For some strange reason I have the ability to channel Howard Cosell… maybe it's my unique ability to mimic his signature chuckle: "enheh…enhenh…enheh…enhennn…"
But Howard appeared to me once again last night in a dream.
He told me all is well and better with the Eagles than we might think…
Howard's spiritual communication to me spoke mostly of the current speculation in Philly about the duality of the Eagles' starting quarterback situation.
(And that was my best shot at talking exactly like Howard ! …)
While media was able to watch just the first 15 minutes of practice on Tuesday, Michael Vick was out there with a helmet on and participated in all the drills Nick Foles and Matt Barkley did.
"I was very surprised to be able to go out and move around, throw the football and throw it with some velocity and still move the way I was able to," Vick said after practice. "I just gotta keep working."
Seems Vick ain't out of the mix just yet as the Eagles prepare to meet Tampa Bay…
There was some question as to how involved Vick would be after suffering a hamstring injury in the Eagles win over the Giants. There were also reports that he was already ruled out, reports that seem premature now. "I did the most that I could," Vick said. "I'm still tender in some spots, but I'll get treatment every day and work on it."
Vick showed no visible signs of being injured on Tuesday, unless you want to count jogging instead of full-out running as an indication he might not play. Besides that, however, Vick certainly did not look like a quarterback that won't be out there on Sunday when the Eagles travel to Tampa Bay.
When asked if he could play if the game was on Tuesday (yesterday), Vick joked that luckily the Eagles don't play on Tuesday. "I feel a lot better than I did on Sunday," Vick said with a smile.
So hold onto your rally caps, folks.. The starting QB scenario in Philly has just become newsworthy.
But if you could channel Howard Cosell like I do, here is what you would be listening to from Howard:
"The backup quarterback is often the most popular guy in town. When a team is struggling, fans think anything is better than the status quo – thus the thinking that the backup QB can certainly do a better job than the guy currently starting. "
"But WAIT— here is a clear case in Philadelphia where the guy you want in there for the full game has developed an injury which may be chronic in nature… Now, you want to be able to say you have TWO quarterbacks who can step in at any time and be equally effective.."
"This has happened before… and there is nothing wrong with a two-QB platoon system…it is historically proven…"
"Remember when Randall Cunningham took a break from playing in 1996 and worked as a NFL analyst for TNT. But he came back to football in 1997 as a backup to Brad Johnson with the Minnesota Vikings…. "
"The Vikings offense was rolling behind Johnson. They scored 31 in their opener and 38 in Week 2. But late in the game, Johnson broke his leg and Cunningham had to take over. The Vikings didn’t lose a step with their new QB at the helm. The Vikings became the most potent offense in NFL history, scoring 556 points during the regular season, a mark that has since been eclipsed by the 2007 Patriots, who scored 589 points. Cunningham threw for 3,704 yards and 34 TDs, half of which were hauled in by Moss. In the playoffs, they took care of the Cardinals, 41-21, before falling to the Falcons in the NFC Championship Game."
"There…THERE is some precedence to tell you Philly fans to calm down… because you can roll with whatever QB is healthiest or in there at the time… This is a unique opportunity for your franchise…"
"Then there was Doug Flutie and Rob Johnson with the 1998 Buffalo Bills… Heading into the 1998 season, the Bills traded for Rob Johnson, who was the equivalent of a purebred QB. Johnson was 6’4", just over 200 lbs, went to Southern California and had a great arm. The Bills also picked up Doug Flutie, who was the equivalent of a much smaller Nick Foles… Flutie stands at just 5’10" and weighs about 180 lbs, and sure, Flutie won the Heisman trophy while attending Boston College— but saying he wasn’t highly recruited would be an understatement. Flutie was drafted in the 11th round and wound up playing that year in the United States Football League, but eventually made his mark in the CFL before the Bills signed him to back up their highly touted off-season pickup."
"The Johnson era started rocky as the Bills went 0-3. He outplayed Steve Young, but suffered a rib injury, and Flutie took over. Flutie brought a level of excitement to the Bills that hasn’t been matched since. In his first start, he led a fourth-quarter comeback against the Colts and the following week scored on a rushing touchdown to beat the Jaguars."
"Flutie earned a spot on the Pro Bowl that year but the season ended with a playoff loss at the hands of the Dolphins. The following season, Flutie was 10-5 as a starter in the regular season. Despite the success, the Bills went with Johnson in the wildcard game against Tennessee. The Titans pulled off the Music City Miracle and the Bills haven’t been back to the playoffs since."
The point Howard is trying to make is that sometimes you need TWO starting quarterbacks…and you need not worry about which one is playing at the moment. Both can be equally effective in their own ways.
"Enheh, enhehn, enheh… Remember Trent Dilfer? After a somewhat up-and-down career with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Dilfer signed as the backup for Tony Banks and the Baltimore Ravens before the 2000 NFL season. Late into a Week 8 loss, Dilfer came in for a struggling Banks. After the loss, the Ravens were still 5-3, but had not scored a touchdown in four weeks and Dilfer was named the starter. Dilfer and the Ravens didn't find their way into the end zone in a Week 9 loss to the Steelers, but that would be the last time the Ravens failed to score a TD, or failed to win for the rest of the season. The Ravens finished the year with a 12-4 record and earned a wild card berth."
"Dilfer functioned mainly as a "game manager" as the dominant Ravens defense was credited for their winning ways. Dilfer and the Ravens handled the Broncos and then beat both the Titans and Raiders on the road to get to Super Bowl XXXV, where they trounced the New York Giants, 34-7. Dilfer finished the Super Bowl going 12-of-25 for 153 yards with 1 TD and no interceptions. Despite being the starting QB for a Super Bowl champion, the Ravens decided to release Dilfer in the offseason, making him the only Super Bowl winning quarterback to be released before the following season."
We could go on and on… Pat Haden and Vince Ferragamo with the '79 Rams… Phil Simms and Jeff Hostetler with the 1990 Giants… Jay Schroeder and Doug Williams with the 1987 Redskins… Dan Pastorini and Jim Plunkett with the 1980 Oakland Raiders… Drew Bledsoe and Tom Brady with the 2001 Patriots… Bob Griese and Earl Morrall with the '72 Dolphins… Trent Green and Kurt Warner with the 1999 Rams…
Perhaps the three most notable genuine quarterback platoons in history:
Los Angeles Rams, 1949-52: Bob Waterfield was a Hall of Fame-caliber quarterback, but the Rams drafted Norm Van Brocklin in 1949, and suddenly, the Rams were QB-rich. Over the next three years, the Rams used both quarterbacks; Waterfield more than Van Brocklin, but Van Brocklin started his fair share of games and relieved Waterfield a bunch. The 1950 Rams set an NFL scoring record of 38.8 points a game, which still stands. The Rams lost the 1949 NFL title game with both quarterbacks playing, lost the 1950 NFL title game with Waterfield going virtually the entire way, then won the 1951 NFL title game when Waterfield played most of the game but Van Brocklin came in and threw a tiebreaking touchdown pass in the fourth quarter. Finally, after each started six games in 1952, Waterfield retired.
2. Dallas Cowboys, 1970-71: Craig Morton was Don Meredith's heir apparent, but Roger Staubach arrived after a five-year hitch with the U.S. Navy. Staubach started one game in 1969 and three in 1970, though Morton started the Super Bowl loss to the Colts. Then in 1971, coach Tom Landry decided to alternate their starts. After six games, Landry went all in — he alternated quarterbacks on every play. The Cowboys lost 23-19 at Chicago, and Landry decided to go with Staubach. Dallas won 10 straight, including the Super Bowl.
3. Washington Redskins, 1973-74: Billy Kilmer was 34 in 1973; Sonny Jurgensen was 39. Over the 1973 and '74 seasons, George Allen eight times played both quarterbacks extensively in the same game. Allen gave Kilmer 20 starts, Jurgensen eight. In the 1974 playoffs against the Rams, Allen played both. The Rams won 19-10.
Okay, Howard's done…
Here are the current BRISUKSEGG Fantasy Football results and standings:
Bri's Gigantic Face (BROZ) outlasted the Bad Jews Bears (BEN), 127- 115…
The Barking Spiders (SPIFFO) slammed the Greatest PPW (Pee-Pee), 153 – 125…
The Severed Stones (HARRY) outlasted the Palm Feathers (PALMY), 133- 126…
The Bri Slappers (JB99) crushed the Great White Mooks (JHOP), 186- 85…
( in this one, JB got 61 points alone from Tony Romo !!!!)
The Amish Mafia (DUTCHIE) crushed the Dirty Stinkin' Bumns (ATV), 152 – 70…
Filled With Rage (JERKY) snuck past the Prime Beef ( T-BONER), 147 – 141…
(Jerky had Peyton Manning with 51 points in this one…)
EAST DIVISION
Severed Stones 5 – 0 – 0
Bad Jews bears 3 – 2 – 0
The Greatest PPW 2 – 3 – 0
Barking Spiders 2 – 3 – 0
Bri's Gigantic Face 2 – 3 – 0
Palm Feathers 1 – 4 – 0
WEST DIVISION
Bri Slappers 4 – 1 – 0
Filled With Rage 3 – 2- 0
Amish Mafia 3 – 2- 0
Great White Mooks 3 -2 – 0
Prime Beef 1 – 4 – 0
Dirty Stinkin' Bums 1 – 4- 0
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