After the Eagles won the Super Bowl this past year, they did something unusual. The team completely overhauled their medical staff, and replaced their head athletic trainer. The move was “virtually unprecedented”, according to Jeff McLane of Philly.com, and McLane raises some interesting questions about the decision.
McLane suggests that the decision to overhaul the staff could be contributing to the rash of soft-tissue injuries the Eagles have suffered this year. He also points out there’s been several “embarrassments” for the new staff, such as when they mis-diagnosed Jay Ajayi‘s torn ACL. Several players, including Darren Sproles, have taken much longer than expected to return from their injuries, and McLane thinks the moves could be responsible. It’s hard to tell one way or another, but it’s an interesting theory and it’s definitely curious that Philadelphia opted for a shakeup rather than continuity after a Super Bowl.
Here’s more from around the league:
- Speaking of the Eagles, the team has a couple of tough decisions coming up. The team has three players on injured reserve working toward coming back, receiver Mack Hollins, tight end Richard Rodgers, and receiver Mike Wallace, and the team can only bring back two of them. “Chances are that Hollins is brought back first of the three”, according to Eliot Shorr-Parks of 94 WIP. Shorr-Parks writes that “the final decision between Rodgers and Wallace will be a tough one” and “the fact that the team traded for Golden Tate seems to indicate they don’t expect Wallace to contribute this season.” Wallace has expressed a recent desire to return, but it sounds like his 2018 could be over.
- With Raheem Mostert on injured reserve and Matt Breida seemingly always banged up, the 49ers’ backfield is currently a bit thin. The team is expected to call up a running back from the practice squad ahead of their game on Monday, and it’s likely to be Jeff Wilson Jr., according to Cam Inman of the Mercury News. The team also has ex-Brown Matthew Dayes on the practice squad.
- If the Jets decide to fire coach Todd Bowles this year, as many expect, “John DeFilippo would fit the bill” for what the Jets would be looking for in their next head coach, according to Matt Stypulkoski of NJ.com. DeFilippo, the Vikings’ offensive coordinator, has been widely praised for his work with Carson Wentz and now Kirk Cousins, so it makes sense why New York would want to pair him with Sam Darnold.
Jets summary: trade players for picks, then trade the picks for a QB knowing you can’t support him w/ young picks.
The real problem with the league right now is that a team can be terrible for 50+ years and still be profitable. When 70% of the teams don’t care about winning on the field, then the game is truly damaged.
Three 2nd round picks to move up 3 spots and not even get your #1 guy is pretty bad
I guess you were in the Jets war room and their scouting meetings
Its extremely obvious Mayfield was widely viewed as the best QB. McVay said if he didn’t have Goff he would have sold the farm for him. Pats were going to trade 3 first rounders to the Giants if he didn’t go at 1. You seriously think if they had a choice between the 2, they would have picked Darnold???
It is not at all obvious that Mayfield was “widely viewed” as the best QB. No consensus #1 QB was declared, but there was a consensus that Darnold would probably be the first QB off the board, whether Cleveland kept the pick or not. And if the Pats were so hot for Mayfield as to trade THREE #’s for him, why didn’t they do it with the Browns?
Oh yeah lets not forget Ian Rapoport reported they traded up with Mayfield on their minds. But sure you had to be in their meetings to think this
Rapoport (and many other ‘keyed in’ reporters) also reported that Lev Bell would report by week 1,7, 10 and now may not.
We know as much as the inner workings of teams as they do.
So you think they should…fold or something? It’s a business, it’s supposed to be profitable.
2002 was there Jets last AFC East title. Before that was 1998 then 1969. If you consider that to be good at business, ok. They should be forced by the league to at least attempt to try or sell to someone who wants to win.
Anyone who follows the league just this century knows the Jags, Bucs, Skins, Raiders, Lions, Bears, ‘Fins, Bills, Browns, Titans, & 9’ers are usually done by week 8 of the season. Yes, the Raiders, 9’ers and Bucs went a SB. But no sustained winning. Do you think eliminating 1/3 of the teams prior to the season is good for a sport?
What a dumb accusation. Do you have any actual substantial proof they aren’t attempting to win? Why wouldnt they try to win? Just because the results aren’t good doesnt mean they aren’t trying.
The proof says that they aren’t good at winning! But don’t let stats and records cloud your judgement.
Just because a team spends money on players, doesn’t quantify them as ‘good’.
I am curios as how to think that 3 AFC EAST titles, not ACF championships, in the last 49 years (’69-’18) is attempting to be good or trying to be good?
The Dolphins had a nice run between the 70’s to early 90’s. Followed by Buffalo winning in the 90’s and now the Pats. When was the Jets run of winning, not 2nd place, the EAST?
Man you’re not smart. Results don’t mean theyre not trying. What a stupid hypothesis. You cant force a team to be good and it’s clear you’re not smart enough to understand that.
Congrats, you are the perfect fan! You’ll gladly throw thousands of dollars away on a team that isn’t trying to win, then scream how they are. You make the owners billionaires & players millionaires. They exploit people’s feeling towards a team for their own wealth.
You’re no different than the people paying season tickets the Browns or Raiders fan saying “Gruden is the long sought out answer.’. But don’t worry, there’s always ‘next year’. The good news is the Jets will make headlines with yet another top 10 pick, yeah!
Noy even a Jets fan but you’re dumb. Imagine being a fan only when times are good. Fairweather fans are the worst.
Btw I nor does the average fan, “spend thousands.”
Still no proof they aren’t trying to win it believe your own conspiracy theories numbnuts, just shows your lack of knowledge.
Did you have little too much to drink? ‘Noy even’ & ‘I nor does the average fan’? Let me goes, GED educated?
Not surprising you cant understand anything.
I don’t think the Eagles have the only medical staff that has mis-diagnosed an injury. Aren’t the Patriots currently facing legal suits by players claiming the same thing?
Jeff McLane is a hack. He offers up not an ounce of evidence to his “theory”.