The real answer to the Eagles WR problem

The Eagles need to do something to improvie their wide receiver corp. Just about any Eagles fan would agree with that.

With the recent sports hernia injury to Kevin Curtis, the cries for the Eagles to trade for Arizona's Anquan Boldin have increased exponentially.

But the fact of the matter is that it takes two to tango, and the Cardinals are not willing to deal the stud receiver. I'm sure the Eagles have called to ask, but the negativety about the Eagles doing nothing to improve their current situation has got to stop. There are just not many options out there this close to the beginning of the regular season.

The only answer, as I see it, is internal - split out Brian Westbrook more often.

The Eagles picked up Lorenzo Booker in the offseason as a compliment to Westbrook. Although no Westbrook, he is quick and elusive. He can't carry the full load, but he sure could make an impact in the running game. The Eagles also have Correll Buckhalter, who is a hard-nosed rusher.

Imagine a defense trying to stop an offense that has Booker in the backfield, with Westbrook split out on one end and speedster Deshaun Jackson split out on the other side. The Eagles have speed and they need to use it.

Now, I'm not saying they should not use Westbrook as a rusher. He is one of the best in the game, and he needs his touches out of the backfield. But Westbrook is more than a runner, and to take full advantage of his skills, the Eagles need to use him as a reciever to create mis-matches.

No doubt, missing Kevin Curtis will hurt. And there is no doubt that I would love to see the Eagles bring in a stud receiver.

But we have to look at this realistically. There are no stud receivers out there to be had. The only answer is to make due with what they have and to be creative with that.

McNabb's last chance with Eagles

In a perfect world, Donovan McNabb would retire an Eagle. In reality, this will most likely be his last season in Philadelphia.

While trips to Super Bowls slipped through his fingers and injuries knocked him out for games at a time, the Eagles did something that shocked fans around the country - they drafted McNabb's replacement.

Now, with Kevin Kolb waiting in the wings, McNabb will take one last shot at leading the Eagles to a Super Bowl title, which has eluded him his entire career.

Unfortunately for McNabb, the Ealges simply don't have the team around him to do that. They never really have, except for 2004.

With fans screaming for a play making receiver year after year, the Eagles finally obliged, bring in Terrell Owens. Of coarse, McNabb had his best year and the Eagles finally made it to the Super Bowl after three year's of major disappointment. However, everything blew up the next season and the Eagles have not been close to a title ever since.

McNabb has put up with criticism year after year, from the media and from the fans. He remained a stand up guy and one of the elite quarterbacks in the league. He doesn't deserve it after the career he has had in Philadelphia but he will always be remembered for not being able to bring a title to a championship starved town.

I booed with they drafted him instead of Ricky Williams. I was wrong. Now, I don't ever want to see his time as an Eagle end.

There's nothing I can do though. The clock is ticking and the end of the McNabb era is about to end.

It will be a sad day.

NFL players getting out of hand with contracts

These days it doesn't make much sense for an NFL player to sign any contract. After all, chances are they will be complaining about it in a couple of years anyway.

I have one word for how these things work out - ridiculous.

Why bother signing on the dotted line if you are going to ask for a new deal before your current deal is done(Lito Scheppard, Chad Johnson, etc)?

Players know that salaries are going to go up over the course of their contract. They know other players at their position will have higher values year after year.

They sign long term deals for security, but then cry like babies when others are making more than them two years into their deal.

I have a suggestion - don't sign if you are going to complain about it!

Nobody makes them sign these contracts. They do it on their own merrit. I am sick of the whining. They are makimg millions of dollars.

Honor your contract and live with a decision you made to sign it.

The complaining is getting old.

Phillies missed a chance to become the team to beat

With a chance to become the team to beat in the National League, the Phillies couldn't work out a deal to bring in a big bat or a left handed reliever.

General Manager Pat Gillick tried, I'll give him that. Unfortunately, trying doesn't bring championships. Gillick needed to get a big time deal done and he failed.

Reports had the Phillies possibly trading for Matt Holliday and Brian Fuentes a few weeks ago, but a deal could not be reached. The Rockies then decided not to be sellers.

The Phillies were also close to landing Manny Ramirez, but the star slugger instead went to Los Angeles in a three player deal.

Sure, the Phillies would have had to give up a lot of good prospects to make either of these deals, but the Phillies have a legitimate shot to win now. But they need another piece to do that.

Take the Angels for example. They are the best team in the majors, yet they were bold at the deadline and got stud first baseman Mark Tiexera. They found a way to make things happen. The Phillies did not.

Fortunatly for the Phils, the Mets and Marlins were unable to make any big moves either. The Marlins did get left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes.

All three teams still have major holes and a blockbuster trade for any would have given them a stranglehold on the division.

As is, all three teams will continue to struggle down the stretch and probably will not go far into the playoffs.

The Phillies had a chance to take control. They missed and will pay for it in September and October.