~ THIS WEEK IN PRO FOOTBALL ~

Upcoming Show - Saturday, January 5

2008-01-04T22:41:00.000-05:00

The first playoff edition of "This Week in Pro Football" hits the airwaves, and does so in style.

A look back at the 2007 Eagles season, and a look ahead to what needs to be done for '08.

We'll hand out our regular-season awards, and break down this weekend's playoff games with the help of a pair of top-notch correspondents.

Scheduled Guests:

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN

Frank Wycheck, Titans Radio.

12-2 Saturday!

Upcoming Show - Saturday, Dec. 28

2007-12-28T15:48:00.000-05:00

Last week of the regular season...last game for McNabb as an Eagle?

Tim McManus and Pat Callahan will discuss. Patriots going for perfection, while a couple teams fight for their playoff lives.

Scheduled Guests:

Greg Cosell, NFL Films
Sal Paolantonio, ESPN

Call in at (610) 632-0950 between 12-2 Saturday!

Programming note: The show runs through the conference championship weekend.

Upcoming Show - Saturday, Dec. 15

2007-12-14T18:54:00.000-05:00

Eagles-Dallas, Part II.

Will the spirit still be there for this game? Is McNabb nearing the end in Philly?

Also, Spygate showdown in New England. We'll take a look at the Pats' quest for perfection, and if it might end this Sunday.

Scheduled guests:

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN
Chris Harris, ESPN fantasy
Possible mystery guest as well.

Tune in 12-2 Saturday. If you want to chime in, call (610) 632-0950 to talk to Callahan and McManus.

Upcoming Show - Saturday, Dec. 8

2007-12-07T12:26:00.000-05:00

The Eagles are on the brink of falling out of the playoff picture...can they survive?

A big game against the Giants this week will help decide their fate.

The Pats quest for perfection continues after a scare...is Pittsburgh the type of team that can stop them?

Callahan and McManus will break it all down starting at noon Saturday.

Guests: Sal Paolantonio, ESPN
Chris Harris, ESPN fantasy

Chime in at (610) 632-0950. This Week in Pro Football from 12-2 Saturdays.

Upcoming Show - Saturday, Dec. 1

2007-11-30T12:28:00.000-05:00

If a legendary quarterback gets hurt and nobody is there to watch it, will NFL fans make a rebellious sound?

Callahan and McManus will address the Thursday night Cowboys-Packers game on the NFL Network, and look forward to the Eagles-Seahawks showdown that will likely have No. 14 -- not 5 -- under center.

We'll be on from 12 to 2 this Saturday, and likely every Saturday moving forward. Join in at (610) 632 0950.

Scheduled Guests:

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN
Chris Harris, ESPN Fantasy

Upcoming Show - Saturday, November 24

2007-11-23T21:22:00.000-05:00

Lambs to the slaughter or the Mother of all shockers?

The Eagles are 22-point underdogs...do they deserve to be?

We'll break down the Pats-Birds, revisit the Thanksgiving Day games, and talk playoff scenarios.

This Week in Pro Football with Tim McManus and Pat Callahan, this Saturday from noon to 2.

Guests:

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN

Chris Harris, ESPN fantasy

Upcoming Show - Saturday, Nov. 17

2007-11-16T13:19:00.000-05:00

"This Week in Pro Football" is on from 12-3:15 this Saturday, three-plus action-packed hours from your favorite Irish football commentators, Callahan and McManus.

Eagles trying to pull to .500 with the undefeated Patriots on the horizon...a storm brewing with the NFL Network...and much more.

Scheduled guests:

Greg Cosell, NFL Films

Sal Paolantonio, ESPN

Chris Harris, ESPN Fantasy

Listen on 950 AM or sr950.com!

Site back up and running

2007-11-12T18:39:00.000-05:00

Pat and I moved to Sports Radio 950, and forgot to bring our website with us.

But the legion of listeners' call for more TWIPF is just too great to be ignored, so we'll start updating the site once again to keep the savages fed.

We'll provide a list of upcoming guests and show topics each Friday, and throw in an occassional rant or two when we feel like getting something off our chest. We encourage you to use the comment section to rain down praise whenever inclined.

For those who have followed us to Sports Radio 950, we thank you for your loyalty. For those who are with us now, we thank you for your interest. For those who have never listened, tune into 950 AM or log onto sr950.com every Saturday to check it out.

Talk to you soon,

Tim McManus
Host, This Week in Pro Football

Thoughts on Championship Weekend

2007-01-25T22:41:00.000-05:00

By Pat Callahan

Bears 39, Saints 14 – The key sequence here occurred in the third quarter. Bears up 16-14 and the Saints, having just scored on Reggie Bush’s 88 yard catch and run, were back in business at Chicago’s 29 yard line, 1st and 10. The Bears were reeling, and the specter of playing catch-up with Rex Grossman at the helm had the sellout crowd spooked.

Then Sean Payton, with a Super Bowl berth in his sights, blinked. Instead of getting Deuce McAlister going, he called three straight passes, all incomplete, leading to a 47 yard shank by Billy Cundiff that gave the Monsters the ball, and a huge breath of fresh air, on their 37 yard line. While, as usual, Rex did nothing with that series, the ensuing punt pinned the Saints deep and led to Drew Brees’ ill advised grounding in the end zone. Again, why not pound McAlister three times here? He killed Philly last week, and the Bears had just given up 120 plus yards – and two scores – to Shaun Alexander.

The rest is history.

The Bears sure as hell knew to get the ball out of Grossman’s hands and, after inexplicably letting him sit on the bench for most of the first half, gave it to Thomas Jones.

Chicago deserves to be NFC Champion, if for no other reason than this: no one else comes close.

Colts 38, Pats 34 – A really great, entertaining game. Certainly it seemed like anything but in the second quarter, after Assante Samuel’s pick and roll made it 21-3, Patriots. But, facing the cementing of his status as a playoff eunuch, Peyton Manning reached down, found some badly needed mojo, and took Indy on a Magic Carpet Ride for the remaining 32 minutes.

Beginning with those last two minutes in the first half, through the middle of the 3rd quarter, the Colts ran 37 plays to the Pats 4, including a Tom Brady kneel down at the end of the half. New England was suddenly, shockingly, exhausted - tired, cramping and hurting - all in a span of some 20 minutes. Still, they fought back, and certainly could have won or forced OT if two plays had gone differently: first, Tom Brady somehow failed to see an uncovered Reche Caldwell to his right with the Pats at the Colts 20. (He did finally see him, with various Colts frantically scrambling to get over there, and Caldwell- who looked like a goldfish with a helmet on – promptly dropped it anyway.) Still, if Brady sees him right away and just leads him down the sideline, it’s an easy TD. The second play occurred shortly thereafter, and it again involved Caldwell. This time he was, in the opinion of most observers, clearly interfered with in the end zone on a Brady lob, but no call was made. A Gustkowski FG left four points on the table, the exact losing margin.

The Patriots are warriors and went down guns blazing, but Peyton Manning answered the call of greatness Sunday night, and Belichik’s Monster is finally dead.
Random Thoughts:

Bill Belichik was his usual miserable ogre self Sunday night, after the loss. He gave poor Solomon Wilcotts of CBS Sports a horrific interview after the game, all but ignored Manning’s handshake and greeting – Peyton had searched him out to talk to him – and then gave his usual half-hearted, I’ll-make-Andy-Reid-look-like-Robin-Williams-press conference. Just a bad guy, in the public eye.

Great to see Lovie Smith and Tony Dungy make it to the Super Bowl, and not just because they’re African-American. Most Americans do not care about that at all, and that’s precisely how it ought to be. Still, the media will, over the next two weeks, embarrass these two men by broaching this subject again and again. Here it is: they are both really good coaches, and great Christian gentlemen to boot. Good for them. Both Dungy and Smith are winners in every sense of the word.

Good thing there’s two weeks ‘til the Super Bowl. Phil Simms will need the entire time to regain his voice, having set a postseason record for most words spoken during an NFL telecast…Bill Parcells retires again, and the league is the lesser for it; like him or not. Parcells had become a legendary figure, perhaps bigger than his record warrants. He won as many Super Bowls as Tom Flores, and one less than Joe Gibbs, but it’s Parcells that’s a sure bet first ballot hall of famer…and now we head into the dog days of winter: football nearly over and camps are six months away. But stay tuned, dear reader: Timmy Mac and me will keep you posted all spring and summer. Prosid.

Super Chargers? No

2007-01-21T12:03:00.000-05:00

By Pat Callahan

The San Diego Chargers had to go out of their way to lose to New England Sunday, and they certainly did so, in style. Here, in chronological order, is a primer on what not to do in a game against Tom Brady and Bill Belichik:

1st Quarter, SD Ball, 4th & 11 on NE 30 – Marty inexplicably decides to go for it. QB Philip Rivers – you know, the 2nd year “veteran; 1st year starter, never played a playoff game in his life” – is sacked and fumbles for good measure. Points lost: 3.

3rd Quarter, SD 14, NE 10, NE ball, 3rd down on SD 30 – Tom Brady is hit, fumbles and NE recovers, but it’s 4th down and the Pats are out of FG range. But SD DB Drayton Florence head butts TE Ben Watson and draws a 15 yard penalty. Gostkowski then kicks a FG. Points lost: 3.

2nd Half – LT carries the ball 9 times. That’s right, 9 times.

4th Quarter, SD 21, NE 13, NE ball, 4th down on SD 40 – Brady is picked by DB McCree, who eschews falling down (and winning the game) and tries to return the ball. Instead, Troy Brown strips it – that’s why they’ve won 3 of the last 5 Super Bowls – and
Reche Caldwell recovers. Brady then hits Caldwell for a TD. Points lost: 8.

4th Quarter, tied 21-21 – on 1st down after the Pats tied it, LT gains 6 yards. Now here’s an idea: give the ball to Tomlinson again, and again. But Marty (more accurately, offensive coordinator Cam Cameron) has QB Rivers throw on the next two downs. Incomplete. Punt.

4th Quarter, NE 24 – ND 21 – Rivers, his team out of time outs, hits TE Gates for 20 yards. But with the clock running, he throws to Gates for 4 yards after wasting precious time by repositioning his goofy WR all the way across the field.

So there you go: numerous mistakes, bad play calling, showboating, fumbles, dropped passes, etc. It may take some time for this organization to get over that loss.

It really is true: some teams just don’t get it.
And some, like New England, do.

It Won’t be a Big Easy

2007-01-12T19:06:00.000-05:00

By Pat Callahan

Random Post-Season thoughts…

- Talk about a foreboding statistic: in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, since the expansion to 6 seeds in 1990, the home (bye) team has won 87% of the games. That, my friends, qualifies as a trend. Compare the NFL to the NBA or NHL, where a higher-seeded team gets one extra home game (maybe) in a seven game series, and you see how much the league emphasizes the regular season…

- Still, the path of the No. 3 seed might be too punitive. Take the Eagles: they finished with the same record as New Orleans and had the same conference record; the difference between resting for a week at home versus playing a first round game, then traveling on six days notice, was a John Carney FG on the game’s last play.

- Still, it can be done. Just last year both Carolina (at Chicago) and Pittsburgh (at Indy) won road games. But please, don’t bet on it, not even with the five points.

- Did you realize that seven of the 12 teams which made the playoffs in 2005 did not make it back in ’06? Nothing is guaranteed in this league.

- I’m surprised to hear that Tom Coughlin is staying in NY. It seems clear that he’s lost the team in the locker room, and with some aging defensive stars (Strahan, Arrington), no Tiki, and a very shaky Eli Manning, the future looks cloudy in the Big Apple.

- Three words to ensure an early playoff exit: “Coach Herman Edwards”

- Two really good AFC playoff games this weekend, and you could make a case for any one of these four going on to win SBXXI. If you, in fact, ranked the remaining eight teams in order of most likely to win the SB, the four AFC teams would be one to four. In the NFC, Seattle has no shot and the other three have glaring deficiencies.

- Let’s see: Peyton Manning, Tom Brady, Steve McNair, Rex Grossman. Which one doesn’t belong?

Two Eagles tickets up for grabs

2007-01-05T23:32:00.000-05:00

This Week in Pro Football with Tim McManus and Pat Callahan will be giving away two very good tickets to the Eagles-Giants game on Sunday morning. The hosts will hold a trivia contest, giving each caller a chance to answer five questions in rapid-fire succession. Whoever answers the most right by the end of the two hours wins.

This Week in Pro Football runs from 10 a.m.-noon each Sunday during the football season on 990 AM (You can also listen on wntp.com). Guests for this playoff edition include ESPN's Sal Paolantonio and agent Jim Solano, who has represented such big names as Seth Joyner, Ray Rhodes, and Bill Cowher.

Make sure you tune in.

-- Tim McManus

Say What?

2007-01-04T15:23:00.000-05:00

By Tim McManus

The 2006 football season was, if nothing else, memorable. We witnessed maybe the greatest rushing performance of all-time. Saw T.O. take his circus act to new heights. And got to see what happens when a Denny Green-coached team lets their opponent off the hook.

A star en espanol. A handful of coaches and players saying things they'd regret. A passing of a legend. For better or worse, this was 2006 in the NFL. And it all got underway with 16 of the most historically-significant and utterly confounding words the league has ever heard:

"With the No. 1 pick in the 2006 NFL Draft, the Houston Texans select Mario Williams."

--- Commissioner Paul Tagliabue

"My name isn't Chad no more. Anybody that writes about whatever I say today, you call me Ocho Cinco. Do not say 'Chad.' You're going to get a pay cut. I'm not playing. Questions? DeAngelo Fall. Do not say Hall or I'm going to stop the interview."

--- Bengals wide receiver Chad Johnson

"Terrell has 25 million reasons why he should be alive."

--- Terrell Owens' publicist Kim Etheredge

"The fact of the matter is we are 6-5. We have lost three games in a row. What do you want us to do, put our head down and run to a corner? We don't do that. We're men. We get back, we practice hard. We prepare to play to win. We don't prepare to come in and have someone who wants to take a comment and try to divide teammates in a way that it just disrupts this team.

"We don't have that division. So if you want to come here with a negative, you are coming to the wrong guy, because I am not a negative guy. I don't kill my teammates. I'm a man and I talk to my teammates."

--- Giants defensive end Michael Strahan

"The Bears are who we thought they were! Now, if you want to crown them, then crown their ass! But they are who they thought they were! And we let them off the hook!"

--- Former Arizona coach Dennis Green

"Well, I really have a lot of respect for Ty, and I know he'll do a great job. But if he ever decides to move on, and get in the NFL, or, you know, go back to Notre Dame or whatever ... if that job's open, you'll find me at the friggin' head of the line, with my résumé in hand, ready to take that job...I don't care if we're in the middle of a playoff run, I'm packing my stuff and coming back to Seattle."

--- Former Atlanta head coach Jim Mora Jr.

"When I was in college, it was always (speculation) about coming to the pros. This is the challenge I wanted. I had a good college job. Why would I have left that if I was going to be interested in other college jobs?"

--- Former Dolphins head coach Nick Saban

"Unfortunately, I can't hold their hands 24/7, but it is embarrassing. It's an embarrassment to our organization, to our city, and to our fans."

--- Cincinnati head coach Marvin Lewis, after the 15th Bengal of the year was arrested

"Or a Marvin Harrison. ... I always think about that, Cris. I always think, if I played in Indianapolis, what type of effect would I have on that team? Or what would I be able to do different? It's something I wish I could do for just one week."

--- Falcons quarterback Michael Vick

"I believe he is the finest running back ever to wear an NFL uniform."

-- San Diego head coach Marty Schottenheimer, on LaDainian Tomlinson

"Maybe because I'm unhappy and I'm not too much excited about what's going on. So, my concentration and focus level tend to go down sometimes when I'm in a bad mood. All I can say is if you put me in a good situation and make me happy, man, you get good results."

-- Oakland wide receiver Randy Moss

Upcoming show - Sunday, December 31

2006-12-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Pat and Tim will ring in the New Year by talking everything NFL.

How did the Birds get so good? Who's going to sneak into the playoffs? Who's got the best chance of making it to the promised land?

All will be discussed, and answered, on your favorite NFL show.

Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo.com

Mike Sielski, columnist, Calkins media

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

Don't forget to join us from 10am-noon on Sunday!

Who do the Birds want?

2006-12-29T16:22:00.000-05:00

By Pat Callahan

Let's go ahead and assume the Eagles beat Atlanta Sunday, to clinch the NFC East and lock up the Conference #3 seed. The question here is: who do the Birds want to see come to Philadelphia as the #6 seed? Of course, to a man the whole organization will issue the usual blather about how "it doesn't matter...we'll just take it one game at a time...every team will be tough..." And blah blah blah. But of course, it does matter: the object is to win, so which team, out of Atlanta, Carolina, St. Louis, Green Bay and the Giants would make the easiest foe a week from now? Who would be the toughest?

Here is my take, in order of easiest to toughest out:

1. Green Bay – like the other pretenders, this is not a good team. What makes the Packers most appealing as a first round opponent is their lack of a playmaker on offense, and that includes Brett Favre. No one on this offense scares you.

2. Carolina – like Green Bay, the Panthers have not gotten their offense in gear all season long, wasting a healthy Steve Smith in the process. The defense was never as fierce as predicted.

3. St. Louis – the Rams have won two straight, and both Marc Bulger and Steven Jackson are on fire right now. The defense, however, is awful and cannot stop any running attack, let alone Brian Westbrook.

4. Atlanta – the theory here is you don't want to have to beat the same team two weeks in a row. The odds are very long against this match-up, however; both Philly and Dallas would have to lose this Sunday.

5. New York Giants – again, it's about familiarity, as well as the notion that this team is assuredly the best of the bunch. If the Giants win Saturday in D.C. and the Birds win Sunday, this is your match-up.

No show for Ho-Ho

2006-12-22T18:05:00.000-05:00

This Week in Pro Football will take a one-week hiatus so Pat and Tim can celebrate Christmas with their friends and family.

We'd like to wish our loyal listeners a very Merry Christmas, and look forward to being with you all next week!

Sincerely,

Tim McManus and Pat Callahan

Dearest Commish

2006-12-15T16:57:00.000-05:00

Mr. Roger Goodell
Commissioner
National Football League
New York, New York

Dear Roger:

Thank you for the Rolex and fathead poster of Paul Tagliabue. A very nice touch, indeed.

You had asked me to jot down my ideas for improving the game, so here they are, in no particular order:

·Rescind that rule which allows the clock to run when a player goes out of bounds in the games first 55 minutes. What in insult to fans: “let’s speed up the game by having less of it!” Try cutting back to, say, 5000 commercials a game instead;

·outlaw the scoreboards during games. Can I watch the game, please? Not a constantly scrolling, irritating, distracting flash of scores all game long. Every 10 minutes is fine;

·and while we’re at it, get rid of the down and distance stuff too! I’m watching the game, for God’s sake, Roger; how stupid do the networks think we are? Flash the down and distance between plays and get rid of it during the play, okay?

·tell them to shut up. We don’t need a non-stop audio assault by Moose Johnston, Randy Cross, Solomon Wilcotts and the king of bleeding from the ears, Bill Maas. As I said, I am watching the game; I don’t need a 60 second explanation of a three yard off tackle run!

·too many night games, Mr. Commissioner; remember, those idiots wrapped up and freezing in zero wind chills last week in Pittsburgh paid good money to sit there, they cheer, boo and basically make the whole thing work. Sundays at 1:00pm are fine, okay?

·do not expand the playoff pool; 8-8 is already bad enough to get in;

·issue an edict banning mono-chromatic uniforms. The Seahawks look like some alien race, and the Saints, Bills, the Jets (flat out awful-looking) are close behind. Do this ASAP.

There you go, Roger. I’ll mail this to you, right after this quick time-out, presented by Levitra.

Patrick Callahan
This Week In Pro Football

Upcoming Show - Sunday, December 10

2006-12-09T21:01:00.000-05:00

Pat and Tim will delve into the NFC playoff race, and argue whether the Eagles are a favorite to claim one of the wild card berths.

Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo.com

John McMullen, NFL Insider, football.com

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

Don't forget to listen from 10 a.m. - noon on Sunday!

Upcoming Show - Sunday, December 3

2006-12-02T15:45:00.000-05:00

Pat and Tim take an in-depth look at the wide open NFC playoff race. Can the Bears win with Rex? Can the Giants get along long enough to slip into the postseason? Is Romo the real deal? We'll answer all those questions, and break down the Eagles-Panthers MNF matchup.

Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo.com

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

Dont forget to join us from 10 am-noon this Sunday!

Selfish

2006-12-01T16:36:00.000-05:00

By John McMullen

Jim Mora Sr. got quite a bit of play a few weeks ago when he called Michael Vick a “coach killer.” Of course, the only reason Mora spouted off about Vick is the coach he perceives as being “killed” is his own son.

But let’s be honest, while Vick has not developed into the signal caller people hoped for, the Atlanta Falcons are a far more competitive team since he sauntered into town.

That said, Mora’s words got me thinking about the real “coach killer” in pro football. A player that is quite frankly, uncoachable...

Brett Favre.

In my years in Minneapolis, I had the pleasure of seeing Favre play twice a year and it was breathtaking. In his prime, Favre was one of the best ever -- second only to Joe Montana in my mind.

Year in and year out, the Vikings had more talent than the Green Bay Packers but when people asked for my prediction, I always went with Favre. He was that good.

In fact, Favre created the monster that is Andy Reid when he led a Packers team with Edgar Bennett as the primary running threat to a Super Bowl championship. It was then and there that Reid developed his legendary disdain for the running game.

Today, I feel silly for ever lauding Favre -- a pariah that may even trump T.O. as the most selfish player in the NFL.

You can debate the reasons Favre is hanging on -- whether it be ego, Dan Marino’s records or staying far away from that loving family his groupies drone on and on about.

Whatever the reason is immaterial -- what is germane to Green Bay is that Favre's reason for staying isn't winning.

And, his apologists that dot the network airwaves look more and more foolish when defending him at the expense of every other player on his team -- most of which actually listen to their coaches and try to carry out an assignment.

Of course the future Hall of Famer’s status in the game makes it impossible for his own coaches to call him out for his willful ignorance of their game plan -- something every other NFL quarterback would get lambasted for on a weekly basis.

In the woeful NFC, the Packers would likely be a playoff contender if Favre would just manage his own ego. Instead, the gunslinger just hurls the ball into coverage whenever he likes and waits for his minions to blame his young receivers who aren’t “playmakers.”

Nonsense -- Favre’s play is the ultimate act of selfishness on the football field.

No matter what Joe Buck and John Madden tell you.

All is not Lost?

2006-12-01T11:55:00.002-05:00

By Pat Callahan

O.K., it looks really bleak right now for all you who bleed green and have been spoiled over the past five years. The Birds were absolutely steamrolled Sunday night by Joseph Addai and the Colts, the second week in a row they surrendered over 200 years rushing. It appears that, almost without us noticing, the Eagles have become mediocre. Are they?

The answer is yes, but you need to remember these two things: (1) Eagles fans were drinking green Kool-aid in September when all the experts were picking them to go 11-5 and win the NFC East; and (2) They still might make the playoffs.

Admit it, many of you bought into the pre-season fluff from ESPN, etc. that the Birds defense was back to its former rampaging self and the McNabb/Westbrook team would dominate. And it did start out well: 3-1 out of the gate and a suddenly explosive offense helped to mask some serious defensive deficiencies. But it soon became clear that the Eagles quick strike offense was leaving its aging and too-small defense on the field too long and the losses started to mount: New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville, even Tennessee – all because the defense could not make a big stop.

But take a color blind look at what you’ve got: Dawkins and Trotter are warriors, but their best days are clearly behind them; and an undersized front seven has been negatively impacted by some recent bad drafts – McDougal, Bunkley, etc. It will take some time to rebuild, and maybe a change in leadership on this side of the ball.

Now to the good news: despite the ship taking on big water, I don’t see two teams – assuming Dallas wins the NFC East – substantially better than the Eagles in the NFC who will take the wild card berths. Do you? Carolina needs a Jake break; Minnesota lacks offensive talent; Atlanta, St. Louis, San Francisco – no, no, and no.

The Birds play three such teams over the last five weeks. Aside from Dallas on Christmas Day, they could win any other game (Carolina, Washington, NY Giants, Atlanta).

It could happen. And you heard it here first.

Random thoughts:

- AFC Rankings
1. Indy – Come on, Peyton, just say hike, will you?
2. Baltimore – McNair is a leader.
3. San Diego – Wear the throwbacks!
4. New England – I don’t see a road playoff win.
5. Kansas City – LJ is a load.

- Let’s do this –
1. Rethink the QB roughing rules – good intentions gone way bad.
2. No more guest in any booth, ever.
3. Cut commercials back to, say, 52 minutes per hour.
4. Get Tom Coughlin to relax; have a scotch, Tommy.

All the signs are there

2006-11-20T17:51:00.000-05:00

By Tim McManus

Every fan knew, even if they had buried it deep down, that this season was in a fragile state.

After the Birds failed to emerge from the first half of the schedule with a pile of wins, it was clear that the playoffs could elude the home boys for a second straight season.

There was optimism, but it was against better judgment.

And to dive even further into the delicate psyche of a Philly fan, there was also a part of you -- kept in a dark corner in the shadow of denial -- that realized such a failure could mean much more than being "just one of those years."

That part of you knew that this regime was teetering, just like the season, on a ledge that offers no elevator back up.

And fittingly, just a soft bump sent both the year and the era in its intended direction.

So now that we have absorbed and survived the fall, let's examine the Eagles for what they really are.

First, a brief homage to Bill Belichick: The man is not just responsible for much of the success that New England has had this decade, but often factors into the outcome of games that he is not a part of. Namely, he sets up a blueprint to pound on the deficiencies of another team, and the rest of the organizations around of the league copy it.

The Eagles have not changed their philosophies and in large part their schemes since the 24-21 Super Bowl loss, keeping the diagram for disarmament still very much relevant nearly two years later. Is it any surprise that Philadelphia has gone 11-15 since that game? And if you want to throw the Donovan McNabb was hurt for much of that argument at me, know the Birds are just 9-10 when No. 5 started during that stretch.

Speaking of McNabb...Truth No. 2 is that the star quarterback has suffered three crippling injuries over the last few years. This is a trend that may cut into his twilight years, and this club's chances at winning.

Truth No. 3 is that this defense is not good. Many of the key pieces are gone since the Eagles regularly attended the NFC Championship game, and most of the replacements have not filled in as seamlessly as first thought. Couple that fact with the reality that the two leaders that anchor the "D" -- Brian Dawkins and Jeremiah Trotter -- are slowing down, and it becomes clear that this is a defense on the decline.

To recap: The schemes and playcalling are outdated, the quarterback is injury-prone and the defense is pedestrian. In their prime, the schemes and playcalling were innovative; the quarterback was young and healthy; and the defense was tops in the league.

Cut the personal ties and step back for a moment. Doesn't this look like the inevitable fall from grace?

Maybe there was hope still lingering in this season, a chance to make one last improbable push toward the top of the conference. But with one light bump, the fate of this era was sealed.

Upcoming Show - Sunday, November 19

2006-11-18T14:20:00.000-05:00

Pat and Tim will give thanks for all that is right in the NFL, and take a look at some things that may be heading in a terribly wrong direction (Everyone ready for NFL pay-per-view?).

Scheduled Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo

Seth Joyner, former Eagle great

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

What's Up is Down

2006-11-15T19:28:00.000-05:00

By Pat Callahan

Random thoughts from a former football genius...

- This is by far Tim and my worst year for making picks. How do you prognosticate when the Steelers have one less win than the 49ers? When the Pats lose two straight at home for the first time in the Belichik era? When Miami loses at home to Green Bay , then goes to Chicago and easily beats the Bears?

- The Birds are still in good shape, playoff-wise. Even with a daunting schedule ahead, the Giants have come back to the pack and are racked with injuries; Minnesota and St. Louis are pretenders; and Atlanta is way too inconsistent. If the Giants hold on in the East, Philly realistically will only be battling Dallas and Carolina for one of the two wild card spots.

- Peyton Manning is the NFL’s best quarterback; sorry, Timmy Mac...from the NFL Coaches handbook: never take points off the board. Rams Coach Scott Linehan did (a Jeff Wilkins FG) and ended up losing to Seattle by two….fantasy players: how many of you drafted Shaun Alexander instead of LT?...ESPN has got to cut it out with these in-game interviews. It is really an insult to true football fans who just want to watch the game. ESPN knows you are gonna watch, regardless – so shut up and watch. It’s a disgrace – what, three guys aren’t enough to tell me what’s going on, not including the two (females, of course) sideline reporters? You need to bring someone else in? Oh, for the old school days of Ray Scott and Paul Christman.

Keep listening.

Upcoming Show - Sunday, November 12

2006-11-11T19:22:00.000-05:00

Pat and Tim will preview the second half of the Eagles' season, and will tackle the issue of perceived racism toward African American quarterbacks, in response to the comments by Ray Lewis and Steve McNair.

Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo

John McMullen, NFL insider, RealGM.com

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

Don't forget to join us this Sunday morning from 10 a.m.-noon!

Tim's Top 10

2006-11-09T16:49:00.000-05:00

After nine weeks, the NFL has taught us a couple things: 8 5 is ocho cinco in espanol...It's Andy Reid's fault...The Bears are who we thought they were...And the Colts are the team to beat. That's why they lead off the first-ever Tim's Top 10:

1. Indianapolis Colts
Yes, I realize the wrath of Callahan is about to come down on me this Sunday. Tough to argue the mastery that Peyton Manning has over his position right now. And with two straight wins at Gillette Stadium, he and the Colts may be ready to take that next step.

2. Chicago Bears
A lot of questions surrounding this team right now, especially when it comes to signal-caller Rex Grossman. Two of the last three weeks he has wandered completely off the plantation, and if he comes close to mirroring that kind of play in the postseason, the run will be over before it begins.

3. New England
Even with a four-pick performance by Tom Brady, the Patriots were within striking distance of the Colts late Sunday night.

4. San Diego
Maybe the most complete team in football. Stingy defense, sensational running game, effective passing attack. The only major question is how Philip Rivers responds to heightened intensity and bigger stakes as we push toward the playoffs.

5. Baltimore Ravens
Super Bowl is not out of the question for this team. It's important to monitor the health of Ray Lewis and Ed Reed, however, and it's imperative that the run game shows up consistently.

6. New York Giants
May prove to be the class of the NFC if the current injury bug doesn't derail them. Can't rely on the return of Michael Strahan; it's conceivable that he will miss the rest of the year, or be completely ineffective if he does get back.

7. Denver Broncos
Great defense, ever-solid run game, but still have Jake Plummer calling the shots. It's hard to get fully behind them.

8. New Orleans Saints
Obviously I'm one of the many remaining doubters when it comes to this team. Who do they have on defense again? I say the magic dust wears off in the second half, but they'll still slip into the playoffs.

9. Jacksonville Jaguars
With a ground game and defense like that, this Florida team might actually be more suited for the playoffs than a lot of cold-weather clubs.

10. Kansas City Chiefs
Trent Green gets hurt. No-name QB steps in and has improbable season. Sound familiar?
This couldn't have the same ending, could it?

Andy's done; Whether you know it or not...

2006-11-05T17:48:00.000-05:00

By John McMullen

"If you once forfeit the confidence of your fellow citizens, you can never regain their respect and esteem."

-Abraham Lincoln

Philadelphia, PA - Who knew Abraham Lincoln was talking about football?

Terrell Owens may be about 1,500 miles away and doing his best to destroy his third franchise but the effects of his presence are still reverberating in the City of Brotherly Love.

Notice I said "destroy his third franchise," because make no mistake, he has already taken down your beloved Birds.

Not to toot my own horn -- but that's exactly what I wrote on August 18 of last year. In a column titled "The Gold Standard becomes the Double Standard"I mused about Andy Reid's pathetic handling of the Owens situation:

"The one true hypocrite at NovaCare is the head coach. Reid often talked about the type of players he brought into his "system." Good, hard working, character guys but when the time came, he sold his NFL soul to bring in the league’s worst teammate.

Well, Andy..... it almost worked but now that is a distant memory. When Reid let Owens back on his practice field on Wednesday, August 17, he sealed his fate; the Eagles run is over and his time in Philadelphia is nearing an end.

It will not be a quick slide but forget about any Super Bowl dreams. Reid and his leader (Donavan McNabb) have let a cancer eat through their team without much of a fight."

By acting like a 300-plus pound doormat and not taking on T.O. -- Reid created the double standard I was talking about and forfeited the confidence of his own citizenry -- his players.

In short, they lost respect for their boss and stopped listening to the rotund one. And, once you lose your players' respect -- there is no way to get it back.

So we can all talk about an inconsistent quarterback, the lack of a running game, overrated defensive tackles and all the dumb mistakes you want.

But, the problem with the Eagles is Reid -- He's lost his players and he's not getting them back.

Upcoming Show - Sunday, November 5

2006-11-02T12:22:00.001-05:00

Pat and Tim will be handing out their midseason report cards, and will dive into what they think is ailing the Eagles.

Guests:

Chris Harris, fantasy expert, Yahoo.com

Mike Sielski, columnist, Bucks County Courier Times

Sal Paolantonio, NFL analyst, ESPN

Don't forget to join us 10 a.m.-noon on Sunday!

Call us at (877) 990 - WNTP

Give it up, Andy

2006-11-02T10:30:00.001-05:00

By Tim McManus

The City Championships Forgot is getting squeezed right now when it comes to their Birds and Andy Reid.

Half of you sees coach Reid's continued missteps in his offensive play-calling, knows that 75 percent of the coaches in the NFL are superior at game management. This part of you wants to scream out for his head.

The other half realizes, though, that there have been far darker days than these. The memory of four straight NFC Championship appearances and one recent ticket to the Big Show remind you that this has been the most successful tenure in Eagles history. One thought of Rich Kotite or Joe Kuharich and you quickly fall back in line.

So we know a couple things: That it's borderline impossible for this team to win it all while making poor in-game decisions and setting up the pass with the pass. And that Reid is one of the more valued commodities in the league and the single biggest reason that this franchise has thrived for as long as it has.

So what do we do?

There is one solution: Pry the play-calling from Reid's tight grip. It can still be his offense -- his plays, his input, his ingenuity -- only someone else (read: Marty Morningweg) would control which play goes where in-game. T

his solves numerous problems:

1) Reid, no matter how much he vows to run the ball in the offseason or midweek, simply cannot help but go right back to his baby; this takes away that option.

2) The chain loses a link. No Morningweg (suggestion) to Reid (decision) to McNabb (execution). Morningweg calls it in, McNabb calls it out, the offense gets to the line with plenty of time to spare (imagine that).

3) Reid's attention can be directed solely on managing the game, therby reducing the amount of timeouts, personnel miscues and poor overall decisions.

The Eagles are not that far off. The offense is the best (statistically) in the league, it just needs more balance and less turnovers. The defense simply needs less time on the field and more green behind them once they get on it.

Super Bowl this year? Why not. Top-flight QB, top-notch coaching staff, serviceable defense, immensely dangerous running back, less-than spectacular conference... It's all there for the taking.

Reid just needs to learn that sometimes you need to give certain things up to get something back.