Hello Friends!

The Locker Room was shaking, rattling & rolling this past Sunday when our Philadelphia Eagles defeated the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings. In last week’s blog, I said the Eagles better make some adjustments and they sure did, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was out of character, blitzing the heck out of Sam Bradford and a much over-matched Vikings offensive line. It worked! Former Eagle Sam Bradford looked dazed as the blitzes came from every which way, linemen, linebackers, safeties, and corner backs.....they all cranked up their game. I was waiting for the Eagles mascot "Swoop" to come on a blitz! 

In the Locker Room before the game started I said I don't know why they are even playing the game because if you listened to all the so-called experts, the Eagles didn't have a chance. WRONG! I said the Eagles would win the game and it would have to be the defense that gets it done. Getting it done was a huge understatement as the Eagles defense was unstoppable and had the Vikings looking shell-shocked. If they continue to perform with that tenacity each and every week, only good things will come and they will be capable of beating any team.

Although the Vikings were a tough test for the Birds last week, this week they face an equally or maybe even a tougher team that I love to hate: The Stinkin Dallas Cowboys! In fact, if you have ever been to the Locker Room and you visited the restrooms, you know what I'm talking about. To display my love (?) for the Cowboys, I have the Cowboy helmet airbrushed in the toilets and I tell everyone to shoot for the stars. (By the way guys, a lot of you are missing the target. Haha!) Of all the comments about the Locker Room, the toilets create the most buzz. In fact, when I decided to build the Locker Room one of the first things I did was purchase two toilets from the nice folks at Yeager Plumbing Supply. I then headed to the Fairgrounds Mall and put them on a hand truck and proceeded  to Air Graphics to get the "Boys" helmets airbrushed in them. Well, what a stir I created as the mall security team surrounded me thinking I was hijacking the mall's toilets. I then explained where I was headed and what my plans were, and the chief of security was an Eagles fan so they applauded me and led the way to Air Graphics.

I must clarify something: I do not dislike all Cowboys fans. As a matter of fact, I have quite a few friends that are Dallas fans (although they don't get in my Locker Room!) and I love 'em. The fans that stick with the Boys through thick and thin, win or lose, I respect a lot. It's those stinkin' bandwagon jumpers that crawl under the rocks when things are going bad that I cannot stomach. As soon as they are winning they run their mouth and are the most obnoxious fans in the entire NFL. But as soon as they lose a game they run and hide and put their Cowboys gear in moth balls until they win a game again.....stinkin’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ losers! One thing you never have to worry about with Eagles fans: we are behind our Eagles both in good and bad times! I know I  upset a lot of Cowgirls fans with my toilets and they might be offended but here's a news flash for you...I DON'T CARE!

3 Things To Know About This Week’s Game

Week 8: Eagles vs. Cowboys

1. Make no mistake, this Dallas Cowboys team is a very good team and the Eagles are going to have to play their best to get a win this Sunday night. As much as it galls me to say this, Dallas finally looks like they have someone that knows how to pick talent, and it shows. For the past few years in  the NFL draft, the Cowboys addressed the offensive line by choosing big, strong dominating offensive linemen. That is where the good teams excel and the Cowboys have the best O line in all of the NFL. This is not going to be easy folks. The Eagles defense stoned the Vikings last week, but the Vikings O line is not close to being what Dallas is, and if they have any hopes of coming out of Big "D" with a win they will have to have a repeat performance and then some. I don't think we'll see as much blitzing as last Sunday because Dallas has much better receivers than the Vikings do and we will have to have coverage in the secondary and protect against the deep throws. To make matters worse, Dallas gets back wide receiver and big "cry baby" Dez Bryant this week from injury to add to the receiving corps. Although he's a big jerk, he's a standout wide receiver! When you add Bryant, along with Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams and the speedy Lucky Whitehead, you have a lot of weapons! At the tight end position, the Boys still have the dependable Jason Witten, who doesn't seem to age. If our defense didn't have enough to worry about at receiver, you throw in the outstanding rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and the equally outstanding rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and you have a multitude of headaches! I stated last week here in the Locker Room before the kickoff that the defense had to play lights out to beat the Vikings, and it's the same thing this week. I look for Jim Schwartz to have a few new tricks up his sleeve to show rookie Prescott and company. Oh man, this is gonna be a hard-hitting game! 
    
2. Last week, the Eagles cut down on all the stupid penalties and that was huge in coming away with the big win. Our offense looked lost at times last week and Carson Wentz threw what could have been a costly interception, but the defense took it right back. There were way too many gaffes with fumbles, mishandled snaps, etc. and you just can't expect to win if those things aren't cleaned up. The O line didn't allow a sack last week, which was a big improvement over the Redskins game and they must continue to show improvement. Carson Wentz did not look comfortable versus the Vikings and missed some easy throws, but I guess that's to be expected with a rookie. Our wideouts must start getting some separation and stretch the field in order for the offense to flourish. There have been some strong rumors about a huge trade for the outstanding wideout Alshon Jeffries of the Chicago Bears, and I'd love it as he would be the deep threat we lack. At running back, Ryan Matthews had a good game last week but once again had a fumble, and that has to stop. I look for the incomparable Darren Sproles to light up the Dallas defense and I say get him the ball more. All he does when he gets the ball in his hands is make something happen! Mighty Mouse is here to save the day! I still want to see Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner get some more touches as both of these guys are explosive and can create lots of headaches for defenses. The Cowboys defense is not bad, but I think that Zach Ertz and Trey Burton can make some plays on them if given the chance. Lastly, I want to see Carson Wentz use his legs a little more when the opportunity presents itself. He can create a lot of problems for any defense and that's what he excelled at in college. Note to Coach Pederson: If you have an extra weapon in your arsenal, use him!
    
3. As always, good special teams play is essential to winning any game, and it was proven last week with the Josh Huff 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. This set a franchise record for the Eagles with two games in a row with kickoff returns for scores. Let's make it three games in a row this Sunday night! Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis has been money in the bank as is the Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey. This game could very well come down to the final seconds, and it promises to be exciting as most the games are between these division rivals. As I stated last week here in the Locker Room, whenever the Eagles play the Cowboys these games are like my Birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and any other jovial time of the year you can think of. I know from the calls and e-mails that I've been getting that this Locker Room will be off the wall with a packed house and I am looking forward to it.

Well friends, that will about do it for this week. Please check back with me next week as I take a look at the upcoming game against my cardiologist Dr. Louis Borgatta's favorite team: the New York Giants. Have a good week friends and Fly Eagles, Fly!

Hello Friends!

The Locker Room was shaking, rattling & rolling this past Sunday when our Philadelphia Eagles defeated the previously unbeaten Minnesota Vikings. In last week’s blog, I said the Eagles better make some adjustments and they sure did, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was out of character, blitzing the heck out of Sam Bradford and a much over-matched Vikings offensive line. It worked! Former Eagle Sam Bradford looked dazed as the blitzes came from every which way, linemen, linebackers, safeties, and corner backs.....they all cranked up their game. I was waiting for the Eagles mascot "Swoop" to come on a blitz! 

In the Locker Room before the game started I said I don't know why they are even playing the game because if you listened to all the so-called experts, the Eagles didn't have a chance. WRONG! I said the Eagles would win the game and it would have to be the defense that gets it done. Getting it done was a huge understatement as the Eagles defense was unstoppable and had the Vikings looking shell-shocked. If they continue to perform with that tenacity each and every week, only good things will come and they will be capable of beating any team.

Although the Vikings were a tough test for the Birds last week, this week they face an equally or maybe even a tougher team that I love to hate: The Stinkin Dallas Cowboys! In fact, if you have ever been to the Locker Room and you visited the restrooms, you know what I'm talking about. To display my love (?) for the Cowboys, I have the Cowboy helmet airbrushed in the toilets and I tell everyone to shoot for the stars. (By the way guys, a lot of you are missing the target. Haha!) Of all the comments about the Locker Room, the toilets create the most buzz. In fact, when I decided to build the Locker Room one of the first things I did was purchase two toilets from the nice folks at Yeager Plumbing Supply. I then headed to the Fairgrounds Mall and put them on a hand truck and proceeded  to Air Graphics to get the "Boys" helmets airbrushed in them. Well, what a stir I created as the mall security team surrounded me thinking I was hijacking the mall's toilets. I then explained where I was headed and what my plans were, and the chief of security was an Eagles fan so they applauded me and led the way to Air Graphics.

I must clarify something: I do not dislike all Cowboys fans. As a matter of fact, I have quite a few friends that are Dallas fans (although they don't get in my Locker Room!) and I love 'em. The fans that stick with the Boys through thick and thin, win or lose, I respect a lot. It's those stinkin' bandwagon jumpers that crawl under the rocks when things are going bad that I cannot stomach. As soon as they are winning they run their mouth and are the most obnoxious fans in the entire NFL. But as soon as they lose a game they run and hide and put their Cowboys gear in moth balls until they win a game again.....stinkin’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’’ losers! One thing you never have to worry about with Eagles fans: we are behind our Eagles both in good and bad times! I know I  upset a lot of Cowgirls fans with my toilets and they might be offended but here's a news flash for you...I DON'T CARE!

3 Things To Know About This Week’s Game

Week 8: Eagles vs. Cowboys

1. Make no mistake, this Dallas Cowboys team is a very good team and the Eagles are going to have to play their best to get a win this Sunday night. As much as it galls me to say this, Dallas finally looks like they have someone that knows how to pick talent, and it shows. For the past few years in  the NFL draft, the Cowboys addressed the offensive line by choosing big, strong dominating offensive linemen. That is where the good teams excel and the Cowboys have the best O line in all of the NFL. This is not going to be easy folks. The Eagles defense stoned the Vikings last week, but the Vikings O line is not close to being what Dallas is, and if they have any hopes of coming out of Big "D" with a win they will have to have a repeat performance and then some. I don't think we'll see as much blitzing as last Sunday because Dallas has much better receivers than the Vikings do and we will have to have coverage in the secondary and protect against the deep throws. To make matters worse, Dallas gets back wide receiver and big "cry baby" Dez Bryant this week from injury to add to the receiving corps. Although he's a big jerk, he's a standout wide receiver! When you add Bryant, along with Cole Beasley, Terrance Williams and the speedy Lucky Whitehead, you have a lot of weapons! At the tight end position, the Boys still have the dependable Jason Witten, who doesn't seem to age. If our defense didn't have enough to worry about at receiver, you throw in the outstanding rookie running back Ezekiel Elliott and the equally outstanding rookie quarterback Dak Prescott, and you have a multitude of headaches! I stated last week here in the Locker Room before the kickoff that the defense had to play lights out to beat the Vikings, and it's the same thing this week. I look for Jim Schwartz to have a few new tricks up his sleeve to show rookie Prescott and company. Oh man, this is gonna be a hard-hitting game! 
    
2. Last week, the Eagles cut down on all the stupid penalties and that was huge in coming away with the big win. Our offense looked lost at times last week and Carson Wentz threw what could have been a costly interception, but the defense took it right back. There were way too many gaffes with fumbles, mishandled snaps, etc. and you just can't expect to win if those things aren't cleaned up. The O line didn't allow a sack last week, which was a big improvement over the Redskins game and they must continue to show improvement. Carson Wentz did not look comfortable versus the Vikings and missed some easy throws, but I guess that's to be expected with a rookie. Our wideouts must start getting some separation and stretch the field in order for the offense to flourish. There have been some strong rumors about a huge trade for the outstanding wideout Alshon Jeffries of the Chicago Bears, and I'd love it as he would be the deep threat we lack. At running back, Ryan Matthews had a good game last week but once again had a fumble, and that has to stop. I look for the incomparable Darren Sproles to light up the Dallas defense and I say get him the ball more. All he does when he gets the ball in his hands is make something happen! Mighty Mouse is here to save the day! I still want to see Wendell Smallwood and Kenjon Barner get some more touches as both of these guys are explosive and can create lots of headaches for defenses. The Cowboys defense is not bad, but I think that Zach Ertz and Trey Burton can make some plays on them if given the chance. Lastly, I want to see Carson Wentz use his legs a little more when the opportunity presents itself. He can create a lot of problems for any defense and that's what he excelled at in college. Note to Coach Pederson: If you have an extra weapon in your arsenal, use him!
    
3. As always, good special teams play is essential to winning any game, and it was proven last week with the Josh Huff 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. This set a franchise record for the Eagles with two games in a row with kickoff returns for scores. Let's make it three games in a row this Sunday night! Eagles kicker Caleb Sturgis has been money in the bank as is the Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey. This game could very well come down to the final seconds, and it promises to be exciting as most the games are between these division rivals. As I stated last week here in the Locker Room, whenever the Eagles play the Cowboys these games are like my Birthday, Christmas, New Year’s Eve and any other jovial time of the year you can think of. I know from the calls and e-mails that I've been getting that this Locker Room will be off the wall with a packed house and I am looking forward to it.

Well friends, that will about do it for this week. Please check back with me next week as I take a look at the upcoming game against my cardiologist Dr. Louis Borgatta's favorite team: the New York Giants. Have a good week friends and Fly Eagles, Fly!