PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Jay Gruden may not be the only Gruden interested in the Eagles head coaching position.

Former Eagles quarterback and current ESPN analyst Ron Jaworski suggested that Jon Gruden is interested in being a coach once again, and the Eagles job would be of interest to him.

“I think it would be something worth researching,” Michael Lombardi told Angelo Cataldi and the 94WIP Morning Show on Tuesday.  “I don’t have the answer off the top of my head. I think it’s something that needs to be examined, and I think based on that, it would then move forward and then it would be interesting to see how he interacts with dynamics of the front office.”

Those dynamics will include general manager Howie Roseman, who was given a big vote of confidence from Jeffrey Lurie last week at the press conference announcing the firing of Andy Reid.

“I often call Jon [Gruden] Larry Brown, and I say this in a complimentary way about Jon. Jon is a coach, that I know how he is on television, in terms of he loves all the players and they’re great, but when he is in the room with you there’s really not a lot of players he likes,” Lombardi said. “He’s constantly motivating himself, which is a really good thing, this is a strength not a weakness, in terms of the players around him and what he has. He can be very demanding on the general manager and if he doesn’t have a really strong general manege, I think he will change the roster constantly and I think you have to prepare yourself for that.”

As well as being head coach of the Raiders and the Bucs, Jon Gruden was offensive coordinator for the Eagles from 1995 until 1997.

“Jon [Gruden] when he was here [in Philadelphia] was certainly productive with the offense, in terms of what he had at quarterback when you look back at those teams whether it was Ty Detmer, Rodney Pete, and then of course you had Charlie Garner, Ricky Watters in the backfield with Irvin Fryar,” Lomardi said.  “It was an interesting team and they made a playoff run. I think it would all depend on Jeff’s [Lurie] relationship with Jon [Gruden] and how that ended, and how they felt that they were moving forward. I’m not sure about that at all.”

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – 2012 was expected to be a busy offseason for the Phillies. As it turns out, the biggest and most important contract the team signed this year happened in July when Cole Hamels signed a six-year, $144 million extension.

Hamels started the Phillies home opener in 2012, but his performance over the last two seasons, new deal, and the fact that he’s home-grown may mean he’ll get the ball on opening day in Atlanta on April 1st.

“It’s the ultimate honor, it really is,” Hamels said about the prospect of being the Phillies’ opening day starter. Hamels was interviewed by Angelo Cataldi and The WIP Morning Show on Wednesday.  “But at the same time, with having one of the greatest pitchers to ever pitch, you know in Roy Halladay, and then having Cliff Lee who is absolutely outstanding. These guys have got all the accolades and they go out there every day and try to win, and so I’m just trying to learn from the best. I think that’s ultimately what it is. I think I am fortunate enough that I am younger than them, so I have a lot longer to learn and to grow. I think all three of us really feel the same way. We really love being able to pitch with each other, and we don’t mind whoever gets that ball for that sort of situation because we all believe in each other.”

MLB teams have spent money at a record pace this offseason, highlighted by the $158 million deal the Dodgers gave Zack Greinke. All that money means that Hamels probably could have gotten more on the open market than he got from the Phillies.

“I am extremely happy because it is. It’s always been a goal [to stay with one team]. I grew up with Tony Gwynn and watching him play with for a team his whole career, so I always really wanted to do that and kind of create a legacy for a city that actually has been absolutely wonderful to play for,” Hamels said. “I think that’s why guys want to come to Philly. It’s a great place to play. Even though it doesn’t seem like it’s this pitcher friendly ball park, it really is. It’s a great place because pitchers, I think, are now realizing this is the place that we have an opportunity to win championships, and it challenges you. I think that’s where you want to be. You want to be where the fans show up and really go absolutely crazy, every single day for 162 games. That’s the reason why we play the game of baseball. It’s fun to play it, the selfish-side, of trying to go out and beat other players, but it really is being able to play in front of fans that really appreciate what you do. That’s being a professional athlete.”

Hamels was once a player who was criticized by fans for his demeanor, and work ethic. That’s not the case anymore, and Hamels said that the fans are responsible for that. “These fans actually pay attention. They care. This is pretty cool. I can’t wait to get out there in five more days and show them something else!’ [after he pitches poorly]. I think that’s kind of when I really discovered how much it means to play the game of baseball in front of fans that really do care.”

The Phillies were ravaged by injuries last season, losing Chase Utley, Roy Halladay, Ryan Howard and Cliff Lee for stretches. Hamels thinks that could be the difference between 2012 and 2013.

“I think everybody just staying healthy [is the key to Phillies success]. I think that was kind of the big issue. Last year we didn’t have guys come in healthy, and you put a lot more on guys shoulders that aren’t used to dealing with that sort of pressure, and we just didn’t know how to handle it because guys were trying to do more, trying to pick up the left out people. I think with having guys healthy, working out hard this off-season, I think we have a lot of extra aggression that we weren’t able to get out in October. So, I think it’s going to add up for the start of this season,” Hamels said.

Former Pennsylvania governor Ed Rendell spoke with 94WIP’s Angelo Cataldi and the WIP Morning Show Tuesday regarding his thoughts on whether the incident is likely to bring about new gun control laws.

“I said [in my book], what it is going to take for us to roll up our sleeves and say enough is enough,” Rendell said. “And Tuscon wasn’t enough, and then the ‘Batman’ killed all those people in Aurora, Colorado in a movie theater, that wasn’t enough. Now, because this is involving little children, maybe this is the tipping point, but there are simple things, and if you tell me that nothing we do can rule out evil by a demented person, totally rule it out, you’re absolutely right. Nothing we can do can zero it out, but can we make a difference at the margin? Sure we can. Let’s start with banning high capacity magazines, those clips that go in the guns. No more than 10 bullets in a clip.

LISTEN: Ed Rendell with Angelo Cataldi

Number two, get rid of these assault riffles. Nobody needs it to hunt, nobody needs it to protect their home, just like nobody needs a clip that has more than 10 bullets. Those are two easy ones that the American people support. Next, 40 percent of the guns in this country, Angelo [Cataldi] are purchased without a background check on the buyer. They’re purchased at gun shows, it is called a gun show loophole, or they’re purchased online. Someone who has been in and out of a mental institution three times, can go online and get himself a gun without any check,” Rendell said.

“Lastly, let’s tighten up the reporting requirements. States are not reporting people with mental illnesses to the national insta-check [the National Instant Criminal Background Check] system and when they don’t report it, like the case with ‘Batman’, he doesn’t get on the register and he can go in and buy a gun legally. Is all that going to stop these mass killings? No. But it is going to reduce the number of them and reduce the level of the carnage? Absolutely yes, ” Rendell said.  “One lady, a mother of one of the twenty kids, said after the service Sunday night, if we can get some sensible laws on possession of firearms and these crazy weapons, then these twenty kids may not have died in vain.”

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5. The Hiring Of Juan Castillo

4. The Signing Of Michael Vick

3. Letting Brian Dawkins Leave As A Free Agent

2. The Drama At The End Of The Terrell Owens Saga

1. Clock Management At The End Of The Super Bowl in ’04

What’s your most controversial Reid moment? Let us know in the comments.

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PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Michael Young has been described as a good “clubhouse guy,” and was recently described by Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro as a “professional hitter.”

If there’s any question regarding whether the Young acquisition was a good one for the Phillies, the Dallas Morning News’ Evan Grant wants to erase it.

“Well, you guys had [Jim] Thome there for a while and I consider Jim Thome about as good a professional as there is in Major League Baseball, and Michael [Young] is on that scale. He was this teams version of Derek Jeter,” Grant told 94WIP’s Angelo Cataldi and the Morning Show on Tuesday. “He was the unquestioned leader in the clubhouse. He did it without a whole bunch of rah-rah, he never did it in sight of anybody, but guys sought him out. He wasn’t just the self-proclaimed leader—he never proclaimed himself the leader, but guys approached him, guys followed him, when something needed to be said he would seek somebody out and go to them one on one. He was Ron Washington’s kind of “policeman” in the clubhouse and I think that he got his big contract right at the same time Washington was named the Rangers manager, and I think to some extent this organization grew together with Ron being a very positive influence and an energetic-type manager, and Michael being the guy who allowed him to get his message across.”

One would naturally question why the Rangers would want to trade such a player, and pay a large portion of his salary to do so. “Well, I think the Rangers want to go in a different direction, they want to get a little younger. As a DH last year, Michael’s number last year were a little bit below average. I think this team feels like they are kind of getting out ahead of the curve,” Grant said.”Quite frankly, I think there were some people in management who just wanted to see Michael [Young] go, and that’s unfortunately, but this is the decision that this team is going in and I think the Phillies are getting a guy who is primed for a bounce-back season. He is in a contract year, and this is a guy who I think is very set on getting the 3,000 hits and making a strong Hall of Fame candidacy for himself.”

Young had the worst season of his career offensively in 2012, hitting .227 with an OPS of .682. His WAR, which is an advanced statistic that is gaining acceptance and familiarity, was a career low -2.4. WAR, or Wins Above Replacement, measures the player’s effect on a team compared to what would happen if a replacement level player was in his place. In this case, it means the Rangers would have won 2.4 more games if it was that average, “replacement” level player instead of Young. WAR takes defensive statistics into account as well, and Young’s weren’t good.

“The problem with WAR and with any of the absolute statistical analyses, is that they don’t paint the complete picture of a player as a player slash person,” Grant said. “You can’t measure leadership, you can’t measure team involvement, and because you can’t put a number on it the statistical analysis based community, doesn’t value it. Well, that’s just malarkey.”

“Third base is not a very natural position for him, he’s not going to be Mike Schmidt over there,” Grant said. “His range at third is a little bit below average, but there is not a perfect baseball player out there. He’s got a very good arm, he’s going to do everything right in terms of running the bases, he’s a .300 career hitter, he’s a great presence in the club house. The place where he comes up a little bit short is in terms of side-to-side range at third base.”

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For the first time ever, SportsRadio 94WIP is inviting CBS RADIO sports stations in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Washington, D.C. and Boston to send an eater to compete in Wing Bowl 21.  Eaters from these cities will be chosen through events in their hometowns and will compete against Philadelphia’s three-time champion, Jonathan “Super” Squibb for a $20,000 cash prize from Steven Singer Jewelers. Additionally, dozens of Philadelphia’s biggest local eaters will compete to win a 2013 Nissan Pathfinder S-L from Montgomeryville Acura, and additional prizes.

WIP Morning Show host Angelo Cataldi, who co-founded Wing Bowl 20 years ago with radio partner Al Morganti said, “At a time when Philadelphia sports teams are struggling to succeed, to the rescue comes Wing Bowl 21, a chance for our city to win back the respect of the rest of the nation. This year, the biggest eating competition in the world will feature the top eaters from our biggest rival cities against our own legend, Jonathan Squibb. Of course, our 21st edition will also be filled with more than 100 amazing Wingettes, 20,000 screaming fans, insane sideshows, and the pomp and pagentry of the wildest annual radio event in America. Wing Bowl 21 — this one is for pride.”

WIP’s Wing Bowl 21 will be broadcast live on 94 WIP.  The contest will also be streamed live over the Internet at cbsphilly.com as well as through mobile devices. Proceeds from WIP’s Wing Bowl 21 will benefit the Philadelphia Police Department Survivor’s Fund, The Police Athletic League, the Comcast-Spectacor Charities and other beneficiaries to be named soon.

Contestants are selected based on their ability to complete challenging eating stunts featured during the SportsRadio 94WIP Morning Show, heard weekdays from 5:30-10:00 AM, or on-site “Wing-Offs” held throughout Philadelphia.  PJ Whelihans is the official supplier of wings for WIP Wing Bowl 21, their sixth consecutive year as sponsor and supplier.

The impressive and valuable list of prizes for contestants and participants includes:

$20,000 cash prize, a Wing Bowl Champion ring and a gold medal from Steven Singer Jewelers, at the other corner of 8th and Walnut. 

A 2013 Nissan Pathfinder S-L From Montgomeryvillle Acura.

A new Harley Davidson 883 Sportster Motorcycle from Barb’s Harley Davidson, West Collingswood, NJ.

Earrings and necklaces from Steven Singer Jewelers

All inclusive Apple Vacations to the new Barcelo Bavaro Beach in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic.

About WIP

Home to Angelo Cataldi and the morning team, and the flagship station for the Philadelphia Eagles and broadcast partner of the Philadelphia Phillies, WIP is one of the first all-sports formatted stations in the nation and the leading station of its kind in Philadelphia. WIP is owned and operated by CBS RADIO, one of the largest major-market radio operators in the United States. A division of CBS Corporation, CBS RADIO owns and operates 127 radio stations, across 28 markets, including all of the Top 10. CBS RADIO also owns and operates KYW, WPHT and WOGL in Philadelphia.

Contacts:  Cindy Webster, Marketing Director, SPORTSRADIO 94 WIP 610-299-7251

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