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A reader asked this week if today’s game against the Falcons is the biggest of both Michael Vick and Andy Reid’s careers.

To that, the answer is no.

Vick has played in an NFC championship game. And Reid has played in a Super Bowl. Those were career-defining games – much more so than a Week 8 regular-season matchup.

Having said that, there’s no doubt that today’s contest is huge for both guys.

This will not play well with the large portion of the fan base that was not on board with drafting a 26-year-old guard to begin with.

Andy Reid revealed Friday that Danny Watkins‘ ankle, the one that will likely sideline him for Sunday’s pivotal game against Atlanta, is “chronic.”

“Danny has kind of a chronic ankle and he has had it for years,” said Reid after Friday’s practice.

The Eagles’ offseason trade of Asante Samuel was complex for a few different reasons – most of all, because of Samuel’s contract.

The veteran cornerback had to restructure his deal with any team that wanted to trade for him, so in reality, it was almost like he was a free agent picking his destination. If the Eagles found a trading partner that was willing to offer up acceptable compensation, the call was still pretty much Samuel’s. No team in the league was going to trade for him and pay his original salary from the Eagles contract.

“It was a joint thing,” Samuel said, per the Falcons’ web site. “It was something we all had to agree on together. I had other choices that I was not going to pick. Atlanta was the place I wanted to come. They tried to not let me come to Atlanta of course, but we got it done. We got it done.”

The mood was light Wednesday afternoon as a group of reporters surrounded Danny Watkins’ locker before practice.

Evan Mathis even got his iPhone out and started mockingly recording his teammate’s comments.

On Monday, Watkins declined to chat, creating a bit of a stir in the process.

“I think that got a little bit blown up,” he said today. “I was asked a question, and you know what? I was a little disappointed with just the way myself and the team had been playing. I just didn’t really have anything to say and said, ‘I think it’s best if I don’t say anything today.'”

One reason why Andy Reid is sticking with Michael Vick is because the quarterback has actually shown real improvement in a couple key areas.

Most notably, against the blitz.

In the last three games (while the offense has still had plenty of issues), the Eagles have done damage against the blitz. Just look at the numbers. Vick is 29-for-42 for 405 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions against extra pressure. That’s a 69 percent completion percentage and 9.6 yards-per-attempt.

If you’re a glass-half-full kind of fan (c’mon, there has to be one or two of you out there), this is something to be optimistic about looking ahead to the final 10 games.

Since the Eagles were on bye last week, there’s no new All-22 to break down. So instead, let’s take a look at some of the ways the offense has beaten the blitz in the last few weeks.

Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week.

Eagles veteran defensive tackle Mike Patterson returned to practice today for the first time since having offseason brain surgery.

As Tim noted earlier, Dr. Robert Spetzler, the Arizona surgeon who performed the surgery, is the person who gave him the OK.

“They just wanted to give it time for the bone to heal,” Patterson said. “They just wanted to give it some time, and they gave it time. They just felt more comfortable for me to play now than earlier.

“I’ve been sending him [Spetzler] X-Rays every few months here and he’s been looking at them, keeping track of them, and he just told me and the Eagles I was ready to play and got cleared.”

Asked if he can return and make an impact this season, Patterson said, “Most definitely.”

Last Sunday, after the Eagles fell to the Lions, Nnamdi Asomugha addressed reporters at his locker.

The Birds had shut down Calvin Johnson and the Detroit offense for three quarters, but collapsed in the fourth quarter and overtime of a 26-23 loss. Asomugha seemed to question Juan Castillo and some of the calls that were made at the end of the game. But today, he said that wasn’t his intention.

“I had a tough time last week when those stories came out, to be honest,” Asomugha said. “It was moreso a character thing. And it’s something that I would never do as a player. And I think you guys will start to know that a little bit more as we continue to get to know each other. There’s no underlying of ‘This was said, but it might have meant this.’ I wouldn’t do that to a coach and especially Juan. Just because as far as a player-coach relationship, we had been so communicative. It wasn’t a good feeling. But after speaking to him and him knowing that wasn’t the case, I think it made it a lot better. I don’t think that had anything to do with him being let go.”

Donovan McNabb advised Michael Vick, who received less than a vote of confidence from his head coach last week, to “play pissed off” moving forward. By the sounds of it, Vick will do just that.

“Man, I always play pissed off,” said Vick. “But more so now than [ever].”

Philadelphia sports teams have had their share of tragic player deaths. The too-early demises of Jerome Brown and Pelle Lindbergh spring to mind. But the […]

Andy Reid’s next shake-up will not include Michael Vick or Marty Mornhinweg, according to a report.

Vick will be the starting quarterback a week from Sunday when the Eagles host the Falcons, and Mornhinweg will continue with play-calling duties.

Given everything that’s happened this week, and because it’s the bye, now is a good time to assess the state of the Eagles. From Marty Mornhinweg to Andy Reid to Michael Vick, here are three thoughts on the Birds.

A day after the loss to the Lions, a  fed-up Andy Reid had some harsh words for his offense.

“The last two drives offensively were pathetic. They were pathetic from a coaching standpoint and they were pathetic from a players’ standpoint,” he said.

What drove Reid to this level of irritation? We took a look at the coaches tape to find out.

Andy Reid, upon completion of his bye-week cell toss, may very well come to the conclusion that the Michael Vick Experience is a flop.

He knows the majority of the 17 “ridiculous” turnovers fall on the quarterback’s shoulders. Reid said Tuesday that he was in the process of reviewing all the season’s offensive miscues. It will be a reminder — as if he needed one — of just how many points were sacrificed and how much momentum was handed over because of carelessness with the football.

Reid also may have thrown on some preseason tape of ol’ Nicky Foles and spent the afternoon daydreaming of a rhythmic, steady and opportunistic offense that would take the Eagles off the high wire.

Tempted as he may be to get off the Michael Vick roller coaster,  Reid will almost certainly come away from this evaluation period having determined that he is stuck with Seven. At least until things get truly desperate.

Eagles coach Andy Reid is taking a pounding from the national media this week. Here’s a roundup of what they’re saying.