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Fan Blogger: We All Need The Bye Week
Another Tough Loss!
POSTED: 7:18 am EDT September 11,
2006
UPDATED: 11:54 am EST November 27,
2006
Local fan Brent Estock details the agony and ecstasy of watching the Eagles on TV -- from his replica of The Vet!
Click here to continue to cheer on the Birds with the second half of the season in The Brent
WEEK 8
We All Need The Bye Week!View images from The Brent
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WEEK 7
The Eagles Throw-up One In The Loss Column!View images from The Brent Please be aware some photos may be considered disturbing.This is a game the Eagles needed to win, it was against a team that isn't very good and still they come out and get themselves into a huge hole and need to fight from way back.The day started good with Vince bringing the Eagles Van over to The Brent. I met one of my new neighbors, Dennis, who moved in around the corner from us. He stopped over and introduced himself and watched the first half with us. He had heard about the room and saw the van parked out front and told his wife, it was time for him to come over. He loved it and may become one of the regulars to join us each week.The Eagles looked good on that first drive until Ronde Barber stripped Jason Avant after making a catch.Ronde Barber -- a name you heard mentioned WAY too much today, he is becoming an Eagle killer. After his first interception I was having flash backs to the last game at the Vet when he picked it off and ran it in for a TD. (I feel sick)I don't understand how the Eagles come out week after week and start the games the way they do. Everybody is saying how hot it was down on the field and it was affecting the way the Eagles were playing. Last time I checked the Buccaneers were playing on that same field and I didn't see them turn on any air conditioning when they had the ball, so don't give me that baloney.Did you notice the cheesesteak Fox had laying down on the field to show how hot it was as the cheese melted. Thank god the Big Goose wasn't doing the game or that steak would have been eaten by halftime.I really don't even want to mention the first half because not a lot of good came out of it. But let's talk about the last play of the half. McNabb has to know that the throw needs to go into the end zone, no excuses!!! Even a high school quarterback knows that. Heck even my wife knows that.What happens? He throws over the middle and L.J. gets tackled outside the end zone. The Birds blow a field goal opportunity and come away with no points. Hey Donovan we lost by two.Ok it's the second half and I have filled my empty stomach with some real good food we had today, my stomach was empty because after watching that first half I had to go and throw-up myself.Just like the last several weeks the Eagles decide to wake up and play some football in the second half. McNabb started to run when the opportunity was there and starting to make some big plays. The touchdown throw to Tapeh was the result of no. 5 scrambling. Then the defense comes out and stops the Bucs offense. McNabb blows chunks out on the field, shakes it off, and then hits Reggie Brown with a touchdown pass. Bob Miley yells out "What can Brown do for you?" we chime in with "Just score touchdowns."Things are starting to look like the tide is turning and the defense needs a stop. Enter another very STUPID penalty by the defense -- a 30-yard penalty that helps the Bucs move down the field allowing them to get a field goal.Even still, everybody at The Brent is really feeling a come from behind victory as the Birds, with 2:49 on the clock, get the ball back. After a few plays, 36 West gets the pass and breaks tackles. He makes guys miss as he rumbles for 52 yards and what we all think is the winning touchdown in a game that the Eagles racked up more than 500 yards of offense. We are all celebrating inside The Brent: Corey has the bus out, we are doing E -A - G - L - E - S chants, Ed is drinking another beer (although that is not unusual) and it appears we are going to pull off a nice come from behind victory.Akers kicks the ball into the end zone, which is what you want him to do. The Bucs get a nice return out to around the 35-yard line, not what the Birds want to do! After a few plays we all figure with just 3 seconds left that the Bucs will throw the ball down the field and try for a pass interference penalty. They bring out the field goal kicker and we are all laughing saying there is no way he kicks a 62-yard field goal. Andy calls a time out to freeze him. I can't really believe we even had a time out left that late in the game.As the ball was sailing down the field toward the up-rights I started to get this sick feeling in my stomach, it goes through and the Bucs win a game they should never have won. Oh no, I'm feeling sick!As I sat by myself inside The Brent watching the post game show and the press conferences, for the second week in a row I hear the guys say we need to learn from our mistakes and correct them. That is getting old and that makes me sick!Where the heck is the Pepto Bismol!!!"The Brent"
WEEK 6
The "Big -- Not So -- Easy"I don't know if you could call this a hangover week or not. Every week you need to be prepared and ready to play.The crowd, not as big as last week, started to file into the The Brent. You could tell it didn't have that swagger of a week ago -- it was even a late arriving crowd. We were without, the soft-spoken, mild mannered, Fran Hagen who spent his Saturday night up in Happy Valley and even though the valley wasn't happy I'm sure Fran was.The Eagles started out slowly and it was as though they were experiencing the same hangover the crowd at The Brent was experiencing. Just like that the Saints were up 10 - 0.The Birds seemed to wake up when Lito (Sheppard) intercepted his third pass in two games, but that drive stalled when what appeared to be a spectacular catch by Jason Avant made down the sidelines was ruled incomplete. Akers gets a field goal and it's 10-3.The play that cost the Eagles in the first half was the muffed punt by Dexter Wynn when Ryan Moats collided with him as he was calling for the fair catch on the punt. New Orleans recovered and ended up scoring a touchdown right before half.The crowd starting to build as some late arrivals got into The Brent -- Those that I'm referring to are Andrea and her volleyball teammates. After meeting them, we find out that two of them are Giants fans! But we allow them to join us since this is their first visit to The Brent.It's time to eat and this week we have about four crock-pots of different styles of meatballs to go with a lot of side dishes and killer brownies (still warm). As I prepare to get ready for the second half I get a call from an Eagles fan out in Denver, Colorado -- Dennis, a good friend of mine, calling to check in. Not to mention a dedicated blog reader, thank you Dennis!!The second half starts off with an Eagles touchdown to Reggie "Downtown" Brown with a brilliant run after the catch and you can start to feel things turning for the birds. By now the volleyball girls are inside The Brent and enjoying all the festivities from seats in the 600 level.After exchanging punts, the Birds get the ball and L.J. (Smith) makes a nice grab and rumbles for a big gain. The play was challenged but the call stayed as called on the field. McNabb throws long to Westbrook and the Saints get called for interference and a few plays later No. 5 hits L.J. for a touchdown. The game is all tied up. (I made that call from the owner's suite I might add)The Eagles force a turnover on the next series and Darwin Walker returns the interception to the Saints 15-yard line. McNabb gives the ball to Brown on an end around run for a touchdown. The Eagles go up 24-17. I'm thinking the momentum has finally swung over onto our side -- I'm not saying it had anything to do with Andrea and her friends showing up, but it seems more then a coincidence. Ok we need a stop.Before you know it Michael Lewis is getting spun around like Emmitt Smith on "Dancing with the Stars" and Joe Horn is dialing up another touchdown. It's now 24-24. Note that Lewis didn't play the next series.It seems that on this day when the defense needed to get a stop in the fourth quarter it just didn't happen. Instead the Saints went on a 16 play, 8 minute 30 second drive. With three seconds left on the clock, the Saints won it with an Art Carney field goal or maybe it was John (whatever his name is it doesn't matter).This was a game in which the Eagles started out slow, came on in the middle and fizzled in the end. Kind of the way the crowd was at The Brent today. "What will you do about that for next week Brent?" someone asked.I need to do a better job of getting people in the right places at The Brent next week so that doesn't happen again. (Clear throat) Time's yours...E - A - G - L- E - S"THE BRENT"
WEEK 5
I Hate The Cowboys!!! No. 5 is greater than No. 81.The attendance record broken at THE BRENT!The whole time we where building THE BRENT my right hand man John would always say it "If you build it they will come." Yesterday we shattered the regular season attendance record with a total of 69 people -- adults and kids.Where do I start this week, the game with such the build up and hype all week long, T.O making his return to the Linc, Cowboys' quarterback Drew Bledsoe saying earlier in the week that if you blitz him, he would make you pay and not knowing all week if B-West would play.We had a very loud and crazy crowd for the game. We even had a few Cowboys fans in the house. My brother-in-law was in his usual position, on his footprints just outside the window, looking in thru the window.I was pacing back and forth even more this week then usual before the game, this is a game every season I need my Birds to win. You want to know why? Because I Hate the Cowboys!The game didn't start off real well, with the fumble, but then you get the high snap on the punt and things are starting to go our way. On second down, highway 36 West bounces out to the outside and scores the first points of the game. After the Cowboys got the ball back, Darwin Walker, who had a tremendous game, gets pressure on Bledsoe and forces a fumble. Akers gets the field goal and we have a 10 - 0 lead.Dallas came right back to score. It went back an forth for a while until the Cowboys' Greg Ellis hit McNabb and the ball popped out into the hands of Demarcus Ware. Ware takes off and L.J. Smith tries to make the tackle -- I'm not so sure tries is the word I would use to describe his less then valiant effort to make the tackle -- and Ware rumbles into the end zone for a score and a Dallas lead.L.J. redeems himself on the next series as he gets open and goes 60 yards down to the 1-yard-line. McNabb takes it in for a score.Listen, did you hear that, If T.O. is in the house would you please report to the field.At half time it was 21-17 Cowboys and the few cowboy fans at THE BRENT were feeling pretty good. My kitchen was like a buffet; we had so much great food again all provided by all the people who show up for the game.After stuffing our faces we got back to our seats and got ready for the second half. As I made my way back I was checking out the crowd at the house, the living room was full, the kitchen was full, the deck out back had a lot of women in conversation, the bar room downstairs was overflowing and when I got into THE BRENT it was standing room only. I had to have people move out of the aisles just to get up to the owners box in the 700 level.The second half was back and forth with some great plays and some not so great plays. You could see the Birds defense starting to take control, putting pressure on Bledsoe and making him just throw the ball up for grabs.I loved the deep pass to wide out Hank Baskett who took it to the house and put the Birds up by three. Baskett was the receiver this week that stepped up, making a name for himself.After the 'Boys tied it on a field goal the birds throw in another flea-flicker for the second time this season and once again it goes for a touchdown to Reggie Brown.Has anyone seen no. 81 (T.O.)? If you do, would you send him down to the field, there is a game going on. Then he appeared on the sideline in a familiar position, yelling at his coaches and teammates. What a beautiful scene, now that it's on the opposite side of the field.He was a non-factor in the game and I loved it. But as all Eagles fans know it is never easy, as was very evident on the last series of the game.As that pass was floating down the field on the 4th and 18 play a silence came over everyone in the house. Then Michael Lewis gets called for the pass interference and you only hear several voices cheering and a lot of voices screaming in total disbelief.How could this be happening?A game in which you fought so hard all day long and on one play it could come crashing down.Then came the play. The play they will be talking about for a long time. Bledsoe drops back and throws it to our defense one more time. Lito Sheppard takes it 102 yards for a touchdown and the Birds win a huge game, not to mention a huge division game, which they haven't won in over a season and a half.After the game the crowd stayed around to enjoy a few celebratory beers and cigars out in the driveway. People driving by were blowing horns and yelling, it was a great scene.Did I mention I Hate the Cowboys? This win is even more special for me. But lets remember one game doesn't make the season. As we enjoy this one, for a day or so, we need to get ready for the New Orleans Saints next week.If you listen closely today you will hear all the closet doors going closed again, as the Cowboys fans go back into hiding as their team was on the losing end of a huge Eagles win today.I would like to thank the defense for their tremendous play this week and how about No. 5 in green? What can you say?Finally, I will leave you with this on the morning after a wonderful win -- it's a new discovery in the world of mathematics.No. 5 is greater than No. 81I need to go and remind the Cowboys you're in Eagles country!!!!!!E -A - G - L - E - S"THE BRENT"
WEEK 4
The Cheeseheads Melt As McNabb Gets Hot!!!While tailgating out in the driveway we got the word -- no Brian Westbrook, no Lito Sheppard and no Rod Hood.Let's start with Westbrook -- at first I was thinking two things: one, they think they have the game won before they start and want to let Westbrook rest and get ready for next week or two, this guy is hurt more then what they are letting us know. They showed him running around the field in warm-ups and he looked good. He needs to be ready for next week against you know whom!Not having Sheppard and Hood that leaves the Birds very thin and leaves Joselio Hanson back there. Favre was taking advantage of that early.It was a just a small crowd, around 18 to 20 people, at The BRENT last night but a very boisterous crowd in the first half letting all my neighbors know we were not very happy with the performance of our Birds. With No. 36 (Westbrook) not in the game, a lot of the running load was left to Correll Buckhalter. He would fumble twice.The first fumble I have to say was the fault of McNabb. He had the handoff up too high and it bounced off Buckhalter's chest. O.K. that mistake I can handle even though it was inside the five-yard line and they were about to score. But the second one! You just can't let that happen -- you need to protect the ball when you are down inside the red-zone.Luckily the Packers gave the ball back on a fumble of their own and McNabb took it in himself for a score.Could someone please tell me what the heck the play at the end of the first-half was about?The first-half was very hard to watch and I took out a little frustration on the rear tires of my truck out in the driveway at the half. I had a few beverages and some wings to get fired up for the second-half.The second-half was a totally different story -- it looked like a different team out there. I'm sure there were a few words thrown around in the locker room at half time.In the second-half McNabb took over with some very nice passes to Greg Lewis, who was the guy this week that stepped up and had a very nice game. McNabb also started to take off and run with the ball, which really helped to loosen up the defense and allowed other things to happen for the Birds' offense in that second half.The Eagles defense had a very nice game, keeping the Packers out of the end zone. You knew it was only a matter of time until Packers quarterback Brett Favre (Mr. duck and chuck) would throw the ball up for grabs. It happened in the second-half. How about the interception LaJuan Ramsey had? With all the momentum of going after the ball it took him about 10 yards to get his body going in the right direction.After that pick No. 5 hits G-Lew with his second touchdown and I'm starting to feel better, a little more relaxed.I thought Dexter Wynn had a nice game with his returns. It gave the Eagles some good field position. The defensive stand at the end of the game was a huge stop and great hit by Gaither on the fourth down carry.Ok ... let all the hype begin for next weeks game and the return of Mr. Owens and his stinkin' Dallas Cowboys.What was that noise? Oh, it was the closet doors opening and all the Cowboy fans coming out of the closet and rooting for their team again. I think this game, even though it is early in the season, is a big game that can put some distance between the Eagles and the rest of the division.Did I mention I hate the Cowboys. It will be a huge tailgate party next weekend and I can' t wait. Even my brother-in-law, a Cowboys fan, will be making an appearance at The Brent. It will be a party atmosphere. And just think we have an extra three hours to get ready for it.Let me leave you with this. Owens comes over the middle, catches the ball and OH MY GOD! is just flattened by B-Dawk and the ball flies out. Owens is getting up very slow. He's running over to the sidelines and saying Bill (Parcells), don't call that play again!BRING IT ON DALLAS!!!!THE BRENT
WEEK 3
I sit here this week a lot more relaxed and alot more happier then I was a week ago at this time.We had a really nice crowd at THE BRENT this week and I believe everyone that was in the house wanted a 60 minute complete game by our birds this week.We caught a nice break on the opening kickoff since it went out of bounds, but I loved the call on the first play with a flea-flicker and hitting Brown down the middle for a big gain. That play really took the crowd out of the game and it was all Philadelphia for the remainder of the first half.I have to go back to a press conference with A.I. when he said PRACTICE, WE'RE TALKING PRACTICE !! I don't care if B-WEST doesn't practice the rest of the year, if he comes out on game day and plays the way he has these first three games. I will sit in there and say PRACTICE, WE'RE TALKIN PRACTICE !! He had another outstanding game and Reggie Brown came out and had a very nice game in the absence of Donte Stallworth.I go back to a play that kind of sums up the whole day and that was Westbrook running down the sidelines and giving a text book stiff arm and knocking the Niner to the ground and scoring the TD. The eagles stuffed it the face of the Niners all day, yes the Niners did score some touchdowns but at no point did I feel they were going to make a come back like last week.In fact during the game when they were showing the scores and the Giants were getting blown out again it just made me really think how bad last weeks lose was.The defense played well especially on the goal line stance and out the pile comes Patterson rumbling, stumbling and bumbling 98 yards for a TD. After that run I had to go get some oxygen I was out of breath.This was a game the Eagles had to win and they went in and took car of business. I liked the pass to Schrobel and he makes a nice run, that just goes to show you that with all the weapons the Eagles have you can't cover everyone and everyone when given the chance will make a contribution to the team.The offensive line deserves a lot of credit for there play this week giving number 5 a lot of time to find his receivers and make the completionsA couple of concerns coming out of this game is B-Dawk and his condition and Roderick Hood . I don't think he had a very good game he seemed to be on the ground a lot when they would throw his way and finally he took himself out of the game in the fourth and Hanson came in. I think Andy needs to address that situation this week. I didn't like that Akers missed a very makeable field goal either.The Birds come home and play a Green Bay team that finally won a game this week and Favre coming off a nice game and it being on Monday Night Football will be a good challenge for the Eagles.I gotta ask you this, I know it is still 2 weeks away but I can't wait unitl the stinkin Dallas Cowboys come to town on Oct. 8th and nothing would be sweeter then to see T.O. go over the middle and no. 20 flattens him.O.K. lets just concentrate on the game this week and take care of that business first.Before I sign off I just want to give a shout out to women who brought over the great food we had today at THE BRENT to go along with the World Famous Turkey Bar B-Que .Lets get ready for the Pack this week and go to 3 and 1Finally I would like to thank Dan from NBC 10 for the very nice blog last week about his visit to THE BRENT I know it was not the finish we wanted, but we really enjoyed his company for the game. Remember the next time you come up for a game we really would like if Vai came along to enjoy the friendly confines of THE BRENT.For another week I leave you with this...E - A - G - L - E - S !!!!! EaglesTHE BRENT
WEEK 2
Wow, I still sit here in disbelief even a couple of hours later, I guess you could say today was a total collapse of my heart. We had a great crowd today at THE BRENT -- everybody fired up. It was a joyous place for three quarters. The Bus driver was back in the house and we even had Dan from NBC 10 up in the owner’s suite for the game, and no, Tom Cruise wasn't invited to my house this week.For three quarters the Eagles dominated the Giants. It looked like the Eagles of a few years ago.The offense moving the ball up and down the field.The defense, what can you say about the defense, they were all over Eli Manning like a cheap Amani (TOOMER) suite.Brian Westbrook, with his knee injury, running and catching passes out of the backfield. You had LJ Smith having a great game -- no one could cover him. Donte Stallworth with his first game at the Linc, catching passes. Everything was going our way.We went into half time with a 10-point lead and everyone at THE BRENT was feeling real good. It was time to go eat. We had a lot of good food at half and the Birds come out in the second half and drive down the field to score and I am yelling and screaming that this is a statement game -- we are back into the thick of the NFC East.Brian Dawkins makes the hit on Burress and the ball comes flying out. Michael Lewis lands on the ball and we catch a huge break. No! The ball rolls into the end zone, the Giants recover. But we still have a 10-point lead and are still feeling good. Although not as good as I was after stuffing my face at half time -- burgers, macaroni, wings and a whole lot of good stuff.My man, the axe man, five-four intercepts the ball and we all think the ship is back on its course. But then B. West, trying to get more yardage out of a play, fumbles the ball, it starts to get all of us on the edge of our seats (which I might add are nice padded Eagles folding chairs). A couple of plays later the ball is thrown to that well dressed Amani Toomer for a touchdown and our lead is cut to three.Ok, at this point all we need to do is get a first down, something that was so easy in the first half. Mcnabb throws the ball to LJ Smith, who was catching everything thrown his way, except this time. That catch would have ended the game and we would have come away with a win. Remember I was just screaming that this was a statement game. No! He drops it when it was right in his hands. Big time players make big time plays and it just wasn't meant to be.Giants are out of time outs, they have to go down the field and get into field goal position. Even though the birds were back on there heals I still felt that we could hold them.No! They move down the field and its looks like it will be a long field goal. No! Trent Cole, who also had a great game with a couple sacks and great pressure on the QB all day, gets called for a personnel foul. You cannot have penalties like that in situations like this. It gave the Giants a chip shot field goal and we are tied.Everyone was just sitting in disbelief after that disastrous fourth quarter. As Phil Harvey always said "And you know the rest of the story." All out blitz against Manning and he just throws the ball up -- Burress comes down with it and it tears my heart out.You can say anything you want about the conservative play calling in the second half, but if the catches are made on some of those 3rd down throws, when the ball is thrown into your hands, we are not even talking about this mind blowing loss.It was a quiet exit from THE BRENT as the fans left, now the game next week needs to be a statement game. Will they come back with a big game? I believe they will. The veteran players on this team will not let this loss linger.This game today was lost by the Eagles, NOT won by the Giants.My head is still spinning, where is the Advil !!!!"THE BRENT"
WEEK 1
Let's just start by saying....E - A - G - L - E - S !!!!!! EAGLES !!!!Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Brent Estock and a die hard eagles fan. I have created and built a room at my house that is a tribute to Veterans Stadium. My room has a 400, 500 ,600 & of course a 700 level and we refer to this room as "THE BRENT". Every Sunday we all gather to watch and cheer on our beloved birds.The room has a lot of my memorabilia and each Sunday we have standing room only.What we would like to do this season is allow you join us after each game, win or lose, and let you see some of the action pregame, game and post game. Not too many people can say they have a room named after themselves but it is just my way of showing my love for my Eagles.It has been a long wait after the way our season went last year. I know all you Eagle fans have had a sour taste in your mouth. I haven't been able to sleep much the last couple of days waiting for this game to get started.We started it off with a tailgate party in the driveway and had a special guest come out for the opener. Vince came by with his newly converted van complete with beer taps on the side. Everyone needs to check out his website eaglesvan.com. Everybody was getting fired up as we threw a few beverages back and munched out on cheesesteaks and a lot of other goodies. It was 1:00 and the time had come to head inside "THE BRENT".I was a little disappointed with our defense on the first drive as the Texans drove down the field and scored. I think that drive woke the defense up and they came out and played a lot better after that. I was real excited to see how Mcnabb would do with Stallworth, after this game you have to be jacked up after the performance both of those guys put in today I don't know if a lot of you noticed big red on the sidelines just before the beautiful fake and pass to Stallworth for the TD, he was looking at someone next to him and said "watch this one !!"One thing I loved in the first half is that we got the ball with 57 seconds left in the half and marched right down the field and put it in the endzone in 46 seconds what a way to finish off the half.That drive to start the 2nd half was all running backs and that was very encouraging to see, having both B West and Buckhalter doing the damage on that drive. I think the defense really buckled down and played real well in the second half. There was a lot of good things to take away from this game and start to build upon for what I think is going to be a great season.I know one game doesn't make a whole season but after what we went through last year this is a big improvement.The crowd at my house for the game was very rowdy and loud as we had many E - A - G - L - E - S chants going for the game.What I would like to do each week is bring you a little more about my room and how we cheer on our birds to victory.This room has taken on a life of it's own and has been featured in the local newspaper, I get on the radio (Y102) a lot during football season, it also has been featured on comcast for "Are you FAN enough" and now I want to bring it to YOU during this football season.I guess it is time to do some cleanup in the room and relax after the big win to start our season, so until next week when the G-MEN come to town be encouraged by what you saw today and what the possibilities are for this season and lets go BIRDSE - A - G - L - E - S"THE BRENT"
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