Eckel: Akers Out At Least A Month; Walker Out On Sunday

[mikey418]

I just want the Birds to resign Westbrook, M. Lewis, and Akers...in that order.  After that I could care less....but I think Rod Hood may be in line too for a new deal.

[ice grillin you]

There was talk of extending Akers contract.       So how does his injury change all of this?

screw akers...hes a kicker...and hes got multiple years left on his deal...kickers lose it with the quickness too..and often without any warning

he plays out his deal whether he likes it or not

[PoopyfaceMcGee]

I agree.  It would be a nice gesture for the Eagles to give Akers a raise, but a really stupid business decision.

[Larry]

I just want the Birds to resign Westbrook, M. Lewis, and Akers...in that order.  After that I could care less....but I think Rod Hood may be in line too for a new deal.

no LJ?  or is there a fumble clause?

[PhillyPhreak54]

Obviously take this for what it's worth, but I got this from the EMB:

i was listening to the akers and runyan show on 92.5 about an hour ago. Akers said he got a third opinion and he tore a tendon halfway off his pelvic bone. He would not be specific about when he would be back but did say it would be several games. he was asked if he would be back after the bye and he said nope. He was asked if he would be back when the eagles play in the super bowl and he said if they keep me around. The way he was talking it sounds like he is expecting to be IR'd. He also made a comment about the NFL being the not for long league, and another comment about it being a what have you done for me lately league. Sounding like he may not be around much longer.

If that is true, we'll find out about it tomorrow or Wednesday. But I sure hope it's not. The only good thing is that once France got in a groove he looked OK.

[MDS]

Well if it helps, Akers really didnt make or break anything last year in the playoffs. He did the year before against Green Bay, but not last year.

[MURP]

if he is out than so be it.. Just get it the nonsense over with already.  If France is the guy lets have it.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Well if it helps, Akers really didnt make or break anything last year in the playoffs. He did the year before against Green Bay, but not last year.

Still...the playoffs are a different beast. What if Viva La France nuts up in the playoffs when we need him?

[WEST is GOD]

Messes up how? I think it's way too early to worry about him messing up. If he's missing 30 yarders left and right over the next few weeks then it's a concern, but so far he looks pretty quality to me. I mean all kickers basically kick over 50% anyway, so statistically if you need a kick the chances are they make it. Unless it's like 50+ yards, and even then it's no guarantee anyone even Akers makes it.

Another thing is, Akers wasn't exactly in his pro bowl caliber form this year anyway. Yes, I know it was only a funk, but who knows how long it would've lasted?

It's not like Akers was a monumental difference between kickers like Jay Feely or whoever else. Akers is better, but it's not like comparing a star WR to a middle of the pack WR. There are some really bad kickers out there, but for the most part the dropoff is not devastating from Akers to France.

[PhillyPhreak54]

I would not underestimate the loss of Akers if this is true. I hope it doesn't bit 'em in the ass in the long run like losing Westbrook did in 2003.

[MDS]

We shall see. I have a hunch Akers will be able to kick (I are samrt) at some point this year. Andy also knows how valuble Akers is, and if he can return at some point, I don't see why they would put him on IR. But maybe this Todd France character is good, who knows. He's still better than the dopes the Cowpukes and Gibbs have kicking for them.

[WEST is GOD]

Even if say France does miss a big-time FG in the playoffs. There is no guarantee Akers would've made it anyway. We'd assume, but we'd never know. Especially since the way Akers started out the season.

Other injuries like Westbrook is a guarantee that it hurt us though. It's fact that they prepare differently when he's not out there.

I'm not going to downplay it. He's the best kicker in football IMO, but it's not even close to losing Westbrook. The dropoff from Westbrook to Buck/Staley in that game was HUGE. France is only asked to do two things: Kickoffs and FGs. There is only one way to do them, you either kick long/accurate kickoffs or short/inaccurate and you either make the FGs or you miss them. Westbrook factors into everything. Kickers don't even get a chance to attempty FGs if you can't move the football.

[PhillyPhreak54]

Obviously it isn't exactly the same as losing Westbrook, but I compared it because Akers is a weapon. I think a lot of us took him for granted over the years. I never worried about him coming in to kick in the clutch.

His early struggles weren't that bad. He would've straightned it out. He's too good not to have fixed it.

All's I'm saying is if he is indeed out for the year...he's going to be missed.

[WEST is GOD]

Well of course he'll be missed, I don't think one person here would argue that. I'm just saying if he's done for the season it's not exactly panic time either. I'm not implying you said you would panic, I'm just giving my take.

[MURP]

Another lesser possibility would be to come up with an injury for rookie linebacker Matt McCoy and put him on injured reserve.

did that just say they should invent an injury for McCoy?