As a group Eagles say no to voluntary camp
The NFL offseason generally is an excuse for general managers and coaches to keep closer tabs on players who aren’t rehabbing injuries or already spending most of their waken hours hanging out at team headquarters.
That said, Eagles players deserve credit for telling their owner and general manager what they can do with the voluntary camps slated to begin Monday. And for making the point respectfully through the proper channels, which in their case is the NFL Players Association, as well as in the name of player safety from the coronavirus.
“We have shared and talked about the facts from our union and our players will not be attending in-person voluntary workouts,” the Eagles players statement read. “We know that every player has to make a decision that is best for him, but to stand in solidarity with the brotherhood of players across the NFL, we have decided to come together on this choice.”
It’s the first time the Eagles have come together as one since their championship parade following the Super Bowl
LII win over the New England Patriots. Make no mistake, this could be a good start for rookie head coach Nick Sirianni, who should capitalize on every opportunity to be with the players to build a winning culture in this, all together now, unprecedented time.
While the Eagles have joined close to 20 other NFL teams boycotting the voluntary work in the name of safety from both the coronavirus and injuries, a chunk of the guys have been vaccinated or will be. Theoretically that should limit outbreaks.
Which leads to the next ditty: Which would seem safer, gathering for the conditioning part of the offseason in a team facility with the utmost in virus preventative measures and most of the people vaccinated or in a neighborhood gym or at some outdoor field where you don’t know who the heck anybody is, much less if they’ve been vaccinated or have the virus?
This boycott is about the players exercising their rights under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. Outspoken defensive end Michael Bennett, during his abbreviated stay with the Eagles, used to say cryptically that pro football in the offseason was “the only job in the world that’s voluntary that people expect you to show up.”
The Eagles and their NFL counterparts still are required to show up for the mandatory minicamp and training camp. There’s an outside shot there could be a post draft rookie camp, although that sure doesn’t seem like a good idea for the participants.
I get what the bleeding deacons say about learning curves for different players. Some guys learn better on the job, and by doing the job, not virtually on Zoom. Perfectly understandable.
The reality is there is virtually no hitting – at least legally – during the voluntary activities in the offseason. And that is the learning tool. Anybody can mimic what the coach does in a drill. It’s what you do when a linebacker or cornerback jams you that counts.
It’s early but Eagles players are on the same page right now. That certainly beats the way they finished their 4-11-1 2020 season, one in which the coaching staff was accused of tanking the last game to get a better draft choice.
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Not much to say after watching Phillies ace Aaron Nola throw a complete game for the first time in 143 starts covering seven seasons.
Beyond the obvious, of course, which is why didn’t Ryne Sandberg, Pete Mackanin or Gabe Kapler give Nola the opportunity?
Nola threw 109 pitches, striking out 10 to lead the
Phillies to a 2-0 win over the St. Louis Cardinals at Citizens Bank Park.
There was no doubt in manager Joe Girardi’s mind that Nola would get the job done. And it’s still amazing that we have to make such a big deal about something that Curt Schilling did seemingly every other outing.
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The New York Post put out it’s annual five-year draft analysis.
Teams are ranked by how many games the draft picks play, volume of Pro Bowl and All-Pro teams and assorted other awards.
Topping the list – the Baltimore Ravens, with six Pro Bowl players in the past five drafts. Their best pick per the Post was Lamar Jackson. The worst was Hayden Hurst.
The Kansas City Chiefs were second, five picks going to the Pro Bowl, the
New Orleans Saints third (three Pro Bowl guys).
The New England Patriots are 25th.
In the NFC East, the Dallas Cowboys are 11th, the New York Giants
20th, the Washington Football Team 28th and Eagles 30th.
The Eagles actually improved from the previous grading period, as they were ranked 32nd in 2019.
The Eagles’ best pick in the analysis was Carson Wentz, the worst Sidney Jones. Neither are on the roster.
Last but not least in the rankings are the Las Vegas Raiders.
For those with time on their hands, it’s an interesting read.