2017 Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster (FINAL)

50/53 for the second year in a row.

QB (2): Wentz, Foles

RB (5): Sproles, Blount, Smallwood, Pumphrey, Clement

WR (6): Jeffrey, Smith, Agholor, Hollins, Johnson, Gibson

TE (3): Ertz, Celek, Burton

C (2): Kelce, Wisniewski

G (3): Seulamo, Brooks, Warmack

T (3): Peters, Johnson, Vaitai

DE (5): Graham, Curry, Barnett, Long, Means

DT (5): Cox, Jernigan, Allen, Qualls, Vaeao

LB (6): Hicks, Bradham, Kendricks, Goode, Walker, Grugier-Hill

CB (5): Darby, Mills, Douglas, McDougle, Robinson

S: (5) Jenkins, McLeod, Graham, Watkins, Maragos

P: Jones

PK: Sturgis 

LS: Lovato

2017 Philadelphia Eagles projected 53-man roster (FINAL)

QB (2): Wentz, Foles

RB (4): Sproles, Blount, Smallwood, Pumphrey

WR (5): Jeffrey, Smith, Agholor, Hollins, Johnson

TE (3): Ertz, Celek, Burton

C (2): Kelce, Wisniewski

G (3): Seulamo, Brooks, Warmack

T (4): Peters, Johnson, Vaitai, Gordon

DE (5): Graham, Curry, Barnett, Long, Means

DT (6): Cox, Jernigan, Allen, Qualls, Vaeao, Hamilton

LB (6): Hicks, Bradham, Kendricks, Goode, Walker, Grugier-Hill

CB (5): Darby, Mills, Douglas, McDougle, Robinson

S: (5) Jenkins, McLeod, Graham, Watkins, Maragos

P: Jones

PK: Sturgis 

LS: Lovato

2016 Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster (FINAL)

As compared to my final projections (as adjusted consistent with the Sam Bradford trade), I correctly predicted 50 of the 53 final roster spots (I was 49/53 the last two years).

QB (2): Wentz, Daniel

RB (4): Mathews, Sproles, Barner, Smallwood

WR (5): Matthews, Agholor, Green-Beckham, Huff, Turner

TE (3): Ertz, Celek, Burton

C (2): Kelce, Wisniewski

G (4): Barbre, Seulamo, Brooks, Andrews, Gordon

T (4): Peters, Johnson, Tobin, Vaitai

DE (6): Barwin, Curry, Graham, Smith, Means, Braman

DT (5): Cox, Logan, Allen, Hart, Vaeao

LB (4): Hicks, Kendricks, Bradham, Tulloch

CB (6): McKelvin, Brooks, Carroll, Mills, Rowe, Smith

S: (4) Jenkins, McLeod, Watkins, Maragos

P: Jones

PK: Sturgis 

LS: Dorenbos

2016 Philadelphia Eagles projected 53-man roster (FINAL)

An update to my training camp version. NFL rosters have to be down to 53 by Saturday.

EDIT (9/3/2016): Sam Bradford traded to Vikings. Vaeao (DT) added to roster and Shittu (DT) moved from Longshot to Next Five.

QB (2): Bradford, Daniel, Wentz

RB (4): Mathews, Sproles, Barner, Smallwood

WR (5): Matthews, Agholor, Green-Beckham, Huff, Turner

TE (4): Ertz, Celek, Burton, Pantale

C (2): Kelce, Wisniewski

G (3): Barbre, Seulamo, Brooks

T (4): Peters, Johnson, Tobin, Vaitai

DE (6): Barwin, Curry, Graham, Smith, Means, Braman

DT (5): Cox, Logan, Allen, Hart, Vaeao

LB (5): Hicks, Kendricks, Bradham, Tulloch, Goode

CB (6): McKelvin, Brooks, Carroll, Mills, Rowe, Smith

S: (5) Jenkins, McLeod, Watkins, Maragos, Reynolds

P: Jones

PK: Sturgis 

LS: Dorenbos

Bold are last five guys.

Next Five: Greene (G), Shittu (DT), Tavarres (LB), Shepherd (CB). Countess (S)

Longshots: Gordon (G), Gause (LB)

Note: Lane Johnson (T)'s roster spot is predicated on the fact that he hasn't been suspended (yet). If and when that happens, I would assume Greene (G) or Gordon (G) might have a shot at the last roster spot.

2016 Eagles projected 53-man roster (training camp version)

The last two seasons (2014, 2015), I made predictions on the projected 53-man roster for the Philadelphia Eagles. Both seasons I correctly predicted 49 of the 53 final roster spots. Now that I feel comfortable understanding Chip Kelly's selection process, we get to start over with Doug Pederson. This is Andy Reid, Part II.

As I said last year at this time, the Eagles roster will undoubtedly undergo a number of changes between now and September due to any number of factors. A half dozen or more names could change. But if the team had to pare its current roster to 53 right now, based on players that the team currently controls, what would that roster look like? Here's my look as training camp is underway. The five players in bold are my last five (bubble) players.

QB (3): Bradford, Daniel, Wentz

RB (3): Mathews, Sproles, Smallwood

WR (5): Matthews, Agholor, Randle, Givens, Huff

TE (4): Ertz, Celek, Burton, Pantale

C (2): Kelce, Wisniewski

G (4): Barbre, Gardner, Brooks, Seumalo

T (3): Peters, Johnson, Tobin

DE (5): Barwin, Curry, Graham, Smith, Braman

DT (4): Cox, Logan, Allen, Martin

LB (6): Hicks, Kendricks, Bradham, Walker, Goode,

CB (7): McKelvin, Carroll, Rowe, Brooks, Mills, Rice, Shepard

S: (4) Jenkins, McLeod, Reynolds, Maragos, Watkins

P: Jones

PK: Parkey

LS: Dorenbos

Next five: Barner (RB), Vaitai (T), Tavarres (LB), Evans (CB), Countess (S).

2015 Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster (FINAL)

On Thursday evening, I made my final predictions for this year's roster. I was hoping to improve on last year's 49/53 performance. Here are predictions from Thursday, edited to match the final, 53-man roster...which actually stands at 52 now; it appears the Eagles are looking for a third QB. Players who made the team despite not being on my list are in italics. I correctly picked 49/52.

QB (3): Bradford, Sanchez, Tebow
RB (4): Murray, Mathews, Sproles, Barner
WR (6): Matthews, Huff, Agholor, Cooper, Austin, Ajirotutu
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Burton
C (2): Kelce, Molk
G (3): Barbre, Gardner, Tobin
T (4): Peters, Johnson, Andrews, Kelly

DL (7): Cox, Logan, Thornton, Bair, Allen, Curry, Hart
ILB (4): Kendricks, Alonso, Ryans, Hicks
OLB (5): Barwin, Graham, Braman, Jones, Smith
CB (5): Maxwell, Carroll, Rowe, Biggers, Watkins, Rice
S: (4) Jenkins, Thurmond, Maragos, Prosinski, Couplin

P: Jones
PK: Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

I predicted five players on the bubble who would make the team (QB Tebow, RB Barner, LB Smith, CB Watkins, S Prosinski). Of those, Tebow, Watkins and Prosinski didn't make it. A slight surprise that both Tebow and Barkley are gone, but not shocking. Only Prosinski is a real surprise to me. Although I had him on the bubble, I thought his special teams performance since he was picked up last year would help him hold down the last safety spot. Obviously it did not. Watkins was a true bubble player so while I had him making it, it does not surprise me at all that he was cut.

I predicted five players who would be the first  five out, or essentially my five toughest cuts. These are the players on the other side of the bubble who wouldn't make it (QB Barkley, TE Tomlinson, OLB Goode, S Reynolds, S Couplin). Barkley was traded to the Cardinals and presumably would have been cut; the coaches seem to have preferred Couplin to Prosinski and Reynolds so Couplin will end up being the only "toughest cut" who made the team.

2015 Philadelphia Eagles projected 53-man roster (FINAL)

NFL rosters have to be down to 53 by Saturday, but the Eagles may do the cuts tomorrow to give players a better chance of being picked up by another team. Last year I was 49/53. Let's see how it goes this year.

QB (3): Bradford, Sanchez, Tebow
RB (4): Murray, Mathews, Sproles, Barner
WR (6): Matthews, Huff, Agholor, Cooper, Austin, Ajirotutu
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Burton
C (2): Kelce, Molk
G (3): Barbre, Gardner, Tobin
T (4): Peters, Johnson, Andrews, Kelly

DL (7): Cox, Logan, Thornton, Bair, Allen, Curry, Vaeao
ILB (4): Kendricks, Alonso, Ryans, Hicks
OLB (5): Barwin, Graham, Braman, Jones, Smith
CB (5): Maxwell, Carroll, Rowe, Biggers, Watkins
S: (4) Jenkins, Thurmond, Maragos, Prosinski

P: Jones
PK: Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

Five bubble players who should make the team: QB Tebow, RB Barner, LB Smith, CB Watkins, S Prosinski

First five out/toughest cuts: QB Barkley, TE Tomlinson, OLB Goode, S Reynolds, S Couplin

The big decisions will come down to these questions:

• Who will be the third QB?
• Will the team keep 4 RB/TE?
• Who will provide depth at the offensive line and in the secondary?

Some NFL dreams will continue or end tomorrow...

2015 Eagles Preseason Week 1 Review

A quick review of the 2015 Eagles Preseason Week 1, with a focus on bubble players.

Upvotes ↑
QB Barkley: Consistent and on-target; I'm still not a fan but he's playing better than Tebow so far
RB Barner: So far, he's making a tough choice for the coaches on whether to go with 4 RBs
TE Tomlinson: Will the team keep 4 TEs like last year? If so, he has a shot
OLB Braman: Already a solid+ special teamer; but played well at OLB too
CB Biggers: Made a few key plays and will keep his name in the conversation for the last CB spot
S: Reynolds: Two picks and nearly a third may help force his way onto the roster; Watkins look out!

Downvotes ↓
QB Tebow: First series impressive; disappointing after that
T Graf: Got beat badly on several plays against inferior competition
CB/S Watkins: Looked unimpressive; beaten on several plays

Need More Info
G Bunche
G Moffitt
CB Evans

Roster Movement
With JaCorey Shepherd's ACL tear, I moved Jaylen Watkins into his roster spot. However, he didn't look very impressive on Sunday so he's definitely on the bubble. Ed Reynolds and EJ Biggers both played well and have every opportunity to move into that spot.

2015 Eagles projected 53-man roster (training camp version)

As I said back in March, the Eagles roster will undoubtedly undergo a number of changes between now and September due to free agency, trades, the draft, and injuries. A half dozen or more names could change. But if the team had to pare its current roster to 53 right now, based on players that the team currently controls, what would that roster look like? Here's my look as training camp opens today. The five players in bold are my last five (bubble) players.

QB (3): Bradford, Sanchez, Tebow
RB (3): Murray, Mathews, Sproles
WR (6): Matthews, Huff, Agholor, Cooper, Austin, Ajirotutu
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Burton
C (2): Kelce, Molk
G (4): Barbre, Gardner, Tobin, Moffitt
T (4): Peters, Johnson, Andrews, Graf

DL (7): Cox, Logan, Thornton, Bair, Allen, Curry, Mihalik
LB (9): Barwin, Kendricks, Alonso, Graham, Smith, Hicks, Ryans, Braham, Jones
CB (5): Rowe, Maxwell, Carroll, Shepherd, Evans
S: (4) Jenkins, Thurmond, Maragos, Prosinski

P: Jones
PK: Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

It's not too difficult to project the first 48 or so players on the roster but the last group of 4-5 players is always very difficult.

First five out: Barkley, Acho, Goode, Watkins, Wolff

 I've learned with Chip Kelly that those last few spots come down to versatility (special teams) and injuries. Here are a few close calls that could go either way:

QB: Tebow > Barkley

OL: Not at all confident in the offensive line depth. Training camp could definitely make a difference in the third and/or fourth guard or tackle. I have John Moffitt on the bubble, but he could easily move up with a good camp.

S: Earl Wolff should be in the mix, but the injury bug may really hurt his chances of making the roster especially with Walter Thurmond switching to safety. Given the value that Chip places on special teams players, it would be difficult to see him part with Maragos or Prosinski, both of whom were among the league's best last year. Only time will tell.

2015 Eagles projected 53-man roster (March version)

The Eagles roster will undoubtedly undergo a number of changes between now and September due to free agency, trades, the draft, and injuries. A half dozen or more names could change. But if the team had to pare its current roster to 53 right now, based on players that the team currently controls, what would that roster look like? Here's my first look.

QB (3): Bradford, Sanchez, Barkley
RB (4): Murray, Mathews, Sproles, Polk
WR (5): Matthews, Huff, Cooper, Smith, Maehl, Murphy
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Burton
C (2): Kelce, Molk
G (4): Mathis, Barbre, Tobin, Kelly
T (4): Peters, Johnson, Gardner

DL (7): Thorton, Logan, Cox, Curry, Allen, Hart, Bair
LB (9): Alonso, Barwin, Kendricks, Ryans, Graham, Smith, Braman, Acho, Jones
CB (5): Maxwell, Thurmond, Boykin, Carroll, Watkins
S: (4) Jenkins, Wolff, Maragos, Prosinski

P: Jones
PK: Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

The three areas that I expect the Eagles to target in the early rounds of the draft are WR, CB, and S.

The uniforms for this week's Maryland War of 1812 Bicentennial are...interesting.

This morning, an article about this uniform said: "Yes, that's the outline of a Terrapin on the helmets." Not so much. I can see how the shape sort of looks like a turtle, but it's pretty obvious that it's not the outline of a Terrapin with the American flag on it--it's the outline of Fort McHenry with the American flag on it! The article has since been corrected.

El Cortez Fantasy Football League draft results

2014 Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster (FINAL)

Here is the 2014 Philadelphia Eagles 53-man roster. Players that I didn't pick are in italics; players that I projected to make the roster but didn't are crossed out. Compared to my final projected roster, I correctly picked 49/53. Of the four players I picked that didn't make the team (Tucker, Barner, Acho, Reynolds), three of them were on my bubble list (Barner, Acho, and Reynolds). Of the four players that made the team that I didn't pick (Polk, Burton, Gardner, Matthews), three of them were on my bubble/tough cut list (Polk, Burton, and Gardner).

QB (3): Foles, Sanchez, Barkley
RB (4): McCoy, Sproles, Polk, Tucker, Barner
WR (6): Maclin, Cooper, Matthews, Huff, Smith, Maehl
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Casey, Burton
C (2): Kelce, Molk
G (3): Mathis, Herremans, Kelly, Gardner
T (3): Peters, Barbre, Tobin (L. Johnson/susp does not count against 53-man roster)

DL (7): Thorton, Logan, Cox, Curry, Hart, Allen, Bair
LB (9): Barwin, Kendricks, Ryan, Cole, Smith, Graham, Goode, Braman, Acho, Matthews
CB (5): Fletcher, Williams, Boykin, Carroll, Watkins
S: (5) Allen, Jenkins, Wolff, Maragos, Reynolds

P: Jones
PK: Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

2014 Philadelphia Eagles projected 53-man roster (FINAL)

Last updated: Aug 28 2014

QB (3): Foles, Sanchez, Barkley
RB (4): McCoy, Sproles, Polk, Tucker, Barner
WR (6): Maclin, Cooper, Matthews, Huff, Smith, Maehl
TE (3): Celek, Ertz, Casey
C (2): Kelce, Vandervelde (back surgery), Molk
G (3): Mathis, Herremans, Kelly
T (3): Peters, Barbre, Tobin (L. Johnson/susp does not count against 53-man roster)

DL (7): Thorton, Logan, Cox, Curry, Hart, Square, Allen, Bair
LB (9): Barwin, Kendricks, Ryan, Cole, Smith, Graham, Goode, Braman, Acho
CB (5): Fletcher, Williams, Boykin, Carroll, Watkins
S: (5) Allen, Jenkins, Wolff, Maragos, Reynolds

P: Jones
PK: Henery Parkey
LS: Dorenbos

 Notes

Aug 28 2014: Bubble player who will make the team. These players are likely to make the team according to my projections, but if I am wrong it would likely be one or more of these who get cut:

RB Barner (Barner/Josey is a coin flip; see below.)
WR Maehl
DL Allen
LB Acho
S Reynolds

Bubble players/toughest cuts: These players are not likely to make the team according to my projections, but if I am wrong it will most likely be one or more of these who make the cut:

RBs Polk/Josey (Polk has been injured; please let me be wrong about Josey.)
WR Benn (Maehl/Benn is a coin flip; both have shown ability to contribute on special teams.)
TE Burton (a 4th TE and in place of a 6th WR like Maehl? He'd have to contribute on special teams.)
T Gardner (and even if he makes the team, he might not last long when Lane Johnson comes off suspension.)
DL Square
LB Long

Aug 27 2014: Rosters are now down to 75 spots with the final cut to 53 coming by Saturday. There have been no real surprises thus far, except for the fact that Curtis Marsh and Roc Carmichael are still on the team. However, they're probably just on the roster until Saturday (or sooner) as bodies for Thursday night's game. Some expected that DE Joe Kruger might last longer, but he did not. Fortunately for Kruger, he'll get another look with the Chargers.

The one of the biggest battles remains at RB. Only McCoy and Sproles are guarantees at this point. Polk, Tucker, Barner and Josey all have a chance at the third spot (or a fourth spot if the Eagles keep four RBs as I have projected). Polk has been injured for almost all of camp. Tucker and Josey have shown nice bursts in pre-season games. Barner was just added last week but played for Chip Kelly at Oregon.

Lastly I added a big question mark behind Alex Henery. I still have him as the presumptive kicker but his job is definitely on the line.

Aug 15 2014: Backup center Julian Vandervelde recently had back surgery. There is no timetable for his return, but it seems unlikely he would be on the opening game roster. David Molk will benefit from Vandervelde's injury. No other changes in the last ten days.

Aug 5 2014: The most likely player on my projected final roster that may not actually make the final roster is RB Matthew Tucker. If the Eagles only take 3 RBs, Tucker would be the casualty.

If Tucker gets cut, I'd expect his spot to be replaced with an additional offensive lineman or defensive lineman. Offensive line additions could be David Molk (who might replace Vandervelde) or Andrew Gardner. Backup offensive linemen is definitely a weak spot.

I'd love to find spots for WR/TE Trey Burton, RB Henry Josey, and DE Alejandro Villanueva but they'll probably end up on the practice squad.

A few thoughts on blood doping and performance enhancing drugs

One of my earliest memories growing up was watching Tug McGraw strike out Willie Wilson to win the World Series for the Phillies over the Royals in 1980. I was a baseball and Phillies fan for life. I was devastated when the Phillies lost to a young Cal Ripken and the Orioles in 1983. I would have never guessed that it would be ten years before the Phillies returned to the World Series (1993), and another fifteen years after that (2008) when they would finally win it again.

The mid-1980s also saw the emergence of American cycling on the world stage. The success by American cyclists at the 1984 Olympics (undoubtedly buoyed by the Soviet boycott) and Greg LeMond's breakthrough as the first American to win the Tour de France (LeMond won the Tour three times, but could have won at least five

and potentially more if it weren't for a hunting accident in 1987 which caused him to miss two Tours; he likely have won in 1985 too if he wasn't riding in support of Bernard Hinault). Cycling made it onto the big screen, too: Breaking Away in 1979 and American Flyers in 1985 (which is one of my favorites). Racing around the neighborhood on my bike, I often imagined I was LeMond while a friend often became "the Russian" (the "Belov" character from American Flyers). As clycing goes, I never became more than that kid riding around the neighborhood, but l've always considered myself a dedicated fan of cycling. Even then, though, cycling was not really popular in the United States.

That all changed when Lance Armstrong returned from cancer to win seven straight Tour de France victories (1999-2005); no one had ever won more than five. Lance was a master of the time trial and a menace in the mountains. In one of his finest victories, while riding in a small group of leaders up the Alpe d'Huez (one of the most famous and difficult climbs in the history of the Tour), he turned to look at his fiercest competitor Jan Ullrich (immortalized as "The Look") and then left Ullrich and everyone else in the dust. It all seemed like a fairy tale story that was too good to be true (and as it turns out, it was).

Over the past 25 years, both baseball and cycling have enduring scandals involving doping and performance enhancing drugs. It is impossible for me to know how widespread these practices were in either sport, but it seems at least likely that it was, at times, commonplace among at least some competitors. There is also evidence that athletes have been artificially enhancing their performances long before the 1980s. In one infamous incident, British cyclist Tom Simpson died on the ascent to Mont Ventoux during the 1967 Tour de France. Simpson died from a mix of amphetamines and alcohol. In many cases, both in baseball and in cycling, these practices weren't even illegal at the time. Baseball players like Mark McGwire, Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa (and now perhaps Alex Rodriguez), all surefire Hall of Famers by their numbers, may never reach Cooperstown because of the taint of performance enhancing drugs (and at least in McGwire's case, most or all of his use of Androstenedione came before it was even banned by baseball).

The impact on cyclists has been less uniform. Lance Armstrong has been disgraced by his admission (costing him all seven Tour victories and every other competitive result from August 1998 onward) despite having never had an official positive test. On the other hand, Eddy Merckx tested positive at least three times during his career. Merckx won the World Championship three times, the Tour de France and Giro d'Italia five times each, and the Vuelta a Espana once. He also won all of professional cycling's classic "monument" races at least twice each (totaling 19 Classics victories in all); and is generally regarded as the greatest pro-cyclist in the history of the sport. The three positive tests have not really tainted his career nor did they void any of his victories. Of course, it is fair to speculate that the hit to Lance's reputation may be greater because of the alleged extensive nature of his team's doping scheme, the constant denials, and the bullying of his teammates and friends.

My position has generally been that if you are doping or using performance enhancing drugs, then you have, on your own volition, tainted your performance. You deserve whatever scorn comes your way, even and especially if that includes voided victories or reduced Hall of Fame consideration. On the other hand, it seems harsh to punish someone for doing something that was legal at the time. Some of the cyclists on the 1984 Olympic team later admitted to having had blood transfusions; they were not illegal in 1984 and no one has questioned the validity of the medals they won. On the other hand, McGwire's Hall of Fame chances seemed perpetually doomed despite having taken a substance that wasn't banned when he took it.

My position has evolved somewhat, perhaps because I have spent a lot of time looking at the issue from a more critical perspective. As a result, it is not so clear to me that we can draw definitive lines about right and wrong in regards to blood doping and performance enhancing drugs. Let me highlight a few observations that have driven me in this direction.

First, although I have highlighted that it is impossible to know how widespread the use of these substances were in baseball or cycling during these periods, it seems pretty obvious that the use was far more common than positive test results or admissions by athletes would suggest. I doubt that anyone believes that Lance Armstrong (and his team) were the only cyclists doping during Lance's incredible streak. Jan Ullrich, Armstrong's biggest rival, has said that Armstrong's wins should be reinstated because doping was so prevalent at the time. A recent survey found that 12 of 25 living Tour de France winners believed that Lance's titles should be reinstated. I'm not sure that result is ever likely to happen (perhaps the same likelihood as McGwire reaching the Hall of Fame), and I'm not sure that full reinstatement is even appropriate, but I don't think I'd be adverse to the "asterisk" approach. More importantly, it seems clear that other cyclists and baseball players were enhancing their performance during this period and did not get caught. In one sense, it's about athletes who used versus athletes who didn't use. But it's also about athletes who got caught versus athletes who didn't get caught. Frankly, it is impossible to make a clear distinction between these two. Do we really know for sure that Hank Aaron (or any other great player) never used a performance enhancing drug? According to one player, the use of performance-enhancing drugs were widespread in baseball during the 1960s and 1970s. As a result, I'm not sure that a ticket to the Hall of Fame or a decision to keep a yellow jersey should based upon one athlete's ability to avoid getting caught. I appreciate the fact that it is not fair to those who never used to be tainted by those who did. But that's the reality of the situation. If we don't treat everyone as suspect, then those who used and got away with it become the real winners.

Second, it is not clear to me that the line between permitted and denied is drawn at the correct location. For example, Erythropoietin (EPO) is banned (synthesized EPO is used to stimulate red blood cell production). Blood transfusions are also banned, including autologous blood transfusions (the athlete receives his or her own blood which had been taken prior to the competition and presumably has a higher red blood cell count). Although there are some potential health complications from autologous blood transfusions, it is unclear to me if these reasons are really sufficient for them to be banned. Transfusing someone with their own blood seems to me a considerable stretch (added to that, testing for autologous blood transfusions requires the testers to maintain a biologic profile of the athlete. As a third example, some athletes may use an altitude tent to stimulate the body to produce more red blood cells. Altitude tents are not banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency. All three of these methods are designed to introduce more red blood cells into the athlete's body to carry more oxygen to the muscles. Two of these methods are banned while the third is not. Have we drawn the line at the correct location? I don't know. But I think it is reasonable to have this debate, rather than just assume that the line drawn by USADA or WADA cannot be questioned.

Third, these anti-doping organizations can preach zero tolerance, but athletes in competitive sports will always be searching for the smallest of advantages. Is cycling or baseball (or any other sport) really clean now? Or are athletes just one more step ahead of the anti-doping authorities? When today's legal advantage becomes tomorrow's prohibited substance, another generation of athletes will be tainted by accusations or doping or the use of performance enhancing substances. Once again we will have to confront the impossible dilemma of the innocent, the caught, and unknown guilty. The results won't likely turn out any differently.

Lastly, I am obviously not a doctor. I do not pretend to know more than the absolute basic biology of how certain substances affect the human body. To be sure, I do not question the science of performance enhancing drugs or of blood doping. I'm not apologizing for Lance Armstrong or defending doping. My focus should be seen in the context of how those medical decisions affect the perception of the sport by the public at large.

Yahoo Sports pages leaking browser tab with links to Backyard, Yahoo's internal network

[12/27/2015 UPDATE]: The browser tab is showing up again this afternoon...

[9/30/2014 UPDATE]: This blog post has been getting a ton of hits lately, because the Backyard browser tab is leaking to the Internet, again (Backyard is apparently some version of Yahoo's internal network). Presumably, everyday Internet users like you and me shouldn't be seeing this. See the details below from May.

Here's a screenshot from September 30, 2014. You see the tab at the bottom right:

I'm moderately impressed by how quickly Yahoo responded to my tweet:

The tab shows up at the bottom right of the browser when visiting Yahoo Sports using Chrome. I could not duplicate the behavior in Firefox or Chrome.

Here is the tab:

And here are the links from the tab:

Y! Confidential: https://backyard.yahoo.com/globalcomms/Confidential.html

Megaphone: https://backyard.yahoo.com/qna/sports-grandslam-feedback/moderator

Bug: http://tiny.corp.yahoo.com/PDk61L

It appears that this behavior has been going on for at least a few days.

NFL running back comparison: part 1

Player 1

991 carries, 4,956 yards, 5.0 average
39 rushing touchdowns

112 receptions, 1,307 yards, 11.7 average
9 receiving touchdowns

Player 2

1,149 carries, 5,473 yards, 4.8 average
39 rushing touchdowns

272 receptions, 2,217 yards, 7.8 average
10 receiving touchdowns

Google's Super Bowl fail

Can you find the error?

There's no place for taunting in football...but we'll show you the slow motion replay anyways

Jon Gruden said there's no place for taunting in football after this play. Then, Monday Night Football showed it again, in slow motion, as they went to commercial. If there's no place for taunting in football, then don't show the replay, period.  Also--Golden Tate, you're not good enough to taunt an opponent.

via Gifulmination

An open letter to the many Red Sox fans among my friends

Dear Red Sox fans (and among my friends there are many):

You have every right to be pissed that a World Series game ended on an obstruction call. I think many Cardinals fans, and baseball fans everywhere, don't like the way it ended, either (I am a fan of neither team, and could care less who wins; I just want to see good baseball). But based on the letter of the rulebook (and the definition of obstruction, as defined in Rule 2.00, which exactly contemplates that situation; see below) the umpires got it right, and no one outside of Boston has intelligently argued otherwise. It's not a "technicality," it doesn't matter that there was no intent. For all we know it was just an accident. It doesn't matter. It's very plainly stated in the rules. It sucks, it may be bullshit, but it's the rules. It's worth noting that after the game, Red Sox manager John Farrell admitted that it was obstruction by the letter of the rule. Here's a link to the video of the entire play, including replays.

Rule 2.00. OBSTRUCTION is the act of a fielder who, while not in possession of the ball and not in the act of fielding the ball, impedes the progress of any runner. 

Rule 2.00. (Obstruction) Comment: If a fielder is about to receive a thrown ball and if the ball is in flight directly toward and near enough to the fielder so he must occupy his position to receive the ball he may be considered “in the act of fielding a ball.” It is entirely up to the judgment of the umpire as to whether a fielder is in the act of fielding a ball. After a fielder has made an attempt to field a ball and missed, he can no longer be in the “act of fielding” the ball. For example: If an infielder dives at a ground ball and the ball passes him and he continues to lie on the ground and delays the progress of the runner, he very likely has obstructed the runner.

Rule 7.06. When obstruction occurs, the umpire shall call or signal "Obstruction." 

(a) If a play is being made on the obstructed runner, or if the batter-runner is obstructed before he touches first base, the ball is dead and all runners shall advance, without liability to be put out, to the bases they would have reached, in the umpire's judgment, if there had been no obstruction. The obstructed runner shall be awarded at least one base beyond the base he had last legally touched before the obstruction. Any preceding runners, forced to advance by the award of bases as the penalty for obstruction, shall advance without liability to be put out. 

Rule 7.06(a) Comment: When a play is being made on an obstructed runner, the umpire shall signal obstruction in the same manner that he calls "Time," with both hands overhead. The ball is immediately dead when this signal is given; however, should a thrown ball be in flight before the obstruction is called by the umpire, the runners are to be awarded such bases on wild throws as they would have been awarded had not obstruction occurred. On a play where a runner was trapped between second and third and obstructed by the third baseman going into third base while the throw is in flight from the shortstop, if such throw goes into the dugout the obstructed runner is to be awarded home base. Any other runners on base in this situation would also be awarded two bases from the base they last legally touched before obstruction was called.