Embarassing Loss For The Philadelphia Eagles

I can't believe I am about to say this, but Reno Mahe, if you're still around, please come back to the team. The Philadelphia Eagles lost yesterday's game to the Green Bay Packers 16-13 no thanks to special teams errors and a poor performance from Donovan McNabb. I will however give McNabb a pass only because the guy blew his knee out and still isn't 100% healthy. Watching him throw for under a 50% completion percentage was tough to stomach though.

Now, let's get into the special teams of the Eagles. Greg Lewis had 0 regular season punt returns prior to yesterday's game and was eventually replaced by J.R. Reed, who also had never returned a punt return in pre season or the regular season. Both players fumbled punt returns that led to a Green Bay Packers touchdown and a field goal.

Many fans and media alike are scratching their heads after yesterday's special teams blunders, especially after Jeremy Bloom, whom the Eagles cut, had returned a majority of the punts during the pre season. And while he didn't perform all that well, he at least held on to the ball.

The only good thing that one could take from this game is that the Eagles defense played extremely well. The Packers were held to 215 total yards, rookie running back Brandon Jackson averaged 2.7 yards per carry, and future Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre completed 23-42 passes for 206 yards, an INT and a QB rating of 58.2.

The Eagles better get it together when they play the Washington Redskins next week or they might be looking at going 0-2 to start the season.

Appalachian State In Top 25?

After the Mountaineers shocking upset over the Michigan Wolverines the AP decided to balk at tradition and let formerly Division 1-AA schools, now known as FCS (Football Championship Subdivision), to be included in the AP poll.

For the last 71 years of the AP poll, only teams that competed in Division 1-A were able to be ranked. However, some voters felt that if a small school like Appalachian State could compete with the big boys why should they not be included? Adam Van Brimmer, an AP poll voter, said he wanted to put Appalachian State at No. 25 after their win over the Wolverines.

Adam had covered Georgia Southern earlier in his career when they were Division 1-AA powerhouses, much like Appalachian State is now. Mister Brimmer went on to state that some of the FCS schools could compete and beat teams from the MAC and Sun Belt conferences, both of which are Division 1-A conferences.

Unfortunately for the Mountaineers this was there one and only shot to shock the world. They have no games following their win at Michigan which would propel them any higher in the AP poll should they crack the Top 25. USA Today, which also does a Top 25, said they have no intention of deviating from their rule of only considering Division 1-A teams.

And It Begins...

The long awaited day that is the first official regular season football game. Playing tonight are two offensive powerhouses, although you couldn't tell from the current box score, the Indianapolis Colts and the New Orleans Saints.

Is there anything more adrenaline pumping than NFL football? You are surrounded by friends, family, and strangers you consider your friend every Sunday. A sort of camaraderie is made every time your team scores or makes a boneheaded play. It may only happen but once a week but hell, it may be the greatest feeling ever. You know, other than really good sex.

E A G L E S....EAGLES

The Going's On's Around the NFL

New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan finally ended his holdout and reported to camp on Monday. The 7 time pro bowl DE had been mulling retirement during the offseason and has missed a total of 15 weeks of practice. Not to mention Strahan has also missed all 4 preseason games. His holdout cost him around $500,000 dollars in fines. The Giants fined Strahan $14,288 for each day of his holdout. Strahan will begin practicing today and will have 4 more workouts in order to get ready for the Giants first game against division rival, Dallas Cowboys.

Simeon Rice finally has a new home after being released from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rice will be settling in Mile High country. After mulling other options that included the St. Louis Rams, New York Giants, and the Tennessee Titans Rice accepted a 1 year, $3 million dollar deal to play for the Denver Broncos. Rice has posted 8 seasons with 10 or more sacks but a shoulder injury last year limited him to just 8 games and 2 sacks, both career lows. Prior to last season Rice had never missed a game because of injury in his first 10 NFL seasons.

The much beloved Jeremiah Trotter has found a new home in "America's Wang". Trotter reached an agreement with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Monday. The deal will be for 1 year while the finances were not disclosed. In a surprising move by the Philadelphia Eagles, they released the MLB to the shock of fans and teammates alike. Trotter is one of just four linebackers (Chuck Bednarik, Maxie Baughan and Bill Bergey ) in Eagles history to earn four or more Pro Bowl invitations. Trotter did not visit with any other team and will battle Barrett Rudd for the starting MLB spot.

The New England Patriots, who stocked up on recievers in the offseason (see Wes Welker, Randy Moss, and Donte Stallworth) have released their leading receiver from last season. The 28 year old Caldwell caught 61 balls for 760 receiving yards and 4 TDs. Those were all career highs for the 6th year veteran. The 2nd round pick has never quite lived up to his potential and had two key drops in last year's AFC championship game against the Indianapolis Colts.

East Coast Bias - September 3rd, 2007

Today's Headlines

- Appalachian State Win at The Big House

- Clay Buchholz Throws No-Hitter

- NFL Division and Playoff Predictions


On today's podcast I run down the Mountaineers stunning victory over the Michigan Wolverines followed by Boston Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz and his place in Red Sox history. I finally end today's show with a lengthy segment on NFL division winners and playoff predictions. Since college has started Jason and I are planning to make East Coast Bias a weekly podcast in which we record on Mondays. Look forward to another episode of ECB next week. Until then keep checking back here for all the latest news and notes from the sports universe.

Clay Buchholz Throws No No

In just his second career start Clay Buchholz has done something Curt Schilling still hasn't done in his career. He threw a no hitter. The unfortunate team was the Baltimore Orioles. The Boston Red Sox won 10 to 0 no thanks to a stellar performance from their top pitching prospect who had just been called up from AAA Pawtucket days earlier when teams were able to expand their rosters. Using an assortment of fastballs, change ups, and curve balls Buchholz struck out 9 and walked 3. Buchholz became the third pitcher since 1900 to throw a no-hitter in his first or second major league start. Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona summed up Clay Buchholz's future with the Red Sox the best when he said, "There's no going back to Triple-A." Welcome to the big leagues kid!

Mighty Michigan Falls To I-AA Appalachian State

The #5 team in NCAA football lost this afternoon 34 to 32 to a team that isn't even a Division 1 football team. Grant it, the Appalachian State Mountaineers have won the I-AA Championship(now known as FCS) the last two years, but no one saw this coming. This is arguably the biggest upset in college football history.

The Mountaineers were down 14-7 after the first quarter but followed up with 21 points in the 2nd quarter thanks to a great effort by Appalachian St. QB Armanti Edwards. Edwards threw for 2 touchdowns and ran 1 in himself to boot. At one point during the 2nd quarter the Mountaineers were up by as much as 14 points.

Michigan finally woke up in the second half no thanks to their All-American running back Mike Hart. Hart ran for 2 scores including a thrilling 54 yard touchdown run in the 4th quarter. After that play the Mountaineers looked as if their effort to spoil Michigan's season was over.

Appalachian State however had no quit in them. After blocking the Wolverines first field goal attempt of 47 yards at the 1:47 mark the Mountaineers took the field and drove all the way to the Michigan 5 yard line. Their 24 yard field goal put them up by 2 with :30 seconds left on the clock. Michigan QB and Heisman hopeful Chad Henne connected with talent WR Mario Manningham for a 46 yard play that set up the Wolverines to win the game.

The 37 yard field goal never got more than 3 feet off the ground. The Mountaineers blocked their 2nd field goal of the day and sealed what is possibly the greatest upset in college football history. Congrats to the Mountaineers for not only taking down Big Blue, but making Penn State's Big Ten Championship dreams a better reality.