OK, forget the last few 25 Random Points. Those were preseason Random Points. We didnt even play our starters that much. This is the regular season now. No messing around. Gotta raise our game to another level. On threeone, two, three25 Random Points!
1. I give DeSean Jackson an enormous amount of credit for handling his contract situation like a pro. He said when he arrived at Lehigh he would keep business and football separate, and hes done it. Every day. The most electrifying player in the NFL earning NFL minimum wage is absurd, but hes put the team first, hasnt been a distraction and keeps saying all the right things on the few occasions he does talk to the media. We all saw in 2005 what can happen when a diva superstar receiver puts himself above the team. Disaster. And T.O.s me-first attitude not only tore apart the locker room but also ultimately cost him millions of dollars. Good for everybody that DeSean hasnt made that mistake. I still think the deal will get done fairly soon. Lets say five years, 43 million.
2. Feel better about Alex Henery now than I did a week ago. He reminds me of Paul McFadden.
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3. And Cullen Jenkins reminds me of Ron Baker. Incredibly wise, perceptive and insightful veteran. If Im a young guy on the Eagles, Im listening every time Cullen speaks. About anything.
4. I told Asante Samuel after practice Thursday Im putting him down for 10 interceptions this year. He said: Ten? Why not 12?
5. I never get tired of watching Michael Vick throw the deep ball. Warmups, practice, games, whenever. Its astonishing. Effortless flick and the ball just explodes.
6. This is an amazing stat: Of the 12 active NFL quarterbacks whove played 100 games, including playoffs, only three havent started a Super Bowl (Mark Brunell, Jon Kitna, Michael Vick).
7. I couldnt care less what number any professional athlete wears. Never have. Is Nnamdi getting 21 back? Is Ronnie Brown going to keep 36? What number did Kyle DeVan get? Just not even remotely interested. But when Randall Cunningham says he wouldnt take a million dollars to let Steve Smith wear No. 12, yeah, thats pretty darn cool.
8. Last time the Eagles opened a season with rookie punter and kicker? Remember 1979? That was Max Runager and Tony Franklin.
9. I expect Juqua Parker to be a productive pass rusher for the Eagles this year. Since the Eagles for the last several years have always been forced to start the 250-pound Parker and play him too many snapsespecially on running downshes never had the chance to be a situational pass rusher, which is what he does best. So hes played too much, hes worn down, and his second-half performance has reflected that. With Jason Babin joining Trent Cole, Parker can finally focus on playing primarily on third down and just going after the QB. If his snaps are reduced 35 percent from last year, hell get his six to eight sacks but still be sharp the second half of the season and in the playoffs.
10. Oct. 9 in Minnesota, the Cards face the Vikings at the Metrodome. Kevin Kolb vs. Donovan McNabb. Sorry, but thats pretty compelling stuff.
11. The Eagles havent had the No. 1 scoring offense in the NFL in 62 years. Since 1949, when they averaged 30.3 points per game and won the NFL Championship, theyve been top-10 27 times, with a high of No. 3 in 1953, 1960, 1961, 1990 and 2010.
12. Eagles have been 2-0 once in the last 17 years. They went to the Super Bowl.
13. Asante Samuels 49 career interceptions (including playoffs) are fourth-most in NFL history by a player in his first eight years, behind Hall of Famer Paul Krause (54), Ed Reed (53) and Bobby Boyd (50).
14. As long as Vance Worley can keep his ERA under 3.00 (hes at 2.85 right now), the Phillies will become the first major-league team in 44 years to have four starters with 10 or more wins and an ERA under 2.90. The last was the 1967 Giants, with Gaylord Perry (15-17, 2.61), Mike McCormick (22-10, 2.85), Juan Marichal (14-10, 2.76) and Ray Sadecki (12-16, 2.78).
15. Top 5 interviews on the Eagles: 1) Michael Vick, 2) Cullen Jenkins, 3) Jason Babin, 4) Jamaal Jackson, 5) Nnamdi Asomugha.
16. I still think Danny Watkins will eventually be fine. Really was put in a very tough position. Has handled difficult situation as well as anybody could.
17. The Kyle DeVan pickup is reminiscent of the Eagles acquisition of Ron Heller in a trade with the Buccaneers a week before the regular-season opener. Heller wound up starting at right tackle for the NFC East champs. A year later, on a team with Randall Cunningham, Keith Byars, Keith Jackson, Mike Quick and Cris Carter, he was voted by his teammates Eagles offensive MVP. Heller is now an assistant coach with the Jaguars.
18. The Edward Jones Dome is the loudest place on Earth. Im not convinced all the noise is generated by humans, but sitting in that stadium is like sitting next to a B-1 bomber in full afterburner.
19. Only 13 coaches in NFL history have reached the playoffs more than Andy Reid. Ten of themall but Marty Schottenheimer, Bud Grant and Chuck Knoxwon at least one NFL Championship or Super Bowl. Only nine men have coached more playoff games than Reid. Only 10 have won more playoff games. Only seven have lost more.
20. Eagles set a franchise record with 439 points last year. That was with Mike McGlynn in his first year at center, Max Jean-Gilles and Nick Cole at right guard, and a hobbled Winston Justice at right tackle. That was also with Kevin Kolb starting five games, Leonard Weaver lost for the season, King Dunlap at left tackle for a couple games. Even if this offensive line struggles, the Eagles are still going to put up 30 points a game if Vick is healthy.
21. Charlie Manuel has a .562 career winning percentage as a major-league manager. Of the 178 managers in history who have managed for more than five years, thats the 13th-highest ever. Of the 12 ahead of him, 11 are in the Hall of Fame. The only exception is James Mutrie, who managed in the 1880s.
22. It still blows my mind that the most successful pro sports franchise in Philadelphia history is the Athletics, who left town 57 years ago and won their last championship in Philadelphia 81 years ago. Flyers two titles, 76ers two titles (plus one in Syracuse), Phillies two titles, Eagles three titles. Athletics five titles? Strange but true.
23. Eagles will have 13 different starters Sunday (or starters in different positions) than they had in last years opener vs. the Packers. The way I add it up, theyre better at eight (right guard, right tackle, quarterback, left defensive end, right defensive tackle, weak outside linebacker, strong-side linebacker and right corner), theyre worse at four (left guard, center, middle linebacker, strong safety) and theyre equal at one (free safety).
24. Since 1987, only two Eagles linebackers have recorded at least four sacks in a season -- Seth Joyner (five times) and William Thomas (four times, most recently in 1997). Crazy prediction: That streak will end this year.
25. Time to make a prediction. The first month will be rough. If the Eagles can get to Week 4 at 2-2, theyll be in decent shape. Because this is a talented team, its just going to take them some time to start showing it. Im going to go 11-5, finishing a game ahead of the Cowboys in the division, earning the No. 2 seed and facing the Packers again in the playoffs, this time beating them in the NFC Championship Game at Lambeau on Michael Vicks last-minute TD pass to Riley Cooper, who leaps over Tramon Williams for the game-winner. Super Bowl? If were picking the Eagles to get there, may as well pick em to win. Eagles 28, Patriots 27. With this roster and these free agents and this quarterback and these expectations, anything less would be a failure.
E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com