2010 Pro Bowl Philadelphia Eagles: Evaluating Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson

Wednesday, February 3, 2010

In a game where neither team’s defense seemed to show up, Chris Johnson scored the game-winning touchdown with just under six minutes remaining to give the AFC a 41-34 win over the NFC in the 2010 Pro Bowl. For the Philadelphia Eagles, they sent nine representatives after finishing the season 11-5 before losing to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.

No players may have had more attention focused on them in the 2010 Pro Bowl from the Eagles than quarterback Donovan McNabb and wide receiver DeSean Jackson. While McNabb trade rumors have been swirling since the team’s loss to the Cowboys, Jackson has been making headlines about wanting a new contract before next season.

DeSean Jackson Shines In Pro Bowl Debut

Jackson already made NFL history by becoming the first player to reach the Pro Bowl as both a wide receiver and returner. In his first career Pro Bowl, Jackson showed everyone why he was worthy of starting for the NFC.

Jackson was one of two wide receivers (along with Vincent Jackson of the San Diego Chargers) to cross the 100-yard mark in the Pro Bowl. He finished with six receptions for 101 yards and two touchdowns, including a screen pass from his teammate Donovan McNabb that resulted in a 58-yard touchdown reception.

The argument can be made that Jackson would have been named MVP of the game had the NFC won the game. However, there’s a chance he’ll get another shot at winning the award considering this most likely won’t be the last time we’ll be talking about DeSean in the Pro Bowl.

Donovan McNabb Struggles Through the Air, But Looks Like Old-Self on Feet

All of the rumors surrounding the future of Donovan McNabb as an Eagle seemed to make him a favorite among the media this week—but that’s a different article.

He was named to his fifth Pro Bowl when New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees made it to Super Bowl XLIV and couldn't participate. McNabb’s numbers may not seem all that bad on paper. He completed 3-of-10 passes for 78 yards and one touchdown. Not bad, right?

Wrong.

There were numerous times where McNabb over/underthrew his receivers, which is one of the most frustrating flaws about him. Sure, he threw for 78 yards, but 58 of those came off of the screen pass of Jackson’s touchdown, which is unfair to credit Donovan for.

He also threw an interception to Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker LaMarr Woodley that would have resulted in a 64-yard touchdown, had the AFC not been called for a penalty for having 12 men on the field. To make things even worse, he threw an interception in the third quarter to his former teammate and Philadelphia fan favorite, Brian Dawkins.

On a positive note, McNabb managed to scramble around in the pocket like he did in his younger years, slipping through defenders left and right. Who would have thought he would have led all rushers on the NFC roster with 26 yards?

Philadelphia Eagles Need To Sign Jason Avant to a Long-Term Deal

The Philadelphia Eagles have a handful of tasks on their agenda for the 2010 offseason. However, no task may be more important than trying to negotiate a deal to keep free agent wide receiver Jason Avant around for not only next season, but for the long run.

Throughout the first three years of his career with the Eagles, Avant was the type of player whose impact seemed under the radar. He was one of the most reliable third down players in the NFL, yet never seemed to be recognized for the credit deserved.

After 2009, Avant showed how important his role is within in the Eagles’ offense and made his case to receive a long-term deal this offseason. He set career marks in just about every category, including receptions (41), receiving yards (587), and touchdowns (three).

In Week 10 against the San Diego Chargers, Avant finished with a career high eight receptions for 156 yards. Two weeks later, he was the savior for an offense that failed to record a first down in the second half until the 11-minute mark of the fourth quarter against the Washington Redskins. He was able to haul in two consecutive passes of 46 and 20 yards from Donovan McNabb, as they began another fourth quarter comeback.

Without Avant, it’s safe to say Philadelphia would never have made the playoffs this past season. Throughout his four-year career, he has been one of the best third down players and is arguably the best slot receiver in the NFL.

If anything, the Eagles should consider Avant simply for his ability to convert on third down. In four years, 32 of his 37 catches on third down resulted in a first down, which is phenomenal.

As the Eagles begin their preparations for the 2010 season, there is plenty of hype surrounding the members of their young offense. DeSean Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, and Brent Celek are all future stars for a Philadelphia offense that is expected to be loaded with talent for years to come.

If Jeffrey Lurie and company can find a way to secure Avant for the long run, the Eagles’ offense could be even more dangerous than they already are—which is exciting for the City of Brotherly Love to think about.

Washington Redskins 2010 NFL Draft: Should They Consider Bradford or Clausen?

Friday, January 29, 2010

With the fourth overall pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Washington Redskins look to bounce back from a disappointing 2009 season that consisted of a 4-12 record.

It took the Redskins until Week 10 before they scored more than 17 points in a single game. However, this team was much better than their record showed considering that eight of their 12 losses were by single digits—including a three-game losing streak lost by a combined seven points.

So what position should Washington focus on in the first round of the upcoming draft? According to a number of NFL analysts, the Redskins should focus their attention on a quarterback in the first round—despite Jason Campbell throwing for 3,618 yards and 20 touchdowns this season.

If this is the case, the Redskins will most likely select Oklahoma's Sam Bradford or Notre Dame's Jimmy Clausen.

The only question is, which quarterback would be the better fit for the Redskins?

Bradford would arguably have been the No. 1 overall pick in last year's draft had he not decided to stay with Oklahoma one more year to try and win a National Championship. After becoming the second sophomore in history to ever win the Heisman Trophy after throwing for 4,720 yards and 50 touchdowns, he wanted one more chance to bring Oklahoma their first National Title since 2003.

Unfortunately, that was far from the case during his junior season.

In the first game of the 2009 season, Bradford suffered a shoulder injury on his throwing arm that kept him sidelined for three weeks. A few weeks later, he re-injured the same shoulder and would eventually undergo season-ending surgery.

So much for waiting one more season before entering the NFL to make millions of dollars, huh?

Clausen, on the other hand, finds himself in a different situation considering the transition process at Notre Dame from Charlie Weis to Brian Kelly. He will forgo his senior season with the Fighting Irish in hopes of becoming a top 10 pick in this year's draft.

After entering the 2009 season as a potential Heisman candidate, Clausen seemed to be living up to the expectations after leading the Irish to a 6-2 start. Even though they finished the season on a four-game losing skid, it was obvious he had developed into a mature quarterback and established himself as a strong leader for Notre Dame's offense.

It wasn't his 3,722 passing yards and 28 touchdowns that were impressive, but the low number of interceptions thrown all season that showed how far along he had come as a quarterback. After throwing for 17 interceptions his sophomore season, Clausen threw just four in 2009 and completed 68 percent of his passes.

There's no question Bradford and Clausen both have the potential to be the type of franchise quarterback the Redskins are looking for. Both players had successful careers in college and should be selected in the first round once April 22 rolls around.

The only question now is with the fourth pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, will the Washington Redskins select Bradford or Clausen as their quarterback? That is, if they intend on selecting a new franchise quarterback in this year's draft.

Tony Romo and Donovan McNabb: NFC East Sending Quarterbacks To Pro Bowl

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

A Super Bowl berth by Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints along with a beat-up quarterback in Brett Favre have opened up the path for Donovan McNabb and Tony Romo, who were added to the 2010 Pro Bowl roster as replacements for the two quarterbacks.

McNabb will be making his sixth appearance after helping the Philadelphia Eagles reach the playoffs for the eighth time since 2000 with an 11-5 record—including a six-game winning streak before losing to the Dallas Cowboys in Week 17. He threw for 3,553 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions in just 14 games after missing two games at the beginning of the season with a rib injury.

After years of criticism for his inability to perform late in the season, Romo helped the Cowboys get rid of their December demons by ending the month on a three-game winning streak—including a win in New Orleans over the previously undefeated Saints in Week 15.

This will be Romo's third Pro Bowl appearance in his five seasons with the Cowboys. 2009 was his best season after throwing for a franchise record 4,483 yards to go along with his 26 touchdowns. He also threw for a career low nine interceptions.

2010 NFL Mock Draft: Mel Kiper Suggests Philadelphia Eagles Select Navorro Bowman

Exactly three months from today, the first round of the 2010 NFL Draft will take place with the Philadelphia Eagles holding the 24th overall pick after reaching the postseason for the eighth time in 11 seasons under head coach Andy Reid. After a 34-14 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in the Wild-Card round, the Eagles know there are plenty of areas that need improvement this offseason, beginning with the defense.

Philadelphia knew entering the 2009 season the type of adjustment they would have to make on defense.

Not only did they part ways with safety Brian Dawkins–a rare leader who was the heart and soul of the defense–but they suffered a major setback when defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer back in July. All of a sudden Sean McDerott was expected to take over a defense that had built a reputation as one of the top defenses of the past decade who loved to blitz opposing offenses.

The last couple weeks of the regular season–especially the last two games against the Cowboys–showed how much improvement the Eagles’ defense needs in the offseason. The safeties are nowhere nearly as effective as they used to be when Dawkins was around. The linebacking core was inconsistent week after week. Even the blitzes McDermott was throwing at opposing teams was easily being picked up by offenses.

It’s no question the main area Philadelphia should focus on in the upcoming draft is defenses, which is why ESPN Analyst Mel Kiper’s suggestion of the Eagles selecting Penn State linebacker Navorro Bowman seems tempting.

In the past, the Eagles have been known for using the draft to select players on defense and strongly develop them a few years before they become an impact. A perfect example is middle linebacker Stewart Bradley, who went from barely playing in his rookie season to flourishing the following year as one of the top leaders on the Eagles’ defense.

The 6′1″ 232 lbs Bowman has a lot of potential after an outstanding three-year career as a Nittany Lion. In his final two seasons with the team, he recorded 199 total tackles with seven sacks, three interceptions, and one touchdown.

While it may take some time to develop into a solid linebacker in the pros, there seems to be a lot of potential for Bowman at the NFL level. What better place to start off a career than with the Philadelphia Eagles, who have a history of developing their players on defense to make them one of the best in the league.

Miles Austin Should Be Given the Marques Colston Approach by Cowboys

Friday, January 22, 2010

After extending Wade Phillips' contract to keep him on the sidelines until 2011, Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones now has to make a decision on the type of deal for Pro Bowl wide receiver Miles Austin.

One of the most unknown players the first four weeks of the 2009 season, Austin broke out in Week Five when he caught 10 receptions for 250 yards and two touchdowns—including the game-winning 60 yard pass from Tony Romo in overtime to defeat the Kansas City Chiefs.

The following week against the Atlanta Falcons, he finished with six receptions for 171 yards and two touchdowns. His 421 yards and four touchdowns in a two-week span was more than some wideouts accomplish in an entire season.

All of a sudden, the former unknown Monmouth superstar was becoming one of the most feared wide receivers in the NFL and a No. 1 option for Romo. In a season where Roy Williams was expected to be the go-to guy for the 'Boys in blue, Austin came out of nowhere to lead all Dallas receivers with 1,320 yards and 11 touchdowns. He also was voted to start the Pro Bowl for the first time in his four-year career.

Wait, Austin has been in the league for four years?

As crazy as it is to realize, Austin has been on the Cowboys' roster since 2006. During his first three seasons with Dallas, he caught just 18 receptions for 354 yards and three touchdowns—most of which came in 2008.

With this in mind, should Jones wait another year before signing him to a long-term deal with a massive payout?

For the record, this article is in no way intended to bash on Austin and question his ability as a wide receiver. The point trying to be made is a player's contract shouldn't be based off the performance of one breakout season.

Over the years, there have been numerous NFL owners who have made the mistake of rewarding their players with a massive contract based off the performance of one season.

Just look at what the Cleveland Browns did with Derek Anderson.

Anderson received a three-year deal worth a maximum $26 million after throwing for 29 touchdowns and earning a spot on the Pro Bowl after a breakout 2007 season. Since then, he's started just 16 games and thrown just 12 touchdowns.

If anything, Jones should take the approach the New Orleans Saints did with wide receiver Marques Colston.

Colston was selected by the Saints in the seventh round of the 2006 NFL Draft. In his first season, the former Hofstra standout was one of the most unexpected breakout stars during his rookie campaign, as he finished with 1,038 yards receiving and eight touchdowns.

As impressive as his rookie season was, the Saints knew it would be a risky move to reward a seventh-round pick with a hefty payout after just one breakout season. Instead, they waited until after his sophomore year in which he finished with even better numbers (1,202 yards and 11 touchdowns) before rewarding him with a raise as part of his three-year extension.

Austin's story is similar to Colston's considering both players emerged to NFL stardom when least expected. However, there's always the risk of a one-hit wonder when it comes to breakout seasons in the NFL.

Every NFL fan—especially the Cowboys—would love to see Austin continue to be a reliable No. 1 option for Romo over the next couple of seasons. After emerging as one of the top wide receivers in '09, there is every reason to believe he can return next season as one of the top wideouts.

However, Jones needs to be smart about his money and what he invests in. Do the right thing, Jerry; wait at least one more year so Austin can prove that his performance this season was no fluke. Make him show he would be worth every penny if rewarded with a hefty long-term deal.

Philadelphia Eagles Finish Eighth in Old Spice's Swagger Rankings

Friday, January 15, 2010

Despite an early exit in the first round of the playoffs after their loss to the Dallas Cowboys, the Philadelphia Eagles should be proud for finishing eighth after Old Spice announced the first ever NFL Swagger Rankings.

The rankings were released by Old Spice—who teamed up with ESPN analyst and former NFL star Keyshawn Johnson—to determine which teams in the NFL have the most swagger. After analyzing statistics from 2006 up until Week Nine of the ‘09 season, the rankings were determined by the following factors:

• Red Zone Performance: Scoring and tackling when it counts requires swagger on both sides of the ball
• Taking Your Swagger on the Road: Winning a game while tens of thousands cheer against you requires massive amounts of swagger
• Fourth Down Conversions: It’s fourth down. You have to have swagger to go for it…and make it
• A Gentleman’s Game: It takes a different level of swagger to play the game by the rules and avoid penalties
• Merchandise Sales: When fans wear your team colors like a uniform, you definitely have swagger

The Eagles posted a 35-25 record from 2006 up until Week Nine this season–including playoffs—and were always consistent with having one of the top defenses each season throughout the decade. They have also been one of the most dangerous teams on the road the last few years.

In 2006, Philadelphia pulled the inevitable by winning three straight road games against their division rivals—Redskins, Giants, and Cowboys—on their way to their fifth NFC East title in six seasons. They also recorded two impressive wins on the road in the ‘09 playoffs as a No. 6 seed after defeating the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome and the New York Giants—who were the No. 1 seed in the NFC—at the Meadowlands.

The top five teams with the most swagger include the Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, and Minnesota Vikings. The complete list of rankings can be found here on Old Spice’s website .