Eagles Sign Michael Vick

ESPN's Chris Mortensen reacts to the news of Vick signing with the Eagles.

Wow! To say that the news of Michael Vick signing with Philly is a suprise is an understatement!

How will Head Coach Andy Reid use Vick? I don't think Vick will be used at QB (McNabb is pretty good), so I am expecting Andy Reid to use Vick for his speed, perhaps in a "Wildcat-type" offensive role.

My NFL Wild Card Weekend Picks

CARDINALS OVER FALCONS
DOLPHINS OVER RAVENS
COLTS OVER CHARGERS
VIKINGS OVER EAGLES

Week Two NFL Preview

In your Week Two NFL Preview, Matt Cassel, the new Patriots Quarterback, takes on Brett Favre, the old Savvy NFL Veteran.

Sorry folks. I didn't have time to put up my week One NFL Preview, so I just put up my picks instead. I finished 8-7 in Week One. I'll try to do better this week.

SCHEDULE NOTE: THE RAVENS-TEXANS GAME WILL NOT BE PLAYED THIS WEEK DUE TO HURRICANE IKE. IT HAS BEEN MOVED TO WEEK TEN DUE TO THE DAMAGE TO RELIANT STADIUM.

EARLY GAMES 1:00 PM EST

Bears At Panthers
Both of these teams are coming off upset victories. Matt Forte ran all over the Indianapolis Colts defense and spoiled the debut of the new Lucas Oil Stadium.

Both defenses will limit the effectiveness of the opposing offenses. Whoever capitalizes on turnovers most will win this game.
BEARS OVER PANTHERS

Titans At Bengals
With an injured Vince Young, the Titans will turn to the veteran gunsliger Kerry Collins. If the Titans can stop the passing attack of Carson Palmer, they will win this game. That's a huge if, however.
BENGALS OVER TITANS

Packers At Lions
Aaron Rodgers Monday Night Football debut was a success. He did his first of many Lambeau leaps in the Monday Night win against the Vikings. The Detroit Lions lost their first game of the season against Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.

Both Rudi Johnson and Ryan Grant could have big days against the opposing defense. If this game comes down to the passing game, Roy Williams and Calvin Johnson could have a couple of big yardage days.
LIONS OVER PACKERS

Bills at Jaguars
The Bills had a huge Week one. Roscoe Parrish had a huge return for a touchdown that broke the game open against the Seahawks, which the Bills won. The Jaguars lost 17-10 to the Titans.

The Bills looked good in week one. I think Marshawn Lynch and Maurice Jones-Drew will have two huge games.

JAGUARS OVER BILLS

Raiders At Chiefs
Both of these teams lost their Week One Games. The Chiefs lost to the Patriots 17-10. The Raiders lost to the Raiders 42-14.

Darren McFadden and Larry Johnson could tear up the opposing defense and the field.
CHIEFS OVER RAIDERS

Colts At Vikings
How funny. I picked these two teams to meet in the Super Bowl, and they are meeting each other in the second week of the season. If the Colts defense had trouble against Matt Forte, how much more trouble will they have against Adrian Peterson? Peyton Manning looked incredibly rusty in his loss to the Bears. Colts fans hope that Peyton will get his rhythm back this week.
VIKINGS OVER COLTS

Giants At Rams
The Giants looked solid in their week one debut. You would never have known the Rams were even on the field the way the Eagles blew them out in week one. The Rams have problems that will take more than a week to fix. The Giants will blitz early and often. Will the Rams be ready?
GIANTS OVER RAMS

Saints At Redskins
The Saints will be without Deep Threat Marques Colston. Drew Brees and Jason Campbell could engage in a Quarterback Duel. The team that makes the least mistakes will win.
REDSKINS OVER SAINTS

4:05 PM EST GAMES

49ers At Seahawks
Both of these teams lost in Week One. The 49ers were beaten by the Cardinals, while Seattle lost to the Bills. Alex Smith's season is over. Expect Frank Gore to be even more of a factor in this game. How will Jullius Jones fare? If this game comes down to the passing game, Seattle should win.
SEAHAWKS OVER 49ERS

Falcons At Buccaneers
Last Week, Matt Ryan had the greatest debut any Quarterback could ever have. Matt Ryan threw a 64 yard touchdown pass in the first pass he ever threw. The Buccaneers lost to the New Orleans Saints. Jeff Garcia may not play in this game.
FALCONS OVER BUCCANEERS

4: 15 PM EST GAMES

Dolphins At Cardinals
Last Week, Chad Pennington faced his old team and was outdueled by Brett Favre. Will he get outdueled by another Ginslinger, Kurt Warner? Warner made smart decsions in the Cardinals win over the 49ers. I'll go with Arizona. Their passing game could give them the edge in this game.
CARDINALS OVER DOLPHINS

Chargers At Broncos
The Broncos beat down the Raiders in their Week One win. The Chargers lost the game on the final play, as Jake Delhomme threw the game winning touchdown pass. Shawne Merriman will not play this season after all. LaDanian Tomlinson didn't have a big game against the Panthers, and I don't expect him to have one against Denver either. This game has two great young Quarterbacks in Jay Cutler and Phillip Rivers going head to head. If this game comes down to the running game and special teams, San Diego will win. If this game comes down to the passing game, Denver should win.
CHARGERS OVER BRONCOS

Jets At Patriots (The Game Of The Week)
This game should be fun to watch. You have Brett Favre, the experienced veteran taking on Matt Cassell, who will the Patriots Quarterback for the rest of the season now that Tom Brady is out for the season. Cassel was criticized for his play in Preseason. Patriots fans better hope he steps it up in the regular season, or New England could be in trouble.

I remember what I wrote in my blog after Brett Favre joined The Jets:

"The Patriots won't go 16-0 again this season. "Broadway Brett" will make sure of it."

I said that a month ago, and I stand by that now. The Jets will beat the Patriots.
JETS OVER PATRIOTS

SUNDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
BROWNS AT STEELERS
The Steelers impressed in their Week One debut. The Browns did not. Willie Parker rushed for three touchdowns against the Texans, while Jamal Lewis was shut down by the Cowboy defense. The Browns defense will have to stop Willie Parker if they want to win this game. Ben Rothelisberger could be poised for a big day through the air.
STELLERS OVER BROWNS

MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL
EAGLES AT COWBOYS
Donovan McNabb destroyed the Rams in Week One. Tony Romo survived against The Browns. Marion Barber bruised his ribs in Week One, so expect to see more of Felix Jones this season. He looked really good in his NFL debut. His first NFL Carry was a rushing touchdown. The Cowboys defense will have to blitz McNabb and force him to move around in the pocket. The Cwoboyswill also have to contain Reggie Brown, who looks great after one week.

The fact that the NFC East has two potential playoff contenders and the Super Bowl Champions is proof that the NFC East is the toughest divison in the NFL.
COWBOYS OVER EAGLES

Enjoy The Games Everyone!

Eagles Lure Asante Samuel Away From Patriots

Asante Samuel will play for the team he beat in Super Bowl XXXIX, the Philladelphia Eagles.

Asante Samuel has such good hands and terrific instincts that the All-Pro cornerback rarely drops the ball, one reason why he has 16 interceptions the last two years.

The Eagles instincts were on the ball, too, that Samuel was the kind of playmaker they desperately needed to strengthen a defense that recorded an NFL-worst 19 takeaways in 2007.

Philadelphia got its first one of 2008, signing the free-agent cornerback to a six-year contract on Friday and ending Samuel's five-year stint in New England.

"I just want a chance to be able to win and get back to the Super Bowl," Samuel said. "That's why I picked the Philadelphia Eagles."

Samuel, an All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection this past season, knows something about making timely picks. Samuel, who won two Super Bowl rings, has 22 career interceptions in 75 games.

"We regarded Asante as the No. 1 available free agent in the NFL," Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie said.

The Eagles wasted little time making an offer, reportedly worth around $57 million with $20 million guaranteed, on the first day of the free agent period.

The Eagles badly needed a shutdown corner - or a "pick magnet," as his agent called him - like Samuel. Philadelphia had only 11 interceptions last year and failed to score a defensive touchdown to go along with its abysmal takeaway record.


Free-Agent Central Keep up to date with all the comings and goings of the NFL free agency period and check out Alex Marvez's blog for all the latest notes, rumors and analysis. Samuel, a fourth-round draft pick in 2003, also tied the NFL career playoff record with three interceptions returned for TDs.

He was protected by New England last year by the franchise player tag. When asked if he felt underappreciated in New England, Samuel declined to comment.

"You just have to try to block it out of your mind," said Samuel of the tag.

Samuel tied Denver's Champ Bailey for the NFL lead with 10 interceptions in 2006 and returned two more picks for touchdowns in the postseason against the Jets and Colts. His 12 total interceptions in the 2006 regular season and playoffs were the highest combined single-season total in Patriots history.

Samuel kept New England's perfect 2007 regular season alive in late November against the Eagles. He returned an interception 40 yards for a touchdown and had a second pick off A.J. Feeley that halted a late Philadelphia drive in New England's 31-28 victory.

Samuel also won a Super Bowl ring when the Patriots beat the Eagles by three points in the Super Bowl in 2005.

So did the Patriots really know all of Philadelphia's signals before the game?

"This is over," said coach Andy Reid, with a laugh.

The acquisition means the Eagles will likely trade or shift positions for either Lito Sheppard or Sheldon Brown.

Sheppard, a two-time Pro Bowl selection, is reportedly unhappy with his contract. The Eagles denied a report earlier this month that Sheppard, who signed a five-year extension in 2004, had asked for or been given permission to seek a trade.

Reid said Samuel will be the starting left cornerback, or, what was Sheppard's starting job.

"When you have an opportunity to get the best one in the business, then you need to look at that," Reid said.

Samuel hoped Sheppard and Brown would be on the roster and felt the trio could give the Eagles perhaps the best secondary in the NFL.

Samuel said the Eagles were on the top of a list of four teams he considered visiting. After the Eagles gave him a hard sell on the first day free agents could sign, Samuel decided to stay in Philly.

"When you come to one that makes you happy, why wait around?" Samuel said.

Samuel is the latest in a line of former New England Super Bowl winners who have moved on, joining Deion Branch, Adam Vinatieri, David Givens and Daniel Graham.

Samuel did allow New York's David Tyree to get loose for a touchdown and the cornerback muffed a potential clinching interception with less than 2 minutes left in the Giants' 17-14 upset win in the Super Bowl. The stinging loss was still tough for him to get over.

"He'll have a chance to recover twice this year," Reid said.

The Eagles finished in last place in the NFC East at 8-8, the same division that includes the Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, whose 13-3 record was the best in the conference.