T.O. headed a "Mile High?"

According to ESPN.com's Senior writer Len Pasquarelli, outspoken, yet talented, Philadelphia Eagles receiver Terrell Owens met with Denver Broncos coach Mike Shanahan today. The get together was described as a "get-acquainted session."

Pasquarelli writes:

The consensus around the league has been that, since most teams believe the Eagles will release Owens before they must pay him bonuses totaling $7.5 million in March, the trade market for him would be blunted. Eagles coach Andy Reid insisted during Senior Bowl all-star game practices last week, though, that several teams had indicated an interest in having trade talks.

As bad and cliche as this sounds, the addition of T.O. would make Denver an instant frontrunner for the Super Bowl.

Calm waters once again

The fervor that was the Philadelphia Phillies making some noise this offseason, albeit for only two days, has pretty much subsided with no action. Mike Piazza wants to go to the West Coast and/or the American League and is likely never going to be seen in a Phillies uniform.

As for the Jason Michaels trade with Cleveland for Arthur Rhodes, that's on hold. Cleveland was looking to obtain Michaels only if it went through with a deal to send outfielder Coco Crisp to Boston. That deal is in limbo after the pitcher they were to get for Crisp, Guillermo Mota, failed his physical.

According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark:

It's possible the Red Sox could substitute a reliever (perhaps highly regarded
prospect Manny Delcarmen), which would allow both trades to take place basically as previously devised. But sources said that the Indians always preferred Reds outfielder Austin Kearns to Michaels.
So it's also possible that, with the firing of Reds GM Dan O'Brien, the Indians and Red Sox will attempt to revive their much-discussed three-way trade with Cincinnati that would have sent Kearns to Cleveland, Crisp to Boston and Matt Clement to Cincinnati. It was O'Brien who killed the most recent version of that one last week.

The outcome of the Michaels saga also will help shape the Phillies starting rotation. If the deal can be made with the Indians for Arthur Rhodes, then Ryan Madson would head to spring training as the fifth starter. If not, there are a number of Phils who will be competing for the spot.

As usual, it's a wait and see situation.

Philadelphia finally making waves

Waves aren't normally seen along the Delaware River in Philadelphia, but the Phillies were making some of their own on Tuesday (and late Monday). The rumors, two completely separate deals, feature trading outfielder Jason Michaels to Cleveland for a setup man, and inking free-agent catcher Mike Piazza (pictured).

The Michaels trade with the Indians is said to be for one of three players, Guillermo Mota, Arthur Rhodes or David Riske. The Phillies need pitching, and either of the three would work well in the bullpen. The trade could also signal the end of the Phillies trying to move Bobby Abreu, as Michaels would've been his likely replacement.

The Piazza signing is intriquing. The Norristown native recently had Philly included on his no-trade list, and he clearly cannot return to catching full time. His only other viable position in the National League is first base, and the Phillies are set there with emerging star Ryan Howard.

So how does Piazza fit in? According to ESPN.com, the Phillies would use him to spell Mike Lieberthal and Howard when necessary. But I smell trade bait. Now that the Phillies are likely keeping Abreu in the fold, Piazza is a much bigger name to trade to an American League club. He would serve a much larger purpose there, as an everyday DH and back-up catcher.

Whether they keep him or trade him, Piazza would be a great pick-up for the Phillies. If he stays, he'd be a great back-up and help put a famous face into the marketing plan. If he goes, the Phils would likely get something decent in return.

Phillies could've done better than Franklin

Although the Philadelphia Phillies search for an ace continues, attracting a top-flight hurler has proved fruitless. Last Sunday, I presented a list of pitchers, none of whom are number one arms, but who might help the rotation more than Ryan Franklin (pictured). My list included Jose Lima, Kaz Ishii, Matt Herges, Julian Tavarez, and Keiichi Yabu.

Franklin is the Phillies prized pitching acquisition of the offseason. A career loser (35-50 with a 4.34 ERA), the former Mariner couldn't even win when he was on steroids (suspended August 2-11, 2005). The fact that Franklin was so openly touted by the Phillies brass is a clear indication that winning is NOT a priority.

I received a lot of flack for the pitchers I suggested. Now, I never said these guys were aces, just better options than Franklin. And I stand by my statement. Lima is a fiery guy who could benefit the Phils' clubhouse. He's 24-24 over the past three years, and has won more than 13 games three times in his career. Franklin is 23-44 in the same span and has given up 95 home runs to Lima's 71.

Ishii, who was a sought after free agent when he came over from Japan before the 2002 season, has a career record of 39-34. He had a rough season last year, but has been an effective starter for most of his brief career. Given a welcome home, Ishii could be effective. If anything, the Phillies should keep him for the first half of the season when he's most potent.

Herges, who is coming off by far his worst year, has a career 3.83 ERA. He's a good reliever, and could be an asset to the team as he is experienced in hold situations.

Tavarez was signed by the Boston Red Sox, thus making him unavailable to the Phillies. He was probably the best pitcher on the list.

Finally there's Yabu. The 37-year-old reliever from Japan was 4-0 last season in 40 games with Oakland. He's since been signed by the Rockies.

Someone mentioned to me that the Phillies should go after Jeff Weaver. I agree that he's better than Franklin, but to pay nearly $10 million per season for a career loser who couldn't even win with the Yankees powerhouse lineup behind him is not a good idea. If Weaver's price tag fit his talent, he might be a viable option.

A week full of news, but still no ace

What a week it was for the Philadelphia Phillies. First, GM Pat Gillick announced to the media that his team is not good enough to win the division. Then, both Jayson Stark (ESPN.com) and Kevin Roberts (Courier-Post) published articles commenting on the obvious lack of an ace in the starting rotation. Now, in today's Courier-Post, there's an article about the left field wall of Citizen's Bank Park being moved back and heightened to help prevent home runs, making the park more desirable for pitchers.

I agree with Gillick that the team is going nowhere, and with the anonymous roster, I doubt anyone will notice outside this area. As for the reporters, all I have to say is, "duh." They could've just recycled the same article they've written since Curt Schilling left (save for the season that they all thought Kevin Millwood would be the ace). And as for the wall, good luck on that experiment. I was sitting in the left field stands this season when the Mets knocked seven out of the park, and the five feet they're moving the wall back (plus the 30 inches in new height) wouldn't have changed a thing. Those balls were launched. If they want to reduce the home run total with this cache of arms, try moving the fence back to the parking lot.

Lima could be a steal for Philadelphia

In the past 10 days the Phillies have agreed to terms with Brett Myers (deservedly so) and taken a chance on Ryan Franklin (uh, why?). It got me thinking, maybe the Phillies should start looking at a potential free agent steal, Jose Lima.

Lima is one of those pitchers, whether winning or losing, that adds personality and heart to the dugout. Sure, he can be rough around the edges, but when he's "on" we're talking a potential 15-game winner.

Now, I'm not a huge fan of throwing money around on chances, but it appears the Phillies' front office is. So, while they're tossing around the green, they might want to consider a man like Lima.

I also began to think of a few more arms (either SP or RP) who Philly should evaluate, all of which make more sense than Franklin. Here they are in no particular order:
Kaz Ishii
Matt Herges
Julian Tavarez
Keiichi Yabu

Sixers only defense is offense

Not that it wasn't abundantly clear before, but the past week has proven that the Philadelphia 76ers defense is horrendous. Sitting now at 18-18, after a thrilling 125-124 overtime victory last night, Philly is ranked 29th (out of 30) in opponents points allowed with an average of 102.9.

Luckily for the Sixers, they are ranked 2nd in scoring with 102.8. With a defense that's as sturdy as melted butter, the 76ers offense is their saving grace. On any given night, they have the ability to outscore almost any team in the league.

For Philadelphia fans, this deficiency on defense has led to some nailbiters, but also some very exciting and hard fought contests. Case in point, last night's game against the Boston Celtics. Down by ten points after three quarters, the team roared back to tie it up and send the game into overtime.

The end of the first overtime saw the teams tied at 109. Then the remarkable happened. Philadelphia trailed near the end of the second overtime by three. And, with a hand in his face and time expiring, Kyle Korver (pictured) buried his usual, a clutch 3-pointer. Result: triple overtime.

The longest game for Philadelphia since 1992 saw the Sixers go down 124-121 before dropping four unanswered points on the Celtics. It was jubilation afterwards for the players. As for Head Coach Maurice Cheeks, he saw the problem with the defense almost cost the team the game. The 3OT win will have a very positive effect in the locker room, but a loss could've just as easily torn it apart.

So as the Sixers rollercoaster season continues, the team will have to search for a better answer to their defensive woes. Offense is not always the best defense.

Eagles fishing for something in return

The news this week that the Philadelphia Eagles have granted agent Drew Rosenhaus permission to seek a trade for his exiled client, Terrell Owens, was more of a step sideways than forward. On his way out, Owens likely won't be traded, an end result that will bear no fruit for the Eagles, and potentially less green for T.O.

Rosenhaus has done some wheeling and dealing in the past, but when every owner in the league knows a player will be available in the spring as a free agent, it's tough to convince them that it's in their best interest to give something up. That is where both T.O. and the Birds lose even more.

For the Eagles, it's the loss of a prime time playmaker with nothing to show for it, not even a ring. Granted, Philly has known that day was coming ever since training camp in 2005, if not earlier. But I'm sure in the back of their minds, they figured we'll at least get a draft pick or two down the line.

For T.O., who signed a contract of 7 years for $49 million in 2004, the huge payday he wanted from the Eagles might be hard to find elsewhere. While with the 49ers, T.O. was like the flu compared with the cancer he was to Philadelphia. Teams who want to win a championship will be wary about signing up his services for a long term deal. He'll most likely end up with a contract full of out clauses.

Then again, it could be an out clause that helps Philly receive nothing for their troubles.

Congratulations, Smarty Jones

Congratulations to Smarty Jones, the 2004 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner from the Philadelphia area, whose first foal was born today in Paris, KY.

On Philly.com, Amy Wilson wrote:

"The foal is a medium-size bay, with a white blaze and four white stockings. She
stood 40 minutes after birth and was turned out with her mother this morning.
Stone Farm manager J.R. Sebastian said the baby "bounced around a little bit"
while staying very close to mama."

Once again, I offer congratulations to Philadelphia's biggest sports star of 2004.

Are the Phillies being shunned again?

In my post last night I posed the question: "Is Philly really undesirable?" Evidently, it is.

Miguel Tejada isn't the only superstar with recent reservations of playing for a 123-year-old franchise that has won only one world title. In yesterday's Boston Globe, Gordon Edes wrote that the Phillies were interested in trading for Manny Ramirez. Of course they offered Bobby Abreu, a talented player who (outside of Philadelphia) couldn't be picked out of a lineup of one. His contract is the biggest hurdle in trade talks. He's owed $31 million over the next two seasons, and $18 million for a third year if traded.

But the article points out that Manny, who has a long relationship with Phillies skipper Charlie Manuel, is uninterested in leaving Boston for Philly. I guess it kind of proves my theory that if you want to keep a disgruntled star on your turf, post a rumor about a possible trade to Philadelphia.

Bedtime Fan Fuss - Is Philly really undesirable?

As the Phillies continue to sit by and settle for players like Ryan Franklin (who is a combined 23-44 as a starter the past three seasons), other teams have discovered a way to quiet their stars' trade demands. Just wait for the Phillies to offer Bobby Abreu.

Once again last week, Philadelphia tried to send Abreu packing to no avail. This time, the trade offer was for the disgruntled Baltimore Oriole Miguel Tejada, a perennial MVP candidate. Tejada made his trade demand a couple of times, most recently on Dec. 29. Within 37 hours of hearing the rumors that he might be shipped to the City of Brotherly Love, Tejada rescinded his demands and reaffirmed his commitment to Baltimore.

It got me thinking, is Philly really undesirable. Sure it's muggy in the summer, but with the harvest of cash his contract guarantees him, Tejada could fly himself, and a planeload of Dominicans, to and from every series. He wouldn't have had to spend the winters in town. It's the fourth largest market in the country, grander than that of the Orioles. And, Philadelphia's hitter-friendly stadium is newer.

So what could it be? Perhaps it's the front office's neutral approach to the improvement of the ball club. Tejada and others are not dumb in knowing that they would be the only star in town, and likely the main goat if team expectations are not achieved. The Phillies, as talented as they are, really have no names for the marquee, nor a face for the cover of the media guide. They're kind of like a "who's that?" team.

Sure the dumping of Jim Thome was a coup for the Phillies as they were able to move the huge contract of a broken player. But it is only a benefit if that money is spent on improving the team. Using the money to add bums like Franklin is equivalent to telling jokes at a funeral.

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Bedtime Fan Fuss - Childress departure leaves a feeling of neutrality

Friday's non-surprise announcement of the Minnesota Vikings new head coach, now former Eagles Offensive Coordinator Brad Childress, left me feeling a little neutral. If the rise, and subsequent fall, of Philly's offense could be considered his fault, I might be saying it's time for change.

But the vast majority of play calling is done by Head Coach Andy Reid. Thus making Childress not much more than a preparation coach. That makes you wonder why he's been given this opportunity in the first place, but that's Minnesota's problem. The feeling of neutrality is that the Eagles have promoted Marty Mornhinweg to lead the offense.

On the Eagles coaching staff since the 2003 season, Mornhinweg was laughable as he guided Detroit to a 5-27 record in two seasons as their head coach (2001-2002). But his pedigree is not measured as the head man. He was Brett Favre's QB Coach when the Packers won Super Bowl XXXI (Favre also won the MVP that season), and he spent 1997-2000 as the Offensive Coordinator for the San Francisco 49ers.

Upon arriving in Philadelphia, Mornhinweg was the main recruiter of both Terrell Owens and Mike McMahon. Whether you like or loathe those moves, they were steps taken to win and add depth. This season, McMahon filled in and led an offense full of backups and T.O. started shopping for a new home.

All of this, of course, is moot if Reid continues to call the plays. The work Mornhinweg will do could be in preparation only and not on the sidelines.

So after thinking about it, talking about it and writing about it, I truly feel neutral.

Sixers a bust on West Coast trip

Not that it's any surprise to the watchful eyes of a Philadelphia 76ers fan, but the recent road trip to the West Coast yielded yet another swoon for the team, as they went 2-4. The losing trend was just another chapter in a growing history of bad trips out west.

Since the start of the 2002-2003 season, the Sixers are a combined 8-14 on their annual December/January swing to the warm side of the country. Sure you could blame the perfect weather, or maybe the relaxed atmosphere of the cities they visited. But the real culprit, at least this season, is a bad case of inconsistency.

This year's Sixers (16-17, second in the Atlantic) are undoubtedly more excited to be in front of the Philly faithful than on the road, owning a 10-5 record at Wachovia. But away from the Center, they look weary, and their playoff dreams look dreary. The team has a record of 6-12 as out-of-towners.

As a case study, lets look at this season's games of the Sixers versus Lakers, a decent team that went 1-1 with Philly in '05-'06. At home on November 11, the 76ers won a hard fought game 85-81. Down at the half and at the start of the 4th quarter, the Sixers rallied behind a stifling defense that held Kobe Bryant to 17 points, on 7 of 27 shooting.

Friday, with thoughts of returning east with a .500 road trip dancing in their heads, the Sixers "D" fell flat on it's face. L.A.'s main man, dropped 48 points on 19 of 29 shooting. Bryant made all seven of his 3-point attempts, and collected 10 boards. Another thing, can somebody please guard Smush Parker? Benefiting from the Bryant double-team, Parker's having a career year, including an average of 18.5 ppg, 3 apg, 2 rpg, 3 spg, and 70% 3-point shooting against Philadelphia. Amazing what a professional can accomplish in a 1-on-none situation.

All in all, the Sixers woes wouldn't be so magnified if the new division leaders, New Jersey, weren't on a 10-game winning streak. But the ship can be righted, as long as the defense shows up every for contest.

Mercifully, it's over

With the click of another "L" attaching itself to the wrong side of the 2005 Eagles record, the season has finally ended. Mercifully, it closed at home so hopefully the backup brigade that was the second half Philadelphia Eagles didn't have to travel too far to start their vacation. Gone are the trips to Hawaii, the playoff atmosphere, and most of the wind that was in the sails of the Philly faithful.

The final whistle heralded more than just an end to the loss at the hands of the playoff-bound Washington Redskins. It trumpeted the promise of a better tomorrow. A new day filled with healthy starters, experienced backup, and depth at many positions.

The end of the season also brings with it speculation. Andy Reid and his coaching staff did all they could do with the pieces they had. Injuries (and a bruised ego) ripped this team apart, and one of next year's biggest tasks will be to unify a fractured team psyche. There's also the question as to who the team will sign. Maybe Reggie Wayne. Possibly Eric Moulds. Would they look for a primo running back?

Ah, while the Birds rest up, the fans will spend this offseason talking about the future and what might have been if the lineup implosion hadn't happened.