The Eagles didn’t have a single player earn a Pro Bowl nod when the announcements were made last night.

But the question is: Was anyone deserving of the recognition? Here’s a roundup of what some national writers had to say.

Any time the talk of the Eagles potentially switching to 3-4 defense is brought up, the conversation generally hits a snag when you get to DeMeco Ryans.

The 27-year-old middle linebacker was shipped to Philadelphia from Houston with the label, “Can’t Play In A 3-4” written in big letters across the packaging.

Ryans says it was false advertising.

Few could have predicted such an eventful rookie season for Eagles quarterback Nick Foles.

As recently as mid-August, he seemed poised to be the team’s No. 3 option behind Michael Vick and Mike Kafka. But things can change quickly in the NFL. Kafka got injured, and Foles had a great preseason, earning the No. 2 spot.

After Vick suffered a concussion against Dallas, Foles got the call and started six games. While I’ve never agreed with assigning records to quarterbacks (considering all the other factors at play), we can at least note that the Eagles were 1-5 with Foles in the lineup.

“I didn’t do my job,” Foles said Wednesday. “The starting quarterback, you have to put more points on the board at whatever cost to win the game. If you look at it like that, which I do, I didn’t do my job and that’s something that I’ve got to keep working on.”

Would the hiring of Chip Kelly in Philadelphia take Nick Foles out of the quarterback equation?

Ron Jaworksi seems to think so.

“Nick Foles will not run a Chip Kelly offense if he decided to come here, rest assured of that,” Jaws told Jon Marks and Sean Brace on 97.5 The Fanatic. “If a coach like Chip Kelly…that runs this up-tempo, spread, speed-style option, these guys come here, there might be a future for Michael Vick. I know he’s [32], I know he’s been beat up, but I’ll tell you, some of the things I’m seeing, Michael Vick can do the same things these guys are doing in the spread option.”

Jason Babin unloaded on the Eagles organization today during a conference call with reporters who cover his old team, the Tennessee Titans.

Now with the Jaguars, the defensive end was asked if he was concerned being waived by the Eagles might mean the end of his football career.

“That was probably their approach because they don’t have amicable splits with people,” Babin said, per Adam Caplan. “You saw how dirty they did [Jim] Washburn with leaking out the false stories and the way they talked about him on the way out. It’s kind of a big socialistic system that they have. I didn’t really care. I’m only going to worry about what I can control, and that’s practicing hard, working hard and playing hard on Sunday.”

Michael Vick practiced on the scout team last week before the Eagles’ matchup with the Redskins.

On gameday, he was inactive, as a rookie third-round pick (Nick Foles) started and a journeyman who was out of the league last year (Trent Edwards) backed him up.

In his last 22 games, Vick’s thrown 23 interceptions and fumbled 20 times.

But if you’re expecting that the 32-year-old quarterback has lost any of his confidence, well, you’d be wrong.

Antonio Dixon is back. The Eagles signed the defensive tackle to a two-year deal and placed Nick Foles on Injured Reserve. Linebacker Marcus Dowtin was also signed to the practice squad.

Dixon played in Philadelphia from 2009-11, compiling  62 tackles and three sacks. He appeared in two games for the Colts this season but was released on October 29.

Dowtin (6-2, 226) recorded four special teams tackles in three games for the New York Jets this season. He was waived by the team on November 20.

Here’s the weekly roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles, including a call for Andy Reid to return and praise for Nick Foles.

Coming off an outstanding performance in Week 15 against the Bengals, the Eagles’ defensive line was not nearly as impressive Sunday afternoon against the Redskins

The D-Line failed to sack Robert Griffin III, although the Eagles certainly pressured him at times. Alfred Morris had 91 yards rushing, but he needed 22 carries (4.1 YPC).

Once again, the defense got no help from the other two phases. Washington’s five scoring drives started at its own 28, its own 41, its own 47, midfield and the Eagles’ 25. This is nothing new. Opponents have dominated the Birds in terms of field position all year long.

Focusing back on the pass-rush, here’s a look at opportunities (from Pro Football Focus), sacks, hurries (as tracked by the coaching staff) and pressure percentage (frequency with which each player notched a sack or hurry).

We have learned to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Eagles over recent years. From Michael Vick to Nnamdi Asomugha; Juan Castillo to Danny Watkins, just when we think we have them pegged, boom, they hit you with a left cross.

Perhaps that is why the city still has its collective guard up when it comes to the widespread sentiment that Andy Reid is on his way out. It is the anticipated move, the logic goes, so obviously the Eagles will do the opposite.

I can say with as much certainty as the Philadelphian in me allows that Reid’s last game as head coach of the Eagles will be this Sunday in New York. As early as Monday, Jeffrey Lurie will step to the podium and announce that after 14 years, it is time for a change.

Ah, but will there be a twist?

As Tim and I spend the day with our families, we wanted to extend another thank you to all the Birds 24/7 readers out there.

The Eagles’ 2012 campaign will end Sunday, but this franchise faces a crucial offseason. Decisions made in the next few months will determine the success of this organization for the next four or five years – at least.

We’ll have it all covered – from coaching staff changes to free agency to the draft.

Since we launched the site in late July, we’ve been overwhelmed by reader response and traffic numbers. So be sure to keep checking back early and often as we bring you complete coverage of the offseason.

And of course, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families.

The first time Michael Vick was named the Eagles starter, he got a call from Andy Reid while on stage at a Philadelphia-area charity event.

That was back in September of 2010, as Vick took advantage of an injury to Kevin Kolb and set off on an unexpected, remarkable stretch of football that convinced the Eagles that they had a new franchise quarterback.

Fast-forward to Christmas Eve, 2012, the day of another Vick charity function – this one in Newport News, Virginia. Vick got another call from Reid, who asked him to be his starting quarterback one last time.

“I said if there is ever a time you need me I’ll be right there,” said Vick in a phone conversation with Birds 24/7. “I thought I played my last game for the season but things can always go the other way in the game of football.”

The Eagles will have $3 million riding on Michael Vick’s ability to stay healthy Sunday afternoon.

We’ve discussed at length how they will owe Vick $3 million if he’s still on the roster on Feb. 6. But there’s one other scenario where they would have to pay that amount: if Vick suffers a serious injury next week against the Giants.

Andy Reid delivered some surprising news on Christmas Eve, announcing that Nick Foles suffered a hairline fracture to his throwing hand against the Redskins and will not be able to play against the Giants in the regular season finale.

His replacement? Michael Vick.

“He’s had a couple weeks of practice here. The first week I thought he was a little bit rusty out there; this past week I thought he threw it around well. He feels good,” said Reid of Vick. “He obviously deserves that opportunity to play. He’s excited about it — I had a chance to talk to him this morning — and he’ll be ready to go.”

Here’s a look at Eagles snap counts from Sunday’s loss to the Redskins. We’ll go position-by-position. So much for easing LeSean McCoy back in. The […]