By KO Kelly
This past weekend my girlfriend and I went to see former Eagles long-snapper Jon Dorenbos perform at the Sugarhouse Casino in Philadelphia in his aptly named new show “Life is Magic”.
For those of you who know do not know Jon’s story, when he was a teenager his father murdered his mother. He then spent the next year or so in a foster home before he and his sister moved in with his aunt. Magic became a key component of his therapy and he kept at it all through his professional football career and was even a finalist on America’s Got Talent a few years ago.
Jon’s stage presence is a little rough compared to a more traditional, polished stage magician but his humor, personality, and genuineness make up for any of shortcomings. The show also includes a lot of personal history and Eagles-related material, which makes it especially entertaining for the Philly faithful.
The true magic of the show, though, is found not in his tricks but in his story and message. If anyone had an excuse to throw in the towel on life, he surely did. And it sounds like for a while that’s exactly what he was doing. But he didn’t give up. He kept moving forward. He took his hits and he turned his hard work into opportunities. Success and happiness are not guaranteed in life but with a mindset of persistence and gratitude - they are much easier to obtain.
He has a few more shows in September in the greater Philadelphia area that I highly recommend. You are sure to walk away inspired.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
The Tale of Two Nicks
By KO Kelly
“It was the best of times it was the worst of times” - sums up last season for the Eagles and their most recent opponent, the Cleveland Browns.
While the Eagles were making history with their first Super Bowl victory, the Browns were etching their names in the history books as well. They became only the second team in NFL history to lose all 16 regular season games (the ‘08 Lions being the first to “accomplish” this feat).
However, based on Thursday night’s performance you may have thought the roles were reversed. The Browns came out with energy and excitement, ready to get this season started. Whereas our defending champs continued to look sloppy and inconsistent - especially the first team offense.
After seeing the best of Nick Foles last season, we are now seeing some of the of his worst tape since that forgetful season with the Rams. And there are three good reasons for this:
It’s the pre-season!
Planning and play-calling are significantly scaled back and the stakes are much lower. The primary goals of the pre-season are to: knock off the rust, assess young and developmental players, and avoid serious injuries. It would be nice to see Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles live up to that moniker but it isn’t necessary.
Our main offensive weapons are side-lined
Jeffrey, Agholor, Hollins, Sproles, Ajayi, and Clement did not play Thursday night plus Jason Peters is still waiting in the wings. Judging Foles and forecasting the Eagles 2018 season based on his recent performance with this supporting cast is as useful as Jay Cutler lined up as a wideout in the Wildcat formation (i.e. not very useful).
Quicksand
All my fellow The Replacements fans know the scene I am talking about. For the unfortunate souls who have not had the viewing pleasure of beholding this masterpiece, which is impressive given how often it’s shown on TBS, let me set up the scene.
In a fictional football league, the professional players have gone on strike with 4 games remaining. In order to keep the season going, the owners have hired replacement players. After an ugly loss, the Washington Sentinels are preparing for their second game with replacements and Coach McGinty (Gene Hackman) - in an effort to help his ragtag group bond - asks them to share their fears. After a few false starts, QB Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) shares his fear: quicksand.
“You're playing and you think everything is going fine. Then one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. You try to fight back, but the harder you fight, the deeper you sink. Until you can't move... you can't breathe... because you're in over your head. Like quicksand.”
Not only is Nick Foles basically real-life Shane Falco to the Nth degree - you cannot convince me this thought pattern was not going through Foles’ head on Thursday night. Two terrible interceptions, a fumble, and a safety are textbook definition quicksand.
Nick Foles is probably one of the most controversial and perplexing players in NFL history.
He has had some of the highest highs (Super Bowl MVP) and the lowest lows (being cut by Jeff Fisher on TV).
He was unceremoniously traded out of Philadelphia but will now never have to buy a drink here again.
He is one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys off the field and a ruthless competitor on it (calling the Philly Special . . . on 4th down . . . in the Super Bowl . . . shortly after Brady fails on his gadget play).
He is both frustrating and inspiring. In one game he’s a mere commoner in the next he’s a god among men.
Foles’ career continues to offer a great lesson on life: neither your highs nor lows are permanent. Enjoy the good times and power through the bad. The only direction is forward.
If I must take the worst of Nick Foles to get the best of him - I will make that deal every single time.
“It was the best of times it was the worst of times” - sums up last season for the Eagles and their most recent opponent, the Cleveland Browns.
While the Eagles were making history with their first Super Bowl victory, the Browns were etching their names in the history books as well. They became only the second team in NFL history to lose all 16 regular season games (the ‘08 Lions being the first to “accomplish” this feat).
However, based on Thursday night’s performance you may have thought the roles were reversed. The Browns came out with energy and excitement, ready to get this season started. Whereas our defending champs continued to look sloppy and inconsistent - especially the first team offense.
After seeing the best of Nick Foles last season, we are now seeing some of the of his worst tape since that forgetful season with the Rams. And there are three good reasons for this:
It’s the pre-season!
Planning and play-calling are significantly scaled back and the stakes are much lower. The primary goals of the pre-season are to: knock off the rust, assess young and developmental players, and avoid serious injuries. It would be nice to see Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles live up to that moniker but it isn’t necessary.
Our main offensive weapons are side-lined
Jeffrey, Agholor, Hollins, Sproles, Ajayi, and Clement did not play Thursday night plus Jason Peters is still waiting in the wings. Judging Foles and forecasting the Eagles 2018 season based on his recent performance with this supporting cast is as useful as Jay Cutler lined up as a wideout in the Wildcat formation (i.e. not very useful).
Quicksand
All my fellow The Replacements fans know the scene I am talking about. For the unfortunate souls who have not had the viewing pleasure of beholding this masterpiece, which is impressive given how often it’s shown on TBS, let me set up the scene.
In a fictional football league, the professional players have gone on strike with 4 games remaining. In order to keep the season going, the owners have hired replacement players. After an ugly loss, the Washington Sentinels are preparing for their second game with replacements and Coach McGinty (Gene Hackman) - in an effort to help his ragtag group bond - asks them to share their fears. After a few false starts, QB Shane Falco (Keanu Reeves) shares his fear: quicksand.
“You're playing and you think everything is going fine. Then one thing goes wrong. And then another. And another. You try to fight back, but the harder you fight, the deeper you sink. Until you can't move... you can't breathe... because you're in over your head. Like quicksand.”
Not only is Nick Foles basically real-life Shane Falco to the Nth degree - you cannot convince me this thought pattern was not going through Foles’ head on Thursday night. Two terrible interceptions, a fumble, and a safety are textbook definition quicksand.
Nick Foles is probably one of the most controversial and perplexing players in NFL history.
He has had some of the highest highs (Super Bowl MVP) and the lowest lows (being cut by Jeff Fisher on TV).
He was unceremoniously traded out of Philadelphia but will now never have to buy a drink here again.
He is one of the most humble and down-to-earth guys off the field and a ruthless competitor on it (calling the Philly Special . . . on 4th down . . . in the Super Bowl . . . shortly after Brady fails on his gadget play).
He is both frustrating and inspiring. In one game he’s a mere commoner in the next he’s a god among men.
Foles’ career continues to offer a great lesson on life: neither your highs nor lows are permanent. Enjoy the good times and power through the bad. The only direction is forward.
If I must take the worst of Nick Foles to get the best of him - I will make that deal every single time.
Wednesday, August 15, 2018
Will ‘Boo-Birds’ Become an Extinct After This Season?
By KO Kelly
What was your reaction to last Thursday’s game against the Steelers?
Were you excited for football to return? Frustrated by the team’s performance? Intrigued by some of the new and young players? Relieved no one was seriously injured? Preoccupied with re-watching the Super Bowl instead (my plan for the 4th preseason game)?
I was at the game. Back in the seats where I had most recently watched our Eagles demolish the Vikings. Where I have watched close to 100 games over the past 15 years. Where I have experienced some the highest and lowest moments in my Eagles fandom (from 4th & 26th to Jake Delhomme hoisting the Halas Trophy.)
But there was something different about the energy in the stadium last Thursday. Everyone was certainly happy to be back at the Linc to watch our Birds. Everyone was riding high on the expectations for this year’s team but there was something else in the air. Or to be more precise, there was something missing from the stadium’s atmosphere: the subtle yet pervasive presence of anticipatory grief.
Anticipatory grief is the feeling of loss prior to the occurrence of a dreaded event. In most cases, this feeling is associated with the death of a close one but for Eagles’ fans this feeling has long been associated with the fear that we would never see our beloved Birds win a Super Bowl.
For Eagles’ fans, no matter how much the team won or how well they played - there was the persistent worry over the other shoe dropping. One loss or even just one ugly win, would ignite the chorus of concern from the Boo-Birds:
“This coach can’t win when in the big games”
“These players aren’t ready for the post-season”
“There goes another season down the drain”
Having had our dreams dashes many times over the years, we resisted being too hopeful and came to expect the worst. Many found solace in negativity.
Well, that mentality was shattered when Foles & Co led us to the Promised Land. The wishes and what if’s of many were realized. The shoes dropped all throughout the year but it did not stop them during the regular season and they were not going to let it stop them in the Super Bowl.
Will the team eventually falter? Yes. Will Eagles’ fans boo? Most certainly yes. However, early signs indicate those boo’s won’t be as serious or insecure as in years past. Fans are confident and excited for this season. And deservedly so because - spoiler alert: season preview sneak peak - this year will be better than last year!
What was your reaction to last Thursday’s game against the Steelers?
Were you excited for football to return? Frustrated by the team’s performance? Intrigued by some of the new and young players? Relieved no one was seriously injured? Preoccupied with re-watching the Super Bowl instead (my plan for the 4th preseason game)?
I was at the game. Back in the seats where I had most recently watched our Eagles demolish the Vikings. Where I have watched close to 100 games over the past 15 years. Where I have experienced some the highest and lowest moments in my Eagles fandom (from 4th & 26th to Jake Delhomme hoisting the Halas Trophy.)
But there was something different about the energy in the stadium last Thursday. Everyone was certainly happy to be back at the Linc to watch our Birds. Everyone was riding high on the expectations for this year’s team but there was something else in the air. Or to be more precise, there was something missing from the stadium’s atmosphere: the subtle yet pervasive presence of anticipatory grief.
Anticipatory grief is the feeling of loss prior to the occurrence of a dreaded event. In most cases, this feeling is associated with the death of a close one but for Eagles’ fans this feeling has long been associated with the fear that we would never see our beloved Birds win a Super Bowl.
For Eagles’ fans, no matter how much the team won or how well they played - there was the persistent worry over the other shoe dropping. One loss or even just one ugly win, would ignite the chorus of concern from the Boo-Birds:
“This coach can’t win when in the big games”
“These players aren’t ready for the post-season”
“There goes another season down the drain”
Having had our dreams dashes many times over the years, we resisted being too hopeful and came to expect the worst. Many found solace in negativity.
Well, that mentality was shattered when Foles & Co led us to the Promised Land. The wishes and what if’s of many were realized. The shoes dropped all throughout the year but it did not stop them during the regular season and they were not going to let it stop them in the Super Bowl.
Will the team eventually falter? Yes. Will Eagles’ fans boo? Most certainly yes. However, early signs indicate those boo’s won’t be as serious or insecure as in years past. Fans are confident and excited for this season. And deservedly so because - spoiler alert: season preview sneak peak - this year will be better than last year!
Friday, August 10, 2018
Is Nate Sudfeld the Eagles Backup Quarterback of the Future?
The Eagles won Super Bowl LII with a backup quarterback, so you would have to think that this is a pretty important spot on the team's final 53-man roster. That backup just so happened to be Nick Foles, who had already proven himself to be a starter in this league during his first stint in Philly as the team's third-round pick in the 2012 draft. Foles played so well in that title game that he walked away with Super Bowl MVP honors.
In a perfect world, Nick would play out his NFL days as the backup to franchise quarterback Carson Wentz. These two proved to be the perfect tag team in that Super Bowl run with Foles picking up the slack when Wentz went down with a season-ending knee injury. The reality of the NFL dictates that, at best, Foles plays out the final year of his contract and moves on to his next team with hopes of resuming his NFL career as a starter.
There is also the chance that Howie Roseman receives an offer he cannot refuse in terms of trading Foles to another team for a high draft pick. This happened in Wentz's rookie year when the Eagles traded their starting quarterback Sam Bradford to Minnesota for a first round pick. Carson was elevated to the role of starter and the rest is history.
The bottom line when it comes to the Eagles' current situation at quarterback is the need to develop a player that can fill the role of backup on a long-term basis. If Foles stays in town for the entire 2018 season, this discussion can be delayed a bit. However, it cannot be delayed forever.
This brings up the notion that third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld is capable of filling that role. He was drafted by the Birds in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out of Indiana. Under the guidance of Doug Pederson and Frank Reich in his rookie year, he must have made a good impression on the former career backup quarterbacks to land a spot on the roster. His first live action in a NFL regular season game came in Week 17 last year against Dallas. He completed 19 of his 23 passing attempts for 134 yards in the Eagles' meaningless 6-0 loss.
Heading into this preseason, Wentz is still on the mend from knee surgery and Foles has been hampered with neck spasms. This gives Sudfeld the perfect opportunity to prove that he can fill that role as backup. He took a step in the right direction with a decent performance in Thursday night's 31-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Philly's first preseason game.
Sudfeld threw a pair of scoring strikes, including a 63-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Gibson. He also connected with rookie tight end Dallas Goedert on a 15-yard score. In two quarters of play, he went 10-for-14 for 140 yards, but his night was blemished with a pair of interceptions to go along with the two touchdown throws.
The former Hoosier appears to have the skills to play at the next level and he is in the perfect system to hone those skills to possibly thrive in the NFL. Quarterback is the most coveted position in the NFL and there are more than a few teams in the league that would kill to have the Eagles' current depth.
As much as I would love to keep Foles as the perfect backup to Wentz, his true value to the team could be in the form of a trade. While I am not convinced that Sudfeld is the answer for filling his shoes, it is far more important that Pederson thinks he is.
In a perfect world, Nick would play out his NFL days as the backup to franchise quarterback Carson Wentz. These two proved to be the perfect tag team in that Super Bowl run with Foles picking up the slack when Wentz went down with a season-ending knee injury. The reality of the NFL dictates that, at best, Foles plays out the final year of his contract and moves on to his next team with hopes of resuming his NFL career as a starter.
There is also the chance that Howie Roseman receives an offer he cannot refuse in terms of trading Foles to another team for a high draft pick. This happened in Wentz's rookie year when the Eagles traded their starting quarterback Sam Bradford to Minnesota for a first round pick. Carson was elevated to the role of starter and the rest is history.
The bottom line when it comes to the Eagles' current situation at quarterback is the need to develop a player that can fill the role of backup on a long-term basis. If Foles stays in town for the entire 2018 season, this discussion can be delayed a bit. However, it cannot be delayed forever.
This brings up the notion that third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld is capable of filling that role. He was drafted by the Birds in the sixth round of the 2012 draft out of Indiana. Under the guidance of Doug Pederson and Frank Reich in his rookie year, he must have made a good impression on the former career backup quarterbacks to land a spot on the roster. His first live action in a NFL regular season game came in Week 17 last year against Dallas. He completed 19 of his 23 passing attempts for 134 yards in the Eagles' meaningless 6-0 loss.
Heading into this preseason, Wentz is still on the mend from knee surgery and Foles has been hampered with neck spasms. This gives Sudfeld the perfect opportunity to prove that he can fill that role as backup. He took a step in the right direction with a decent performance in Thursday night's 31-14 loss to Pittsburgh in Philly's first preseason game.
Sudfeld threw a pair of scoring strikes, including a 63-yard touchdown pass to Shelton Gibson. He also connected with rookie tight end Dallas Goedert on a 15-yard score. In two quarters of play, he went 10-for-14 for 140 yards, but his night was blemished with a pair of interceptions to go along with the two touchdown throws.
The former Hoosier appears to have the skills to play at the next level and he is in the perfect system to hone those skills to possibly thrive in the NFL. Quarterback is the most coveted position in the NFL and there are more than a few teams in the league that would kill to have the Eagles' current depth.
As much as I would love to keep Foles as the perfect backup to Wentz, his true value to the team could be in the form of a trade. While I am not convinced that Sudfeld is the answer for filling his shoes, it is far more important that Pederson thinks he is.
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