Flyers excuses getting old

To put it bluntly, I am getting sick and tired of the Flyers admitting to a laying with a lack of urgency.

It was an excuse numerous times last season, we've heard it this season, and now again.

After a lackluster effort in a 2-0 loss to the Ottawa Senators, captain Mike Richards said the following: "It's frustrating," Richards said. "We did some bad things. We just seemed like we had a little bit of a lack of motivation, which shouldn't be there, and a lack of urgency. To go through a game like that, and not see everyone play their hardest, that's got to change."

Lack of motivation! Are you kidding me!?!

The Flyers are fighting for their playoff lives and so is Ottawa. What more motivation do they need?

I'm so frustrated with hearing this comment yet again from Richards, I'm ready to say forget it, I hope they don't make the playoffs.

The Flyers need to remove the "C" from Richards' sweater immediately. He's not a leader, he can't get his team up for big games, and he himself lacks motivation in situations I just can't fathom not having motivation.

The Flyers were picked by many to win the Stanley Cup this year after adding a true leader in Chris Pronger.

But it's been the same old stuff as last year - inconsistency, not playing well in big games, taking dumb penalties.

Grow up Richards and act like a leader.

Eagles mistakes front and center this off season

The Philadelphia Eagles have made a lot of mistakes over the past few years.

For a change, they are now admitting it.

With no salary cap hit, now is the time to release players that are no longer serviceable. And boy have the Eagles been releasing players.

Offensive lineman Shawn Andrews was released after years of back and mental head case trouble. The Eagles just could not go through another year of wondering if he would be healthy and mentally stable to get on the field.

Reggie Brown was a draft bust who never turned into a top receiver. Kevin Curtis was another receiver who did not work out, as injuries kept him off of the field much of the time.

Chris Clemons was supposed to be a force opposite Trent Cole on the defensive line, but that never happened.

Darren Howard never amounted to much on the defensive line. He is now gone.

Will Witherspoon, who they traded for last season was released.

The only player they have released this off season who was not a mistake to sign was running back Brian Westbrook. He had a great career in Philadelphia but has just run out of gas.

Still, the Eagles have made plenty of mistakes.

I applaud them for getting rid of these guys, but it is even more evident how many times they miss on their draft picks and free agents. This is only a list of guys they have released this off season.

Sure, the Eagles have hit huge on a few signings and draft picks - Donovan McNabb, DeSean Jackson, and Terrel Owens come to mind.

However, if they ever want to win a Super Bowl, the Eagles are going to have to make the right choice more often. If they do not, the drought will continue and we'll be sitting here in three years wondering when they are going to give up on Andy Reid and move on.

The key to Phillies season

If healthy, Roy Halladay is a lock to win 20 games pitching in the National League. Winning the Cy Young award is not out of the question.

Halladay is a known commodity. So is the Phillies offense. Both will produce. No doubt about it.

But when it comes down to winning in the playoffs, the key will be Cole Hamels.

Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, was terrible last season. Behind Cliff Lee, the Phillies did not have a guy who could dominate. It cost them a second straight World Series as the Yankees, who could not solve Lee, feasted on the rest of the Phillies pitching.

Admittedly, Hamels did not throw much during the off season after winning the World Series. His focus was more on making different public appearances and enjoying the fruits of being a Series MVP than preparing for the 2009 season - and it showed.

Not so this off season.

Hamels threw just about every day, even while on vacation.

He has looked good so far in the spring and seems to have a renewed focus on getting back to being a solid ace.

If Hamels can return to 2008 form, when he was un-hittable in the playoffs, the Phillies would be tough to beat in a playoff series.

A 1-2 punch of Halladay and Hamels, along with the offenses ability to score runs in bunches can compete with anyone in the league.

Halladay has made the Phillies favorites to win the National League.

Hamels can make the Phillies favorites to win the World Series.