From: jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes)
Subject: Re: Randall benched for WEEK TEN
Organization: AT&T
Distribution: na
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 17:18:11 GMT

In article <1dek10INNlao@gazette.bcm.tmc.edu>, rjk@dino.qci.bioch.bcm.tmc.edu (Raymond K) writes:
> In article <1992Nov6.181857.7602@cbnewsm.cb.att.com> jmd@cbnewsm.cb.att.com (joseph.m.dakes) writes:
> Seriously, though, the thing that gets me is the amount of Eagle
> fans who AGREE with this move!  Where are all the Randall-backers
> who thought even the *mention* of Cunningham being replaced by McMahon
> (except in the case of injury) was ludicrous?  Even the members of the
> media who would not even contemplate this situation are now saying it's
> a good move!  Hell, Rich Kotite himself, just a week or two ago (it might
> have been as late as the week leading to the Dallas game) said the idea
> of benching Cunningham for McMahon was "out of the question".  Why the
> big turnaround?  Do you feel you're in the minority, Joe?

I think the Eagles fans are about 50/50 when it comes to the starting
QB.  But this isn't just since Randall's poor performance the past few
weeks.  There have been Eagles fans saying McMahon should be the starter
since the beginning of training camp.  That's just Eagles fans.  Every
one of us has an opinion.

> I haven't heard any reaction by Braman.  I was wondering if Kotite did
> this just to see if Braman was paying attention!! :-)  Consider that the
> last time Randall was benched, the coach got fired three days later!!
> Kotite's got guts!!

Braman is not goint to fire Kotite.  He's got another year on his contract
so he'd have to pay him whether he coaches the team or not.  You know as
well as I do that Braman isn't going to throw money away.  Besides, Kotite
is one of the lowest paid head coaches in the NFL.  Braman likes that in
a head coach:-).

> >I really find this hard to believe.  Randall has been an NFL QB for 7-years
> >now.  If he has misread the signals from the sidelines don't you think that
> >the coaches would have worked on it with him during practices?  And if he
> >was calling the wrong blocking schemes or pass routes on certain plays, don't
> >you think one of the other players in the huddle would have noticed?
> 
> I'm just telling you what I heard from informed sources, those being
> the beat writers who talk to people "in the know".  Specifically,
> Phila. Daily News writer Kevin Mulligan.  Check his column from Wedneday,
> Nov. 4.  He doesn't make it sound like speculation, but fact.  If you
> can't find the paper, I'll fax you the article if you don't believe me.

I read the article.  It's not that I don't believe you.   I don't believe
the writer.  Just because it's written in print doesn't make it a fact.
Sports writers are not the most reliable people in the world.  Take one
Bill Conlin of the Daily News.  He predicted the Eagles to go 8-8 in the
beginning of the year.  They get off to a great start and he's printing
an open letter to Keith Jackson telling him to take the year off because
the Eagles can go to the SuperBowl without him (this was before the judge
ruled KJ a free agent).  Now it's obvious the Eagles do miss Jackson at
TE.  Does Conlin admit that he blew it?  No.  Hell, he doesn't even want
to discuss his 8-8 prediction.  He just goes on writing without even a clue.

> As far as the coaches working with him on it during practices, maybe they
> have.  Maybe Randall just isn't putting the time in needed to remember
> the plays, or loses concentration while in the games.  About the other
> players correcting him in the huddle, it brings up a question - do the
> offensive linemen need to know the pass route, and vice versa, or do 
> they just hear their assignment and try to execute it?  I haven't been
> in an NFL huddle in a while, so I wouldn't know.

I haven't been in an NFL huddle lately either.  I'm not sure if players
know the entire play or just their assignment.  In an interview on WIP
last night, Randall said there was entirely too much talk going on in
the huddle.   He said that he didn't tell the players to shutup because
he was trying to be a nice-guy.  If that led to any confusion then that
is his own fault.  He has to take charge out there.

> As far as what the players are saying, sure Reggie White is in Randall's
> corner, and most would agree that if they expect to go anywhere, it'll
> be with Randall.  But, how many guys have said something to the effect
> of 'Jim gives us a spark when he's in there, and maybe that's what we
> need to get us going right now'.  Quite a few of the players I've heard
> said that.  If they verbalize that much, rather than just saying 'it doesn't
> matter who's in there, we all have to play better', imagine what they're
> thinking!?!

Most of the comments slighting Randall that I have heard came from C
Dave Alexander and G Mike Schad.  The offensive linemen never get quoted.
They are running their mouths without thinking.  If they did their job
out on the field and didn't worry about who was playing QB, the offense
would be more much effective no matter who the QB was.

> Personally, I don't think this move is good for Cunningham's psyche and
> I wouldn't be surprised if it affects him for the rest of the season.
> Now, every time he throws a bad pass, he'll wonder if he's going to get
> the hook.  As you say, Joe, we'll have to wait and see how it turns out.

Well, we only have five more days to find out.


E-A-G-L-E-S

Joe Dakes
AT&T Microelectronics
555 Union Boulevard
Allentown, PA  18103
alux1!jmd