What They’re Saying About the Eagles

From Jim Washburn to Andy Reid to the NFL draft, here’s the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles.

The Birds are 30th in ESPN.com’s power rankings. Writes Dan Graziano:

Can’t fall much farther, so even an eighth straight loss doesn’t push them down into the bottom two. Sando did it, though rating the Eagles as the absolute worst team in the league through 13 weeks. Ashley has them at 31, ahead of only the Jaguars. It’s pure personal opinion when you get to the bottom of the ballot, and I have the Eagles 27th, but how can you argue right now if someone wants to tell you there’s no one in the league worse? They haven’t won in more than two months.

Russ Lande of the National Football Post has a mock draft out. He’s got the Eagles going with Alabama guard Chance Warmack:

Peters back at left tackle, so they add Warmack who can bring stability and a physical presence to their interior offensive line.

I can only imagine the reaction in this city if the Eagles spent another first-round pick on a guard.

SI.com’s Peter King offers his take on the firing of Jim Washburn:

Andy Reid hired journeyman defensive line coach Tommy Brasher, and I wonder what he said to ol’ Tommy. Maybe, “Tommy, you’ve got four weeks, and your players have their bags packed for the offseason already. Good luck.” Washburn didn’t like the firing of Jason Babin last week and said so internally. But this doesn’t matter much. The whole staff will be gone unless owner Jeffrey Lurie has a stunning change of heart — which the Eagles’ fans will not let him have — after the season, a season with a losing streak that reached eight last night in Dallas.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com has the Eagles 29th:

Does 29th seem harsh? Would the Philadelphia Eagles complain? Probably not. This group does enough to hang around, stay tied, get a small lead … before seemingly always having a breakdown in coverage at the worst possible time or a turnover that changes the course of a contest. What can Brown do for you? Sunday night, Bryce Brown fumbled — again. Down four, with plenty of time to go, the Eagles were moving on the Dallas defense again before Brown delivered … for the other team. Just like the previous Monday night.

Mark Kriegel of NFL.com argues that Reid naming Nick Foles the starter is an attempt to save his job:

I kept hearing that Andy Reid would put Michael Vick back in the lineup just as soon as he was ready. Well, I’m still waiting. Reid likes Vick. But Reid loves his job.

Brian Billick of FoxSports.com has the Eagles 30th:

The last time the Eagles lost eight consecutive games in a single season was in 1968. Nick Foles will get the rest of the year to prove he can be a starting quarterback in this league.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles 29th:

Andy Reid has taken to firing coaches and releasing veterans. It’s nice of him to get this team ready for next year — for another coach.

Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk has the Eagles 29th:

At some point, Andy Reid’s final year in Philly will make it impossible for another owner to sell him to a fan base as a viable coaching option.

Vince Verhei of Football Outsiders has Foles’ Week 13 performance ranked 15th among NFL quarterbacks:

Foles’ numbers in the middle of the field demonstrate why completion percentage isn’t always an accurate indicator of a quarterback’s effectiveness. Foles went 6-of-7 between the 40s for 50 yards, but only gained one first down. He also had a midfield sack-fumble.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.
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