“On behalf of Tammy and our family, I would like to thank everybody for their tremendous support, love, kind words and prayers during this time of great sadness. Words cannot express our sense of loss.

“We loved Garrett so much. He was a wonderful son and brother. He made us laugh, he was a pleasure to be around, he always had a smile on his face, and we will miss him dearly. We will never forget him, and we will remember him with love.

“Garrett’s road through life was not always an easy one. He faced tremendous personal challenges with bravery and spirit. As a family, we stood by him and were inspired as he worked to overcome those challenges. Even though he lost the battle that has been ongoing for the last eight years, we will always remember him as a fighter who had a huge, loving heart.

“I spoke with the team yesterday and thanked them for their thoughts and prayers. I asked them to continue with their preparations for the upcoming season until I am ready to rejoin the team.

“It is in times like these that we lean on our faith, our family, our friends, and our Eagles family. We will do so in the difficult times ahead.

“Thank you again for your continued support.

Andy Reid”

Brayden Schenn won’t get a raise. His cap hit is already at 3 million. Couturier is looking at maybe getting a 1.7 mil raise assuming your 3 million. Read won’t be a Flyer as I feel he might be a piece in a trade before his contract is up. You are only looking at 1.7 raise there. Weber will probably get around 8-9 mil. Giroux will see around 7 million or so. Hartnell, if he stays (which I think he does) will get around 4.5-5. Simmonds will get probably around 2.5 over 3-4 years, but at most around 3 million. Voracek is looking at around 3 million maybe 3.5 in his next contract. Total you are looking at:

Cap Space right now is about 8 million

Voracek = 3.5 million

Leaving 4.5 million so far (before Pronger LITR which adds 5 million). This can be gained by day 1 since both Schenn and Couts can be sent down for one day giving room before the season and called up the day the season starts at which point Pronger’s cap hit becomes available to us again.

Assuming the salary cap does not increase (which it is predicted to continue to go up at least 3 million a year)…

Raises (high end) 2013 offseason
Weber 9 million
Hartnell 800k raise from 4.2m
Simmonds 1.25mil raise from 1.75m
Total Raises = 11.05 mil

Coming off the books 2013 offseason
Timonen 6.3 million
Fedotenko 1.75 million
Jody Shelley 1.1 million
Total decreases = 9.15 million

Total cap still available right now is 4.5 million. Pronger’s LITR is 5 million. Once again, no cap increase was assumed. Also, the prospect of trading Briere increases after this season. His cap hit will remain the same but his actual salary will drop to 3 million and 2 million for the final two seasons. This makes him a more attractive option for some teams that have cap space but not actual funds or teams struggling to make the cap floor. Not assuming Pronger’s LITR or the probably increases in cap, the cap would look like 11.05 (raises) - 9.15 million (leaving players) = 1.9 million Increase past losses…4.5 million (cap space) - 1.9 million = 2.6 million cap still left.

Raises (high end) 2014 offseason
Giroux 4.25 million to 8 million
Schenn NONE cap hit remains around 3.1 million
Couturier 1.625 to 3 million
Total raises 5.85 million

Coming off the books 2014
Mezz 4 million (jury is out on whether we will sign him BACK or not haha get it?)
Read 0.9 million
Total 4.9 million

5.85 million HIGH END in raises - 4.9 million (reductions) = 0.95 million in total overage in raises. 2.6 million in cap still left - 0.95 million = 1.65 cap still left. Once again, this is not assuming Pronger’s LITR money, Briere trade, cap increases (which there will be), or any other moves or trades or waivers or whatever. We would need another defenseman in 2014 but we could probably figure that out quite easily.

All in all, we are far from anywhere where we would have to worry about our future. There will be cap increases over the next couple years and we are probably looking at Danny Briere being traded next offseason or maybe the one after. He could help a team get to the cap floor.

thanks LLMunchie

Ruslan Fedotenko - returns back to the team but this time almost 10 years later hes coming back.  He will not be a player that will light the lamp often for us but he will bring solid depth and SIZE.  Something that we needed after losing Jagr and JVR.  Regardless I think that this move that is a small step in a bigger things to come.

Now lets remember he has been in the division his whole Career, between us Tampa, Pitt, and NYR. He also  scored 16 goals in his career against Philly so you have to add while you subtract here too.

Oh and lets not forget, he won a cup with Tampa Bay and also Pittsburgh.

As it is now assume that the lines will look like this.  Im also assuming here that Voracek gets resigned

Line 1: Hartnell-Giroux-Voracek
Line 2: Schenn-Briere-Simmonds
Line 3: Fedotenko-Couturier-Read
Line 4: Rinaldo-Talbot-Wellwood

We also have a lot of swing players that can fit or fill in too.  Players such as Shelley and some that are AHL or not resigned yet such as Betts, Ford, Holmstrom, McGinn, Sestito, Zolnierczyk.

But again I feel that we wil be in on BOTH a Bobby Ryan trade as well as trying hard to bring in Shane Doan.  I really feel those two will bring some pieces that we feel would push us over the top.

Bruno Gervais - As far as the Defensive player he actualy isn’t horrible, but again nothing spectacular either.  First off the bat hes another RIGHT HANDED shot as a defensiveman.  Which is big.  Other then hat in all honesty this kid is a 7th D-Man at best, nothing to get to excited about here.

Eagles owners Jeffrey and Christina Lurie are ending their 20-year marriage, the couple told team employees Wednesday evening.

The two sent a message to the organization, calling it a “difficult decision.”

“This was not a decision made easily or without deep consideration for each other, our children and our extended families. But it is one we have reached mutually and with the greatest respect for each other and each of our roles in our work here at the Eagles,” they wrote.

The Luries said their split will have “no impact whatsoever on the ownership, the business and the operations of the Philadelphia Eagles football team.”

“Please know that we remain close friends and we will continue to work together as partners,” they wrote. “We share the same goals for the Eagles that we have always had. We want a world championship team, of course, and we want to carry on the dedicated community service that is so much a part of this company’s heart and soul.”

Jeffrey Lurie has been the visible owner when it comes to football matters, taking a prominent role in the recent decisions to sign Michael Vick, retain Andy Reid and in the press conference announcing Joe Banner’s resignation as team president. Christina Lurie has been the face of the team’s philanthropic efforts. The Luries’ message said neither of those areas will be affected by their divorce.

The two requested privacy from the team and media.

Here are the dates to look out for:

Rookies, quarterbacks and injured players are scheduled to report July 22 to Bethlehem, with veterans arriving July 25.

The Eagles’ first preseason game against Pittsburgh is Aug. 9 in Philadelphia. Camp will end Aug. 15.

Practice times and autograph schedules will be announced at a later date, according to the website.

Now these are their paycut for just this year against the cap.

1-12     Fletcher Cox, DT, Mississippi State - $1.8m
2-14     Mychal Kendricks, ILB, California - $807k
2-27     Vinny Curry, DE, Marshall - $592k
3-25     Nick Foles, QB, Arizona - $526k
4-28     Brandon Boykin, CB, Georgia - $493k
5-18     Dennis Kelly, OT, Purdue - $436k
6-24     Marvin McNutt, WR, Iowa - $413k
6-30     Brandon Washington, OG, Miami - $406k
7-22     Bryce Brown, RB, Kansas State - $402k

Now again take in mind that most players signed a 4 year contract with the Birds.  These numbers are based on this years CAP hit.  Not bonuses or incentives or anything of that nature.  Just cap number.  But again like I said more Rookies signed a 4 year deal.

It’s devastating news for the Eagles and a player who was voted first-team All-Pro last season. A ruptured Achilles is the worst NFL injury we can think of. Experiencing the same injury twice in one offseason is almost unimaginably unlucky.

Peters reportedly was using a device called a Roll-A-Bout to maneuver around his house. The device reportedly malfunctioned, then Peters fell on his face and ruptured the Achilles again. He’s going to sue the manufacturer. He will require a second surgery. This might be the saddest story we’ve written this offseason.

The first injury occurred in late March, so the latest injury will set back Peters’ rehabilitation. He was a long shot to play in 2012, and now any chance for Peters to suit up is out the window. The Eagles will have to rely on former Buffalo Bill Demetress Bell to take Peters’ spot, with King Dunlap backing him up. The team traded Winston Justice this offseason.

It’s a huge loss for Philadelphia. As great as LeSean McCoy and Trent Cole and Jason Babin were last season, we’d argue that Peters was the team’s MVP.

^^^ wow that report is just clearly more then devastating.  This poor guy, the poor team but again POOR PETERS, wow.  Af a Philadelphia sporting team fan we all see what a “ruptured achillies” does / did to Ryan Howard, and now we face it again with Peters, not once, but twice.  A man his size and weight it will be very very hard to see him come back from that.  This hurts more then we may know.  Well, Bell, I have been rooting for you this off-season now that we got you lets see what you can do.  And hopefully this Kelly kid we drafted can come in and do something too.

Ok moving on, lets roll this season into a ball, 2011-12 was a good season, after we beat Pittsburgh we thought we were destined. We ran into a speed bump called the Devils, how fitting because they always ALWAYS play us well in playoff hockey. Again Bryz was spotty as an overall goaltender. Call it the system, call it the defense, but I do not think at all it was him as a player. I think he’s a very very good goal tender and will prove that this upcoming year and hopefully shut his critics.

Moving forward we have to thank NJ and even Pittsburgh for exposing us. As they showed us where we need the REAL help

Dmen next year (in no particular order)
Staying
Mez and Gus will be our offensive dmen.
Coburn and Grossman will be our stay at home
Timmo will continue being our star dman

Gone / not resigned
Carle / Lilja / Kubina - No love lost.

Youngsters in the mix (Bartulis, Kessel, Lauridsen, Manning, Bourdon)

we NEED to add another solid 2 way / stay at home. I say try to get Luke Schenn from Toronto if you can, he really has the most potential out there. And remember what we did to Coburn? Schenn could be our next Coburn. Webber from Nash is a great option. But Sutter will be a FA and he will be about 7 million which is a lot, and NO I DONT WANT SUTTER here either, he’s just a little bit better version of Matt Carle.   I want nothing to do with that at all, but Sutter and Carle will get their money.  And with Sutter all but gone from Nashville its safe to assume that they will most likely not want to unload Webber as well.  That could cripple them.

Now please understand I am saying all of this with the idea that Chris Pronger is all but done. I just don’t know if he will put a jersey on again. I think the LTIR is coming his way.

As far as goal tending is concerned. Personally I am sick of hearing all of the people that are ready escort him out of the city. The guy played well considering everything that went into it. Look at my article here http://www.homeboyznetwork.com/?p=2214 that’s my take on Bryz.

We need to move BOB, he is the highest paid backup goalie and he has been spotty at best this year. I wouldn’t mind getting someone else in here as a backup role. Since Toronto is in need of a goalie maybe we can do a swap for Bob and Schenn

Offense
Not much needs to change here. We’re young and have great talent. If anything we need to replenish the farm, as the Phantoms are the ones taking a hit here. Your only UFAs are Jagr, Betts, Lappy. Well I don’t see Lappy on the ice again so he is as good as retired. Betts was injured this year so we didn’t see enough from him. Jagr at best 1.5 million is all I would offer, end of the season he looked 40 yrs old. So if anything we will have a void at RW. Speaking of getting Schenn from Toronto maybe you could offer JVR + BOB for Kessel + Schenn (have the brother duo). Regardless we will need a RW’er.

I think re-signing RFA Jakub Voracek is a need. Our other offensive RFA’s Zolnierczyk and Sestito are a coin flip.

Again I imagine the team to stay the same and do not think we will blow the team up like we did last year (Richards and Carter).
Staying (again in no order)
Briere / Hartnell / Giroux / Couturier / Schenn / Talbot / Simmonds / Read / Wellwood / JVR / Rinaldo

Again adding another winger or two would be ideal depending on what we do with our own RFA’s.

As far as coaching is concerned this will be quick. Lavy will need to install some type of a defensive system to his heavy powered offensive system. If not sadly I think he will be gone by the end of next year as well.

So to sum this up when you add together all of our UFA’s and RFA’s the Flyers look like this

RW = Jagr (3.3m) / Voracek (2.25m) / Laperriere (1.166)
LW = Zolnierczyk(900k) / Sestito (550k)
C = Betts (700k)
D = Kubina (3.85m) / Carle (3.4m) / Bourdon (875k)

adding up to roughly 17 million then deduct Lappys (LTIR) 16 million in cap space before knowing Prongers situation which could add another 5m (4.92m) if hes placed on LTIR.

16 million to get 1 solid defender. Resign Voracek (prob 3m), add another RW’er as well as a depth LWer and depth RWer.  Now I do not have calculated in pay raises, such as Grossman , JVR..

Not too too shabby.

FYI for those of you out there. NHL FA opens July 1st, 2012

For the image on the banner, pretty funny. They actually make a t-shirt out of this. A famous saying being a Philadelphia fan.

Cole Hamels suspended 5 games for ADMITTING he hit Bryce Harper the other night for 5 games.  Wow 5 games because he said - “I was trying to hit him,”  “I’m not going to deny it. I’m not trying to injure the guy. They’re probably not going to like me for it, but I’m not going to say I wasn’t trying to do it. I think they understood the message, and they threw it right back. That’s the way, and I respect it.”

Yet Zimmerman hits Hamels and he gets nothing?  Wow so because Cole admits it and says I hit him intentionally because he was crowding the plate he gets 5 games.  Pitchers have been “beaming” players for YEARS now and because Cole admits it he gets 5 games yet later that same game Zimmerman hits and aims directly for Coles knees and gets nothing.  Now I am not condoning hitting a player or retaliating at all but come on MLB lets take this for what it is.  What a joke.  In every other sport, its the premeditated retaliation that is punished most severely great job MLB, way to go against the grain.

I found this clip that made me laugh though.

Claude Giroux…. wow Im going to make this short, very short.  Highly elite player, elimination game, Malkin hit worse Flyers in the head (even took out Crosby) in the Pitt vs Phi series.  Malkin - 0  Giroux - 1 game.  Wow come on.  You know what, I pray the Flyers get eliminated tonight because if not this fuels the fire, and I can see Philly making a comeback and taking this series.
Bryz you have a .909 sva your doing just fine.  Defense….we need you.