NFC Championship Game

[Guyute]

Panthers @ Eagles. 6:45pm Sunday 1/18.
http://home.comcast.net/~brentmcnamara/images/nfc_champ.jpg

Well well well... the Panthers made it! In one of the most exciting, and nerve-wracking, games I've ever seen.... to get by the Rams. They've had some luck this year, but they've done a great job making their own luck too. Something like 8-0 in games decided by 3 points or less. that's tough. Course, the secret to that, is make sure you have a lead in the 4th.. :)
The Panthers, in most cases, give up a score or two in the 4th...
If it's the Panthers that have to come back, they're not as likely to do it, as they are to "hold on" to a lead. jmo.

Let's see if Jake can deal with the pressure of a Title game. I think he probably will... but there's a chance he hits his wall in this game.

On the other side, McNabb and these Eagles have been here the last 2 years, this being number 3. Hopefully Magic #3. :D
These guys are hungry. They've been through a lot this season. Even now, their (arguably) best all-purpose rusher is out. their (arguably) best lineman is out. they started the year with their head in their ass, and came back to finish the season with 11 out of 12 wins. Not to mention McNabb being downplayed as overrated and all that.

These guys are ready. Of course, being an Eagles fan all my life, I take nothing for granted. I'm the eternal cautious pessimist. We *always* have a team that CAN take that next step, though normally it doesn't happen. Who knows, it may not happen this year either. We'll see.

There's no doubt in my mind that it will be a great game though.
There's also no doubt, that it doesn't matter who from the NFC goes....

The AFC is winning it all this year, no matter who survives the other game.

GO EAGLES!!!! :D :p

[e2ipiand1]

If the Eagles play the way they did yesterday, the Panthers win, no problem. The Eagles need to refocus in order win.

I agree, having seen all or most of all four games, the AFC will win the SuperBowl.

[Guyute]

you think the Eagles played poorly yesterday? I wouldn't say it was a great game, but it wasn't a bad game. Donovan stepped up as the QB of old, just like he needed to, and rushed for over 100 yards. When he does that, the whole team steps up.

Sure, you can say that he wouldn't have had to do that, if the offense was firing better. But I'd go the other way... we don't play nearly as well as a team if he's not playing like that.

The offensive line had some problems yesterday, and yes, they Will have to play better. but otherwise I don't think it was that bad.
Not having Westbrook hurt, as I knew it would. But Duce had 2 big runs when we needed them.

Plus, McNabb is much healthier right now than he was for the week 13 matchup.

[Guyute]

A poll through the Philly rag:

"Is this the Birds' year?"

Absolutely. They're in it to win it. 384 votes (36%)
Probably, but those AFC teams are good. 455 votes (43%)
Not likely. That run defense is scary. 150 votes (14%)
No way. The Panthers are too tough. 68 votes (6%)

Yes, I'm just posting this to stir up trouble. ;)
I think the Panthers are a tough team. I also think we'll (we = Eagles) win. :p

[SouthernHockeyChick]

If it's the Panthers that have to come back, they're not as likely to do it, as they are to "hold on" to a lead. jmo.



Where you been? Cause you clearly haven't been in front of the TV during Panthers games. Jake single-handedly came back in the 4th numerous times this season. I'm not at alllll worried about that. :)

[e2ipiand1]

Yes, anytime you have to complete a 4th and 26 in order to win the game, you've played poorly. The Packers handed them the win. The Panthers will not do the same.

[Shell]

Where you been? Cause you clearly haven't been in front of the TV during Panthers games. Jake single-handedly came back in the 4th numerous times this season. I'm not at alllll worried about that. :)

We have Sunday Ticket, so usually parked between the dumb Eagles and the oh so wonderful Skins :p

[Guyute]

Yes, anytime you have to complete a 4th and 26 in order to win the game, you've played poorly.

lol. uh, ok. so anytime a team has an improbably play (going for it on 4th and long) to decide the game, they've played poorly? or is that just an eagles thing? :D

The point is, that pass was Exactly where it needed to be, and it was caught.

[Guyute]

My quote came out backwards I think SHC... or just confused, I don't know anymore :)

Panthers don't hold leads too well was my point. Almost every game of theirs I've watched this season (probably 6 or so), they've given up late points. On several occassions, they've given up exactly what was needed to tie it, and send the game to OT.

That's sloppy play. If e2ipiand1 wants to worry about someone playing poorly.... or what the definition of poor play is...

I'd say letting a team back into it in the dying minutes of a game, multiple times this season, is a problem they may want to get a handle on. ;)

yes, I've seen them on the other end, where Jake has mounted an impressive attack to win or tie the game late. But, in most cases it was the Panthers playing prevent D, hoping the game will just end. (Canes anyone?). ;)

[Shell]

Carolina Fans Start Search for Tickets
POSTED: 8:45 a.m. EST January 12, 2004

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- It's another road game for the Carolina Panthers and another online search for tickets for fans.

Officials with the Philadelphia Eagles are working with Ticketmaster and the NFL to choose the date and time that tickets will go on sale for Sunday's NFC championship game.

Season ticket holders get first preference. Whatever's left is expected to sell for between $85 dollars to $110.

Panther fans can take their chances buying tickets from resellers, but a check of several sites shows prices ranging from $300 to $1,000.

And getting to Philadelphia provides a variety of options. From Charlotte, it's a nine-hour drive. To fly, it costs $1,000 for a direct flight, but booking a stopover could save money. Amtrak service from Charlotte to Philadelphia is $148, but takes 12 hours. A Greyhound bus gets there for $175 in 14 hours.

[Guyute]

I can never figure out why bus tickets are more expensive than train tickets. lol. senseless to pay more for a bus ride.

btw- I've made it from the triangle area to Philly in 7hrs (by car) no problem.

[Mookie]

What a great year for both teams. Whoever wins Sunday will certainly deserve the Bowl berth. Of course, I'd like for the Cats to eat the Birds, but if Philly wins I'll be happy for Guyute's sake. I'm really looking forward to seeing this battle. Seems like the NFC games are always tough hard fought games with more defense than the high scoring "my touchdown is better than your touchdown" AFC games. But hey, scoring is what the fans like to see so you can't go wrong with either of these games!

What a tremendous set of playoff games this season for the NFL. Great viewing. :)

[Guyute]

I agree on the NFC vs AFC games, and also about what great games we've seen so far.

This is the best year of playoff games that I can remember... and we still have the Conf Championships to go. sweet :D

[Shell]

playoffs have been unusually good so far this year.. good to see!!!

Guyute - I can't believe you haven't added Eagles into your avatar yet ;)

[Guyute]

a triple logo? hmm... that's tough. lol

[moonstomper]

I think if the Panthers can cut way back on the penalties, keep a spy on McNabb, and rush the football, theyll cruise throught this game

Our defensive line will tear apart Phillys O-line, who looked like crap against a mediocre Packers line (nearly giving up a sack that would have cost them the game).

[tommy]

I would most certainly agree that the Eagles played mediocre yesterday. TWICE the Packers gave them the game. Favre's "Let's see what happens when I just throw a free-for-all" pass, and the complete coverage melt-down on 4th and 26.

Like I said before, the Panthers stopped higher-profile rushers and recievers Saturday, and picked off three passes. Even with a number of stupid penalties, Carolina won the game.

Control McNabb on Saturday, and you control the Eagles. Period.

[folgersnyourcup]

I think the Eagles saved their best play for the later quarters but agree mostly with the assessment that the Packers really threw the game away down the stretch. Mcnabb was impressive, AFTER the first quarter. I believe he had about 17 yards of passing when he fumbled, used a time out on Philly's first drive of the game which was a 3 and out and everything just looked completely disorganized. Things began to get out of hand when the Packers went up 14-0. Then, everything shifted. Mcnabb was sacked...again, and again, and again, and again, and again, but STILL Philly persevered. The NFL Live guys summed up the 4th and 26 conversion. Some of the WORST coverage possible. Mitchell was allowed to run right down the middle AND the safeties who were waiting to tackle him as soon as they saw he was about to make the catch WERE WAITING ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE FIRST DOWN MARKER TO MAKE IT! :beatup: Way to go guys...

Still, perhaps a booth review should have been done there? Whether he got the first down or not is a more iffy topic but the generosity of the spotting of the ball was laughable. If anything he appeared to cross it by inches, but they give him THREE yards. HAhuh? :D

But still, it was a good football game and the Eagles played well enough down the stretch to pull out the win. When Favre got intercepted in OT though, I'm sure every Packer fan gave themselves a big palm to the forehead...wow, just....wow.

[Guyute]

well, the kicker is..... Eagles are a 2nd half team. many many times this season has the start of the game been ugly. Once they hit the locker room and the best Defensive Coord in the league gives them an earfull... and one of the best coaches in the league give them an earfull...

they usually settle down some and look much better. That won't cut it at this stage of the game, they need to start off decently. I think they will. 3rd time in 3 years they've been to this particular dance, the boys will be ready.

As to where the Panthers get a good jump at the start, then falter towards the end (more times than not). should be interesting to see who can get closer to a full game. heh

[Guyute]

http://www.philadelphiaeagles.com does a daily live broadcast (at 1pm).

you'll need the RealPlayer ( get it here (http://www.real.com) ) to listen. looks like they might also play a Carolina press conference in todays show too. /shrug

January 14, 2004

All sights are set on the Carolina Panthers and we've got a great day of coverage ahead here on PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Tune in at 1 p.m. to Eagles Live! and listen to press conferences from head coach Andy Reid and quarterback Donovan McNabb as well as other key players.

Carolina will hold its conference calls with the Philadelphia media. And YOU can call in and talk Eagles with host Dave Spadaro. All of it is coming your way at 1 p.m.


I almost forgot what it was like living in an area where there's SO much coverage on local teams. :sigh: live net shows, their own tv network, etc.

oh well, anyway, if you want to listen in, now you know.

[Guyute]

just feel like posting a sig. :p

http://www.tridead.net/images/mcnabbsig.gif

[Shell]

Sour grapes anyone?

"That's going to be the worst NFC Championship Game," Green Bay center Mike Flanagan told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I mean, (expletive), Carolina's got a defense. Their front four, they are legit. They are the best in football. But other than that, they're nothing. They're not the `Greatest Show on Turf.' They're not this and they're not that. It's two teams that are playing that game that we could beat."


The Eagles defeated the Packers 20-17 on Sunday.

[Guyute]

mo-ron. enjoy that TITLE game from your COUCH!

:p

[SouthernHockeyChick]

"That's going to be the worst NFC Championship Game," Green Bay center Mike Flanagan told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "I mean, (expletive), Carolina's got a defense. Their front four, they are legit. They are the best in football. But other than that, they're nothing. They're not the `Greatest Show on Turf.' They're not this and they're not that. It's two teams that are playing that game that we could beat."

Then why didn't you, a**wipe? :roll:

[Canesluver]

I can never figure out why bus tickets are more expensive than train tickets. lol. senseless to pay more for a bus ride.

Amtrak gets government subsidies-- Greyhound does not.

(Just an FYI from the lgc.com resident travel consultant. :D )

[Jeff O Rocks]

Sour grapes anyone?

It's two teams that are playing that game that we could beat."




Looks like he won't have to worry about who they are playing...since they ain't playing nobody!! I hate asswipes in any sport that criticize the other team in the press.. and it always comes back to bite them in their stupid ass... :mad: GO PANTHERS!

[crazy4canes]

What an idiot. Lose with some grace, buttmunch. :roll:

[Jillsdad]

The NFC Championship is going to hinge on a couple of things. Ist and foremost is how is the Eagle O-Line going to handle the best front four in football. Green Bay 's problem was they had to blitz thus leaving the middle open, which allows for 4 and 26 completions. Carolina will not have to blitz to put pressure on Mcnabb, they hope. Key #2 is special teams. John kasay had his worst day as a professional against the Birds earlier this year and I am sure he wants to atone for that, and between He hate Me and Steve Smith i believe the Panthers have a definite special teams advantage. Still Philly seems to find a way to win. It should be a great game.

Go Panthers


And as far as the AFC Championship, go Colts, becausae I hate Tom Brady.

[Guyute]

LOL. this is a great post... from the Admin on the Eagles board:

Title is: Notice to fans of other teams
It's great and all that you are true, loyal fans to your teams. That's the way it should be. It's really nice of you to stop by and check out our boards.

--- BUT ---

Don't come here posting with a chip on your shoulder. You will be attacked by people just because of your team allegiance. They will stereotype you and make generalizations about you. This is not a politically correct environment. If you can't handle it, then I suggest you leave. If you are going to cry about it, then expect no sympathy. Because of your fellow fans that preceded you, you are already on a short leash here. You will not get away with attacking posters for very long. Even if you were attacked first. The reason is because we have moderators, not judges. You aren't promised a fair trial here. When an Eagle fan attacks a Cowboy fan, that is considered a normal reaction here. You can thank the opposing teams' fans that were here before you that caused trouble. When a Cowboy fan does something similar, there will be a much larger reaction from Eagles fans. Therefor, expect the moderators to step in and remove the reason for the reaction, not all the people the reacted. Again, if this isn't fair to you, sorry, but it is the way it is. This site and MB is primarily for Eagles fans and, as you can see, is a very successful one. We do not need Cowboy fans or fans of other teams here to continue with the success. Some of us enjoy having you around, but your continual crying about the treatment here is pathetic. If you are a good poster, you will be accepted in time regardless of your team affiliation. There are posters like Gmen4ever, BlueHeart Brown Hornet, Giantbirdstompin, Lynch47, etc. that have become accepted and even liked over time. All of them will tell you that some posters continue to attack them simply because of their team affiliation. They expect it. It's no different when I go to their MBs. Eagles fans are hated and despised on the Giants' MB. I don't feel it's my duty to preach acceptance to them. I just stay away from the attacks and avoid the stupid threads like "Eagles fans suck!" I'm not going to get mad about what they are saying about us.

Again, please stop the bellyaching and remove the cyber-chip from your shoulders before posting here.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Guy, maybe you should tweak that a bit and post it in the Hurricanes Discussion section. :evil:

[Caniac]

YOU CAN'T STOP THIS TRAIN!

http://www.carolinapanthers.com/photos/perm/main/EPFKEGKCKOPJ/0110two.jpg

[Guyute]

1. I have no doubt Davis will play injured. I mean, it's the NFCC for pete's sake. No way he's 100% though.

2. This season, we don't stop ANY train. lol. we've given up over 150 yards rushing the last few games, over 100 yards over the last half of the season. and we lost 1 game.

I'm just sayin. ;)

[tommy]

No offense to anyone from Philly here, but if this is what journalists up there are like, then I am DAMN glad I never lived there. Read this article from William Bunch, and try not to break anything.



In our mind there's nothing in Carolina
By Will Bunch
bunchw@phillynews.com

WE knew it all along.

Oh, sure, maybe some had their doubts - when the Eagles fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter, or when it was 4th-and-26, or when Brett Favre got the ball one last time in OT.

But we knew we weren't losers. Where do you think we are - Charlotte?

Charlotte - hometown of the Carolina Panthers - is a sprawling, ugly Sunbelt city that looks a lot like Atlanta. But Atlanta was once "the city too busy to hate."

Charlotte is the city too easy to hate.

This endless and soul-less NASCAR-hypnotized expanse of strip malls and Shoney's finally got its pro franchise when the NFL finally ran out of real cities somewhere between Jacksonville, Fla., and Nashville, Tenn. However, there is one area where the Carolinas can lay claim to major league status: The self-righteous hypocrisy of its rogue's gallery of unreformed segregationists and Bible-thumping con artists.

Here's a reminder of things to hate about Charlotte and the Carolinas. Feel free to clip it out and carry it in your hip pocket every time this week you get too nonchalant about next Sunday.

Has nothing on Green Bay

Last week, we castigated Green Bay, Wis., for having nothing to do. But to paraphrase W.C. Fields, on the whole we'd rather be ice-fishing in one of those wooden shacks in subzero northern Wisconsin than to be forced to spend a week in Charlotte.

Charlotte is so dull that the city's nickname is "Charlotte."

Even Charlotte boosters have to come up with clever euphemisms for "boring." One writer tried to praise it by calling "the quietest big city in America," somehow not quite as stirring as, say, "the city that never sleeps."

Connection Charlotte's online list of "100 things to do" includes "play putt-putt at Celebration Station," "eat ice cream at Ben & Jerry's," "visit the main branch of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Library," and "go shoe-shopping at DSW..." That last one is No. 42! Under the heading of "Raucous Pleasures," Charlotte.com notes that "Jillian's has been called a 'Chuck E. Cheese for grownups.' "

Charlotte Observer sports columnist Tom Sorensen once wondered out loud why so many of its athletes became felons. "Is it our Bourbon Street, our South Beach, our Times Square that gets them? If so, where are our Bourbon Street, our South Beach and our Times Square? Tell me before I get old."

Amen.

Hey, Charlotte: F.U.!

People from Charlotte have always been pretty dumb when it comes to money. In 1799, Conrad Reed found a glittery, 17-pound rock in a stream 25 miles north of town. A local silversmith couldn't identify it, so Reed used it as a doorstop for two years before someone told him the glittery stuff was actually gold.

But Reed seems a financial genius when compared to Charlotte's Edward Crutchfield Jr. - the rocket scientist who schemed to take over Philadelphia's largest bank, CoreStates Financial, with his own Carolina-based First Union Bank in 1998.

Crutchfield was so convinced he could get rich here in Philly that he paid five times what CoreStates should have been worth and then boasted that he'd "stacked billion-dollar bills" on the table.

Once the euphoria wore off, Crutchfield realized the only way to pay for the deal was to hike fees while touting something called a Future Bank where employees wouldn't handle deposits, withdrawals and loan applications - i.e., the things people go to a bank for. Any wonder that Philadelphians left the aptly named F.U. in droves? Within two years, F.U.'s stock was worth less than a Confederate dollar, and Crutchfield was out of a job.

A kick in the Shinn

Actually, it was the NBA that first made the mistake of thinking that Charlotte was a major league city. In 1988, the league awarded a pro franchise to a self-made millionaire and motivational speaker named George Shinn.

Charlotans, or whatever you call them, were so thrilled to have something to do besides buy shoes and hang out at the library that the teal-uniformed Hornets led the NBA in attendance until 1997.

That's when it came out that Shinn, married for 27 years, had taken a women he met while visiting a nephew at a drug rehab center back to his mansion, where she performed oral sex on him. A jury cleared Shinn of sexual assault charges, but during the trial it came out that Shinn had additionally had a two-year affair with a Hornets cheerleader who was also a waitress at a Mexican restaurant where the owner used to go - with his family!

The scandal hurt the Hornets so badly that the team had to leave town. It also really hurt the sales of Shinn's motivational book - titled "Good Morning, Lord."

Hypocrite Hall of Fame

Actually, Shinn is just the latest in a long line of hypocrites to come out of Charlotte and the backward hinterlands that surround it. Here, quickly, is the Carolinas' Hypocrite Hall of Fame.

JIM AND TAMMY FAYE BAKKER. The founders of the Christian fundamentalist PTL Club set a high standard of hypocrisy. Jim Bakker preached family values even though he was a bisexual who arranged to have sex with a buxom (and drugged) church secretary named Jessica Hahn, and then paid her $265,000 in a failed effort to cover it up. His real downfall, though, was a "Christian theme park" called Heritage USA in which Bakker did the Christian thing of bilking scores of small investors. He was jailed, while cosmetically challenged Tammy Faye remarried.

BILLY GRAHAM. Richard Nixon's spiritual adviser did preach a more positive message and was a moderate on race, but ironically it is Nixon's White House tapes that have tarnished Graham's once-stellar image. He urged massive bombing of North Vietnam while he was recorded saying of Jews: "...they don't know how I feel about what they are doing to this country."

We do now, Billy.

JESSE HELMS. Whenever somebody tries this week - and they will - to talk about the New South and North Carolina's high-tech industries, just remind them that the state returned Helms to Washington as recently as 1996!

Helms started in politics in 1950 helping a Senate candidate who won with a doctored picture of the incumbent's wife dancing with a black man, then railed against "Negro hoodlums" as a TV commentator. In Washington, he fought the Martin Luther King holiday and the reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act - when he wasn't lending his support to right-wing dictators around the globe.

STROM THURMOND. Jim Bakker had nothing, hypocrisy-wise, on the recently departed Thurmond, who - as a segregationist candidate for president in 1948 - fought to keep what he called "the Nigra race" out of swimming pools and movie theaters even though we know now he was doing the wild thing with his family's teenage black servant.

As a U.S. senator from South Carolina, Thurmond accomplished little but to cement his reputation as a womanizer. He tried and failed to date Lyndon Johnson's teenage daughter, and - in his 90s - attempted to grope Sen. Patty Murray in an elevator. A colleague, John Tower, predicted famously that at Thurmond's funeral "they'll have to beat his ------- down with a baseball bat to close the coffin lid."

(E-mail bunchw@phillynews.com for the actual word. You must be 18 or over to participate.)

Panthers' felony raps

Tragically, this record of moral turpitude has carried over to the Panthers' football franchise.

No need to discuss the tragic cases of Rae Carruth or Fred Lane (although I can't promise my bad-cop colleague Don Russell won't later this week).

But it's hard to ignore quarterback Kerry Collins, who came out of Penn State with a bright future only to leave Carolina with a drinking problem and a busted jaw after uttering a racial slur to a teammate. Collins had to go to New York - of all places! - to sober up and lead his team to a Super Bowl. And for all you Carolina fans who think that's all in the past, that you can come here to Philadelphia and find success, I must remind you once again of these two letters:

F.U.

[tommy]

And here is Dennis Rogers' response:

Bunch of nonsense from Philly
By DENNIS ROGERS, Staff Writer


We used to live just down the road from the Buffkins. They were a large and rowdy clan who loved, laughed and shot at each other fairly often.

But their familial meanness was nothing compared to the swift violence that befell the outsider stupid enough to get on their bad side. Fight one Buffkin and you fought 'em all.

So it is with this fuss between Philadelphia and Charlotte in advance of this weekend's NFC championship game.

That's our baby sister you're talking about, Philly. We may dismiss her as a "high-rise truck stop" that leads the nation in the consumption of catsup, but you better mind your manners. I speak specifically of Will Bunch, a columnist from the Philadelphia Daily News.

Had Bunch stopped with what he called Charlotte's "rogue's gallery of unreformed segregationists and Bible-thumping con artists," I may have let his insult pass as the jealous rantings of a fairly accurate grouch. I surely wouldn't have mentioned the unfortunate 1985 incident in which Philadelphia police dropped a firebomb on members of a freakish cult called MOVE -- and then city officials let an entire block of 63 homes burn to the ground. Eleven MOVE members were killed, including five children, and 250 people lost their homes.

Nor would I have brought up the fact that the current mayor of Philadelphia is suspected of such evil doings that the FBI bugged his office.

But columnist Bunch lost his mind. He attacked George Shinn of the Charlotte Hornets as a sexual batterer. Uh, Will, the Hornets play basketball, not football, and Shinn was never charged. And Jerry Richardson owns the Panthers, not Shinn.

To their credit, classy Charlotte fans, who led the NBA, including the Philadelphia 76ers, in attendance, ran Shinn's Hornets out of town by staying away from home games.

Then Bunch tried to hang Strom Thurmond around the necks of North Carolinians. He's from South Carolina, Will, and Charlotte is in North Carolina. And Strom's dead.

But let's stick to facts, Will, not rash opinions. Like the fact that Charlotte leads Philadelphia in every category you can name. Charlotte's median household income is $50,245, compared to Philly's $32,879. Charlotteans spend more on education, books, perfume and deodorant, food and beverages, baby-sitting and elderly care, entertainment, shoes, indoor plants, cars, college graduates and clothes. In fact, according to DemographicsNow.com, Philadelphia leads Charlotte in ... nothing.

In closing, Will, you remind me of another big-mouthed Pennsylvanian who shot off his mouth. Penn State's Kerry Collins had a bright future with the Panthers until he developed a drinking problem and uttered a racist epithet to a teammate. He got his jaw busted and his butt shipped north.

Don't get me wrong, any city that produces the cheesesteak is cool. Beats the heck out of Charlotte barbecue, which may be the reason for the unnaturally high level of catsup consumption in the Queen City. And don't even get me started on Philly cream cheese, which when mated with my mother-in-law's pepper jelly on a cracker is pretty close to the perfect food.

But I do wonder why y'all broke the Liberty Bell.

Go get 'em, little sister.


Columnist Dennis Rogers can be reached at 829-4750 or drogers@newsobserver.com

[Caniac]

Little Sister? Little Sister? LITTLE SISTER?!?!?

:crazy:

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I was just coming here to post that, tommy.

F.U. is right. :roll:

And Dennis Rogers makes him look like an utter moron with absolutely NO sense of humor. You go Dennis!!

[cmw00]

****! Writing stuff like that philly writer did should be illegal. Pretty much alienates all North Carolinians.

Pretty sad to stoop to those levels over a football game.

[JaroFan]

This one is SUPER long but very funny. I especially like the one about the movie Philadelphia.

Posted on Wed, Jan. 14, 2004

Evidence nothing good comes from Carolina
Daily News Field guide to the Carolina Fan
By Will Bunch
bunchw@phillynews.com

People in the Carolinas have computers!

Who knew?

Here are highlights of just a few of the more than 2,000 emails we've received (it's only Tuesday) in response to Monday's expose: "In our mind there's nothing in Carolina." (Story)

- William Bunch



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Although your article is not all that untrue, you're still an idiot.

Panthers 21 Eagles 17



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You have proven that the Philly News is a rag of a paper that will hire anyone who can booze it up and write at the same time! Is that what multi-tasking means in Philly?



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Was the sleeveless t-shirt not invented in Philly? If it wasn't, then it must have been adopted as the everlasting style of the masses. And you just love it, don't you? I'll bet you're wearing one right now with a "phat" gold chain tucked underneath, but only until you walk out the door.

That's when the true stud comes out, along with that ugly chain of course.

I can just see you walking after work to your beat-up Nissan 240 with a Philly's sticker proudly stuck to the bumper.



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Only by the grace of God, and Mike Sherman's missing manhood, is your team even in the NFC Championship game, giving you a chance to write such a moronic article about Carolina. I can't believe they pay you to write such crap. Talk about boring!

Why don't you write about the team that has a very good chance at beating your beloved Eagles this weekend. That would be interesting.



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I want to commend you on your article. As an unwilling Yankee who has been transplanted into Charlotte I have to agree that it is a terrible place. My husband and I are both from Buffalo and can't stand the way that Fans in Charlotte are a fickle group. I enjoyed reading your column and wanted you to know that not so secretly my husband and I are applauding the fact that someone finally said what we have been thinking all along. The worst part about Charlotte is that they think a good restaurant is Outback. They don't support the team when they are doing bad. Last year they where begging for John Fox to be fired and you could get a ticket to a game on Sunday for $20...If it rains people won't go to the game. Let alone snow...a chance for a dusting will cause every store within 50 miles to be out of milk and bread. Not to mention the Philly cheesesteak!!! We ordered one from Charlotte's version of a deli...it was steakums...Miracle Whip and Cheeze Whiz.



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Thanks for helping raise the ire of those of us in the Carolinas. What many of you ignorant Yankees perceive as sloth or ignorance is actually a laid-back attitude. Unlike you, most of us do not suffer from such low self-esteem that we have to be the loudest person in the room. However, when provoked, we will prove to be a worthy adversary. That statement relates to our citizens. Regardless of your drivel, our team will come to play and to crack some heads.



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Nothing gets to me more than ignorant, no-class Yankees putting down Southerners. It is clear to see that you wrote your article in order to rile everyone up. Guess what! You've succeeded. However, the response won't be what you've expected. You see, while Carolinians give respect, they also deserve and demand it in return.

I am a native to the great city of Charlotte, N.C. I wonder how can you call us boring? We have ALL the wonderful seasons. Just a few hours away, we have the mountains that are so gracious and tall, and we have beautiful and peaceful beaches. Don't you wish you could be so lucky? Charlotte's downtown area is always clean and well-kept, while you have inherited the name "Filthadelphia". That sir, is YOUR city's nickname...Charlotte doesn't need one.



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It really says something that the very first insane asylum was in Philly. Too bad they closed down the Vet and opened the Linc. No wonder there is a jail in the asylum, it is legal for anyone over the age of 12 to have a license for a handgun. Scary. Where else can you find a statue of Rambo or Judge Dredd or whoever that is, at the Art Museum. All the history Philly offers and this is the most photographed "historic" monument in Philly? Ben Franklin is from Philly as well. The man that wanted to make the Wild Turkey our national bird. I bet a lot of Philly residents are related to Benjamin Franklin. That would make all the men in Philly "Sons of Benjamin" or as we say in Carolina, S.O.B.'s.



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Sounds just like someone from Philadelphia. I've always disliked your city because of the rude people that lived there and you have just proved my point.

The trouble with your city is that you have nothing to do but look at concrete and old buildings, your food "sucks" outside of the subs. Sports have become your outlet for your hate of where you live and you have to take it out on other cities with teams that you play who come from better cities than your dirty, dead, corrupt city (how is the mayor doing).

I can only pray for your sorry state of mind and hope you can get out of that horrible place you live in as soon as possible.



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I have never been around a more obnoxious group of people than Eagles fans. First of all, they're easy to spot. Fat, loud guys in jerseys. What is it about jerseys? Sweatshirts, baseball hats, tee shirts I get, not jerseys. The only people I know who where jerseys are Yankees. Even your female (I use the term loosely) fans were wearing jerseys. The South has the most beautiful women in the world. No one argues this. I saw Philly's representatives. I was drunk, and I still wasn't impressed. Rather I was amazed that you people even reproduce. Fat, ugly women that look like their names should be Hank. What a pity.



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Wow Willie!

Way to waste words. Since when did "hating a city" get to be the vogue? Way to spread the "brotherly love."



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It's just like a northern Yankee from Philly to use the word FU. Having worked in Philly for 9 years that is about the only word I ever heard, and must be a word that you have educated half your adult population with. FU and YO. First of all, let us get a few facts straight. We did buy CoreStates because we had the money too. It's kind of amazing that a bunch of back woods hillbillies can come into one of the largest cities in the US and buy one of their biggest banks. Then let us talk about that 2nd class money losing airline called US Airways. You Yankees thought you knew so much when you bought it from Piedmont Airlines and have not made a profit since. I knew you were in trouble when your high powered lawyer/CEO Ed Colodny, stated at a town meeting that "We are going to replace good old Southern hospitality with great Northern ingenuity. Good job ED!!!!



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A few more reasons why Philadelphia is better than Charlotte:

- Our cowardly police department simply negotiates with groups they have under siege, while the Philly police boldly chooses to firebomb them.

- No mundane traffic accidents snarl Philadelphia highways. Nossir. Instead you seem to lead the nation in the number of car fires per capita. Much more exciting.

- Philadelphia doesn't limit grandiose statues honoring individual achievement to the accomplishments of real people. Where is Charlotte's tribute to movie or TV characters, I ask? Charlotte leaders were even too weak to wrest away the statue of Andy and Opie from "The Andy Griffith Show" from the state capital. For shame.



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My family and I need to hurry and move to Philadelphia!! No hypocrites, no womanizers, and people who don't judge...Philadelphia must be heaven on earth. By the way, Billy Graham apologized for his remarks that were made thirty years ago. If you have ever apologized for saying something you wished you hadn't said, wouldn't you like to be forgiven? Billy Graham is one of the greatest men to have ever lived in all of human history, but of course he is human and realized that he said something wrong. He has counseled world leaders and is called "the president's pastor." Look at his entire life before you pass judgment on him.

Charlotte is a beautiful, clean, family oriented city. Remember the Fresh Prince of Bel Air? Didn't he leave Philadelphia?



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I have traveled to many cities and have chosen to stay here where the air is clean and the skies are blue.

Yes, we are a Sunbelt city. I'm not sure if you've ever looked that up, but here is what it means. A Sunbelt city features a "good business climate," a political structure dominated by the downtown business interests and devoted to a "growth ethic," and a high "quality of life."

I don't know whether or not you've ever traveled to the "Queen City", which is our nickname, by the way. (Our other nicknames include, "Heart of the Piedmont" and "Spearhead of the New South".) If you haven't I suggest you leave the gray, smoggy, cold, rainy, northern city of Philadelphia and visit a beautiful city for a change.



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Thanks for your article about Charlotte. I hope it prevents more migration from Philadelphia.

Next time you want to fill space in the days leading up to the game, you would do just as well to draw a crayon picture of the opposing team's mayor and write doody-head next to it. But that may take more talent than you actually have.



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There are many things that are bad and low class in Philadelphia:

Philly's Balkan-state ethnically and racially segregated neighborhoods, where ignorance and ugly feelings persist to this day.

Corruption...has been systemic for a long, long time in Philly. Compared to Philly, Little Rock, Ark. is a model of honesty.

The Mummers Day parade, an orgy of drunkenness, rowdiness and disgusting behavior which includes people of both sexes urinating and even defecating in public. When I first moved to Cherry Hill, from NYC, people told me that "I didn't want to see what goes on at a Mummers Day parade. I went once, they were right. "Iggles" fans receive their basic training at Mummers Day parades.



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We don't have a nickname for our city because we don't need one - our residents can spell it. Philadelphia is much too difficult for your residents to learn, so you have to shorten it. By the way, Charlotte is the Queen City. Royal, majestic, strong. Philadelphia is the city of brotherly love. After seeing the movie with the same name, we all know why it's called that.

Will, where did Kerry Collins play his college ball? Wasn't it Penn State? Could you remind me what state that's in? Also, what state is Philadelphia, oops, sorry, Philly, in?

Charlotte is full of con artists? Do yourself a favor. As Tom Sorenson did, please go to the archives of Philly.com and search on the word corruption. How many hits do you come back with? He got 35.

By the way, how many jail cells do they have in the bottom of the stadium? Wouldn't it be easier to send an electronic collar when mailing out the season tickets?



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We little o country boy's have most of Philly's money in deposit in our little o country banks. Are there any hometown banks left in Philly? maybe we'll gobble them up too.



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I can't imagine having 100 things to do that are so exciting and decadent that they make playing putt-putt and eating ice cream seem like cruel torture.

You know, maybe if I were to move to Philly, I'd finally be able to take my kids to a decent strip club. Thanks for opening my eyes, Will.



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If Charlotte sucks so bad, then why do so many Phillyites or whatever you call yourselves move here and why does no one from Charlotte move to the cold, snowy, crime-infested Philadelphia area?

At least we don't boo Santa Claus, or Andy Reid - by the way, have you ever seen them in the same place at the same time?? At least we don't have to have a lockup for unruly drunks AT THE STADIUM!!! They're warning Panthers fans not to wear Carolina jerseys to Philly this weekend, that their safety might be in jeopardy if they did. Nice town.

I bet you think you're pretty clever, sitting there with Velveeta dripping off your Cheesesteak (Philly's one and only contribution to civilized society), crumbs from your TastyCake on your free size XXXL sportswriter swag shirt.

If I had to live with the disappointment of losing 3 straight NFC title games AND had to live in Philly, I'd probably kill myself.



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I was born and raised in Philadelphia, but relocated to Charlotte in 1996 because the Philly economy was horrible, and Charlotte's lights shone bright. As a recent college graduate, there was nothing Philadelphia had to offer me for employment at that time. I couldn't stand the thought of working and living in that polluted and ugly city.

I have been proud to call Charlotte my home over the last seven years. Your article trashing Charlotte is an embarrassment. There are plenty of Philadelphia transplants here, and we are staying. The quality of life is excellent, the city is vibrant and there are plenty of opportunities for work, fun and relaxation.



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You'll never know how happy it makes those of us who live here that you don't. The city of brotherly hate! I can hear the sirens in the distance.

Let's see, the Liberty Bell, oh and let's not forget "Rocky" (who most of you believe is real) and a bunch of smartass Yankees. Do us a favor, stay there and never visit, I'm afraid if you do you might want to stay. Go Panthers!!!



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Philly brought Derrick Coleman into the NBA, who also graced us with his amazing idiocy and great fitness habits (the only player ever to be placed on the IR for being too fat during the season.



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I for one am originally from Southampton, Pa. and moved down to the Carolinas 2 years ago. Let me tell you how happy I am to be out of Filthadelphia, the most disgusting, drug filled, crime ridden city I have ever seen. So, you have an art museum. Whoopie!!! Around the corner you have crack alley.



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We can't all live in progressive, beautiful Philadelphia. I suppose we will have to make due in filthy crime ridden Charlotte. Oh no - wait YOUR city is the filthy crime-ridden one. Your city is the one that is home to A.I. (and his guns, tattoos and gold toothed momma). Your state is the one that is home to fabulous Pittsburgh, which recently had to be taken over by federal troops to put out the bonfires of mismanagement, bankruptcy and really bad baseball. Your city is the one that is nationally regarded as a dirty, dangerous, economically desolate hell hole. The only other place I can think of that compares to Philly is that well in Silence of the Lambs. So after the Panthers finish their beat-down of your always-a-bridesmaid-never-a-bride dirty birds, we will put the lotion in the basket and leave as quickly as your deadly, poorly planned roads will allow.



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Read your article and only got sick twice.

If you where going for a reaction of hate from the people of Charlotte, sorry we don't play that game.

I rather feel sorry for your demented sick view of things.

You need professional help.

Heavy medication and maybe a private room in some hospital where you cannot spread the vile hatred you demonstrated in your article.

Journalism, it ain't.

Trash, it is. And that is where it belongs.

You have put a dark shadow over what most feel is a great city and great people of a once proud Philadelphia.

Please seek help and try another profession that you are better suited for.

Like trash collector.

You obviously have a lot of experience with garbage.



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I grew up in the "backward hinterlands" that surround Charlotte and I thought your column was hilarious. The city has proven that culture can't be bought, no matter how many banks you own.



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You're one reason this native and resident Philadelphian can't wait for football season to be over. Why your bosses at the Daily News feel the need to direct you to write incendiary and insulting half-truths about every geographic location in the country is beyond me - except for the fact that they care only for circulation and publicity at the expense of any self respect and decency.

The problem I have is that I, along with millions of others in the Delaware Valley, are viewed and judged in light of your comments. Why even go down this route - you wouldn't listen, care or understand.



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As a local, Philly is and always will be home. But as an Internet writer who covers NASCAR I've traveled extensively in and around Charlotte, and it's actually a very nice city. How can you not like a city where you can buy beer at gas stations and wine in the grocery store.



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I am so sick of people saying how much they love living in Charlotte. Your comments are refreshing.



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Tell you what you should do - Head on down to your local cheesesteak shop, order up a 12-incher from whichever mullet-headed goon with an 8th-grade education whom happens to be working that hour, then shove it and this bunch of crap straight up your untalented ass.



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Shame on you! Saying all those horrible things over a football game. Where is your sense of sport. If you don't have anything good to say, don't say anything at all. At least the people of Charlotte aren't slamming Philadelphia!

That should tell you something about the kind of people you are degrading!



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I imagine your e-mail box is pretty full right now. I just wanted to let you know that I am praying for you and I love you in Christ. If you ever want to talk I am here.



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That was some funny stuff, but what's that got to do with football????

[Guyute]

LOL. uh, folks... he did his job didn't he? gave fans something to smack-talk about. THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NONE.

These teams are tightly matched. And the teams are doing NO smack-talking. Unlike the Bucs vs. Eagles titlegame last year. Reporters are trying to drum up some extra excitement, and you see it worked.

Hell, did y'all read the article from a Pitt paper I posted? PA writers are trashing Philly fans too. :roll:
Watch the game, cheer for your team, nothing else matters.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

LOL. uh, folks... he did his job didn't he? gave fans something to smack-talk about. THERE HAS BEEN ALMOST NONE.


Sooooo.....had we all ignored it and not posted about it here there would have been no "smack" talk, right? Meaning, he was expected to write it and we were expected to react exactly as we have. So why you acting surprised? :p

It's his job to write it. It's my job to say "F.U." :)

[Guyute]

Who said I was surprised?

FU too :D (btw- some of his stuff was f'n hilarious :p )

[SouthernHockeyChick]

I want to commend you on your article. As an unwilling Yankee who has been transplanted into Charlotte I have to agree that it is a terrible place. My husband and I are both from Buffalo and can't stand the way that Fans in Charlotte are a fickle group. I enjoyed reading your column and wanted you to know that not so secretly my husband and I are applauding the fact that someone finally said what we have been thinking all along. The worst part about Charlotte is that they think a good restaurant is Outback. They don't support the team when they are doing bad. Last year they where begging for John Fox to be fired and you could get a ticket to a game on Sunday for $20...If it rains people won't go to the game. Let alone snow...a chance for a dusting will cause every store within 50 miles to be out of milk and bread. Not to mention the Philly cheesesteak!!! We ordered one from Charlotte's version of a deli...it was steakums...Miracle Whip and Cheeze Whiz.

Well, then, let me give you a big, loud, resounding invitation to GO BACK!!!! BTW, weren't the ORIGINAL Philly cheesesteaks made with Cheese Whiz? Moron.


Best rebuttal EVER:

Thanks for your article about Charlotte. I hope it prevents more migration from Philadelphia.

Next time you want to fill space in the days leading up to the game, you would do just as well to draw a crayon picture of the opposing team's mayor and write doody-head next to it. But that may take more talent than you actually have.

Several of the people e-mailing (like the "I love you in Christ" guy and the "If you don't have anything nice to say....." guy) need to be shot.

Guy....I thought a lot of what the guy wrote about Charlotte was very true. But I didn't find a bit of it funny. Not sure why but I honestly didn't even crack a smile when I read it. Now the N&O one I lmao at.

And for the record....I'd rather live in Philly than Charlotte anyday. But I'll take Raleigh over either.

There's been no trash talk because the Panthers don't do that. They'll just roll in there Sunday, do their jobs, whoop the Eagles' ass and get on with the real point to all this....the Super Bowl.

:D

[Guyute]

Best rebuttal EVER:

Thanks for your article about Charlotte. I hope it prevents more migration from Philadelphia.

Next time you want to fill space in the days leading up to the game, you would do just as well to draw a crayon picture of the opposing team's mayor and write doody-head next to it. But that may take more talent than you actually have.

That was awesome


And for the record....I'd rather live in Philly than Charlotte anyday. But I'll take Raleigh over either.
Indeed. That's why I'm here. :)


There's been no trash talk because the Panthers don't do that. They'll just roll in there Sunday, do their jobs, whoop the Eagles' ass and get on with the real point to all this....the Super Bowl.
:D
oh look, the "holier than thou" attitude comes out. lmao. :D

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Actually, I think it's less the "holier than thou" "class" crap that makes the Panthers not talk sh*t and more the "afraid we'll lose and look like morons afterwards."

:beatup:

[Guyute]

lol. I'll accept that. ;)

actually, the Eagles guys don't talk it either. that mess last year was all Sapp (who I can't STAND anyway).

[Caniac]

And for the record....I'd rather live in Philly than Charlotte anyday. But I'll take Raleigh over either.

Don't insult the boss' home. I've lived in Raleigh, Wilmington and Charlotte and been to every large city on the east coast. To live, I'd pick Charlotte over them any day.

Especially Raleigh. That snooze-fest of a town has absolutely zero to do besides Canes hockey and NC State sports. After 10 o'clock, you might as well be living in a retirement community in Florida.

This city doesn't sleep. I found a great job quickly here, after looking for 2+ years in Raleigh.

Don't get me wrong, Raleigh is a great city and has a lot of plusses, but personally, I'll take Charlotte.

And comparing Philadelphia to Charlotte is like comparing Cambodia to England. I've spent some time in Philly and it's a hole. How anyone could pick Philly over Charlotte is beyond me.

To each his own.

Actually, I think it's less the "holier than thou" "class" crap that makes the Panthers not talk sh*t and more the "afraid we'll lose and look like morons afterwards."

And don't start with that sh!t either.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Sorry, I didn't realize we had a moratorium on personal opinions today.

[Guyute]

where's my "Huh?" smiley??

:crazy:

Think the boss is taking things a little personally. btw- don't call philly a hole. :p

[Guyute]

oh, and I guess some Panthers have got quoted taking jabs here and there. here's one.

Rookie cornerback Ricky Manning Jr. was recently quoted on a Charlotte, N.C., radio show as saying that the Eagles' wide receivers weren't very impressive, and that when the Eagles and the Panthers met earlier in the year - a 25-16 Philadelphia win - the Eagles didn't see the Panthers "A" game.


saying we didn't see their A game is fine. saying the eagles' receivers aren't very impressive is smack talking though. oh well, he's a rookie. we'll see how he does back there :)

[SouthernHockeyChick]

oh well, he's a rookie. we'll see how he does back there :)

You saw how he did back there against the Rams, right? :p

[Guyute]

You realize the Eagles are better than the Rams, right? :p

[SouthernHockeyChick]

Not yet. We'll find out Sunday.

[Guyute]

Great article about "Idiot Man" (he's actually called himself that. he's a nutbag)

Dawkins pleads insanity
By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com

PHILADELPHIA - Brian Dawkins puts so much of himself into playing football that when the final whistle blows and the clock runs down to all zeroes and the fans head for the exits, Dawkins has nothing left. He's empty.

"I crash," he said. "I'm drained. Completely. Just completely physically and emotionally drained."

Dawkins doesn't just play football, he lives football.

For three hours on Sunday afternoons, he is football.

In a sport filled with intensity, Dawkins stands above everyone else.

In a locker room filled with men who've been playing football all their lives, Dawkins takes this game to a level few have seen before.

During the week, he's just Dawk. Loving father of 7-year-old Dawk Jr. and 4-year-old Brionni. Devoted husband to high school sweetheart Connie.

Sundays, he's is a madman. Sundays, he's not sane.

He's Weapon X. He's Idiot Man.

"To tell you the truth, it's something that's always been in me," Dawkins said yesterday, as the Eagles began preparing for Sunday's NFC Championship Game against the Carolina Panthers. "Even in my Pop Warner days, I would cry after we lost.

"I've always been an emotional guy. It's just part of the process of knowing what I'm able to do on the field and the love I have for these [teammates]. I've always said I'm going to give you everything I have every game. I need to."

The trick for Dawkins is keeping his

emotions from getting away from him. From being so hyped up that he strays from his assignment, starts hitting people late, starts hurting the team.

These days, that doesn't happen. Dawkins knows how to channel his fury and unleash it within the legal boundaries of the game.

Andre Waters, who manned the strong safety position for the Eagles a decade earlier, shared the same mentality but struggled at times to control himself.

"Early in my career, that was a problem," Dawkins said. "I would make mental mistakes, mistakes because I was so hyped. Now, it's just part of who I am."

And part of what the Eagles are.

A big part.

"He's a different character, but I love having him on my side," said cornerback Bobby Taylor, Dawkins' teammate since 1996. "He makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up."

It's impossible to be on the same field and not play every snap as if it's the most important snap you'll ever play.

That's leadership. He doesn't need to speak. He just needs to be himself. It doesn't hurt that he's playing astonishing football right now.

"You evolve as a leader, and he's accepted that role, he has taken the baton and he's moving on with it," long-time friend and teammate Troy Vincent said. "If you watch him, he's not saying anything, he's not smiling, and he's not joking. It's, 'Come in the meeting room with your notebooks opened up, everyone sit up, look at this tape, and this is going to be the practice tempo.'


"But he contradicts himself - to tell someone to relax and you're looking at this maniac moving around? Are we playing today or are we playing Sunday? It makes you not to want to make a mistake. You know everyone is on time for meetings."

Dawkins produced one of the finest games of his career Sunday, saving a touchdown with an open-field tackle of Ahman Green at the 4-yard-line, intercepting Brett Favre in overtime to set up the game-winning touchdown, and wreaking general havoc whenever the Packers had the ball.

Now he's one game from his first Super Bowl.

"Right now, Dawk is in a sick state of mind," Vincent said. "We watched the Green Bay-Seattle game together and as soon as Al [Harris] got that pick, he told his kids to pack up and just said, 'I'm ready for Brett Favre.'

"When I came here as a free agent acquisition in 1996, [head coach] Ray Rhodes and [defensive coordinator] Emmitt Thomas said, 'This guy is special. He very well could be the best player to ever play the free safety position.

"Really, he's a corner playing safety with the heart of a linebacker and the mentality of a nasty defensive lineman."

It was Dawkins who knocked Ricky Williams out of bounds at the 6-yard-line.

It was Dawkins who along with Carlos Emmons stuffed Tiki Barber at the 3-yard-line on fourth-and-goal.

It was Dawkins who took over Sunday's game when a lot of things weren't going right.

"I invite pressure upon myself," he said. "Not every guy can do that, not everybody wants that pressure. But I want to be 1-on-1 with a running back in the open field. And I have to make that tackle. That's pressure, but I like that.

"Some guys shy away from that. They don't want to be a part of that. But to me, when you have a pressure situation, that's when you can stand up and you can really prove to yourself and to your teammates and to the other players on the team that, hey, he is going to get the job done."

But did he really cry after Pop Warner games?

"Pop Warner games, high school games, whatever," he said. "That's me. That's just who I am. And you know what? My son does, too."

[Guyute]

Panthers RB Stephen Davis misses practice
The Associated Press


CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Panthers running back Stephen Davis did not practice Wednesday because of a strained left quadricep.

Davis, who ran for a career-best 1,444 yards this season, is questionable for Sunday's NFC championship game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

He wouldn't answer reporters' questions Wednesday.

[Guyute]

Reid won't change his philosophy
By REUBEN FRANK
phillyBurbs.com




PHILADELPHIA - A record media crowd showed up at the NovaCare Complex yesterday to ask Andy Reid what he plans to do differently this year since the Eagles lost in the last two NFC Championship Games.

Andy Reid?

Different?

Nope.

"We do what we do," Reid said. "That part won't change. You do what got you here and focus in. You get yourself ready and keep your practices consistent."

Reid is big on staying consistent, maintaining a routine, and not straying from your methods no matter what.

Part of his philosophy is that the later it gets in the season, the shorter practices get. And yesterday, four days before the biggest game of the season, the full unit worked for less than 90 minutes after a 30-minute special teams session.

"If you change, then you've made a mistake the last 16 or 17 games," he said. "You better approach it the same way."

The Eagles face the Panthers at 6:45 p.m. Sunday in the NFC Championship Game at the Linc. The Eagles lost to the Rams in the 2001 conference title game at the Edward Jones Dome and to the Buccaneers at the Vet last year.

He was asked yesterday what steps he'll take this week for the Eagles to avoid losing again.

"We don't try to avoid losing, we try to win," he said. "That's the approach we take. We don't look at what happened before, we try to look at the present and things we can control and that's getting ourselves ready to play a heck of a football team.

"We wanted to win all of those games just like we want to win this game. That's the way we're going to approach this."

On the road again

The Panthers have lost 14 straight games on the road outdoors to winning teams, a streak that dates back seven years.

In their history, the Panthers are 1-18 outdoors on the road against winning teams, an .053 winning percentage.

The Panthers play their home games in temperate Charlotte, N.C., and have played most of their road games in domes during their years in the NFC West and NFC South.

But outdoors on the road has been a problem. They beat the 49ers, 30-24, on Dec. 8, 1996, at Candlestick Park, the only outdoor road victory over a team that finished the season with a winning record in franchise history.

This year, they only faced one winning team on the road and lost in Dallas, 20-24, in November.

Then again, the Bucs beat the Eagles last year and they had never won a cold-weather game.

"The Panthers have proved they can play anywhere," Eagles tight end Chad Lewis said. "They went to the loudest stadium in America and beat the Rams. That tells you what you want to know about a team, is that they are tough.


"You can't let up just because it's cold. We have a great team coming in here and we know they are going to be absolutely prepared in every way."

Injury update

All-Pro cornerback Troy Vincent, who hasn't played since suffering a hip injury in Miami on Dec. 15, got through practice yesterday and expects to play Sunday.

Just like he hoped to play against the Packers last week.

"I feel good, a lot better than I did last week," he said. "I feel pretty good about my chances. Last week, the best thing for me as well as the team was to not play. It gave me another week of rest and that week of rest really did me some good."

Defensive end Brandon Whiting (knee) didn't practice. His reps were taken by Jerome McDougle (arm), who like Whiting is listed as probable. Correll Buckhalter (knee) is also probable but did practice.

Davis still out

In Charlotte, running back Stephen Davis (quad) - who rushed for 1,444 yards this year, including 115 against the Eagles - didn't practice and is questionable for Sunday.

If he's unable to play, the Panthers will use DeShaun Foster, who gained 95 yards against the Rams Saturday. Foster was Carolina's second-round pick last year but missed the entire year with a knee injury.

"When we drafted DeShaun, we drafted him to be a feature back," Panthers coach John Fox said. "I think he has tremendous abilities, as good as any back in the league. If for some reason Stephen can't go, and Lord willing he can, we feel totally comfortable with DeShaun Foster as our back."

Foster didn't play in the first Eagles game because of a hand injury. During the regular season, he averaged 3.8 yards with three fumbles on 113 carries.

"They still have to run the ball and we still have to tackle somebody," Brian Dawkins said. "So it doesn't make a difference."

This & that

Reid on the Sports Illustrated Jinx after Donovan McNabb appeared on the cover of this week's issue: "It didn't look like it slowed down Michael Jordan." ... McNabb on the SI Jinx: "If there's a jinx, it's time to erase it." ... Although a lot of national media wanted to talk to Freddie Mitchell about his miracle fourth-and-26 catch Sunday, Mitchell declined: "That's old news. That won't help us win this Sunday."

[JaroFan]

[I want to commend you on your article. As an unwilling Yankee who has been transplanted into Charlotte I have to agree that it is a terrible place. My husband and I are both from Buffalo and can't stand the way that Fans in Charlotte are a fickle group. I enjoyed reading your column and wanted you to know that not so secretly my husband and I are applauding the fact that someone finally said what we have been thinking all along. The worst part about Charlotte is that they think a good restaurant is Outback. They don't support the team when they are doing bad. Last year they where begging for John Fox to be fired and you could get a ticket to a game on Sunday for $20...If it rains people won't go to the game. Let alone snow...a chance for a dusting will cause every store within 50 miles to be out of milk and bread. Not to mention the Philly cheesesteak!!! We ordered one from Charlotte's version of a deli...it was steakums...Miracle Whip and Cheeze Whiz.



Who remembers this happening? I sure don't. All the Panthers fans I know have been nothing but pleased with what he's done. That person must be a bit uninformed.

[rkbrasse]

Who remembers this happening? I sure don't. All the Panthers fans I know have been nothing but pleased with what he's done. That person must be a bit uninformed.

If it is so bad, leave. I've always disliked it when people move to a city and then run it down because "back home" is better. I'm sorry our Deli's suck but so does your BBQ. And I must say outback is not the "best resteraunt" in charlotte. What a moron.

[JaroFan]

Who remembers this happening? I sure don't. All the Panthers fans I know have been nothing but pleased with what he's done. That person must be a bit uninformed.

If it is so bad, leave. I've always disliked it when people move to a city and then run it down because "back home" is better. I'm sorry our Deli's suck but so does your BBQ. And I must say outback is not the "best resteraunt" in charlotte. What a moron.


Exactly! Obviously this woman hasn't taken the time to venture out of her hole. Charlotte has fabulous restaurants - better than us!

I had to post these stats from ESPN - LOVE THEM!!!



2003 TEAM LEADERS
PASSING LEADER RUSHING LEADER RECEIVING LEADER SACKS LEADER
CAROLINA Delhomme 3047 yds Davis 1444 yds Smith 1110 yds Rucker 12.0 sacks
PHILADELPHIA McNabb 2963 yds Westbrook 613 yds Pinkston 575 yds Simon 7.5 sacks

[tommy]

Sorry, I didn't realize we had a moratorium on personal opinions today.

We do? I've seen plenty flying around. Last time I checked it's not illegal to come to the defense of something you enjoy. Chill.

Either way, sure you can have someone start up some smack talk, but there's a difference between saying "McNabb can't win an NFCC," and saying Charlotte is a group of "Bible-thumping con artists". Sorry, but I don't buy the smack talk... smack talk about the players, the game, the history, but honest to God, don't insult good people. That's bull****.

But again I say, contain McNabb and the Panthers will win.

[Caniac]

Sorry, I didn't realize we had a moratorium on personal opinions today.

Thin ice.

[SouthernHockeyChick]

We do? I've seen plenty flying around. Last time I checked it's not illegal to come to the defense of something you enjoy. Chill.



What are you (well, either of you, really) talking about? All I said was that I'd rather live in Philly than Charlotte and rather live in Raleigh than Philly. Only stating my personal opinion of which city is best for my needs....never slamming the other cities. What do I get back? A teatise on how Raleigh sucks and Philly is a hole and a big "Don't insult the boss's home"....translation..."shut up." I wasn't attacking either city (unless my opinion is so important to you that you consider me not liking it an insult) so I don't see why a defense was needed. And then, a joke I made was taken seriously (as if I am not a Panthers fan) and I got a "don't start with that sh*t" ...translation...."shut up." Sorry if I took offense to what I percieved as being told not to vocalize an opinion because it differed from that of those who matter. Clearly, Guyute got nearly the same impression. There was no "chilling" that needed to happen. I was just pointing out that I had been told not to voice my opinion....when it wasn't attacking anything or anyone.

Now, I've probably said waaaay too much but I'm sorry, I just don't see that my initial post deserved such a reaction. I wasn't ripping apart anything or anyone I was just stating what my preference was.

And now, let me take a moment to say:

WOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!! The Panthers are going to the Super Bowl!!!!

Told you they didn't need to talk smack.....they just went up there and got the job done. :D

[AbNormal27]

I really didn't have a favourite going into the playoffs since BOTH my Cardinals and Chargers were again disappointments (save for one game some Packer fans remember), so I have been rooting for the Panthers. Now, before anyone accuses me of jumping on the "bandwagon", I will say this, I hope the Panthers win, but my money is on the Pats right now. Check back with me before game time to see if have been swayed ;) .

Aaryn

[folgersnyourcup]

I'd say that Ricky Manning was correct in his assumption of the eagles WR's. He definitely backed it up. Thrash and Pinkston were being forced off slant routes, had their BACK to the defenders when making a catch (see Manning's third interception when one of them was hit HARD and the ball popped out, and dropped a bundle of passes. Mitchell played okay but dropped some passes as well. Of course it's hard to catch what appeared at some points to simply be an uncatchable ball. Neither the Eagles offense or defense stepped up to make big plays. I believe the Eagles converted 2 of 13 third downs. The Eagles could not stop the run going down the field OR the run for the touchdown which suprised me the most (see Foster's AMAZING 1 yard touchdown run, he beat no less than 5 tackles). In the days leading up to the game, the Eagles' players and coaches cited that even though they were unable to stop the run, they were able to keep the points off the board. That bit them last night.

Mcnabb was just plain abused all night long. I felt sorry for him being forced to stand on the sidelines at the end of the game when it was obvious that he wanted to play but the defensive line was certainly able to get to him. I really believe that Favors did not intend to injure Mcnabb in any way. I was screaming for him to get on top of Mcnabb at that point and he did just that. It would be inexcusable for anyone to allow him the possibility of being able to get up and do something with the ball. He obviously was not the same after that but the Eagles weren't getting much done offensively before that anyway. In short, I don't think the outcome would have changed at all had that play not happened.

I am trying to take nothing away from Philly here as a Panthers fan, but in reality I thought the Panthers caught a bit of a break when the Eagles miraculously beat the Packers. Philly fans should look at their teams' season as one where they battled a lot of adversity throughout, and to their credit showed a good bit of heart when they battled back against the Packers, but in the end, whether it's because of injuries or what, I think they just simply do not on both sides of the ball have an excellent team by any means. They were outplayed several times this season but ended up winning due to one thing or another. Their team centers around Mcnabb and I am confused as to why Staley is not allowed to run more...it also looks like he may be leaving. If he does I would say that's a huge mistake.

One question mark I have is whether Mcnabb was physically damaged after the Packers game. He was sacked 8 times and single-handedly brought his team back into the game. He had to be a bit worse for the wear after all of that....

In retrospect, last night's game was fun if you are a Carolina fan and probably sickening if you are a Philly fan. The crowd seemed dead during much of the 2nd half, not booing, not cheering, nothing... The score was close for much of the game but the Eagles never came close to the endzone. Given what changes are bound to come in the offseason for the Eagles and what players they are losing, it will take a lot for them to again reach this point. However, should they make it to the NFC championship game again they must have a better overall team if they plan on taking the next step. It's sort of sad how some are calling them the next Buffalo Bills...though like the Bills the Eagles performance is getting worse as these championship games go on. I wish the Eagles the best next year though...I would say they need some new WR's.

And one last thing, I definitely think that the Rams were a better team than the Eagles this year. Everything about the Eagles just seemed to be exposed in the championship game.

All this is probably coming across as gibberish, I was just sort of writing it as a stream of thought. Oh well.. :D

[Caniac]

SHC, I've had about enough of this crap. I'm going to spell it out for you right here:

What are you (well, either of you, really) talking about? All I said was that I'd rather live in Philly than Charlotte and rather live in Raleigh than Philly. Only stating my personal opinion of which city is best for my needs....never slamming the other cities.

But you wrote:

I thought a lot of what the guy wrote about Charlotte was very true.

You defend an article that slams a city and btw VERY LITTLE was true. So you slam the city by proxy.

So then you write:

Sorry, I didn't realize there was a moratorium on personal opinions.

Right before saying:

What do I get back? A teatise on how Raleigh sucks and Philly is a hole and a big "Don't insult the boss's home"....translation..."shut up." I wasn't attacking either city (unless my opinion is so important to you that you consider me not liking it an insult) so I don't see why a defense was needed.

I GUESS I DON'T GET A PERSONAL OPINION. I even wrote it that way:

Don't get me wrong, Raleigh is a great city and has a lot of plusses, but personally, I'll take Charlotte.

HELLO MR. POT, I'M MR. KETTLE.

Back to your words:

And then, a joke I made was taken seriously (as if I am not a Panthers fan) and I got a "don't start with that sh*t" ...translation...."shut up." Sorry if I took offense to what I percieved as being told not to vocalize an opinion because it differed from that of those who matter.

My response to that was intended to be tongue in cheek, but it was taken a bit seriously because you said they "were scared they'd lose and be embarassed". Which is horsesh!it. This team has never gone into a game thinking they'd lose. The only one acting "holier than thou" in this thread is you.

Clearly, Guyute got nearly the same impression. There was no "chilling" that needed to happen. I was just pointing out that I had been told not to voice my opinion....when it wasn't attacking anything or anyone.

You were slamming the city. If you want to, that's fine. But when you come into MY HOUSE and spout crap that I don't like, I'm going to call you on it. No one said you couldn't say it, but don't expect to say it and not get flak.

Now if you can pull your head out and realize THAT I GET AN OPINION TOO and quit being a HYPOCRITE, then maybe it'll all be cool.

Now, I've probably said waaaay too much but I'm sorry, I just don't see that my initial post deserved such a reaction. I wasn't ripping apart anything or anyone I was just stating what my preference was.

Got that right sister. Get your facts straight before you say anything. And posts like that WILL get that reaction because that's what it deserved.

Now the thin ice is even thinner, and I'm in no mood to put up with ANYONE'S crap from here on out.