Temple falls to UCLA in EagleBank Bowl, 30-21

Temple’s Cinderella season came to an end with a disappointing 30-21 loss to the UCLA Bruins in the EagleBank Bowl on Tuesday in Washington, D.C.

Temple built up a commanding 21-10 lead at halftime before falling apart in the second half.

Temple and Bernard Pierce fell to UCLA in the EagleBank Bowl, 30-21.

During the third quarter, freshman sensation running back Bernard Pierce appeared to have sustained a shoulder injury and did not return to the game. That had a direct effect on the Owls who were unable to muster any offense afterward.

Pierce ended the game with 53 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries.

With the score 21-17 entering the 4th quarter, the Bruins took over. Junior quarterback Vaughn Charlton tossed two fourth quarter interceptions, including one returned for a touchdown by the UCLA’s Akeem Ayers that gave the Bruins the lead for good.

The Bruins also recorded a safety when the Owls snapped a ball out of the end zone when attempting a punt.

The Owls, who end the season at 9-4, appeared in their first Bowl game since 1979.

Today’s game aside, the future of the temple program under coach Al Golden appears to be headed in the right direction. With Pierce coming back for two more seasons, you can expect the Owls to be back Bowling next year. Plus, the TV exposure today will only help in recruiting.

Was Brent Celek snubbed in Pro Bowl selections?

Brent Celek had a Pro Bowl caliber year for the Eagles and his omission from the Pro Bowl roster seems to be one of the bigger snubs of the year to Eagles fans. However, it may not be as bad as it would first appear.

Jason Witten and Vernon Davis made it as the NFC tight ends. Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez was likely in the discussion as well.

Was Brent Celek's omission from the pro Bowl a true snub?

Here’s how they line up:

• Jason Witten: 88 catches, 954 yards and one TD.
• Vernon Davis: 72 catches, 876 yards and 12 TDs
• Tony Gonzalez: 80 catches, 837 yards and six TDs.
• Brent Celek: 69 ctaches, 875 yards and 8 TDs.

Based on the numbers — and that plus your reputation determine Pro Bowl selections — Celek appears to be higher than Gonzalez. However, you can’t argue with taking Davis and Witten over Celek.

Davis with his 12 TDs was absolutely heading to Miami. Celek had no shot to take his spot. That leaves Witten.

The fact is Witten has a great reputation and likely made it based on that. The numbers are very similar with Witten having just one TD. However, he has 19 more catches.

The bottom line is Celek has had a pro Bowl caliber season in just his third year in the league. But, when you play arguably the deepest position in the league and don’t have the name recognition yet, a Pro Bowl selection was more of a wish at this point.

That doesn’t diminish what Celek has done one bit. His performance this year will get him to future Pro Bowls if he continues to play at this level.

DeSean Jackson, five other Eagles named to Pro Bowl roster

The Philadelphia Eagles are sending six players to the Pro Bowl.

DeSean Jackson has made it as a starting wide receiver and a punt returner. He is the first player to ever make it at two positions.

DeSean Jackson has "jerked" his way to the Pro Bowl.

Leonard Weaver joins Jackson as a first-time pro Bowl selection.

Left tackle Jason Peters, defensive end Trent Cole, corner Asante Samuel and kicker Jason Peters are also on the roster.

Jackson has 60 receptions for 1,120 yards and nine touchdowns from the receiver slot. The man who has tied the NFL record for touchdowns more than 50 yards with eight, also has a rushing touchdown and two punt return touchdowns.

Weaver, in his first year as an Eagle, has blocked and rushed his way to Miami. Filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook, Weaver has a career high 321 yards and two rushing tochdowns, as well as two receiving scores.

On the defensive side, Cole has is fifth in the NFL with 12.5 sacks, while Samuel is tied for the league lead with nine intcerpetions.

David Akers has rebounded from a couple down years to once again be among the NFC’s best clutch kickers. For the season, Akers has hit 32-0f-36 field goals, the most in the NFL.

This year’s Pro Bowl will be played the week before the Super Bowl in Miami, Fla. No offense to those who made the team, but your DailyPhiladelphian hopes no Eagles play in the Pro Bowl. We’d rather they be preparing for a game called Super Bowl XLIV.

Temple will have to finish EagleBank Bowl without Bernard Pierce

The Temple Owls, playing in their first Bowl game since 1979, will need to close out the fourth quarter without freshman sensation Bernard Pierce.

Pierce, who missed two games late in the year with an ankle injury, appears to have hurt his arm or shoulder midway through the third quarter. He ran off the field with his arm hanging to his side. He is currently on the sideline with a poncho on and does not appear to be heading back in the game.’

He has 85 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries and three catches for 33 yards.

Temple clings to a 21-17 lead over UCLA at the end of three quarters.

Sixers should trade for Tracy McGrady

If Ed Stefanski is reading this, your Daily Philadelphian has one message for him: do whatever it takes to acquire Tracy McGrady. And, do it yesterday.

Give up Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert. Hell, throw in a lottery-protected first round pick if needed.

The Sixers need to acquire Tracy McGrady's expiring contract.

The reason we’re so hot for McGrady has nothing to do with what he can contribute on the court. Instead, it’s his $23 million expiring contract.

The Sixers are in salary cap hell and going nowhere this season. They won’t be in a position to make a big move when the LeBron’s and Wade’s of the world are free agents next summer. Unloading contracts for an expiring one is the only way to make this team better quickly.

The Sixers have good young talent in Iguodala, Young and Speights. And, we like what Lou Williams can do, although we’re not sure if he’d be better as the two guard or running the point.

Ed Stefanski’s collection of players need a superstar to put them back into the upper echelon of the East. They need cap room to do it. McGrady would give them that after this season.

And, for those who question why LeBron or Wade would come here, we’ll tell you King James will never wear a Sixer uniform. If he leaves Cleveland, it’ll be for the bright lights of NYC or LA.

Getting Wade is a different situation. Give him the max contract and trade Iguodala and something to Miami for him after the season. Wade’s only leaving Miami through a sign-and-trade. And, we think he will leave Miami after coach pat Riley reportedly ripped the player’s conditioning earlier this month.

The Sixers are a trainwreck and need to do something drastic and quick before they are the laughingstock of the league for the next four years. Getting Tracy McGrady will help the team down the road.

Eagles control playoff fate against Cowboys

Jason Avant and the Eagles will look to throw down the hammer on the Cowboys and clinch the two seed on Sunday.

The Eagles now control their own destiny in determining their playoff seed thanks to the Chicago Bears 36-30 overtime win against the Vikings on Monday Night Football.

The Birds will either be the second seed in the NFC and have a first round bye, or they will be a wild card team with no home playoff games. There is no in-between.

A win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday in Dallas gives the Eagles the NFC East title and the two seed. If the Eagles fall to the Cowboys, Dallas would win the division and the Eagles could hope for no higher than a fifth seed and would likely play every playoff game on the road.

With so much to play for and the Eagles getting healthy as the playoffs approach — even with the injury to center Jamal Jackson — it’s doubtful they’d lay an egg like the Vikings or Giants did this weekend.

Eagles-Cowboys games are always emotional, hard-hitting affairs. Sunday’s installment in this rivalry carries more weight than usual.

Bears stun Vikings 36-30 in OT; Eagles control destiny for 2 seed

The Philadelphia Eagles owe Devin Aromashadu, Jay Cutler, Hunter Hillenmeyer and the Chicago Bears a nice holiday gift. The Bears stunned the Minnesota Vikings, 36-30, on Monday Night Football.

The Vikings loss gives the Eagles control of their own destiny because a win next week at Dallas gives them the two seed in the NFC and an all-important first round bye.

Brett Favre and the Vikings stumbled against the Bears on Monday.

Cutler hit Aromashodu with a 38-yard touchdowns strike in overtime to give the Bears the win.

The game never appeared headed for OT at the start. The Bears jumped out to a 16-0 lead at halftime and extended it to 23-6 midway through the third quarter.

Brett Favre and the Vikings staged a tremendous comeback to tie the game at 23 with a little more than four minutes left in the game. Manning then took to the Vikings 20. Jay Cutler then hit Earl Bennett for a 20-yard score to give the Bears a 30-23 lead.

Brett Favre in typical Diva Favre style led the Vikings on an impressive drive at the end of the fourth quarter. He hit Sidney Rice for a six-yard score to tie the game at 30 and send the game to overtime.

In overtime, Cutler led the Bears from their own 32-yard line into Vikings territory on a 33-yard pass to Devin Aromashodu. Four plays later, Robbie Gould pushed a game-winning field goal attempt wide right.

After trading three-and-outs, Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson fumbled when he was tackled from behind by Hillenmeyer. The Bears took possession at the Vikings 38-yard line, leading to Cutler’s TD pass to Aromashodu.

The Vikings fall to 11-4 and now need help to get a first round bye. After starting the season 10-1, the Vikings have dropped three of their last four and look to be in disarray.