The Week in Review

The last seven days in Philly sports have given us a couple of wins, a few more losses, speculated trades, cuts, and free agent signings, a prank, an arrest, and a huge payday. Let's take a look back, team by team.

Phillies

The highlight of the Grapefruit league thus far for the Phils has been the elaborate prank orchestrated by Brett Myers, Charlie Manuel, and Ruben Amaro Jr. whereby they convinced Kyle Kendrick he had been traded to a Japanese team. For the most part, I like the prank because it shows me the clubhouse is loose and relaxed heading into the season. But I've got to wonder if the manager and assistant GM would be better served spending time focusing on improving the team and keeping up with the Mets as opposed to creating fake itineraries and trade documents. One other thought on the prank - why not try it on Adam Eaton, just to see if you can get him on the plane?

Ryan Howard won his arbitration hearing and will earn $10 million in 2008, which equates to a 1011% pay raise. I'm pretty sure that will cover the federal cost of living adjustment.

It came to light yesterday that new closer Brad Lidge re-injured his surgically repaired knee on his first throw from a mound this spring. The severity of the injury has yet to be determined, but the situation has the potential to be disconcerting.

Sixers

The NBA trade deadline passed this week without the Sixers making a move, meaning Andre Miller will remain with the club for the balance of the season. And with most of the big names moving to the Western conference, that season actually has the potential to extend beyond April 16. The Sixers are 7-3 in their last ten games and currently hold the eighth spot in the East.

Here's the problem: The Sixers will face some of the NBA's elite teams, including the 41-12 Boston Celtics (twice), the 40-15 Detroit Pistons (twice), the 38-17 Phoenix Suns (twice), the 35-22 Orlando Magic (twice) and the 31-24 Cleveland Cavaliers (twice). Also on the schedule - the defending champion San Antonio Spurs and a homecoming of sorts with Allen Iverson and the Denver Nuggets coming to town. Loosely translated, I wouldn't plunk down a deposit on Sixers playoffs tickets unless its fully refundable.

Eagles

When I heard the words "Eagles" and "arrested for marijuana possession" in the same sentence, I immediately assumed one of Andy Reid's sons would be prominently involved. Nope, it was Mike Patterson and his brother who were busted with small ounces of the wacky weed following a minor traffic accident in New Jersey. By NFL standards, this is almost a non-issue, but its still not the way I'd like my football players to spend their off-seasons.

Speaking of Eagles defensive lineman, it has been speculated that the Eagles will cut Jevon Kearse and free up about $6.5 million in salary cap space, which could be used to ink free agent CB Asante Samuel, who will command somewhere in the neighborhood of $10 million a year (a.k.a. Ryan Howard money). Signing Samuel might make Lito Sheppard expendable, and rumor is the Birds are shopping him.

It also may clue us in to what the Eagles are thinking in terms of the draft. Florida Gators DE Richard Harvey has been described as a Kearse clone and has been garnering some attention at the NFL combine. I'm not saying, I'm just saying...

Flyers

The free fall continues for the Flyers, who have now lost ten consecutive games including last night's heartbreaker to the Florida Panthers. Up 1-0 with less than five seconds to play, the Panthers bounced in a goal to send the game to overtime, then notched the winner on a power play in the extra frame.

The game wasn't even the most crippling loss of the evening. Team MVP Mike Richards will be out for at least three weeks with a torn hamstring, joining Simon Gagne, Joffrey Lupul, Steve Downie, and Derian Hatcher on the IR.

From the glass is half full department, despite the losing streak the Flyers are only a point out of the eighth and final playoff spot in the East, and three points out of sixth. With the exception of Gagne, all of the injured players should be back before the end of the season, meaning if the Flyers can right the ship, they could be a dangerous playoff team.

The way this team has played over the last month, that's a big if.