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A day after the Chargers cut LaDainian Tomlinson, the Eagles and running back Brian Westbrook have parted ways as the Eagles released the veteran running back.

"This is the absolutely worst part of the job, but if you're fortunate enough to stick around long enough, you're going to see these things happen," [coach Andy] Reid said, via Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Westbrook, who will turn 31 in September, was slated to earn $7.25 million in 2010 despite missing half of last season due to two concussions. This move was not a surprise considering Westbrook's triple threat of advancing age, exorbitant salary and health concerns.

"Brian is one of the greatest Eagles of all time and he is an even a better person and leader," Reid said. "In my mind, there has not been a more versatile running back that the NFL has seen."

The release of Westbrook boosts the fantasy value of rookie LeSean McCoy, who was the team's second-round draft pick. However, expectations for McCoy should be tempered considering the Eagles' pass-first-and-ask-questions-later philosophy.

In 2009, McCoy finished the season with 637 rushing yards and caught 40 passes for 308 yards. A season with 800-1000 rushing yards and 400-500 receiving yards is likely in 2010.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 08:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Last year was a season that Eagles running back Brian Westbrook would like to forget.

Westbrook, who missed eight games in 2009 due to suffering multiple concussions, admitted on WGFX radio in Nashville yesterday that he wasn't fully healed from his first concussion despite missing all of the medical tests.

"I don't think a lot of people are taking [concussions] as serious as they should be because really it is a life or death thing," Westbrook said (via the Philadelphia Daily News). "The one thing that people have to know about concussions is that if you continue to play with a concussion and you continue to play without being completely healed then you run the risk of not being able to walk and talk and communicate and remember and of course early onset of Alzheimer's . . . as well as dementia."

Despite the concussions, Westbrook said in the interview that he is "trying to get ready for this next upcoming season."

That said, he is owed $7.25 million next season and rookie LeSean McCoy, the team's second-round pick in 2009, is Philadelphia's running back of the future.

So, even if Westbrook decides not to retire, do the Eagles want to pay that much money to a thirty-something running back coming off multiple concussions? I highly doubt it.

Whether or not Westbrook is back in Philadelphia in 2010, one thing is certain. His days as an elite running back (in real life or fantasy football) are over.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 07:20 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While the NFC playoff seedings are now set, the final AFC playoff teams and seeding will be decided by the Jets-Bengals game tonight.

Here are the NFC seeds:

1. New Orleans: Although the Saints entered the weekend with the top seed already clinched, they enter the playoffs with a three-game losing streak after today's loss to the Panthers.

2. Minnesota: The Vikings bounced back in a big way with an old-fashioned beatdown of the New Jersey Giants by the score of 44-7.

3. Dallas: After back-to-back shutouts of the Redskins last week and the Eagles today, the Cowboys clinched the NFC East title and the #3 seed. They will host the Eagles again next week.

4. Arizona: The Cardinals won the NFC West and will face the Packers again next week. This week, the Packers crushed the Cardinals 33-7.

5. Green Bay: Tough to beat a playoff two weeks in a row. But that's what the Packers will try to do.

6. Philadelphia: If Minnesota had lost and Philadelphia had won today, the Eagles would have been the #2 seed. Instead it's two rematches of today's games in the wildcard round.

Click here to discuss the Jets-Bengals game in our NFL Gameday Forum.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 07:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While most fantasy football leagues conduct their championship game in week 16, some leagues still hold their title game in week 17. That creates the extra challenge of trying to forecast playing time in addition to evaluating matchups.

That said, here are our top five fantasy quarterbacks for week 17:

1. Matt Schaub, Texans (vs Patriots): While they don't control their own destiny like the Jets and Ravens, the Texans need to win to make the playoffs. That means, Schaub will play the entire game. On the season, Schaub has been remarkably consistent with only two single-digit fantasy games and only three games with less than 250 passing yards. Over the past five weeks, the Patriots have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks.

2. Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers (at Dolphins): Big Ben is two games off his franchise-record passing performance (503 yards). Over the past five weeks, the Dolphins have allowed the third-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. As the Steelers face a similar scenario as the Texans, you should expect Roethlisberger to play the entire game and light up an inexperienced Dolphins' secondary.

3. Brett Favre, Vikings (vs Giants): The Giants secondary has been banged up all season and over the past five weeks, they have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. The Vikings have lost three of their past four games and Favre has posted single-digit fantasy points in two of his past three games. Although the Vikings lost to the Bears last week, Favre played well -- 321 yards, 2 TDs, 0 INTs. With the potential of losing their first-round bye with another defeat, expect Favre and the Vikings to come out swinging -- and gun-slinging.

4. Tony Romo, Cowboys (vs Eagles): In his past five games, Romo has finished with 13+ fantasy points every week. During that span, he has thrown nine touchdowns and only one interception. The mood surrounding the Cowboys is different than last year when they faced the Eagles in a do-or-die game in week 17 last year. The Cowboys didn't respond well last year. Now Romo and the Cowboys have a chance for redemption (and possibly even a first-round bye).

5. Donovan McNabb, Eagles (at Cowboys): With the exception of the two games McNabb missed due to injury, McNabb has posted double-digit fantasy points every week except one. Who held him to under 10 points? This week's opponent. That said, it will be difficult to hold McNabb and their pass-first-and-ask-questions-later offense to less than 10 fantasy points for a second time in a row. McNabb has thrown for 300+ yards in each of the past two weeks and a win Sunday could potentially mean a first-round bye for the Eagles.

Click here to view our full quarterback rankings for week 17.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 09:06 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

While most fantasy football leagues conduct their championship game in week 16, some leagues still hold their title game in week 17. That creates the extra challenge of trying to forecast playing time in addition to evaluating matchups.

That said, here are our top five fantasy wide receivers for week 17:

1. Andre Johnson, Texans (vs Patriots): For a second year in a row, Johnson is going to lead the NFL in receiving yards. Entering week 17, Johnson and Wes Welker are one of two receivers to average 100 receiving yards per game this season. In the past four games, Johnson has dominated with 32 receptions, 559 receiving yards and four touchdowns. Johnson's offensive explosion has coincided with the Patriots' fantasy friendliness to receivers as the Pats have allowed the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers over the past five weeks.

2. Brandon Marshall, Broncos (vs Chiefs): Marshall only had 39 receiving yards on eight receptions last week, but he has caught 43 passes for 406 yards and four touchdowns over his past four games. Marshall is questionable with a hamstring injury, but he has said that he will play. That said, make sure to check his status prior to kickoff.

3. DeSean Jackson, Eagles (at Cowboys): Jackson doesn't lack for big-play potential nor confidence. He has scored in five consecutive games minus the game he missed due to a concussion and he is tied with Pittsburgh's Mike Wallace for the NFL lead in yards per reception (18.7). During that five-game span, Jackson has 499 receiving yards.

4. Roddy White, Falcons (at Buccaneers): On the season, only five teams have allowed more fantasy points to wide receivers than Tampa Bay. White is coming off his second-most productive game (8-139-2) of the season from a fantasy perspective. With Matt Ryan back and the Falcons looking to post back-to-back winning seasons, White should have another big week.

5. Sidney Rice, Vikings (vs Giants): Rice is currently sixth in the NFL in receiving yards ahead of guys like Randy Moss, Vincent Jackson, Brandon Marshall and Steve Smith (both of 'em). Not bad for what was likely a waiver-wire pickup this year. The Vikings offense is sputtering and I expect them to get back on track against a Giants secondary that has been banged-up all year.

Click here to see our full wide receiver rankings for week 17.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 08:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Merry Christmas to everyone and if you're reading this, there's a good chance you've made it to your fantasy football league's Championship Game. Congratulations and good luck.

Here are some running backs who will likely put fantasy coal into your stockings:

Matt Forte, Bears (vs Vikings): This week concludes a brutal (fantasy) playoff run for Forte, who faced the Packers and Ravens in the two playoff matchups before the Vikings this week. And, in fact, it's been a hugely disappointing season for anyone who drafted Forte as he was arguably the biggest bust of fantasy drafts. In the past five weeks, Forte had one double-digit performance and that was against the Rams. The first time he played the Vikings (week 12), Forte finished with five fantasy points. Don't expect much more in week 16.

Quinton Ganther, Redskins (vs Cowboys): The majority of Ganther's fantasy production over the past two weeks has come from his three rushing touchdowns. But those TDs were scored against teams -- Oakland and NY Giants -- that have allowed the most and third-most rushing TDs, respectively. After last week's pathetic performance collectively as an offense against the Giants, it would be difficult to garner any kind of confidence in Ganther or any Redskins' player. Considering the Cowboys are allowing only 97.7 rushing yards per game (sixth-fewest in NFL), it would be wiser to sit Ganther on your bench.

LeSean McCoy/Brian Westbrook/Leonard Weaver, Eagles (vs Broncos): After missing five weeks, Westbrook will return and play against the Broncos although it's uncertain how many looks he'll eventually get. Nonetheless that will lower McCoy's value as if it weren't low enough due to sharing work with Leonard Weaver, who had a career high in rushing attempts (17) last week. In a pass-first offense like Philly's and with three backs to get touches, none of them should be within 10 feet of your starting lineup this week.

Justin Forsett, Seahawks (vs Packers): After Julius Jones suffered a bruised lung in week 10, Forsett picked up the slack. In weeks 10-12, Forsett averaged nearly 20 fantasy points per game, had two 100-yard rushing games and scored four touchdowns. But since Jones returned in week 13, Jones (42) has received nearly twice as many carries as Forsett (23). That said, it doesn't help that the Seahawks are facing the Packers, who allow the second-fewest rushing yards per game (83.6) in the NFL.

Click here for RB Start'em for Week 16 and/or my Week 16 RB rankings.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

After missing the previous five games, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will return on Sunday against the Broncos. That said, his playing time will be limited.

"There are certain things we're going to do with him in the run game, the pass game and we'll see how he does," [coach Andy] Reid said, per the Associated Press. "We're not expecting him to play every play, the whole game."

Westbrook, who has only played six games this year, has little to no fantasy value for Sunday. However, his return further reduces the fantasy value of LeSean McCoy, who has been sharing the workload with fullback Leonard Weaver.

Although McCoy had a rushing touchdown last week, Weaver's career-high 17 rushing attempts on Sunday was nearly double McCoy's (9).

If you have any Eagles running back on your roster, none of them are worth starting in week 16.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Each week I pick three NFL games against the spread (ATS). Here are my week 14 picks:

Chargers +3.5 (over Cowboys): With the obvious exception of the two unbeaten teams (Indianapolis and New Orleans), San Diego has the NFL's longest winning streak (7 games) in the NFL. The Chargers' offense is firing on all cylinders and is averaging 28.5 points per game (third-best in the NFL). During their seven-game winning streak, they have scored 30+ points five times and 20+ points in all seven games. And if you have to bet in a December game involving the Cowboys, which side would you want?

Falcons +10 (over Saints): I don't expect the Falcons to beat the Saints. However, as the Patriots did in their perfect regular-season two years ago, they played a lot of close games down the stretch. We are seeing that with the Saints lately. They needed overtime to beat the Redskins last week as four of their past six games have been decided by 10 points or less. Anything can happen in divisional matchups and giving double-digit points on the road is a little rich for my blood.

Eagles -1 (over Giants): The Giants got a much-needed victory over the Cowboys last week. With a 2-5 record in their past seven games, it would be premature to say that the Giants have turned things around. The Giants have allowed over 20 points in seven consecutive games and the Eagles get playmaker DeSean Jackson back this week. This season, the Giants are 1-6 ATS against opponents with a winning record.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 11:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the fantasy football playoffs on the horizon, here are my top 5 wide receivers for week 13:

1. Randy Moss, Patriots (at Dolphins): In his first matchup against the Dolphins, who rank in the bottom 10 in passing yards allowed (233 ypg), Moss had six receptions for 147 yards and one TD. On the season, Moss leads the NFL in receiving yards (992) and is only one behind the leaders in TD receptions (eight). After getting their ass whooped on prime-time TV, expect the Patriots, Tom Brady, Moss & Co. to come out swinging.

2. Andre Johnson, Texans (at Jaguars): Johnson is one of the league's most complete receivers and perhaps the most underrated. This week, Johnson gets a favorable matchup against the Jaguars, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to receivers this season. On the season, Johnson ranks fourth in the league in receiving yards (945).

3. Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (vs Vikings): The Vikings have been without Antoine Winfield, the team's best cornerback, for the past five games. On the season, the Vikings have allowed the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. My expectation is for QB Kurt Warner to return from his concussion as Fitzgerald had his worst game of the season with Matt Leinart as QB last week. Fitzgerald is tied for the league lead in touchdowns (nine) including four TDs in the last three games in which Warner has played.

4. Reggie Wayne, Colts (vs Titans): Wayne is second in receptions (79), second in receiving yards (987) and tied for first in touchdowns (nine) in the league. In addition to their improvements with Vince Young under center, the Titans have improved on the defensive side of the ball as they are healthier now. Only the Lions (27) have allowed more receiving touchdowns than the Titans (25) on the season. During their five-game winning streak, however, the Titans have allowed only the 18th-most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

5. Sidney Rice, Vikings (at Cardinals): In three of his past six games, Rice has 136 receiving yards or more including a game with 201yards. With the exception of his game at Green Bay, Rice has had 89 yards or more in five of his past six. Favre and Rice have built chemistry quickly and they have a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to receivers this season.

Click here for top 50 wide receivers for week 13.

More rankings: top 25 QBs | top 40 RBs | top 20 TEs | top 20 kickers | top 20 team defenses

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 07:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With the fantasy football playoffs on the horizon, here are my top 5 running backs for week 13:

1. Thomas Jones, Jets (at Bills): The first time that Jones faced the Bills this season, he rushed for 210 yards and a touchdown. The Bills have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season and only the Raiders have allowed more rushing TDs than the Bills (16). Since the Jets want QB Mark Sanchez to air it out less and less (his attempts have gone from 35 to 30 to 21 to 17), Jones better bring his lunch-pail tonight.

2. Chris Johnson, Titans (at Colts): As well as Johnson has played in the past six weeks (125+ rushing yards every week), you can consider Johnson 1(a) -- not #2 -- in this week's rankings. During their five-game winning streak, Johnson has rushed for seven touchdowns. Although the Colts have a middle-of-the-pack run defense on the season, they've given up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing RBs in the past three weeks.

3. DeAngelo Williams, Panthers (vs Buccaneers): DeAngelo has cooled off a bit with no touchdowns in the past three weeks and only one 100-yard game during that span. The first time that Williams faced the Buccaneers this season, he carried the ball 30 times for 152 yards and two scores. Expect more of the same against the league's third-worst rush defense.

4. Adrian Peterson, Vikings (at Cardinals): The Cardinals were the league's top-ranked run defense earlier in the season, but they have dropped to 14th in the NFL against the run (108.6 ypg allowed). In four of the past five weeks, they have allowed an opposing running back to eclipse the century mark. Surprisingly, Peterson has only three 100-yard games on the season, but he is second in the league with 12 rushing touchdowns.

5. Maurice Jones-Drew, Jaguars (vs Texans): MJD has rushed for more rushing touchdowns (13) than any other running back. (Of course, none of those are as famous as the TD that he didn't score.) That said, Jones-Drew faces a Texans run defense that turned itself around after the first three weeks. In week 3, however, MJD rushed for 119 yards and three touchdowns.

Click here for top 40 running backs for week 13.

More rankings: top 25 QBs | top 50 WRs | top 20 TEs | top 20 kickers | top 20 team defenses

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 05:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)

It's time to put up or shut up. If you haven't yet clinched a playoff berth in your fantasy league, it likely comes down to week 13 for you as most fantasy leagues start their playoffs in week 14.

And to paraphrase Bill Parcells, this is why you buy those cheat sheets, do those mock drafts, etc. -- to get into (and win in) the playoffs.

Here are my top 5 quarterbacks for week 13:

1. Peyton Manning, Colts (vs Titans): Manning is the only QB to average over 300 passing yards per game (310.5) and is second in passing touchdowns (24). While the Titans and their defense have been playing better lately, they have allowed the second-most passing touchdowns (25) this season.

2. Brett Favre, Vikings (at Cardinals): In his past four games, Favre has thrown 12 touchdowns and no interceptions. On the season, Arizona allows the fourth-most passing yards (258.3 ypg).

3. Drew Brees, Saints (at Redskins): Brees is coming off a five-TD performance against the Patriots in what was arguably the most important regular-season game in team history. Although this week's opponent (Washington) allows the fewest passing yards in the NFL (170.4 ypg), Brees and the Saints offense are firing on all cylinders right now.

4. Tom Brady, Patriots (at Dolphins): Brady failed to connect on a TD pass last week, but he had 332 passing yards against the Dolphins in their first match-up. With targets like Randy Moss and Wes Welker, it's not likely that Brady goes TD-less in back-to-back games.

5. Philip Rivers, Chargers (at Chiefs): Rivers has posted three consecutive 100+ QB ratings and this week he faces the Browns, who have allowed the ninth-most passing yards (233.4 ypg) this season. In the past four games, Rivers has thrown eight touchdowns and only two interceptions.

Click here for top 25 quarterbacks for week 13.

More rankings: top 40 RBs | top 50 WRs | top 20 TEs | top 20 kickers | top 20 team defenses

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeSean Jackson suffered a concussion against the Washington Redskins yesterday.

That leaves his status for week 13 against the Falcons in doubt although I would expect Jackson to miss the game considering the increased awareness and risk of coming back to soon from concussions.

In the game, Jackson caught his sixth touchdown pass of the season.

On the season, he has caught 44 passes for 769 yards and his average of 17.5 yards per catch ranks fifth in the NFL.

Not only is Jackson a playmaker on offense, but he's the leading punt returner in the NFL with an average of 15.5 yards per return.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Washington Redskins cornerback DeAngelo Hall, who has a sprained knee, will miss Sunday's game against the Eagles, per David Elfin of the Washington Times.

With Hall out, Carlos Rogers will step into the starting lineup opposite of Fred Smoot.

"I'll be ready to play," Rogers said. "It ain't nothing new. I'm not going into the game with the attitude of showing [them]. I know I can play. Obviously, they know it, too. That's just how things shaked out. I just gotta take advantage of the opportunity I get, put something good on the field right now."

The first time the Redskins faced the Eagles, Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson beat Rogers on double-move for a 57-yard touchdown.

However, Redskins coach Jim Zorn says that Rogers has "had a good week of practice."

On the season, the Redskins have allowed the fewest passing yards (161.6 ypg) in the league.

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 07:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

According to sources of ESPN's Adam Schefter, Eagles running back Brian Westbrook won't play in tonight's game against the Cowboys.

Westbrook sat out last week after suffering a concussion during the game against the Redskins on October 26th.

Both the Cowboys and Eagles are tied for first in the NFC East with 5-2 records. The Giants, who are a half-game behind the leaders at 5-3, are playing the San Diego Chargers this afternoon.

Rookie LeSean McCoy, who was the Eagles' second-round draft pick, will get another start and he leads the Eagles in rushing with 294 yards.

But in the past four games, McCoy has yard-per-carry averages of 2.3, 2.6, 2.6 and 7.5. However, if you remove the 66-yard run he had last week against the Giants, he had 10 carries for 16 yards (or a 1.6 YPC).

Posted by Kevin Hanson at 06:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

With six teams on a bye in week 9, you won't have the services of Adrian Peterson (Minnesota), Steven Jackson (St. Louis) and Thomas Jones (NY Jets) for your fantasy team this week.

Here are some players who are scheduled to play that I think will under-perform relative to their fantasy rankings for week 9:

Matt Forte, Bears (consensus rank 14): Last year, Forte was one of the biggest surprises in fantasy football. This year, he's one of the biggest disappointments. Through seven games, he has 408 rushing yards and three touchdowns. He's had two good games: 121 yards and a score vs Detroit and 90 yards and two scores vs Cleveland. But anyone can run on Cleveland and Detroit, who have given up the third most and sixth most fantasy points to running backs, respectively. In fact, Forte followed up his first good performance (vs Detroit) with a 23-yard game (15 carries) against a Falcons run defense that currently ranks 23rd in the NFL. This week, Forte faces the team that had led the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed heading into last week. Although the Cardinals allowed the Panthers to run the ball against them last week, they still rank eighth in the NFL in fewest rushing yards allowed (96.4 ypg). And if you're looking for Forte to compensate as a receiver, only the Buccaneers have allowed fewer receptions to RBs than the Cardinals have.

Joseph Addai, Colts (consensus rank 12): The positives for Addai? Two consecutive 20-carry games and he's scored five touchdowns in seven games. But Addai is averaging only 3.3 yards per carry on the season and he's never had more than 64 rushing yards in any game this season. Donald Brown, who was injured two weeks ago and didn't play last week, is questionable for Sunday's game and will be a game-time decision. If Brown returns, that will reduce several of Addai's carries. And in the past five weeks, the Texans have allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs in the NFL.

Brian Westbrook, Eagles (consensus rank 13): Westbrook has been one of the best and most dangerous running backs in the NFL for several years. After sitting last week due to a concussion, Westbrook will be back in the starting lineup against the Cowboys. But let's take a look at Westbrook's numbers pre-concussion. He's averaging only 39.4 rushing yards per game (lowest since his rookie season) and 26 receiving yards per game (lowest since his second season). Westbrook has never received more than 13 carries in one game this season and there is only one game in which he has more than 20 receiving yards. While Westbrook has the potential to make a big play at any time, he's no longer a sure thing (when healthy) in fantasy football.

Click here to view my RB Studs in week 9 for fantasy football.

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"I love the Eagles," Cole said after one of yesterday's minicamp practices. "I like playing for the Eagles. I'm going to keep playing and let the process take its course. I signed a contract with them, and I'm happy with my contract. People don't make decisions for you. You make your own decision. When I signed my contract, I signed my contract."

"It is a tough decision, but this league, it doesn't last forever," [Patterson] said. "You're not in the game for a long time, and it depends on how you look at it. I got hurt that year, so a lot of things went through my mind. I felt real thankful and I still feel real thankful about it."

"Obviously, everybody wants to feel important, but that's not for right now," Mikell said. "Right now, I have other stuff to worry about. I have a lot to worry about. We've got to get this defense together. We have a lot of new faces, and right now I'm focusing on jelling everybody together."

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“I’m feeling good,” Johnson said Saturday. “I’m still going through treatment. The biggest thing I’m trying to get now is the pain out of my back. I have some broken bones in the lower part. So that doesn’t allow me to be on my feet quite as much. But everything else, I feel fine.”

“It’s too early to tell,” Johnson said. “I’m taking this one day at a time or one camp at a time. I’ll just keep working at it and as long as I can hold my work schedule, I’ll feel fine and we’ll just see how it goes.”

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"You never know," Brown said. "If somebody offers something they like, they might listen."

"I didn't become a villain all of a sudden," he said. "I'm a professional, and I've been in contact with Troy [Vincent]."

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"There are teams that start the year with only one first-round draft pick and they've traded them," Banner said. "If we made another trade with a first-round draft pick, we'd just be in the same position as them. I think we'll do whatever we evaluate to be the best move with any of the available players. . . . Some of the evaluation is about the quality of what we have at certain positions."

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"Sheldon's comments under the circumstances actually serve to devalue him in a trade if we were willing to consider it; which we are not."

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"I've hated the Dallas Cowboys my entire life. When the Eagles beat the Cowboys in 1981 for the NFC championship, I was there. I was there with 15 buddies at the top of the Vet. It was like we won the Super Bowl."

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“Jason Peters is the best left tackle in football,” coach Andy Reid said in a statement. “He is a powerful and athletic tackle and I have admired his play over the last few years on film. I have always believed that success in the National Football League is derived from the strong play of the offensive and defensive lines. This offseason we have added two young, top-flight offensive linemen in Jason and Stacy Andrews.”

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"You just have to look into [the problems]," Heckert said. "We've kind of made the combine such a media spectacle, which is fine, but what happened [in Indianapolis] really wasn't that big of a deal. The kid is a good kid. It was just something that happened and it snowballed. If the guy is a good player, he's still going to be a good player."

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"I know I'm going to hear it," Quintin Demps said after a recent workout at the NovaCare Complex. "I'm already hearing it. Everybody wants to know how I'm going to handle replacing Dawk. But I don't look at it that way. Dawk was Dawk, and he was a great player. I'm me, and I'm just going to go out there and play the way I'm capable of. I can't worry about the rest of it."

"Quintin Demps is not Brian Dawkins, but he was able to see what Brian Dawkins did and how he went about his business," Reid said. "I think it's a great goal for Quintin Demps to shoot for. He should try to be as good as Brian was. To say he's there now, that's not fair because you're talking about one of the all-time greats."

"People are going to see a different player than they've ever seen before," he said. "They're going to see somebody with a lot of swagger, with a lot of intensity.

"This is what I've prepared all my life for. There's no pressure on me. I'm a football player, and I have a lot of confidence in my ability."

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"I thought it'd be a good gesture,'' Dawkins said, according to the Daily News. "Had I not ... signed with Denver, that guy would still have his job."

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"When I looked at Philly, I looked at the type of offense they run," Weaver said via conference call. "In free agency, a lot of the guys look at the money. For me, that wasn't really the case. I looked at more of the opportunity. I hope I get a chance to catch passes, but they called me to do some blocking and that's exactly what I'm expected to do. I looked at the offense and it's basically the same offense Mike Holmgren ran in Seattle. I liked the opportunities there, so I took a chance."

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"I spoke to Correll about it and there's no validity to it as far as he's concerned," Buchhalter's agent J.R. Rickert said. "I don't know the circumstances as to how or why he dropped his name. All I know is I asked Correll, 'Are you involved in this at all?' And he said, 'Nope, there's no validity to it.' "

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"I have several years left in the tank," Thomas said. "I take good care of myself. I'm always in the weight room training. ... I put in a goal to play 20 years, so I want to come in and play as long as I possibly can. I feel like if I continue to take care of myself it can definitely happen."

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"Dan is [expletive] devastated about Dawkins signing with Denver. . .Dam Eagles R Retarted!!"

"I shouldn't have put it up there," Leone said. "I was ticked off, and I let my emotions go, but I didn't offend any one person or target a specific individual. I was just upset that we lost such a great guy. Dawkins was one of my favorite players. I made a mistake."

"I tried putting in my case to Rachel," Leone said. "I told her I worked there for six years. I did whatever they asked. I only missed one Eagles game the entire time I worked there, and that was because I'm a Mummer. I told her it was my dream to work for the Eagles and that I'd never do anything like that again."

"I apologized for it," Leone said. "I apologized 20 million times. I never bad-mouthed the organization before. I made one mistake and they terminate me? And they couldn't even bring me into the office to talk to me? They had to do it over the phone? At least look me in the eye. To get done dirty like this, I can't believe it. I'm devastated."

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“I am very excited," Stacy Andrews said. "We always talked about possibly playing together. Now we have the chance. It’s unreal; I’m looking forward to it."

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"We are happy to keep Joselio in Philadelphia with a long-term contract," said head coach Andy Reid. "He's become a productive and valuable player on defense for us over the last few years, especially in nickel situations. Good cornerbacks are certainly a valuable commodity in this league and Joselio definitely fits that category."

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"If Freddie's name were on it," [Mitchell's lawyer John] Liguori said, "he'd be sitting in jail."

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"I think there's enough of a track record out there that it's not going to totally kill me," said Runyan. "The doctor says I should be as good as new. But I'm not going to be able to prove it until time to play."

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"We were up, 25-24," McNabb said. Then, in case people missed it the first time, he repeated it for good measure. "We were up, 25-24. [The Cardinals] drove down 72 yards by running the ball - probably, what, eight times? And it reminded me so much of [the NFC championship game in] St. Louis where, coming back in that second half, they ran the ball nine times with Marshall Faulk to keep our offense off the field. Because they were terrified of us going back out and scoring more points."

"Some people will say it's not a big deal, but it is," Douglas said.

"When you break that team code, it hits home. When you call someone your teammate, you're calling them your brother. Be loyal to your teammates. It's easy to point fingers. Brian Dawkins is a team player. He would never do that."

[McNabb] hasn't done anything in big games. When you look at championship games, the Super Bowl - he hasn't produced in big games. [snip] He had plenty of time to go down the field and score and tie that thing up but he didn't get it done.

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"I think they're running medical tests to determine the source of the irritation," the source said. "If he does need surgery, it's only going to be minor and he may not need it at all. We know he will rest and work hard in the off-season and we're optimistic he'll come back healthy."

2006: 240 rushes, 1217 yards, 7 TDs - 77 receptions, 699 yards, 4 TDs
2007: 278 rushes, 1333 yards, 7 TDs - 90 receptions, 771 yards, 5 TDs
2008: 233 rushes, 936 yards, 9 TDs - 54 receptions, 402 yards, 5 TDs

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"I think both sides want to get something done, and that's a positive thing going into any negotiations," Dawkins said.

"I think I'm going to take it year to year," Dawkins said. "I think once you put a number on something, you mentally shut yourself down. Maybe you start to think you don't have to work out as hard because you only have one more year. I don't want to put myself mentally in that position."

"Those young guys will learn, and they will take this, and they will be anxious to get back into training," Dawkins said. "...I do believe if we do what we're supposed to do this off-season, we will have a chance to get back in this position again. There are no guarantees, but that's just my feeling."

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“The original site was a skin cancer in 2001,” team trainer Rick Burkholder said. “Who knows where it tracked to from there, but his symptoms came from the spine. ...He’s got a bone tumor down in his low back and that’s what we have to attack right now.”

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"We just kind of aired some things out,'' said McNabb, whose contract that runs through 2010, but none of the remaining money is guaranteed. "I didn't get to what I wanted to talk about, but we will have that conversation with Andy as well as some other people in the organization. I think it is very important. I've been here 10 years and a conversation is needed.''

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Continue reading "Week 17 playoff scenarios" »

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"I expect to be here, and I will play this game not like it's my last," he said.

"Everybody wants a new deal. Don't you? But that's not why we're playing this game. We're playing this game to win. and things happen. I've been answering this question the last couple of years, so I guess to eliminate that part of it, hopefully that will happen, but we'll see."

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1. New York Giants (11-3)
2. Carolina Panthers (11-3)
3. Minnesota Vikings (9-5)
4. Arizona Cardinals (8-6)
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-5)
6. Atlanta Falcons (9-5)

Continue reading "NFC Playoff Picture" »

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"I don't know. That's a question you need to ask Reid, then you can come back down here and tell me, because I don't know. I don't get answers. I'm in the dark right now. I've tried to. I don't get answers."

"Show them what? To get on the field? Before I got hurt, I came back out as the leading receiver in two games. If that's not enough to show them, then I can't do more than I'm already doing. It's their decision whether or not to play me. It's just my decision whether or not to go out there and do my best to help this team make it to the playoffs, and that's what I'm going to do."

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