s press conference, one might imagine that Andy wasn’t in a completely awesome mood that afternoon. That is, he knew that he was going to court the next day so that his oldest son could plead guilty to smuggling 89 pills into prison (via his rectum, we presume). Not exactly the sort of thing that puts one in a good mood.

(Read the rest of this story.)

Let it never be said that I am one to keep my respective passions for Food Porn and the Phildelphia Eagles separate!

In an interview session with a mix of local and national blathermonkeys at the NFL Owners Meetings, Andy Reid reaffirmed his deep and special relationship with Donovan McNabb, dissed his breakfast sandwich, and (shockingly) suggested that the wide receiver thing was “overrated.”

Most importantly, however, he gives us some insights into the brain of Andy Reid, which (predictably) involves thinking about food. A lot. His comments in re: the Eagles’ young and potentially delicious linebackers (someone pat me on the back for not saying “linebacking corps”): (Read the rest of this story.)

The Birds apparently just signed free-agent defensive tackle and occasional goal-line fullback Dan Klecko to a one-year deal.

Normally this doesn’t merit a post (especially in a week where I failed to post on Juqua Thomas changing his name to Juqua Parker — can Jim Johnson still call him JT? What will he do?), but the notes on PFT really caused me to pause and thoughtfully scratch my chin:

Klecko has primarily played defensive tackle during his five-year NFL career with the Colts and Patriots, but the Eagles plan to move him to fullback.

The 5-foot-11, 275-pound Klecko has some experience as a fullback in short-yardage and goal line situations, and he caught a four-yard touchdown pass in last year’s AFC Championship Game. Eagles coach Andy Reid apparently sees Klecko as the kind of athlete who could blossom on offense if he practiced at fullback on a full-time basis.

Um, really?
(Read the rest of this story.)

I know I’m desperate for Eagles news when my eyebrows arch reading a complete nothing comment like the following:

Reid and Donovan McNabb talked after the season, and a source close to Reid said that the two were on the same page as far as each man’s approach to the off-season. It’s still possible that the rumblings will turn out to be true and McNabb will try to talk his way out of town. But for now, despite his recent blog entry about the Eagles’ need for more playmakers, McNabb has yet to seriously commence that process. Unless he does, or unless some team offers something exorbitant for him - say, three first-round draft picks - McNabb will be back for the 2008 season. He will be the starter.

I, for one, am glad that they’re both on the same page as far as each man’s approach to the off-season.  Does that mean Andy Reid will be spending more time on the Internets (he’s heard good things about the Facebook) and Dunavin will gain 175 pounds and go to rehab with his daughter? 

Yup, that’s all I gots for ya.

Link:
Eagles can handle the loss of Harbaugh [Inqy]

In a sense, I’m shocked it took this long for someone in the McNabb camp to commit a PR faux pas. I mean, it’d been a whole week since the season ended; the employees of WIP need to eat too! 

To recap in case you haven’t been following closely (and it’s easiest to just review the excellent summary that Derek posted on Iggles Blog): two weeks before the regular season ended, a blathermonkey asked Dunavin if he thought that the Eagles needed to add more players in the offseason. Dunavin went to great lengths to give a very PC answer: that the Eagles needed to add playmakers in all phases of the game.

In response to follow-up questions, he did NOT say that he needed a wide receiver (and even chided the blathermonkey who asked the question for trying to draw him into a trap — yes, this is actually the state of things if you’re Dunavin: you have a jokey relationship with the jackals who are trying to goad you into a headline-worthy quote). He just said that the Eagles could be better if they had a couple more playmakers. Uh huh.

This sentiment was relayed to Andy Reid in a separate press conference, and Andy Reid scolded Dunavin for indirectly insulting his teammates. This was a little silly in itself (since Dunavin didn’t really say anything too crazy), but whatever. You’d think that this wasn’t such a big deal.

You’d think. (Read the rest of this story.)

Very out-of-character slip from Andy Reid in his Monday press conference. In responding to a question about Donovan McNabb’s evolving mobility over the course of the season, he admitted that (a) he knew that McNabb was significantly less than full speed when the season kicked off and (b) he was semi-happy to have McNabb struggle in order to become a better player in the long run. Huh? Really?

According to Big Red,

“I think it was a great experience for him to have all mobility taken away early. Where, in his mind, he had to become an in-pocket passer. He didn’t have 100 percent of his capacity to run. For somebody in his ninth year to have a chance to be even better than he was is a great thing. Now he’s getting the mobility back and he’s becoming an even better thrower than he was before-and I think he was pretty good before.”

So it was good for him to be limited (even if it meant that the team suffered) so that he could become a better player? Did the rest of the team agree with that? (Read the rest of this story.)

I know we’re supposed to pretend that this final win is bittersweet (since the Eagles aren’t going to the playoffs and will finish last in the NFC East), but whatever. It was still a real football game with real NFL players, and thanks to the cruelty of player contracts in the NFL, guys will play hard (with the possible exception of guys who’ve signed contracts in the past 18 months) even if the playoffs aren’t on the line.

And I certainly enjoyed it. This is my favorite TV show, and it brings me much delight when the good guys win. My quick hits from the game today: (Read the rest of this story.)

Well we certainly will never accuse the Eagles of being dolts when it comes to corporate communication and PR.

Joe Banner appeared on Howard Eskin’s show yesterday afternoon on WIP to answer questions about the Eagles’ failures this year and prospects for the 2008 season. Banner clearly stated that both Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb will be back with the Birds next year.

While some of the more conspiracy-minded blathermonkeys are attempting to suggest that this was all some sort of double-reverse designed to pump up McNabb’s trade value (umm, really?), it’s tough not to take Banner at his word. For a guy who chooses his words so carefully (and who was so tight-lipped about other issues during the interview) to purposely mislead Birds’ fans just doesn’t seems likely.

Of course, we can’t help but speculate about what prompted Banner to speak on WIP yesterday afternoon.
(Read the rest of this story.)

A moment of the sublime from the blathermonkeys this morning.

After months/ years of baiting Andy Reid in person and in the papers, the locals got a rise out of him yesterday (which I mentioned in my Nerdbird game review). Not a big rise, mind you, but he did get a little pissy. Which is, in the grand scheme of things, pretty understandable, given that (a) his team is going to finish with a losing record, (b) his franchise QB might be damaged goods (forever), and (c) he and his family have been publicly humiliated and torn apart by his two sons’ drug problems.  Oh, and also he has to deal with these jackals in these charming little sessions four times a week.

(Read the rest of this story.)

We can only dream that Big Red would drop a little Jim Mora in response to obtuse questions about playoff scenarios:

I also just hope we can win a game. (Against the Giants would be ideal.) Also, I guess it’s not exactly the same; the Birds only turned it over four times, not five.