Sports thoughts as 2016 winds down..
The Eagles play Dallas this Sunday in a meaningless game. Even if the Birds win, equaling their 7-9 mark from last season, they still need a lot of work to get back to the playoffs, let alone contend with the Cowboys in the future. It starts with free agency in March, and it looks like WR DeSean Jackson wants to come back to Philadelphia. He would gibe the Eagles the deep threat they miss, but the team should draft a young speedy receiver in the draft as well, maybe in the this or fourth round. If they don't have the money to get Terrill Pryor as well, they need more than Jackson to give Carson Wentz the weapons he needs.
Running back is also becoming a priority, as it looks like Ryan Mathews won't return next year. I would go defensive back in the first round, then pass rusher, then receiver and running back in next spring's draft. Having a go-to running back would keep the heat off Wentz and help to control the ball.
It becomes clearer what a bad coach, general manager and jerk Chip Kelly really was. I fault owner Jeffrey Lurie for hiring him in the first place, and not wetting him properly. I'm sure he never would've hired Kelly if Lurie knew how much control he wanted, how he would destroy the team with bad free agent signings, terrible trades and awful draft picks and talent evaluation. Plus. he was a bad guy who wouldn't talk to anyone. The Eagles would be a far different team if they still had Pro-Bowl running back LeSean McCoy, and game-breakers Jackson and Jeremy Maclin. Instead of tearing the team apart, Kelly did not add to the core of players he had.I'm glad he is only 2-13 in San Francisco. I give him another here with the 49ers before he heads back to college where he belongs.
For the first time since 2003, the two teams in the previous Super Bowl, Denver and Carolina, won't even make the playoffs. Usually, one or the other squad won't get to the post-season the following year. The winner of the Super Bowl has a 1 in 6 chance of winning it again, whereas the loser only has a 1 in 23 shot at winning it the next year. It's really hard to win the big game, and shows what an achievement it is just to get there again. Psychologically, it's tough to get back after struggling all year to climb that mountain, overcoming injuries, with a dose of luck, only to end up losing and having to start all over again.
Carson Wentz and Mike Trout have been hanging out a lot lately, going hunting together and sharing breakfasts. That is good. Maybe not only will Wentz help to lead the Eagles to a Super Bowl someday, he might have a hand in the Phillies getting to a World Series too. The American league MVP Trout, a native of Millville New Jersey, is a season ticket holder for the Birds. He is only 25 and I'm sure would love to play for the Phils. But unless the Angels decide to trade him and re-stock their depleated farm system, he can't become a Phillie until 2020 at the earliest when he becomes a free agent. By then, the Phils should have their young prospects in place and will need a veteran superstar like Trout to put them over the hump to a world championship, something Trout surely won't get if he stays with Anaheim.
My wishes for each team in 2017..For the eagles- I wish they start filling their many holes during the off-season. realistically, it may take a few drafts to build the team, but with an easier schedule next year, and a little luck, the Birds may do what the Cowboys did this year- go from worst to first in the NFC East...For the Phillies- play their young kids this summer. See what they have- who can play and who can't- before venturing into the deep free agent pool during the upcoming two free agent signing periods. As long as the team shows improvement and [progress in 2017, I'm OK with a 81-81 record..For the Flyers- continue to play the young kids with the vets, and sort out their goal tending. With both Mason and Nuwirth due to become free agents after this season, the Flyers need to make a decision who to invest in and who to let walk. ..For the Sixers- a wish to get a top 3 pick in June's NBA draft, plus the Lakers pick, then draft a point guard or top shooting guard. They also need to trade Noel and/or Okorfor before the February trade deadline. They can't play with Joel Ombiid, and even though the Sixers won't get back in return what they were once worth, they should get what they could. Hopefully Ben Simmons turns out to be the player they think he can be, and build around Ombiid and Simmons in the years to come.
I will offer my NFL playoff predictions next time. Happy New Year!
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