How To Start An Internet Rumor In Five Easy Parts (Gruden, Reid, Media, Etc)

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Today’s show starts with a brief conversation about the insane numbers the NFL gets on TV (more on that later today) before focusing most of the conversation on this ridiculous and unfounded, yet wildly discussed, rumor that Jon Gruden was going to replace Andy Reid as head coach of the Eagles.

This is not the first — and certainly won’t be the last — internet rumor that has turned into somewhat of a breaking news story, in that the news being broken is that there is, in fact, no story.

In fact…that’s an interesting choice of words, I suppose. Fact, as it seems, has very little to do with any of these rumors. Let’s get to the list (note, we talk about all of this in the show that’s linked above so I’m not sure if you should read this first or listen first, but please…do both.)

Part One: Create Rumor

A rumor can come from anywhere and only needs a modicum of believability to spread. If Kyle Eckel’s Facebook page — or aREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Former PA Governor Ed Rendell’s First Daily News Column(!)

Excited to read former Pennsylvania Governor Ed Rendell’s first official column as a member of the Philadelphia Daily News? He sure seemed excited to write it, using seven exclamation points in the story including six in the first three paragraphs(!)

Eagles touchdown in less than 35 seconds! We’re going to win the Super Bowl! I just know it, I feel it, we can’t be stopped!

You see, Rendell’s first column was just a dream, or at least he was just writing about a dream in his first column. It’s worded better that way, I suppose. And look, I like Ed Rendell. I really like the guy. I had the chance to interview him a week before the Eagles lost to the Cardinals in the NFC title game and asked him about the chances of an all Pennsylvania Super Bowl. He was excited about the idea back then, and using that concept as his first official newspaper column since leaving office, he’s still excited about the idea; even if it totally skews history, reality and common sense. Let’s review:

RendellREAD MORE

DL515: Football & Football; David Akers, Family, Robots & January Transfer Window

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The show is in two parts. First, Nick and I discuss Ashley Fox’s front-page Philadelphia Inquirer story on David Akers, his family, the struggles his daughter has been going through in her battle with cancer and what impact that may have had on two missed kicks in the playoffs. We discuss the story itself and how Fox framed the situation, Akers’ past financial woes and Andy Reid’s post game comments to curry sympathy for the kicker. It’s a terrible situation for his family, but was the story too sympathetic? Is that possible?

Second half of the show is with Jon Tannenwald of Philly.com talking soccer, and specifically the January Transfer Window. Is Fernando Torres the equivalent to Nomar? Why would a team like Blackpool even entertain trading away their captain for a few million euros? And how about the way the media covered the day, with stakeouts and Twitter fights and rumors of helicopters throughout the day.

Thanks for listening, as always.

DL479: Eagles-Giants, NFL TV Rules, Bleacher Redactions, Ranting

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Sorry the show is so late, I’ve been getting my knee looked at all morning.

Jon Tannenwald is our LeBatard. He’s on the show to talk Giants-Eagles though the eyes of someone working at Philly.com during the game.

We also talk about the terrible NFL rule that turns off a game at 4:15 because the other network has a game starting (more on that later). Plus, I rail on Bleacher Report — namely THIS situation at Bleacher Report — while Tannenwald diplomatically lets me do so. Ethical talks ensue.

Thanks and sorry. Mostly thanks.

Call of the Day: Al Michaels & Cris Collinsworth Are Self-Deprecating Rascals

There’s honestly nothing I like more than announcers making fun of themselves. Why? Because they actually mean it; Al Michaels and Cris Collinsworth are completely aware of the fact that they are, at times, obnoxious blowhards. It’s part of the job description, after all.

So, when the NBC crew came back to break during the Sunday Night Football contest between the Eagles and Giants with a video package of Jeffrey Lurie’s new plan to make Lincoln Financial Field the “greenest” stadium in the world, it was hilarious (and fantastic) to see Michaels and Collinsworth make it about them:

Michaels: “You’d have thought that Jeff and Christina would have felt there was enough hot air coming out of this booth tonight that we could have powered the stadium.”

Collinsworth: “We could power any turbine out there, baby. Believe me. Invite some of my other buddies from the broadcasting world; Phil Simms could contribute to that one too.”

Michaels: “Right. Bring ‘em all in.”

Of course, Michaels almost ruined the whole thing by making it about winning the Super Bowl, butREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Was Monday Night The Best Game In The History of…Jon Gruden?

Look, I am usually no fan of This Guy, Jon Gruden, but he was nearly perfect in the first quarter of Monday Night’s blowout. He was tipping plays, spot on with his analysis and adding some timely zingers…actual zingers. Sure the game was out of control in the second half and Gruden had his typical superlatives putting half the Eagles team into the Hall of Fame, but that first quarter, wow he was great.

I cannot believe I just wrote that.

T.O. Would Like to Take This Opportunity to Chime In On Donovan McNabb’s Two-Minute Ability

What’s amazing about Donovan McNabb’s career is that despite being, at the same time, one of the most beloved and maligned figures in the recent history of the game, nobody has ever questioned his work ethic before. Until now, of course when anyone with a microphone seems to be throwing him under a bus for not being in good enough shape to run a two-minute drill.

Was Andy Reid covering for McNabb’s poor practice habits all those years in Philadelphia? Are former teammates starting to speak out now because the cat is out of the bag in Washington so there’s nothing to lose by corroborating it? If McNabb’s lack of effort during the week has something to do with why he was pulled in favor of Rex Grossman for a two-minute drill on Sunday, is this something that has been an issue in the past?

Taken with a giant grain of salt, it’s interesting to hear what Terrell Owens said in response to Chad Ochocinco putting Mike Shanahan “On Blast” on Tuesday night’s episode of Versus’ T.OchoREAD MORE

Call of the Day: Jon Runyan Is A United States Congressman

As much as politics are covered from a national perspective, and the GOP regaining control of Congress is a country-wide narrative, each individual vote still comes down to which candidate is best for me, or you, or our town, city, district, region, state or…sometimes…country.

Voting is a uniquely personal decision where our beliefs on pressing issues that impact our daily lives — and our future — can help us make a choice of who we think can best represent our interests and lead us into (hopefully) better days ahead.

Or we just go vote for the guy who was good at blocking and tackling.

Or, which was also the case in the New Jersey congressional race between Jon Runyan and incumbent John Adler, we get the career politician who seems about as shady as any career politician out of office, even if his opponent is a former Philadelphia Eagle with no experience.

“I probably will be the largest human being on the Hill, but we’re going to take that largeness and actually shrink the size of government,” [Runyan] said.

Zing!

I’mREAD MORE

Is Philly A Baseball Town or Football Town? The Ratings May Surprise Some (An Endless Debate)

Nick and I hijacked half the show today debating if the Phillies would have more viewers than the Eagles in Sunday night’s head-to-head matchup between Philadelphia’s two sports darlings. More people than not told me they expected the Phillies to get a better number, with the game being a series clincher and the Eagles losing a ton of juice with their’s being on the West Coast in a non-rivalry game without Michael Vick.

I couldn’t believe that. The Eagles were on NBC and the Phillies were on…what channel again…oh yeah, TBS. How would this be even close? I expected the Eagles to win the ratings in a landslide (and remember, I’m the one who says Philly is a baseball town.) Well, via John Ourand of SBJ, here’s our answer:

Phills outrated the Iggles in Philly DMA last night. TBS pulled a 27.7 rating for Game 3; NBC got a 24.1 rating for Eagles game in Philly.

Well, then. The “Phills” won the night, despite being on TBS and despite being in a game that, while a series clincher,READ MORE

Will Donovan McNabb Get Booed This Weekenzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

The hot topic in the NFL this week is Donovan McNabb’s return to Philadelphia. And while most people should care about the fact that the Eagles were rebuilding with Kevin Kolb and are suddenly contending with Michael Vick or the fact that McNabb could play at a Pro Bowl level and it still may not help the Washington Redskins avoid a 1-3 start that sure a heck looks like 1-6 if they can’t win on Sunday, it seems most conversation surrounding this game starts with whether or not McNabb is going to get booed when he runs out of the tunnel.

Here’s CSN Washington’s Brian Mitchell — who played in Philly as well as Washington — talking with Andy Reid (via DC Sports Bog):

“They remember the good times,” Reid told Brian Mitchell, when asked about Eagles fans. “They might give him the business during the game or something, but he’ll get a great reception.”

Later, B Mitch asked if McNabb got a fair shake in Philly.

“Absolutely,” Reid said. “I think the organization does these different polls around theREAD MORE