US – Sunday, March 21
Published 00:06, September the 8th, 2009
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The magnificent seven

GOOD RIDDANCE

Eagles on-air talent worse than actual football team

The absolute best thing about the end of the NFL preseason is that fans here won’t have to endure another minute of the mind-numbing Eagles Television Network. Nothing better represents the lack of respect the Eagles have for their fans than this broadcasting abomination.

Hey, I get it. Teams broadcast their own preseason games, so they tend to want to present themselves in the best possible light. The Eagles, however, have turned the sublime into the completely ridiculous.

For the first time in the 60-year history of televised football, the Eagles decided to present games with no play-by-play announcer. They had three men in the booth — former Eagles Kevin Reilly, Herm Edwards, Hugh Douglas — but none appeared inclined to identify the players from play to play.

 

Seven. The Eagles will win seven games this season, at most. If you’ve been reading my recent columns, that number shouldn’t be a surprise.

Despite the mindless drivel of self-proclaimed NFL experts, the Eagles have had a terrible offseason. It began with the loss of their soul, Brian Dawkins. Then they lost their brain, Jim Johnson. And finally they lost their way, signing a circus act named Michael Vick.

Yes, they added some interesting new pieces in rookies Jeremy Maclin and LeSean McCoy, but this is not as good a team as the 2008 Eagles.

If you really want to evaluate these Eagles, you have to begin by considering how they got to be a perennial playoff contender. They did it with a reliable defense and an opportunistic offense. Both areas are in serious peril as the Eagles start a new season Sunday in Carolina.

The defense has subtracted last year’s three most important pieces: Dawkins, Johnson and injured linebacker Stewart Bradley. How exactly are the Eagles going to be better with nonentities like Macho Harris, Sean McDermott and either Joe Mays or Omar Gaither? It’s not logical.

On offense, the Eagles are relying on an offensive line that has never played together. Tra Thomas and Jon Runyan were the anchors of a consistent front line. Malcontent Jason Peters and fragile Shawn Andrews are supposed to replace them? It’s even less logical.

All of the rest is smoke and mirrors. Their owner speaks in mindless platitudes. Their president doesn’t realize he’s one of the most disliked people in recent Philadelphia sports history. Their coach is bullying the media and coddling a dog killer. And their quarterback is recruiting replacements, and then rebelling when he is replaced, even for just a few plays.

The Eagles are a mess. I realize this is a minority opinion, and I know my neck is on the line here. That’s fine with me. I accept the responsibility. Sometimes, you just know when you’re right.

Seven. That’s the number. The Eagles will be a losing team in 2009.

CHAPTER CLOSED

Myers logical choice to replace inconsistent Lidge

Anyone who still doubts that baseball is primarily a mental game has not been paying attention to Phillies closer Brad Lidge.

His failures, which now number an astounding 10 blown saves, offer a painful view of how the brain can foil the arm.

Lidge had actually been throwing with more confidence in recent games, and after he had undressed Hunter Pence for the first out Saturday in Houston, he seemed more like the vintage 2008 Lidge than this flawed 2009 replica. Then, when the umps ruled that Geoff Blum had checked his swing on a 3-2 pitch, Lidge totally unraveled.

Chris Coste slapped a flat fastball to center, followed by a four-pitch walk to Jason Michaels. Instead of two outs and nobody on, Lidge had the bases loaded with one out. His body language said it all.

He didn’t expect to protect the 4-3 lead. He expected to lose. Moments later, he did.

Lidge’s fragile psyche has been a recurring theme of the 2009 season, but this absurd situation has to end. Lidge has no faith in his fastball and no control over his slider. Soon, Brett Myers will be handed the closer’s role. In the mental game of baseball, Brad Lidge is striking out.

 
Angelo Cataldi is a Metro sports columnist and host of 610 WIP’s Morning Show. He can be heard every morning from 5:30 to 10 a.m. His page runs on Tuesday. Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages.Angelo Cataldi is a Metro sports columnist and host of 610 WIP’s Morning Show. He can be heard every morning from 5:30 to 10 a.m. His page runs on Tuesday.

Metro does not endorse the opinions of the author, or any opinions expressed on its pages.
 
 
 
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