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Reuben Frank's here is about the best I could locate. The writers all seem to have taken the night off and finished their stories early.
Of course, I'm eating up Frank's Stewart Bradley prediction. Bradley needs to be in the lineup, stat.
Nobody impressed me as much as Abiamiri last night. He was virtually unblockable against the second-teamers. Unblockable. What a wingspan on this guy. Too Tall Jones-like.
Some sportwriter coded language here from Frank -- "unless the Eagles make a surprise cut" Murrell goes to the PS. i think we all know who that surprise cut might be. would you want to keep Marques Murrell instead of Jevon Kearse? Marques looked like Hugh Douglas coming around the edge a couple of times last night.
I'm predicting a late injury for Barksdale and a season on the IR. i don't think he'll make to the PS.
Tough break for Birds, Feeley
By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com
Kevin Kolb played well enough to contend for the Eagles' No. 2 quarterback job. It's a role he may find himself playing long before he expected.
A.J. Feeley, expected to be Donovan McNabb's backup this year, suffered a broken left, non-throwing, hand during the first quarter of the Eagles' 13-11 loss to the Jets last night at the Linc in the preseason finale.
Head coach Andy Reid said after the game Feeley will see a hand specialist today. He added, “I think we'll be OK there.”
But if Feeley is unable to play in nine days, Kolb, the rookie second-round pick from Houston, will be the No. 2 quarterback in Green Bay in nine days.
Last night, he played like he deserves it. He was decisive, confident and accurate.
Kolb drove the Eagles 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, only to watch the Jets drive 65 yards and win on Mike Nugent's 35-yard field goal as time expired.
Kolb, who threw for 245 yards in the second half in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, passed for 140 after halftime yesterday, giving him 385 yards and two touchdowns in the second half this week.
At one point last night, he completed 15 consecutive passes.
It was Kolb's 31-yard touchdown pass to Zac Collie with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter and successful scrambling two-point conversion pass to Nate Ilaoa that gave the Eagles their first lead of the game and provided the few thousand remaining fans at the Linc their first reason to cheer all night.
Kolb finished 22-for-33 for 220 yards, and his final preseason numbers were outstanding - 48-for-73 for 397 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and a passer rating of 87.6.
Feeley struggled before the injury. He completed six of nine passes for 79 yards but absorbed three sacks, and on the last two he stood too long in the pocket and became a sitting duck for the Jets' backup pass rushers. Although he threw for 79 yards, the Eagles only had 49 net passing yards and didn't score while he was in the game.
Other than a couple brief cameos by projected starting linebackers Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong, who started and played two series, this was a game for the backups to get one last look before final cuts this weekend.
Gaither and Gocong, who struggled Sunday in the Eagles' 27-13 loss to the Steelers, didn't do anything to help or hurt their cause.
But a few players did.
Rookie linebacker Stewart Bradley might be inexperienced, but he's almost always in the right place, he's a sure tackler and it's not hard to imagine him finding a spot in the starting lineup if Gaither or Gocong struggle. Bradley can play middle or strong, which gives defensive coordinator Jim Johnson some flexibility. It wouldn't be a shock if he's in the starting lineup by the bye week.
Defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and undrafted rookie Marques Murrell were both very active. Abiamiri had a sack and several good pressures, and Murrell had two sacks, both forcing fumbles. Abiamiri recovered the first, the Jets recovered the second. Murrell has been a very effective pass rusher this preseason, but unless the Eagles make a surprise cut, it's going to be tough to carry him on the 53-man roster.
Undrafted rookie Marcus Paschal is apparently still ahead of draft pick C.J. Gaddis at free safety, although a hamstring injury Paschal suffered in the first half could factor into who Reid decides to keep. It was Paschal and not Gaddis who started last night. No immediate word how serious Paschal's injury is, but he didn't return to the game.
Another undrafted rookie, Nick Graham, continues to make plays and appears to be ahead of seventh-round draft pick Rashad Barksdale for the fifth corner spot. Graham, like Paschal, got the start last night ahead of a draft pick. Both rookie corners have had very good preseasons, but Graham is a more polished player than Barksdale, who only played one year of college football. Barksdale committed a costly personal foul in the game's final minutes last night that extended the Jets' game-winning field goal drive.
Rookie fullback Tony Hunt again looked sharp. The rookie fullback followed up a good game against the Steelers on Sunday with 49 yards on 12 rushes last night and two receptions for 16 yards before giving way to Ilaoa.
Jeremy Bloom, who struggled in the first three preseason games, actually found some rare room and brought a kickoff back 29 yards. He also had an OK 10-yard punt return. He finished with a 22.7 average on three kick returns and a 9.7 average on three punt returns. Greg Lewis returned a punt 15 yards.
Of course, I'm eating up Frank's Stewart Bradley prediction. Bradley needs to be in the lineup, stat.
Nobody impressed me as much as Abiamiri last night. He was virtually unblockable against the second-teamers. Unblockable. What a wingspan on this guy. Too Tall Jones-like.
Some sportwriter coded language here from Frank -- "unless the Eagles make a surprise cut" Murrell goes to the PS. i think we all know who that surprise cut might be. would you want to keep Marques Murrell instead of Jevon Kearse? Marques looked like Hugh Douglas coming around the edge a couple of times last night.
I'm predicting a late injury for Barksdale and a season on the IR. i don't think he'll make to the PS.
Tough break for Birds, Feeley
By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com
Kevin Kolb played well enough to contend for the Eagles' No. 2 quarterback job. It's a role he may find himself playing long before he expected.
A.J. Feeley, expected to be Donovan McNabb's backup this year, suffered a broken left, non-throwing, hand during the first quarter of the Eagles' 13-11 loss to the Jets last night at the Linc in the preseason finale.
Head coach Andy Reid said after the game Feeley will see a hand specialist today. He added, “I think we'll be OK there.”
But if Feeley is unable to play in nine days, Kolb, the rookie second-round pick from Houston, will be the No. 2 quarterback in Green Bay in nine days.
Last night, he played like he deserves it. He was decisive, confident and accurate.
Kolb drove the Eagles 90 yards for the go-ahead touchdown late in the fourth quarter, only to watch the Jets drive 65 yards and win on Mike Nugent's 35-yard field goal as time expired.
Kolb, who threw for 245 yards in the second half in Pittsburgh on Sunday night, passed for 140 after halftime yesterday, giving him 385 yards and two touchdowns in the second half this week.
At one point last night, he completed 15 consecutive passes.
It was Kolb's 31-yard touchdown pass to Zac Collie with 2:57 left in the fourth quarter and successful scrambling two-point conversion pass to Nate Ilaoa that gave the Eagles their first lead of the game and provided the few thousand remaining fans at the Linc their first reason to cheer all night.
Kolb finished 22-for-33 for 220 yards, and his final preseason numbers were outstanding - 48-for-73 for 397 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions and a passer rating of 87.6.
Feeley struggled before the injury. He completed six of nine passes for 79 yards but absorbed three sacks, and on the last two he stood too long in the pocket and became a sitting duck for the Jets' backup pass rushers. Although he threw for 79 yards, the Eagles only had 49 net passing yards and didn't score while he was in the game.
Other than a couple brief cameos by projected starting linebackers Omar Gaither and Chris Gocong, who started and played two series, this was a game for the backups to get one last look before final cuts this weekend.
Gaither and Gocong, who struggled Sunday in the Eagles' 27-13 loss to the Steelers, didn't do anything to help or hurt their cause.
But a few players did.
Rookie linebacker Stewart Bradley might be inexperienced, but he's almost always in the right place, he's a sure tackler and it's not hard to imagine him finding a spot in the starting lineup if Gaither or Gocong struggle. Bradley can play middle or strong, which gives defensive coordinator Jim Johnson some flexibility. It wouldn't be a shock if he's in the starting lineup by the bye week.
Defensive ends Victor Abiamiri and undrafted rookie Marques Murrell were both very active. Abiamiri had a sack and several good pressures, and Murrell had two sacks, both forcing fumbles. Abiamiri recovered the first, the Jets recovered the second. Murrell has been a very effective pass rusher this preseason, but unless the Eagles make a surprise cut, it's going to be tough to carry him on the 53-man roster.
Undrafted rookie Marcus Paschal is apparently still ahead of draft pick C.J. Gaddis at free safety, although a hamstring injury Paschal suffered in the first half could factor into who Reid decides to keep. It was Paschal and not Gaddis who started last night. No immediate word how serious Paschal's injury is, but he didn't return to the game.
Another undrafted rookie, Nick Graham, continues to make plays and appears to be ahead of seventh-round draft pick Rashad Barksdale for the fifth corner spot. Graham, like Paschal, got the start last night ahead of a draft pick. Both rookie corners have had very good preseasons, but Graham is a more polished player than Barksdale, who only played one year of college football. Barksdale committed a costly personal foul in the game's final minutes last night that extended the Jets' game-winning field goal drive.
Rookie fullback Tony Hunt again looked sharp. The rookie fullback followed up a good game against the Steelers on Sunday with 49 yards on 12 rushes last night and two receptions for 16 yards before giving way to Ilaoa.
Jeremy Bloom, who struggled in the first three preseason games, actually found some rare room and brought a kickoff back 29 yards. He also had an OK 10-yard punt return. He finished with a 22.7 average on three kick returns and a 9.7 average on three punt returns. Greg Lewis returned a punt 15 yards.
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