Michael Vick to Remain Starter

Andy Reid has named Michael Vick the starter, not just for this week, but for the rest of the season(for now at least), despite saying Kolb would start once healthy. Kevin Kolb, we were told, has passed all of his concussion tests and even practiced with the scout team over the weekend and all signs point to him being healthy.

It is not known, just yet, why the Eagles stuck with Vick, but it is said to be a “football decision”. Vick threw for 175 yards and one touchdown and ran for 103 yards in a 27-20 season-opening loss to Green Bay. He had 284 yards passing and two TDs in a 35-32 win at Detroit on Sunday. He posted back-to-back 100 point QB ratings for the second time in his career.

Whether the coaches realized Kolb would die with this offensive line, or they realized they can’t ask the team to put their careers on hold to wait for this kid to develop, Vick is just playing too well and I believe they are a contender for the division with Vick at the helm.

Attention Jim Hazlett and Mike Shanahan: “This is My Defense”

Is there a bigger piece of shit in the NFL who, at least to my knowledge, has not broken the law? If so, I’d like to know. DeAngelo Hall, formerly run out of Atlanta and, as Rex Ryan reminded us in HBO’s Hard Knocks, Oakland, had some choice words about the way the defense was run at the end of the Redskins 30-27 overtime loss yesterday.

Frustrated about the late defensive breakdowns, Hall said Monday morning “from here on out, I’m going to be wherever the [expletive] ball’s going. Wherever the receiver’s going, that’s where the [expletive] I’m going. That’s the bottom line. That’s something we got to do in order to win games. So that’s what’s going to happen.”

When asked whether Haslett supported his decision, Hall replied, “It don’t matter what he say. This my team. This my defense. So I’m [going to] follow the receivers around.”

Nevermind the coaches, front office members, or the owner, perhaps Hall should look to London Fletcher in the huddle. If anything, it’s his defense. And I wouldn’t want to piss him off.

Of course, he was quick to back off his statements this morning, but what’s done is done. Read his retraction here.

Quotes courtesy of Washingtonpost.com

I Have a New Favorite SportsCenter Commercial

For years, the little known “anchors vs. field reporters” commercial has been my favorite, that is until I cam across the preview for the newest one. It stars Derek Jeter and the Phillie Phanatic.

Click here to watch.

Here is the Anchors vs. Field Reporters for your viewing pleasure:

Phillies Can Bury Braves Before the Weekend

Tonight starts what could be the most important series of the season. The rally towels will reportedly be out for the series. The Phillies send their three horses to the mound. And amidst team president John Schuerholz’s comments, the Braves will send out two rookies and second year “ace of the future” Tommy Hanson.

With the Phils up three games with just 12 to play, a sweep would almost surely end any hopes the Braves have of winning the NL East. It could also end their hopes at a postseason birth in general. The Phillies lead the rest of the NL by five games, so a sweep could mean home-field advantage as well.

On the flip-side of that, a sweep or two-of-three by the Braves could give them the jumpstart they need to make this a race again.

Series Pitching probables:

Monday – Brandon Beachy(RHP; 0-0 0.00 ERA) vs. Cole Hamels(LHP; 11-10 3.01 ERA)
Beachy will be making his major league debut

Tuesday – Mike Minor(LHP; 3-1 5.84 ERA) vs. Roy Halladay(RHP; 19-10 2.49 ERA)
Halladay can all but secure his second Cy Young award with a win in the most important game he’s ever pitched in

Wednesday – Tommy Hanson(RHP; 10-11 3.62 ERA) vs. Roy Oswalt(RHP; 7-1 1.94 ERA *with Phillies)
Oswalt is 0-3 with a 7.58 ERA in seven regular-season starts against the Braves, but is 3-0 with a 2.89 ERA in three postseason starts against them, and this will feel like a postseason game.

Tonight’s lineup – Victorino CF, Polanco 3B, Utley 2B, Howard 1B, Werth RF, Ibanez LF, Ruiz C, Valdez SS and Hamels P.

Pitching Probables courtesy of Phillies.com

Jayson Werth Signs with Scott Boras

For anyone holding out hope that the Phillies and Jayson Werth would find a way to stay together, it may be over. Jayson Werth, on the same day he hit his second career walk-off home run, has signed with baseballs version of Drew Rosenhaus, Scott Boras. He’s a snake, but he’s the best. He will all but get Werth every cent the Yankees will over pay for him. With 12 regular season games left before the playoffs, let’s hope he’s got 23 more wins in him.

Michael Vick to Start Sunday

It’s official. Michael Vick will get his first start since New Years Eve 2006. Ironically, that game was a 24-17 loss to the Eagles. Kevin Kolb and Stewart Bradley were officially labeled as out for this weekend for the game vs the Lions, 1:00 pm EST on Fox.

Omar Gaither will get the start at MLB.

Reggie Bush Gives Back Heisman

Unless you’ve been living under a rock recently, this isn’t exactly news. Reggie Bush gave back his 2005 Heisman Trophy before the Heisman Trust could take it away. Regardless, you know who won that heisman. Bush is one of the best college football players ever, if not the best. He was the ultimate game changer. In my opinion he should have waited until they took it. Plenty of people have taken royalties during their college career, and they’re going to keep doing it. I realize it is embarrassing to be the only player in the 75 year history of the award to have it revoked, especially when a murderer and career criminal(you know who!) has been able to keep his. The Heisman Trust has decided to leave it vacant, rather than award it to runner-up Vince Young.

UPDATE
Reggie Bush said today that he is not admitting guilt by returning the trophy. “It’s definitely not an admission of guilt. It’s me showing respect to the Heisman Trophy itself and to the people who came before me and the people coming after,” Bush said after practice with the New Orleans Saints.

“I just felt like it was the best thing to do, the most respectful thing to do because obviously I do respect the Heisman, I do respect all the things it stands for,” Bush said. “I felt just to kind of silence all the talk around it, all the negativity around it. I felt like this would be the best decision to do right now so I could focus.”

You can read the rest of the story at , ESPN Los Angeles

Just in case you forgot, for your viewing pleasure, Reggie Bush highlights from college.

Quotes courtesy of ESPN.com