Foles Real

After the Dallas victory on December 22, the Eagles are now thrown into basically a one game playoff for the NFC East title. This upcoming game is the Eagles season in a nutshell, if they win, they are going to be the hot team coming into the playoffs, lose Chip Kelly had a great first season coaching the Eagles. This game will be the game to prove and finally decide the question on everyone's mind, who is better the Eagles or Cowboys. One reason, and probably the main reason that the Eagles are at this point in the season is due to Nick Foles, or as he has come to be known as St. Nick in Philadelphia.

Foles was thrown into a Quarterback controversy at the end of  last season after starting in six games, and proving himself worthy for consideration as the starter. Though doing well Foles would once again lose this starting job during the Preseason to Eagles veteran Michael Vick. With Chip Kelly coming in as the new coach of the Philadelphia Eagles. It was expected that the team would need a fast, smart,and a veteran to run the high pace Ducks style offense. Though losing the starting job, this would make Nick Foles strong all-around, and become a better player. As he grew so would his chances, and he would once again be thrown into the starting position, and finally would put all controversy talks aside.

Nick Foles can now place himself at the top with other great Quarterbacks in the NFL, based alone on his statistics this season. He has twenty-five passing touchdowns this season, and came very close to breaking the record of most touchdowns without an interception. Foles has proven himself as a great Quarterback based off this season, a basic guaranteed Pro Bowler, as well as placing his name into MVP talks. Foles has ran this Chip Kelly fast-paced offense with such confidence, creating himself a very successful season for not just himself but the Eagles. He had the ability to place all talks of the terrible 2012-2013 season the Eagles had, in the back of everyone's mind. Foles now is making the people of Philadelphia believe that the Eagles are a playoff team, and a possible Super Bowl contender.

Nick Foles has had an unbelievable season, as well as the Eagles as a whole. He has proven himself as a great Quarterback and has solidified himself as the Eagles starter in the future. Chip Kelly has helped Foles strive to great lengths this season, and reach unbelievable abilities, that he himself never thought he could reach. The last test for the regular season for Nick Foles will be Dallas, he will have to prove himself once more, and prove the Eagles are the playoff team people believe they are. Nick Foles will need to prove that he is Foles real as the Eagles QB.

-Brett

USC... Where Quarterback Careers Go To Die

The University of Southern California has always been considered the peak of College Football, the place where players careers take off for the NFL. USC has produced great players such as: Marcus Allen, O.J. Simpson, Lynn Swann, Clay Matthews, and Troy Polamalu. Though with eleven National Championships, thirty-eight Conference titles, and eight Heisman winners; USC has lacked with the successful production of NFL ready Quarterbacks. In the last fifteen years those perceived to be NFL can't miss Quarterbacks have combined for one Super Bowl Championship and two Pro Bowls. With Quarterbacks like Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart, Mark Sanchez who were all first round draft choices. For a college that has been known for their great players, their championship caliber teams, their true winners, they can't even produce a successful Quarterback. Every Quarterback produced by this school has been a failure, an NFL flop, a disappointment to all viewers and USC alumni. USC is where Quarterbacks NFL careers go to die.

Matt Barkley
Matt Barkley is the most recent Quarterback flop to be produced by USC, Barkley was projected pre-injury as a definite first rounder, some even believing he was first overall type talent. Matt Barkley was a distinguished Quarterback in College Football, putting up numbers that to many seemed to be the best in football, which would allow him an invite to the Heisman voting in 2011. Barkley was seen as a can't miss prospect in the eyes of NFL Scouts, Quarterback coaches, and NFL Executives everywhere. However, a shoulder injury plagued young Barkley causing his value to slip in the NFL Draft. When Barkley's name was called it would be with the Philadelphia Eagles. Many considered Barkley to be a threat coming into training camp as a possible candidate as the number two starter on this quarterback plenty team, with thoughts of him being the starter in the near future. However, this would all soon fade for Barkley after his poor showings he would be placed in the third Quarterback spot for the team. However, Barkley's lack of success would continue, not having to wait long until his first poor NFL performance would come. In parts of three games Barkley has proven he is not ready for the NFL; he is 30 for 49, with 4 Interceptions and no touchdowns. Besides the number aspect of Barkley's performance there is the unpreparedness, Barkley came into all three games without a fixed plan. Where many Quarterbacks in the NFL would be dying for an opportunity to get into a game, Matt Barkley failed to prove his worthiness. He stared at those receivers he was passing to, he under threw targets, and even missed opportunities to scramble for big gains. Matt Barkley is the most recent of victim of the USC QB curse.

Mark Sanchez
After the 2009 Rose Bowl Championship season, the Mark Sanchez NFL hype began. In 2009 USC played Penn State in the Rose Bowl, after this victory and his MVP game. Mark Sanchez would jump start his NFL career. Sanchez seeing many of his competitors not leaving College Football for the NFL, felt he could take advantage of the lack of high profile Quarterbacks available in the draft. Mark Sanchez would be right in this theory, he would be selected fifth overall to a desperate New York Jets team. The Jets traded two draft picks and three players so that they would have the opportunity to select Sanchez. Ownership wanted to put the future of the team in the hands of Mark Sanchez, they felt as though he was their best opportunity to have a future in the NFL. Though with all the hype surrounding Sanchez, lack of performance was sure to follow. Though Sanchez was able to put a couple Jets playoff seasons together, he was never able to get the team over the hump. Sanchez has never been seen as the answer for this team to succeed, with more interceptions then he has touchdowns, and with more time being injured then he has been healthy; the fifth overall pick's success has been truly lacking. Mark Sanchez's fall from grace came very quickly from being the golden child for USC to becoming one of the must hated draft choices for the Jets in recent years. Mark Sanchez has been another victim of the USC curse.

Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart was a Heisman candidate, a National Championship winner, Quarterback of The Year in College. However, this success would not follow the young Leinart in his path to the NFL. Leinart coming out of college was seen as a can't miss Quarterback prospect, a no doubt superstar. In 2006 Leinart would become the tenth overall pick in a draft that was bursting with talent such as fellow USC star Reggie Bush. Matt Leinart would go to the Arizona Cardinals, at the time a very dangerous offensive weapon looking for the right Quarterback to do the job. Matt Leinart was seen as the man to take this team to a Super Bowl. Leinart came into the league with a bang, breaking NFL single game rookie records, and grabbing the attention of fans everywhere. However, injuries and lack of performance would eventually plague Leinart's career causing him to become unsuccessful and not living up to his expectations. Matt would be the Arizona Cardinals on and off Quarterback until 2008 when he would officially lose his job to veteran Quarterback Kurt Warner. In 2010 after the retirement of Warner, he was officially handed his job back during training camp. However, Leinart would lose his position to competing Quarterback Derek Anderson. Matt Leinart would be released from the Cardinals in 2010, and has been in and out of the league since then. Matt Leinart's career has been one of disappointment and lack of performance. Matt Leinart is another USC QB who did not live up to their standards.

Carson Palmer
The last Quarterback to that will be used to prove the USC Quarterback theory is one that had decent success in the NFL, but for a very short amount of time. Carson Palmer's number is retired at USC, he was a Heisman Trophy winner, and a very successful college football player. Carson Palmer was the first overall pick in the 2003 Draft to the Bengals, and had great expectations to follow. In Palmer's rookie season he would not see a snap. The Bengals were smart with their investment, teaching him how to Quarterback in the NFL before ever placing him in a game. After, a season of learning Palmer was ready to take the helm and the NFL by storm, he would lead the Bengals to an 8-8 record his rookie year, and winning seasons after that. In the 2005-06 playoffs Palmer would hit his first point of bad luck. This would be seen in the playoffs, Palmer threw his first pass for 66 yards down field to Chris Henry, however this touchdown would be at a price. Carson Palmer would have his meniscus torn from a hit by Kimo von Oelhoffen. This would end the Bengals hopes for a Super Bowl Championship. Though Palmer would go on to have a few more good seasons with the Bengals, becoming a two time Pro Bowler, his career burnt out causing him to lose his position to Andy Dalton. Now the starter of the Arizona Cardinals Palmer is looking to revitalize his career. Though he had some NFL success Carson Palmer never lived up to the expectations surrounding him. He never was able to bring his success he had with the Trojans to the NFL, he can be considered another USC failure.

Though USC has produced many great players it lacks in the Quarterback position. By just looking up the numbers of USC QB's in the NFL one realizes that they were all unsuccessful.

-Brett

Allen Iverson and The City of Brotherly Love

The city of Philadelphia has had thousands of different athletes come and go throughout its history, none more unique, quirky, fun loving, heartfelt, and talented; then Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson was a staple for the all Philadelphians; for over ten years A.I. touch each and everyone of us, whether that be because of his wacky mannerisms or his outstanding performance on the basketball court. No athlete this city has ever was so beloved, over these years Iverson was someone people of all different ethnicities, backgrounds and cultures could stand behind, for a small amount of time he truly was "The Answer" to all of Philadelphia's problems.
Allen Iverson stands alone at the peak of greatest in the eyes of Philadelphians. If you walk down the street in Philadelphia today and ask any person who their favorite Philadelphia sports player of all-time was, almost every single person you  speak to will say Allen Iverson. The man called "The Answer", was an eleven time all star, MVP winner, and who can forget Rookie of the Year winner as well. Numbers and awards mean nothing when watching Iverson, what he had the ability to do with a  basketball, goes unmatched. A.I. was truly the one man team, going down the court with one thing on his mind each time, "I'm going to shoot the ball". Iverson had the ability to move in and out of defenses, break the ankles of defenders, and make seven foot centers look foolish. Though a small man, Iverson had a big heart; especially to the city that he loved, and his one true favorite Coach Larry Brown.
For one magical season, Allen Iverson had the ability, the chance, and opportunity; to take a team of lack luster players, a team that consisted of Eric Snow, Aaron Mckie, and future Hall of Fame center Dikembe Mutombo; to the NBA finals. The year was 2001, and Allen Iverson brought an entire city together, under one goal, one dream; to finally bring another championship to Philly. Philadelphia had been dreaming of another opportunity since the Flyers lost in the Stanley Cup to the Red Wings, and this was their chance. A team that was not expected to be in the Finals, a team with one superstar, had the ability to come together under the coaching of Larry Brown. Allen Iverson single handedly would take this team for the ride of a life time, taking the to the record of 56-26, leading The Eastern Conference in wins. The Sixers would push their way through the playoffs, playing with more than just skill, they played with heart, especially that of Iverson. Iverson gave everything he had into the playoffs in 2001, he gave his heart, his soul, his talent, and his skill. Though Iverson could not seal the deal with an NBA Championship, he gave this city a season that they will truly never forget. They were truly The City of Philadelphia's team, they were the 76ers.
Tonight, October 30th, Allen "The Answer" Iverson will finally hang up his basketball shoes for good. Through all the problems, the fights, "the practices", Iverson gave this city; he truly did love the people of Philadelphia. This was Allen Iverson's home, this was his city. Philadelphia gave this kid, a kid many thought to have character issues, to basically a hoodlum, a chance. Over the ten years Allen Iverson wore the 76ers logo on his chest we saw his passion, his skill, and especially his love for basketball and this city. Allen Iverson, will always be remembered as one of the best, if not the greatest scorer in Sixers history, and one of the greatest of all-time.

-Brett

Welcome

Welcome to Sports and Rants with Brett and Pants, we are a Sports Radio Talk Show at Saint Joseph's University providing the best sports talk around. Our show takes place every Friday from 12:00-1:00EST. Throughout the year we will talk about all things sports, especially what's occurring in the Philadelphia area, and have on special guests as well. During our shows we take phone calls and live tweets, we will answer these questions live on air even saying your name. Our phone number is 610-660-1098, and our Twitter handle is @SportsAndRants Please tune into the show every Friday, we will provide you with up to date news regarding sports, and discuss interesting topics as well.