Holler Back: L.T. & Brian Westbrook Shown The Door

It’s a cold game in the NFL, but it’s only business and sometimes tough (but easy) decisions need to be made to save cheese for the good of the team. Monday it was LaDainian Tomlinson aka the other L.T., released after 9 seasons with the Chargers and Tuesday it was Brian Westbrook, a Philly-area legend since his college days at Villanova getting released after 8 seasons with the Eagles. Both men were known for their versatility and ability to do work and consequently both saw their careers derailed by injury and over-usage.

While on the surface the average square may be convinced that football players make big cheese based on the ridiculous contract numbers that get thrown around, the reality is that the NFL has some of the grimiest contracts in the sporting world. It’s known that beyond what’s guaranteed in the contract everything else really isn’t as most are backloaded with roster bonuses and absurd final year’s of deals that will never be reached, because the deals are non-binding. At any point a team can decided to tell a player to holler back to avoid having to break bread.

That’s why you can never be mad at a player for demanding contract extensions and renegotiations if they feel they have outperformed their deal. In one of the most violent sports in the game players understand that injuries are just an inevitable aspect of football, they are unavoidable like smashing groupies on the road. With a short shelf life you have to get as much cheese as you can get, while you can get it.

Michael Vick’s Finally Getting His Mojo Back

If you don’t roll with Mike Vick, then you’re crazier than a shithouse rat. For Philly, the city that has become the home for embattled superstars from Bad News Virginia, the Vick experiment can be deemed successful, while Iverson’s return to the Sixers is still open to debate. The Eagles have eased Vick into their offensive scheme and have used his capabilities to throw off defenses at random points throughout the game.

Donovan McNabb at least appears to be rolling with the use of Vick, even in goal line situations where a thirst for a TD might cloud one’s vision. Allowing Vick to throw the ball more, will keep opposing defenses confused and when McNabb and Vick are on the field together, the options are unlimited.

With 3 TD in the last 2 games, Vick is going to force the Eagles to make a tough decision next season. Even though Vick has expressed his desire to be a starting quarterback, the Eagles have him by the nuts and his $5 mill salary next season really isn’t that bad considering his potential trade value.

Regardless of what happens next season, the Eagles have a golden opportunity to do something special this year. Currently a game atop the NFC East, the Week 17 showdown at Cowboys Stadium could be the stuff of legend. If the games ends up being for the NFC East title, you can best believe that the Eagles will have something up their sleeve with Vick in mind.

A bootleg version of Vick’s pass to DeSean Jackson after the jump…

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The News From The Mike Vick News Conference…

Here goes the highlights from the Vick News Conference that just happened. And it is official…Mike Vick is an Eagle! Here’s what we learned from the press conference:

Mike Vick is extremely sorry for what he did, he wasn’t the same Mike Vick that we once knew on that podium at the press conference. He seemed defeated and down, but at the same time ready to get up and fight again.

Donovan McNabb actually lobbied and talked to Coach Reid about Michael Vick to come play in Philadelphia. So everyone can squash all that talk about McNabb being salty that Vick is coming back to his team.

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