Eagles football media relations chief Derek Boyko issued this text message:


"Eagles head coach Andy Reid confirms that Michael Vick is the team's starting QB. Eagles will resume practice on Thursday when Reid and players will be available."

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Eagles talk time tonight at 7 on WIP 94.1 FM with @Brian Startare. Plenty to chat about.


Click here to listen.

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In the good old days.

DeSean Jackson weighed in on rookie Nick Foles during a Tuesday morning interview on NFL AM.

Jackson was asked point-blank if playing Foles at quarterback this week instead of Michael Vick would benefit the Eagles, who have lost three straight games and are 3-4.

"I know Nick Foles," Jackson said. "I know what he’s capable of doing. He’s definitely a great quarterback. Very young, too at the same time. It’s just one of those things you never know until it happens. We’ll go into work tomorrow and see if anything’s changed or what’s new."

Jackson didn't trash Vick during the interview but didn't have a lot of complimentary things to say about about the passer or embattled Eagles head coach Andy Reid.

Click here for the entire interview.

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Needs time off to heal that banged-up right hand.

Daily Times Eagles writer Bob Grotz was on WIP Monday morning to talk about the Eagles. He expects a major change before next Monday night's game against New Orleans.

CLICK HERE to listen to Bob

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The time is Nick Foles'.

Michael Vick isn't running the West Coast offense.

It's tough trying to figure out what the veteran is operating partly because of the restructured offensive line, the less than precision routes run by the receivers and the ever-changing offensive philosophy.

One week the Eagles want to be vertical. The next week they're dink and dunk. One week
they're dedicated to running back LeSean McCoy. The next week he's forgotten.

The arguments to keep Vick on the job have merit. This one in BleacherReport suggests putting rookie quarterback Nick Foles into such a pressure packed-situation would be all but fatal to the Eagles' season.

Foles, however, can't run the offense worse than Vick is right now. He'll take some hits, for sure. At 6-6, 243-pounds, he can take a lot of hits. Foles also will find receivers. He'll get the Eagles first downs that will give the defense fresher. And guess what? Foles looks like he's going to be very good in the red zone. His height, release and quick decision-making are advantages.

It will take time. Some veterans won't like what could be construed as a move more about giving up on the season.

The reality is there isn't much of a season right now with Michael Vick at quarterback. By his own admission he's done the best he can. He's given it everything he has.

And the Eagles are 3-4 for it.

It's time to try another quarterback.

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Angelo Cataldi, Rhea Hughes, Al Morganti, Keith Jones and myself try to sort out the signals Andy Reid sent at his news conference Sunday.

Click here to listen.

Like Tony Gonzalez said, "Something is going to go down."

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Eagles killing a good tailgating vibe.

After that first half, newly appointed Eagles defensive coordinator Todd Bowles might want to leave the field for the press box - and a better view of the carnage.

The Eagles trail 24-7 at the intermission. And it wasn't because Asante Samuel lost the coin flip calling 'tails' for the Falcons and Eagles head coach Andy Reid, for the first time this season elected to defer.

The Falcons took the ball, Matt Ryan ramming it down the throats of Bowles' defense and never looked back.

The Eagles have been out-gained 252-94, out-first-downed 17-8 and out-coached.

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Melody, Phyllis and Ovid fired up on Eagles day.

Eagles right guard Danny Watkins was deactivated Sunday, paving the way for rookie Dennis Kelly's first professional start.

Watkins has what head coach Andy Reid calls a "chronic ankle."

Also activated for the game is newly signed center Matt Tennant.

The Eagles also scratched linebacker Jamar Chaney, offensive lineman Nate Menkin, defensive end Vinny Curry, wide receiver Damaris Johnson, running back Dion Lewis and quarterback Trent Edwards.

The Falcons deactivated banged-up slot receiver Harry Douglas, a key contributor along with offensive lineman Joe Hawley and Lamar Holmes,  quarterback Dominique Davis, and defensive linemen Travian Robertson, Jonathan Massaquoi and Cliff Matthews.

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Bringing some A gap heat today.

OFFENSE: As the O-line goes, so go the Eagles. At least one and likely two changes this week. Falcons have underrated O-line and are loaded with talent.

Edge: Falcons

DEFENSE: The new coordinator, Todd Bowles, is going to bring A gap pressure that will flush Matt Ryan from the pocket and make this game interesting.

Edge: Eagles 

SPECIAL TEAMS: Neither team is lighting it up here. If DeSean Jackson returns punts, advantage Eagles.

Edge: Falcons

COACHING: Andy Reid or Mike Smith? Hard to believe there's actually a choice to make. Reid is 13-0 in games immediately after the bye.

Edge:  Eagles

INTANGIBLES: With nasty weather on the way, the home field advantage is huge .

Edge: Eagles

Analysis: Tough to defend the Eagles on any front these days. Blaming their 3-3 start on the defensive coordinator is more than over the top. The Falcons (6-0) haven’t beaten a winning team.

The Pick: Make it Eagles 20, Falcons 17.

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Donated autographed football.

Eagles safety Nate Allen will appear at Modell’s “Footballstories Live” at 8 p.m. Monday at McFadden’s Ballpark, Citizen’s Bank Park to take questions from fans.

Allen joins Footballstories Magazine writers Al Thompson and Rock Hoffman for a special fans-only, meet-and-greet Q & A session. Admission is free for the hour-long program.

“This show is for Eagles fans that come to McFadden’s Ballpark to meet Nate and have fun asking questions and the opportunity to meet one of the top Eagles defensive players who are challenging for another NFC East title,” Thompson said. “Fans are not coming to McFadden’s to watch a radio show but to be part of a live happening put together just for them.”

The Monday night football game starts at 8:30 and pits the Arizona Cardinals against the San Francisco 49ers.

Before  the game Woodbury Nissan will raffle a Mike Vick autographed ball. All proceeds go to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer research Foundation.

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Casey Matthews is part of Eagles' suspect 2011 draf

The recent performance of Danny Watkins cannot help but raise questions about his so-called "chronic ankle" injury.

If rookie Dennis Kelly starts Sunday at right guard, it should be framed less a case of medical circumstances than it is an upgrade for a shaky line.

The underachieving Watkins was the first pick of the 2011 draft the Eagles would like to forget.

Of 11 total picks, the Eagles have cut second-rounder Jai Jarrett, fifth-rounder Julian Vandervelde, sixth-rounder Brian Rolle and seventh-round choice Greg Lloyd. Vandervelde since has been added to the practice squad.

The productive picks from the 2011 draft are center Jason Kelce (sixth round), kicker Alex Henery (fourth round) and fullback Stanley Havili (seventh). Kelce is on injured reserve.

Curtis Marsh (third round), Casey Matthews (fourth) and Dion Lewis (fifth) haven’t exactly excelled.

If Kelly starts it will be the third different offensive line combination for the Eagles this season.

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Will you?

More than anything, Asante Samuel was real intercepting 23 passes in four seasons with the Eagles.


When his tackling was criticized Samuel announced that the Eagles didn't bring him in to tackle. And he was right. They wanted interceptions. A few years later the general manager said basically that the Eagles didn't add Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie or Nnamdi Asomugha to tackle.

When Samuel's livelihood was threatened following the acquisition of the the preceding cornerbacks he took it like a superstar. Didn't like it but he did his job. Late in his final season with the Eagles, Samuel's jarring tackle in Miami produced a fumble he himself recovered. Go figure.

It all comes full circle Sunday when Samuel and the Falcons come to the Linc. Samuel said in this piece the fans "better  cheer me.

"Or we're going to have a problem right there in Lincoln Financial Field," Samuel said. "All you fans, all I did for y'all, Y'all better cheer for me."

Will you cheer for Asante Samuel Sunday?

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