Now What?

Man, that was crushing.

The Eagles just didn't have anything in this 34-14 loss to the Cowboys. They were overwhelmed. McNabb looked dreadful, but he was running for his life all night.

I really thought the Eagles would bounce back and make this game close, and that whichever team had the ball last would win. Well the second quarter sealed the Birds fate. After the Sean Jones interception was taken away, the Birds deflated. They never got their attitude back. It spiraled out of control within minutes of that twist of fate.

So now the Eagles head into the off-season in an interesting position - they have three starting quarterbacks. They're almost certaionly going to trade two of them.

So yes, I think it's the end of the McNabb era.

The Eagles' front office is a "value front office" - if they can turn a player into the right draft choice, they'll do the deal. And there are a ton of teams that need a QB - Cleveland, Carolina, St. Louis, Oakland, Washington, Miami, maybe Denver - and that's just off the top of my head. One of them will pay a good ransom for McNabb.

As for Kolb, I think he's a better fit for what the Eagles have offensively. They need a point guard that can distribute the ball. They need Mo Cheeks, not Allen Iverson.

McNabb's had a just-short-of-great career here. But it really does feel like time to turn the page.

More to come in the days ahead.

Win One For The Spitter

While we're all sitting around wondering if this will be McNabb and/or Westbrook's last game in Midnight Green and hoping that the Eagles can "win one for the Spitter," I'm here to talk about what needs to happen on the field tonight.

Here's One Man's Guide for erasing the ugly memory of 24-zip:

1. Play Trotter. A lot. I can't believe I'm saying it because I killed the guy for a big block of the season, but he's like Obi Wan Kenobi for the Eagles tonight against the run - he's their only hope. Trotter was outstanding in the second half last week. True, he can't cover Witten, but nobody else can either (although I'm also hoping we Tracy White getting that assignment). Trot's veteran leadership will also be a big plus in this environment. And while we're talking defense, give me more Sean Jones, less Macho Harris.

2. Lean on Westbrook, not Shady. I know everybody thinks 36 is shot, but I disagree. He's still a better all around back than the rookie McCoy, and if the Eagles give him the rock 15 times tonight, it'll be good.

3. Run early, run often. As a corollary to #2, I'd like to see nine of the first 15 plays be called runs. I know it's asking a lot, but it'll pay dividends. Trust me. McNabb still needs to be firing it deep - the Eagles can't win without big plays - but the offense needs to fire some of these body blows early. Certainly, Dallas won't be expecting it, and if you can draw those safeties up a couple steps, DeSean Jackson will toast them.

4. Send the dogs after Romo like he's been slathered in bacon. To paraphrase Churchill, Never stop blitzing - never, never, never, never! (oops - "blitz" and "Churchill" probably shouldn't be together here) I don't think any of us would mind if Sean McDermott released the hounds on 100 percent of the Eagles defensive snaps in this game. Passive ain't working. Go get 'em, Seanny.

5. Score first. This is always a good idea, but I think it's just about imperative for the Eagles tonight. An early Cowboys' score and the doubt could creep into the Eagles minds. An early haymaker by the Eagles will show the Cowboys that this game is going to be a teensy bit different.

Remember, the Andy Reid and Donovan NcNabb Eagles typically bounce back after a bad game. And Donovan is 8-2 career in first and second round playoff games.

And here's another thing to remember - David Akers is waaaay better than Shaun Suisham. That just might be the difference.

What Spadaro Should've Done

By now, you've all heard about what Bob Ford called LoogieGate - Eagles website director Dave Spadaro's spitting on the Cowboy's logo last Sunday - and you've heard or seen Spadaro's tortured apology.

My thoughts as someone whose real job is working in public relations - he should not have apologized.

I mean, please.

Here's what Spadaro should've said:

"I shouldn't have done it, but it was done in the spirit of fun and rivalry. People need to lighten up."

Don't act like you killed a litter of kittens. Spadaro's hand-wringing online made this story far worse and far bigger than it ever would've or should've been. We live in a country where protesters burn the American flag and "artists" makes crucifixes out of feces. The Cowboys star is not sacred. If you're an Eagles' fan, it isn't even close.

I like Dave - he's a good guy and does a good job as someone who is at the forefront of a new breed of journalism. (There are plenty of people who don't like that new breed of journalism; they should also go back to driving Model T's and churning butter.) But I completely disagree with his politically correct overreaction. A far better reaction would've been to say "yeah I did it... so what?"

He didn't hurt anybody. He isn't Tiger Woods. It wasn't the most professional moment of his life, I'm sure, but let's not tie ourselves up in knots about it.

Hopefully now, the Eagles can go out and win one for the Spitter.

Boys/Birds - Who's Better?

I fear that John Smallwood is right.

How Do You Bounce Back?

Getting up off the mat will be the big test for the Eagles this week.

Coming home with their tails between their legs, getting the tar kicked out of them in practice, then flying back down to Dallas - that's what the Birds have ahead of them. How do you shake off everything bad that happened today and feel good about yourself going into next week's game?

It seems like a daunting task.

But the players don't think so. I just spoke with Jon Dorenbos from the locker room and here's what I can tell you - the players are angry. Dorenbos said turning back around and playing winning football in Big D won't be hard.

"We're professional athletes; we've all lost games and we've bounced back," said Dorenbos.

The Eagles looked physically manhandled in the 1st half,and that's scary. They bowed up in the 2nd half and looked far better on defense. So I think we have to assume that they can physically hang with Dallas. Right?

Right?

Worst Half of the Year?

I'll be brief - ouch.

The Eagles looks small, slow and confused. Sean McDermott seems completely outflanked by Jason Garrett. And the "great young receivers" should really think about holding onto the ball. This could still be a game if they didn't have the dropsies.

The only thing I'm dreading more than the 2nd half is the next week of preparing for another Cowboys game in Dallas.

Missing Jamaal

So, as you know by now, Eagles center Jamaal Jackson is out for the rest of the season with a torn ACL. It's a blow because Jackson was having a good season. It's especially difficult today against the Cowboys because Jay Ratliff is a very good nose tackle.

But the statement at the bottom of this is just stone cold stupid. To say the Eagles will miss Jamaal Jackson more than they've missed Stewart Bradley is standard sportswriter idiocy. It's a mediocre writer saying "look at me - I know so much about football that I can appreciate a center!"

Not to say that Jackson hasn't had a really good season, and not to say that he won't be missed. But the Eagles can fill in for Jackson better than they did for Bradley for the simple fact that Nick Cole and Max Jean-Gilles have played and started and the Eagles have won with them.

The season-long search for a passable Mike linebacker has had a crushing effect on the Eagles D. They simply don't have anyone of the right size and speed to play the position.

But Cole and MJG are big enough and mobile enough to be effective. The O-line won't be as solid without Jackson, but please. They'll get by.

It'll be interesting today to see the Eagles first half run-pass ratio. Will they run more to get Cole and Max Jean rolling, give them a little more confidence? That would slow down the Cowboy pass rush, and it just might pick up a few yards.

This game - and consequently the NFC East - will be won or lost when the Eagles have the ball. The Birds' offense is explosive; the Cowboys defense is third in the League. That's the game, right there. The Eagles must do a better job in the red zone than they did in the first meeting - touchdowns, not field goals.

Again, that's the game. And Cole and Jean-Gilles will have to be a part of that. Creating a comfort zone early for them will be important. Some early success will be a big boost. So, a few extra runs early will help them overcome the loss of Jackson and open things up for that offensive explosion we all hope is coming.