Eagles Chick | Philadelphia Eagles Football From a Chick's Perspective

Philadelphia's Got A Championship! The Soul are the 2008 Arena Footbal Champions!

Philly's got a championship team.  That's right, hopefully there will be a ticker tape parade down Broad Street sometime this week.  Why?  Well Jon Bon Jovi and Ron Jaworski owned Philadlephia Soul have defeated the San Jose SaberCats in the Arena Bowl today, 59 - 56.

Now if that doesn't amp up the boys in silver and green, to do the same in the NFL, by bringing home the SuperBowl trophy, I don't know what else will.

It was a little bit of a nail biter at the end.  At the beginning of the 3rd quarter of the Arena Bowl, the Philadelphia Soul were up by 19, but the San Jose SaberCats ate away at that lead until the very end when the onside kick was recovered by Rod Davis.  That secured the championship win for the Philly Soul.

I wrote a little bit about it on PhillySoulChick.com, including what Ron Jaworski and Jon Bon Jovi did to create such a great team, so check it out.  Now if only Jeffrey Lurie could emulate that for our Eagles. 

Jon Runyan's So Tough....

So last year, I tried to start off a "Jon Runyan is So Tough" series, but didn't get around to posting anymore.  It's always on my mind when I see Chuck Norris or John in those "Ford Tough" or McDonalds "Chest Bump Worthy" commercials. 

Well I decided, I'm going to try to do this once a week, giving 3 to 5 reasons why "Jon Runyan is So Tough".  Ready for this week's list?

• Jon Runyan is so tough that he doesn't read the Eagles' Play Book, he just stares at it until it gives him the information he wants.
  
  
  
• Jon Runyan is so tough that if you can see Jon Runyan, he can see you. If you can’t see Jon Runyan you may be only seconds away from being made a permanent part of the playing field.
  
  
  
• Jon Runyan is so tough that he can touch MC Hammer (as well as wear Hammer Pants and make them look cool)
  
  
  
• Jon Runyan is so tough that when he closes his eyes and raises his hand, defensive lineman know that is a signal for "fall down or I'll kick your ass", and do as commanded.




• Jon Runyan is so tough that according to Einstein's theory of relativity, Jon Runyan can actually tackle defensive linemen into yesterday.

Got any you'd like to add?  Email us at eagleschick[dot]com {at} gmail [dot]com.

At $19 million Under Salary Cap, The Eagles Can Open Their Wallet for WestBrook

$19 Million!  Yep, I said $19 million, that's how much wiggle room the Philadelphia Eagles have with the salary cap, according to the Eagles Salary Cap Tracking Site, EaglesCap.com.  How many businesses would love to have $19 million in extra cash for their budgets?  I have no doubt a lot of companies would love to have that kind of wiggle room.

This all goes back to the last post here on EaglesChick, that I wrote about Eagle's Running Back Brian Westbrook, looking to renegotiate his contract.  The guy deserves better money.  This guy deserves LaDainian Tomlinson-type money.  Westbrook, is the Eagles offense.  Westbrook, is the most valuable player the Eagles have, period.

With $19 million in wiggle room (which does currently include all the money in Westbrook's current contract), there's more than enough to pay this player what he's worth.  The guy is top notch, and he's top class.  He showed up for Training Camp and didn't hold out.  He's not held press conference on his lawn, like Terrel Owens did.  The guy hasn't spoken badly of his teammates or his coach.  This is the type of player that teams dream their entire team of was made up of.

The Eagles' front office is notorious for being a tightwad.  However, they have said Westbrook is severely undervalued.  At least we as Iggles fans should be relieved that they recognize this.  Hopefully they will also recognize that Westbrook is a fan favorite, because of his honest, and forthright personality as well as his ability to play the way he does even though injuries.  The fans, love Westbrook. 

It's about time that the front office opens that wallet and lets the moths out.  Time to give Westbrook the money he deserves, and be thankful that Westbrook didn't choose Drew "Give Me More Money" Rosenhaus as his agent and has Todd France instead. 

Dear Jeffery Lurie, please open your wallet and do the right thing, show the guy he is the Eagles' most valuable player.

*photos from philadelphiaeagles.com

Westbrook Worth More than $15 Million? Damn Straight He Is!

Is Westbrook worth $15 million?  Yes, he's worth that and more.  The Philadelphia Eagles got a hell of a deal when they signed Westbrook's contract 3 years ago a 5 year contract worth $15 million.  That's one heck of a deal considering that for most of 2008, Westbrook was, The Eagles Offense.

Over at Philly.com, Bob Brookover interview Brian about his efforts to seek a new contract, along with his love of horses, too (it's great to read things that aren't always about pigskin and money).  Brian recently fired his agent Fletcher Smith, and the rumors are flying about who's going to be the replacement agency.

Let's face it, without Brian Westbrook, the Eagles' season would have ended up worse than it did last year.  This guy is a force to be reckoned with, and even though all that Terrell Owens nonsense we suffered through 3 years ago, Westbrook was still the solid, stall wort performer.  He's the go-to guy that Donovan McNabb can always rely on.

If there's even a whisper that Brian Westbrook might be on the disabled list, is aching, hurting or just not feeling right, Eagles fans quake in their shoes, because we know this guys is vital to the Eagles offense.  He's a powerhouse, he's smart, he's quick and most of all most teams underestimate the power of Brian Westbrook.

But don't think this is just all one sided, according the interview, the Eagles understand Westbrook's value and believe he's far under his market value dollars and cents wise.  This is why they were working with Fletcher Smith to rework the deal.  Apparently the Eagles want to extend Westbrook's contract, but Westbrook wants to just rework the current deal.  I guess this is where the controversy comes in.

Westbrook, I would hope, would be happy that the Eagles believe so much in him that they want to extend his contract and keep him in Philly, maybe for his entire career.  Not many football teams do that these days.  The fans love Westbrook, the players on the team look up to him as well.

Thankfully though throughout this whole ordeal, there's no talk of him holding out on Eagles Training Camp, which starts.... tomorrow!  Hopefully though this will all get resolved before it turns ugly, and nasty.  Westbrook deserves a lot more than $15 million, come on front office, give this guy what he deserves.

Lito Sheppard Hires Drew "Give Me More Money" Rosenhaus

How many of you hear the name "Drew Rosenhaus" and cringe?  I know I just sighed, and rolled my eyes and said... "Oh no, here we go again."

The guys over at EagleTrain are reporting that Lito Sheppard's hired Drew "Give Me More Money" Rosenhaus.  Remember him from those agonizing last months of Terrell Owens' days as an Eagle?  Dear lord, what is Lito thinking?

I liked Lito, thought he was a decent guy, but seriously, hiring Rosenhaus makes me think differently.  Sheppard's come off a season with a lot of injuries too, and the Eagles (wisely) acquired Asante Samuel, who's got the only guaranteed starting spot.  What is Lito really expecting here?

I know I'm cringing, last time there was talk of Rosenhaus, we here in Philly were subjected to press conferences on the lawn and a circus.  Personally I want to see guys playing football, not that nonsense.

Regardless, at least Rosenhause does seem to be putting to rest those rumors that Lito was going to hold out on Eagles Training camp.  I just hope that's true.  That's one of the last things the Eagles need to deal with, the press contingent that is at Rosehaus' beck and call.

Eagles Veteran, Vai Sikahema Humiliates Jose Canseco at the War at the Shore

Who didn't use to love when Vai Sikahema would run those kicks back for touchdowns and then pummel the crap out of the goal post?  I sure did.  I'd hoot & holler and fake punch along with him.

Well last night, the punches weren't at a goal post, but there were at someone who seems as dumb as one.   Yes, I'm referring Jose Canseco.  This guy can't seem to keep his trap shut can he?  First steroids, then Madonna and now he wants a rematch with Vai Sikahema?!

It was no contest, no battle and certainly not a war, at Saturday night's War at the Shore which pitted Sikahema against Canseco.  Sikahema knocked Canseco out in the first round.  I think the goal posts used to give Vai more of a fight back than Canseco did.

"He came out here in first-class, (and is) flying home coach. That's how we roll in Philly," Sikahema said.

Vai did some really hard training, including looking to Larry Holmes, who's boxing / training facility is just up in Easton.  I pulled this YouTube clip about his training, pretty cool ain't?

Sikahema donated his entire $5,000 purse to the family of a Philadelphia police who was killed in the line of duty. Sikahema said he told Sgt. Stephen Liczbinski's wife before the match that it would give him an edge over Canseco.

"I said, 'Michelle, here's the difference. He's fighting for money, and I'm fighting for a cause, and that's going to win out every time,'" he said.

Congrats Vai!  Thanks for somewhat shutting that loudmouth Canseco up!

Vai currently serves as sports director on Philly's NBC 10.

*Thanks to NolaChick who caught my error on mispelling Vai's name, don't know why I do that every time!  Now fixed!

No "Lard Butts" In the Philadelphia Eagles D-Line This Year

Jim Johnson's defensive line this year, is going to look nothing like it has in years past.  Looking at the Eagle players listed, this looks like nothing from the past 4 years.  Where are the Eagle veterans?  The old stall worths that Johnson could readily rely on?  Gone are Trotter (who was let go last year after training camp), Kearse (gone after 2007-2008 season) and Takeo Spike (who only lasted a year), was shown the door as well.

So what's ol' Johnson to do?  Well he's got to learn as much about all these new guys and how they can work together to become his fast , hard hitting, blitzing dream machine.  I guess though for Johnson, it won't be that difficult.  It'll now be Chris Gocong's and Omar Gaither's turn to step up and show what else they have after a decent showing last year.  The acquisition in the off season are definitely going to require some learning on Johnson's part, too.

Interesting thing about the guys who "remain standing".  Not a single on of these guys is a huge, William "The Refrigerator" Perry, type.  As described by that guy who writes the "On the Inside" column for the Philly Eagles official site (I can never remember his name, and for some stupid reason they don't put his name on the articles),  "There aren't a lot of lard butts along the line. The Eagles don't have a 375-pound anchor inside to clog up the running lanes."

The guys who the Eagles have managed to acquire are quick, fast and potent.  They really aren't the huge hulking Warren Sapp type guys.  What comes to immediately to my mind, is that Jim Johnson really looked at how Osi Umenyiora of the New Yorks Giants did last year.  How this guy's potent speed along with the rest of the Giants' D-Line took what the Eagles learned about the Patriots, and just used the speed to throw that Patriot's offense off.  Regardless of whether you like or don't like the Giants, you have to give props to Osi, that guy is one damn fine (fast and hard hitting) player.  Remember what he did to D-Mac last year, 8 or 9 sacks in that game, most of the hardest hitting sacks were from Osi.

So what should we expect for the Eagle's Defense this year?  Well, I think we'll be seeing a lot more speed, a lot more blitzing (as if there could be much more) and a little bit of a learning curve between players and coaches.

How about you folks still out there reading the Eagles Chick (yes we're back, and we're even going to training camp again!)...... What do you think we'll see out of the D-Line this year?