Sports Talk Philly: Philadelphia Sports News and Rumors

Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel: Top Priority Is 'Signing the Right Guys'

Philadelphia Soul head coach Clint Dolezel and wide receiver Darius Reynolds running open tryout drills at Total Turf Experience in Pitman, New Jersey, on Saturday, January 19, 2019 (Matt Rappa/SportsTalkPhilly.com).

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Philadelphia Soul held their last of two open player tryouts this offseason on Saturday at Total Turf Experience in Pitman, New Jersey. With an estimated attendance of between 150 and 200 Arena Football League hopefuls, Soul Head Coach Clint Dolezel said the team is "doing good" and "excited" when they can find a player from an open tryout.

“Great turnout ... way better than we thought, we were a little worried about the weather," Dolezel told Coffee Jones. "We’re happy to have the numbers. ... I think the first tryout was maybe a hair better than this one as far as overall talent, but a good turnout for us.”

Dolezel said he thinks the Soul will invite four players from the first tryout to training camp in March, along with "a player or two" from Saturday's tryout, according to General Manager and Assistant Head Coach Beau Bell.

“I’m excited to be able to get forward to the season, but I was even more excited to come up to this tryout because we got a lot of good players show up," Bell told Jones. "Great body types, great athletic skills. We definitely found a player or two here at the tryouts."

Hart, Patrick Lead Flyers Past Canadiens for 3rd Straight Win

Embed from Getty Images

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers finished the first period with one shot. The game was scoreless, however, thanks to Carter Hart. Late in the second period, the game remained scoreless before two quick goals for the Flyers.

Nolan Patrick added a pair in the third and the Flyers pulled away with a 5-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the final game before the bye week and the All-Star break.

Fultz Returns to Philadelphia to Continue Shoulder Rehab

Embed from Getty Images

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Staff 

In early December, we learned that Sixers guard Markelle Fultz was diagnosed with a thoracic outlet syndrome, a rare neurological condition. Following the news, Fultz traveled to California to work with former Lakers' renowned physical therapist Judy Seto. She worked with Kobe Bryant and current general manager Elton Brand during their playing careers.

After a little over a month of shoulder rehabilitation out west, Fultz has returned to Philadelphia. ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports that he will rehab with the Sixers as he continues the path to a return to the court this season. 

Guard Markelle Fultz has rejoined the Philadelphia 76ers to continue therapy on a shoulder condition, pushing for a return to the lineup this season, league sources told ESPN.

There's no timetable yet on Fultz playing again this year, league sources said.

Fultz flew on a red-eye flight from Los Angeles and arrived Saturday where he met with Sixers officials prior to today's game against Oklahoma City, sources said.

PhillyVoice's Kyle Neubeck reiterates that Fultz's return is to continue rehab and that the organization still has no timetable/expectation on his return to game or practice situations.

Fultz hasn't played since mid-November after seeing a handful of specialists at the recommendation of his agent/attorney, Raymond Brothers. After multiple visits and tests, the diagnosis was made and Fultz went out to California to work with Dr. Seto. Fultz's agent wanted to make sure that his client was 100 percent before returning. 

"We want to make sure he's 100 percent and healthy when he does come back," Brothers told ESPN at Christmas.

In 19 games this season, Fultz posted averages of 8.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

 

 

Flyers-Canadiens: Game 48 Preview

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

One more game remains before the Flyers head into the bye week and the All-Star break. They enter looking for their second three-game winning streak this season.

The Flyers have won three of their last four games since snapping an eight-game losing streak last Thursday. They face the Montreal Canadiens, a team locked in a battle for one of the top three spots in the Atlantic Division.

Game time is at 7 p.m.

Eagles Give Nick Foles $1 Million for Bonus He Just Missed

Embed from Getty Images

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

The Eagles continue to prove that they are a class organization.

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles played 357 of the Eagles’ offensive snaps this season. The team totaled 1,092. Under the new contract Foles signed in the 2018 offseason, Foles was set to make a bonus of $1 million if he were to play 33% of the snaps. Foles finished just four snaps shy at 32.69%.

Third-string quarterback Nate Sudfeld took 11 snaps in relief of Foles at the end of both the Texans game (1 snap) and the Redskins game (10 snaps). If Foles had not left with what turned out to be bruised ribs in week 17, he would have made the snap count, but instead, he barely missed the mark.

Foles is not being underappreciated by the Eagles franchise, however, as they have given Foles an additional $1 million signing bonus to make up for those few snaps, according to Field Yates of ESPN.

Source: the Eagles have paid QB Nick Foles a $1M signing bonus to account for the incentive he missed out on by just four snaps earned by Philly making the playoffs and Foles playing 33% of the snaps. Philly does right by the clutch QB.

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) January 19, 2019

Just days after Alshon Jeffery showed his class and love of the fanbase, the franchise showed their own classiness by taking care of those who contributed all they can to the team.

Brian Dawkins Gives Motivational Speech to Phillies Prospects

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

This past week, several of the Philadelphia Phillies' top prospects gathered at Citizens Bank Park for the club's annual Prospect Education Program.

Before Jose Pujols, Deivi Grullon, Tyler Gilbert, Mauricio Llovera, Adonis Medina, Edgar Garcia, Mickey Moniak, Austin Listi, Cornelius Randolph, Adam Haseley, Connor Seabold, and Kyle Dohy, Philadelphia Eagles' Hall of Fame safety Brian Dawkins gave a motivational speech regarding playing for not only for family and the city, but also for themselves and "giving everything they have."

Flyers Likely to Trade Dale Weise

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Friday’s practice featured a notable absence for the Flyers. Dale Weise was not on the ice.

Weise was placed on waivers on Tuesday and cleared on Wednesday, but is still listed on the active roster. By virtue of simply being on the active roster, Weise should have been on the ice.

The situation got worse when interim head coach Scott Gordon said that Weise would also not be traveling with the team to Montreal for Saturday night’s game. Weise has apparently been told to stay home as the Flyers try to work out a trade for the veteran forward, a report confirmed by NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Boruk.

Flyers Practice Update: Injury Updates, Stolarz, Weise

(Photo: Kate Frese)

By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 

The Flyers practiced on Friday before leaving for Montreal to play their final game before the bye week and All-Star break. During the practice, GM Chuck Fletcher provided updates on four injured Flyers.

Eagles Part Ways With Three Coaches

Embed from Getty Images

By Paul Bowman, Sports Talk Philly Editor

Although the Eagles will be keeping their coordinators for the 2019 season, they will be in the hunt for some new coaches again this offseason.

After parting ways with defensive line coach Chris Wilson, receivers’ coach Gunter Brewer and assistant offensive line coach Eugene Chung on Thursday, the Eagles already have three openings. Geoff Mosher of The Morning Call reports that Wilson and Chung were on contracts that have expired while Brewer was told he could seek other opportunities. In effect, Brewer was fired and Chung and Wilson are being allowed to walk because either they or the team had no interest in negotiating an extension.

Wilson leaving after holding the defensive line coach position since Doug Pederson was hired is a bit of a surprise. He was Fletcher Cox’s positional coach in college. The defensive line has been a dominant unit in his three years. It may be difficult to replace him.

Chung had served on the coaching staff for the Eagles under Andy Reid. He was let go when Chip Kelly was hired but brought back when Doug Pederson took over. He has worked with an elite offensive line unit and could be difficult to replace. That said, offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is the bigger key and should maintain the unit well as long as the line doesn’t have two retirements to deal with on top of Brandon Brooks’ injury.

Gunter Brewer just finished his first season with the Birds. The team will be seeking their fifth wide receivers’ coach in as many seasons. Brewer took over after Mike Groh was promoted to offensive coordinator last offseason. He was the coach for Eagles wideout Mack Hollins, who spent the entire season on injured reserve, in college.

Keep an eye on Sports Talk Philly for updates on Eagles coaching changes.

Phillies Manager Gabe Kapler: Bryce Harper ‘Easy to Talk to, Especially Competitive’

Embed from Getty Images

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

This Saturday will mark one week since Philadelphia Phillies brass — including manager Gabe Kapler — met with superstar free agent outfielder Bryce Harper in his hometown of Las Vegas, Nevada.

Thursday on MLB Network, when asked of Jon Heyman's Wednesday morning report that he and Harper "really hit it off" at the meeting, Kapler agreed, saying he thinks they bonded "over stuff like training" and "food."

"[Bryce] loves food and Philadelphia has an incredible food scene, among the best in the country if you ask me," Kapler said. "Yeah, I think we just hit it off; he's an easy guy to talk to. He certainly is especially competitive."