Aug 22nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
If Matt Cassel was an old West gunslinger, he wouldn’t have been around by sundown.
Big fella, take your drop, look and fire. He’s reading defenses like Rohan Davey right now, and that’s not a good thing.
1-of-2 for 8 yards and a punt.
I’m telling you, Matt Gutierrez gets an early call tonight.
By HL
Aug 22nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
By Hector Longo
Can anyone cover here? Donovan McNabb, throwing to immortals like Jason Avant and Hank Baskett, hitting 4 of 7 for 45 yards on the opening field goal drive.
By the way, on third-and-goal, McNabb badly missed Jason Avant, who double-moved and easily shook Fernando Bryant, instead McNabb tried to jam it into triple coverage.
Avant had an easy TD. Bad play by Bryant, worse by McNabb
Aug 22nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
It’s a rather vocal philly contingent of writers here, and they’re drilling everything about the Eagles up and down.
If you’re a fan of wide receiver play, you might want to switch over to the NFL network and another game.
The Eagles are resting starters Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis.
You won’t see much of Randy Moss or Wes Welker either, from the home team.
That leaves Chad Jackson as the marquee name in the bunch for either team.
One face to watch could be old friend Bam Childress, who is trying to make the Eagles after the Ohio State product spent three seasons on the Pats practice squad.
It’s funny, the Philly folks are raving about the Gillette Stadium musical repertoire. To a guy who’s been to every home game since the place opened in 2002, it’s an awfully tired routine.
How many times can “Welcome to the Jungle actually fire somebody up anyways?
Memo to the stadium staff: For the regular season opener, please try something fresh. Or to quote the DJ (Steve Palladino) from my wedding reception 10 years ago, “I have a request for something from the 90s!”
Please fellas, the routine needs an upgrades. Any season-ticket holders here are welcome to respond.
Aug 22nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
First off, you wonder about Matt Cassel, the greeting he’ll get and what Bill Belichick will subject him to.
Personally, I get the feeling that it might actually be Matt Gutierrez’ turn for a little bit of the QB action, since he got the DNP in Tampa.
Second, it’s the corners on this team, whom I am most interested in.
Jobs are so up for grabs, both starting corner jobs on the defending AFC champs, with Fernando Bryant, Ellis Hobbs and the two rooks Terrence Wheatley and Jonathan Wilhite in the mix.
Along with Brady, notables not spotted in uniform are:
S Brandon Meriweather … this one could be a pretty big area of concern.
RB LaMont Jordan
C/G Russ Hochstein
LT Matt Light
OT Ryan O’Callaghan
Ty Warren and Adalius Thomas, too.
Tough to gauge the offensive line without those three.
Appears like another night where what the offense does matters little.
Defensively, though, a lot more is falling on the rookie linebackers, and you can’t expect much, since these guys just clanged heads for real on Sunday night.
Aug 22nd, 2008 by Bill Burt
Hey folks, Hector Longo sitting in at Gillette Stadium, where Tom Brady will be expending as much energy as this reporter tonight.
Pats vs. Eagles coming up. Next post will focus on some Pats to watch.
Aug 13th, 2008 by Bill Burt
The Boston Red Sox did everything in their power to acquire Brian Giles from the San Diego and almost pulled it off.
There was one problem. Giles didn’t want to come, which was odd. He is 37 year old and has never won a World Series.
The Red Sox saw him as a potentially solid, veteran bat in case of injury (see Mike Lowell).
A career .293 hitter, who is hitting .293 this season. He has only eight homers this season, but 281 for his career.
Anyway, here is a brief Q&A Giles did with the San Diego Union-Tribune after he vetoed the potential trade.
Q: What kept you here?
A: “I got an opportunity in my last contract to do what was best for me and my family. I gave my word when I signed. I want to fulfill that commitment. Some players might have jumped ship. I’m not that type of a player. I am here for a reason. I want to see it through.”
Q: But you possibly turned down at least $2 million extra and a chance at the World Series to remain with the Padres.
A: “I have always played this game to compete as well as have fun. I want to win every day. I’d like to do that here. I don’t play baseball because of the money. Money was not a factor.”
Eagle-Tribune Executive Sports Editor Bill Burt has been synonymous with the local and Boston sports scene for the past 24 years. (more)