Twitter Mailbag: Top Receiving Tandem, ’04 Or Today?

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.

 From @mikelom88: Hypothetical, Michael Vick gets hurt twice for 4 games total & Nick Foles plays excellent, what’s the chance Foles is the starter next year?

Brian Westbrook made a bold statement the other day, suggesting that if Vick goes down for a few games and Foles steps in and performs, that the Eagles should ride with the rookie even when Vick returns. That is not a decision that can be made lightly. If you choose to keep Vick on the bench, then you are essentially tying your future to Foles. If you pull Foles in and out of the lineup as a rookie, it’s no big deal. He doesn’t have any grand expectations and has the mindset that Vick is the guy. If you keep a healthy Vick out, however, you have a problem on your hands. He will be upset, some veterans in the locker room will be upset, and you would have to think a trade request/demand would be right around the corner. If you make that move, you better be damn sure Foles is legit.

As far as next year, logic suggests Vick is gone if Foles proves his worth in spot play.

From @SlyTango: what is the deal with Fletcher Cox? Nobody is talking about this guy at all. Should we worry about another 1st round flop?

He is probably the least of my concerns, to be honest. He is a starter already, and is going to be hard to handle inside. Maybe really hard to handle. Would you have liked to see him get more than three tackles this preseason? Yes. But you saw signs that he will be disruptive as advertised, which is what you’re looking for. If he is a bust I will be completely shocked.

From @Eazy56: Can u find out how many total receiving yds & TD’s T.O & Pinkston had in 2004 vs. D. Jac & Mac together?

Terrell Owens had 77 catches for 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns in 14 games for the Eagles in 2004. Todd Pinkston had 36 grabs for 676 yards and a touchdown that season. That’s a combined 113 catches for 1,876 yards and 15 scores.

Maclin and Jackson’s best combined season looks to be 2010. Maclin had 70 catches for 964 yards and 10 touchdowns, while Jackson posted 47 catches for 1,056 yards and six TDs in 14 games. That’s 117 catches for 2,020 yards and 16 touchdowns. 

Maclin and Jackson come out ahead in every category as a tandem.

The Daily News compared the ’04 team overall to the current group.

From @PhillyFollower: Who’s the next Eagle to officially retire as one?

I bounced this question off a few people, and I have to think the answer is Donovan McNabb.

Jon Runyan is a possibility, I suppose, especially since Tra Thomas just had his ceremony. His playing days might be too far gone now, though. Same for Jeremiah Trotter.

I don’t really see guys like Sheldon Brown or Lito Sheppard getting the honor, and no shot that T.O. is getting back inside the NovaCare walls. Once McNabb decides to finally hang them up, I can see  him being honored in fairly short order. David Akers also has an outside shot.