Heading into the NFC championship week I foolishly predicted that “nobody respects us” would be the cliché most commonly coupled with the Eagles’ opponent, NFL football team (sometimes) the Arizona Cardinals. Truth be told, it wouldn’t be the worst time to play that card.  Despite being the home team the Cardinals are the Vegas underdog. Their local paper is quintessentially ‘happy to be there’, the stat geeks are giving them next to no shot, and I doubt you blinked when I called them a ‘sometime-NFL-football team’ a sentence ago. Truth be told, nobody respects them.

Still, I was wrong in my assumption. I’m sure there will be a “nobody respects us” groundswell, but the phrase will have to put some serious work to beat out “they’re a different team” for the meaningless buzzword most associated with the Birds’ opponent. Arizona head coach Ken Whisenhunt led his appearance on PTI with the meaningless phrase, and it was practically the theme of Andy Reid’s money presser.

It makes some sense to harp on the point - if nothing has changed the game is going to be another blowout, and obviously neither coach wants his team thinking blowout heading into Sunday - but it’s nonsense. The Cardinals are exactly the same team they were on Thanksgiving (or, they’re worse. Anquan Boldin is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game. I expect he’ll play, but he won’t be at 100%) - what has changed is everything else.

When the Cardinals came into Philly (that’s the first change) on Thanksgiving Day they had all but wrapped up the pathetic NFC West already (second change). They were flying east on a short week (3rd) to play on a holiday (4th). Once the Eagles went up big early (14-0 at the end of the first, 21-0 midway through the second) Arizona packed it in and called it a day. None of that changes who the team is. The Cardinals were 7-4 before that game and have been 4-2 since. Their offense was prolific before and prolific after, and their defense just as mediocre in weeks 14 on as it was weeks 12 and before.  They appear to have turned it up during the playoffs, yes, but no one doubts that the two most relevant players in both of their wins were both opponents.

Will Arizona be a tougher foe than the punching bag that showed up in late November? Yes, almost assuredly. That isn’t because they’re different though, its because damn near everything else is.

“We’re a different team. They’re a different team.” - Ken Whisenhunt

Three lines on their world:

1. Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice are your newest MLB hall of famers
   
   
2. Tony Dungy calls it a career
   
   
3. Blake Griffin and Oklahoma handled 11th ranked Texas
   
   

Three lines on ours:

1. Andy Reid and Donovan McNabb are playing for their resumes
   
   
2. Elton Brand is back at practice
   
   
3. and the Flyers are set to square off against the struggling
   
   

Phillies, Birds, Sixers, Flyers and what everybody is talking about after the jump

EAGLES

READ

Phil Sheridan thinks this latest run has once again redefined Reid and McNabb.

Les Bowen says that Brian Westbrook is crediting opponent’s defensive strategy, not his injured knee, for his lack of production.

Bob Brookover takes a second look at Todd Herremans, Broderick Bunkley, and Stewart Bradley.

Ray Parrillo says that the “the Cards aren’t the same team” is the message of the day. Told you so.

Bob Brookover looks back on a few of the key moments.

Reuben Frank asks if Brian Westbrook isn’t the same back he once was.

SKIP

Rich Hofmann measures the intangibles.

Les Bowen credits McNabb raising his game for the turnaround.

Mike Jensen listens to Brian Westbrook’s radio show and reports back the highlights.

John Gonzalez spills ink over the spilled ink over the McNabb phone incident (odd that no one has added a ‘gate’ to this one).

The Inquirer’s notes focus on the quarterbacks.

Craig Morgan says history is not on the Cardinals side.

Craig Morgan talks to Rod Hood about playing his old team.

Peter Mucha checks in with the bandwagon.

Will Bunch looks at the possibility that Philly could become the new titletown.

Phil Sheridan and Bob Ford mock John Gonzalez for having a friend.

Dan Gross credits a hoagie place for the Birds victory.

Jeff Offord looks at just how different from the others this championships game is.

Reuben Frank reports that the Andy Reid gave the Birds two full days off in preparation for next week.

Mike Sielski on everything that had to break right.

PHILLIES

READ

Jim Salisbury reports that the maker of the supplement that got Romero banned is arguing that he got a false positive.

Paul Hagen talks Rickey Henderson with Jimmy Rollins.

SKIP

Bill Conlin brings back his KOTW column.

Michael Klein reports that Cole Hamels is moving downtown.

SIXERS

READ

SKIP

Phil Jasner breaks down the beginning of Elton Brand’s comeback.

Kate Fagan points out there are few stiffer tests of health than returning to practice against Reggie Evans.

FLYERS

READ

SKIP

Ed Moran says the Flyers aren’t looking past the struggling Pens.

Sam Cardichi’s notes look at Danny Briere’s timeline.

TODAY and MORE

Not sure if you’ve heard but it’s NFC championship week, we’ll probably look at the Birds a bit.  

We have a midday meeting that is going to take us away for a chunk of the day, but expect notes both early and late.

As always, feel free to email with any questions, suggestions, comments or complaints.  

This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 13th, 2009 at 8:55 am and is filed under Morning Rounds. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.