* CB Patrick Robinson signed with the Saints yesterday. Robinson, after a slow start in training camp, played well as a slot defender for the Eagles.
I thank Robinson for giving me one of the best feelings in my sports life last season. The Birds were down 7-0 in the NFC Championship Game vs the Vikings. Robinson intercepted a Case Keenum pass and took it to the house with a brilliant return.
Not only did it tie the game and entirely shift the momentum, it got the crowd back in the game. The pre-game hype was incredible, the build-up to the championship Game with all the festivities. When Minnesota scored on their first drive, after receiving the kick-off, the fans sagged a bit. "Oh, no...here we go again" was the general feeling through-out the crowd.
After Robinson's pick-six, the Eagles went on to destroy the Vikes 42-7, which led to their Super Bowl win over the dreaded Patriots.
* I liked the Birds' moves so far. More shoes may drop after June 1st when players can be released and not count as much against the cap. Shame to lose both tight ends, Celek and Burton. Tight end could be a position that Howie Rossman targets in the April draft.
Signing linebacker Nigel Bradham was huge. he played so well last season, plus he gives the Eagles depth at a position that is weak ( another area which could be important in the upcoming draft).
Under the radar was that Nick Foles is still on the team. Sure, he can be traded during the draft but teams needing a QB have dwindled. I'm glad. Foles gives you insurance, whether he starts the season until Wentz is ready to play or as a back-up in case Wentz goes down again. It will create a quarterback controversy in the fall, even though Foles says he is fine holding a clipboard on the sidelines. And if the Birds do trade Foles during the season they probably won't get as much in return as they would now. But knowing Foles is there to hopefully save the early part of the season is reassuring.
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* The Sixers lost to Indiana at home the other night, breaking their 13-game winning streak at the Wells Fargo Center.It happens, but what is most concerning is the reasons given- by the players.
Dario Sarac, who is one of the hardest working players on the team, always hustling, suggested post-game that the Pacers "wanted it more." Ideas that the team, especially Joel Embiid, is "tired" still are floating around.
Embiid is 23-years-old, but like Rhys Hoskins at the end of last summer for the Phillies, he seems to be slumping a little. Embiid hasn't played much basketball, period, let alone the grueling grind of a full NBA season, which is coming down the home-stretch.
Once again, if lack of desire and motivation is the reason, I blame coach Brett Brown. Hard to believe that a team which has lost so much in the past several years, and now is in the playoff hunt, is not motivated to win. It comes form the players. Do they have the heart to gut it out? but I also bllame the coach, who is there, not only to teach and guide, but to motivate when he sees the team is lacking in spirit.
I'm still not sure that Brown is the guy to take the 76ers all the way. Similar to Flyers' coach Dave Hakstol. They both have young-and-upcoming teams, but are they the right coaches to lead these young players, develop and groom them, and get them over the hump to greatness? Or will they always be stuck in the "potential" phase?
Brown's job is probably safe because he has been a good soldier for the organization and a puppet for the front office. But as expectations increase, so should the fans' demands of something better than average. Certainly especially in a blue-collar city like Philadelphia, hustling should never be an issue. Neither should the desire to win, and hopefully now the Eagles' success will be pressure on our other sports teams that anything less than the best effort is unacceptable.
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* Scott Kingery continues to tear up Grapefruit League pitching in Florida. But, because of service time issues, he will probably play the first two weeks of the season in Lehigh Valley.
GM Matt Klentak has an out if he does send Kingery down temporarily. Cesar Hernandez is playing well and should hold down second base. Will Kingery be a Ben Zobrist-like utility guy? Or could Kingery play third base in case the inconsistent Mychal Franco again struggles?
Sooner or later Kingery will play at Citizens Bank park and should be an All-Star for years to come. What is his role and where will he play will be interesting stories as this summer unfolds.
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