What They’re Saying: Eagles Take a Beating


Time to check in on what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week. You probably could have guessed, but Michael Vick and Andy Reid are the focus of criticism around the country. Here’s the roundup:

ESPN analyst Tedy Bruschi says Michael Vick has a “Hero Ball” complex:

“Vick has this complex to me, it’s called Hero Ball. It’s something he tries to play, and I’m not high on him because he hasn’t gotten better with that. Hero Ball, meaning, you talk about it in basketball where somebody tries to take over an entire game, doesn’t pass, goes up, layups, dunks, jump shots, all of that stuff, playing Hero Ball. I think that’s what Vick does on the football field. … He’s got a Hero Ball mentality, and it’s a complex he needs to overcome.”

SI.com’s Don Banks explains why Vick’s performance is so concerning:

Watching Vick’s erratic play against the Browns, it’s fair to question whether he’ll ever truly fit in Reid’s West Coast offense and play efficiently enough within that pass-first system, which requires and rewards accuracy and timing. He’s still forcing throws no veteran quarterback should attempt, struggling to settle for what a defense gives him and absorbing way too much contact despite repeatedly talking about his need to limit such pounding. At this point, was the aberration Vick’s effective 2010 showing, or everything that has come after it? Maybe Vick is what he has been of late, and the reality of that is just slowly sinking in.

Jason Whitlock of FoxSports.com with some harsh words for Reid:

In a tight game the Eagles led for much of the day, Reid waited until the fourth quarter, until after Vick’s fourth interception, to realize he needed to feature McCoy. Vick threw the ball 56 times on a day McCoy averaged 5.5 yards per carry.

Andy Reid is a moron. I mean that. I don’t care how many regular-season games he’s won. Or maybe Reid wants Vick carried off on a cart so the Eagles can switch to a quarterback who can actually play the game from the pocket with some savvy.

Brian Billick of FoxSports.com moves the Eagles from No. 1 to 12 in his power rankings:

So putting the Eagles at the No. 1 spot was obviously a bold projection, and just because I’m moving them down 11 spots this week, doesn’t mean I’m ready to panic just yet. Juan Castillo’s defense held Trent Richardson to just 2.1 yards per carry on 19 attempts, a huge improvement over last year’s squad which struggled against the run.

Elliot Harrison of NFL.com dropped the Eagles a couple spots in his power rankings:

That was about as ugly a win as you’ll ever see in the National Football League. Thank goodness for Brandon Weeden (four interceptions), who managed to play just a hair worse than Michael Vick. A win is a win is a win?

The Birds dropped from 7 to 12 in ESPN.com’s power rankings:

Nothing’s going to matter if Michael Vick can’t stop the turnovers.

Pete Prisco of CBSSports.com has the Eagles eighth:

Mike Vick sure didn’t look like Mike Vick against the Browns. What happened to that offense?

Clark Judge of CBSSports.com recognizes Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie’s impressive Week 1 performance:

He had two interceptions and four pass breakups in the Eagles’ escape of Cleveland. Somebody had to come to the club’s rescue, and it wasn’t going to be Michael Vick. It was DRC and a defense that produced four takeaways.

ESPN’s Herm Edwards says Eagles fans should not be worried:

There is no doubt that the Eagles could have had a more impressive victory in Cleveland. It’s very difficult to win in the NFL when you turn the ball over five times. Vick needs to play much better, take care of the ball and not take as many risks. But at the end of the day, a win is a win. They’re on top of the NFC East and one game closer to returning to the playoffs.

The Pro Football Talk crew has the Eagles eighth in its power rankings:

A win is a win, but the teams that will be playing the Eagles over the next few months are surely feeling better about the chances of getting a win over Philly.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.