Game 1

IT'S HERE! IT'S HERE!

The 76ers play their first regular season game tonight. Yes, I care.

Game 7 of a potentially legendary World Series? Go screw.

Derrick Rose walking again, and playing a basketball game? Go screw.

Brandon Davies, JaKarr Sampson, Malcolm Thomas, Alexey Shved? YES PLEASE.

Obviously, the real story line is the debut of the flat top Nerlens Noel and second round pick KJ McDaniels, but regardless of the atrocity that is this 15-man rotating roster I am fucking pumped.

Not only is it the first of a looooong 82 game season, but it is an opportunity for a win. The Sixers open their season on the road against the hobbled Indiana Pacers. A chance to open the 2nd year of Operation Tank with yet another win. Remember when Michael Carter-Williams beat the Heat on opening night last year? Haha. OF COURSE YOU DO.

Game 1/82. Let's get this W, I guess? #ShowYaLuv

EJ Manuel A Strong Possibility for Eagles Starting QB

EJ Maunel, the 6'-5" 237 lb. quarterback out of Florida State, seems to be a a front-runner for the future QB in this new Chip Kelly offense.

Kelly and Manuel spoke yesterday at the Senior Bowl in Mobile, AL about the possibility of coming to Philly.

"It was awesome just to see him again," Manuel said."It wasn't like I had just met him. I've known him for five years and was really happy to see the success he had as a coach. I'm sure he'll do the same in the NFL."

When Manuel was coming out of high school as a senior Kelly recruited him to run his Oregon offense, but Manuel opted to stay close to home rather than go to a school on the other side of the country.

The Eagles have the 4th overall pick, but choosing Manuel at that spot would just be absurd. He had an impressive season, tossing the rock for 3,392 yards (68% comp. pct) and adding 310 yards on the ground with his legs, but there are much better prospects that the Birds can draft at their current four spot.

Manuel led his Seminoles to an Orange Bowl victory on New Years day, making him just the second quarterback in FBS history to win four bowl games, so he's clearly a guy that knows how to perform in the big moments and not choke, errr puke (McNabb) in clutch moments.

Now That the Seahawks Are Out....

The Seattle Seahawks suffered a heart-breaking loss this past Sunday at the hands of the Matty Ice and the Atlanta Falcons.

Just stick with me, there's a tie here linking this Seahawks loss and the Eagles.

And that link is.......?

Gus Bradley. The Seahawks defensive coordinator, who I deemed the best fit to lead the Eagles next season.

His defense put on a poor performance in the first half of their loss to the Falcons in the NFC divisional round, much like they did the week before against RGIII and the 'Skins, spotting the Falcons a 20-point lead going into the second half.

Bradley and his D did bounce back in the second half, allowing just half of what they did in the first half. They were able to hold top-seeded Atlanta to just one touchdown in the 3rd quarter and just a field goal in the 4th quarter. The only problem with that field goal, is that it ended up being the game winner.

In his fourth year coaching the Seattle defense Bradley was able to lead his D to the coveted spot of the number one overall defense in the league, allowing just a shade above 15 points a game. Last season Bradley's defense finished ninth overall.

The Birds' brass, Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman along with team president Don Smolenski, have interviewed eleven coaches in their search, which is now in its third week, but Bradley seems to be the favorite after he was scheduled for a follow-up interview, which is to be held Tuesday (1/15/13).

Depending on how well Bradley impresses the Eagles, and vice versa, the Birds could quite possibly have their first head coach since 1998, other than that guy Andy Reid of course. 

Eagles Head Coaching Possibilities: Gus Bradley

After practically growing up with Andy Reid as my head coach, after all he was on the Eagles' sidelines for 14 of my 18 years of existence, it's strange seeing him in that Kansas City red rather than the Eagles' midnight green.

But, regardless if it is bizarre or not to me, the Birds have to go on with their search to find the man that's going to eventually right the awful ship that ended the season with an embarrassing 4-12 record.

The man to me, and sure some of you may be wondering just who the hell I am and why my opinion matters but that's neither here nor there, is Seahawks' defensive coordinator Gus Bradley.

Bradley and Pete Carroll reshaped the hideous franchise that once was living in the basement of the even more dismal NFC West division . They did this with some great schemes brought in to puzzle their opponents, schemes that worked so well that Bradley's defense was one of the most feared defenses across the league.

Keys To A Sixers Game 7 Victory

In order for the 76ers to take Game 7 from the grasp of the aging Celtics Saturday at the TD Bank Garden, they're going to have to duplicate the exact game they played on Wednesday that forced this winner-takes-all game.

Here are some strategies the Sixers are going to need to focus on in order for them to be successful in this historic matchup:

Contain Rondo: Through the first five games of these Eastern Conference semifinals Rajon Rondo had his way with the Sixers defense. Rondo was averaging 14.4 points per game along with 14.6 assists in this five game span, but this dominant stretch of double-doubles came to an end when the stifling defense of the 76ers stumped Rondo in Game 6, allowing him just 9 points on 4-14 shooting and 6 assists. The result of this game? Celtics loss. Explanation? Simple. When Rondo plays poorly, the Celtics chances of winning are slim to none.

Holiday Must Stay Aggressive: Rondo's counterpart, Jrue Holiday, is also a very big piece to a Sixers victory. Holiday is going to have to play a smart, aggressive game if Philly is going to have a chance at pulling off an upset in Beantown.  In the first six games of this series, Philly has won three of them, and in the three victories they have, Holiday is averaging 18 points. In the three losses the Sixers have, Holiday is averaging just 13 points. After Holiday ended Wednesday night's game with 20 points and 6 assists Doug Collins told reporters he was "very very proud of Jrue" and that  Holiday "knows he has to score for us to win."

Eagles Restore Optimism in Philadelphia

            The Philadelphia Eagles have restored optimism in Eagles fans across the country, who have been thirsty for a season where they can look at the glass half-full.
            By drafting players in spots that that were in need of depth, such as DT and LB, Andy Reid has found a way to brighten up the painful off-season of an 8-8 team with Super Bowl potential.
            "I'm really pleased with the way the Eagles used their selections in this draft especially compared to what they've done in the past," said die-hard Eagles fan Josh McShane.
            The most pleasing of all draft picks came at number 12 overall (which the Eagles traded for with Seattle) where they selected the 298 pound defensive tackle from Mississippi State, Fletcher Cox. 
            Cox was the top-rated defensive tackle in this year's draft. His size mixed with his explosiveness and ability to pressure opposing quarterbacks is an asset the Eagles desperately needed.
            "We think that Fletcher Cox is a tremendous player. He has the speed and athletic ability where he could play outside if needed. He gives us a little flexibility. He’s a very intelligent kid, and he’s young. He has the whole package," said Eagles' head coach Andy Reid after being questioned about Cox.
            Cox was also an All-SEC first team selection last year after he put together an impressive season with 56 tackles and five sacks. For Cox to make it as a first team selection in a conference full of NFL caliber players is something Eagles fans should be excited about.
            According to cbssports.com Cox "generates an explosive pop to knock his opponent back onto his heels. Possesses the lateral agility to take advantage of the unbalanced offensive lineman to run around him and collapse the pocket."
          

Sixers Without Hawes For At Least Two More Weeks

By: Nick Duffy

The 7'1" center for the Sixers, Spencer Hawes, will be missing at least two more weeks with his nagging achilles injury.

Hawes visited Rich Ferkel, a foot specialist from the Southern California Orthopedic Institute over the All-Star break, where it was recommended he stop wearing the walking boot he's recently been sporting, but remain off the court for another two weeks.

It may be good news that Hawes is out of his boot, but Hawes not being on the floor for the Sixers for at least two more weeks is not the kind of news head coach Doug Collins wanted to hear coming out of the All-Star weekend in Orlando.

Hawes missed 19 of the final 21 games before the break for the Sixers and will be missing even more time now, putting more pressure on the rookie big men, Lavoy Allen and Nikola Vucevic, for the Sixers in a time that Hawes is desperately needed.

The 76ers are trying to rebound from their 5 game skid and keep steady possession of their top position in the Atlantic Division.