After another weekend of rumor-slinging from Dallas to Delaware about the potential acquisition of contractually embattled Arizona wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, the Inquirer’s Bob Brookover has finally had enough. The headline of his story —”A trade for Larry Fitzgerald? Don’t count on it” — essentially says it all, but just in case any glimmers of hope survived that upfront assault, Brookover stomps all over them halfway through the piece: “It’s not going to happen.”

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Today’s Daily Examiner end quote comes courtesy of Inquirer scribe Bob Ford, who adds his take on the “Randy Moss played the Philadelphia Eagles for chumps” meme. Like every other person in this city, he feels the need to deliver a low blow to the current wide receiver lineup:

The Eagles, always adept at denying the obvious, insist their current group of wide receivers is just fine — although as far as we can tell, it does still include Greg Lewis.

Bob Ford: Eagles’ offer to Moss suggests receiver concern [Inquirer]

Today at noon, NFL.com will offer a live broadcast of Green Bay Packers quarterback Brett Favre’s retirement press conference — the equivalent of a somber eulogy for many a worshipful Midwestern cheeseface and fawning NFL analyst. Put the Eagles’ Donovan McNabb on that list as well, as the oft-injured quarterback dropped in on his Yardbarker blog not to ask for more playmakers, but to honor Favre.

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More Eagles receiver-mongering ensues courtesy of the nosy Gary Cobb and bloodhound Micah Warren, who’ve actually done a good job of sniffing along the pee-stained trail of the team’s plans during the current free agency period. The latest news is that, according to their source, the Birds are not giving up on trying to acquire a number-one wide receiver. Still at the top of the list is trading for Larry Fitzgerald, but Warren reports that the Birds do have contingency plans in place:

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So, as every reporter with an off-the-record source in the Eagles organization will tell you, the Birds went hard after Randy Moss and lost out in the final moments even though they offered a more lucrative deal. As fans, it seems like all of that yelling, screaming and hollering finally made enough financial sense this season for Banner and Co. to go after that long-overdue playmaker on offense — and not just a playmaker, THE preeminent playmaker in the league last season. Good for them. They’re doing something. Alas, we’ve still got Reggie Brown as our number one.

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It’s still wishful thinking, but it feels like the rumblings about the Eagles not letting Patriots free agent cornerback Asante Samuel leave the musty confines of the Nova Care Complex this afternoon without a hefty contract could actually be legit.

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Let us now bow our heads and speak in hushed tones over the departure of one of this city’s most lackluster free-agent signings in sports history. Jevon Kearse, whose services as a pass-rushing force have been caked with rust ever since he stepped foot in Philly four years ago, has finally been mercifully relieved of his duties.

All of those suckers who plopped down their hard-earned dollars for a $40 Kearse jersey at Modell’s soon after he was handed $20 million in 2004 should be relieved about the change in wardrobe. For a more pointed, critical door-hit-ass take on the Kearse release, we turn our attention to the always feisty and opinionated Ciara Todd, who still can’t stop smiling since hearing the news:

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This is exactly the kind of leadership we need. Bucks County’s U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy won’t budge on his allegiance to the Philadelphia Eagles, even when high-hogging it on Capitol Hill. Turns out Murphy was the lone dissenter in a House resolution proposed on Wednesday congratulating the New York Giants on winning this year’s Super Bowl and “completing one of the most remarkable postseason runs in professional sports history.”

Murphy wouldn’t sign it. Not a chance. The scrappy congressman, who was a former 700-level security worker, told the Bucks County Courier Times: “I couldn’t, in good conscience, vote for the New York Giants. The only thing worse would have been a resolution honoring the Dallas Cowboys.”

One thing we can say about our state — its politicians could never be accused of disloyalty to our sports teams.

Murphy Won’t Cheer Giants [PhillyBurbs]

Baltimore Sun sportswriter Bill Ordine today breaks down the myriad reasons why trading Donovan McNabb to the Ravens would be a thundering brain fart for both clubs.

Ordine offers insight into Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome’s managerial style, highlighting the fact that during his six-year run he’s never given up anything higher than a third-round draft pick in a trade. (It’s safe to assume that the Eagles wouldn’t unload McNabb for that.) Plus, for a GM that’s built his team solidly through the draft, giving up the eighth pick would be completely antithetical.

Ordine, a former Inquirer sports reporter during the Buddy Ryan era, also gives ample reasons why the Eagles would be silly to participate in this trade:

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Shooting down an earlier report from ESPN’s Chris Mortensen that the Baltimore Ravens were thinking about putting together a substantial package to acquire Donovan McNabb’s quarterbacking services, Ravens GM Ozzie Newsome said the notion is preposterous.

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