On the record

Despite some recent setbacks, the Phils came out swinging last night against the Rays, backing a struggling (and, yes, over the hill, we get it!) Jamie Moyer with some potent offense.

After a homer a piece from Mayberry and Utley, the Phils hit 100 homers on the season. Reaching the benchmark at just 68 games played, it’s the fastest the Fightens have made it to the centennial.

With last season seeing the Phils get to 100 at 70 games — that being the franchise’s record at the time — the new pace could be exciting news for the remainder of the season.

I think the Phils did something unexpected at the end of last season after they set the record … what was it? Oh, right, winning the World Series.

New look Birds

The free-agency bonanza continues this offseason (I wonder how T.O. will fare far away from the glitzy Dallas lights in Buffalo). But let’s stick to the important teams.

The Eagles have had quite an interesting time themselves, moving from mid-season cries to do away with McNabb and Reid to somehow sacking the team’s heart and soul (Dawkins). As Runyan still sits on the chopping block, it’s hard not to wonder if tried and true just isn’t what the (mis) management is looking for.

As the clock ticks on, here’s where a few key players lay:

Sean Jones – Signed one-year deal with Browns March 6

Shawn Springs – Agreed to deal with Patriots March 5

Stacy Andrews – Signed a six-year deal with Bengals Feb. 28

Hank Baskett – agreed to one-year contract Feb. 26 with Eagles

Correll Buckhalter – Signed a four-year deal with Denver March 1

Nick Cole – Tendered a one-year contract Feb. 26 with Eagles

Sean Considine – Signed a two-year deal with Jaguars Feb. 27

Tank Daniels – Re-signed to a one-year contract March 9 with Eagles

Brian Dawkins – Signed a five-year deal with Denver Feb. 28

Joselio Hanson – Agreed to terms on a five-year deal Feb. 20 with Birds

L.J. Smith – talked with Atlanta, but Detroit still interested

Tra Thomas – Agreed to terms with Jacksonville March 9

On the market

T.O. is out of Dallas, and out on the market.

Seriously, wouldn’t that drama just be amazing, bringing him back to Philly and watching him and No. 5 go head-to-head.

Oh, how I hope they do it!

Body check

I always forget there is another major sport in Philadelphia. It’s not for lack of fans or fanfare, but I grew up in California so hockey to me was always a mystery. The Disney-owned Ducks really confused me as a child and I couldn’t separate fact from fiction, as in which came first, the movie or the team?

But I need to realize hockey is a serious thing in Philadelphia, and they obviously need their due. The Flyers season is still moving along smoothly, keeping them in playoff contention second in the Atlantic League, fourth in the Eastern Conference and eighth overall.

The seasons hasn’t been the up and down of the Eagles or the drama-filled one of the Phillies, but if the orange and black can slip into the playoffs undetected, all the better.

The team is offering a special on student rush tickets where mezzanine-level tickets (going for about $50 a pop) can be had for half price ($25) for college students. To find out which games have tickets available, sign up here: http://forms.comcast-spectacor.com/forms/flyersemails.

Dashed

As Sunday’s game plugged on, many titles for this post ran through my head. “More of the same,” “Typical Eagles” and things of that nature. I’m happy to report the second half of yesterday’s game against the Cardinals was nothing of the sort.

Yes, they still fell short. Yes, Reid is now 1-4 in NFC Championship games. Yes, perhaps we are still waiting for the exception to prove the rule and, for now, we are still stuck with a football team that can’t seem to get the job done. But, we do not need to hang our heads in shame. There was the good (14 points in under 4 minutes!) and the bad (missing an extra point in a dome!?) but after dropping down 24-6, the second half at least proved the Eagles had the right to be there.

The Cardinals got a bit lucky and sometimes outplayed The Birds. Asante Samuel was essentially a non-factor (except negatively with a crippling holding call). But there were plenty of fateful turns, such as a blocked pass serendipitously landing back in the arms of Warner. I do agree Larry Fitzgerald is a talented WR, but catching a 62-yarder with Quintin Demps tripped and laying at your feet is hardly a display of athleticism. He made up for it a bit later, but I was underwhelmed.

All in all, as the first half came to a close it seemed inevitable the Eagles had beat themselves. In the second, they let the Cardinals know they were going to have to put on the finishing touches. Unfortunately, Warner was up for the task and though there were times of glimmering hope for Iggle nation, they seemed to be outmatched by the fairy-tale magic of this year’s Cardinals.

Another day, another disappointment that will undoubtedly be tacked on to the woeful list of could-have-been Philadelphia success stories. In all truth, it shouldn’t be, it was better than that.

On the other side of the league: For those of you who watched the AFC game between the Steelers and Ravens, Willis McGahee went down after a hard hit and was carted off on a stretcher. Latest news is that doctors looking after the injured Raven say he is “neurologically intact.” Hopefully that is good news. These contests are hard fought and we talk about sports as life and death, but at the end of the day there are more important things and all those in the NFL community wish McGahee a full and speedy recovery.

Checking in

Leading their division, the Philadelphia Flyers are automatically ranked third in the Eastern Conference with a 23-10-9 record. Playing host to two slumping teams this week, things are looking good on the ice for Philadelphia. Center Jeff Carter will be taking a trip to Montreal Jan. 25 to represent in the 2009 NHL All-Star game and all is well in the sports world in the Delaware Valley. Interestingly, Danny Briere, who suffered a groin injury that’s allowed him to play in only nine games so far this season, will be sent to play a couple of games with the Philadelphia Phantoms. It worked for Brett Meyers (a little different, I know).

Even the 76ers are holding on dearly to their third place ranking in the Atlantic Conference

If you want to keep the high going, the World Series trophy embarked on a month-long tour of the Delaware Valley, with additional appearances to occur throughout 2009. Personally, I don’t think seeing some hardware is really what the championship is about, but I also have only been alive for exactly as long as the Phillies had their drought. So, if for you seeing is believing, check out the stops the trophy will be making this month at :

http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/press_releases/press_release.jsp?ymd=20090109&content_id=3738431&vkey=pr_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi

There are no South Philly appearances, but if you’re off on Monday, swing by Temple University to check it out:

Monday, January 19
• Greater Philadelphia King Day of Service Signature Site Event, Temple University’s Liacouras Center, 1776 North Broad Street, Philadelphia. Public viewing: 10:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Appearances by the Phillie Phanatic and Phillies Ballgirls. For more information, visit http://www.mlkdayofservice.org

Is this what it’s like to live in Boston?

Giant step

On to the Meadowlands! After playing like they deserved to be there, the Eagles move on to the Divisional weekend next week to take on the G-Men, for the second time in a bit over a month.

The last meeting between these two bitter East Coast rivals ended with an Eagle victory on New York’s home soil. Hopefully, the confidence will keep on rolling to next Sunday.

The best part of the Wild Card victory (and one which Buck and Aikman rightfully wouldn’t stop talking about) was Reid’s commitment to the run. Even after 16 carries and less than 10 yards gained, Westbrook was still getting the ball. And then, 71 yards and 6 points. Just like that.

Sticking to the run kept the Vikings honest — even when it wasn’t working — forced them to seal the middle and kept the receivers from being double covered. It’s not rocket science, so why did it take Reid so long to do it? And why does he deserve credit for it? Yes, good job, Andy, for learning how one plays football.

Well, it worked. Hopefully all the positive lessons learned this week will stay swirling in the Eagles’ minds as they suit up to take on the defending Super Bowl champs in their first playoff appearance after the bye.

It was nice to see the final play, as a pressured Tavaris Jackson threw his last pass of the season to the sidelines to have none other than a waiting Donovan McNabb catch it (the playful juking was probably a bit obnoxious).

Eagles in

So the impossible happened: The Bears lost, the Raiders beat the Buccs and the Birds slaughtered Dallas in a 44-6 pounding which was a combination of Eagle prowess and a complete Cowboy meltdown.

The ‘Boys looked like a high school team who had never run patterns together. There were at least three Romo throws to no receiver, or receivers who weren’t expecting the ball, were running a different pattern than Romo expected or just basically had no idea how to play football.

More importantly, the Eagles were firing on all cylinders. My favorite quote from the commentators last night was: ‘When we come back, the Dallas offense takes the field. Or should I say Eagles defense.’ And that’s pretty much how the story went. It didn’t matter which side of the ball the Birds were on, they managed to score from both — multiple times.

There were shots of McNabb dancing, talking up a storm. Reid giving a smirk. Dawkins doing his signature E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES dance. It was fun Philly football again. Everything they project the Eagles to be at the beginning of each season, everything they fall short of year after year.

I’m going to ride the high and keep the positive vibes going, but I’d hate if all the heart wrenching of the past four games was magically erased in the wake of the Cowboys handing the Eagles a playoff birth. Somehow the stars aligning has been overlooked and the players and management are getting a little too much credit. Have we forgotten the game last week against Washington? Yes, the Birds played inspired football. But, lest we forget, Romo alone fumbled twice. In the national news the story is how horrific the prophesied Cowboys ended their 2009 season, not how amazing the Eagles are in the face of a formidable opponent (which was decidedly absent on Sunday).

Philadelphia, your fate has been handed to you, perfectly wrapped in shiny paper with all the right trimmings. There has to be something you can take from giving the Cowboys the biggest loss since Jerry Jones took over the team in 1989. Your new life begins next Sunday at 4:30 p.m. in Minneapolis.

What’s it gunna be?

Branded

Elton Brand will be missing a month of play due to the injury he sustained in Wednesday night’s game versus Milwaukee. After dislocating his shoulder during play, a later MRI revealed a fracture and a tear. The 76er’s team doctor said he doesn’t think it will need surgery. Only a month though?

Slightly overdue news: The Phils signed Jamie Moyer. Hooray!