Every Thursday we select a few of your Twitter questions and provide the long-form answers they deserve. For a chance to have your question published on Birds 24/7, send it to @Tim_McManus.
It didn’t take long for Antonio Brown‘s curious insult to make its way to Brandon Boykin.
“My phone was just blowing up after meetings,” said Boykin. “No matter what happens with social media now, you’ll find out anything. Actually my brother talked to me earlier, and he was more fired up about it than I was. He was like, ‘Man I want you to go out there and …’ I’m like, brother, just chill, it’s all good. Sunday we’ll see.”
The Steelers wide receiver fired a shot at Boykin, saying that that he expects the Steelers to pick on him Sunday and calling the rookie corner, ‘The candy bar.”
“I didn’t even get it. I was confused,” said Boykin. “It’s good. It’s doing nothing but giving me a little bit more attention. I have to go out and do what I do, and if I do it right, he’s actually helped me in a sense. So tell him I appreciate it.”
Well, the Steelers are talking a little trash.
Receiver Antonio Brown is apparently not all that impressed with rookie corner Brandon Boykin, and expects Pittsburgh to pick on him.
Here’s a look at what we saw from the Eagles’ offense after having reviewed the All-22 tape from their win over the Giants Sunday night.
Michael Vick and DeMeco Ryans have formed somewhat of a leadership partnership. Each handles their respective units, and they confer regularly to make sure everything is running smoothly.
“That’s all we talk about is how we are going to lead both sides of the ball. I check in with him every day, ask how things are going. He checks in with me, and that’s how we do it,” said Vick.
“We both just feel like we are the leaders of the team and we have to step up and rise to the occasion when no one else will. Some guys just kind of…so we get everybody up, we rally everybody around us.”
With all the talk surrounding Nnamdi Asomugha‘s play Sunday night, we thought we would switch on the coaches tape to see what it revealed. The question being debated: Was Asomugha burned on a couple big plays against the Giants, or was he let down by his safeties?
Let’s zero in on back-to-back strikes from Eli Manning downfield midway through the fourth that set up the go-ahead score for New York.
Danny Watkins did not practice Wednesday because of a chest injury.
Andy Reid did not mention Watkins while detailing the injuries prior to practice. Watkins was seen on the field at the very beginning of the session but was listed as a non-participant along with Akeem Jordan (hamstring) and Derek Landri (knee swelling).
Colt Anderson (knee), Riley Cooper (collarbone) and King Dunlap (hamstring) all were able to practice.
Reid was noncommittal when asked about the starting left tackle spot for this week. Demetress Bell said after practice that he was running with the first team.
Andy Reid was vague when discussing his left tackle situation Wednesday. King Dunlap is back practicing after sitting out the last two games with a hamstring strain. Closer to when the injury first occurred, it appeared the job would go back to Dunlap when he was healthy. Bell has made progress since then, however, and the coaching staff was pleased with his performance against the Giants.
All things being equal, who is the starter?
Howie Roseman explained the move to cut Brian Rolle and sign linebacker Adrian Moten during his hit on the Eagles website Tuesday.
“Well we’ve got to improve on special teams,” said Roseman. “Our backup players — Jamar Chaney right now is our backup WILL linebacker behind Akeem Jordan — so those other roster spots have to play well on special teams. We’re looking for an upgrade in that area. Adrian came in last year and played well on special teams, played well for us during the preseason for us on special teams, and we’re looking for improvement in that area.”
The Eagles’ defense has seven sacks through four games. By this point last year, Jason Babin matched that total all by himself.
The numbers are down across the board. Juan Castillo‘s defense is on pace for 28 sacks, while last year’s unit amassed 50. Against the Giants, the Eagles failed to register a single quarterback hit on Eli Manning. The difference is the way the front four is being attacked.
If you missed it Monday, here is a podcast of the latest Birds 24/7 show. Joe DeCamara sat in with Tim to break down the Eagles’ win over the Giants.
Birds 24/7 airs on 97.5 The Fanatic every Monday during the football season from 6-7 and is live from 360 inside Parx Casino in Bensalem.
Please join me in congratulating my friend and colleague, Sheil Kapadia, who is now the proud father of a beautiful baby girl.
Sheil will be back posting in no time. And fear not, he has room enough in his heart for both his first born and the All-22 tape.
We wish his family nothing but the best.
— Tim
It was an up-an-down day the for linebackers Sunday against the Giants. That is particularly true for DeMeco Ryans.
Here’s the player-by-player breakdown of the ‘backers, after re-watching the game.
Brian Rolle got a call from an unknown “215” number this morning, and immediately took it as a bad sign.
“I thought, I guess I’m getting released. If its a ‘215’ number and I don’t have, that can’t be good,” Rolle said.
The call was from head coach Andy Reid, telling Rolle that he had in fact been cut.
Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about all things concerning the Eagles:
