On our end, we’re pulling the band back together to do a show either this week or next… then much more often as we get closer to the season itself. We miss talking about this team.  Football is back!

Dear [name removed] We know you are interested in the status of our labor negotiations and preparations for the 2011 season. Having just returned from New Orleans earlier this week, we wanted to take a few moments to give you a report. The focus was on football as well as the status of our efforts to reach a new collective bargaining agreement. Football first: we had vigorous discussions on a range of football matters with special emphasis on player health and safety. We are, as you have read, moving the spot of kickoffs to the 35-yard line and allowing the kicking team only a 5-yard running start to the kickoff. We modified instant replay so that all scoring plays will be checked by the instant replay assistant in the booth and reviewed by the referee if necessary. We are also continuing to discuss how to best limit hits to the head and expand protection for players in a defenseless position. NFL football will remain a tough sport, but we are committed to making it safer and reducing injuries. On collective bargaining, we reviewed the status of the union’s litigation as well as the current work stoppage. We want to assure you that we want this resolved. We believe we offered a fair proposal that would pay the players an estimated $19-20 billion over the next four years, 2 billion more than they made over the previous four. There would be no pay-cut for players, only a slowing in the growth rate of their compensation. The proposal included a wide range of other improvements for both current and retired players. Contrary to what you may have read, we offered to provide to a third-party accounting firm the 2005-2009 club-by-club operating profits, along with audited financial statements, so that the union would know the league’s profitability in those years and the number of clubs that have experienced declines in profits. We are very disappointed that the players chose to not respond to this offer and instead, went to court. We know that we will have a collective bargaining agreement with the players’ union at some point. Commissioner Goodell has called on the NFL Players Association to immediately resume negotiations. The owners support the Commissioner and are ready to meet at any time to come to an agreement. We have great respect for our players, admire what they do, and the sacrifices they make. We will continue to keep you informed and we truly appreciate your support of the Philadelphia Eagles. Sincerely, Jeffrey Lurie Chairman & CEO Joe Banner President

This rumor of Trotter’s two workouts in Philly has had fans talking the past week, and now we will see The Axeman return to Eagles Green.  So does this mean that Trot’s just in great shape, the organization is seriously worried about the Defense, or some combination of both?

There is definitely mixed feelings on this signing, as Trotter was one of the fan favorites while he played for the Birds in his first stint, yet his age and aged knees are a cause for concern. With the BYE this week, he’ll have some time to work out with the team and possibly be ready for the Tampa Bay game.

Quarterback Jeff Garcia was let go to make room for this roster move.

We’ll talk about this and what it means to the team on tonight’s show.  You want in?  You can send an email (fans [at] eaglesfancast.net) or call our voicemail line: (856) 335-3675.

This has to bring up the questions (again) as to how long the Eagles will carry Andrews, and if this is his last mention as an Eagle until we hear that he is cut.  With repeated back and other issues on his resume as an Eagle, and the high priority of protecting your quarterback, the Eagles have to analyze what is at their disposal.  Do they have the confidence in Winston Justice to get the job done the entire season?  How can the Eagles continue to carry a player that has played only two games in two seasons?

We had the opportunity to have a chat with Robert Siegel, the Writer and Director of the new movie Big Fan, which will be hitting theaters in limited release only in New York and Philadelphia on Friday, August 28th. In Philadelphia it will be playing at the Landmark Ritz at the Bourse, definitely go see it. Check the movie website for more cities and release dates.

Eric and I had a good time talking with Robert and learned more about this drama, his take on the characters, and how a New York sports bar was transformed into a Philly sports bar. Listen in, and if you go to see it, please let us know what you think!

Find out more about Big Fan at the movie’s official website.

We will be back again next week and talk about Michael Vick’s game debut for the Eagles after he plays in the preseason Jacksonville Jaguars game in Philly. Since he and Donovan McNabb are slated to play the first three quarters, we won’t have to wait for the regular season to find out how Coach Andy Reid plans to utilize Vick’s talents in our Offense.

Get in touch with us Big Fans:

Email: fans [at] EaglesFanCast.net

Voicemail Line: 1(856)335-3675

Follow on twitter: twitter.com/EaglesFanCast

Facebook: EFC Fan Page

MySpace: EaglesFanCast

Download audio file (059_EFC-Aug_26_2009.mp3)

Direct Download

Todd: We got Michael Vick!!!!!
Chuck: LOLOL
Todd: Fkn seriously! On my kids.
Chuck: I hate you
Todd: Why?
Todd: I am sooooo not lying!!!!!!
Chuck: For me 2nd guessing my team for a second
Todd: You really do not believe!!!
Chuck: No
Todd: Really… Mortenson just said it ESP fkn N!!!!
Chuck: Holy f***ing sh**

A few things from this little exchange…

1. Todd was very excited about this news
2. I didn’t believe it at all
3. This was the reaction, or close to it, that swept through Philadelphia and Eagles fans all over the world.

Shortly after, Todd called me, and Eric called me (who heard it on the concourse at The Linc), and I started receiving texts from others.  Oh word spread quickly. I jumped on twitter to see the live reactions and participate in the conversation.  At first it was all anger.  I saw messages from fans denouncing their fandom.  I saw people denouncing the Eagles, I saw people denouncing the NFL, and I saw a lot of hatred for Michael Vick.  At a few times during the night, “Vick”, “Eagles” and other variations were the top trending topics on twitter.  I don’t recall ever seeing a sports-related topic get in the top ten trends.  It was instant mania.  Fans of our show wrote me asking me for my opinion.  Last night I didn’t have a solid one.  I was still in shock, and I didn’t know how to think about the whole thing.  Hell, I had all my barbs lined up for whatever team DID sign Vick, to be honest.

The Eagles making this move never crossed my mind.  First of all, Andy Reid has built a team of character players, always has.  Owner Jeff Lurie even talked about team and player character a few weeks ago!  Second of all, I figured the quarterback scheme was set.  With Donovan McNabb as the solid starter, future wunderkind Kevin Kolb as his backup, and reserve A.J. Feeley as the third string, I honestly didn’t think that would be shaken up.  Granted I’m not happy with this quarterback setup, except for McNabb.  Personally, Kolb has not impressed me, but as Eric has pointed out before, he’s inexperienced, and has been thrown into bad situations.  Feeley is definitely the weakest link of the three, and has not shown anything worthwhile since the 2002 season.  So the Eagles management made the decision to bring Vick in, that task is now done.  We, as fans, have to move on and accept it.

The arguments on both sides last night ranged from “Vick’s a scumbag, and I’ve lost respect for the Eagles and I will not be a fan any more!” to “Vick has done his time in prison, he has publicly repented, and the ASPCA has even agreed to his NFL reinstatement.”

Right now I’m still sorting it all out.   I’m very curious to also hear what Eric and Todd have to say about this.  Should this be this big a deal?  Obviously the news media and fans think so.

What I want to know is, what do YOU think?  Let us know in the comments below, or send us an email, or call us on our voicemail line.  We do this show as fans, so we want to hear your voice especially.  Bring it!

What we discussed:

• We talk about Tommy’s huge game-recording setup.
• Draft talk.  It’s why we’re here again this week!
• WR Jeremy Maclin is taken by the Eagles in the first round
• RB LeSean McCoy is the Eagles second round pick
• Is this Offense better than what was on the field in the NFC Championship?
• Denver Broncos running back situation
• Oakland Raiders draft of WR Darrius Heyward-Bey
• TE Cornelius Ingram is grabbed in the fifth round
• We talk about Sheldon Brown and signing the younger players to long term contracts
• Email from Evan in Maryland talking about being impressed with the Eagles front office, and he wants Sheldon Brown gone
• Tommy rounds out the rest of the Eagles Draft picks
• Is our Defense better than the NFC Championship Eagles team?
• We laugh a little bit at the Cowboys Draft day performance

Links:

• The Scouts Notebook
• Philadelphia Eagles Fan-Demonium
• Tommy’s Eagles Blog

Well, we’re waiting:

Email: fans [at] EaglesFanCast.net

Voicemail Line: 1(856)335-3675

Follow on twitter: twitter.com/EaglesFanCast

Facebook: EFC Fan Page

MySpace: EaglesFanCast

Download audio file (056_EFC-Apr_28_2009.mp3)

Direct Download

We’re very happy we were able to talk to Jeff about the book months before it’s release, and gained a little behind-the-scenes look at the author himself and what went into the story.  I had said at the time that I would let our listeners and readers know when it was going to be released, and this is it.

Congratulations, Jeff, we’re looking forward to reading it ourselves.

The book is being published through Two Harbors Press, and you can obtain the book in many ways (I’ve listed a few below.)  I noticed that you could also get a signed copy through the book’s website as well.

• Making The Big Game website
• Amazon.com
• Barnes & Noble

Here’s the losses as of 7:00pm Friday (EST):

• Brian Dawkins to Denver Broncos
• Sean Considine to Jacksonville Jaguars
• LJ Smith to Atlanta Falcons
• Correll Buckhalter, also to the Denver Broncos

Staying?

• Hank Baskett

Acquired?

• Stacy Andrews (brother of our own Shawn) from the Bengals

More than some questionable calls on this list, don’t you think?  Dawkins is no longer an Eagle… how does THAT feel?  I’m scratching my head, and hoping that they start to make some sense very very soon.  So with Andrews coming, that means we’ll say goodbye to Runyan soon as well.  Not sure about you, but this is starting out rather odd to me. Hope things improve, because right now, I’m extremely bummed about losing Dawkins.

We’ll see.

Just click on the articles to see the full scans.  We don’t get to see this kind of thing up here, so thank you very much Karen!

By the way, just as a reminder, we won’t be recording our latest show until tomorrow night, Wednesday.  Sorry for the delay, but we just couldn’t schedule things for tonight.