Quick Eagles Review, Michael Vick, RIP Scooter

There is one way, and only one way, to make a preseason game exciting. The Eagles, despite losing 29-3 and in general showing nothing on either side of the ball, successfully figured out the formula. They hired Gus Johnson to do the play-by-play for the preseason. This is the same Gus Johnson that announces some March Madness games for CBS, and the same Gus Johnson that could make a 7th grade chess match sound as exciting as a Duke-Kentucky match up with the Final 4 on the line. For cryin’ out loud, Gus Johnson put excitement behind the words “quantitative analysis” last night. That may be the best move that this organization has made in years. And this is the front office that we, as Philly sports fans, like the best.

As far as the game went, it really didn’t. The team looked bad. Offense looked bad. Defense looked bad. They lost Ryan Moats (if that matters) for the year. If there was a bright spot, it is that Brett Celek, the rookie tight end out of Cincinnati, looked as good as advertised. Mark it down right now: L.J. Smith, who is in the final year of his contract, will not be an Eagle next year. They will look for Celek to step into the starting lineup at that point. Hopefully L.J. will go on a major contract drive and have a huge year in his last season as a Bird.

Nothing really to worry about as far as the level of play goes last night. After all, it is just the first preseason game. If there is a concern with this squad, it is that the injuries, as usual, are mounting rather quickly. Brian Dawkins has not practiced for two weeks due to Achilles tendonitis, and that is not a good sign at his age (33). The Big Kid Shaun Andrews is on crutches with a badly sprained ankle, and when you weigh 360 (er, 335) pounds, that may take a while to be fully healthy.

Besides Celek, the two guys who I saw that may have improved enough to make a positive impact this year are Sean Considine, who looks like he actually learned how to tackle, and Chris Gocong, who looks like he can bring different and much needed dimension to the linebacking corp.

We will see how the team progresses throughout the preseason, but I am thinking the Birds should be the team to beat (AGAIN!) in the NFC East and have as good a chance as anyone to win the NFC. We will see if I still feel that way in a few weeks.

In other football news, Michael Vick is a goner. All three of his buddies have now turned on him, and he is going to the slammer. If he is smart, he will cut a deal right now, minimize his jail time (maybe even get it seasonally set), and maybe, just maybe, take another snap one day in the NFL. As it stands, I think it is less than 50% that Vick ever plays football again. Schmuck!

Finally, just a quick RIP to Phil Rizutto, the Scooter, Yankee shortstop and broadcaster who is known among other things for doing the play by play in the Meatloaf Classic Paradise by the Dashboard Light.