CHIRPING BIRDS- EAGLES ACQUIRE STUD RB AJAYI FROM MIAMI

 GM Howie Rossman did it again, trading for stud running back Jay Ajayi form Miami for a fourth-round draft pick.

Ajayi ran for over 1,200 yards last season. He also gives the Birds a better blocking back and another weapon for Carson Wentz. The powerful tandem of LaGarrette Blount and Ajayi at running back, along with the potent passing games, gives the Birds a great offense.

I wouldn't be surprised if Rossman isn't done yet, with depth a offensive line and linebacker still priorities. And there's still talk of WR Calvin Johnson coming out of retirement to join the Birds' receiving corps.

I love their aggressiveness and the fact, at 7-1, the Eagles want to go for more than just an NFC East crown, but are looking deep into the playoffs. Running the ball in the cold and potentially bad weather of a Philadelphia January could be key for Philly's fortunes.

Give Rossman and owner Jeffery Lurie credit for seizing the moment and going for it. The Eagles still have two fourth-rounders next spring, so they didn't give up the farm for Ajayi, who is still young.

A great deal for the Eagles which all fans should applaud, as the excitement grows and dreams of the Super Bowl become more real.

NFL WEEK 8 WRAP-UP

The upsets calmed down in Week 8, and six teams wer eon byes. Here is a wrap-up of all the games, with an eye to the future:

* Ravens over Dolphins-

Baltimore finally exploded win a big home win. They sit at 4-4, two games behind Pittsburgh in AFC North, having lost to the Steelers earlier in the season. The Ravens travel to Tennessee this week. The Dolphins just traded running back Jay Ajayi to the Eagles today, weakening their offense. They played a terrible game against Baltimore, and, despite a 4-3, it has to be questioned if the Fish will go anywhere this year. This trade sending mixed signals to Miami fans, sitting with a winning record in AFC East, yet dealing their best running back? The Dolphins have Oakland at home on Sunday night.

* Vikings over Browns-

Minnesota beat the hapless Browns in London, even without QB Sam Bradford. The NFC North is for the Vikings to lose, sitting on top with a 6-2 slate. I don't think Minnesota will go far if they do make the playoffs, but they do have a fin defense, and a playoff game in chilly Minnesota ( roof or no roof) would be an advantage. Meanwhile, the Browns are 0-8, destined for yet another miserable year, and have to see quarterbacks Carson Wentz, Jared Goff and DeSaun Watson rub it in Cleveland's face each week of what could have been. They deserve it. Cleveland's front office is the worst in all professional sports. The Vikes have a bye this week as they return from England. as do the Brownies.

* Bills over Raiders-

Buffalo continues to surprise, even though this was supposed to be a rebuilding year. Coach Sean McDermott has done a great job with the Bills. RB LeSean McCoy is in his prime ( too bad the Eagles couldn't get him back in Philadelphia).The Bills are 5-2, only a half-game behind the Patriots.Oakland fails to win on the east coast again. That Christmas night match-up with the Eagles may not matter if the Raiders continue to stumble.  They are 3-5 and in the cellar of AFC West, 3 games behind Kansas City. Buffalo is at the Jets this Sunday for a key division game, while the Raiders go to Miami on Sunday night.

* Bengals over Colts-

Cincinnati eeked out a victory against the lowly Colts. Cincy is 3-4 and technically still in a division and wild card race, but I don't believe in the Bengals. Indy may not get QB Andrew Luck back at all this year. They should be looking to tank for 2018. The Bengals have three straight road games, starting this week at Jacksonville.Indianapolis goes to Houston to take on DeShaun Watson and the Texans.

* Patriots over Chargers-

New England had a tougher time than expected at home against the surging Chargers, escaping with an eight point victory. The Pats lead the AFC East with a 6-2 record, but it feels different this year. They need to secure home field advantage and get a playoff game or two in icy New England in January. Getting the Pats away from home would be big for any AFC team hoping to get to the Super Bowl. The LA Chargers are playing better, but let's be real- they don't measure up to the Chiefs in the west and they aren't good enough to be a wild card squad. New England LA has a bye week while the Patriots also take their break.

* Cowboys over Redskins-

I really expected the 'Skins to put up a better fight against Dallas in Washington but it wasn't meant to be. Now the Redskins are 3-4, have been swept by the Eagles, and now have a home division loss to the Cowboys. Dallas goes to 4-3 and seems to be rounding into shape, but the Zeke Elliot suspension looms over them/ The 'Boys return to Dallas with a tough match-up against the Chiefs while Washington  makes yet another west coast trip, this time to Seattle.

* Chiefs over Broncos-

KC is a solid team, and they manhandled the struggling Broncos on Monday Night Football. Who can or will challenge the Chiefs in AFC West? No one. Kansas City are playing for playoff seeding, a bye and home field advantage. Getting New England and/or Pittsburgh in KC would be big. Denver comes to Philadelphia this Sunday afternoon, still with a  good defense but mightily struggling at quarterback.

* Saints over Bears-

The red-hot Saints have now won five in a row and are ether clear favorites to win the NFC South. QB Drew Brees is playing great and New Orleans has a good defense to go with it. Chicago is 3-5, still i striking distance in NFC North, with Green Bay, Minnesota and Detroit all flawed, but with a rookie QB, the bears won't get to the playoffs this season. The Saints stay in the Superdome to play Tampa Bay while the Bears take their bye this week.

* Falcons over Jets-

Atlanta survived in New York, and despite the win, they still aren't exuding confidence. There's got to be some sort of Super Bowl letdown. They better wake up, as New Orleans is hot and Carolina is still a force to be reckoned with. The Jets are 3-5 in a surprising seasons o far,which, with a few breaks here and there, could have been a really surprising campaign. The 4-3 Falcons play their third straight road game at Carolina this Sunday, while the Jets stay home to take on the Bills.

*  Eagles over 49'ers-

I already broke down this game, but I will add that the 49'ers are now 0-8 for the first time in their history. They were the trendy team to win at least 5-6 games this year but it won't happen. They have only won three games in their last 26 tries- and all have been against the LA Rams. Go figure.The Birds finish their three-game home stand with Denver this Sunday before taking their well-deserved bye, then facing the Cowboys in Dallas on Sunday Night Football on Nov. 18.

* Panthers over Buccaneers-

Carolina is now 5-3 and have a major divisional game this week with the visiting Falcons. This is where the Panthers and QB Cam Newton need to step up and show they are one of the elite teams in the NFC. The Bucs, also a trendy pick at the beginning of the year, have so much potential, yet sit at a disappointing 2-5. Good luck as they take on the Saints in New Orleans this week.

* Seahawks over Texans-

In a wild game at Seattle, the Seahawks beat the Texans, 41-38. The Seattle defense isn't what it used to be, giving teams like the Eagles reason for hope. The Seahawks are tied with the LA Rams at 5-2 in NFC West, having beaten the Rams already. Houston has to be excited with the play of QB Watson, as they are 3-4 in NFC South, right behind the Titans and Jags. Seattle plays at home again this week, greeting the Redskins, as the Texans go home to face the bad Colts.

* Steelers over Lions-

Pittsburgh won in Detroit and are now 6-2 in AFC North. The Lions fell to 3-4, but don't count them out yet in wacky NFC North. The Steelers take their bye this week before hitting the road again to Indianapolis. The Lions go to Lambeau Field in Green Bay for an important division game with the Packers.Without having to deal with Aaron Rodgers, the Lions have a fighters' chance.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, FLYERS, EAGLES

*The Sixers avenged an earlier season loss to the Houston Rockets by defeating them last nigh tin Houston. Ben Simmons continues to shine, scoring 24 points, while teammate Joel Embiid totaled 22.

The Sixers move to 3-4 on the early season, with home games against the Hawks and Pacers this week. They then embark on a 5-game West Coast swing , which includes games against the Clippers, Warriors and Lakers.  They don't return home until Saturday, Nov. 18 when they face the defending world champion Golden State Warriors in South Philly.

We won't see overall top selection Markelle Fultz for at least three weeks, as he rests with a sore shoulder.

It was nice to see the 76'ers finally beat a good team on the road. The upcoming trip to the West Coast should tell much about the Sixers in the early-going.

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The Flyers suffered an embarrassing loss last night to the previously winless Arizona Coyotes, losing 4-3 in overtime. Give the Flyers credit for overcoming a three-goal deficit in the third period. Philly scored two goals in the last minute to tie the game.

They came away with a point, but you never want another club that has not won a game all season to invade your ice and get a victory.

Philadelphia is now 6-5-1 and are inconsistent as hell. The hockey club has tough games at the Black hawks and at the Blues this week before returning to the Wells Fargo Center for  a three-game home stand.

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The World Series resumes tonight in Los Angeles for Game 6. The Astros can win their first-ever world championship behind Justin Verlander, while the Dodgers need to get the series to a deciding Game 7 tomorrow night. It's been a wild series, and all of the playoffs have been outstanding.

 The end of baseball for another year means the beginning of Hot Stove talk, deals, and free agent signings. It's also one step closer to spring training in February.

LA has home field advantage tonight, but there's something about this Houston team that oozes destiny. They are young and talented, and somehow I think they will win one of the next two games.

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The NFL trade deadline is at 4:00 today. I would love to see the Eagles upgrade at offensive tackle, running back and linebacker. I just don't know if they can fit guys under the salary cap, and if they have the draft capitol to trade for what they need.

Getting RB Frank Gore from Indianapolis would give the Birds another weapon and add a back who can block. More O-line depth would be great ( I wonder if GM Howie Rossman regrets trading Matt Tobin to Denver in the summer?). Picking up more linebacker depth isn't ass crucial, but it wouldn't hurt.

Sounds like WR Calvin Johnson isn't coming out of retirement after all. Megatron would give  Carson Wentz another big receiver in the red zone to team with Alshon Jeffery and Zach Ertz.

I'm not saying the Birds should mortgage the farm before 4:00 this afternoon, but at 7-1, they are in great shape, not only to win the NFC East, but to secure a bye in the playoffs, home field advantage, and make a deep run to the Super Bowl. Dratf picks are just that, and if the team can upgrade without sacrificing the future so much, they should at least try.

PHILLIES PHODDER- NEW MANAGER GABE KAPLER

The Phillies officially announced the hiring of new manager Gabe Kapler, a 42-year-old (w ho will be their youngest manager since Terry Francona) from the LA Dodger organization.

Other then managing briefly a Class-A ball in the Red Sox organization, Kapler has zero experience managing a professional baseball team.He was the Director of Player Development for the Dodgers before being hired by the Phils.

Kapler is a big analytics guy and a fitness nut. He is a Matt Klentak clone. Klentak wanted his own guy. Old-school managers, like Pete Mackannin, are dinosaurs in baseball now. It's all about numbers and geeky, nerdy crap.

I'll give Kapler a chance until I see different, but on the surface, I don't like the signing.

Ex-Yankee skipper Joe Girardi was available but didn't even get an interview. Girardi is not a "retreat"- he recently took the young Yanks to the brink of the World Series.

Whereas I'm happy the Phillies didn't hire another washed-up, by the book veteran like a Dusty Baker or Buck Showalter, I didn't exactly see them hiring a guy who has no managerial experience on the big league level either.

Klentak has his neck firmly in the noose now. Sink or swim with Kapler. Team president Andy MacFailure is already on record as saying that a general manager only has so many managers to hire and fire.

Maybe Kapler will bring a fresh, new perspective to the team. They do need a more positive attitude with this group of young players. No more striving to be .500, wanting to be mediocre. They need to hustle, play small-ball and execute the fundamentals, yet stress the long-ball as well in cozy Citizens Bank Park.

Perhaps Kapler will bring along Dodger hitting coach Mark Mcguire to tutor fellow slugger Rhys Hoskins? The Dodgers system is always packed with prospects,e specially pitcihng, and maybe Kapler can help Phillies scouts and coaches in that aspect.

Kapler comes to town after the World Series ends a tthe end of the week. I'll have more of an opinion then.

IN MY LIFE- HALLOWEEN MEMORIES-PART 2

 Today is Halloween. Lots of parties tonight. Lots of trick-or-treating. Lots of scary movies on TV. A fun time for all.

* My favorite scary movies? Here is the list:

1. The Exorcist-

Still gives me the chills. The eerie music made is scarier.

2. Dracula-

The original with Bela Lugosi From the black and white atmosphere to the creepy music and make-up.

3. Alien-

OK, not a typical Halloween movie, but frightening nonetheless, especially when the alien pops out of the guy's stomach.

My favorite scary TV series was the old ABC soap opera, Dark Shadows. Barnabas Collins was the vampire, and the early episodes every weekday at 3:30 in the afternoon were chilling. I looked forward to coming home from school every weekday and watching Dark Shadows. The cliff-hanger would be on Fridays, which kept you in suspense until the following Monday. A classic.

* There are some Halloween songs you can make a play-list out of, and here are my favorites:

1. Monster Mash-

A big hit when I was a kid, it still holds up today.

2. Devil Woman-

A hit for Cliff Richard.

3. Long Cool Woman in a Black Dress-

By The Hollies.

4. Evil Woman-

Electric Light Orchestra made this one a hit.

IN MY LIFE- HALLOWEEN MEMORIES

 * I'm not a big Halloween guy now, as Halloween grows in popularity.  More adults are into the holiday, with costume parties in vogue. Halloween spending is in the billions, nott only for candy but for costumes and decorating.

Halloween was always about candy. Here are my favorite candy I always loved to get while trick-or-treating.

1. Reese's  Peanut Butter Cups-

The best, whether it be the really big cups or the miniature ones. The combo of chocolate and peanut butter can't be beat, even now.

2. 3 Musketeers Bars-

I loved the fluffy part, as opposed to the caramel and nuts of other chocolate bars.

3. Peppermint Patties-

The mix of chocolate and cool peppermint was always refreshing,

4. Hershey's Chocolate Bars-

Nothing like a Hershey Bar. I never cared for the with almonds. The dark chocolate is OK, and better for you, but the pure milk chocolate is still the best.

5. Kit Kat Bars-

I loved the snap- and- crunch of a Kit Kat bar. Plus the bars were square and convenient to put in the pocket to snack on.

6. Peanut Butter M&M's

New on the list. I liked the regular M&M's as a kid. Never cared for peanut M&M's. pretzel M&M's or coconut M&M's ( more on coconut later). But the peanut butter M&M's are great, and don't melt.

7. Milky Ways-

Good because of the creamy texture; bad because I was never a big caramel fan.

8. Nestle Crunch Bars-

I liked them because they were crunchy and different.

I was never a fan of corn candy. They always tasted waxy and sugary to me. Plus I remember getting sick on corn candy one Halloween, so it was always avoided after that.

I have always hated coconut. So, candy bars like Almond Joy was dreaded. So were sticky and gooey treats like Mary Janes, Licorice, Gummy Bears and Twizzlers.  Anything that would stick to my teeth was a no-no ( my dentist agreed).

I disliked nuts too. It was always a pain trying to dislodge them form my teeth. So, candies like Snickers were not my favorites.

Dark chocolate was OK, but I grew more accustomed to dark chocolate as I got older. It always seemed bitter to me. But now I like it. As a kid, there wasn't as much dark chocolate around.

Tootsie Rolls were good but I didn't care for Toosie Pops, again, because they stuck to your teeth.  Butterfingers didn't turn me on. Good n' Plenty were OK, but licorice wasn't a  favorite.

The worse while trick-or -treating was getting pennies as a kid. Kids wanted candy, and pennies were nothing. Apples were also a disappointment, as was any kind of fruit. I rarely got any kind of toy. Chocolate covered pretzels were different, but in the grand scheme of things, candy bars were the preference of choice.

* Nowadays, Halloween costumes come in all shapes and sizes, with superheroes and scary ghosts still at the top of the list. I remember dressed up as President Kennedy as a kid in school. In grade school, we would always have a Halloween party, complete with costume. I remember going as a hobo one Halloween. I wasn't a big superhero guy. I dressed as a baseball player once, plastic whiffle ball bat and glove in tow.

* Later in life, I remembered Halloween in different ways. A few years ago I remember a bad ice storm around Halloween, one which knocked out my power for a day. Since we had an ice storm so early in the winter season, it was thought the storm was a warning of icy weather to come that winter, but, believe it or not, that ice storm was the worst all season long.

I do remember very warm Halloweens too, Temps in the 60s required no jackets when out trick-or-treating in local neighborhoods.

Speaking of which, it's different now. Kids have to be careful knocking on doors and taking treats from strangers. That's a shame. A lot of towns have group Halloween parties at central places, like malls or churches, for safety reasons.  All good ideas, in these troubled times we live in. But the innocence of Halloween when I was growing up in the late 50s and 60sare gone.And that's too bad.

IN THE NEWS- CDC TURNS TO TECH TO FLAG DEVELOPMENTAL DELAYS

Today's In The News article is from Disability Scoop..

Federal officials are introducing a new app aimed at helping  parents determine if their kids may be at risk doe developmental issues.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said its Milestone Tracker app is designed to help moms and dads understand when kids should be hitting certain benchmarks.

The free app includes checklists with photos and videos detailing important milestones for children ages 2 months to 5 years as well as information about when and how to talk to a doctor about potential issues.

"Skills like taking a first step, saying those first words, and waving 'bye-bye' are developmental milestones all parents anticipate and celebrate," said Brenda Fitzgerald, director of the CDC. "This CDC Milestone Tracker app gives parents tips to help their child learn and grow, a way to track developmental milestones, recognize delays and the ability to share this information with their health care provider."

CDC officials said they're hopeful that the technology can give parents the tools to alert their pediatrician if something is amiss.

The new offering is part of a broader effort from the federal agency to promote early identification of young children with developmental delays and disabilities like autism so that they can receive services and support as soon as possible.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- PHILLIES, WORLD SERIES, SIXERS

* The Phillies are reported to be ready to hire Gabe Kapler, head of player development for the Dodgers, as their new manager.

On face value it seems like a stupid decision, typical of GM Matt Klentak. Let's face it- the front office fired Pete Mackanin to get their own guy. Kapler is a young, analytics guy. He has never managed a team, but supposedly is a good communicator and good evaluating young talent.

I don't understand not giving Joe Girardi at least an interview. You can't really call Girardi a  "retread", bouncing from team to team. He just piloted a young team to the brink of the World Series. His firing from the Yankees was a surprise, so it seems Klentak & co. already had their mind set on Kapler.

Of course, the comparisons will be made to the actor- comic Gabe Kaplin, the guy form "Welcome Back Kotter." Since I really don't know the new Kapler, I'm willing to give him a chance before burying him and Klentak.

Klentak's neck is on the line now. Even team president Andy MacFailure said that "every general manager has a limited amount of managers". So, If Kapler fails, so will Klentak.

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The Sixers medical staff finally admitted- in a cleverly press release, timed late Sunday afternoon moments after the Eagles victory- that rookie No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz has a shoulder problem, and will be out "indefinitely." He has a problem with the scapula bone in the back of the right shoulder. He will be re-evaluated in three weeks.

It was pretty obvious with the naked eye that Fultz was hurt. He couldn't shoot. Yet the Sixers' doctors cleared him to play, anyway..

The entire organization is a disgrace and a joke.

The 76'ers play in Houston tonight against the Rockets.

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* What a wild Game 5 of the World Series last night! The Astros beat the Dodgers, 13-12 in 10 innings. They overcome a 4-0 deficit and Clayton Kershaw to get the victory.

It had looked like Kershaw had finally beat his post-season woes, after pitching well in Game 1 and in the series before against the Cubs. The Astros have a good, young team, especially their hitters, who are  relentless.

Houston takes a 3-2 lead in the series, as they travel back to Los Angeles for the deciding game (s). Justin Verlander can give the Astros their first-ever world championship. The Dodgers have home field advantage . It's going to be a war in LA.

I picked the Dodgers to win in six. That won't happen. My heart is with Houston, so if they do close it out, it will be a satisfying conclusion to a great baseball season.

Chase Utley did not play in Game 5. Neither did struggling reliever Ken Giles. Houston pitched seven hurlers, but Giles stayed in the bullpen.

CHIRPING BIRDS- EAGLES- 49'ERS WRAP-UP

 Thoughts on ht eEagles 33-10 victory over the 49'ers...

* There is talk of the Eagles being "aggressive" in trade talks this week, as the NFL trade deadline is Tuesday, October 31. Most notable rumors are talks with retired ex- Detroit Lions receiver Calvin (Megatron) Johnson. He is 32 and if healthy, could prove to be a big target for Wentz, especially in the red zone.

The Eagles now have a solid corps of receivers  but upgrading with Megatron wouldn't hurt.

Could they fit him under the salary cap? Who would take a backseat to Johnson? The other Johnson? Hollins and Agholor are playing too well. Jeffery and Smith maybe haven't been as productive as expected but they have opened up the middle of the field for  tight ends Ertz and Burton.

Beefing up the offensive line, especially the left tackle position, with a proven veteran, should be the focus. Joe Staley form the "Niners, even though he suffered a fractured eye socket in the game with the Birds yesterday, should be a target. He's an all-pro lineman. San Francisco is rebuilding. The Eagles have three 4th-round draft picks next spring. Justsaying.

A better blocking running back would also fill a need, as would linebacker depth. Either way, I'm sure GM Howie Rossman  will go all-in and take advantage of the Eagles standing at 7-1.

* WR Alshon Jeffery has not produced as expected but Sunday afternoon he played well, catching a Wentz touchdown pass and playing defensive back on a Hail Mary try at the end of the 1st half, batting away a pass in the end zone.

* Angels outfielder Mike Trout, an avid Eagles fan, was at the game again yesterday. Zach Ertz awarded him with a football after a TD catch , Ertz joking later that continuing to give Trout footballs may help sway him to sign with the Phillies in a few years when he becomes a free agent.

* Weather-wise, it was an ugly day at the Linc. Raining constantly, at varying degrees all afternoon. The field held up well, and it was surprising that more turnovers or slips didn't occur. The fans were out strong and loud, basking in the inclement weather. It had to be miserable to be there, and the lackluster game didn't help. Fun to watch, but not as much fun as a snow game.

It was actually raining harder before the game ( wonder what that did to the tailgating) and after, so it could've been worse during the game itself.

* The referees did not play a major factor in the game, which was refreshing. No big stops and starts or reviews. The refs let the guys play, as they should. I guess they wanted to get out of there as well, with the rain and wind.

* OT Vitai played OK. Naturally, he is a down-grade from Jason Peters. He should be OK, but I wouldn't mind the front office upgrading the position this week.

* Kicker Jake Elliot set an Eagles record by kicking his 5th field goal of the season 50 yards or better. He missed two extra points, however, the first try holder Donnie Jones didn't get the ball down correctly, probably because of the wet football..

* Fletcher Cox may get a fine or even suspension  for his hit on Joe Staley which fractured Staley's orbital bone near his eye. Cox is plying so well, it would be a shame to see Cox out for any amount of time.

* Jalan Mills returned an interception for  a touchdown, He is becoming  a solid corner back,which has suddenly become a position of strength, with injured corners Ron Darby and Sidney Jones waiting to come back.

*DE Derek Barnett is coming on. The teams' 1st round draft pick has 3 sacks and blocked a field goal attempt against the 49'ers. Vinny Curry is finally playing well, giving the Birds an explosive set of ends who are putting constant pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

Back-up QB Nick Foles finally got playing time late in the 4th quarter. He didn't throw a pass, so we still don't know the condition of his once- sore shoulder.

So, the Eagles stand at 7-1, solidly  on top of NFC East. They have one more home game left in this stretch, against the Denver Broncos next Sunday at 1:00. The game was rumored to be flexed to Sunday night, but Miami and Oakland will play Sunday night. That's good news for me. I'm going to the game, and I like the 1:00 games better.

Denver plays a tough game at Kansas City tonight. Next week will be the third of three road games for the Broncos, who have not been playing well.  The Eagles can go 8-1 before their bye week, getting ready for a key Sunday Night match-up with the Cowboys in Dallas.

Every victory now brings Philly closer to a division title, a playoff bye and home field advantage.  My analysis and prediction for the Denver game will come later in the week.

IN THE NEWS- SMART HOME PRODUCTS PROVE USEFUL FOR THOSE WITH SPECIAL NEEDS

 A useful article from the Chicago Tribune..

Smart home products are often marketed for their convenience, but the technology to do other things in the home, s,art home products can be controlled remotely by  a touch panel or an app on a device. The technology remains a nascent category, but some consumer products include functions that previously were found in assistive devices.

Smartphones, tablets and Wi-Fi- connected homes made the overlap possible, said Stephen Ewell, executive director pf the Consumer Technology Association Foundation, Apps use smartphone accessibility features, like voice commands or touchscreens, opening interaction with various home technologies. The consumer market's economies of scale can make smart home products cheaper and with better technology than assistive devices, he said.

Attractively designed smart home products also remove the stigma some people with disabilities feel when using a clinical-looking device, Ewell said.

"What I hear more and more from the disabled community is that they really are looking for the same devices that the general consumer market is looking for," he said.

Both people with disabilities and product manufacturers are just starting to realize the enpowering potential in these products, said Cristen reat, co-founder of BridgingApps, a program of Easter Seals Greater Houston.

One of the top smart home devices is Amazon's Echo line, which use Amazon's Alexa voice service, said both Reat, and Alexander Glazebrook, director of training and technology for Older Adults Technology Services in New York.

The Echo Dot is Amazon's voice-activated speaker, and the newest product is the Echo Show, which has video-call integration. Reat said Echo can be used for audiobooks and voice shopping, and it even picks up communication devices used by people who are nonverbal.

"Voice shopping is tremendous for people with disabilities. Someone with a cognitive impairment can be taught to order things," she said.

Reat said she was very impressed that Echo recognized robotic voice commands. "That's a huge impact for people who cannot speak for themselves and rely on technology to speak for them," she said.

Glazebrook said senior citizens his group works with enjoy interacting with Echo, and he sees a lot of promise that Echo Show's video capability could reduce the feeling of isolation-in the elderly.

Smart locks and smart doorbells offer convenience and safety for people with disabilities and their caregivers. Popular lock brands include August Smart Lock and Schlage, while a top smart doorbell is Ring.

Smart doorbells are good for all ages. Ring has a video camera on the doorbell, and you can see on your computer ( or phone) who it is and communicate through the doorbell, even if you're not at home," Glazebrook said.

Reat said smart locks make it easier for people with disabilities to enter and exit the home, and caregivers don't have to run home to let someone in or give out permanent keys, since they can control entry from their phone. Some higher-end smart locks have video cameras.

Reat said smart ceiling fans, like the Signal line from Hunter Fan, combine safety and comfort. Especially in hot areas, ceiling fans help with circulation, but manual fans can be difficult for people with disabilities if they require standing on a chair to switch speeds or direction.

Money can be an issue for people with disabilities, Reat said. An inexpensive way to add smart technology is with smart switches, like those from iDevices or Belkin's WeMo. Users plug manual objects into the smart switch, and the object can be controlled from their smartphone.

Smart light bulbs, like Philips Hue, are energy efficient and come in color palettes, said Glazebrook. Not only can users control them remotely, an change the colors if they're sensitive to lights.

"I love that product. I've had it close to four to five years, and they've not gone out,' he said.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, FLYERS WORLD SERIES, PENN STATE, EAGLES

* The Sixers escaped in Dallas Saturday night, beating the lowly Mavericks, 112-110. Both Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons had 23 points. Embiid suffered a "hand contusion" during the game. X-rays later proved negative.

The team is now 2-4 on the early season. They stay in Texas  for a Monday night tilt with the Houston Rockets, who beat the 76'ers in Philly last week. The Sixers have home game this week with Atlanta and Indiana before hitting the road for a West Coast 5-game swing. which includes long-awaited games with Golden State and the LA Lakers.

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* The Flyers broke their two-game losing streak with a 4-2 win in Toronto last night.It was a nice win, as the Maple Leafs are one of the stronger teams in the NHL. Claude Giroux scored his 6th goal, and the Flyers are 6-0 this year when Giroux scores a goal.

The Flyers return to their home ice tomorrow night with a clash with the only winless team in the league, the Arizona Coyotes, who stand at 0-10-1.

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* The Dodgers knotted the World Series on a busy sports Saturday night, 2-2.. Big game for LA. A loss would've put Houston in the driver's seat, with a Game 5 tonight in Houston. Instead, the Dodgers play Game 5 with their ace, Clayton Kershaw, and a chance to go back to Los Angeles with a 3-2 lead, needing only to take 1 of 2 games at home to win the world championship.

Chase Utley has now gone 0-34 in the last two post-seasons. Is this the end for Utley? Surely, the Dodgers won't resign him after the season. He had a great career,  finishing up with his hometown Dodgers, and perhaps will leave with a ring.

Will Utley be a coach/ Work in the media? What will life be like for Utley after baseball?

Certainly, he will be inducted into the Phillies Wall of Fame, perhaps as soon as next summer. Utley wasn't the most out-going guy  but I can see him doing TV, maybe working for ESPN , or ,if he wanted to stay home in Southern California, working for the Dodgers. I don't think he would make a good manager. Too much of a perfectionist, and not a very good communicator. Utley was more of a silent leader who let his hustle and energetic play do his talking.

Another ex-Phillie, reliever Ken Giles, is having a rough post-season. He blew a lead earlier in the series and gave up more runs last night to cushion a Dodger win.

He still has the stuff, occasionally hitting 100-m.p.h, on his fastball, but it seems to be a combination of bad location and lack of confidence.

Giles is still only 27 and remains a solid closer. But, sinply put, he as failed as a closer i the most important time of his career.

Houston fist baseman Yuli Gurriel is an immature jackass. After hitting a home run off LA pitcher Yu Darvish  in Game 3 of an Astro win, Gurriel made a gesture toward Darvish in the dugout that was picked up by the cameras. He raised the corner of his eyes and uttered a derogatory term  toward the Asian born Darvish.

Baseball's commissioner, Rob Manford, suspended Gurriel for the first five games in 2018. He didn't want to penalize Houston  in the World Series for the stupid actions of one player.

The suspension would  have made more of an impact if Gurriel would've been forced to sit out the rest of the World Series. How dumb was the gesture, not only the gesture itself, but to do it in the dugout in clear view of cameras?  What a clueless jerk.

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Penn State blew an 18-point lead at Ohio State and lost to the Buckeyes, 39-38. That will drop them out of the No. 2 spot in the national rankings. Having lost to Ohio State, they will need to climb over several teams now to reach the final four playoffs.

Alabama and Georgia are better. Notre Dame may overtake them too, and Ohio State will move up from No. 6 . The Nittany Lions may still play for the national title- losing by one point on the road isn't a crime- but the task will be much tougher now.

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I write this on Sunday morning, 3 hours before the Eagles take the soggy turf at Lincoln Financial Field It's pouring outside, but should let-up for a few hours before ramping up again in the second half. The football will be wet and slippery. Snaps form center will be a challenge. Having an experienced like Center Jayson Kelce is an advantage. Kicking will be tricky too as the winds pick up and swirl thru-out the game.

It will be important for the birds to get in the lead and force the 49'ers to throw the ball, especially in the second half when the weather gets even worse. As the Eagles run the ball and control the clock, their defensive pass rush   can tee-off on the San Francisco rookie quarterback.

Maybe it's not the best tailgate morning, but the game should be fun to watch- as long as the Eagles win and go 7-1.

PHILLIES PHODDER -JOE GIRARDI

It will be a total disgrace if the Phillies don't at least give ex-Yankees manager Joe Girardi an interview.

Girardi was let go by New York this week, after taking the young Yanks to the brink of the World Series.  He has been a good, solid skipper for many years. He would be a perfect fit for this young Phillies team.

Instead, its been reported the Phillies' organization will not grant Girardi an interview. They reportedly have their short-list of managerial candidates, and hope to name a guy , maybe as soon as this week, before the upcoming Winter Meetings.

No, losers Matt Klentak and Andy MacPhail don't want a solid manager who will take this young squad to the next level. They would rather hire a no-name bum, an analytics puppet they can control.

I'm sick of these guys. I actually dread upcoming free agency, knowing Klentak won't sign anyone of note. He won't sign a few solid pitchers who may make the staff competitive and give the team a chance to win next summer.

Even the upcoming trading season looks bleak. The only significant deal Klentak has made so far, Ken Giles to Houston, looks like a bust so far.

And I won't even mention the fiasco of Michael Saunders...That Scott Kingery may not reach Philly until after May..Or mention their No. 1 draft choices are hitting .250

.I'm OK with Dusty Warthan but when you have a manager like Girardi out there, you at least talk to him.

Instead he will go to Washington and take the Nationals to the World Series.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- WORLD SERIES, SPORTS WEEKEND

* The Astros beat the Dodgers last night to take a 2-1 lead in the World Series. Houston has not lost a home game all post-season. If they sweep the next two games in Houston they win their first-ever world championship.

4 runs in the 2nd inning did it for the Astros, who chased LA starter Yu Darvish.

The Dodgers are in an almost must-win situation tonight. Alex Wood takes the mound, hoping to even the series at 2-2, when Clayton Kershaw takes the ball in Game 5.  Losing puts LA behind 1-3. We've seen teams overcome 1-3 deficits recently, but that would be asking a lot of the Dodgers, to win a Game 5 in Houston and take both games in Los Angeles.

Chase Utley went 0-2 last night, making him 0-5 in the World Series so far.

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* It's a big sports weekend in Philly. The Flyers go to Toronto to take on the hot Maple Leafs tonight. The Flyers are 5-5 early on, scoring a lot but their defense and goal tending have been suspect.

The Sixers go to Dallas to face the lowly Mavericks. It should be a win for Philadelphia The organization is still swirling  from the Markell Fultz injury fiasco. It's time to start winning basketball games and stop with moral victories.

The Eagles will play Sunday afternoon at the Linc vs San Francisco. Heavy rain is predicted, especially in the second half. Important to get the lead and run the ball in the wind and rain, when the ball will be slick and the field will be wet.

I said Eagles 24 'Niners 13, but if the weather conditions are bad as expected, the score may be less. 17-3 sound good?

Penn State travels to Ohio State for a key conference game. it will be a tough test for the Nittany Lions, playing the Buckeyes on the road.

Eagles' fans will also want to keep an eye on the Cowboys-Redskins game in Washington. Hard to root for any one of these losers, but I'll want Washington to win. Never root for Dallas. Plus the Eagles swept the "Skins. Give the cowboys as many losses as possible before Zeke Elliot starts serving his six-game suspension.

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The Phillies may be naming their new manager this week or next. They want to have a guy in place before they head to the GM and Winter Meetings. Lehigh Valley skipper Dusty Warthan is still in the running.

After the World Series is over this week free agency begins in earnest. . Signing Jayson Werth would be a start. He still can hit, gives you power off the bench, and would be a veteran presence in the clubhouse.

Trades will heat up once the Winter Meetings get underway.

IN THE NEWS- AUTISM BENEFIT TO AIR ON HBO

From Disability Scoop..

Some of the biggest names in comedy are coming together for a nationally-televised event, all to raise money for schools, programs and services for those on the spectrum.

Louis C.K., Stephen Colbert, Abbi Jackson, Jordan Klepper, John Mulaney, John Oliver, Ben Stiller, Ellie Kemper, Howie Mandel, Chris Rock and Adam Sandler are among the talent up for :Night of Too Many Stars: America Unites for Autism Programs."

the show featuring stand-up performances, sketches and short films is hosted by Jon Stewart and will air on HBO where the former 'Daily Show:' host has a deal.

Stewart has emceed the event, which previously aired on Comedy Central, since 2005.

Presented live from The Theater at Madison Square Garden in new York, "Night of Too Many Stars" benefits the nonprofit NEXT for AUTISM, formerly known as New York Collaborates for Autism.

Over the years, the annual show has raised over $24 million for NEXT for AUTISM, which has developed a charter school to serve students with the developmental disorder in Harlem and created the Center for Autism and the Developing Brain at New York Presbyterian Hospital, among other initiatives.

"Night of Too Many Stars" will air Nov. 18 at 8 p.m. ET on HBO.

IN THE NEWS- DEVOS WEIGHS CHANGES TO SPECIAL ED RULE

From Disability Scoop..

The U.S. Department of Education is  reportedly considering delaying or wiping out a rule designed to ensure that children from certain backgrounds aren't unnecessarily placed in special education.

The agency is debating the future of a rule finalized late last year by the Obama administration in an effort to prevent overrepresentation of minorities in special education, according to Politico.

The Washington news outlet says it has obtained an unpublished draft of a Federal Register notice from the Education Department that would ask for comment on delaying the rule for two years and ultimately potentially changing, replacing or doing away with it altogether.

Elizabeth Hill, a spokeswoman for the Department of Education, said that she could not verify the document that Politico has, but acknowledged that discussions are underway about the rule.

"What I can tell you, is through the regulatory review process, we've heard from states, (school districts) and others on a wide range of issues, including the significant disproportionality rule.Because of the concerns raised, the department is looking closely at this rule,' Hill told Disability Scoop.

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, states are required to identify school districts with "significant disproportionality," or high rates of students from particular racial or ethnic groups that are placed in restrictive settings or are subject to discipline.

But the Obama administration said that with various states using different measures to assess representation in special education, school districts have rarely been flagged. The rule- set to take effect in July 2018- was designed to address this by creating a uniform standard across  the country.

Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos is now considering delaying implementation until 2020, according to Politico. Even in that scenario, however, states that wish to go forward with the rule next year would reportedly have the option to do so and data from states that proceed would be used to assess how well the rule works.

News that the rule could be delayed is drawing a strong rebuke from Democratic lawmakers.

It seems Betsy DeVos is on a mission to decimate basic protections for students at all levels," U.S. Sen. Bob Casey, D-Pa., wrote on Twitter.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- FLYERS,RAVENS- DOLPHINS , EAGLES

* The Flyers lost on the road last night, losing to Ottawa 5-4. Each time the Senators would try and pull away, Philly can back The Flyers ran out of time to catch-up.

This year's squad is young and fast. But they are 5-5, an average team. It's a long season, but so far their weaknesses appear to be defense and goal tending. They certainly score goal, but cab they stop the enemy from scoring too?

The Flyers stay on the road Saturday night in a match-up with the powerful Maple Leafs in Toronto.

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Baltimore crushed Miami, 40-0, last nigh tin Thursday Night Football. It's about time the Ravens flexed some muscle. They have been one of the most disappointing teams in the NFL this season.Still a long way to go, but Baltimore needs to step it up if they want to challenge Pittsburgh for the top-spot in AFC North.

The Dolphins are now 4-3 and continued their inconsistent season. This is the same Miami team that upset the NFC champion Falcons in Atlanta last week.  The AFC East is there for the taking, with New England not being the same team this year. Will it be Miami, buffalo, the Jets or no one to step up and finally give the Patriots something to worry about?

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The World Series continues tonight in Houston for Game 3. It's a weekend set in Houston, with the series tied 1-1. The Astros could sweep all three games this weekend and win their first world title. Even two out of three would force the Dodgers to win the last two games in LA. Tonight's Game 3 and Game 5 are always critical to any series.

I predicted Dodgers in six. That's possible if LA wins 2 of 3 in Houston.

The Eagles- 49'ers game inches closer on Sunday afternoon at a soggy Lincoln Financial Field.The weather has become as hot of a topic as Carson Wentz,, as the forecast is for wind and rain,some of it heavy at times,starting early in the morning ( so much for tailgating).and continuing thru the game.

 The ball will be slick, as will the footing  from the wet grass, and we may see more turnovers than usual because of the weather condition.Bad weather games are fun to watch, like old-school football when the Birds played the Lions in Philadelphia several years ago, Bad weather usually evens out a potential blow-out game.

I still like the Eagles to keep rolling, 24-13 over San Francisco.

IN MY LIFE- THE YARDBIRDS AT THE COLONIAL THEATER

 I saw the great 60s British group, The Yardbirds, last night at the Colonial Theater in Phoenixville. The Yardbirds were a very influential music group, playing rock, blues  and psychedelic music. Jimmy Page, Eric Clapton and Jeff Beck were all Yardbirds at one time. The only remaining original member of the group, drummer Jim McCartey, still tours with the band, and he was at the concert Thursday night.

The Yardbirds are now a 5-piece band. Lead guitarist Johnny A. was outstanding. He has a lot to live up to, playing in the legacy of such famed guitarists like Clapton and Beck.

I don't know all of The Yardbirds songs, but I knew the opener, "Heart Full of Soul," and "For Your Love," which the band played later in their 90-minute set.

Lots of Yardbird fans there, mostly older. The Colonial wasn't quite a sell-out, but close.

McCarty himself had an extended drum solo, and all five musicians each had turns of playing solo. Most of the other members of the current Yardbirds are from the states, from Brooklyn to Chicago.

The crowd was on its feet during the upbeat encore of "Train Keep A-Rollin'" and " I'm A Man." McCarty informed the audience there's a new album on the horizon, and asked for help at The Yardbirds website to make the album happen. "Donations, quickly changed to "pre-orders" of the new album were waiting to be accepted.

All in all, The Yardbirds were high energy, good fun. The sound was a bit distorted at the beginning, but improved as the show went on. And for a guy in his 70's, McCarty still knows how to rock.

Gooch & The Motion opened the evening with a six-song set, most off their album 'Comin' Home."Only two members played at the Colonial, Gooch ) who is the lead singer and guitarist)and an acoustic guitar guy. They do have a full band, but not tonight.

They were well received by the crowd filing into the theater. Gooch has a really deep, gravelly, Peter Wolf-like voice. It's different and unique, all good in the music business. The group is from South Jersey, but have a Southern twang to their voices. They have shared the stage with the likes of Lynard Skynard, the Allman Brothers Band, and the Zac Brown Band.

One more thing you need to know about Gooch: He's a paraplegic, using a wheelchair. He plays the guitar, almost like a steel guitar, sitting on his lap. He was in a car accident back in 2004. His father bought him a guitar after his accident and Gooch learned how to play- and the rest is history.

He is a cancer-survivor as well. He is a brave guy, not for the courage it took to overcome such adversity at a young age ( he's only 30), but he has the guts to get on stage, via portable ramp,wheelchair and all, intermingle on-stage with fans, tell his story and play his blues music.

By the end of their set, the crowd no longer were staring at Gooch for the curious and unique performer that he is, but seeing him in a different light as a singer/musician.

I'm sure he would want it that way.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, WORLD SERIES

* The Sixers are playing games again- and not on the basketball court.

GM Brian Colangelo held a press conference yesterday to address the Marrkelle Fultz fiasco. Is he hurt? How bad? For how long? Why was he playing through pain? Does anybody know what's going on?

It was the same old double-talk form the GM- and later from Coach Brett Brown.They blamed Fultz more then their own inept medical staff and the confusion which is the front office and organization. 

Lying and making excuses and covering their ass is common for the Sixers. So is incompetence

It's a shame. The 76'ers have a group of young, talented players. They need some direction, both form the coach and the organization. Sadly, this won't change soon. Brown will be kept on,unless the team completely collapses, because he is a mindless puppet for the front office. Colangelo is there for the long run. And the greedy owner, Josh Harris, is there until he can't make anymore money.

The fans deserve better.

As for last night's game against the Houston Rockets, the Sixers blew it in the end, losing on a last-second Rocket three-pointer, 105-104.

As usual, the loser coach claimed a moral victory. But that's not good enough anymore. The team is 1-4 so far, with high expectations. .The team is actually trying to win now, and blowing games isn't acceptable.

Brown should strive for excellence and not settle for mediocrity, like in the past.

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The Astros tied the World Series at one game apiece as they beat the Dodgers in LA in dramatic fashion, in 11 innings. Eight home runs were hit, six of them in the latter innings.

Down 3-1 going into the 8th, and facing an 0-2 hole in the series, Houston scored in the 8th and 9th. They scored 2 runs in the 10th before LA also plated two in their half of the 10th.The Astros took the lead in the 11th and held off the Dodgers for the win.

It was the Dodgers first loss at home this post-season.

Now the series takes on a different view. Three games await in Houston this weekend. One would expect the Astros to win at least 2 of 3, which would send the series back to Los Angeles for a Game 6. LA takes 2 of 3 and they go home only needing one game to win the world championship.

I said the Dodgers in six and I'm sticking to it. But it's going to be a tough series. The Astros are a young, talented and hungry group.

Ex- Phillies Chase Utley and Ken Giles played last night. Utley went 0-3 and Giles had a rough outing, giving up a pair of runs in an inning of work.

OLD-SCHOOL WHEELING-OSCAR PISTORIUS COMPETES TO BRIDGE THE GAP BETWEEN PARALYMPIC AND OLYMPIC APORTS

I wrote this article for The Phoenix , published on June 22, 2007. Please read the update at the end.

Oscar Pistorius may be a household name soon. He calls himself the “fastest man on legs.” Oscar is a 20-year-old double amputee from South Africa. Recently, his story has been covered on the news and “Good Morning America.” It is a story of sheer determination and hard work.

 Oscar is a runner, and has shattered numerous records in the Paralympics. Now he has his sights set on an even bigger goal: competing in the 2008 Summer Olympic Games in China

. Not the Paralympics or Special Olympics, but THE Olympics.

 He certainly has the speed to qualify. Oscar uses Cheetah Flex Feet – special prosthetics built for running. But some people are saying that the special limbs may give Oscar an unfair advantage in his races.

 Oscar was born with bones missing in both of his legs, which resulted in both of his legs being amputated below the knee. Still, his disability turned into an ability, and running became a passion, sort of a symbol of his courage.

 “I never encountered anything that I couldn’t do, due to the fact that I have prosthetic legs,” he said.

 Oscar won a gold medal at the 2004 Paralympics in Athens, Greece. He has since won numerous gold medals in other events around the world, and has even competed against - and has beaten - able-bodied runners.

 He runs on the Cheetah legs, but uses other artificial limbs for walking and doing everyday type things.

 But despite all of his accomplishments, Oscar’s biggest obstacle isn’t the other runners he competes against.

 The International Association of Athletes Federations, the governing body of track and field events, claim that Oscar’s running legs may give him an unfair advantage in races by “making him taller” and “adding more bounce and spring” to his running. They are still investigating his case, but so far have ruled against him qualifying for the 2008 Olympics

. Cheetahs are carbon-fiber type limbs, which although built stronger than human legs, only give back thirty percent of energy that a human leg would.

 “I can’t see that a prosthetic can be seen as a(n) advantage, “Oscar claims. “It is such a weird concept to think about.”

 Oscar calls the preliminary ruling “pure discrimination against disabled people.” That is why he has taken his case public, and it has seemed to work. In a recent ABC News poll, over ninety percent of those polled feel Oscar should be allowed to compete in the Olympics

. Even his competitors and coaches support his position.

 “The guys that I ran against are very supportive and that’s been great,” he says. “They’re pretty happy I’m training hard to bridge the gap between Paralympics and Olympics sports.”

 So, we may be hearing the name of Oscar Pistorius more in the next few years to come. If given the chance, Oscar would like to compete in at least two Olympics.

 If given the chance.

Update: Pistorious is currently serving a six-year prison term for murder in South Africa for shooting his live-in girlfriend on Valentine's Day, 2013. Pistorious claimed it was a tragic accident, thinking an intruder had entered their apartment. He is one year into serving his time.

SHOULD A DISABILITY AFFECT WHO GETS ORGAN TRANSPLANTS?

Interesting topic from The Columbus Dispatch..

As the parent of a child born with both Down syndrome and a heart defect, Jackie Ward knew from the moment of diagnosis that she'd have to become an advocate for her daughter.

But, Ward told a state legislative committee last week, "I had no idea that I would have to advocate to show the world that her life was worth living."

Ward and her husband, Brandon, brought 3-year-old Ellie to the Ohio Statehouse to share their experience of inquiring about a heart transplant and to urge passage of a bill that aims to make sure people cannot be kept off organ-transplant waiting lists in the state solely because of their disability.

At least six states have passed similar anti-discrimination legislation and two others have bills pending, said Courtney Hansen, of Dayton, an advocacy liaison with the Miami Valley Down Syndrome Association who also testified before the committee.

she working with Republican Rep. Niraj Antani to craft the Ohio legislation. It was introduced in August, some months after she learned about the issue during a Down syndrome event in Washington.

"It's really hard to prove, because sometimes it doesn't happen at the organ-transplant level," Hansen said. "They might not even be referred to an organ-transplant center."

A 2008 survey by researchers at Stanford University found that 85 percent of pediatric transplant centers consider meurodevelopmental status in the eligibility process at least some of the time, Hansen said. And in the same study, 62 percent of the centers said eligibility decisions based on disability tended to be made informally, making discrimination difficult to show.

For adults, too, programs might vary widely in how they consider cognitive or developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome or autism when deciding whether someone should be eligible for a heart, kidney or other organ.

"Federally, there's been no guidance issued that I know of," said Hansen, who has 5-year-old twins bots. One has Down syndrome and the other does not. "I couldn't imagine my two sons receiving different care. I can't imagine one life being more worthy than the other."

Ellie Ward was gravely ill in late 2014 and being prepped for surgery that doctors doubted would succeed. "OK, then she can have a transplant,"Jackie Ward said at the time.

She told the committee that she was then told that Ellie "would be eligible for a transplant, because she has Down syndrome and a host of other complications.' The family was devastated. The Wards say they know that other medical reasons could disqualify Ellie for a transplant, but that having Down syndrome shouldn't be a primary consideration.

"How could her future not be worth exploring every option?" Jackie Ward said.

Ellie made it through the procedure in Cincinnati surprisingly well. Her parents then took their baby to Boston, where she again underwent open-heart surgery but avoided a transplant.

Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center said it can't comment on individual cases. Dr. Andrew Redington, executive co-director of the Heart Institute and chief of pediatric cardiology, said in an email; "Down syndrome has not been, and never will be, an exclusion criteria for heart transplantation at Cincinnati Children's, and we can confirm that heart transplantation has been performed under such circumstances here at the medical center.'

Disability advocates aren't saying that transplant discrimination is widespread in Ohio, said Kari Jones, president and CEO of the Down Syndrome Association of Central Ohio. But scattered reports, worrisome studies and unclear or nonexistent policies show the need for a clear law, she said. "We need to close the gap."

Last year, several members of Congress asked the Department of Health and Human Services' civil-rights office to issue instructions stating that organ-transplant discrimination violates the Americans With Disabilities Act.

"I know of families who have been told, point-blank, 'Your child will not receive a transplant because she has this syndrome,'" Jackie Ward said.

Ellie, meanwhile, just celebrated her third birthday. She's in preschool, loves to dance, has appeared in fashion shows and on billboards, and has two big brothers who adore her. The family prays every day that a transplant won't be needed. Should Ellie take a turn, the Wards expect the same access to care that a typical child would receive.

"We all deserve the right to watch our children grow up," Jackie Ward said.

EAGLES- 49'ERS- THE PICK

I'm 7-0 picking Eagles games this season. I still think they will end up 11-5 ( up from my original prediction of 10-6) and winning the NFC East.

Will another team in the NFC get to 11 wins? Not in NFC North. I don't think the Rams will get to 11. New Orleans, Atlanta and Carolina will beat up on each other in NFC South. So, 11 wins may be good enough this year to get a playoff bye and  home field advantage.

As for this week, the Birds have a 1:00 game this Sunday afternoon against the 0-7 San Francisco 49'ers.  at the Linc.  To me, this game could go two ways:

* The Eagles could destroy the 'Niners, 42-10, as Dallas did last week in SF. The Eagles could ride their momentum, knowing they can't let down. Losing to a lowly 49'ers squad would undo a lot of good gained so far this season. It would say to the rest of the league, see? The Eagles are just pretenders.

San Francisco hates to play in the Eastern time zone, where a 1:00 game in Philadelphia feels like it's starting at 10 in the morning back home for the 'Niners. The Eagles could jump on them early, feed off the crowd and overwhelm a winless team who eventually gives up.

* The Eagles take this game for granted, read and believe all the praise coming form the media and fans, and don't come to play.Philly turns the ball over, and suddenly they are down by 10 points early. The fans aren't into it, thinking it's an easy win. The 49'ers are on a rally cry, almost like a few weeks ago when the giants upset the Broncos in Denver. It's a "we against the world" attitude.

I think it's going to be a little of both. The 49'ers hang in there a while. Carson Wentz won't let  his teammates have a let-down, but it's only natural. The best team in football playing one of the worst on your home turf.

It may take a little while for the team to adjust to life with Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks. And turnovers may keep San Francisco in the game.

I see it being close at the half- maybe 10-10. I see the Birds pulling away in the second half, getting a wake-up call, and realizing they are the better team and what an embarrassment it would be to lose to an 0-7 team.

The Birds have gone 11 straight games scoring 20 points or more ( the longest current streak in the NFL), so I'm making it Eagles 24 'Niners 13.

The Vegas line currently as the Eagles favored by 13 points. San Fran. barely covers the line. The Eagles rise to 7-1, with yet another home game on tap the following Sunday vs Denver. The 49'ers fall to 0-8, in a battle with Cleveland for worst record in the league and the No. 1 selection in the draft next spring.

Note: This would've been a much more interesting  side-game if ex- Eagle coach Chip Kelly was still coaching San Francisco. I can only imagine the Philly fans giving it to Kelly on his return to Lincoln Financial Field, after single-handedly ruining the franchise ( thank God for Howie Rossman).

Double note: Right now, the weather forecast for Sunday afternoon is not good. Rain, heavy at times may overtake the Linc. What can of an impact will a slick ball and slippery wet field have on the game? The Eagles can pound the ball with Blount and Smallwood, if needed. A rainy game day may be an advantage for the 'Niners. More chance for dropped passes, fumbles and wet footballs being over-thrown for interceptions.

It wouldn't quite be an equalizer, but bad weather would help the underdog and keep them in the game.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- FLYERS, SIXERS, WORLD SERIES

* The Flyers were crushed last night, 6-2, by the Anaheim Ducks, who got revenge for an earlier loss to Philly. The Flyers went 3-2 on their initial home stand. That's OK considering they played the likes of Washington and Nashville. But, in order to get to the top of their division, Philadelphia will need to play more consistent hockey, especially at home.

The next game for the Flyers is Thursday at Ottawa.

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* The ramifications are still vibrating from the Markelle Fultz situation. now the Sixers are admitting Fultz has some kind of shoulder problem.

Duh...Trust your eyes. It was pretty obvious, watching him play, especially shooting free throws, that he is hurt. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to know when a guy isn't right. The Sixers' medical staff and organization are infamous for lying. I don't trust them. Plus they don't seem to know what they are doing.

They limit games and minutes for Embiid, even though he says he is fine and wants to play, yet they clear Fultz to play, even though it's evident he can't play.

Fultz wouldn't be a No. 1 pick for the Sixers if he didn't have health problems. They should shut him down and get him right.

The Sixers are home tonight to face the tough Houston Rockets.

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Game 1 of the World Series last night. Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw was his brilliant self, striking out 11 in 7 innings of work. All of the runs in the game came via home runs.

The Dodgers continue to be relentless in the post-season. They have only lost one game in three series. It's been a home field advantage post-season. That bodes well for LA, who play in Los Angeles again tonight against the Astros. Going up 2-0 would be big before the series shifts to Houston. Down 0-2, the Astros would almost have to sweep the three games at home. Splitting the series with a road win tonight make the series a whole different ballgame.

It was the hottest World Series game ever, with temperatures in the mid-to-upper 90s. We won't have to worry about icy cold or snow in the Fall Classic this year .But it's mild even here in the Northeast, so a game at Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, or even Citizens Bank Park, would've been no problem.

No Chase Utley last night for the Dodgers. Hopefully he gets to play before the series ends.

PHILLY SPORTS CORNER- SIXERS, EAGLES, WORLD SERIES

* The Sixers  won their first game of the season in Detroit on Monday night. They are 1-3 in the early going. NBA season. They return home tomorrow night to face the Houston Rockets.

Joel Embiid scored 30 points in Detroit,, and Ben Simmons earned his first ever triple-double.

But the real story last night was rookie No.1 draft pick Markelle Fultz. H finally admitted that it's true, he does have a sore right shoulder. It has been apparent for a while, especially when he painfully tries to shoot free throws.

I don't get the Sixers' medical staff. They limit Embiids' minutes and won't let him play back-to-back gamses despite JoJo himself saying he is fine. Yet they clear Fultz  to play with a noticeably bum shoulder?

No wonder fans and the media are questioning if the docs know what the hell they are doing.

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* OK, maybe I'm jumping the gun, but with every Eagle victory I dream of the playoffs and beyond. It's alright to savor the season and think ahead.

With each win Philly gets closer to a bye and home field advantage in the playoffs. I get it- they need to make the playoffs first.  But here are a few fun scenarios to ponder:

- Revenge. Playing- and beating Tampa Bay, Carolina and New Orleans  would be pay-back for past playoff losses.

-Getting Seattle in Philadelphia would be big. Allow the crowd at the Linc to be the 12th man, not the Seattle fans.Getting Atlanta out of their dome and in the January cold of Philadelphia is another key. The Eagles would have the advantage against the surprising LA Rams, and not only because of travel and the weather. The Rams would be a newcomer in the playoffs ( as is the Eagles, to be fair). Anyone from the NFC North- Green Bay, Chicago, Detroit or Minnesota-would be underdogs against the Birds.

So, who would you rather play in the Super Bowl?

- Pittsburgh would mean an-all Pennsylvania Super Bowl. Imagine the hype and build-up for an Eagles-Steelers title game> Wentz vs Roethenberger.

- What about playing New England? A chance to revenge the 2004 Super Bowl loss.Tom Brady vs Wentz. Boston vs Philly.The cCheaters vs the Good Guys.

- Kansas City would be a great match-up. Andy Reid against his old team.Waiting for Reid to screw-up time management or bad playing-calling decisions.

Oakland would mean 1980 revenge.

Those are the fun match-ups to consider down the road. As long as the Eagles win their first Super Bowl, who cares who they play?

* Late news- as expected, Jason Peters will be out for the rest of the season with both a torn ACL and MCL. With his age one has to wonder if he can come back from such a devastating knee injury. Knowing Peters I'm sure he will try. It's a big blow to the Birds' offensive line, and Peters was a leader both on and off the field.

Linebacker Jordan Hicks has a ruptured Achilles, also bad. I would be surprised if he came back. Hicks is a young, athletic player. I'm sure he will recover. But fans have to be concerned that he gets hurt so often.

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The World Series starts tonight in Los Angeles, with the Dodgers and Astros battling for the world championship. My heart is with Houston, but my head has to say LA in six games.

 The Dodgers have steam-rolled their way through the playoffs. The Astros have a really good team, especially their offense. As it turned out, the best teams in baseball will be meeting in the World Series ( no offense to the Indians), both clubs winning over 100 games.

I hope Chase Utley gets to play sometimes in the Series. That's why he went to Los Angeles and why he hasn't retired yet, wanting a chance to win another ring.

On the Houston side, closer Ken Giles  is another former Phillie who should get work.

IN THE NEWS- AMAZON TO PILOT COMEDY FEATURING ACTORS WITH DOWN SYNDROME

This news is from Disability Scoop...

Amazon is introducing a new half-hour comedy from the creator of 'Sex and the City" that features a slew of actors with Down syndrome.

The streaming service said this week that it will release a pilot episode of "Love You More" next month.

The comedy stars Bridget Everett as Karen Best, a counselor at an independent living residence for young adults with Down syndrome.

Described as "a big girl with a big personality and a big love of Chardonnay," Karen has made mistakes with men and doesn't feel worthy of being loved, but she has a big heart and excels at her job, Amazon said.

Show creator Michael Patrick King- known for HBO's "Sex and the City" and CBS' "2 Broke Girls"- said that he visited a group home while developing the concept.

"When I asked  the amazing woman who was running the home which of her personality traits was the most successful in doing her job, she responded" 'My humor.' Her response, and some subsequent conversations I've had with others in the community, gave me the sense that not only were we on the right path but our hearts were in the right place," King said.

Nine actors with Down syndrome- all adults in their 20s to 40s- will appear in the pilot alongside Everett as residents of the Jane Berger House, Amazon said.

"While we intend to portray each of these 'resident' characters with distinctly different personalities and explore them as fully realized individuals, they all have one thing in common: their ability to love. Their pure, open and enthusiastic love of Karen is the heart of the series," King said.

But that doesn't mean that individuals with the chromosomal disorder will be portrayed in an unrealistic way, he indicated.

"The residents will have the same personality conflicts, the same struggles and the same uniquely different points of view that you find in any other group of people," King said.

"Love You More" will be available for streaming on Nov. 10 on Amazon Prime Video.

CHIRPING BIRDS- EAGLES-REDSKINS WRAP-UP

My take on the big Eagles victory over Washington, 34-24 I predicted 31-17 Eagles. I have picked all 7 Birds games correctly this season ( but who's counting?).

* It all starts and ends with Quarterback Carson Wentz. Wentz had another outstanding  game last night, tossing 4 touchdowns and throwing zero interceptions. The Birds didn't commit any turnovers, always a key factor.

Wentz made some pretty remarkable passes against the Redskins. But last night's performance will always be remembered by a third quarter Houdini act, with Wentz somehow escaping  a collapsing pocket and breaking free from a pile of players, both Eagles and "Skins. Instead of losing 9 yards, Wentz gained 17 yards with his scramble,keeping a critical drive alive.

He is great, and only in his second year. You need a good QB to take a team to the playoffs and beyond, and Philly has a good, young signal-caller. NFC East rivals Cowboys, Giants and Redskins have to be grinding their teeth, knowing the "Wentz Wagon" may be rolling for 15 seasons or so.

 The Cleveland Browns have to be kicking themselves by passing on Wentz in the draft. Come to think of it, the hapless Browns also passed on Jarad Goff They also didn't select DeSaun Watson, who is starring for the Texans. It's no wonder the Browns are always in Football Purgatory.

* Injuries blemished the victory. Jason Peters and Jordan Hicks both sustained major injuries, Peters a knee and Hicks a foot. Both get MRIs this morning. The Eagles are hoping for the best.

But this flock of birds is very resilient. It's the next man up philosophy. Injuries are part of the game. You expect it going into each season, as the Birds have already lost Darrin Sproles and Chris Marogoes for the year. Some players ar irreplaceable, such as Wentz. Otherwise, it's important to have depth and Philadelphia is fortunate to have depth. Kudos to GM Howie Rossman for adding key additions through the draft and free agency.

* There were justified questions about Coach Doug Pederson going into the season. Even in the third game, the home opener, he made a somewhat shaky decision to go for a 4th-and-8 near mid-field at the end of the 1st half.

But winning goes a long way to dispel that  non-confidence, and so far, Pederson has made good, solid decisions, and his game-plans have been almost flawless, mixing the pass and run well.

I still hold my breath sometimes on certain occasions, but give the guy credit- Doug Pederson is making Jeffrey Lurie and Rossman look like geniuses.

* The refs were calling too many penalties early on, most on the Eagles ( no surprise there). Either someone got to them at halftime or there weren't as many infractions in the second half, as the refs decided to let the players play. Too many flags  breaks up the flow of the game. It almost becomes unwatchable. Add in the frequent breaks for commercials and it's no wonder TV ratings have fallen off for NFL games.



* Mack Hollins caught a long TD pass agains tWashington. I wondered where Hollins had been. Each time he appears on the field he has impressed. He's big and fast and should play more. Trouble is, the receivers have generally done well. Torrey Smith has been a bit of a disappointment. And Marquis Johnson hasn't really contributed yet. Hollins is a valuable special teams guy, especially with Marogoes gone. But hopefully he gets more touches as a wide out.

* After not playing for 11 days, missed tackles early indicated a bit of rust from the defense. Later, the D picked it up, limited the yards after the catch and  the front line put a consistent pass rush on Redskin QB Kirk Cousins.

* The up-tempo offense seemed to work well against Washington, which made sense. Washington has given up more points in the last two minutes of each half then any other team in football. So, running the two-minute drill, even in the middle of the game, proved to be effective.

* I was never a big fan of Jon Gruden, both as coach and now analyst.He tried not to show it, but you gotta believe he was secretly pulling for the "Skins, as his brother is head coach and his son is also on the staff.

* So, what does it all mean? The Eagles move to 6-1. They have two more home games on the horizon: this Sunday against 0-7 San Francisco and then the following Sunday vs Denver. They can easily be 8-1 going into their bye week, before traveling to Dallas.

They have swept Washington, making it really tough on the Redskins to win the division. The Eagles have the head-to-head tie-breaker. The Birds are now 3-0 in the NFC East, with two games with the Cowboys and a game at New York on tap.

Meanwhile the Redskins are 3-3, tied with Dallas in the division. Still a long way to go, but realistically, Washington needs to focus on a wild card spot to get into the playoffs. They go home next weekend to play the Cowboys, in a game which will decide who are contenders and who are pretenders.

IN THE NEWS- STATES TIGHTENING THE LEASH ON FAKE SERVICE DOGS

 This  important story- for both able-bodied and disabled folks alike- comes from Stateline...

Chris Slavin was in an elevator a couple years ago with Earle, her yellow service lab, sitting calmly beside her wheelchair. The elevator doors opened and in walked a woman holding a purse. In the purse was a teacup poodle the color of apricots.

The doors closed just as the poodle spotted Earle. That's when the trouble started. In an instant, the poodle leaped from the purse, flung himself at Earle, and clamped his teeth into the bigger dog's snout, leaving Earle bleeding onto the elevator floor.

"As soon as this occurred the woman said the poodle was a service dog." said Slavin, who has a severe spinal injury that requires  use of the wheelchair. "She then said he wasn't a service dog but an emotional support dog. Finally, she admitted he was a pet she just wanted to bring in the building with her."

Incidents like that one in Reading, Mass., not far from where Slavin lives, have spurred 19 states to enact laws cracking down on people who try to pass off their pets as service animals. The push has been gathering steam in recent years; Virginia implemented its new law in 2-16, and Colorado followed suit this year.        Massachusetts is now considering a similar proposal.

'Today, any pet owner can go online and buy a vest for a dog to pass it off as a service animal to gain access to restaurants, hotels and places of business," said Republican state Rep. Kimberly Fergusion, who introduced the Massachusetts bill. "Their animals aren't trained and end up misbehaving in these public places, which gives real service dogs a bad name."

Service dogs, which are trained to perform tasks for a person with a disability, were first used by people with vision and hearing impairments. They are now also used by those who use wheelchairs or have other impairment in mobility, people who are prone to seizures or need to be alerted to medical conditions, like low blood sugar, and people with autism or mental illness. The American Humane Association, which promotes the welfare and safety of animals, says there are 20.000 service dogs working in the U.S.

Supporters of the new laws compare those misbehaving dog owners to people who acquire handicap signs so they can park in spaces intended for people with disabilities. The laws make it a misdemeanor to represent an untrained dog as a service animal, and usually come with fines of no more than $500 for an incident.

But because there is no certification or official national registry of legitimate service dogs, there is no way to verify whether a dog has undergone rigorous training to become a service animal.

That makes it hard to enforce the laws, said David Favre, a law professor at Michigan State University College of Law and editor of its Animal Legal and Historical Center website, which follows public policy issues related to animals. He said he's not aware of anyone who has been prosecuted anywhere for violating them.

Rather, he said, the laws are largely symbolic, and meant to educate dog owners as well as people who let pets into spaces where they don't belong. "Maybe you can scare some people into being honest."

People who pass off their dogs as service animals in order to take them into stores, restaurants, libraries, sporting events and offices are a real problem, he said. for the proprietors of those establishments, their customers and people with disabilities who genuinely rely on the help of their service dogs.

"A service animal is trained to be in public and to be under control and non-intrusive and not bark," Favre said. "They are trained bot to be a nuisance in any way. You should hardly even know they are there."

Because of Earle's training as a services dog, Slavin said. when the poodle attacked him. "My dog never moved, never retaliated, never barked. He did nothing. That is the way a service dog is trained. They are not going to ever be aggressive. Ever."

Earle performs many functions for Slavin. He picks up items she drops, retrieves keys, opens doors, puts objects like library books on counters that Slavin can't reach, and returns change or credit cards to her after purchases. She credits Earle with " enabling me to truly become part of my community."

Service dogs receive up to two years of training, which can cost more than $40,000. Before they are placed, their new owners are often required to live at the training center for a week or two to learn about caring and interacting with their dogs. Many training centers provide the dogs free of charge to clients with disabilities, defraying  their costs through fundraising. The waiting time for a service dog is often two years or longer.

But for people who want to pass off their pet as a service dog, it's easy enough to be convincing. Anyone can go online and purchase for about $20 the types of vests that legitimate service dogs usually wear.

The vests may help the fake service dogs gain entry, but their behavior, and that of their owners, often gives them away. Trained service dogs don't go off-leash, bark, knock things off shelves, jump on people, play or fight with other dogs or grab food off tables, trainers say.

And owners of real service dogs don't carry them in shopping carts or purses. "The rule is four on the floor," with all four feet on the ground except when a dog is performing a task, said Katelynn Steinke, of Cape Cod, Mass. who is paraplegic and has her own yellow lab service dog.

The problem is that proprietors of establishments where people bring their dogs have no way of determining whether a dog is a real service animal.

The Americans with Disabilities Act required all places open to the public, such as businesses, government agencies and entertainment venues, to give access to service dogs and their owners.And it permits them to ask only two questions: whether the dog is required because of a disability and what tasks the dog is trained to perform. It is illegal to request documentation for the dog or to ask the nature of the owner's disability.

There's another complication: the growing use of "emotional support dogs," which are intended to provide comfort to those with anxiety or other emotional problems. Some of them may have received special training, although nothing as rigorous as the training for service dogs. (Emotional support dogs are not covered under the ADA and can legally be denied access.)

The National Disability Rights Network, which advocates on behalf of people with disabilities, is sympathetic to those who want to crack down on pet owners who misrepresent their dogs as service animals.But Ken Shiotani, a senior staff attorney with the organization, said the laws should aim to educate, rather than punish, and the penalties for violations should be minimal. "We want to have a positive impact on people to help them realize that what they've done has this very negative effect."

Advocates for the laws agree.

Cathy Zemaitis, who helped draft the Massachusetts bill and is director of development for National Education for Assistance Dog Services, a Massachusetts group that says it has trained over 1,700 dogs since 1976, said the laws should launch a national effort to teach people not to put dogs in situations they are not trained for- and to educate the public on the need for legitimately trained dogs.

The long-term goal, Zemaitis said, is the creation of a national certification program and registry for legitimately trained service dogs. "This is the beginning of a much larger conversation we need to have."

Stateline is a nonpartisan, nonprofit news service of the Pew Charitable Trusts that provides daily reporting and analysis on trends in state policy.

NFL WRAP-UP-WEEK 7

The Eagles taken on the Redskins tonight. Here is a wrap-up of the Week 7 games...

* Raiders over Chiefs

Oakland saved their season with a controversial game vs Kansas City. It took four tries in the last minute  before Oakland finally scored to nip KC at the end, with help  from the refs. Raider QB Derek Carr is playing hurt, but he is playing. The Chiefs lost their second game in a tow and their mantle of best team in the NFL.  Andy Reid has come back to Earth with his historically stupid play calls and time management.

Oakland goes to Buffalo next weekend, flying across the country to play a competitive Bills squad. Kansas City has a suddenly lousy Denver Bronco team coming into Arrowhead. The Chiefs will get revenge and take out their frustrations on Denver.

* Bills over Buccaneers-

Buffalo nipped the Bucs at home on Sunday, when Tampa Bay blew the winning drove. Buffalo stayed neck-and-neck with New England, while Tampa Bay, the trendy pick before the season, fell to 2-4 in  NFC South. The Bills are 4-2, tied with Miami and only half-a-game behind the Patriots. Buffalo stays at home against a traveling Oakland team, while Tampa Bay returns to Florida for a big game against division rival Carolina.

* Bears over Panthers-

Chicago continues a surprising run, beating the Panthers, rather handily, at Soldier Field. The Bears are 3-4, and without Aaron Rodgers with Green Bay for several months, Chicago has a shot in NFC North. Carolina are a mystery, losing at home to the Eagles, resting for 10 days, then losing big-time to the Bears. What a mess in NFC South, with Atlanta at .500 and New Orleans winning 4 straight.Chicago goes to New Orleans to take on the red-hot Saints, while the Panthers travel to Tampa Bay for a key NFC South battle.

* Titans over Browns-

Tennessee won a bad game at Cleveland, 12-9. The game was at Cleveland but Tennessee continues to confuse. You're waiting for the Titans to take control of a mediocre division and they come up weak. Tennessee may end up winning their division but what are the chances of the Titans going far in the playoffs? The Browns are the Browns, now 0-7 Hard to imagine the Browns winning a game all season. Their quarterback woes continue. Tennessee has a bye this weekend,as Cleveland stays at home to play Minnesota.

* Saints over Packers-

The loss of Aaron Rodgers to a broken collarbone was immediately felt, as the Pack lost at Lambeau Field  to Drew Brees and a Saints team that won its 4th game in a row. I didn't like the Packers coming into the season writing here that I thought Rodgers would get hurt and Green Bay would have a disappointing year. I'm thinking  the Pack won't make the playoffs, even if Rodgers returns for the last two games of the season, as hoped. Green Bay is on a much-needed bye this week, while the Saints go home to play the surprising Bears.

* Chargers over Broncos-

LA is now 3-4, winning three games after losing four  games to open the season. Denver is laying down now, losing in embarrassing fashion the last two weeks. Suddenly, the Bolts are back in the AFC West race, tied with Oakland. Denver slipped to 3=3 and are playing terrible football. Los Angeles plays at New England this Sunday. I'm sure the Pats would want it to be colder. The Chargers won on the East Coast two weeks, beating an awful Giants team in the Meadowlands. Denver plays the second of three consecutive road games, as the go to Kansas City to get killed.

* Steelers over Bengals-

Pittsburgh held serve with a division win over the Bengals. They are in control of NFC North, with Baltimore collapsing. The Steelers are my Super Bowl pick before the season. Now, wouldn't it be great to have an all-Pennsylvania Super Bowl- Eagles vs. Steelers? Cincy is predictably hot and cold, an average team, below Pittsburgh but ahead of Cleveland. The Bengals aren't going anywhere, even as a wild card team, treading water with a coach who needed to be fired a long time ago. Pittsburgh goes to Detroit before they have their bye. Cincinnati returns home to play a weak Indianapolis Colts squad.

* Patriots over Falcons-

A rematch of the Super Bowl with the same result. This time New England dominated. The Falcons are not playing good football at all. I didn't think they would be good.The psychological let-down of blowing the Super Bowl can't be denied. But 3-3 at this point in the season is ridiculous. Now the  will have a street fight with their rival New Orleans, lucky that Carolina is average and Tampa Bay hasn't lived up to their hype. The Pats may not run away with the AFC East after a slow start, but they will make the playoffs in the end. The key for New England  is getting a playoff bye and home field in cold, snowy New England. Getting the Patriots on the road gives the rest of the AFC a chance.The Pats stay at home with the Chargers, as Atlanta stays on the road, the second of a three-game trip at the Jets.

* Jaguars over Colts-

Indy stinks, plain and simple.  I don't care if or when QB Andrew Luck comes back. The Colts are a bad team. The Jags are so unpredictable. They lose at home last week to a improved Rams club, then win in Indianapolis.Playing in    Jacksonville isn't really a home field advantage. The Jaguars have their bye this week before starting a two-game home stand. The Colts go to Cincinnati this weekend.

* Rams over Cardinals-

LA, along with the Eagles, has to be the surprise team in the NFC. The Rams lead NFC West, demolishing Arizona in LA. The Rams are young and fast and seemingly for real.Too bad they don't get more support in Los Angeles, who is now focusing on the Dodgers in the World Series and the Lakers starting their NBA season. The Cards are done, especially since QB Carson Palmer suffered a fractured forearm yesterday. An older, more veteran squad, Arizona needs to reshuffle the deck and rebuild.LA has their bye this week, while the Cards also are off.

* Dolphins over Jets-

Miami snuck by the surprising Jets, going 4-2 in AFC East. tied with Buffalo and right behind New England. But the Fish did lose starting QB Jay Cutler for a few weeks. Matt Moore starts now, which means Miami is in trouble. New York continues their sometimes good and sometimes bad year. Losing to the Patriots at home last week, partly due to a controversial bad call by the refs ( what else is new?)hurt bad. Still, the Jets are right there in their division. The Dolphins go to Baltimore to face an underachieving, disappointing Ravens team. The Jets start a two-game home stand at the Meadowlands against an equally- disappointing Atlanta team.

* Cowboys over 49;ers-

Dallas finally broke out of their funk with a resounding victory at San Francisco.. Zeke Elliot gets yet another week of reprieve from his six-game suspension. Why not serve it now? Why let the suspension extend close to the end of the season? There's a reason why the "Niners are a 0-7 team. They won't go 0-16 ( like the browns) but it's hard to see where the 49'ers will win a game. San Francisco goes east to face the Eagles Sunday afternoon. Tough game, but they do get Philly coming off a shorter week. The "Niners hate playing in the east at 1:00. Dallas continues a brutal stretch, going to rival Washington this week. They then head home for Kansas City, then back on the road again against the Falcons in Atlanta.

* Seahawks over Giants-

Seattle got some help from the refs in beating New York, but they are clearly the better team. Seattle needs to keep pace with the Rams, while the Giants- after a shocking win in Denver last weekend- return home and get pounded by the Seahawks. The G-men are 1-6 and done. Seattle returns to the great Northwest on Sunday vs. Houston, while the Giants have a bye this week.

The Lions and Texans were on their bye week.

CHIRPING BIRDS- EAGLES-REDSKINS- THE PICK

The Eagles finally play the Washington Redskins tonight. Seems like forever since they played a football game. Hopefully the Birds are rested and not rusty.

Washington will be a desperate team, not wanting to get swept by Philadelphia, not wanting to drop further behind in the NFC East.

The Redskins play without key players Jonathan Allen and Josh Norman. The crowd at the Linc tonight will be wild on a balmy Autumn evening. The fans can revel in glory, being the best team in football with a 5-1 record.

As always, getting off to a fast start is critical. Keep the crowd in the game. Turnovers will be big as  well. Don't give the "Skins a short field. Don't let their defense score. Make Washington earn their yards and their points.

Get a consistent pass rush on QB Kirk Cousins. Force him into mistakes. Step on their throat and don't give them hope.

Winning tonight would make the Eagles 6-1, with very winnable home games with winless San Francisco and suddenly putrid Denver upcoming. Prove to the national media you are real. Sweep Washington, go 3-0 in the division and continue to collect victories, with a bye and home field advantage your goal in the playoff

.Be relentless, as you were two weeks ago against Arizona. Be aggressive but not stupid. Make the Linc a tough place to play for the opposition. Give yourself a cushion in the division in preparation for the final stretch in December. Take control of the conference and don't let-up.

Most fans and media think it will be a close game, maybe down to the final minutes. I don't . I think the Birds win comfortably. Sure, it's a bitter division rivalry game, and Washington ( aside from the opener this year) has dominated recently against Pihlly. But this is a different Eagles team. They are playing too well to blow it.

Make the final score Eagles 31 Redskins 17