No, the Flyers and Sixers aren't dead yet. I'm even still decently bullish on the Sixers chances. Why are we eulogizing these teams now? Because anything else past right now is gravy. Both teams were toss ups to make the playoffs, had up and down seasons, and vanquished hated rivals in the first rounds of the playoffs. Think of it like the 2022 Phillies where just making the dance was good enough. With these two, they at least gave us a little more. Let's talk about how we got here.

News

• Eagles
  • Schedule Release May 14
  • Zack Baun does the Eagles a solid
• Phillies
  • Jhoan Duran is back
  • Alec Bohm is FINALLY getting a break
  • Early Trade Deadline Preview
• Flyers
  • The Maple Leafs won the lottery, which means we won too

Since it's much more fun to talk about things when they are going well rather than falling apart, I did the podcast on Friday instead of Monday this week. Other than the Jonathan Greenard trade for the Eagles and the Phillies giving Rob Thomson the axe, there isn't a whole lot of news this week, so we are just going to talk about each team one at a time starting with the Flyers, moving to the Sixers, then the Phillies, and finishing up with the Birds.

No This Week in Philly Sports History either since the slate is clear for the next 2 weeks on that front. If anyone has an anniversary I'm missing in early May, let me know.

This week on the Philly Front Office Podcast I cover the NFL Draft then bitch about why Dave Dombrowski can't be more like Howie Roseman.

Of course, the Sixers and Flyers exist too. How do their front offices rate? I go into all of it.

NEWS

• Phillies
  • Taijuan Gone!
  • Zack Back!
• Flyers
  • Up 3-1
  • Missed Draft opportunity not to troll Pittsburgh by sending Brian Westbrook
• Sixers
  • Joel Embiid back from appendectomy
  • No other Sixers show up
• Eagles
  • DRAFT
  • Jonathan Greenard
  • Athleticism from Africa

NEWS:

• Phillies
  • Yikes!

  • Jhoan Duran injured

  • Griff McGarry traded

  • Wheeler roughed up

• Sixers

  •  

    Yikes, but with less enthusiasm

  • Draft picks finalized

  • VJ Edgecombe ROY finalist

• Flyers
  • FUCK YES!!!
  • Marty Supreme

• Eagles
  • AJ Brown...it is what it is at this point

THIS WEEK IN PHILLY SPORTS

• April 20, 2016 - Eagles trade up for Carson Wentz
• April 21, 1966 - Phillies trade Ferguson Jenkins to the Cubs

1. Team is good but doesn't know it yet
2. Team is bad and knows it
3. Team is good and everyone knows it
4. Team is bad and doesn't know it
5. Team is good but not getting better

News

- Flyers

• Nesbitt to Michigan
• Berglund to Lehigh Valley then maybe back to Sweeden
• David Jiricek to Philadelphia
• PLAYOFFS - 1 win left

- Eagles

• Dontayvion Wicks
• Dianna Russini

- Sixers

• If Joel Embiid didn't have bad luck, he wouldn't have any luck at all
• Play-In Wednesday...then possibly Friday

- Phillies

• Orion Kerkering back up
• Zack Wheeler almost back up
• Bohm, Stott, Garcia, and the catcher backed up

Almanac

• April 17, 2009 - Eagles trade for Jason Peters
• April 17, 2023 - Eagles make Jalen Hurts the highest paid player in NFL history, briefly

What the article did was expose us to the cesspool that constantly surrounds Hurts, the truth be damned. Let's identify the usual suspects.

NEWS

• Flyers: Porter Martone and the Playoffs
• Sixers: Joel Embiid and the Playoffs
• Phillies: Rookies and the Play...I mean their debuts
• Eagles: We should be talking about the draft...next week

ALMANAC

• Donovan McNabb goes to Washington
• Patrick Kane goes to Chicago

Last week, all I wanted to do was talk about the Eagles and this week the Phillies, so naturally, I reversed them Last week was the MLB preview while this week is all about how the Eagles moves so far has made them impervious to desperation for the rest of the spring and summer. Remember when the Eagles traded Sam Bradford to the Vikings for a 1st round pick all those years ago? Howie Roseman will never be on the receiving end of one of those monstrosities because he is always prepared. Here is how he does it...

News:

• Flyers
  • Porter Martone leads Michigan State
  • The NHL Playoffs are in reach, but there is a lot of work to do
• Sixers
  • Embiid is back after 13 games
  • Paul George is back after 25 games
  • The Play-In tournament is a sure thing, but we are dreaming of more...so are 5 other teams
  • NBA Anti-Tanking procedures are a complete joke
• Phillies
  • Cristopher Sanchez extension!
  • Andrew Painter and Justin Crawford make the team!
  • Opening Day!
  • Alec Bohm sues his parents!
• Eagles
  • Let's pour a little kerosene out for the always on fire Sydney Brown
  • Marcus Epps, JT Gray, Elijah Moore, and Fred Johnson are small but important moves
  • Cam Jurgens was hurt bad

This Day in Philly Sports History

• March 25, 2018 - Scott Kingery signs a 6/$24m contract and it's the beginning of the end of his career
• Late March 2005 - Shane Victorino's services are refused by the LA Dodgers and they are the first steps to the beginning of his legendary Philly career

Finally, our winter of discontent has ended and I can't believe I feel pretty good about the Phillies. The lineup has its issues, but that pitching staff??? Oh baby!!! Opening Day is set for Thursday, March 26 at 4:10pm against the Texas Rangers and I can't wait. Let's get you all ready for the season by previewing out division rivals, the Phillies, and the final boss, the Dodgers.

News:

• Flyers
  • Get busy living, or get busy dying
  • The Flyers are one of 8 teams vying for 5 playoff spots in the East and I really miss being in the playoffs
• Sixers
  • Basically, guaranteed to make the play-in but half the team is still hurt
  • Our destiny is the Knicks, the Celtics, the Pistons, or a 2.4% to 4.8% chance to keep out 1st round pick
• Eagles
  • Darius Slay retires because the Bills are bitches
  • Dallas Goedert returns and changes everything
  • Filling in the gaps for Draft Freedom!
  • AJ Brown handshake agreement? (I forgot to get into it, but this would be the most logical explanation for all the rumors that keep not coming true, like a missing puzzle piece)
• Phillies
  • WBC was probably the best possible outcome for Phillies fans
  • Dylan Moore forces the Phillies hand
  • Pitching looks great

Almanac

• Darius Slay came to the Phillies 6 years ago
• The Phillies both made and ruined Scott Kingery's life 8 years ago

Flyers? No one knows what's going on with the Flyers.

Sixers? We all know what is going on with the Sixers.

We aren't sure if we want either to make the playoffs with about a month to go in each season.

• Flyers at the trade deadline send Bobby Brink to the Wild
• Sixers will [cue sinister music] RE-EVALUATE Joel Embiid next week after he already missed 3 games plus how realistic is it for Josh Harris to sell the team?
• Phillies lose Johan Rojas for half the season, but maybe forever too, why not? What does that mean for the final spot on the roster? Plus, the pitching is still nasty
• Eagles are in rumor hell between AJ Brown, Maxx Crosby, Jalen Carter, and Jaelan Phillips.

Feature:

The NFL league new year starts on Wednesday with free agency starting on Monday. Hold on to your butts! This means player releases and trades galore are coming this weekend. Let's see what that means for the Eagles including how certain moves can affect everything else including this year's team, keeping guys down the line, and what to do in this year's draft.

Almanac:

In March 2004, Terrell Owens was traded to the Ravens AND signed with the Eagles at the same time. His agent F****D up big time. Everything worked out for the Eagles though... right?

Anyway, all of those things have me thinking about the lifecycle of a prospect. The Flyers need a star desperately. Over the past generation they've missed on several. The Sixers traded one and happened to get another. Had James Harden stayed, there's no way VJ Edgecombe would be in Philly. The Eagles had a big problem for years of avoiding draft talent. Thankfully DeVonta Smith changed all that. Finally, there's the Phillies and their rookie trio of Andrew Painter, Justin Crawford, and Aiden Miller. We don't know what they are yet, but if they're good it changes everything both this year and in the future.

Almanac:

- February 28, 2019: Bryce Harper agrees to sign with the Phillies for 13/$330m

- March 2, 1962: Wilt Chamberlain scores 100 points

News:

• Sixers duck the tax officially by signing Cam Payne and Jabari Walker
• Flyers almost back and ready to trade
• Phillies release Nick Castellanos but start Spring Training
• Eagles have a new QB coach but no random retirements

This Day in History:

• Wentz traded to Colts
• AJ Feeley traded to Miami for a 2nd round pick
• Phillies land Steve Carlton

I had so much fun applying the Known-Knowns, Known-Unknowns, and Unknown-Unknowns to the Phillies this week I decided to keep doing it with the rest of our teams:

• The Phillies with performance uncertainty
• The Eagles with Jalen Hurts hot take artists like Emmanuel Acho
• The Sixers with their unwillingness to exceed the luxury tax
• I completely forgot about the Flyers and have no idea how to edit, but I would have talked about how the reality is that they need more high-end talent, otherwise the whole thing is pointless.

News:

• Nothing other than Nick Castellanos getting released (and now signed with the Padres because that's what's in)

Philly Almanac:

• JT Realmuto trade on February 7, 2019
• Super Bowl 59 on February 9th, 2025
• Ben Simmons for James Harden swap on February 10th, 2022

News

• Phillies do nothing
• Flyers take 3 needed weeks off
• Eagles might see some retirements
• Sixers sell Jared McCain

History

• 7 years ago the Sixers traded for Tobias Harris
• 7 years (minus 1 day) ago the Phillies traded for JT Realmuto

The Sixers NBA Trade Deadline Preview Spectacular (me talking for 15 minutes)

News

• Eagles: Sean Mannion is the new OC, Josh Grizzard is the new Passing Game Coordinator. What does this mean?
• Flyers: Lots and lots of losing. Remember when this team was fun and made us feel good? Me neither.
• Phillies: Despite getting name dropped by journalists as suiters for the remaining free agents, the Phillies are done for the offseason. Here's how I would have done it.
• Sixers: The Trade Deadline is coming up and the team will need to make decisions on Jabari Walker and Dominick Barlow very soon

Feature: Let's get you ready for the Trade Deadline Ball, Cinderella!

News:

- Eagles: Christian Parker to the Cowboys might mean...

- Flyers: lose 7 of 8

- Sixers: Healthy and happy?

- Phillies: Everyone is going to the Mets except JT Realmuto

Feature: Looking back on the Phillies offseason to see where it went wrong

Feature: Tracing the Eagles' offensive issues back to 2021 and the Nick Sirianni hiring. Not blaming Nick here, but there are certain issues that come with the CEO Coach. Those issues now came to a head again with no adult in the room for 2025.

This Week in History: Finally, Wilt Chamberlain has come BACK to Philadelphia.

The News:

• Flyers sign Dvorak
• Sixers...are a basketball team
• Eagles head to the playoffs
• Phillies sign Donny Baseball and come to deals with all their arbitration eligible players

Feature: Let's get Bichette!!! Never have our hopes been more up for something that seems impossible. Let's put all that worry to rest with a blueprint for how the Phillies can get this done.

Calendar:

• January 9 - Hit the Bricks Cutter Gauthier Day
• January 13 - Finally, the Stilt has come BACK to Philadelphia
• January 14 - Simmons for Harden
• January 15 - MLB International Signing Day

Our boys are in the middle of handling the Mets, Cowboys, and Chiefs all in the same sports week (that's less than 2 weeks but more than a week...everyone knows that). So far so good:

• Phillies
  • The good guys are pouring it on the Mets both now and since the Trade Deadline
  • 16 games left in the season including at home against the Royals, on the road for the Dodgers and Diamondbacks, then back home for the Marlins and Twins
  • Don't look now, but the Brewers are in our sights
  • Everyone has thoughts on Phillies Karen, but I am more interested in the Dad's reaction. It's like a psych experiment.
• Eagles
  • Jalen Hurts was the best player on the field against the Cowboys
  • Jalen Carter...it is what it is at this point
  • How do you feel about Andy Reid?
  • Tank Bigsby is here plus more possible trades
• Sixers
  • Grimes signing soon?
• Flyers
  • Rookie Camp starts today!

• NFC East: Is anyone else actually good?
  • What's the best-case scenario for the Giants?
  • Who is the 3rd best Commander?
  • Do you feel bad for Jerry Jones?
• NFC: We are divided on the biggest contender to the throne
• AFC: Why do the Bills and Ravens get all the love despite never winning?
• Super Bowl Rematch?
  • There is no second place in the AFC because only Joe Burrow can beat Patrick Mahomes. Unfortunately, the Bengals are terrible
• Plus, do you remember when your fandom went from innocent to crazy?

Meanwhile, back in Eagles Training Camp, I am catching you up on trades, roster cuts, the practice squad, and the hierarchy of the NFL going into the season.

As for the Flyers and Sixers, we are inching ever closer to training camp with no news to speak of.

Yes, Zack Wheeler is probably done for the season and the Eagles CB2 situation is a mess, but that doesn't mean these aren't problems our teams cannot overcome. In this episode, I calmly and concisely (read panicked and rambling) go through the options for both teams and the rest of the news of the week including:

• Possible CB trades from around the league including Jamel Dean of the Tampa Bay Bucs
• The John Metchie trade
• One more preseason game to go against the Jets
• Zack Wheeler's health situation
• Aaron Nola is back...and about the same as before
• Questionable Toppering from Topper
• Jose Alvarado's suspension is lifted today
• Nothing in Flyersville
• Nothing is Sixerboro
• Our Transaction of the Week is the Eagles signing Michael Vick in August 2009

This episode we recap the Phillies' trade deadline and talk about who could possibly pay Kyle Schwarber his next contract. Plus, Tanner McKee made everyone lose their minds after his performance against the Bengals.  What is his future with the Eagles (I'm sorry, he is getting traded next year)?  Finally, the Flyers had some legal/salary cap news after an arbitrator made his ruling in the team's dispute with Ryan Johanson.  The Sixers, well, it's August.

MLB Trade Deadline is on July 31 at 6pm which means we have a lot to talk about. Recapping the moves so far, what our rivals have done, and what we can expect going forward.

Links from the episode:

• Top Closers
• Top Outfielders
• Luis Robert isn't as bad as you think
• Phillies Bullpen Plan
• July 29, 2009: Cliff Lee Trade
• July 29, 2011: Hunter Pence Trade / Nnamdi Asomugha Signing

Plus, recapping all the trade deadline anniversaries I can remember.

Before him though we have our weekly Philly sports wheelings and dealings including the Phillies signing David Robertson AGAIN, the Eagles finally signing Andrew Makuba as they report to training camp, Porter Martone going to Michigan State, and the Sixers trying but struggling to exist.

• The Eagles and the rest of the NFL have a 2nd round draft pick problem that was created where most league wide contract problems are created, Cleveland. I go into how this affects the Eagles this season and next year.
• The Phillies drafted the strikeout throwing, no hitting College World Series phenom Gage Wood who should electrify Citizen's Bank Park as soon as next season, plus I go through my most useful pick and most interesting pick they made in the 2025 MLB Draft
• The Flyers have a Porter Martone problem all of a sudden in that he is saying he will take his talents to Penn State if the Flyers don't guarantee him a roster spot. This is innocent so far and the parties will meet to discuss it, but we do NOT want to see a Cutter Gauthier situation here.
• The Sixers, oh the poor sad-sack Sixers. What the hell is wrong with them? We had one good night. That's all they let us have. Then VJ Edgecombe's thumb bruise turned into a thumb sprain, which turned into a wrist sprain, that turned into Paul George getting arthroscopic surgery on his knee. Only the Sixers.

Plus, this week marks the 17th anniversary of Joe Blanton coming to the Phillies.

Our first stop is the Sixers and their seemingly never-ending contract negotiations with Quentin Grimes.  Fear not listeners, he has no where else to go.  That stinks for him, but it's good for the Sixers.  It is just a matter of time.

Next, gaze out upon your first place Phillies who, despite their place in the standings, make me want to rip my eyeballs out.  Why you ask?  Well, tonight's game in the house of horrors that is Oracle Park will be started not by Mick Abel or Andrew Painter, but by Taijuan Walker.  Wonderful.

Our third stop is the Flyers who have flown through their $20m budget and land roughly the same exact team as last season just without the annoying coach and with Trevor Zegras.  That's ok!

Lastly, we are 2 weeks from the start of Eagles Training Camp and 8 weeks from the start of the regular season where the Eagles are absolutely the favorites to repeat.

Did I say last stop?  I forgot, we are trying a soft landing here.  Each week we will discuss whatever date in Philly sports history we happen to be closest to.  First up...damnit...its the 57th anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain getting traded to the Lakers.  Why do I even bother!

 - Sixers draft VJ Edgecombe but lose Guerschon Yabusele.  Quentin Grimes still in the wind

 - Flyers draft Porter Martone and wouldn't it be awesome if he flattened Cutter Gauthier one day?

 - Phillies must prepare to lose Mick Abel to make this team the contender it needs to be

 - Eagles should not think about trading Nolan Smith for TJ Watt

Starting Wednesday, the first round of the NBA draft kicks off at 8pm.  The Sixers are picking 3rd and, just like the rest of the league, could be making some moves.  We have already seen 4 big trades in the last ten days and things are heating up.  Expect the Draft to have some fireworks including a possible Spurs trade out of #2 for Giannis.  It just makes too much sense.

On Friday, the First round of the NHL draft kicks off with the Flyers picking at 6.  There are 4 possible guys ready to be picked in the 3-6 range and the Flyers will unfortunately have to pick up the scraps of that group.  They made a big trade for Trevor Zegras this week but still have a ton of draft ammo to either pick or move around.  The NHL Draft is going to be the Flyers show.

The FIRST PLACE PHILLIES just took 2 much needed games from the Mets and now face the Astros before going to Atlanta.  We look ahead to the trade deadline and who needs to lose.

As for the Eagles, Jalen Hurts wrote a children's book because of course he did!

I go into the Phillies Towel Game Anniversary, The Rafael Devers Trade, the Pre-All-Star Break schedule, and what the playoff pitching staff could look like.

Then it's the Sixers and the 41st anniversary of the legendary 1984 draft, trade season, draft season, and how the Spurs are in a great but unfortunate spot.

The Flyers are coming up on some anniversaries themselves including the Eric Lindros draft and the Ilya Bryzgalov/Jeff Carter/Mike Richards mess.

Oh yeah, I completely forgot about the Eagles!!!  Let's talk about next year's extensions for the Philly Bulldogs including Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Nakobe Dean, Jordan Davis, and even Kelee Ringo.

 - The Phillies are imploding and their only options at the moment are pilfering their farm teams.  Justin Crawford and Andrew Painter need to join Otto Kemp and Mick Abel in the majors as soon as possible. 

 - The Eagles have 13 draft picks and $28m in cap space ready to use on different cap casualties across the league

 - The Sixers are 2 weeks away from the NBA draft and are the focus of the league.  What they do at #3 shapes everyone else in the top 10.  IT should be exciting.

The Flyers have their draft immediately after the Sixers.  They have not one, not two, not three...but SEVEN picks in the top 48.  I am going to watch the NHL draft just to see the Flyers always on the clock and to listen to the NHL equivalent of Mel Kiper, whoever that is. 

We are talking Cowboys, tush pushing, Spurs trades, Sixers suckitude, and - oh yeah - he lives in NYC so we get a boots on the ground view of Knicks misery and Mets Juan Soto remorse.

The Eagles made some waves themselves in extended coach Nick Sirianni and being the subject of a rule change prompted by the softest team and fans in the league, the Packers.  The league will vote on the Tush Push ban this week.  Plus, the only thing left to do before training camp is extend Reed Blankenship

The Flyers have a new coach and might be looking to spend some money.  Mitch Marner anyone?  Hopefully that is not a replay of the ill fated Ilya Bryzgalov signing of 14 years ago.  Going to write about that one soon.

Lastly, in Sixers-ville, I can't help it.  I'M OPTIMISTIC!!!  Give me hope and Ace Bailey!

I know that's not the quote AND it's a terrible joke. That's the kind of quality you can count on at this website. It might be bad, but I am aware of it.

 - NHL Draft Lottery is tonight at 7pm. I go into a quick break down of the Flyers terrible lottery luck over the years and explain how the whole thing goes down tonight.

 - Next up is the Sixers and the Rights to Ricky Sanchez Lottery Party where my dumb face will hopefully be meeting your Sixers aggression head on. The lottery is going to inform a LOT about where the NBA is going in the next few months and not just because of Cooper Flagg. We are looking at serious changes around the league. The NBA knows drama. Plus, who is more screwed, the Bucks or the Sixers. It's a close race.

 - The Phillies manager Rob "No P" Thomson seems to just get a pass as a manager. The people who come for him are always met by a wall of defenders who won't hear any aspersions cast in his direction. I have serious Nick Sirianni before the bye vibes from him though. What is he doing that's good? It worked for Nick, so let's see if Topper gets it together.

 - Finally, I go into the Dallas Goedert math with the Eagles and why I just can't see a deal of any kind happening with him.

On Episode 6 of the Philly Front Office Podcast, it's me talking about:

• The Eagles draft class including how draftees Jihaad Campbell and Andrew Mukuba lock down the starters and make us one of the youngest defenses you will ever see;
• The Flyers finally get a lottery date, May 5;
• The Sixers lottery date is May 12 and you might get to throw ping pong balls at me at the Rights to Ricky Sanchez Lottery Party
• Not forgetting, but forgiving the Phillies for what they have done to our relationship the last two weeks.  I needed a break, but they say they've changed.  We'll see. I just can't quit them.

• Top 3 Picks (1:12)
• The QBs (10:30)
• Eagles possibilities if we trade up to around 21 (17:30)
• Who are we looking at 32 or in a trade down (27:55)
• What are the Giants doing (34:00)
• What young guy are the Eagles trading for? (40:00)
• Walter Nolan and other high variance guys (47:30)
• Dream picks and predictions (48:30)
• Complete confidence in Howie Roseman (54:10)

Quick Draft talk (12:08).

The Sixers and Flyers seasons are over, so we just sit and we mull until it's lottery day (12:47).

The Phillies have a Topper problem.  Don't tell me it's not happening when I am watching it happen (with Nola too) (15:10). The answer might just be found in Minnesota rather than firing him though (20:30).

I have my friends on this episode to discuss the Eagles past few drafts. From 2021 to the present, Howie Roseman went from inconsistent to draft savant, changing his overall strategy from smaller schools to big time CFB programs like Alabama and Georgia. The strategy worked, with two Super Bowl appearances and one championship to show for it.

Danny, Joe, AJ, and I discuss these drafts as well as profess our love for Jalen Hurts and take more than a few shots at the Giants.

• Jalen Hurts love (4:42)
• 2021 Draft (9:52)
• 2022 Draft (24:00)
• 2023 Draft (37:15)
• My microphone decides to go to 50% power (42:00)
• 2024 Draft (53:04)

• Fixing the Brandon Marsh and Alec Bohm situations...Justin Crawford? (00:40)
• Extending Kyle Schwarber and JT Realmuto (6:48)
• The Sixers are running it back with or without Joel Embiid (16:38)
• Flyers quick hit (26:05)
• Eagles sign Terrance Marshall and draft plans (26:46)